2nd. Got up some straw and forage. A rainy day. Slept with Bill in Q. M. Dept.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Camp Holmes, Annapolis, Md., April 2, ’64.
Dear Father, —We are in the midst of a heavy snowstorm, which seems more like November in New England than April in the “Sunny South.” Since we have been here we have only had three sunny days, a great disadvantage to us, as we want all the pleasant weather possible to drill our men.
I am detailed on court-martial, which will take up most of my time for some weeks to come. We shall have ten or twelve cases from our own regiment to be tried.
I have been riding around in the camps of some of the regiments here, and am glad to say that our men and officers look more like true soldiers than any that I have seen. They are more uniform in their dress, more respectful, and better disciplined by far, than the men of any other regiment here. Our camp is the neatest and most comfortable one that I have seen. We have cook-houses and cooking-stoves for every company, and most of our men have floors for their tents. Altogether I am very well satisfied with the regiment, and think that it will be one of the best in the corps.
In regard to shooting that man Casey, I was perfectly justified in so doing. He was formerly in the 12th Massachusetts, where he was utterly unmanageable. The lieutenant colonel of that regiment once drew a pistol on him, and told him he would shoot him if he did not keep quiet. Casey damned him and told him that he dared not shoot him, and he did not. This I heard since my trouble with him. When I had the trouble with him, he was tied up, and while in that position he kicked an officer. I told him I should shoot him if he did any such thing again. He at once kicked an officer who was passing by. I immediately drew my pistol and shot at him twice. He has often threatened my life, which of course I paid no attention to, as I knew he would never dare attempt it. I called him up a few days after shooting him, and told him that I meant to have killed him when I fired at him, but that if he would promise to let rum alone, I would release him from the guard-house. I might have had him tried by court-martial and shot, but I thought I would give him another chance. I have no doubt now but that the fellow will make a good soldier. He and other men in the regiment know that I will enforce discipline at all hazards. and that if I say that I shall shoot them, it will be done. I am firm and strict with all but always endeavor to be just and to discriminate between the totally bad and those temporarily led away) I find that I can govern men with strictness and yet be liked, although popularity is a thing that I never have and never shall seek for, with my men. If an officer does his duty, it comes of itself. The good men in the regiment feel very sorry that I did not kill Casey, as they consider him a disgrace to the regiment. On the whole I am glad that I did not, as the results produced by the shooting are just as good as if I had killed him.
I am rather discouraged at the poor condition of the portion of the Ninth Corps that I have seen. If the remainder is at all like what is here, I hope we shall soon leave it. . . .
I think that General Grant is going to concentrate all his forces on Richmond this spring and take it by overwhelming it. I dare say that he will concentrate between 150, and 200,000 men. I think that two columns will move against the city. One will probably go up James River, and I dare say that we shall form part of that force. If we only get Virginia from the rebels, we shall get North Carolina and East Tennessee, and then our lines will be shortened wonderfully. It is absolutely necessary to get some great advantage over the Confederates this spring, and with Grant at the head of our armies, I feel confident that we shall succeed in doing so. . . .
I forgot to say to you that the liquor dealer that I carried off from Philadelphia was a big rascal. Several of the citizens and policemen thanked me for taking him off, and begged me to keep him, saying that he enticed soldiers to desert, got them drunk, etc. I do not anticipate any trouble from the matter. I merely took him and delivered him over to the nearest provost marshal. I don’t think he complained much about having his head shaved. He was probably afraid of being laughed at if he did so.
Saturday, April 2. — Stormy all night, with heavy snow-storm in the morning, which changed again to rain at noon. Reported to headquarters 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, where the court-martial was ordered to meet, but found that the colonel was away in town. The court will not meet until next Monday. Received a letter from Hannah, dated Baltimore.
Saturday, April 2nd.
This morning we found the ground covered with snow to the depth of about four inches and a snow storm still raging. Went over to my company camp and found everything in the most cheerless possible condition. The field officers of the regiment have their tents up, but find them little protection, though they strenuously endeavor to get up a little fire in two or three camp stoves which have been smuggled thus far, and whiskey is in great demand. As to the men, their condition is truly deplorable, and the sick list is very long this morning owing to the exposure and consequent suffering. Having ascertained that no new orders have been received, and that most of my own company are quartered with the 126th. I returned to Lieut. Lincoln’s tent and accepted the invitation of Capt. and Lieut. Munson of the 126th to spend the night with them. After I had turned in I was aroused by Capt. Platt of the 126th, who, personating a raw recruit who had enlisted with the promise of a Captain’s commission as soon as he had joined his regiment, was convulsing a party of officers in the hut, with the recital of his grievances in not getting the promised position. Capt. Platt is a perfect mimic, and would do credit to any stage as a first-class comedian.
