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

The American Civil War

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

November 19, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

November 19.—Some men of Capt Hill’s Cavalry had a skirmish near Wirt Court House, Western Virginia, with a gang of rebels calling themselves the Moccasin Rangers. There was a corn-husking at the house of a secessionist, about a mile from Wirt Court House, and some of Capt. Hill’s men obtained leave of absence and attended the affair without arms. After the men had started, the balance of the company were advised that their companions were to be attacked and captured at the husking, by the Moccasin Rangers. Accordingly the company armed themselves, and proceeded as quietly as possible down to the husking. They had scarcely reached the house and formed themselves in position, when the Moccasin Rangers made a charge upon the house. Capt. Hill’s men fired upon the Moccasins before the latter were aware of their presence in force, killing a lieutenant and wounding five or six others. The rangers retreated.

—The rebel steamer Nashville, Capt. Pegram, captured, in the British channel, the American ship Harvey Birch, bound from Havre to New York, in ballast, the captain and crew of which were taken off, and the vessel burnt to the water’s edge. The Nashville then ran into Southampton, England, landed the prisoners, and remained there.—(Doc. 182.)

—Isham G. Harris, Governor of Tennessee, called out the militia of the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions of that State to be ready to march by the 25th, “unless, in the mean time, a sufficient number of volunteers shall have tendered their services to fill” the requisition made upon him by General A. S. Johnson of the Confederate States Army.—(Doc. 177.)

—Warsaw, the capital of Benton County, Missouri, was burned. The flames broke out at six P. M., and all the business portion of the town was laid in ashes.

—G. Wallace Ewer, son of Captain John Ewer, of New Bedford, Massachusetts, was promoted from a Master’s Mate to Acting Master, for gallant conduct at the Port Royal fight. He served on board the Mohican. His father was in the same action on board the Sabine.

—Major-General H. W. Halleck, U. S. A., assumed command of the department of the Missouri, Major-General Hunter having been assigned to the Department of Kansas. Gen. Halleck issued an order establishing his headquarters at St. Louis.

—This morning, about ten o’clock, Company A, of the First Delaware regiment, left Camp Hamilton, near Fortress Monroe, on a scouting expedition. The corps was under command of Captain Watson, of Wilmington. They crossed Hampton Creek, and when about one and a half miles beyond the outer pickets encountered a considerable body of rebel cavalry, who were accompanied by two field-howitzers, brass rifled pieces, and the first intimation the Delawarians had of the enemy’s position on near approach, was the whistling of a projectile through the woods and underbrush. Captain Watson then threw up a temporary defence of brushwood and earth, after advancing to an eligible position, and sent back for reinforcements.

General Mansfield, accompanied by three companies of the New York Twentieth, Col. Max Weber, proceeded to the relief of the Delaware troops.

—A Flag of truce from Norfolk to-day brought to Fortress Monroe, Va., Lieut. Worden, U. S. N., who was taken prisoner while bearing despatches to Fort Pickens at the breaking out of hostilities, and imprisoned at Montgomery, Alabama, for some time. He was exchanged for Lieut. Short, of the rebel army, who was taken at Hatteras Inlet, and had been confined on the frigate Congress at Newport News.—National Intelligencer, Nov. 21.

—The United States gunboat Penobscot, built at Belfast, Me., by Messrs. C. P. Carter and Co., was launched to-day.—Baltimore American, November 21.

—A Message from Jefferson Davis, President of the “Confederate States,” was received by the rebel Congress in session at Richmond. —(Doc. 178.)

—The U. S. gunboat Conestoga, on a reconnoitring expedition up the Tennessee River, from Paducah, Ky., to-day, discovered a rebel battery near the Tennessee line, and threw shell, routing the enemy from their guns. Still further up another battery was discovered, and an engagement followed, in which the rebels were driven off and a number killed. The Conestoga was but slightly damaged.

Post image for “Having done wrong, stick to it!”—William Howard Russell, writing about the Trent Affair..

“Having done wrong, stick to it!”—William Howard Russell, writing about the Trent Affair..

