March 21, Monday. Wilson returned from New York on Saturday. Called to-day and made report in case of the contractors. Says the evidence is strong and conclusive against them; will be ready with charges and specifications in about a week. I told him it was my wish there should be a speedy trial; I also desired that the wives and counsel of the prisoners might visit them. Whiting, Solicitor of the War Department, called. My letter to the Secretary of War, requesting him to direct Whiting to give this Department his assistance and advice in criminal transactions was objectionable. The Secretary could not direct him, and he would not communicate with the Secretary because the word “direct” was in the note. Told him the mere misuse of a word should not be permitted to embarrass a public measure. That I was willing to substitute another word. He said he would prepare something to meet the case. Tells me that Seward refers questions to him, some affecting Navy captures. This is an eye-opener. The two are cunning, but they expose each other.
Tom (Thomas G. Welles, son of the Secretary) has gone with Admiral Dahlgren to Fortress Monroe after the body of his son Ulric, expected from Richmond.
March 21.—A battle occurred at Henderson’s Hill, La., between a portion of General A. J. Smith’s forces, under the command of General John A. Mower, and the rebels under General Richard Taylor, resulting in the defeat and rout of the latter, with a loss of five guns with caissons, four hundred horses, and about two hundred and fifty men, in killed, wounded, and missing. In a skirmish previous to the battle, Colonel II. B. Sargent, of General Banks’s staff, was wounded severely.—(Docs. 90 and 131.)
—Last night a body of rebels made an attack on the Union pickets, near Jenkins’s Island, South-Carolina, but were repulsed at every point by the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania regiment, Colonel Campbell, doing duty at that point. The rebels approached in eight large flatboats, and came in force, evidently with a view of cutting off the pickets. Another attempt to gain a foothold on the island this night was baffled by Captain Kness’s company of the Seventy-sixth, which fired several deadly volleys into the boats, and drove them off. No casualties occurred on the Union side in either affair.—The steamer Chesapeake, surrendered by the British authorities, arrived at Portland, Maine.
—The rebel steamer Clifton, formerly the United States gunboat of that name, while attempting to run the blockade at Sabine Pass, with over a thousand bales of cotton, got aground on the bar. She remained immovable, and was burned to prevent her from falling into the hands of the Nationals. — The rebel schooner Wild Pigeon was captured by the Hendrick Hudson.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 21ST—Although cloudy, there was ice this morning, and cold all day.
Yesterday another thousand prisoners were brought up by the flag of truce boat. A large company of both sexes welcomed them in the Capitol Square, whither some baskets of food were sent by those who had some patriotism with their abundance. The President made them a comforting speech, alluding to their toils, bravery, and sufferings in captivity; and promised them, after a brief respite, that they should be in the field again.
The following conversation took place yesterday between the P resident and some young ladies of his acquaintance, with whom he promenaded:
Miss.—Do you think they will like to return to the field?
President.—It may seem hard; but even those boys (pointing to some youths around the monument twelve or fourteen years old) will have their trial.
Miss.—But how shall the army be fed?
President.—I don’t see why rats, if fat, are not as good as squirrels. Our men did eat mule meat at Vicksburg; but it would be an expensive luxury now.
After this, the President fell into a grave mood, and some remark about recognition caused him to say twice—” We have no friends abroad!”
March 21st, 1864. —The party at Goodwood was a grand success. The general and his staff were magnificently attired in new uniforms, just from Paris, via. Zeigler’s Blockade Runner. As many of Colonel Scott’s Battalion as could be spared at one time came in from Camp Randolph. There are quite a number of strangers in town and Captain Oliver, a wounded officer from a Maryland Regiment who is staying at Goodwood, was the lion of the evening. He has a lovely baritone voice and accompanies himself on the guitar. He sang “Maryland, my Maryland,” so feelingly that it brought tears to many eyes.
General Cobb’s band played for us to dance and we had a delightful time—as every one does when at Goodwood. I wore the crepe lisse dress and aunt Sue pinned white hyacinths in my hair. That grown-up person said they were perfectly lovely. The boys may not be able to make such pretty speeches but I still like them best.
Huntsville, Sunday, March 20. Awoke with bad cough and sore throat. Attended church at 10 A. M. The Presbyterian Church was crowded to overflowing by citizens, but few soldiers could gain admittance. I was up in the gallery. The funeral sermon of Mrs. Jordan was preached, very effective and eloquent. Jackson Moss and colored Henry were taken to the smallpox camp this afternoon.
Evening. I am notified to be ready to start in the morning on a five days’ scout, my team going with the left Section. Drew two days’ rations of hard-tack.
Scottsboro, Ala., March 20, 1864.
