Thursday, April 21. — Court-martial adjourned until to-morrow at 9 A.M. Regiment busy all day turning in dress-coats, caps, etc. Ordered five days’ rations cooked to be ready by 6 P.M. to-morrow. Had a room hired at Annapolis for regimental baggage, a portion of which was taken down to-day. Mills was detailed yesterday on General Stevenson’s staff, and likewise the quartermaster, Lieutenant Shurtleff, was detailed as acting adjutant, and Lieutenant Cartwright as acting quartermaster.
Monday, April 21, 2014
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Edgefield, Tenn., April 21, 1864.—Everything is in statu quo here. I have but little to do now but think and read. I begin to discuss the question in my own mind whether you had better not come down here after a little, after the spring campaign is fairly progressing, which will be in a month or so; then if we are left here we shall be pretty sure of remaining here all summer.
21st. Went to town half a dozen times. No train comes yet. Struck tents and moved out to camp. Parole before dark. Turned over property. Slept in open air.
Thursday, April 21st.
Received an official copy of the order promulgated yesterday, and reported in person to Col. Bates, President of the Board. I found him drilling his regiment, and made an appointment to meet to-morrow at 9 o’clock at Corps Headquarters at Culpepper.
April 21st, 1864.
We received orders today to be ready to march at a minute’s notice, with five days’ cooked rations. I was prepared for an early move, but did not expect it quite so soon. I know not where we are going; care not, only as it takes me farther from my loved ones and renders communication more difficult. When we go is equally uncertain. We will not take the field immediately, unless the most urgent necessity requires it. Our A tents are to be sent in advance, which means we encamp at some other point. There is yet much to be done to render the corps effective. The work of reorganizing has hardly begun. Brigades and divisions are not formed. We have no supply train—no artillery—no ambulance. Few recruits have arrived, and those that have are neither armed or drilled. We have had no general inspection or grand review. No, there is not to be a general movement of the whole corps at present. As I read the signs, this is only a change of rendezvous.
The Eighth Michigan have struck tents and sent them to the depot. The second move tomorrow at 4 a. m.
April 21— Took stage this morning at New Market and arrived in Staunton at sunset. When I got on the stage this morning I noticed a man on it wearing a Yankee uniform. He asked me whether I was going to Lee’s army; I told him that was my destination. He remarked then that there would be some hard fighting this spring and summer, as their side was making great preparations for an aggressive, vigorous, and an active campaign, by filling up their regiments with new recruits, and, if anything, were increasing the size of their armies. He was in good humor, and I saw that he was no prisoner. I asked him what he was doing here in Dixie, and where he was going. He said that he was very tired of war and that he knew that there would be a great deal of hard marching and hot fighting this year, and the easiest way out of it all would be to desert and come South, which he did; and was now on his way to the south side of the Virginia Central Railroad, where, he said, Yankee deserters are allowed to roam at will.
I put up for the night at the American Hotel, but just for lodging, as meals cost five dollars and my pocketbook is now struggling in the last stage of consumption, and I am almost certain that the consumption will be sure to win, especially if I would do any eating at this house, as one meal would clean me up on the currency question until next pay-day. This is a beautiful, bright, balmy, spring night. Luna, queen of the stars, is sailing in a cerulean sea full of diamond-like isles, and not a single speck of cloud or mist stains the azure dome. The roofs and the spires and the verdant hills that are piled up around Staunton all glow and shimmer in a silvery sea of moonlight. After nightfall I strolled through the principal streets, most of which as they approach the suburbs bend skyward as they mount the encircling hills.
I saw the lunatic asylum, institute for the blind, and the deaf and dumb asylum — all good substantial brick structures.
Thursday, 21st—This is a warm, pleasant day and I bade farewell to my home folks and friends and started back to the army, my thirty-day furlough being almost up. I went on horseback, brother John going along as far as Allen’s Grove, to Uncle John Moore’s to remain over night, while John returned home, taking back the horse which I rode. Though the spring has been very late, the farmers here have all their small grain in and it is starting fine. The country around Allen’s Grove is very nice farming land; it is rolling, with plenty of timber and close to a good market; it is becoming very thickly settled. Scott county, Iowa.
Huntsville, Thursday, April 21. Awoke this morning with eyes heavily sealed and jaw from which the tooth was taken swollen to a mouthful. Felt very well otherwise. Pleasant ride to the spring in the morning. Returned in time to fall in for policing, a big job, very dusty and wind blowing. Did not get through till noon. Artillery firing heard this afternoon, at times very rapidly. Gunboat on Tennessee River it is said. Skirmish in vicinity of Decatur continues.
April 21, Thursday. There was a pleasant party at our house last evening, with an attendance of about three hundred. All passed off pleasantly, and all who expressed themselves seemed much gratified, as we were. It is spoken of as one of the most agreeable parties of the season.
Olcott and Wilson were here on Tuesday. The former is very full of frauds in Boston and is rabid to be at the books of certain parties. The man has an insatiate appetite to get on the track of suspected parties. He shows not only keen scent but much sagacity. Mr. Wilson has his charges and specifications against the parties in New York prepared and in the hands of the copyists.
April 21.—Major-General Peck issued the following general order at Newbern, N. C, this day: “With feelings of the deepest sorrow, the Commanding General announces the fall of Plymouth, N. C, and the capture of its gallant commander, Brigadier-General H. W. Wessells, and his command. This result, however, did not obtain until after the most gallant and determined resistance had been made. Five times the enemy stormed the lines of the General, and as many times were they handsomely repulsed with great slaughter, and but for the powerful assistance of the rebel iron-clad ram and the floating sharp-shooter battery, the Cotton Plant, Plymouth would still have been in our hands. For their noble defence, the gallant General Wessells and his brave band have and deserve the warmest thanks of the whole country, while all will sympathize with them in their misfortune.
“To the officers and men of the navy, the Commanding General renders his thanks for their hearty cooperation with the army, and the bravery, determination, and courage that marked their part of the unequal contest. With sorrow he records the death of the noble sailor and gallant patriot, Lieutenant Commander C. W. Flusser, United States navy, who in the heat of battle fell dead on the deck of his ship, with the lanyard of his gun in his hand.
“The Commanding General believes that these misfortunes will tend not to discourage the troops, but to nerve the army of North-Carolina to equal deeds of bravery and gallantry hereafter.
“Until further orders, the headquarters of the sub-district of the Albemarle will be at Roanoke Island. The command devolves upon Colonel D. W. Wardrop, of the Ninety-ninth New-York infantry.”
—The English schooner Laura was captured off Velasco, Texas, by the National gunboat Owasco.—As expedition in boats, from the gunboats Niphon and Fort Jackson, under command of Captain Breck, of the Niphon, proceeded to within seven miles of Wilmington, N. C, where they succeeded in destroying the North-Carolina salt-works and other property valued at over $100,000, and brought away fifty-five prisoners—laborers in the salt-works.
