March 22.—Major-General Lew. Wallace assumed command of the Middle Department, Eighth army corps, headquarters at Baltimore, Md., and issued orders in accordance therewith.— The Supreme Court of Georgia to-day unanimously affirmed the constitutionality of the confederate anti-substitute law.—A heavy snowstorm prevailed in Richmond, Va., and vicinity, the average depth being about one foot.
—Major-General Banks, from his headquarters at New-Orleans, Louisiana, issued general orders constituting a Board of Education, and defining their duties and powers.
March 22.—Our most Christian enemy, profiting by the teaching of such men as Beecher, not content to employ the scum of the earth to destroy us, have formed a plot foul enough to blacken the name of a Nero. They sent a band of assassins into Virginia for the purpose of freeing the prisoners and setting them loose on the helpless inhabitants, with full power to do their worst and lay waste the whole country. Positive orders were given to give no quarter to President Davis and his cabinet. They were to be murdered. Richmond was to be left a mass of ruins. Colonel Dahlgren, one of the leaders in this dark conspiracy, has gone to his final account. Papers with the whole design and the names of his accomplices were found on his person. Some of the men in his command have been captured. Many of our people are insisting to have them hung as brigands, as they have forfeited all claim to be treated as prisoners of war; but our high-souled president is firm in his resolve not to have them punished. It is said that some of his cabinet have protested against this leniency, but to no effect.
We have had a very heavy fall of snow. All enjoyed it. Old and young were out snow-balling each other. Drs. H. and B. got up a very fine equipage in the way of a sleigh. The runners were made by one of the men, and the carriage part was a packing-box. Instead of furs, blankets were used. The whole affair would have been a most attractive turnout in Broadway. After giving some of the Newnan ladies a drive, Dr. H. called and took Miss W. On her return she gave me a ludicrous description of her ride; said that the doctor had to get out and push her, the sleigh, and horse along. I did not venture in it, as it gave signs of dissolution, and I did not like the idea of being dumped into a bed of slush, or being forced to walk home through it .
I have just received a letter from an officer who is in Longstreet’s corps. Ho says our army has fallen back from Knoxville to a place called Lick Creek, on the Virginia road. This gentleman says that East Tennessee is completely sacked, and that he thinks many of the inhabitants will die of starvation. He also says there has been a religious revival in the army. The whole of that corps has re-enlisted for the war, no matter how long it may last . Our whole army has done the same.
I have been told that nearly all of East Tennessee is Union. One of the soldiers informed me that while passing through portions of it with prisoners, the ladies gave the best they had to the prisoners; and although our men were as much in want of food, they would not give them a mouthful.
Tuesday, 22d—We reached La Salle at 2 o’clock this afternoon and changed cars for Davenport, arriving at our destination at dark. I took lodging at the Davis House. The taverns are all crowded, because of so many soldiers coming home on their furloughs.
March 22, Tuesday. At the Cabinet-meeting Chase manifested a little disturbance of mind at my letter respecting the Ann Hamilton and the Princeton, sent in reply to his somewhat arrogant letter to me. Seward asked him if he had any gold to sell. He said no, if S. wanted to make money he had better get a permit from General Butler to carry in military supplies, and then persuade me to let the vessel pass the blockade. He then made a wholly perverted statement; confounded the two cases; said he never looked behind the military permit, which was sufficient for the Treasury. “But,” said I, “General Butler explicitly states that this trading permit to a Baltimorean to trade in North Carolina was based on your 52, 53, and 55 trade regulations, and I should like to know if they will bear that construction.” “Ah,” said he, “the permit was before the regulations were promulgated.” “No,” I replied, “they were distinctly and particularly cited as his authority.”
Chase did not pursue the subject, but tried to pass it off as a joke. His jokes are always clumsy; he is destitute of wit. It was obvious that he was nettled and felt himself in the wrong.
Seward said the Chesapeake had arrived from Halifax under convoy of the revenue cutter [Miami]. This whole thing is ludicrous. A convoy was no more wanted than if the vessel had been in Long Island Sound. But Seward applied to me for a gunboat. I declined and turned him over to the Treasury, if an armed vessel was required to bring the prisoners, which was a part of the case. It is a simple business, but an ostentatious parade and announcement may glorify the State Department.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 22D.—Cloudy morning, with ice; subsequently a snowstorm all day long. No war news. But meat and grain are coming freely from the South. This gives rise to a rumor that Lee will fall back, and that the capital will be besieged; all without any foundation.
A Mrs. _____ from Maryland, whose only son is in a Federal prison, writes the President (she is in this city) that she desires to go to Canada on some secret enterprise. The President favors her purpose in an indorsement. On this the Secretary indorses a purpose to facilitate her design, and suggests that she be paid $1000 in gold from the secret service fund. She is a Roman Catholic, and intimates that the bishops, priests, and nuns will aid her.
Huntsville, Monday, March 21. Reveille sounded at 4 A. M. Fed and harnessed before breakfast, and prepared for the march, two days’ rations in haversack, three days’ in wagon. As soon as it was light, hitched up on the sixth piece, the caisson to be left behind; seven cannoneers. It was very cold, windy morning. Waited until 8 A. M. when the order came to unhitch and unharness, the expedition over, which was gladly obeyed by all except the recruits, they being yet anxious to taste the poetry of war. The day continued very cold and very uncomfortable for the sick, which are daily increasing. T. J. Hungerford continues very low, yet the doctor speaks cheerfully. He was visited by the medical director of the Division to-day. A heavy mail received, of which I received two goodly ones. Corporal Dixon was to-day made sergeant of our Platoon, vice Hamilton promoted. E. W. Evans promoted to corporal to fill vacancy, in which capacity he had been acting for over a year. Sat up with Tommy till 1 A. M., giving him powders every three hours; stimulants, liquors, every two. All alone, a time for sad reflections and longing thoughts.
21st. Packed up in the morning. Went to Cleveland on the P. M. train. George went to the depot with me. Thede rode the horses. Saw Will, took supper with him. Went to the depot and around somewhat, expecting Fred. Good visit with Delos. Put up at Forest City Hotel. Saw most of the Co. Boys. Half of 2nd O. V. C. on a drunk.
March 21 — Renewed our march this morning and moved to within two miles of Gordonsville, and camped.
Gordonsville is a little railroad town situated in the southwestern edge of Orange County, and at the juncture of the Virginia Central and the Orange and Alexandria railroads. The country right around the little town is level, and some of the land seems to be of good quality; but on the east side of town the chincapin bushes are close by, which is not a very good indication of a deep or fertile soil.
Diary And Memoranda, 1864
Mar. 21st. On account of slight illness I have been unable to keep my book. On the 16th, Co. B moved to Fort Woodbury. I like it very well. Col. T. is trying to get the reg’t into the field as Light Infantry; I hope he will succeed. I intend to re-enlist tomorrow.
Monday, 21st—We reached Cairo at 4 o’clock this morning and I went ashore with my comrades to the Soldiers’ Home for breakfast. We then went to the provost marshal’s office for our railroad transportation from Cairo to Davenport. We boarded the train at noon and arrived at Centralia at 5 o’clock. We had to lie here until after midnight when we took the Illinois Central for La Salle, Illinois. The train was so crowded that in order to get a comfortable place, we bought sleeping berths. The weather is cold here, and we saw snowbanks for the first time in two years.
