SEPTEMBER 5TH.—Our Congress has authorized the raising and organizing of four hundred regiments. The Yankee Congress, 500,000 men. The enemy will get their’s first; and it is said that between 600,000 and 700,000, for three years or the war, have already been accepted by the U. S. Government. Their papers boast that nearly a million volunteers were tendered. This means mischief. How many will rush forward a year hence to volunteer their services on the plains of the South? Full many ensanguined plains will greet the horrific vision before this time next year; and many a venal wretch coming to possess our land, will occupy till the day of final doom a tract of six feet by two in some desolate and unfrequented swamp. The toad will croak his requiem, and the viper will coil beneath the thistle growing over his head.
Sept. 5.—The Charleston Mercury of this day says: Under the Fabian policy, our army has remained stationary for the last six weeks, a prey to ennui and discomfort, discontent and disease, while the capitol at Washington could almost be seen from the generals’ tents. How long this policy of “masterly inactivity ” would have continued, God only knows. It was gravely announced in a Richmond paper, that they were intrepidly waiting for the enemy to come on again. The enemy, however, very wisely determined that, as they were left the range of the whole continent to attack, Bull Run was not the choicest place for their future operations. They accordingly make a descent on the coast of North Carolina. Perhaps our Government was astonished that they did not return to Bull Run; but seeing that such expectations were not in accordance with Yankee policy, they see the necessity of advancing on Washington. It is clear that our Yankee enemies, always pushing us into our best position, intend to force us into the alternative of a campaign in Maryland, or the devastation of our sea-coast. The Carolinas, Georgia and Florida, are to be defended in Maryland. It is there, by a firm and aggressive war, that the United States must, on our part, be forced to defend themselves.
—Two companies of Colonel Berdan’s sharpshooters took their departure from Weehawken, N. J., for the seat of war. They are the first of the regiment that have gone into actual service. The uniform of the regiment is peculiarly appropriate for their position as marksmen, consisting of green frock coats, gray pantaloon and green caps. The dress is made to accord with the colors of nature as much as possible and is intended to be worn in summer. In winter the uniform will consist entirely of gray pattern.—N. Y. World, Sept. 6.
—The Twentieth regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of Colonel William Raymond Lee, passed through New York on its way to the seat of war. The regimen left Readville, Mass., yesterday. It numbers seven hundred and fifty men, and has been mainly raised in Springfield and Wareham The men are strong, hardy, and intelligent looking. They are armed with Enfield rifles and are uniformed according to the army regulation. They have with them twenty-five baggage wagons, two hospital wagons, five ambulances, and one hundred and twenty horses A company of sharp-shooters from Massachusetts, Capt. Sanders, with one hundred men, joined the regiment at New York.
At the Park barracks the soldiers partook of an excellent dinner. The officers and many distinguished persons, including Governor Andrew, had a table set for them in the officers’ quarters. When tho dinner was over, Mr. Frank E. Howe spoke of the presence of Governor Andrew, the chief executive of a State which was offering so many of her sons to fight for the Union, and introduced Mr. David Dudley Field, who spoke of the duty of all good citizens in this conflict for the Union, and of the noble efforts of Massachusetts in sustaining the principles which she professed, by the treasure of her lands and the lives of her sons.
Governor Andrew was next introduced, and delivered a speech full of patriotism and enthusiasm for the cause of liberty and freedom.— (Doc. 30.)
—A correspondent of the Baltimore American writes :—I notice the fact that, within the limits of my acquaintance, the gentlemen who now belong to the “Peace ” party are the same who a few weeks since rejoiced in the expectation that Jeff. Davis was soon to appear in Baltimore, “to redeem Maryland from bondage.” Some of them have not yet abandoned the hope of his appearing here “one of these fine days.”
One who has at heart the peace and prosperity of Maryland, would like to hear from the organ of this “Peace ” party an answer to these questions:
1. Would not the success of that party in the coming elections, be everywhere hailed as a triumph of the secession party in Maryland?
2. Would not such a triumph he unquestionably regarded as n pressing invitation to Jeff. Davis to make the visit and attempt the “liberation” aforesaid?
