24th-29th. Busy at work supplying the regt. with horses, etc. 29 officers, on extra duty, returned to regt. Orders to march as soon as possible. Papers from home. Busy exchanging horses. Got 33 good ones in Washington.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
April 29 — I was on a spring ramble to-day on Peter’s Mountain, about three miles west of Gordonsville. The mountain is smooth, but steep; the greater part of it is arable and some portion of it under cultivation. Peter’s Mountain is a sugar-loaf knob rising from a range of hills or low mountains known as South Mountain; the range runs nearly parallel with the Blue Ridge, and is about twenty miles distant. The peak I was on far exceeds in elevation every other part of the whole range, and the crest of the peak, which is cleared and under cultivation, affords a grand and magnificent panoramic view of all the surrounding country. To the north, east, and south a broad expanse of undulating country stretches away to the dim distance, until the bending blue stoops down and kisses the verdant hills. A thousand fields are spread over the variegated and diversified sea of living green that was basking in the golden, genial sunshine of spring; here and there a dash of snowy spray is cast up by an orchard with a treasure of blooms in full array that gleam like dazzling islands of snow swimming in an emerald sea.
Five or six miles to the east the white tents of General Lee’s army looked like vast herds of roaming sheep taking their midday siesta on carpets of nature’s brightest and loveliest green. To the west the Blue Ridge lifts its bumpy and notched crest skyward, with its hollowy and ridged side studded with sunny fields and rural homes that hang like pictures on a crumpled, mossy wall. One hundred miles from where I stood, and in a southwest direction, I saw the Peaks of Otter, the highest points of the Blue Ridge, in Virginia. With graceful sweep and gentle curve they shoot their storm-swept crests far up into the blue realm, piercing the home of the clouds. The Peaks of Otter are in the northwestern part of Bedford County. There is a signal station on Peter’s Mountain and the red flag has been fluttering all afternoon, a sure indication that there will be some important movements on hand before many days roll by. I was at the station this afternoon; while I was there I saw some troops in the distance, marching in the northwestern part of Louisa County. I asked the signal man who they were, and he told me that it was General Longstreet’s corps coming up from the direction of Louisa Court House and moving toward Gordonsville.
Friday, 29th—It is quite cool and cloudy, with some rain this afternoon. The Ohio river is rising fast. The veterans keep arriving daily at Cairo. The Seventeenth Army Corps is being reorganized as fast as possible and sent up the Tennessee river and landed at Clifton, and is then to march across to Huntsville, Alabama. Our mustering rolls are being made out and we are to be mustered in tomorrow. I received my discharge from the old service, dated December 31, 1863, and sent the certificate home for father to keep till I return.
Friday, April 29.— Left camp at about 7.15 A.M. and marched to Catlett’s Station, where I saw Billy Swan[1] and Captain O’Beirne of the 14th Regiment of Regulars. From there we marched to Warrenton Junction, then to Licking Run, some two miles farther. Here we were encamped for the night, having marched about 13 miles. We threw out pickets, etc., to protect ourselves from guerillas, but were not troubled by them. It seems that we are to guard the railroad from Catlett’s Station to Rappahannock Station, relieving General Griffin’s division of the Fifth Corps. We expect to remain in camp here for a day or two. Weather pleasant. We have been very fortunate in our march, having had but one rainy night for a week.
[1] W. W. Swan, Harvard 1859.
Huntsville, Friday, April 29. Hot and sultry day. Health very good with exceptions. Took the box to the express office in the morning; had to obtain a permit from Provost Marshal. The express office was crowded so that I had to wait nearly two hours. Boxes, barrels and bundles—no end to them! The four-gun organization was completed. Men distributed and Sergeant Dixon has charge of second piece, hence I have 3rd Platoon. Drilled Battery two hours in the afternoon on grass plat near depot, pleasant if it was not so warm. Everybody is ready for the speediest word, no more ever inquiring where we are to go, accepting the result as immaterial.
April 29, Friday. Usher relates to me to-day some damaging stories concerning the Treasury. I cannot but think them exaggerations. I know, from some reliable and unmistakable sources, that there have been improprieties among the subordinates of a licentious character, and that Chase is cognizant of the facts. It has surprised me that, knowing the facts, he should have permitted the person most implicated to retain a position of great trust. Only great weakness, or implication in error would give a solution. I do not for a moment entertain the latter, and the former is not a trait in his character.
