Huntsville, Monday, March 14. Was one of a detail of twenty men to go foraging with two days’ rations in haversacks, blankets and overcoats, etc. Fell in at 8 A. M. to go with brigade teams thirty in number, all to be loaded by artillerymen. A ride of nearly twenty miles in a mule wagon brought us to the corn field at 3 P. M., two men to a wagon. Jerked it from the rows, and in about an hour we started back, crossed Beaver Dam Creek and drove hard till sundown. Crossed at Liberty Point, eleven miles from camp, near a few out-buildings. No rails allowed to be burnt by Lieutenant Eddy in charge. Those that were prepared cooked their coffee in their cans and we all ate. It was very cold and blustering, not in the least enticing to sleep out of doors, but necessity compelled it. Three of us made our beds together and slept quite warm until midnight, when we awoke to find it sprinkling and the wind driving threatening black clouds over us. Not wishing’ to get soaked, we pulled out, rolled up our blankets, etc. and sought shelter. The storm passed harmlessly over, but we found but little sleep. I rolled in my blanket on the stoop of the dwelling house, where I slept some. Dreamed of being buried in snow drifts and surrounded by ice. Awoke to find it nearly a reality. Benumbed with cold and clogged throat, I sought the fire to wait for the dawn. Long and anxiously did we watch the coming of the morning.
Friday, March 14, 2014
14th. Ma, Thede and I went down and looked at the Bushnell place. Concluded to take it. Went to Cleveland on P. M. train. Considerable snow last night and yesterday. Pleasant overhead but bad underneath. Almost concluded not to go out today on account of feeling so miserably weak and nervous. Went immediately to Mr. Cobb’s. Helen came to the door. I fairly shook. Oh, could I see Fannie. I went in. Helen brought me a letter from Fannie. Soon F. came. The letter told her sorrow at the trouble, reviewed our friendship, told her doubt and how she had hid it and smothered it and not allowed herself to think she hadn’t true love for me. She said “With my child-love, I loved you Luman. Why I do not now, I do not know.” Again, “I never would admit that I did not love you. I can not say now that I do not.” Helen came. She pitied both of us. ‘Twas a sad misfortune, but it was probably for our good. She felt from her conversation with F. and questions that she did not love me as she should. She thought we had better part friends and await the will of God. F. said once, “Oh it seems as though I could throw my arms around your neck and take it all back.” Helen was very kind to me and wished me to write to her. How sad the necessity of such a course. F. had been crying. She undoubtedly sympathizes with me in my sore trial. She prayed and hoped it would be different some day. If the change did come, she would fly to me. Her sympathy, if that it is, is deep. I can not realize that she does not love me. How can I have been mistaken these years—since she was seventeen. I can forgive all, for she suffered herself to please me. How strange our parting was—solemn, but as of old. Oh it all seems but a mere dream to me. Can it be reality? It seems cruel, but a wise God will make it a blessing, I hope. I pray God that he will sustain and bless us and bring us together here below, if he can consistently, if not, grant us both a rich inheritance in Heaven. This meeting and parting, can I ever forget it? No, never. Can it be that we have parted to be mere friends forever? It can not seem so to me. It always has seemed to me during these years that we were fated to be and dwell together, bearing each the other’s burdens and each other’s joys, most of all happy in each other’s love. Time will disclose all of its secrets and eternity, all till then remaining mysterious. I’ll await the result as trustfully and patiently as possible. God’s will, not ours be done. I must use every exertion not to allow this to ruin or seriously injure me. It will not do for me to think much of the matter.
Went home on the night freight. Home after 10. Showed Ma my letter and told her the result of interview.
[Diary] Monday, March 14, 1864.
Miss Howard tells us that a determined effort is to be made to shut the church doors on us, so as to force the children to go to the Indian Hill School. I think it is done so as to prevent such a large school as ours from being in the hands of such non-upholders of the Baptist church. Mrs. P. says we need not think we are to be left in peace to occupy the building; she will appeal to the pockets of the people and then we shall see! She says she tells them that we have damaged the building and that they must raise $150 for repairs. She also sends us word that the new commissioner or agent to look after church property for the Baptists, Dr. Parker, is going to turn us out. It seems to be opposition from one quarter only. The Indian Hill School has no books yet.
Monday, 14th—It is quite cool today, after three days of warm weather. We are still on guard at the roundhouse. The contrabands are all being put to some kind of work, or enrolled in the army. As the Government has to feed them, they will partially pay their way by working.
March 14, Monday. I spent yesterday with Fox, Faxon, Olcott, and a writer on the papers seized. They are bad enough, showing depravity and wickedness, but in many cases the names of persons are drawn in who are, I believe, guiltless of wrong.