And should Jeff. Davis accept the invitation:
3. What “Peace” relations would be established between Jeff. Davis’ liberators and the guns at Fort McHenry ?
Let these who are interested in the reviving prosperity of Baltimore answer these questions for themselves.
—Major Mordecai, late in command of the Watervliet Arsenal, N. Y., published a card denying any complicity in furnishing the rebels with drawings of a machine for expanding rifle bullets, as charged. he acknowledged having allowed Abraham Snyder, the inventor of the machine, to have copies made, but showed by letter dated in January last that he communicated the fact to Col. Craig, of the Ordnance Department, saying that it was not too late to retract the permission if he thought necessary. —Philadelphia Inquirer, September 6.
—At Stralenburg, New Jersey, an organization of secessionists was broken up by the United States Marshal.—N. Y. Commercial, Sept. 6.
—The Memphis Avalanche of to-day contains the following estimate of the Northern peace party: “The peace party of the North is turning out to be an arrant humbug. It is mightily opposed to war, and intensely desirous of peace, and yet unites with Lincoln in his unconstitutional and infernal scheme of compelling the South by brute force to yield up the right of self-government, and submit to the rule of a vile abolitionist despotism, headed by such a creature as Abe Lincoln, and the banditti that surround him.
“They may hold their conventions, whine about peace, and pass their canting resolutions until doomsday, but will never effect a peace on their terms. They may lick the feet of the tyrant if it suits them, but the South will continue to fight him, and against the Government of which he is the dictator, and against the people whom he governs, until she gets rid of them forever.
“The Northern Democracy, after having furnished Lincoln the men to fight his battles, after having hurrahed for the Stars and Stripes as lustily as the black Republicans, and after having been soundly threshed by the South, which they thought to crush, and treated with contumely by the abolitionists, whose tools they made themselves, now begin again their cant about the Union, about compromises, about justice to the South, about making up these unhappy differences, and bring back the seceded States, under the mild and paternal Government of Abraham Lincoln!
“We would recommend to these Northern Democrats, who, belying all their former political doctrines and professions, were so ready to fly to arms to aid Lincoln in crushing the liberties of the Southern people, when they thought they could succeed, to go at some more promising business than Union-saving. If they are still determined that the seceded States shall return into their beloved Union, they had better keep on fighting, as it is their only chance.
“There are some Democrats at the North who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal, who have not been faithless to their principles, but they are few and far between. The mass of them made haste to lend themselves to the support of Lincoln’s iniquitous war, and now only oppose it because they see it is hopeless, and that they gained only insult and ruin by their unprincipled subserviency. If they would restore peace, let them advocate the unconditional cessation of this unrighteous war, and unconditional acknowledgment of the right of the Southern people to govern themselves. That is the only solution of the difficulty.”
Wednesday, 4th—Very fine weather. No news of importance. The Government has issued to each man a good, double, woolen blanket, which we use for covers at night in our bunks of wheat straw. There are two men to each bunk, my bunk-mate being Thomas Fossett. He is a good, conscientious fellow.
September 4th.—I rode over to the Chain Bridge again with Captain Haworth this morning at seven o’clock, on the chance of there being a big fight, as the Americans say; but there was only some slight skirmishing going on; dropping shots now and then. Walker, excited by the reminiscences of Bull Run noises, performed most remarkable feats, one of the most frequent of which was turning right round when at full trot or canter and then kicking violently. He also galloped in a most lively way down a road which in winter is the bed of a torrent, and jumped along among the boulders and stones in an agile, cat-like manner, to the great delectation of my companion.
