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

January 2015

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

January 28, 2015

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

January 28th.—Clear and very cold; can’t find a thermometer in the city.

The President did sign the bill creating a general-in-chief, and depriving Gen. Bragg of his staff.

Major-Gen. Jno. C. Breckinridge has been appointed Secretary of War. May our success be greater hereafter!

Gen. Lee has sent a letter from Gen. Imboden, exposing the wretched management of the Piedmont Railroad, and showing that salt and corn, in “immense quantity,” have been daily left piled in the mud and water, and exposed to rain, etc., while the army has been starving. Complaints and representations of this state of things have been made repeatedly.

Gold sold at $47 for one at auction yesterday.

Mr. Hunter was seen early this morning running (almost) toward the President’s office, to pick up news. He and Breckinridge were old rivals in the United States.

The Enquirer seems in favor of listening to Blair’s propositions.

Judge Campbell thinks Gen. Breckinridge will not make a good Secretary of War, as he is not a man of small details. I hope he is not going to indulge in so many of them as the judge and Mr. Seddon have done, else all is lost! The judge’s successor will be recommended soon to the new Secretary. There will be applicants enough, even if the ship of State were visibly going down.

Although it is understood that Gen. Breckinridge has been confirmed by the Senate, he has not yet taken his seat in the department.

The President has issued a proclamation for the observance of Friday, March 10th, as a day of “fasting, humiliation, and prayer, with thanksgiving,” in pursuance of a resolution of Congress.

It seems that Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee will not be represented in the cabinet; this may breed trouble, and we have trouble enough, in all conscience.

It is said Mr. Blair has returned again to Richmond—third visit.

Can there be war brewing between the United States and England or France? We shall know all soon. Or have propositions been made on our part for reconstruction? There are many smiling faces in the streets, betokening a profound desire for peace.

Post image for Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier by Louis Léon

Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier by Louis Léon

January 28, 2015

Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier By Louis Léon [53d North Carolina Regiment, infantry]

January—Nothing, only that I fear that our cause is lost, as we are losing heavily, and have no more men at home to come to the army. Our resources in everything are at an end, while the enemy are seemingly stronger than ever. All the prisoners in Northern prisons, it seems, will have to stay until the end of the war, as Grant would rather feed than fight us.

Post image for Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

January 28, 2015

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Saturday, 28th.—Marched in regular order along the big road. Passed near Lafayette, Alabama. 56th Georgia boys left us, and took their own ways home, being in a different direction. From this on I can’t remember dates but we got plenty to eat and had a jolly time, finding plenty of friends to help us on our way. One day about half-dozen young ladies came out and said they were glad to see us going home. Some of the older women shouted: “That’s the way we love to see you coming home, boys; wish they would all come home that way.” One nice-looking old lady said: “I wish I could see my old man coming.” Several places in Alabama, as we were marching on, half dozen women and children would come running and ask if peace was made. The first ones we told if it was we did not know it. Well, they said, we have heard it has. The next that asked us, we said we had heard that it was, but only a few miles back. They would take it as confirmation of what they had heard, and get almost into an ecstasy of joy. Poor things, perhaps, we ought not to have treated them so; but we had been bound down so long, we wanted a little fun.

We kept in Alabama, but near the line, until we crossed both Big and Little Talapoosa River. Came into the left of Cedar Town; passed through Cave Springs. Crossed Coosa River at Queen’s Ferry; same place Hood’s army crossed, twelve miles below Rome. We had dreaded Coosa River all the way, because we were afraid it would be the line between the contending armies and ferry boats destroyed and pickets along the river, but when we got near, we learned that ferry boat was running all right and no pickets. As we came to the river, a man by the name of Davis was coming over in the ferry boat. He told the ferry man he ought to set us over free, as we were soldiers. The ferryman replied: “You pay half and I will give half.” The fare was $l0.00. The man was caught at his own game, and handed him $5.00, and so we passed over free, and gave three cheers for Davis—not Jeff, mind you. The boys of Companies H and E and also W. A. Keys, left us here, leaving only seven of us. Came on by Ecles’ Mill, in sight of Subligna and struck Taylor’s Ridge some distance south of Shipp’s Gap. After passing Shipp’s Gap, we decided we had better not carry our guns farther, for fear we run upon some Yankee soldiers, and they might treat us as bushwhackers. So we hid our guns in the cleft of a rock on top of Taylor’s Ridge. Travelled Taylor’s Ridge to Nickajack Gap; there turned eastward and came to Dixie’s Ridge, near James Wright’s.

