Diary of Dr. Alfred L. Castleman, August 9, 1861

What a wonderful effect the hardships of camp life, with the troubles and cares which they entail on a surgeon, have had on my health. For many years I have been dyspeptic. Now I can eat what I please, and go without sleep almost entirely, and suffer no inconvenience. Last night, at 11 o'clock, after having ate a piece of hard salt beef for my supper, I "cared for" a pint of rich ice cream, and feel no inconvenience from it to-day. This would kill an ordinary civil man. I have to work very hard, but feel it a great comfort to work amongst the sick without suffering from fatigue, as I have been accustomed to.

Having received an order this morning from Gen. Dix to put all my sick into general hospital, and finding them bitterly opposed, I visited Fort McHenry, saw Gen. D., and prevailed on him to rescind the order.

I was highly gratified with what I saw at Fort McHenry. It, being the first equipped fort I ever saw, was an object of much interest; its numerous cannon, large enough for a small soldier to sleep in, pointing in all directions overlooking Baltimore and guarding all the approaches to it. No matter from what direction you come, you find these monster guns looking right in your face. Low down behind the walls lie almost innumerable ugly bull-dog-looking mortars, not over two and a half feet long, loaded with a 20 to 40-pound shells filling them to the very muzzle, and ready to be vomited forth at the first approach of trouble. There, too, is the great Dahlgren, stretching its long black neck away beyond the embrasures, as if looking for an object into which to pour its monster shot and shell, or its shower of grape and cannister. Its howitzers are there, and its great Columbiads, into some of which I was strongly tempted to crawl and take a nap, but a sudden recollection of the history of Jonah reminded me that its stomach, too, might sicken, and that I might awake in a trip across the mighty deep on the wings of the wind. I didn't go in. The bright little brass 6, 8, and 10pounders, on the greater number of which Napoleon said God always smiled in battles, were conspicuous amongst these great leviathans, and above all, the newly invented rifle cannon, ready to demolish ships or houses at two to five miles distance.

Have lost no man yet from sickness, but I have one who, I fear, will not recover. He is supposed to be poisoned by a glass of lemonade, bought of a man suspected of being a rebel.

I have succeeded, by selling a half barrel of flour, and by the approval of a small requisition made on the commissary, in getting provisions of all kinds to make my little detachment comfortable.

SOURCE: Alfred L. Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day January, 1863, p. 10-12

Brigadier-General Ulysses S. Grant to Brigadier-General George W. Cullum, February 15, 1862

Head Quarters, Army in the Field

Camp Near Fort Donelson, Feb.y 15th 1862

GEN. G. W. CULLUM

CHIIEF OF STAFF, DEPT. OF THE MO.

CAIRO ILL.

GEN.

I hope you will direct Capt. Turnley to forward the transportation belonging to the troops here as rapidly as possible.  It is now almost impossible to get supplies from the landing to where our troops are.

We will soon want ammunition for our 10 & 20 pound Parrot guns; already require it for the 24 pound howitzers. and

I have directed my ordnance officer to keep a constant watch upon the supply of ammunition and take steps in time to avoid a deficiency.

Appearances now indicate that we will have a protracted siege here.  The ground is very broken and the fallen timber extending far out from the breast works I fear the result of attempting to carry the place by storm and with raw troops.  I feel great confidance however of ultimately reducing the place.  As yet I have had no batteries thrown up hoping with the aid of the Gunboats to obviate the necessity.  The present high water has prevented my extending the right to the river.  Col. Webster is now making a reconnoissance with the view of sending a force above the town of Dover to occupy the river bank.

Please inform Gen. Halleck the substance of this.

Respectfully

your obt. svt.

U. S. GRANT

Brig. Gen.