November 18, 2011

My Diary North and South - William Howard Russell,The American Civil War

November 18th.—There is a storm of exultation sweeping over the land. Wilkes is the hero of the hour. I saw Mr. F. Seward at the State Department at ten o’clock; but as at the British Legation the orders are not to speak of the transaction, so at the State Department a judicious reticence is equally observed. The lawyers are busy furnishing arguments to the newspapers. The officers who held their tongues at first, astonished at the audacity of the act, are delighted to find any arguments in its favour.

I called at General McClellan’s new head-quarters to get a pass, and on my way met the Duke of Chartres, who shook his young head very gravely, and regarded the occurrence with sorrow and apprehension. McClellan, I understand, advised the immediate surrender of the prisoners; but the authorities, supported by the sudden outburst of public approval, refused to take that step. I saw Lord Lyous, who appeared very much impressed by the magnitude of the crisis. Thence I visited the Navy Department, where Captain Dahlgren and Lieutenant Wise discussed the affair. The former, usually so calm, has too much sense not to perceive the course England must take, and as an American officer naturally feels regret at what appears to be the humiliation of his flag; but he speaks with passion, and vows that if England avails herself of the temporary weakness of the United States to get back the rebel commissioners by threats of force, every American should make his sons swear eternal hostility to Great Britain. Having done wrong, stick to it! Thus men’s anger blinds them, and thus come wars.

It is obvious that no Power could permit political offenders sailing as passengers in a mail-boat under its flag, from one neutral port to another, to be taken by a belligerent, though the recognition of such a right would be, perhaps, more advantageous to England than to any other Power. But, notwithstanding these discussions, our naval friends dined and spent the evening with us, in company with some other officers.

I paid my respects to the Prince of Joinville, with whom I had a long and interesting conversation, in the course of which he gave me to understand he thought the seizure an untoward and unhappy event, which could not be justified on any grounds whatever, and that he had so expressed himself in the highest quarters. There are, comparatively, many English here at present; Mr. Chaplin, Sir F. Johnstone, Mr. Weldon, Mr. Browne, and others, and it may be readily imagined this affair creates deep feeling and much discussion.

Post image for “Break it at off once, he is a lunatic.” — Woolsey Family Letters, Caroline Carson Woolsey to Eliza, quoting Robert Anderson

“Break it at off once, he is a lunatic.” — Woolsey Family Letters, Caroline Carson Woolsey to Eliza, quoting Robert Anderson

November 18, 2011

The American Civil War,Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Caroline Carson Woolsey to Eliza.

Nov. 18th.

Dear Eliza: Your most delightful letter has just been read aloud amid the cheers of the assembled family. What a splendid time you are having with your brigadiers and serenades. How I should like to sacrifice myself and join you in a few of your “noble” sprees, and become acquainted with some of your suffering generals. We, meantime, have been devoting ourselves, giving all our time and energy to the work of soothing and captivating a poor nervous soldier, Major Anderson. I suppose you heard that we started on our Christian enterprise the day after you left again for the same work. When we reached Tarrytown, the scene of our labors, we were received, as such heroines should be, with a great deal of state, and as we found a dinner-party of some twenty awaiting us we rushed up stairs to dress in our red silk and our mauve. . . . The whole regiment of us encamped in the house for the night and we had a jolly time.

