Huntsville, Monday, March 28. To-day again was one full of disagreeableness. Cold rain, windy, so that we could not have a fire without smoking us out. Spent the long hours as best we could, playing dominoes and checkers with Griff and J. D. etc. A very large mail arrived, but unfortunately I was forgotten this time. Dress parade 4 P. M. Complimentary resolutions to veterans received from Congress. I have a very bad cold yet, with a wearisome cough. Bathed and wore wet compresses on chest.
Friday, March 28, 2014
Monday, 28th. Passed through Martinsburg and Harper’s Ferry. Saw John Brown’s engine house, a very strong position indeed. Great amount of work on the road, 13 trains passed us this morning going west. Road along the Potomac many miles. Passed Relay House about 9 A. M. Annapolis Junction at 10 P. M. Tried to get the landlord up to get some supper. Great time. After rattling away at doors and windows, got up on roof to window where there was a light. People nearly frightened to death. One woman about eight months gone—man feared for her. Officers went to saloon and then back to cars.
Monday, March 28th.
Weather cool but pleasant. On waking this morning I found myself decidedly stiff, sore and lame, and to add to my discomfort I discovered that the high-top boots I had worn the day before, which I procured at Harrisburg, Pa., just before the battle of Gettysburg, and of which I had hoped better things, abusing the confidence and feet reposed in them, had superinduced several large blisters and made sad inroads upon the flesh. Deeming it inadvisable to attempt another march upon the same footing, I determined to call for volunteers to furnish me a pair of army shoes, and in less than five minutes after the call had been made I was intrenched behind a pile of “Governments” large enough to stock a moderate sized Chatham St. “Emporium,” while the generous owner of each particular pair stood without the intrenchments extolling the peculiar excellencies of his individual property. This unprecedented liberality, however, was not, I grieve to say, due so much to the generous impulses which are said at times to actuate the unselfish heart, as it was to the unromantic fact that each member of the regiment had been supplied with an extra pair of shoes, and one day’s march had convinced him of the expediency of reducing his impedimenta to the minimum. Selecting a pair belonging to Artificer Benedict of my own company, and giving him credit therefor upon his clothing account, I consigned the offending boots to the tender mercies of the Quartermaster’s Department for transportation, and of course never expect to see them again. In the afternoon the regiment moved back nearly parallel with the railroad track about two miles, where it camped, each battalion by itself, our battalion, the Second, having been marched and counter-marched several times by Major Arthur, until the Colonel arrived on the field and in expressions more forcible than elegant, indicated to the Major the ground selected for each battalion. The rest of the day was spent in arranging company streets and erecting tents, and towards night we had completed our first regular camp.
Monday, March 28. — Weather pleasant. McCartney of A Company was sent in to-day for attempting to desert. He had bought citizen’s clothing and was about to leave when he was apprehended. Lieutenant Galucia brought in Shean and Murray of E Company, both of whom were placed in the guard-house. The colonel had an officer’s drill to-day and afterwards a battalion drill. Major Chamberlain was here in the afternoon, and saw our dress-parade. It is reported that private McAinsh was found with his throat cut in the woods near camp.
Monday, 28th—I went to Tipton on horseback today, accompanied by John D. Moore, who enlisted in Company E of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry. All of the Inland boys who went before have re-enlisted as veterans, and four or five others besides John Moore are going to enlist in our company and go to the front when we return. I saw several of the boys of my company today, who live at Tipton.
March 28—We were reviewed to-day by our Governor. When I say reviewed, I mean all the North Carolina troops in our corps. After the review we went to Ramseur’s Brigade, where he spoke again. So did Generals Early, Rodes and Stewart. That is all that is worth recording this month.
March 28, Monday. Saw Mr. Wilson yesterday relative to the arrests of, and proceedings against, fraudulent contractors. Told him he must take charge of the matter, be mild towards the prisoners, let them be as little interrupted in their business as possible. He appears sensible, discreet, and judicious, and I hope will manage nicely and well. I dislike the whole affair and think great responsibility is improperly on me.
The President sent for Fox and myself on Saturday evening. Fox, who had been deputed to negotiate matters with Halleck relative to transfers, was disgusted and a little overreached and had also written as well as myself to the President. The latter desired to see us both Saturday P.M. and requested an order might be prepared which we took to him this A.M. It was less mandatory than I wished, but I know his reluctance to come in conflict with the Secretary of War, — certainly not in a harsh manner. The order was mild and his own, and for the Secretary of War to issue to carry it into effect. He wished me to write an order for the Secretary of War. I could see the President wished to have before him the practical working. Gave him an order forthwith.
Captain Rolando came to-day, pursuant to orders, relative to his intercepted letter to Fox and the capture of the William Peel. Thinks the letter interpolated. I am fearful Seward will, in this case, yield too much to Lord Lyons.
March 28.—A riot occurred at Charleston, Illinois, in which several persons were killed and wounded.—(Doc. 136.)
—The election, ordered by Major-General Banks, for delegates to the Constitutional Convention of Louisiana, was held, and resulted in the success of the Free State party.
—Two rebel spies were captured in the navy-yard at Mound City, Arkansas, this morning.— An express train, which left Louisville, Ky., this morning, for Lebanon, was captured by a body of guerrillas, and two of the cars were burned. A guard of seventeen National soldiers on the train surrendered without firing a gun.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 28TH.—April-like day, but no rain; clouds, and sunshine, and warm.
About 2 P.M. the Secretary received a dispatch stating that the enemy had appeared in force opposite Fredericksburg, and attempted, without success, to cross. A copy of this was immediately sent to Gen. Lee.
It is said that Gen. Longstreet is marching with expedition down the Valley of the Shenandoah, to flank Meade or Grant. I doubt it. But the campaign will commence as soon as the weather will permit.
A letter from G. B. Lamar, Savannah, Ga., informs the Secretary that he (L.) has command of five steamers, and that he can easily make arrangements with the (Federal) commandant of Fort Pulaski to permit them to pass and repass. His proposition to the government is to bring in munitions of war, etc., and take out cotton, charging one-half for freight. Mr. Memminger having seen this, advises the Secretary to require the delivery of a cargo before supplying any cotton. Mr. M. has a sort of jealousy of Mr. Lamar.
March 28th. Camp Hill, Bolivar Heights. Early this morning received orders to prepare three days’ rations. Reported we are to go up the valley, scouting. Waiting for orders. At noontime rumors began to circulate that the regiment was ordered home to vote. The news seemed too good to be true. Orders came to detail two men from each company to remain as camp guard. Those who were detailed to remain felt very badly. All were anxious to see home. At this time the anti-war party was very strong in Connecticut, which may seem very strange. They were called copper-heads. Late in the afternoon orders came to fall in. A gay and happy crowd, marching and singing as we go down through Harper’s Ferry, where a train was in waiting. Did not take us long to board the train, which soon got under way, bound for Baltimore. Singing, cheering, making merry as the train began to move, on over the Potomac River into Maryland.
