Commandant Samuel F. DuPont to Gustavus V. Fox, Monday Evening, October 28, 1861

Wabash, H Rds.         

Monday Evg. 28. Oct 61

My Dear Sir

I wrote to-day and have nothing of importance to add except that the weather is still moderating and the coal fleet has sailed under convoy of Vandalia and Gem of the Sea.

It is in reference to a little circumstance in connection with the coal vessels that I drop this line. Cap. Haggerty was told to inform the Captains of the coal ships that the Rendezvous in case of separation at sea would be Savannah, as I did not wish to name the other place to so many and it is well I took the precaution, for Capt. Haggerty through some misconception told them the Rendezvous yesterday, instead of waiting for the last moment. One of these men went ashore and told he was ordered to go to Savannah — which I presume has gone by this time both North and South and I thought it best you should know the facts in the case.

We sail at Daylight and may God give us success is the prayer of Yours

Most truly

S. F. D. P.

Mr. Fox

Ass. Sec.

SOURCE: 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. 63

Diary of Gideon Welles: Wednesday, March 30, 1864

A severe storm last night and to-day. Mrs. Welles had arranged for a party this evening. The rain ceased about sundown. The evening passed off pleasantly. A large and choice company and many celebrities.

Secretary Seward fell in with Mr. Carpenter, the artist, in the parlor. Carpenter is getting out a large painting of the President and the Cabinet at the time the Emancipation Proclamation was under consideration. The President and Cabinet have given him several sittings, and the picture is well under weigh. Mr. C. thinks this act the great feature of the Administration, as do many others likely; but Seward said it was but an incident following and wholly subordinate to other and much greater events. When C. asked what, Seward told him to go back to the firing on Sumter, or to a much more exciting one than even that, — the Sunday following the Baltimore massacre, when the Cabinet assembled or gathered in the Navy Department and, with the vast responsibility that was thrown upon them, met the emergency and its awful consequences, put in force the war power of the government, and issued papers and did acts that might have brought them all to the scaffold.

Few, comparatively, know or can appreciate the actual condition of things and state of feeling of the members of the Administration in those days. Nearly sixty years of peace had unfitted us for any war, but the most terrible of all wars, a civil one, was upon us, and it had to be met. Congress had adjourned without making any provision for the storm, though aware it was at hand and soon to burst upon the country. A new Administration, scarcely acquainted with each other, and differing essentially in the past, was compelled to act, promptly and decisively.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 548-9

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Birchard A. Hayes, October 2, 1863

Camp White, West Virginia, October 2, 1863.

My Dear Son: — I received a letter today from Uncle Birchard. He says you appear to be very happy learning to chop and work, and that you are helping Allen. Your mother tells me, too, that you have learned the names of a good many trees, and that you know them when you see them. I am very glad to hear so much good of you. It is an excellent thing to know how to work — to ride and drive and how to feed and hitch up a team. I expect you will know more about trees than I do. I did not learn about them when I was a little boy and so do not now know much about such things. There are a great many things that are learned very easily when we are young, but which it is hard to learn after we are grown. I want you to learn as many of such things now as you can, and when you are a man you will be able to enjoy and use your knowledge in many ways.

Your mother took a ride on Lieutenant McKinley's horse this morning, and enjoyed herself very much.

Uncle Joe has a big owl, such a one as Lucy saw at Uncle Birchard's. A corporal in Company E shot its wing off, so it couldn't escape. It snaps its beak very fiercely when we poke sticks at it. The band boys have a 'possum and there is a pet bear and deer.

I think Uncle Birchard will find a way to stop his chimney from smoking. If he doesn't, you must tell him to build campfires in front of his house as we do here. We find them very pleasant.

I am sure you will be a good boy and I hope you will be very happy.

Your affectionate father,

R. B. Hayes.

Birchard A. Hayes,

Fremont, Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 438

Thomas W. Thomas to Howell Cobb, June 5, 1848

Elberton, Ga., June 5th, 1848.