I am not exactly satisfied with Olcott. Coming on in the cars with a criminal witness, he most indiscreetly talked in the sleeping-car of Henderson, Brown, Koons, and others, and their remarks reached the Navy Agent, who was also on board and called on me and stated the facts. Such a conversation in a public car was improper, and the person is not a proper one to have the liberty, character, and rights of others at his disposal. Fox, however, in his ardent nature, gives Olcott full credence and support, and is ready to follow his suggestions and suspicions to any extreme. I am reluctant to violate great fundamental principles of right. Fox says Senators Fessenden and Grimes beg that I will not hesitate.
I called on Judge Blair this morning and had half an hour’s conversation. He advises me to press on; says that there is no doubt I am right, that all of these contractors are scoundrels; and thinks I have erred in not at once laying hold of the Navy Agents everywhere and taking possession of their papers. While I cannot think well of scarcely one of the Navy Agents, I am disinclined to the harsh and unnecessary exercise of power, especially as there is no explicit law or authority. Security to persons and papers has been a maxim in my political creed, and I cannot relieve my mind from it, even when compelled to take measures with bad men.
March 14.—Major-General John Pope, from his headquarters, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, issued an official notice to emigrants by the way of the Missouri River and across the upper plains to the Idaho mines, warning them of the dangers of that route from hostile Indians, and recommending them to communicate with General Sully before attempting to pass that way.— A commission consisting of Captain George P. Edgar, A. D. C, Captain George I. Carney, A. Q. M., and M. Dudley Bean, of Norfolk, were appointed by Major-General Butler, for the purpose of caring for and supplying the needs of the poor white people in Norfolk, Elizabeth City, and Princess Anne counties, Va., who were a charge upon the United States, and employing such as were willing to work and were without employment, etc. —Skirmishing occurred at Cheek’s Cross-Roads, Tennessee, between Colonel Garrard’s National cavalry and Colonel Giltner’s rebel troops. The rebels were repulsed.
—President Lincoln issued an order calling for two hundred thousand men, in order to supply the force required to be drafted for the navy, and to provide an adequate reserve force for all contingencies, in addition to the five hundred thousand men called for February first—(Doc. 111.)
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 14TH.—Bright, pleasant day. The city is full of generals—Lee and his son (the one just returned from captivity), Longstreet, Whiting, Wise, Hoke, Morgan (he was ordered by Gen. Cooper to desist from his enterprise in the West), Evans, and many others. Some fourteen attended St. Paul’s (Episcopal) Church yesterday, where the President worships. Doubtless they are in consultation on the pressing needs of the country.
About noon to-day a dispatch came from Lieut.-Col. Cole, Gen. Lee’s principal commissary, at Orange Court House, dated 12th inst., saying the army was out of meat, and had but one day’s rations of bread. This I placed in the hands of the Secretary myself, and he seemed roused by it. Half an hour after, I saw Col. Northrop coming out of the department with a pale face, and triumphant, compressed lips. He had indorsed on the dispatch, before it came—it was addressed to him—that the state of things had come which he had long and often predicted, and to avert which he had repeatedly suggested the remedy; but the Secretary would not!
No wonder the generals are in consultation, for all the armies are in the same lamentable predicament—to the great triumph of Col. N., whose prescience is triumphantly vindicated! But Gen. Wise, when I mentioned these things to him, said we would starve in the midst of plenty, meaning that Col. N was incompetent to hold the position of Commissary-General.
At 2 P.M. a dispatch (which I likewise placed in the hands of the Secretary) came from Gen. Pickett, with information that thirteen of the enemy’s transports passed Yorktown yesterday with troops from Norfolk, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Washington City, etc.—such was the report of the signal corps. They also reported that Gen. Meade would order a general advance, to check Gen. Lee. What all this means I know not, unless it be meant to aid Gen. Kilpatrick to get back the way he came with his raiding cavalry—or else Gen. Lee’s army is in motion, even while he is here. It must do something, or starve.
L. P. Walker, the first Secretary of War, is here, applying for an appointment as judge advocate of one of the military courts.
Gen. Bragg is at work. I saw by the President’s papers today, that the Secretary’s recommendation to remit the sentence to drop an officer was referred to him. He indorsed on it that the sentence was just, and ought to be executed. The President then indorsed: “Drop him.—J. D.”
March 14th. Cold, disagreeable morning. All quiet along the Potomac at this place. Received a number of letters from friends at home. These letters bring much comfort to a fellow. Some of our boys are being appointed officers in the colored regiments. These regiments must have white commissioned officers. L. A. Manning and I, of Company C, climbed to the top of the Point of Rocks, where we had a fine view of Maryland and Virginia, and for miles down the Potomac. From this point the river appeared to be running up hill. We enjoyed the scenery and the quietness of the surrounding country. Not far away battles were being fought. War is liable to break out at this point almost any day. At times rebel scouts and guerillas can be seen across the river, causing us to keep a good lookout and be on the alert. We very seldom exchange shots across the river.
