April 1st. Moved camp over the railroad, three-quarters of a mile. Went to town and got camp and G. equipage, and hay and wood.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Camp Holmes, Annapolis, April 1, 1864.
Dear Hannah, — . . . I am glad to find that you are so pleasantly situated in Baltimore, and hope you will enjoy your visit very much. As to my coming on to see you, I am afraid that I shall not have any chance to do so. I have not been out of camp but once since arriving here, and now I am on court-martial, which will take up all my time from nine A.M. until three P.M. every day. I am very sorry that I cannot accept the invitation for the ball this evening, but as I have said, my duties prevent.
The regiment is getting into very good shape indeed. The men begin to appear and act like soldiers. We have very little trouble with them, and the number in the guard-house is diminishing. For the worst cases, we have provided a scaffold some twenty feet from the ground, erected on poles. Here the hard cases are placed, with the ladder withdrawn at night.
The troops around here are very poorly drilled and disciplined. Many of them are old regiments just returned from furloughs, which I most sincerely hope accounts for their want of drill and discipline. They are many of them Pennsylvania troops, however, which accounts for their deficiencies or failings. . . .
I am most happy to inform you that the regiment has improved greatly in battalion drills, etc. It will be a fine regiment soon. . . .
Friday, April 1st.
We received orders this morning to join the Artillery Brigade of the Second Corps, and so, breaking camp, we marched through devious ways to a point near a little settlement called Stevensburg. As the well filled ranks of the regiment wound along across the plain, through the gullies and over the hills, we were frequently saluted by the old campaigners near whose camps we passed, with “What division is that?” “How are your heavy Infantry?” “What’s the size of your siege guns?” “How are the fortifications?” and other equally pointed and aggravating interrogations, to all of which the men either turned a deaf ear or replied with becoming emphasis.
Rain commenced falling about the time we had completed the first half of the distance and continued uninterruptedly during the rest of the day, rendering progress exceedingly toilsome and slow, and to add to our discomfort, on arriving at our destination and being kept standing and lying in the rain and mud for some time, the Colonel selected the side of a steep hill for our camping ground, in my judgment the very worst locality for such a purpose in all that region. But having long since learned obedience to orders, we occupied the ground to the best advantage, satisfied that at least no water would settle in our company streets. Immediately on locating the metes and bounds of the company camp, I gave the men liberty to put up their tents at once, or seek refuge for the night in the quarters of any acquaintances they might find in regiments lying near us. Many of the men, therefore, accepted the hospitalities of the 126 N. Y. Infantry, which was camped on a hill across the ravine from us, that regiment having been recruited mainly in the western part of the State, where my own company was originally organized, and containing many friends and acquaintances of the boys. The 126th had originally been camped in a grove, but during the winter had cut away the trees for fuel and to stockade their winter quarters, so that at the time we saw them they were surrounded only by a few stumps. Their habitations were, however, comparatively luxurious, being built about six or eight feet square and four or five feet high, of logs nicely laid in mud-mortar, and covered with two shelter tents fastened together. They were provided with fire places of the old outside, New England pattern, with cracker boxes and barrels for chimneys, and with “bunks” of small parallel poles supported by posts driven into the ground and covered with leaves and army blankets, usually occupying about half the interior and doing duty as beds, chairs and tables. I spent the night with Lieut. Lincoln of the 126th, who, being Adjutant of his regiment, had appropriated a wall tent and was most comfortably situated. Here I met Col. Bull of the 126th, formerly of Canandaigua, with whom I had studied law, and several of his officers, and spent a very pleasant evening chatting with them. The Colonel evidently enjoyed the fact that the defenders of Washington had been ordered to the front, and took great delight in reminding me that he had prophesied as much sometime before when we had met at the Capital.
One little incident occurred to-day which put me out of all conceit touching my ability entirely to control the men of my command as to “what they should eat or what they should drink or wherewithal they should be clothed.” Now it has heretofore been my pride and boast that the preeminence of Co. H in drill, discipline and all the military virtues, was owing principally to the fact that whiskey was not allowed in the company, except on very rare state occasions or after unusual fatigue, and never without my knowledge. Fancy my feelings then, as we halted at the foot of the hill waiting for the Colonel to locate our position, when I asked Sergt. Lincoln if he “had anything in his canteen,” meaning thereby to inquire for water, for my own canteen had given out on the road, and he with a prompt “Yes, sir,” handed it to me and I took a swallow that would have done credit to a sluice-way, and discovered too late that I had taken an overdose of the vilest “commissary” known to army contractors. The effect was instantaneous and apparent, and so embarrassed my respiratory and vocal powers, that I failed to find language adequate to convey my astonishment, or thanks, to the Sergeant, who evidently congratulated himself that “no remarks were made” as I handed back the canteen without note or comment. I shall, however, be more explicit in my inquiries hereafter.
Friday, April 1. — Pleasant in the morning, but raining in afternoon. Gave Casey a pass to go to Annapolis on condition that he would touch no liquor. Received an order detailing me for court-martial to meet to-day, but as I did not receive it until late in the afternoon I did not report. Rode out of camp for first time since I have been here. Went about three miles on the road to Annapolis Junction. Bath.
April 1.—Grandfather had decided to go to New York to attend the fair given by the Sanitary Commission, and he is taking two immense books, which are more than one hundred years old, to present to the Commission, for the benefit of the war fund.
Friday, 1st—The same old thing over and over. I almost wish myself back in the army; everything seems to be so lonesome here. There is nothing going on that is new, and there is no work of any kind.