What under the sun can I tell you that will interest you. That it is intolerably dull, bah! Have just had a long visit from Lieutenant Colonel Wright, now army assistant inspector general of the division, and Lieutenant Van Dyke, A. D. C., to our new commander, General Harrow. The lieutenant is a splendid looking fellow of about 23 years, and has served up to the time of coming into our division with the 2d Corps, Army Potomac. Van Dyke informed me that a despatch from Logan was received by Harrow this a.m., informing him that Forrest was prowling around on the other side of the river with intention of crossing and making a little dash on some part of our line. “Our” railroad from Nashville via Decatur is about completed (will be finished to-morrow) and then we hope to have something to eat once more. This railroad will be all for our corps, or at least we will get the choice of what comes over it. We are at outs with the general to-day. In the field we are not accustomed to having camp guard, considering a strong picket and the regular property alarm guards sufficient. But because two or three men got drunk yesterday, and a gun or two was fired, out comes Harrow in an order and requires a strong camp guard. It may be one of the faults of our discipline, but ’tis a fact that our men would much prefer two days of any other duty, to one of camp guard. Our court gets on slowly. Oh! We had a dance a few nights since. Northern ladies, officers’ wives, and a few “Mountain Ewes” (the poetical name given the Jackson county beauties by some genius of a Yankee). We really had a delightful time; and I understand they are to be continued, one every two weeks Anything to keep a man from getting blue. I see Abraham calls for 200,000 more. Keep asking for them Lincoln, that’s right, I’m sure there are yet many who can be spared for their country’s good in more meanings than one. It’s queer that our regiment don’t get more recruits. We need them very much, and yet I dread getting them, they are so much trouble for a year. The 26th and 48th Illinois have respectively 200 and 500 and the officers are bored terribly over them. There is to my eye, as much difference between the average of recruits and the average of veterans, as there is between the physique of a tailor and that of a blacksmith. Some of the veterans who have returned to camp, are sick of their last bargain with the United States, but the majority are right glad to get back.
Sunday, 20th. Went to S. S. in the morning. Mr. Fitch spoke splendidly. Pres. Finney preached, the old and new heart, righteous and wicked man. Minnie and John came over in P. M. Called at Mrs. Holtsander’s. Went home with Minnie to tea. Then to preaching by Mr. Fairfield. Neglect of so great salvation. This has been a happy day to me and withal a sad one. Oh it seems very hard to leave home again. Would that I could go with affairs in a little different state.
Harriet Roosevelt Woolsey to her sisters, Jane and Georgeanna.
Fishkill, Sunday.
My Dears: We came up here last Thursday, and you may imagine it was somewhat of a relief to get Mother away from the everlasting Fair business that, for the last few weeks, has completely run her off her feet. . . .
New York is really in a disgusting state of fashionable excitement; nothing is talked of, or thought of, or dreamed of, but the big Metropolitan Fair! Mrs. Parker has her thousand dollar tea-sets to dispose of; Kate Hunt, her two hundred dollar curtains; Mrs. Schermer-horn, her elegant watches; and Mrs. Sombodyelse, the beautiful jewelry sent from Rome for the Sanitary Commission. . . .
Mary, and Edward Potter have been very busy with their floral department, and Mary has made some “sweet” things, one very pretty garden hat, a pure white straw with wide white ribbon streamers and a bunch of large pansies painted on the end of each, exquisitely painted, and to bring in thirty dollars or more. . . .
All the committees are at swords’ points, of course; the Restaurant ladies wish flowers in their department, to which Mrs. George Betts, chairwoman of the Floral Committee, says “as sure as they do, I will have oysters on the shell in mine, and call them seaweeds.” . . .
March 20 — This morning we were ordered to Gordonsville, to camp there until the campaign opens. We packed up at ten o’clock and left our winter resort en route to Gordonsville. We passed through Charlottesville, crossed the Rivanna half mile east of town, and camped to-night ten miles from Gordonsville.
March 20th 1864
On Friday last Julia and myself went on board the Govt Steamer at 3 o’clock P.M. and were landed at Rosiers Bluff or rather Fort Foot in about an hour after. I remained overnight and returned yesterday, leaving Julia to spend a few days with her Cousins Maj E P Taft and family. There is now about Six hundred men there and the Fort seems to be completed but the guns are not all mounted yet. There is one 400 pounder mounted and a number of 200 pounder Parrots. Lieut Col Seward is now in Com[ma]nd. His Lady came up on the Boat with me and I saw her safely landed and through the Street cars to the Secretarys House on 16th St. On my return I found a letter for Julia from her particular friend Capt McLeod now with the Army of the Cumberland in Tennessee. He is on Genl Garrards Staff. I mailed it to her without delay as I presumed She was anxious to hear from him and I was willing she should, and was not disposed to pry into their secrets by opening it. She has shown me his letters before and I doubt not will show me this if I desire her to do so as she is very open and frank with me in regard to him and all others who pay attention to her. Julia is a very discreet girl, very careful of her steps, and of the company she keeps. She will not go on to “the Avenue” alone, or without a Gentleman with her, after 12 o’clock A.M. for shoping or any other purpose. Consequently I always feel quite confident that she is safe whenever I miss her from the house. We shall start for home about the first of next month. I expect her up from the Fort in three or four days but she is enjoying herself riding on horseback and otherwise so much that she may stay a little longer.