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

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

January 27, 2015

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

London, January 27, 1865

Our plans are so indefinite and so liable to be knocked in the head by news from your side of the water, that I feel myself about equally balanced between the probabilities of going to Italy and remaining there till summer and then bringing the family home, or of not going there at all, but staying here to pack up our duds and take them home in advance of the rest of the party. Mr. Mackay, the intelligent and gentlemanly New York correspondent of the London Times, has written to that journal, I am told, that Mr. Seward is to return to the Senate and our present Minister at the Court of St. James is to take the Secretary’s place. I suppose this tale is only an appendage to that which transfers Senator Morgan to the Treasury, for I see no other means of giving Seward a vacancy. Thank the Lord, it can’t be true, or else Mackay would n’t write it; but it’s an annoying idea to have on one’s mind, and I am not sorry that our departure is postponed if it enables us to settle our projects before going, and eliminate these disturbing quantities from our equation….

Post image for “…we are 43 miles from Charleston on the C. & Beaufort road.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“…we are 43 miles from Charleston on the C. & Beaufort road.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

January 27, 2015

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

Near Pocataligo, S. C., January 27, 1865.

Moved out at 7 a.m. this morning, crossed Broad river on pontoons, and are about four miles on the main land towards Charleston. Can’t tell our position, but here the Rebels hold all the crossings on the opposite side of the river six miles ahead and so far as reconnoitered, with fortifications and artillery.

The 17th Corps lay to our left extending across the C. & S. R. R. We made about 13 miles to-day. Saw some fine plantations on the road, nothing but chimneys in them, though. It feels good and homelike once more to be out loose. The boys all feel it and they act more like schoolboys, having a holiday, than the veterans they are. Wouldn’t it be a joke if we were to get badly whipped over this river? I believe it would do us good. We are too conceited. The river ahead is the Combahee, and we are 43 miles from Charleston on the C. & Beaufort road.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

January 27, 2015

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

27th. Friday. Chess with Laundon. Cold night. Clear.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

January 27, 2015

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

January 27th.—Clear, and coldest morning of the winter. None but the rich speculators and quartermaster and commissary peculators have a supply of food and fuel. Much suffering exists in the city; and prices are indeed fabulous, notwithstanding the efforts of the Secretary of the Treasury and the press to bring down the premium on gold. Many fear the high members of the government have turned brokers and speculators, and are robbing the country—making friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, against the day of wrath which they see approaching. The idea that Confederate States notes are improving in value, when every commodity, even wood and coal, daily increases in price, is very absurd!

The iron-clad fleet returned, without accomplishing anything— losing one gun-boat and having some fifteen killed and wounded. The lower house of Congress failed yesterday to pass the Midshipman bill over the President’s veto—though a majority was against the President.

It is said, and published in the papers, that Mrs. Davis threw her arms around Mr. Blair and embraced him. This, too, is injurious to the President.

My wood-house was broken into last night, and two (of the nine) sticks of wood taken. Wood is selling at $5 a stick this cold morning; mercury at zero.

A broker told me that he had an order (from government) to sell gold at $35 for $1. But that is not the market price.

It is believed (by some credulous people) that Gen. J. E. Johnston will command the army in Virginia, and that Lee will reside here and be commander-in-chief. I doubt. The clamor for Gen. J. seems to be the result of a political combination.

Mr. Hunter came to the department to-day almost in a run. He is excited.

Lieut.-Gen. Hardee, of Charleston, 26th (yesterday), dispatches to the Secretary that he has received an order from Gen. Cooper (Adjutant-General) for the return of the 15th Regiment and 10th Battalion North Carolina troops to North Carolina. He says these are nearly the only regular troops he has to defend the line of the Combahee—the rest being reserves, disaffected at being detained out of their States. The withdrawal may cause the loss of the State line, and great disaster, etc. etc.