The morning was intensely hot, so I was by no means indisposed to get back to cover again. Nothing would persuade people there was not serious fighting somewhere or other. I went down to the Long Bridge, and was stopped by the sentry, so I produced General Scott’s pass, which I kept always as a dernier ressort, but the officer on duty here also refused it, as passes were suspended. I returned and referred the matter to Colonel Cullum, who consulted General Scott, and informed me that the pass must be considered as perfectly valid, not having been revoked by the General, who, as Lieutenant-General commanding the United States army, was senior to every other officer, and could only have his pass revoked by the President himself. Now it was quite plain that it would do me no good to have an altercation with the sentries at every post in order to have the satisfaction of reporting the matter to General Scott. I, therefore, procured a letter from Colonel Cullum stating, in writing, what he said in words, and with that and the pass went to General McClellan’s head-quarters, where I was told by his aides the General was engaged in a kind of council of war. I sent up my papers, and Major Hudson, of his staff, came down after a short time and said, that “General McClellan thought it would be much better if General Scott had given me a new special pass, but as General Scott had thought fit to take the present course on his own responsibility, General McClellan could not interfere in the matter,” whence it may be inferred there is no very pleasant feeling between head-quarters of the army of the Potomac and head-quarters of the army of the United States.
I went on to the Navy yard, where a look-out man, who can command the whole of the country to Munson’s Hill, is stationed, and I heard from Captain Dahlgren that there was no fighting whatever. There were columns of smoke visible from Capitol Hill, which the excited spectators declared were caused by artillery and musketry, but my glass resolved them into emanations from a vast extent of hanging wood and brush which the Federals were burning in order to clear their front. However, people were so positive as to hearing cannonades and volleys of musketry that we went out to the reservoir hill at Georgetown, and gazing over the debatable land of Virginia—which, by the way, is very beautiful these summer sunsets—became thoroughly satisfied of the delusion. Met Van Vliet as I was returning, who had just seen the reports at headquarters, and averred there was no fighting whatever. My landlord had a very different story. His friend, an hospital steward, “had seen ninety wounded men carried into one ward from over the river, and believed the Federals had lost 1000 killed and wounded and twenty-five guns.”
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1861.
Beautiful day, rather hot in the sun. Called on Doct Smith which amounted to nothing. I think he likes to have people think that they are under great obligations to him. Got glass and glazed the broken windows, saved $1.50 by doing it myself. Paid my Ice bill $3.70. It is supposed that fighting is going on this afternoon up the river where the rebels are attempting to cross. The Balloon was up over the River on the lookout. Large bodies of troops have arrived today, one Regt passed our door. The death of Jeff Davis is confirmed in the enemies papers.
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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
Wednesday, 3 [4].—Saw General Rosecrans and staff. Caught our guard without a salute. We go with him south today. A good time with McCook and his Ninth. Marched from Bulltown to Flatwoods on road to Sutton, about ten or eleven miles. Camped on a hill with Captain Canby’s Company F of our right wing and Captain Moore’s Company I, ditto. How pleasant to meet them after our long (five weeks) separation. They have had troubles, hard marches, and fun; one man shot resisting a corporal, two men in irons for a rape, and one man arrested for sleeping on post (third offence penalty death!)
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BULLTOWN, September 3, [4], 1861. Wednesday Morning.
DEAREST:—Let me say first that the army mail arrangement is perfect. All letters are got promptly here. We march forty or sixty miles to a new point. We are hardly stopped at our destination on a sidehill, in a wood or meadow, before a courier steps up and hands us, privates and all, letters just from Clarksburg. For instance, we are seventy miles over mountains from our last camping place. I had not got off of Webby before a fellow came up, “Are you the Major?” and handed me a letter from you, 27th, from Mother, 26th, from Uncle, 26th, and half a dozen others all late. The same thing is happening all the time.
We have had a forced march without tents, cooking utensils, or knapsacks over a mountain road—bridle path. I came out first best. All the horses injured except Webby. . . .
Good time here. McCook gathered his whole regiment. They serenaded us and we them. The Ninth and Twenty-third swear by each other. They Dutch, we Yankees. General Rosecrans takes command here. We go south to Sutton, etc., until we meet the enemy. Shall not write often now.
Good-bye. Blessings, love, and kisses for all.
Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. HAYES.
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BULLTOWN, September 3, [4], 1861.
DEAR UNCLE:—All your letters come safely; got one of the 26th yesterday. Mail facilities coming this way are perfect.