On Wednesday, General Anderson, wife and son arrived. Mrs. A. is a great invalid and did not appear for the first two days, and when at last she was announced I looked to see a pale shadow glide in, and was astonished by the sight of a little, fat, plumpy woman with big bare arms and a good deal of jet jewelry; quite a talkative, frisky person. The General is lovely, quiet and gentlemanly and devoted to young ladies—a very important requisite in a hero. His health is very much shattered but his loyalty is unshaken. We were speaking of a lady who was engaged to a Southerner. “Break it off,” he said, “break it at once, he is a lunatic; I would as lief go into an insane asylum and argue with a man who calls himself Christ, as reason with a secessionist.” Mrs. Anderson said she never saw such a change as being up in Tarrytown made in her husband. In town he was worn out by callers and indifferent people who came to see the hero and ask him why he did not do this and that and the other at Sumter; and propound their own theories as to how he should have acted. . . . We told General Anderson you were in Washington doing what you could, etc., and he said “God bless them, it is a good work they are doing.” . . . We were sorry to come home on Tuesday, but had to, as I had invited the _______s and Mr. ______ to dinner. When we got home about an hour before dinner not a soul was here, Mother and Abby gone to Sing Sing for the day, Jane dodging a procession on Broadway, and one dish of chops ordered for dinner! We sent William out for jelly-cake, beef, etc., and with a spread of linen and glass, which fortunately was not in the closet of which Mother had the key, we set out quite a nice little table. . . . Cousin Mary Greene, Gardiner, and little Gardy arrived yesterday; the two last are still here. Gardy cuts into every conversation, asking innumerable and unanswerable questions: is now reading Ferdinand Second as pastime! aged ten.

Post image for John B. Jones tells the Confederate Secretary of War that he is glad about the seizure of Slidell and Mason.

John B. Jones tells the Confederate Secretary of War that he is glad about the seizure of Slidell and Mason.

November 18, 2011

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

NOVEMBER 18TH.—To-day the Secretary told me, in reply to my question, that he had authentic information of the seizure of Messrs. Slidell and Mason, our commissioners to Europe, by Capt. Wilkes, of the U. S. Navy, and while on board the steamer Trent, a British vessel, at sea. I said I was glad of it. He asked why, in surprise. I remarked that it would bring the Eagle cowering to the feet of the Lion. He smiled, and said it was, perhaps, the best thing that could have happened. And he cautions me against giving passports to French subjects even to visit Norfolk or any of our fortified cities, for it was understood that foreigners at Norfolk were contriving somehow to get on board the ships of their respective nations.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

November 18, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

November 18.—The New Orleans Crescent very strongly urged planters to destroy their “cotton or other property,” rather than let it fall into the hands of the Yankees.—(Doc. 171.)

—The rebel Congress to-day met in Richmond, Va. Howell Cobb took the chair. Rev. Mr. Flynn, of Georgia, chaplain of Col. Cobb’s regiment, opened the session with prayer. The Secretary called the roll, when it was found there was a quorum present, six States being represented.—Present—Messrs. Barry, of Mississippi; Tenable, of North Carolina; House, Jones, Atkins, and De Witt, of Tennessee; Curry and Chilton, of Alabama; Cobb, of Georgia; William Ballard Preston, Tyler, Macfarland, and Rives, of Virginia.

The Chair announced the presence of a quorum of the House.—Mr. Venable, member from North Carolina, moved that a committee be appointed to wait upon the President and inform him that there was a quorum present in the House, and Congress was ready to receive any communication from him.—The Chair appointed the following members: Messrs. Venable, of North Carolina, Scott, of Virginia, and Barry, of Mississippi.—Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 19.

—Judge Thomas S. Richards was shot through a window of the court house in Memphis, Scotland Co., Mo., while confined as a prisoner in the hands of Colonel Moore, of the Home Guard. Colonel Moore subsequently offered a reward of one thousand dollars for the apprehension of the assassin.

—The steamers Georgia and Georgiana arrived at Baltimore this morning from Newtown, Worcester Co., Maryland. Four thousand Federal troops were preparing to go into Virginia. On the way up the Pocomoke River a boat was sent ashore with General Dix’s proclamation, which was read to a large number of Virginians in a farm-house, who declared it entirely satisfactory, and claimed the protection of the Government from the secessionists, who were forcing them into the ranks against their will. The gunboat Resolute had given them protection through the day, but at night they had to seek shelter in the woods.—(Doc. 159.)

—General Drayton, at Hardeeville, South Carolina, assured the Governor of that State that he had “neither seen nor heard of any act of pillage or incendiarism in any direction” on the part of the slaves.—(Doc. 172.)

—Colonel Wofford’s Eighteenth regiment of Georgia Volunteers left Richmond, Va., for Manassas, via Fredericksburg.—National Intelligencer.