Official statement of Gen. Hood’s losses shows 66 guns, 13,000 small arms, etc. The report says the army was saved by sacrificing transportation; and but for this the losses would have been nothing.

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

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

January 27, 2015

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

Friday, 27th—We are still on duty at the old fort, and everything is going well. The trains have now quit going to Beaufort and we expect to receive orders to leave soon.

Post image for Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

January 27, 2015

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Friday, 27th.—About 8 A. M., we were on train and started for Columbus, Ga. We had set Opelika as the place we would leave the train for home. There was no secret about it. It was the general talk, and at least half said they were coming. We talked to our officers, and some of them would have come had they not been officers. Reuben Harris had a new pair of shoes. The lieutenant in command said, “Reub, you are going home, where you can get more shoes; please give me these; I need them.” And he did and bade him good-bye. Train stalled about mile below Opelika, and as we were considering whether we had best not get off then, some of Company H came by, and that decided us; so we got off. Just then the train moved off, and we counted noses and had twenty-four— eight of Company F, eleven of Company H, one of Company E and four of 56th Georgia. We took the direction as best we could, and marched seven miles, and laid down and rested without any fires.

Post image for Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne.

Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne.

January 26, 2015

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne

St. Helenaville, Thursday, January 26, 1865.

We are often put to it for forage, and being distressingly short, we got into the way of turning our beasts out to pick brush. They often went to the marsh for the salt grass, but we hoped for the best. One night this week when it was pouring rain, it was discovered that the horses had not come up. I sent a boy after them. He went, and not finding them, went quietly home, not letting me know. Brister had been away, but after I knew he had been home a long time, I went to his house and asked him if he had been for the horses. “No.” They never go for the animals in rainy weather. I started Brister and the boy both after the horses, charging them to look in the bog first, and tell me when they found them. An hour or two after, I got uneasy and went to Brister’s house again. There he and the boy sat, and informed me, or rather let me stormily guess, that Betty was in the bog. The way they did it was by assuring me that Charley and Saxby were not “bogged.” I had the nice kerosene lantern I bought at the fair, and we all set out together, for I was sure that at the least discouragement they would turn back, and the tide coming up, Betty would be dead by morning. I was equipped for the weather, but had rubber shoes — if they had only been boots! We found poor Betty worn out with her struggles, and though we got her twice to her feet, the first step forward she sank to her shoulder again, or else a hind leg would go down. I think Brister and Harry would have tried “licking” her up, and letting her sink till the tide drove them off and drowned her, but I insisted upon Brister’s going for more men, which he did at last. Then Betty was thrown on her side, her hind legs tied together and she was hauled to firm ground. While Brister went for the men we were doing our best — the two boys and I — to get Betty up and out, but she only got up and tumbled down again. The next day she was stiff, but pretty well, and I went to school.

It was so cold this morning that there was ice made while the bucket was being drawn up from the well. Of course there was ice in our basins and pitchers. As this is almost the first time I have had to stay away from school since I have been down here, the schoolchildren went home with open-mouthed wonder, “Miss Towne de sick,” having given Fanny, who took my class, all the trouble they could. I think I shall let it go to-morrow (Friday) and I hope by Monday to have hearing enough to go back to it. Fanny is spending a week with us, her first visit. Great changes are taking place. Edisto is to be reoccupied and that takes Mr. John Alden, one of our best friends, away — he is to be General Superintendent. Then Mr. Tomlinson is made Inspector General of Freedmen’s affairs and goes to Beaufort. Mr. Williams[1] is to be our General Superintendent. So we are, as usual, in an upside-down state. The poor negroes die as fast as ever. The children are all emaciated to the last degree, and have such violent coughs and dysenteries that few survive. It is frightful to see such suffering among children. Our little waif is almost well, but is a sulky, lazy, vicious little piece. We shall not keep her any longer than we can help. Her cousin is still in the hospital and will take her, when she comes out, to “mind child.” Most of our good people and children are going back to Edisto. We lose Hastings, our mainstay here, Brister, Clarissa, and ever so many of our brightest scholars.

[1] C. F. Williams.

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