Monday, June 20th.
The regiment was ordered to report to Col. Tidball, commanding the Artillery Brigade of the Second Corps, and on reporting was ordered back to its camp. It is rumored that the Second Corps is to be relieved and sent to Washington, or somewhere else, and we Heavy Artillerists fervently hope that there may be truth in the report.
June 20th. Layed in the same position all day. The sharp-shooters were firing. It was a sight to see the dead on the field, where the 1st. Maine charged. Moved to the rear and left about 12 o’clock.
20th. Moved camp into the woods to the left of the old camp in the open field. Major Nettleton attacked with dysentery. Letter last night from George, the night before, from home. Both welcome. Drew two days’ forage.
June 20, Monday. A very busy and eventful week has passed without my having time to jot down incidents, much less observations and reflections. Among other matters, on representations made by attorneys, detectives, and others, I directed the arrest of Smith Brothers, in Boston. It is stated they have attempted to defraud the government in the delivery of the articles under contract. Mr. Wilson, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Eames, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Fox, Mr. Faxon, Admiral Smith, all concur in opinion as to the criminality of the Smiths. Yet they stand high in Boston as pious, sharp men, who profess great honesty and much religion. The arrest will bring down abuse and hostility upon me from many. But duty demanded action, however unpleasant.
Mr. Rice called on me early Saturday morning with a telegram received at midnight from Mrs. Smith, concerning the arrest of her husband. She is in great distress and has the earnest sympathy of Mr. Rice, who believes the Smiths innocent. He says the arrest has ruined forever the families, whether innocent or guilty. Mr. Gooch soon came in with a similar telegram, received at midnight, and went over the same story more briefly. Gooch felt bad and had slept but little. I told Mr. Rice that the parties should have the benefit of bail, or rather that I had written Mr. Wilson, authorizing bail. Colonel Olcott writes Fox, to whom these matters are specially committed, opposing bail; wants them confined in Fort Warren, where they have been sent, until he has examined their papers. He is a cormorant, searching papers, utterly reckless. I told Fox that I wished a firm but mild man; that I would not be oppressive. But Fox is violent against these men, who, he believes, are hypocrites and rascals. While I may not differ with him in that respect, they have rights in common with us all that must be respected and not rudely violated.
Preliminary measures for the arrest and trial of Henderson, Navy Agent at New York, have been taken. From the statements of Savage, Stover, and others he has been guilty of malfeasance, although standing high in the community as a man of piety and purity. It has been with reluctance that I have come to the conclusion that it was my duty to ask his removal and take measures against him. But I am left no alternative. That he, like all the Navy Agents, was getting rich at the public expense I have not doubted, – that there were wrong proceedings in this matter I fully believed, – and yet to break with old friends was and is unpleasant. My own impression is that Henderson has kept more accurate accounts than his predecessors, and I expect his books will square up faithfully, -– accurate in dollars and cents, – but the wrong has been in another way. His representative, and friend, and fellow church-member Odell has looked into the subject, and says he has committed great frauds.
The gold bill, as it is called, has been finally enacted and we shall soon ascertain whether it effects any good. Chase and his school have the absurd follies of the Whigs and John Law in regard to money and finance. I have no confidence in his financial wisdom or intelligence on those subjects.
We get no good army news from Petersburg. Our troops have suffered much and accomplished but little, so far as I can learn. But there is disinclination to communicate army intelligence, as usual. Were the news favorable, it would be otherwise.
The President in his intense anxiety has made up his mind to visit General Grant at his headquarters, and left this P. M. at five. Mr. Fox has gone with him, and not unlikely favored and encouraged the President in this step, which I do not approve. It has been my policy to discourage these Presidential excursions. Some of the Cabinet favored them. Stanton and Chase, I think, have given them countenance heretofore.
He can do no good. It can hardly be otherwise than harmful, even if no accident befalls him. Better for him and the country that he should remain at his post here. It would be advantageous if he remained away from the War Department and required his Cabinet to come to him.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 20TH.—A fog; subsequently dry and dusty, but the sun in a haze, like Indian summer.
As I feared; there is trouble with Beauregard. He drew off his troops from in front of Bermuda Hundred to reinforce the fewer regiments at Petersburg, and saved that city, and Gen. Lee had to drive the enemy off again from the abandoned line. It is said Beauregard acted contrary to orders, and has been suspended from command by order of the President. At all events, Lee is at Petersburg.
Sheridan’s raiders are near the city again, followed and preceded by Wade Hampton and Fitz Lee. Their cannon has been beard all the morning.
Mr. Secretary Memminger has resigned.
Same place, front of Twin Mountains,
June 20, 1864, 11 a.m.
Rebels still on the mountain, a good deal of our artillery, a little of theirs, and not much musketry this morning. Wheeler is in our rear, but we don’t care for that. I do hope, though, that Forrest will not be allowed to come over here. We are all well and feeling fine, but wishing very much to see the level country beyond these mountains. In a “Commercial” of the 15th I see the Rebel loss in the charge of Bates’ (Rebel) division on the 27th of May was 72 killed and 350 wounded, and 56 missing. That charge was made almost altogether on our brigade, and my skirmish line did three-fourths of the damage. The 40th Alabama we captured the other day inquired for the 8th Illinois. They fought each other at Vicksburg and got well acquainted in the rifle pits. McPherson and Logan have just gone down to the front and there is talk of a fight to-day, but it is hard telling when one will have to go in. Can’t tell until the order to “commence” firing is heard. Wagstaff will be home in a few days. I would like to date my next from a new place, but Sherman and Johnston will decide that matter.