—Captain A. H. Foots was appointed Flag-officer of the fleet in the Western Military Department. He thus ranks with the Major-General. This arrangement will obviate any possible conflict of authority between the commanders respectively of the land and water forces.

—The following military appointments were made to-day, viz.: Assistant Adjutant-Generals of Volunteers—Captain Leonard Scott, for General Paine’s brigade; Captain George A. Hicks, for General Burn’s brigade; Captain John Pound, for General Pace’s brigade; Captain Andrew C. Kemper, for General Wade’s brigade; Captain William Von Dohn, for General Duryea’s brigade; Captain Charles A. Reynolds, to be an assistant quartermaster in the regular service; William Sheffler, to be an aide-de-camp to Major-General Banks.

—North Carolina, by a Convention of Delegates representing forty-five counties, declared a Provisional Government, and entirely repudiated the secession act of the State, reaffirming her loyalty and devotion to the Constitution of the United States. The Convention met at Hatteras. The act passed contained several sections, the substance of which is as follows: The first declares vacant all the offices of the State; the second names Marble Nash Taylor Provisional Governor; the third adopts the Constitution of the State, with the statutes and laws contained in the revised code of 1856; the fourth repudiates the ordinance of secession pawed at Raleigh on the 20th of May, together with all other acts then adopted; the fifth directs the Provisional Governor to order a special election for Members of Congress; the sixth gives to the Governor authority to make temporary appointments to official vacancies. The Convention adjourned, subject to the call of the President Governor Taylor issued his proclamation for an election in the Second Congressional District, which will be held on Wednesday, the 27th inst.—(Doc. 173.)

—A portion of the Fourteenth regiment N. Y. S. M., from Brooklyn, while on picket duty about a mile and a half west of Fall’s Church, Va., were attacked by rebel cavalry and forced to fall back, with one man wounded. They were subsequently reinforced by a considerable body of troops, when the rebels retired, with a loss of several killed and wounded.—N. Y. Times, November 19.

—Gov. Buckingham, of Connecticut, in a general order, congratulated the soldiers from that State who went with the Port Royal naval expedition, for having been the first to land upon the traitorous soil of South Carolina.—N. Y. Times, November 19.

—The Massachusetts Twenty-sixth regiment, under command of Col. Jones, and the Connecticut Ninth, commanded by Col. Cahill, embarked from Boston this afternoon on board the steamship Constitution. Both regiments were enthusiastically cheered on their march through the city. They were reviewed on the common by Gen. Butler previous to embarking. They were splendidly armed and equipped.—National Intelligencer, November 21.

—Letters from Upper Arkansas relate the imposition practiced by Albert Pike upon the Comanche Indians, and the conclusion of a treaty between these Indians and the Confederate States.—(Doc. 174.)

—The Sixty-ninth New York State Volunteers, a new regiment recruited mainly from the old Sixty-ninth New York State Militia, left New York for the seat of war. Previous to its departure, the regiment was presented with a stand of colors at the residence of Archbishop Hughes. Speeches were made by Father Starrs, V. G., Judge Daly, and Col. Meagher. —(Doc. 175.)

—One hundred and fifty rebels were captured by a company of Union cavalry near Warrenburgh, Mo.

—Jeff. Thompson with two hundred men boarded the steamer Platte City at Price’s Landing in Missouri, ransacked her in search of papers, and took off two men whom he hung as spies.—(Doc. 176.)

“By morning we were covered with snow, about two inches deep.”–Alexander G. Downing.

November 17, 2011

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry,The American Civil War

Post image for “By morning we were covered with snow, about two inches deep.”–Alexander G. Downing.

Sunday, 17th—We had a pretty stiff introduction to our first night on a river boat, for it snowed in the night. My bunk-mate, James Fossett, and I lay down on the deck with our heads to the smoke-stack instead of our feet, in order to avoid lying with our heads down hill. By morning we were covered with snow, about two inches deep. At 8 a. m. we landed at Montrose, where two of our companies were transferred from our boat to another boat in order to lighten our boat for the purpose of passing through the rapids just above Keokuk. We reached Keokuk in safety about noon and went on shore to cook some provisions. At dusk we returned to the boats, our company being transferred to another boat which lay at Keokuk all night while the “Jennie Whipple” proceeded down the river.

