Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

December 2014

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

December 31, 2014

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Saturday, 31st—Still in camp and on short rations at that, the quartermaster having cut us down to one-half rations. We cannot understand why this should be, though there must be a good reason for the order. The fire department of the city came out this morning for inspection by General Sherman, and made a fine appearance, considering that the city had been captured only ten days before.[1] Our men commenced today to fortify the city. They are throwing up heavy earthworks ten feet through, protected by a ditch on the outside, ten feet deep by twenty feet wide at the top and ten feet at the bottom. The fortifications are built just inside the city. We have to tear down a great many houses in order to get lumber to support the earth thrown up, and with which to make platforms for the artillery.

And so this is the end of the year 1864. It has been a year of hard, active service for our brigade, as also for the entire corps. The Eleventh Iowa has done its part and suffered severely, Company E alone having lost seven men by bullet in the siege of Atlanta, besides a number having been severely wounded.

[1] It seems that there was the best of understanding between the people of Savannah and General Sherman. They tried to make it as pleasant for the Union army as they could, and Sherman treated them with great consideration.—A. G. D.

Post image for A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

December 30, 2014

A Soldier's Diary, The Story of a Volunteer, David Lane, (17th Mich. Vol. Infantry)

December 30th, 1864.

Company G has been relieved from detached duty and has rejoined the regiment. I left my snug little house this morning at sunrise. Rain fell thick and fast all the forenoon. In the afternoon it changed to sleet and snow, growing quite cold the while, until now, evening, it is quite winterlike. But I am already provided for until I can build a house of my own. I had no sooner arrived than a good Samaritan, by pity moved, opened his heart and door and bade me enter. I will soon have another house as comfortable as the one I left. I will now have one tent mate, as I cannot build alone. We sent our brick and lumber from Cedar Bottom yesterday. Monday we will get the logs and build our house.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

December 30, 2014

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

December 30th.—A clear night and frosty morning.

We have no news except that gleaned from Northern papers. Gen. Hood is unable to cross the Tennessee River (now swollen), and would soon be attacked again by superior numbers.

Congress was in secret session yesterday, probably perfecting the bill for the suspension of the privilege of habeas corpus.

Gen. Bragg is credited with the repulse of the enemy at Wilmington.

During the late raid a close-fisted farmer lost heavily: several hundred barrels of flour and corn, one hundred barrels of apples, a large amount of bacon and sorghum, which he was hoarding, and thus contributing to produce famine in the midst of plenty. His neighbors (those few not following his example) express no sympathy for him. The enemy did not burn Liberty Mills—once in their possession, in which is stored a large amount of grain—for some unexplained reason.

The enemy’s papers show that they have regular and expeditious intercourse with parties here, and are kept correctly advised of everything that transpires. This is a continuance of Mr. Benjamin’s policy by Mr. Seddon. It may be lucrative to those immediately interested; but if not abated, will be the death of the Confederate States Government—as I have told them all repeatedly.

And the “Bureau of Conscription” still exists, and seems destined to “be in at the death.”

I paid Lieut. Parker just $30.75 for a load of coal; selling at $75.

I saw selling at auction, to-day, second-hand shirts at $40 each, and blankets at $75. A bedstead, such as I have bought for $10, brought $700. But $50 in Confederate States paper are really worth only $1 in specie.

Jos. R. Anderson & Co. writes that unless their hands are sent in from the trenches, they cannot fill orders for ordnance stores; and Gen. Gorgas (he has been promoted) approves it, saying it is known that a number of these hands intend to desert the first opportunity.

The last call for the clerks to return to the trenches was responded to by not a man of Capt. Manico’s company, War Department proper.

Post image for What a fellow Sherman is! and how well Grant is managing!

What a fellow Sherman is! and how well Grant is managing!

December 30, 2014

Adams Family Civil War letters; US Minister to the UK and his sons.

Henry Adams, private secretary of the US Minister to the UK, to his brother, Charles.