Dear Sir: The last mail brought us the news of Gen. Cass's nomination, and with it came a whig paper charging him with having voted for the Wilmot Proviso. My recollection of the facts is this, the Proviso was attached to the three million bill in the House and sent to the Senate where on motion to amend it was struck out, Gen. Cass voting for the striking out. In this shape it was sent back to the House and passed without the Proviso. If my memory serves me, this was the only time the question ever came up in the Senate and Gen. Cass recorded his vote in favor of the South. Please send me the Senate journal showing all his votes on the question. I am under so many obligations to you for favors of this kind that I dislike to trouble you, and wish you to attend to my request only in case it be convenient. The Democrats here are highly gratified with the nominations and are prepared to give them a united support. Cass in my humble judgment is a perfect embodiment of progressive democracy as opposed to what the Whigs call conservatism, which in plain English means putting the people in ward, to save them from their pretended ignorance and folly; and the question is not only between free-trade and protection, but also whether we shall govern ourselves or have guardians. Cass went for 54.40, is now for the acquisition of Mexican territory, free trade, the independent treasury, and hates the British; and therefore must be worthy of democratic suffrage.

SOURCE: Ulrich Bonnell Phillips, Editor, The Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911, Volume 2: The Correspondence of Robert Toombs, Alexander H. Stephens, and Howell Cobb, p. 107

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 22, 1863

Gen. Wheeler has taken 700 of the enemy's cavalry in East Tennessee, 6 cannon, 50 wagons, commissary stores, etc. Per contra, the steamer Venus, with bacon, from Nassau, got aground trying to enter the port of Wilmington, and ship and cargo were lost. There is a rumor that Gen. Taylor, trans-Mississippi, has captured Gen. Banks, his staff, and sixteen regiments. This, I fear, is not well authenticated.

A poor woman yesterday applied to a merchant in Carey Street to purchase a barrel of flour. The price he demanded was $70. “My God!” exclaimed she, “how can I pay such prices? I have seven children; what shall I do?”

“I don't know, madam,” said he, coolly, “unless you eat your children.”

Such is the power of cupidity — it transforms men into demons. And if this spirit prevails throughout the country, a just God will bring calamities upon the land, which will reach these cormorants, but which, it may be feared, will involve all classes in a common ruin.

Beef, to-day, sold in market at $1.50 per pound. There is no bacon for sale, or corn-meal. But we shall not starve, if we have faith in a beneficent Providence. Our daughter Anne, teaching in Appomattox County, writes that she will send us a barrel of potatoes, some persimmons, etc. next Wednesday. And we had a good dinner to-day: a piece of fat shoulder Capt. Warner let me have at $1 per pound — it is selling for $2.50 — and cabbage from my garden, which my neighbor's cow overlooked when she broke through the gate last Sunday. Although we scarcely know what we shall have to-morrow, we are merry and patriotic to-day.

Last night I went to hear Rev. Dr. Hobson, Reformed Baptist, or Campbellite, preach. He is certainly an orator (from Kentucky) and a man of great energy and fertility of mind. There is a revival in his congregation too, as well as among the Methodists, but he was very severe in his condemnation of the emotional or sensational practices of the latter. He said, what was never before known by me, that the word pardon is not in the New Testament, but remission was. His point against the Methodists was their fallacy of believing that conversion was sudden and miraculous, and accompanied by a happy feeling. Happy feeling, he said, would naturally follow a consciousness of remission of sins, but was no evidence of conversion, for it might be produced by other things. It was the efficacy of the Word, of the promise of God, which obliterated the sins of all who believed, repented, and were baptized. He had no spasmodic extravagances over his converts; but, simply taking them by the hand, asked if they believed, repented, and would be baptized. If the answers were in the affirmalive, they resumed their seats, and were soon after immersed in a pool made for the purpose in the church.

I pray sincerely that this general revival in the churches will soften the hearts of the extortioners, for this class is specifically denounced in the Scriptures. There is abundance in the land, but “man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands mourn.” I hope the extortioners may all go to heaven, first ceasing to be extortioners.

