Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

From Mrs. Lyon’s Diary

Dec. 14, 1862.—We took the boat in the afternoon, but did not come very fast from Paducah, as we had to tow a barge of coal. It made the boat so heavy we came very slowly. This coal is for the expedition William wrote about that he was going with. We had to tie up to a tree and stay all night, 20 miles from Paducah.

From Mrs. Lyon’s Diary

Paducah, Ky., Dec. 12, 1862.—I met Captain Woodman, with Mrs. Ruger and Mrs. Bowerman, as I was looking for an omnibus in Chicago. Both the ladies are young brides, and quite pleasant. We all went up yesterday to examine the fort. It is a very strong fortification. It commands the Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. They fired a blank cartridge in honor of our visit. It was a thirty-four pounder. I could scarcely hear anything for some time after.

There is a rumor here that the rebels (6,000) are near Fort Donelson and preparing to attack the fort, and that they have sent to Fort Henry for reinforcements. There are two ladies here waiting to go to Fort Donelson. The last boat load that went up took along firearms to defend themselves, as the boat might be fired into or captured. It is not a pleasant idea. We saw here for the first time well-dressed Southern ladies chewing tobacco and spitting behind the backlog.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Dec. 11, 1862.—There is a boat between Paducah and here that has Captain Woodman on board, and it is supposed that the wives of Captain Ruger and Lieutenant Bowerman are also passengers. Mrs. Chapman, wife of the Lieut.-Col., is here. I dined with them on Tuesday on wild turkey.

I have kept you on the rack some time now concerning our expedition. Well, you see, it has not come off, and I will tell you why. Just as we were ready to start, we learned that Napier was strongly reinforced by the troops of Woodward and Forrest, with considerable artillery, and that Morgan was some fifteen miles northeast of Clarksville, and about forty miles from Fort Donelson, waiting for us to go up the river in order to pounce upon Fort Donelson and take it. His force was reported at 3,000 men, with four pieces of artillery. So, instead of starting for Waverly, we held ourselves in readiness to march to Donelson at short notice. Then, no longer ago than yesterday, General Rosecrans telegraphed us that Forrest was advancing on Fort Henry (from Waverly, I suppose), and would certainly attack us. We rather liked this, for we have here two gunboats, one carrying four and the other two heavy guns, 24-pounders, and we had also one 12-pounder, and five rifled, six-pound guns on shore; and we would fight and whip 5,000 of these fellows should they attack us here without siege guns.

Well, today one of our scouts came in from Waverly, and he reports only 500 men there under Napier, with no cannon except two 12-pounders, which they captured from one of our boats that ran aground up the Tennessee river last summer. He says that neither Forrest nor Woodward is there at all, and discredits the story that Morgan is anywhere in this section of country. As soon as Colonel Lowe can be satisfied upon the latter point, we shall move on Waverly.

Of course, we shall get no fighting, but we go to administer a little justice to a few of the rebel ringleaders in that region, and they need it badly. Were I in command I think I should make the expedition forthwith ; but Colonel Lowe is a very prudent, cautious officer—too cautious, I sometimes think—and will not move until he is assured of success. In the meantime our preparation for winter progresses finely.

In addition to our tents, we have about sixty log houses, which the boys have built, and some of them are really nice and cozy. Many of the officers have them, but I prefer a tent.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, Dec. 5, 1862.—We had a lovely snow storm last night, three inches deep, but the weather is mild. Our expedition is postponed in consequence until further orders. I should not wonder if it turned out one ‘grand fizzle,’ after all.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, Dec. 4, 1862.—We are going after Napier and his band tomorrow, and you may not hear from me for ten or twelve days. The teams and the cavalry go tomorrow morning by land, and we go Saturday morning up the river forty miles by water. The rebels are supposed to be at Waverly, ten or twelve miles from where we propose to land, east of the river. Our transportation, that is, teams, provisions, etc., go up on the west side for greater safety. We have a four-gun gunboat to convoy us up the river. I don’t know how many rebels there are up there, but probably not enough to induce them to fight us. We shall probably chase them about the country for a week or two and then come back. 1 f we can clean out that force there is nothing left in our beat for us to fight.

I will answer your questions. We are in General Grant’s command, which is called the Department of West Tennessee.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, Sunday evening, Nov. 30, 1862.—The last day of each month is inspection day in the army, so I have been engaged all day in making a minute and thorough inspection of my command—not only of the dress, arms, accoutrements and appearance of the men, but of their tents, kitchens, cook-houses, shanties, cooking utensils, dishes, etc. Fancy me examining tin plates, dish kettles, coffee pots, knives, forks, spoons, tin cups, and the like; threatening to send dirty cooks to the guard house, praising the clean ones, ordering alterations, suggesting improvements, etc.; in which duty I was accompanied and assisted by the Major, Adjutant and two of the surgeons; and you will have a very good idea of inspection day. I give special and constant attention to the cleanliness of the camp, and it is now one of the cleanest I ever saw and is constantly improving, for the officers and men enter most cordially into the spirit of the thing.

I am still on a general Court-Martial. It is a great bore, too, much like practicing law. The day has been warm and cloudy. This evening it rains copiously, but my tent is warm and dry and as cozy as you could wish were you here to enjoy it with me, as I trust you will be before many weeks elapse. We shall live in the most approved style. Colonel Lowe still intends an expedition after Napier.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, Nov. 26, 1862.—We have had no mails for several days. The last mail brought one letter from you. It bears date of August 16th, redirected and forwarded by Bartlett from Corinth. The uncertainty of mails is very annoying.

I write today, as I am detailed to act as President of a general Court-Martial which convenes here tomorrow, and I shall probably not have any leisure again for a few days. Our Major, Bigney, has just joined us, and relieves me from some duty. He is very much of a gentleman, besides being a good officer.

I showed my black folks all of your pictures today. Jerry was much taken with Willie, saying: ‘He will make a bully man if nothing happens.’ They are faithful, excellent people, but they put on some airs because they wait on the Colonel. Minerva is now cooking for some officers who live with the Lieutenant-Colonel when he is here. She is in a great hurry for you to come, so that she can get out of that arrangement and wait on you. I am going to build a log house in the rear of my tent for them to live and cook in.

We have battalion drill every afternoon, but tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day at home I give the boys a holiday. I should be happy to eat fried oysters with you on the occasion, but I suppose I shall be obliged to go on with the Court-Martial.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, November 20, 1862.—Four of our companies go up the river tomorrow on an expedition. I do not go. Do not be frightened about guerillas. They are great cowards and will not fight if they can help it. They are mere thieves, and a thief is always a coward. I do not at all fear being killed. Something constantly assures me that I am coming home to you safely. Now, don’t get up a presentiment the other way.

To Mrs. Lyon.

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 1862.—I will scratch off a few lines, especially as it is our wedding anniversary. I presume you have celebrated it in due form by a gathering of the family, and I know your heart fondly whispers, ‘I wish he were here.’ I have commemorated the day by thinking over, as I often do, our married life and the almost unalloyed happiness we have enjoyed, and in anticipating the future and still greater happiness which I believe is in store for us.