SOURCE: John Y. Simon & William M. Ferraro, Editors, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 4: January 8-March 31, 1862, p. 212-3

Gustavus V. Fox to Montgomery Blair, March 31, 1861

N. York

31 Mch. '61

D^r Judge,

I saw Mr. Aspinwall yesterday and in the evening met him and Capt. Marshall. From being for a long time most earnest in this matter, they are now astonished at the idea of Govt attempting it declaring that the time has past and that the people are reconciled to leaving this position and making the stand on Pickens &c. &c. &c. We argued the point till midnight. They propose making no move till Tuesday on account of the loan, promising that they can get me ready in time after that. I really think they doubt my word in the matter. I hope orders to the proper party for making the contracts will be sent at once. I had no chance to say to Mr. Welles that the heaviest howitzers must be put on the men of war for use in the tugs. The vital point in my opinion is a naval force that can destroy their naval preparations. All else is easy. Com^o Stringham is the person for the Sec'y to consult. The tugs may be obliged to go in and grapple with the enemy and the naval force must be sufficient, beyond a doubt, to accomplish it. I only suggested the three vessels as being all that were available. The navy will answer that this force is all right. I am sure of all else. I shall take ten boats in the Baltic so as to use either them or the tugs, as circumstances may require. I wish copies of the latest letters from Major Anderson, say since my visit, may be sent me, where there is any reference to matters. You have no idea of the fears existing with these gentlemen and I am not sure that they will decline all participation. So fall away, in the hour of peril, hands and hearts that should stand by our Govt. I am real heart sick, not discouraged, at the delays, obstacles and brief time allowed for a vital measure that should have had months' careful preparations.

I called upon Mrs. Anderson. She showed me a private letter from her husband where he writes, “I have just rec^d a letter from Gen^l Beauregard wherein he says Col Lamon told Gov. Pickens that in a few days I (Major A) would be transferred to another place."

Write or telegraph me at once, 77 Nassau St. care of Lowery.

Sincerely yrs

G. V. Fox.

SOURCES: Robert Means Thompson & Richard Wainwright, Editors, Publications of the Naval Historical Society, Volume 9: Confidential Correspondence of Gustavus Vasa Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 12-13

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: Saturday, November 8, 1862

Still southwest to Rhea's Mills ten miles and then breakfast — fresh beef and no salt. Col. Philips here two nights before, two of his Indians shot. Two girls wounded severely by rebels firing into a house. After breakfast went to my own men with Capt. Gave Capt. Lucas detachment —the advance. Direction southeast. Rode 7 or 8 miles to Cane Hill — Boonsboro — hilly country. Pickets fired upon at Cane Hill. Captured a secesh saddle and equipments. Went into town. Col. made inquiries and moved on. Col. always with the advance. Went a couple of miles and bang, bang, went guns. Soon 60 or 70 men showed themselves in the woods on a hill half a mile to our left. Sharp's rifles and carbines came into play — no effect — distance too great. Howitzers came up, cavalry fell back into the woods and shell went whizzing over the cornfield. They skedaddled. One fellow whom 8 or 10 men started for, ran forward and threw down the fence and then ran back behind a tree. Blue overcoat. Did not take him. Bold fellow. They took two or three prisoners. After some delay, Col. learned that the rebels, 400 or 500, were one mile farther on. Went on a mile, saw pickets on a distant hill. Sharpshooters advanced, and then command moved forward. Found camp just vacated — fires still burning. Went over the Boston mountains. Over the mountains at the foot, our extreme advance came in sight of rear guard of the enemy. A charge was ordered and away we flew with loose reins and set spurs, up hill and down hill, across and back again Cove Creek, a very rough road. After three miles we began to see stirrups, blankets, corn and a thousand things strewn along the road. The Col. was up with us. He commenced yelling, which was kept up by all the men. More things scattered along. After ten miles in the midst of excitement, back came a volley of shot and bullets from the bush at a point a little elevated just ahead of us. The extreme advance fell back a few rods. Up we rode upon a charge into the bush as we were ordered. We rode up and fired away. Still farther up into the road we were ordered. We hurried up and formed along the road facing the bush. The bullets whistled merrily for a season. Not over 20 or 25 were up. We fired all our rounds, then a sabre charge was ordered. We had our sabres drawn and ready for a charge, when Capt. Lucas' horse was shot and the rebels were running by a byroad. The color-bearer was shot through the head and colors captured, 13 stars — two others were reported killed. Waited for signs of the enemy, but in vain. Went down and helped about unloading wagons and burned them. None of us harmed. Started back. Returned 4 or 5 miles and camped. All the boys got some little trap — baggage and equipments of Mo. Provost Guard commanded by Provost Gen. McDonald. Private correspondence of Col. Sevier of Marseilles, Mo. One excellent letter from his Aunt Phil on the war.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 42-3