London, December 30, 1864

Sturgis came out one evening quite exuberant, and “What will you give for the news?” says he. It was that of Sherman’s arrival at the coast, and Hood’s defeat at Nashville. You may judge of our exultation. It seems at last that this war is going to come to its end. This last campaign will, I suppose, narrow the field of the war to the Atlantic States, and when that is done, the result is inevitable and must come soon. What a fellow Sherman is! and how well Grant is managing! The combinations of this war are getting so tremendous that there will be nothing left for us in a foreign war except to make the moon a basis, and to march our armies overland to conquer Europe. The result has thrown great consternation into the minds of the English, and with reason. This Canadian business is suddenly found to be serious, and the prospect of Sherman marching down the St. Lawrence, and Farragut sailing up it, does n’t seem just agreeable. They are annoyed at Dix’s order. If they are not sharp they will find annoyance a totally inadequate expression for it.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

December 30, 2014

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Friday, 30. — A cold morning, but ground thaws during day. March seventeen miles to Martinsburg. Men in fine spirits. Camp in the snow!

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

December 30, 2014

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Nashville, Friday, Dec. 30. A warm, misty day, little rain. Found time to-day to write a couple of letters. Mail came in but none for me. Health of all is very good, though great dissatisfaction prevails in regard to rations. Only a little over half rations of hard-tack given us. They call it post rations, not enough to satisfy the appetites of those who have been used to live on fighting rations. “Anywhere but Nashville” is the cry.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

December 30, 2014

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

30th. Went to work cutting wood for quarters.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

December 30, 2014

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Friday, 30th—The Twentieth Army Corps was reviewed by General Sherman at 9 a. m. They came out with their flying colors and brass bands, making a big showing. But when there’s a fight on hand they are not as forward as they might be; it suits them better to garrison a place after it has been taken. We have company drill once a day, and the substitutes have to drill twice a day when in camp. The Thirteenth and Sixteenth Iowa and the Thirty-second Illinois, moved their camps this afternoon to make room for the fortifications planned. Sherman has ordered Savannah to be strongly fortified. Heavy guns will be mounted so that no enemy can get close enough to do any harm with the ordinary field guns. The engineers went to work today laying out the places where the forts are to be built.

Post image for Arguments in Charleston over who commands the “torpedo boat.”– A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

Arguments in Charleston over who commands the “torpedo boat.”– A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

December 29, 2014

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones,The American Civil War

December 29th.—Rained all night; spitting snow this morning.

Although Gen. Bragg announces that the enemy’s fleet has disappeared off Wilmington, still the despondency which has seized the croakers remains. It has probably sailed against Charleston, to co-operate with Sherman. Sherman says officially that he got, with Savannah, about 1000 prisoners, 150 heavy guns, nearly 200 cars and several locomotives, 35,000 bales of cotton, etc. etc. And Gen. Foster says the inhabitants (20,000) were “quiet, and well disposed.” Most people believe Charleston will fall next, to be followed by a sweep of the entire sea-board; and grave men fear that the impetus thus given the invader cannot be checked or resisted.

The great want is fighting men, and they are mostly exempted or detailed under that portion of the “War Department” which is quietly worked by Judge Campbell, who is, of course, governed by his own great legal judgment. Well, the President has been informed of this, and yet waits for Mr. Secretary Seddon to suggest a remedy. I have often thought, and still think, that either the Bureau of Conscription must be abolished or the government must fail. The best generals will not avail without sufficient men to fight.

Gen. Beauregard telegraphs from Charleston, December 26th, that there is a conflict of authority at Mobile as to which branch of the service, navy or army, shall command the torpedo boat. The two Secretaries are referring it to commanders, and I fear that, by the time the question is settled, some calamity will befall the boat, and the city, and the country.

Grant is said to be moving troops to the north side of the river again, fearing an attack from us, or intending one himself.

Post image for Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

December 29, 2014

Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

Colonel Lyon’s Letters.

Dec. 29, 1864.—We have finally got a mail through up to the 15th. Huntsville is rapidly resuming its old appearance, and the citizens generally profess to be pleased with our return. The rebels did but little mischief during our absence.

We know but little of army movements except those that pass under our immediate notice. I suppose Sherman is in Savannah, and I think the rebels are right when they say that the loss of that city is of but little consequence to them; but the destruction of their railroads on his march, and the capture of their cannon and locomotives by Sherman, is a serious disaster, almost irreparable.

Hood will lose half of his army, and the balance is powerless for mischief for many months. This is the worst blow the Confederacy has had, but it all avails but little towards closing the war so long as Lee sits defiantly in the gates of Richmond. When that army is routed and destroyed, and not till then, can we begin to look for the war to close.

I am glad to see a call for 300,000 more men. They will be needed, for the term of enlistment of half the army expires next summer and fall.

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