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

Post image for Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters

Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters

December 31, 2014

Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy's Letters (1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.)

Camp 1st Mass. H. Arty.,
Dec. 31st, 1864.

Dear Family:

I rec’d your last Sabbath letter, yesterday morn’g. It has been raining and snowing. I have but just returned from the Major’s office, where I have been to report concerning the absence of men, preparatory to a muster for payment. This is the first time, for three years, that I have not made out the rolls; but my duties are such now that it would be impossible to do it. I have to drill recruits once a week, besides the regular forms and duties that it is necessary for us to go through, as soon as we come to a halt. Frank’s letter I shall preserve with great care, or rather I wish you to. I shall enclose it with this, where you can let it remain. In years to come, if through the divine mercy of God, we are both permitted to live, it would doubtless be a pleasure to us both to look back to this his first letter. The wind has started up and it is snowing at a furious rate. Many of us are unprepared for it. My tent is quite comfortable, but I am forced to lay on the ground; wood is very scarce with us, having to back it almost a mile, and nothing but green pine at that. It will probably be drawn to us if we stop here any length of time. I am writing in great haste and in the cold, as you will plainly see by the writing. But come to look it over, as I have just done, it looks and reads a great deal worse than I expected; but I am forced to let it go, for this time, and in order to pass it by to my advantage, you will not consider it my weekly missive.                            Love to all from                               Lev.

[On January 1, 1865, he was promoted to orderly sergeant and had a furlough of ten days.—Ed.]

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

December 31, 2014

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

31st. Split logs and laid them up nearly high enough for comfort. Mustered. Very disagreeable morning. Pleasanter in the P. M. Cold night. Home letter.

Upon the fly-leaves of the little 1864 war diary book are the following quotations from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Cary translation was used. My references as to pages are to the edition of Oscar Kuhns, T.Y.Crowell & Co., New York and Boston. (F.D.T.)

 

“With such a smile

As might have made one blest amid the flames,” (p. 346).

“So shall delight make thee not feel thy toil,” (page 360).

“Let not the people be too swift to judge;

As one who reckons on the blade in field,

Or e’er the crop be ripe. For I have seen

The thorn frown rudely all the winter long,

And bark, that all her way across the sea

Ran straight and speedy, perish at the last

E’en in the haven’s mouth” (page 376).

“For one of these may rise, the other fall,” (p. 376).

“These eyes are not thine only Paradise” (p. 395).

“voice hath not uttered

Nor hath ink written, nor in fantasy

Was e’er conceived” (p. 399).

“A man

Is born on Indus banks, and none is there

Who speaks of Christ, nor who doth read nor write;

And all his inclinations and his acts,

As far as human reason sees, are good;

And he offendeth not in word or deed:

But unbaptized he dies and void of faith.

Where is the justice that condemns him? Where

His blame, if he believeth not?” (p. 401).

“And ye,

Oh mortal men! be wary how ye judge;” (p. 407).

“The sword of heaven is not in haste to smite,

Nor yet doth linger;” (p. 412).

“Faith of things hoped is substance, and the proof

Of things not seen” (p. 422).

“With hope, that leads to blissful end;” “Hope,” (said I,)

“Is of the joy to come a sure expectance;” (p. 426).

“Good, inasmuch as we perceive the good,

Kindles our love;” (p. 430).

“One universal smile it seemed of all things” (p. 433).

“Oh, mortal lust!

That canst not lift thy head above the waves

Which whelm and sink thee down.” (p. 436).

“faith and innocence

Are met with but in babes;” (p. 437).

“The aim of all

Is how to shine: e’en they, whose office is

To preach the gospel, let the gospel sleep,

And pass their own inventions oft instead” (p. 444).

“Here break we off, as the good workman doth,

That shapes the cloak according to the cloth.” (p. 458).

“Oh, speech!

How feeble and how faint art thou, to give

Conception birth.” (p. 461).

Post image for Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

December 31, 2014

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

December 31.—The last day of ’64, and much coveted peace seemingly as distant as ever. If it were not for the knowledge that there is an end to all things, and that some day there will be an end to this, it would be unbearable. The past year has equaled any of its predecessors for carnage and bloodshed. Our land is drenched with the blood of martyrs! Her fair hills and valleys, lit by blazing homesteads, and echoing to the booming of artillery and the roar of musketry. The very air is rent with the groans of the wounded and dying, and the wail of the widow and orphan. Lord, turn not thy face from us, and save, O, save us from this terrible scourge! “Let not our sins now cry against us for vengeance! Hear us, Jehovah, for mercy imploring: from thy dread displeasure, O, bid us be free!”

Although woe and desolation stare at us every way we turn, the heart of the patriot is as firm as ever, and determined that, come what may, he will never yield. There is no doubt but we have some among us whose love of self forbids their minds to rise above the dank sod upon which they tread; men who have never known what it is to experience a thrill of pleasure, when listening to the “patriot’s moving story, shedding for freemen’s rights his generous blood.” Such we have among us; but, thank the Giver of all good, they are in the minority.

 

“Chains for the dastard knave,

Recreant limbs should wear them;

But blessings on the brave,

Whose valor will not bear them!”

 

The brave army of Virginia is defending Richmond as gallantly as ever.

Any news we hear from Tennessee is uncertain, as the railroad for many miles between Corinth and Nashville is destroyed. The last heard from there our army was besieging Nashville.

Charleston, heroic Charleston, has proved a very Charybdis to the invader. Our champions on the water are doing us good service by destroying the enemy’s commerce. Their very names strike terror to the heart of the foe. The army, with the valiant Kirby Smith at its head, is keeping the enemy in check in Louisiana.

But O, my heart sickens when I think of the many, many valiant heroes who have left us, never more to return.

 

“Their fame is alive, though their spirits have fled

On the wings of the year that’s awa’.”

 

God grant that their lives have not been offered up in vain, and that the time is not far distant when triumphant peace will spread her wings over this now distracted land.

Evening Gun, Fort Sumter.

December 31, 2014

Miscellaneous document sources,Paintings of Conrad Wise Chapman

Evening Gun, Fort Sumter

Painting by Conrad Wise Chapman.

“Shows gorge wall, right in front of the Yankees.” – Conrad Wise Chapman, 1898

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.

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