April 2 — Rained all last night, with a cold freezing wind blowing from the north; this morning it commenced snowing, and snowed until midday. We have had a great deal of rain and snow since we moved to this camp; the ground is well saturated with water, and our camp is in the same fix, with deep adhesive mud of the finest grade.
Saturday, 2d—They had a very cold winter here in Iowa and the ground has been frozen so deep that it is slow in thawing out. Farmers, as yet, have sown but little wheat, but they have everything ready to push the seeding as soon as the ground will permit. It is quite pleasant today, but the roads are very muddy yet, and there is no news of any importance.
Huntsville, Saturday, April 2. Dry day. No duty to-day except the policing in the afternoon which was soon completed. 63rd Illinois Veteran Volunteers started on their homeward-bound journey this evening. As they marched out to the music of their fine martial band, each heart bounded with animation at the prospect of meeting the familiar faces once more. The 48th and 59th Indiana Volunteers marched into their old camping ground which they had left two months ago for home. They had marched all the way from Nashville in five days, one hundred and thirty miles, footsore and tired with three years of service before them. In company with Griff and D. J. D. visited the theatre, first one I ever saw. Well pleased.
April 2, Saturday. John M. Forbes called. After talking on one or two subjects he spoke of the National Convention and his regret that the call was so early, and asked me as one of the committee to reconsider the subject. Told him I would hear and consider anything from him, but that my mind was deliberately made up, and I thought the sooner the nomination was made, the better united we should be. He went over the usual ground, — if the summer campaign was unfortunate, etc., etc., how could we change our candidates? I answered we did not intend to be unfortunate, but if we were, I could not see how any different candidate would help the Union cause. Reverses might strengthen the Copperheads.
He then talked of the President, — his want of energy, decision, promptness, in consequence of which the country suffered. It was evident from what I gathered that Mr. Forbes wanted another candidate than Abraham Lincoln, and hence he desired delay. Forbes means well. His heart is right. He is shrewd and sagacious, but men betray their feelings and partialities unavoidably. I have no doubt he desires to have Mr. Chase a candidate, though he speaks of only Ben Butler, whom he dislikes.
Cautioned Fox to beware of yielding to the suggestions and opinions of detective Olcott, unless fully satisfied by facts in his possession. Mr. Wilson, the counsel, must advise in these matters, and nothing be done in the way of seizure and arrest but by Mr. Wilson’s direction.
April 2.—Captain Schmidt, of company M, Fourteenth New-York cavalry, while scouting near Pensacola, Florida, with thirty of his men, came upon a party of fifty rebels belonging to the Seventh Alabama cavalry, under command of Major Randolph, C. S. A. The Nationals immediately charged them, and after a hand-to-hand fight of about ten minutes, defeated them with a loss of from ten to fifteen killed and wounded, eleven prisoners, one lieutenant, two sergeants, and eight men. The loss of the Nationals was First Lieutenant Lengerche and two men slightly wounded.
by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 2D —It rained furiously all night; wind northwest, and snowed to-day until 12 to a depth of several inches. It is still blowing a gale from the northwest.
To-day the clerks were paid in the new currency; but I see no abatement of prices from the scarcity of money, caused by funding. Shad are selling at $10 each, paper; or 50 cents, silver. Gold and silver are circulating—a little.
A letter from Liberty, Va., states that government bacon (tithe) is spoiling, in bulk, for want of attention.
From Washington County there are complaints that Gen. Longstreet’s impressing officers are taking all, except five bushels of grain and fifty pounds of bacon for each adult—a plenty, one would think, under the circumstances.
Senator Hunter has asked and obtained a detail for Mr. Daudridge (under eighteen) as quartermaster’s clerk. And Mr. Secretary Seddon has ordered the commissary to let Mrs. Michie have sugar and flour for her family, white and black.
Mr. Secretary Benjamin sent over, to-day, for passports to the Mississippi River for two “secret agents.” What for?
Gen. Lee has made regulations to prevent cotton, tobacco, etc. passing his lines into the enemy’s country, unless allowed by the government. But, then, several in authority will “allow” it without limit.
I set out sixty-eight early cabbage-plants yesterday. They are now under the snow!
