Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: February 23, 1864

None have been taken away from the island for a number of days. Have heard that a box came for me, and is over in Richmond. Hope the rebel that eats the contents of that box will get choked to death. I wrote to the Governor of Michigan, Austin Blair, who is in Washington, D. C, some weeks ago. He has known me from boyhood. Always lived in the neighborhood at Jackson. Mich. Asked him to notify my father and brothers of my whereabouts. To-day I received a letter from him saying that he had done as requested, also that the Sanitary Commission had sent me some eatables. This is undoubtedly the box which I have heard from and is over in Richmond. Rebels are trying to get recruits from among us for their one-horse Confederacy. Believe that one or two have deserted our ranks and gone over. Bad luck to them.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 33

Diary of Salmon P. Chase: Monday, August 18, 1862

Busy, except when interrupted by callers, with list of Collectors and Asessors. Saw Chandler and Gov. Blair at President's, and closed Michigan appointments. President insisted on Stanley, to save Trowbridge's feelings, instead of Mills, whom I recommended as best man; and Chandler and Blair concurred — none of us, however, knowing Stanley.

Thurlow Weed dined with me. Parsons was at home, but had dined, and went away. After dinner, left Weed at Willard's, where I went to call on Colonels Corcoran and Wilcox, returned yesterday from their long captivity in Richmond. They had gone to dine at the President's; and I went to Mr. Cutts' and spent an hour with Mr. C. and Mrs. D.

SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 61

From Gen. Halleck's Army

CAIRO, May 17. – The steamer Shingess has just arrived from below with thirty refugees from Memphis.  It is the same old story of impressment, outrage and flight.  The Union citizens are waiting, hoping and praying for the advent of the Federal army.

A large number of refugees also just arrived here to-day by the steamer Diligent.  They also report three or four hundred more on the way.  A number of them are men of families who have always been strong Union Men, and have left their families behind rather than bear arms against the Federal Government.

Some of them are men of means, and well known in this community.  Thus they almost became intoxicated with joy when they landed here, saying they once more breathed the pure atmosphere of liberty.  One of them brings Memphis papers of the 13th, which contain the evacuation of Pensacola, also the surrender of Norfolk and the burning of Memphis, which they say is a military necessity.

The Memphis Appeal has moved its office to Grenada, Miss., and for the present works its edition off on a small hand press, ready to leave whenever our fleet arrives at Memphis, which is momentarily expected.

No further news from Pittsburg Landing of importance.

Governor Blair and Adjutant General Robertson, of Michigan, are in town, on their way to Pittsburg.

The steamer Meteor has just arrived from Pittsburg Landing.

There are no movements of importance up the Tennessee.  The army is slowly and steadily advancing.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 4