We are now under General Rosecrans in person going south toward Summersville, through Sutton, until we meet the enemy unless he leaves western Virginia. Unless overwhelming[ly] superior in numbers, we shall beat him, accidents always excepted. Our numbers are not, perhaps, as great as we would wish, but you must remember we are over one hundred miles from a railroad and bad roads (not very bad) to haul supplies. It is physically impossible to supply a very large army without a very long preparation. The wagon-trains would actually impede each other, if you were to attempt to crowd too fast, faster than we are now doing.
Take it easy, we shall clean them out in time, if the people at home will hold on and be persevering and patient.
We have had the severest experience soldiers are required to bear, except a defeat; viz, forced marches without shelter, food, or blankets over mountain bridle-paths, in the night and rain. Many fail. My little horse came out well and sound again, the best in the regiment. The doctor’s gave out and was left. I gain strength and color; a little flesh perhaps. Never before so healthy and stout. You will hear first of our welfare in the [Cincinnati] Commercial. Their “special correspondent” wrote a letter in my tent this A. M. Good-bye.
Sincerely,
R. B. HAYES.
S. BIRCHARD.
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ON ROAD TO SUTTON, SOUTH FROM
WESTON, September 3 [4], 1861.
DEAR MOTHER:—We are having great times with forced marches over the hills. It agrees with me. I get all letters by couriers very promptly. . . .
We go south under General Rosecrans. All things look encouragingly. We meet friends constantly and unexpectedly. . . . On Sunday we had church in camp, with a Presbyterian Congregation of Yankees who came here forty-five years ago. We occupied their church for shelter. They treated us most hospitably. All from Massachusetts and retaining the thrift, morality, and loyalty of their native State, or rather of the State of their fathers, for most of them were born here.
Affectionately,
R. B. HAYES.
MRS. SOPHIA HAYES.
The hams appear in the following note:
Headquarters of the Army, Washington.
Dear Mrs. Howland: The Lieutenant General desires me to send his thanks for the hams sent to him by Mr. Howland. He considers them very fine indeed, to which opinion I beg leave to add my own.
Yours very truly,
H. Van Rensselaer.
SEPTEMBER 4TH.—J. R. Anderson, proprietor of the iron-works here, has been appointed brigadier-general by the President. He, too, was a West Pointer; but does not look like a military genius. He is assigned to duty on the coast of North Carolina.
September 4.—Leslie Coombs, of Kentucky, in a letter to the chairman of the Syracuse (N. Y.) Conventions, held this language: “These peace meetings, with us, and, I presume, everywhere, arc mere soft words for treason, and we shall so treat them. I am gratified to find you still at your post, and have not caught the Bull Run panic, which has done some mischief in Kentucky. I am on guard all the time, and ready for action. If the rebels dare make a war upon us, we will sweep them clear, and that rapidly. We are wide awake, and defy their malice as much as we scorn their blustering. ‘The Union, the Constitution, and the enforcement of the laws,’ must be kept aloft everywhere, and all mere party platforms trampled under foot.”
—Leonidas Polk, general in the Confederate Army, issued the following proclamation at Columbus, Ky., this day: “The Federal Government having, in defiance of the wishes of the people of Kentucky, disregarded their neutrality by establishing camp depots of armies, and by organizing military companies within her territory, and by constructing military works on the Missouri shore, immediately opposite and commanding Columbus, evidently intended to cover the landing of troops for the seizure of that town, it has become a military necessity, for the defence of the territory of the Confederate States, that the Confederates occupy Columbus in advance. The major-general commanding has, therefore, not felt himself at liberty to risk the loss of so important a position, but has decided to occupy it in pursuance of this decision. He has thrown sufficient force into the town, and ordered to fortify it. It is gratifying to know that the presence of his troops is acceptable to the people of Columbus, and on this occasion he assures them that every precaution shall be taken to insure their quiet, protection to their property, with personal and corporate rights.”
—Colonel John Fitzroy De Courcy, an English officer of much distinction, tendered his services to the National Government, and the offer was accepted. Colonel De Courcy commanded a Turkish regiment during the Crimean Var.—Louisville Journal, September 11.