The Legislature has broken up the gambling establishments, for the time being, and the furniture of their gorgeous saloons is being sold at auction. Some idea of the number of these establishments may be formed from an estimate (in the Examiner) of the cost of the entertainment prepared for visitors being not less than $10,000 daily. Their agents bought the best articles offered for sale in the markets, and never hesitated to pay the most exorbitant prices. I hope now the absence of such customers may have a good effect. But I fear the currency, so redundant, is past remedy.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 78-9

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: December 15, 1864

Jocko's hut was not across the river as I supposed and wrote yesterday, but on the same side we were on. At about ten o'clock last night we went to his abiding place as directed and knocked. After a long time an old black head was stuck out of the window with a nightcap on. The owner of the head didn't know Jocko or anything about him; was short and crusty; said: “Go way from Dar” Kept talking to him and he scolding at being disturbed. Said he had rheumatics and couldn't get out to let us in. After a long time opened the door and we set down on the door step. Told him we were yankees and wanted help. Was the funniest darky we have met yet. Would give something for his picture as he was framed in his window in the moonlight talking to us, with the picturesque surroundings, and us yankees trying to win him over to aid us. Finally owned up that he was Jocko, but said he couldn't row us across the river. He was lame and could not walk, had no boat, and if he had the river was so swift he couldn't get us across, and if it wasn't swift, the rebels would catch him at it and hang him. Talked a long time and with much teasing. By degrees his scruples gave way, one at a time. Didn't know but he might row us across if he only had a boat, and finally didn't know but he could find a boat To get thus far into his good graces took at least three hours. Went looking around and found an old scow, fixed up some old cars, and we got in; before doing so however, he had warmed up enough to give us some boiled sweet potatoes and cold baked fish. Rowed us way down the river and landed us on the noted Miller plantation and a mile in rear of the negro houses. Jocko, after we forced our acquaintance on him with all kind of argument, proved to be a smart able bodied old negro, but awful afraid of being caught helping runaways. Would give something for his picture as he appeared to us looking out of his cabin window. Just an old fashioned, genuine negro, and so black that charcoal would make a white mark on him. Took us probably three miles from his hut, two miles of water and one of land, and then started back home after shaking us a dozen times by the hand, and “God blessing us.” Said “Ole Massa Miller's niggers all Union niggers,” and to go up to the huts in broad day light and they would help us. No whites at home on the plantation. We arrived where Jocko left us an hour or so before daylight, and lay down to sleep until light. I woke up after a while feeling wet, and found the tide had risen and we were surrounded with water; woke up the boys and scrambled out of that in a hurry, going through two feet of water in some places. The spot where we had laid down was a higher piece of ground than that adjoining. Got on to dry land and proceeded to get dry. At about ten o'clock Dave went up to the negro huts and made himself known, which was hard work. The negroes are all afraid that we are rebels and trying to get them into a scrape, but after we once get them thoroughly satisfied that we are genuine Yanks they are all right, and will do anything for us. The negroes have shown us the big house, there being no whites around, they having left to escape the coming Yankee army. We went up into the cupola and looked way off on the ocean, and saw our own noble gunboats. What would we give to be aboard of them? Their close proximity makes us discuss the feasibility of going down the river and out to them, but the negroes say there are chain boats across the river farther down, and picketed. Still it makes us anxious, our being so near, and we have decided to go down the river to night in a boat and see if we can't reach them It is now the middle of the afternoon and we lay off from the huts eighty rods, and the negroes are about to bring us some dinner. During the night we traveled over oyster beds by the acre, artificial ones, and they cut our feet. Negroes say there are two other runaways hid a mile off and they are going to bring them to our abiding place. Later, — Negroes have just fed us with corn bread and a kind of fish about the size of sardines, boiled by the kettle full, and they are nice. Fully as good as sardines. Think I know now where nearly all the imported sardines come from. Negroes catch them by the thousand, in nets, put them in kettles, and cook them a few minutes, when they are ready to eat. Scoop them out of the creeks The two other runaways are here with us. They are out of the 3d Ohio Cavalry. Have been out in the woods for two weeks. Escaped from Blackshear and traveled this far. I used to know one of them in Savannah. We do not take to them at all, as they are not of our kind. Shall separate to night, they going their way and we going ours. Have secured a dug-out boat to go down the Ogechee River with to-night. The negroes tell us of a Mr. Kimball, a white man, living up the country fifteen miles, who is a Union man and helps runaways, or any one of Union proclivities. He lays up the river, and our gunboats lay down the river. Both have wonderful charms for us, and shall decide before night which route to take. Are on rice plantation, and a valuable one. Before the “wall” there were over fifteen hundred negroes on this place. Cotton is also part of the production. Have decided to go down the river and try to reach our gunboats It's two very hazardous undertaking, and I have my doubts as to its successful termination.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 141-3

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 6, 1864

June 6, 1864.