Post image for John Beauchamp Jones writes about special passports for letter-carriers carrying letters and other things between Confederacy and the North.

John Beauchamp Jones writes about special passports for letter-carriers carrying letters and other things between Confederacy and the North.

November 17, 2011

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

NOVEMBER 17TH.—There are also quite a number of letter-carriers obtaining special passports to leave the Confederacy. They charge $1.50 postage to Washington and Maryland, and as much coming hither. They take on the average three hundred letters, and bring as many, besides diverse articles they sell at enormously high prices. Thus they realize $1000 per trip, and make two each month. They furnish the press with Northern journals; but they give no valuable information: at least I have not conversed with any who could furnish it. They seem particularly ignorant of the plans and forces of the enemy. It is my belief that they render as much service to the enemy as to us; and they certainly do obtain passports on the other side.

Gen. Winder and his alien detectives seem to be on peculiar terms of intimacy with some of these men; for they tell me they convey letters for them to Maryland, and deliver them to their families. This is an equivocal business. Why did they not bring their families away before the storm burst upon them?

Post image for “But cotton tents will be bad quarters for snowy, freezing weather; and if we do not have better, I fear we shall lose much from disease this winter.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

“But cotton tents will be bad quarters for snowy, freezing weather; and if we do not have better, I fear we shall lose much from disease this winter.”–Letters from Elisha Franklin Paxton.

November 17, 2011

Elisha Franklin Paxton – Letters from camp and field while an officer in the Confederate Army,The American Civil War

Camp near Winchester, November 17, 1861.

Soldiering for the past week has been a hard business. For two or three days we had cold rains, and the balance of the time very severe winds. The wind is perhaps more severe than the rain, as it makes our outdoor fires very uncomfortable, it being doubtful whether it is best to stand the cold or the smoke. The weather feels now as if the campaign was over and we must soon go into winter quarters. If we get houses, I presume it will be shanties, such as the men can build for themselves out of logs and clapboards. This they could do in a very short time. But cotton tents will be bad quarters for snowy, freezing weather; and if we do not have better, I fear we shall lose much from disease this winter. My health at present is very good, and I think I stand the service as well as any one else in it. Last night I slept very comfortably with the assistance of two sheepskins and five blankets.

Since our arrival here, there has been a very general congregation of officers’ wives at the farm-houses in the neighborhood, and I think it likely to continue until women and children are as common in the camp as blackberries in August. So I have little hope of seeing you here, but think the Yankees will go into winter quarters before long. They will discover that a winter campaign in this part of the sunny South, with the snow a foot deep and ice everywhere, is uncomfortable, and will give us a few months’ rest. I hope then to be able to get a short furlough to see my dear little wife and babies at home.

And now, Love, I will take leave of yon. I sympathize deeply with you in your approaching illness, and hope for your safe and speedy recovery. Remember me kindly to your father, and say that I am very grateful for the assistance which he has given you in my absence.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

November 17, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

November 17.—This morning a detachment, under Col. Alcorn, stationed at Calhoun, attacked Hawkins’ regiment at Cypress Bridge, three miles back of Rumsey, in McLean County, Ky., and completely routed the rebels, killing a great number, taking twenty-five prisoners, three hundred horses, and a number of guns, blankets, etc. The national loss was ten killed and fifteen wounded.

—A panic prevailed at Charleston, which “a week before the battle of Port Royal was regarded as absolutely impregnable.” In explanation of the panic it is said: “The entire fighting population of Charleston and Savannah, as well as the intervening and adjacent country, is on active duty. The exempts are very few in number, being confined to these who are engaged in expediting the preparations for the war, or are detained by other occupations which the public interest requires not to be suspended. Thus the community of Charleston and that of Savannah, alike shorn of the young and vigorous men, who give buoyancy and a sense of security to the household, is now made up almost exclusively of women and children, and nervous old men who have passed the period of military service. In such a condition of things it is scarcely wonderful that vague and unreasonable apprehensions should prevail.”— Richmond Examiner, November 20.