April 1.—My diary has been somewhat neglected, for after looking over commissary accounts for six hours in the day, and attending to home or hospital duties in the afternoon, I am too much wearied to write much at night. There are reports of movements in the armies which portend bloody work as the season advances. Oh that the Lord may have us in his holy keeping!
We continue quite comfortable at home. Of course provisions are scarce; but, thanks to our country friends and relatives, we have never been obliged to give up meat entirely. My brother-in-law, Mr. N., has lately sent us twelve hams, so that we are much better supplied than most persons. Groceries are extremely high. “We were fortunate in buying ten pounds of tea, when it only sold for $22 per pound. Coffee now sells for $12, and brown sugar at $10 per pound. White sugar is not to be thought of by persons of mo’derate means. Milk is very scarce and high, so that we have only had it once for many months; and we, the Colonel, Mr. —— , and myself, are very glad to get a cup of tea, night and morning, sweetened with brown sugar, and without milk or cream. Before the war we would have scorned it, but now we enjoy it exceedingly, and feel ourselves very much blessed to have it. The girls have given up tea and coffee; I attempted to do it, and for several days drank only water, but such is the effect of habit upon old people, it made me perfectly miserable; I lost my elasticity of spirit; the accounts in the office went on heavily, everybody asked me if I had heard any bad news, and the family begged me not to look so unhappy. I struggled and strived against the feeling, but the girls pronounced me utterly subjugated, and insisted on my returning to my old beverage. I found myself much more easily persuaded than it is my wont to be, and was happy to resume my brown-sugar tea without cream.
On going down-stairs this evening, I found my friend Mrs. Upshur awaiting me in the parlour. She is the widow of the Hon. Abel P. Upshur, Secretary of War in Mr. Tyler’s administration, whose untimely end we remember so well. She is a refugee from Washington, and called to ask me to assist her in finding a room to accommodate herself, her sister, and her little grandson. Her present room, in the third story of a very nice house, suited her very well, but the price was raised every month, until it had become beyond her means. She is rich, but it is almost impossible for her to get funds from Washington. To obtain a room is a most difficult task, but I cheerfully promised her to do what I could; but that I must first go up the street to get some flour, for as it was $300 per barrel, we could not get one, but must purchase it at $1.25 per pound, until we could get some wheat, which we were then expecting from the country, and have it ground. She at once insisted on lending me flour until ours was ground; this being agreed to, we continued on our walk in pursuit of the room. We naturally talked of the past. She related to me a circumstance which occurred when I was a young girl, and was a striking illustration of the change which time and the war had brought on us both. She said that during the political Convention of 1829-30, she came to Richmond with her husband, who was a member of it. The first entertainment to which she was invited was given at my father’s house. When she entered the room my mother was standing about the centre of it, receiving her guests, and seeing that Mrs. Upshnr was young and a perfect stranger, she took her by the hand and seated her by Mrs. Madison, at the same time introducing her to that celebrated woman. She said it was one of the most pleasant evenings of her life, and she looked back upon it with peculiar satisfaction, for she was then introduced to Mr. Madison, Mr. Monroe, Mr. Benjamin Watkins Leigh, and many others of the celebrated men of the day, who were attending the Convention. Could we then have looked through the vista of time, and have seen ourselves in this same city, the one looking for a cheap room in somebody’s third story, the other looking for cheap bread, would we have believed it? The anecdote saddened us both for a time, but we soon recovered, and went on our way in cheerful, hopeful conversation. But we did not find the room.
Huntsville, Friday, April 1. Although the day was wet and rainy the boys played well the part of April fool, and it was one continuous jest all day. The bugler blew the breakfast call half an hour too early, calling out the men in the rain to awaken to the fact that it was April fool, etc. A squad of eight men were sent off at 3 P. M. on horseback to relieve the veterans at Whitesburg so they can return in the morning to be mustered in. Evie went with them so I am all alone. 80th Ohio started home on the 5 P. M. train.
April 1—Left camp at 8 this morning to go on picket twelve miles from our camp. Our brigade went on picket at Raccoon Ford, and picketed up to Moulton’s Ford. Raining hard to-day, also on the 2d. The river is ten feet above common watermark.
April 1, 1864, Friday. The Chronicle of this morning contains my letter, with some errors, to the Senate in response to a call relating to transfers. It makes some commotion among the Members of Congress, and will cause some in the War Department, I presume.
There was nothing of special interest to-day in the Cabinet. Stanton was not present, nor was Blair. Chase calls for largely additional taxes, which I have no doubt are necessary. There should have been heavier taxes the last two years, — at least double what have been collected. Undoubtedly demagogues will try to prevent this necessary measure for party ends, but I believe the good sense and intelligence of the people will prevail over the debasing abuse of party. I apprehend that Chase is not making the most of his position, and think he has committed some errors. No one could have altogether avoided them.
Seward spoke to me concerning the case of the Sir William Peel, captured at the mouth of the Rio Grande. She had carried contraband ostensibly to Matamoras, but portions had gone direct to Brownsville, and cotton had been brought direct from that place in return. It is claimed, however, that she was captured in Mexican waters, though near the United States, and therefore Seward says she must be given up. I asked him to whom. If captured in Mexican waters, no power but Mexico could make the claim. This he undertook to deny, provided the government of Mexico was enfeebled by revolution and not able to sustain itself. But I told him if able to assert and maintain neutrality, then Mexico, and she alone, could intervene; if not able to maintain her claim of neutrality, no other one could make a claim of Mexican jurisdiction.
I am fearful he will make a misfire on this question. He has never looked into maritime law, and will make any sacrifice of national or individual rights to keep in with England.