This is becoming tedious. Johnston has no regard for one’s feelings. We are all exceedingly anxious to see what is the other side of these mountains, but this abominable Johnston has no idea of letting us take a look until he is forced to. He is a good-natured fellow in some respects, too, for here we have our “flies” stretched, and our camp fires and our wagons around us in good range of his guns and not a shot does he give us. You understand that we are in reserve. Our front line is along the foot of the mountain, and we lay back about a mile. But it is all open between us and the front, and we sit in the shade, and (as we have this p.m.) see 20 Rebel guns firing on our men. Why they don’t make us get out of this is beyond me to tell. Hundreds of wagons and ambulances are parked around us, and right by us is parked the reserve artillery of our corps, all in plain view of the Rebels on the mountains, but not a gun is fired at us. Yesterday they dropped one shell a hundred yards to our right and quit, as much as to say: “We could stir you Yanks if we wanted to, but it is all right.”
I don’t know how this looks to outsiders, but it seems to me as the coolest thing of the campaign, pitching tents right under the enemy’s guns, without a particle of cover. Being under artillery fire in a fight or while supporting a battery is all right, and if we were in rifle pits or behind the crest of a hill ‘twould be ditto, but moving right out and pitching tents under the noses of Rebel 32-pounders beats me and I guess it beats them. We all feel a pride in the thing and I’d see the the Johnnies to the devil before I’d dodge the biggest cannon ball they’ve got there. The artillery this p.m. has been the heaviest I have heard this campaign.
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Claysville, Ala., Sun., June 20, 1864.—Colonel Chapman goes tomorrow morning with Companies A. B and K too Whitesburg, ten miles south of Huntsville, where he will have command.
It seems very healthy here. The regiment is uncommonly healthy. We shall occupy more than 40 miles of the river. I shall have about 250 men here, or close by. We are making arrangments to get mails and supplies by river.
We are not entirely out of the world, as a gunboat patrols the river from Bridgeport to Decatur once or twice a week; and there is a railroad from Nashville to Decatur, you know. This boat will carry us up and down at any time.
We hear that Forrest has whipped us near Memphis and is making his way to Decatur. This will give the 18th Michigan a job, if true. Colonel Jim Howe’s brigade is there, including the 32d Wisconsin. General Granger is there, too. The 13th Wisconsin is not there. I hear that the 8th Wisconsin is at Vicksburg on its way home on veteran furlough. I wish you to show all possible attention to my Company K boys. Tell them that I do not do much fighting now-a-days, but I think a heap about them.
June 20th. A hot morning. Traveled all night. Most of the time at a lively gait, at times on the run, to keep with the wagons and artillery. Sometimes we would hang on to the tailboards in order to keep up. Don’t know how many miles we have covered since we left in front of Lynchburg. Stopped this morning for rest and rations, which consist only of fresh meat, broiled and fried. We have been informed that this part of Virginia is known as the Blue Gap country. We have not stopped long enough to learn the names of the places that we pass through. We are along the line of a railroad leading to Lynchburg. This railroad, its bridges, and property, are destroyed as we go along. Some of the bridges are over deep ravines. When the bridge is gone, the cars are run over into the deep ravines. They go down with a great crash.
Constant skirmishing is kept with the rear guard and the enemy. The rear guard reports that many of our boys are falling into the hands of the rebels, as they are worn out and cannot keep up with the army. The suffering of our men is something fierce. Clothing and shoes are wearing out. Many are barefoot while we go pushing over these rough roads. We are still guarding the wagon train. At times we are obliged to trot in order to keep up. There is room in many of the wagons so that the guard might ride. It is against orders. Soldiers must obey orders. On the road we pass a few houses once in a while. Inhabitants very few in this rough country. Mostly old men, women, and children. Young men are in the rebel army. These people look as though they were suffering for the southern cause. Very little forage can be found in this mountainous country.
Sunday, 19th—It rained hard all day. Cannonading commenced early this morning and was kept up all day, being very heavy in the center. We have outflanked the rebels’ right and they have fallen back from their first line of rifle pits and have placed their heavy guns on high points of ground. It is supposed that they are on the retreat towards Atlanta, as it is reported that they have fallen back from two to four miles and are building strong earthworks. The First Brigade of our Fourth Division has now formed a line of battle beyond their former first line of rifle pits. The Thirteenth and the Fifteenth Iowa Regiments moved out in the front this afternoon.
The rain today has been a great benefit to those who are wounded. May God help them and stand by them, and may they return thanks unto Him! May they ever look unto Him for their support and help.
Huntsville, Sunday, June 19. Relieved from guard 9 A. M. Staid in camp all day reading papers received by mail. Four hundred rebel prisoners passed through on their way North. One train staid at the depot most of the afternoon. They were the same men that we dug out of Vicksburg last summer. Plucky as ever. They will not repent until utter ruin overtakes them. Citizens and soldiers flocked around to see the sights. Some ladies tremblingly inquired for friends and relations, others pressing forward anxious to bestow a smile upon those whom they sympathized with.
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