—At Portland, Me., Cyrus F. Sargent and Octavius F. Hill, of Yarmouth, wore arrested to-day by the United States Marshal, by order of the Secretary of War.—James Chapin, of Vicksburg, reported to be “a captain in the rebel army, was arrested at the residence of his father-in-law, in Saratoga, N. Y., to-day, by U. S. Marshal Burt, of Albany, by virtue of a warrant of the Secretary of State.—At Boston, Mass., .James Leguire, hailing from Halifax, N. C., was arrested on charges of conspiring against the Government. He was committed for trial it the U. S. District Court. Bail was refused. Leguire was bound for Memphis. A uniform was found in his trunk, and other suspicious circumstances led to the arrest.—N. Y. World, September 5.
—The schooner H. Middleton arrived at New York, a prize to the United States, having been captured on the 21st of August off Charleston, by the sloop-of-war Vandalia. She was from Charleston, bound to Liverpool, with a cargo of naval stores, and had attempted to run the blockade. During the chase she threw overboard the entire deck load. The captain and crew were transferred to the United States frigate Roanoke. The following note was found on beard, showing that she had previously been intended for a privateer:
“In case of being boarded, sink this package, as the letters were too late to take out privateer’s papers for your schooner, and would criminate you.
F. J. Porcher.
“To Captain Barklay.” —(Doc. 27.)
—A Despatch from Hannibal, Mo., of this date, says: Corporal Dix, of the Third Ohio regiment, while out scouting with five men at Kirksville, last week, was surrounded in a farmhouse while at dinner, by a party of twenty-five secessionists, who demanded a surrender. He refused, and the secessionists made an attack, when a severe fight ensued, but the Federalists maintained their position in the house, driving their assailants from the ground with a loss of seven killed and four wounded. Corporal Dix was killed, but none of the other of the Federalists were hurt.—Baltimore American, Sept. 6.
—A Mass Meeting, composed of men of all parties, was held at Owego, N. Y., to-day. Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson was the principal speaker, and was loudly and enthusiastically applauded. The sympathizers with and abettors of secession fared very hard at his hands. —N. Y. Evening Post, Sept. 4.
—The national gunboats Tyler and Lexington had an engagement off Hickman, Kentucky, this afternoon with the rebel gunboat Yankee, and the batteries on the Missouri shore, supported by about fifteen hundred rebels, who also fired upon the boats. None of the rebels’ shot took effect. The Tyler and Lexington fired about twenty shots, with what effect is not known, and returned to Cairo, Ill., this evening. On their way up they were fired at with small arms from Columbus and Chalk Bluffs, Kentucky.— (Doc. 29.)
—This afternoon, Colonel N. G. Williams, of the Third Iowa regiment, with eleven hundred Federal troops, Kansas and Iowa Third, was attacked at Shelbina, Mo., by Martin Green, with fifteen hundred to two thousand men. Green commenced firing on them with two pieces of artillery, and kept up fire about one and a half hours. One man (Federal) had his foot taken off by a cannon ball. Colonel Williams retreated on two trains west to Hudson, Mo., leaving a number of horses and part of his camp utensils in the hands of the rebels. Col. Williams had no artillery. Gen. Hurlbut got as far as Hudson, Mo., from Brookfield, with two hundred and fifty men, to reinforce Williams. When he arrived there, Williams was at Clarence, on his retreat.—N. Y. Commercial, Sept. 10.
—This day the confederates fired from an eminence at Great Falls, on the Potomac, sixteen miles from Washington, upon a body of national troops on the Maryland side. Their rifled cannon, although perhaps a hundred times discharged, wounded only one of the men. The rebels then attempted to ford the river, by constructing a temporary bridge with planks, when they were repulsed by the sharp-shooters of the Pennsylvania Seventh, and a number of them killed. They then retired from view, carrying with them their battery.—N. Y. World, Sept. 9.
—Private William Scott, of company K, Third regiment of Vermont Volunteers, was sentenced to be shot for sleeping on his post. —Army Orders.
Tuesday, 3d—A new company came into camp today which had only about half the necessary number, and so it was planned to have them join with us and form a full company, but the two companies could not agree on who should be captain.