These matters cannot be suppressed. Blair says Chase will not assent to a committee. He cannot avoid it, and since Frank Blair has left, I think he will not attempt it. Colfax, the Speaker, will give him pretty much such a committee as he wishes. The majority will be friends of Chase, as they should be, and none probably will be unfair opponents.
The President to-day related to two or three of us the circumstances connected with his giving a pass to the half-sister of his wife, Mrs. White. He gave the details with frankness, and without disguise. I will not go into them all, though they do him credit on a subject of scandal and abuse. The papers have assailed him for giving a pass to Mrs. White to carry merchandise. Briefly, Mrs. W. called at the White House and sent in her card to Mrs. Lincoln, her sister, who declined to receive or see her. Mrs. W. two or three times repeated these applications to Mrs. L. and the President, with the same result. The President sent a pass, such as in some cases he has given, for her to proceed South. She sent it back with a request that she might take trunks without being examined. The President refused. She then showed her pass and talked “secesh” at the hotel, and made application through Mallory first and then Brutus Clay. The President refused the former and told Brutus that if Mrs. W. did not leave forthwith she might expect to find herself within twenty-four hours in the Old Capitol Prison.
April 29.—The English schooner Miriam was captured in lat 25° 25′ N. long. 84° 30′, W., by the National vessel Honeysuckle.
—An expedition, under the command of Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Hooker, sent to Carter’s Creek from the Potomac flotilla, succeeded in destroying eleven boats and canoes, a large quantity of grain, and a number of log-huts, which had been used as barracks by the rebel soldiers. In approaching these, Acting Master Street, who had charge of the landing party, consisting of twenty-five seamen, fell in with a company of rebel cavalry, who, mistaking his force for the advance-guard of a much larger one, put spurs to their horses and fled. Lieutenant Hooker well planned the expedition, and Acting Master Street displayed boldness and decision in carrying it out.—Com. Parker’s Report.
— Considerable excitement was caused in Richmond, Va., to-day, by the presence of the rebel government impressing agents for the collection of horses for the use of General Lee’s army.
by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 29TH.—A letter from Major-Gen. Hoke, dated Plymouth, April 25th, and asking the appointment of Lieut.-Col. Dearing to a brigadiership, says his promotion is desired to lead a brigade in the expedition against Newbern. The President directs the Secretary to appoint him temporarily “for the expedition.” Soon we shall know the result.
By flag of truce boat, it is understood Northern papers admit a Federal defeat on the Red River, the storming of Plymouth, etc., and charge the Federal authorities at Washington with having published falsehoods to deceive the people. Gold was $1.83.
Troops are passing through Richmond now, day and night, concentrating under Lee. The great battle cannot be much longer postponed.
Last night was clear and cold, and we have fire to-day.
The President has decided not to call into service the reserve class unless on extraordinary occasions, but to let them remain at home and cultivate the soil.
It is now probable the Piedmont Railroad will be completed by the 1st June, as extreme necessity drives the government to some degree of energy. If it had taken up, or allowed to be taken up, the rails on the Aquia Creek Road a year ago, the Piedmont connection would have been made ere this; and then this famine would not have been upon us, and there would have been abundance of grain in the army depots of Virginia.
April 29th. Reveille at daylight, then roll call, breakfast. Packed up waiting for orders to march, while in line. The command being given, we began our march, passing through town, out on the Winchester Pike. Macadamized roads were known as pikes. Going towards Winchester it was named after that town. Going from Winchester the same road was known as the Martinsburg Pike because it led to that town. Just outside of Martinsburg the 8th Corps was forming, under the command of General Sigel. This corps was also called The Army of West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Our regiment was the last to arrive. Received hearty cheers from the Ohio and West Virginia boys, which we returned in good old Yankee style. We could cheer. At this point we were brigaded with the 28th and 126th Ohio Regiments under the command of Colonel Moore, 28th Ohio, a German officer. About nine o’clock we began our march, the day being very hot and the road very dusty. Pushing up the valley. After a slow, tedious march, late in the day, a halt was made at Bunker Hill, a small village on the main pike. A supply of good water. Tired and leg weary. Our record for today’s march, ten miles.