—A party of Union troops recaptured nearly all the wagons and cattle which were seized by the rebels yesterday, near Pleasant Hill, Mo.

—This morning the Ninety-seventh regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, numbering nine hundred and fifty muskets, under command of Col. Guess, arrived at Baltimore, Md.—Four hundred and eighty-eight U. S. Artillery and Infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Col. C. S. Merchant; the Sixty-sixth regiment N. Y. S. V. under command of Col. Pinckney; the Fifty-first regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and a detachment of five hundred sailors, belonging to the Ellsworth and Naval batteries, commanded by Col. Wainwright, also arrived at Baltimore during the day.—Baltimore American, November 18.

—The Wild Cat Brigade, under Gen. Schoepf in Kentucky, reached Crab Orchard after a forced marched of four days in retreat.—(Doc. 170.)

—United States steam gunboat Connecticut captured the British schooner Adelaide, of Nassau, N. P., near Cape Canaveral, and took her into Key West. She was loaded -with coffee, lead, and swords, having several cases of the latter. The supercargo, Lieutenant Hardee, a relative of “Tactic” Hardee, is an officer in the Confederate army, he claimed the cargo as his property, and acknowledged that he was taking it to Savannah, Ga. The Adelaide had made several voyages to Savannah since the blockade.—N. Y. Commercial, November 27.

—Lieutenant George W. Snyder, of the U. S. Engineers, first assistant to General Barnard on the construction of the forts on the line of the Potomac, died at Washington, D. C., to-day, of typhoid fever. He was one of the garrison at Fort Sumter, from its occupation by Major Anderson until its evacuation, and during the bombardment commanded a portion of the men. His gallant conduct elicited the highest praise. Fort Ellsworth and six other fortifications, opposite Washington, were constructed under his direction. He was but twenty-eight years of age, but was one of the most talented members of the engineer corps. He graduated at the head of his class, and was thereupon appointed an instructor at West Point in the engineering department. Subsequently, on entering the army, he was employed in the fortification of Pickens, at Pensacola, and other forts. He had charge of the landing of the first troops at Annapolis; was in General Heintzleman’s staff at the battle of Bull Run, and brought off the last of the troops from the field. At one time he was tendered the colonelcy of the Twelfth volunteer regiment from New York, by Governor Morgan, but his services as engineer in the regular army were too valuable, and the Government would not permit his acceptance of the position.

—A Large number of rebels on their way to join Price’s army, were attacked near Palmyra, Mo., by a detachment of the Third Missouri Cavalry. The rebels lost three killed, five wounded, and sixteen prisoners.—N. T. Commercial Advertiser, Nov. 17.

“Our boat is the “Jennie Whipple,” and Company E is stationed on the hurricane deck.”–Alexander G. Downing.

November 16, 2011

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry,The American Civil War

Post image for “Our boat is the “Jennie Whipple,” and Company E is stationed on the hurricane deck.”–Alexander G. Downing.

Saturday, 16th—Reveille sounded at 2 a. m., and packing our knapsacks, we started at 8 o’clock for the boat down at the levee. Here we stacked our arms and waited until the quartermaster with his detail got the commissariat loaded, putting it upon our boat and the two barges, one on either side. By noon all was ready and we marched on board, some going upon the boat and some upon the barges, and at 2 p. m. left Davenport, bound for St. Louis.

We reached Muscatine about sundown and because there are so many Muscatine people in the regiment, we landed and marched uptown to Main Street. Here we had dress parade for the benefit of the citizens, who turned out in large numbers. Companies A and H are made up of Muscatine boys, while our colonel and quartermaster reside here; besides, Company I is from Louisa county just west of this place. After the parade we marched back to the boats and left at once for Keokuk. Our boat is the “Jennie Whipple,” and Company E is stationed on the hurricane deck.

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