I will try and send you this to-day. Our postmaster never calls for letters, though we could send them if he would. I will try hereafter to send oftener, though you must not feel anxious about me. I will take the best care I can of myself (and do my whole duty). I yet think that to be connected with such a campaign as this is well worth risking one's life for. It occasionally gets a little old, but so does everything in this life, and altogether I don't know but that it wears as well as any of life's pleasures. Do you remember when I was at home how little I knew about good eatables? Here it is a great advantage to me. For five weeks we have been living on “hard tack,” pickled pork and coffee, varied by not half a dozen meals of beef, not even beans or rice. Nearly every one grumbles, but I have as yet felt no loss of appetite, and hardly the desire for a change.

Nearly all the prisoners we capture say they are done fighting and shamefully say, many of them, that if exchanged and put back in the ranks they will shirk rather than fight. It would mortify me very much if I thought any of our men that they captured would talk so. It seems to me that the Confederacy is only held together by its officers exercising at least the power of a Czar, and that should we leave it to itself it would crumble. Well, I am calculating that this campaign will end about the 15th of July, in Atlanta. I cannot hope for a leave of absence again until my time is out, unless I resign, and if active campaigning continues, as some think it will, until the war is over, of course I will have no chance to do the latter. Cousin James is near me here, and I expect to see him soon.

Passed Charlie Maple on the road yesterday; also saw Clegget Birney. He is a splendid looking boy. They say the 7th Cavalry will soon be here; also the 8th Illinois. I will try to write you every week hereafter.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 255-6

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, February 8, 1865

Weather rather mild. Good sleighing. Wrote home. Shoveled the snow from the parade ground. Read in National Magazine. In evening attended school. Interesting time. Capt. Easton called to inquire into certain reports he had heard circulated by me. We had a plain talk. Sorry the thing came up.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 9, 1865

Cleared up the grounds during the day. Received a letter from Sarah Felton and Will Hudson in evening, with Sarah's picture. School in evening. Detailed for picket.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 10, 1865

On picket. Had a first class guard mount. Everything passed off splendidly. Made the rounds with the Brigade Officer of the Day in the deep snow.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 11, 1865

Relieved about 11. No excitement during my tour. Billy Smith on duty with me. In evening school. Made several ignorant blunders. It vexes me to make mistakes. I wish I knew more. I am so ignorant on all subjects.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 12, 1865

Snowing in morning. Blowing all day. Batt. inspection in A. M. Undress parade in P. M. Read sermon in Independent and considerable miscellaneous matter. Wrote home.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 13, 1865

Batt. drill in P. M. Read a general order in regard to the duties of sentinels and soldiers off duty. Read “St. Ronan's Well.” Thede brought it up to me. Letter from home.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 14, 1865

Spent the day in camp. School in the evening. Had a very pleasant time. The more I have opportunity to learn and the more I am questioned, the more I realize my own ignorance and insignificance.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: February 15, 1865

A detail for picket. Bill on. Answered all my old letters. Will's excellent one. Fred's, Sarah's, C. G.'s and Dan Coate's. Spent most of the day thus. Read some.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 143

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 117. Report of Capt. James A. Sexton, Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, of operations November 25-December 2, 1864.

No. 117.

Report of Capt. James A. Sexton, Seventy-second Illinois Infantry, of

operations November 25 — December 2, 1864.

HDQRS. SEVENTY-SECOND REGT. ILLINOIS VOL. INFTY.,                      

Near Nashville, Tenn., December 9, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report herewith the history of this command from the date of its joining the Third Brigade, November 26, 1864, to the date of its assignment to the command of Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith, December 2, 1864.

On the night of the 25th ultimo the regiment moved with the brigade from Columbia across Duck River and bivouacked. On the morning of the 26th ultimo we commenced throwing up works and kept at it all day during a heavy rain. During the day of the 27th ultimo the command lay idle. At night the brigade recrossed Duck River. The Fiftieth Ohio Infantry commenced throwing up works, this regiment acting as a support and to cover the evacuation of Columbia by our forces. At 2 a.m. of the 28th ultimo this regiment again crossed the river, occupying the same works which had been thrown up on the 26th; during the forenoon of the 28th, changed the front of our works; some skirmishing during the day between our pickets and those of the enemy on the opposite bank of the river. Pontoon and railroad bridges were also burned on that day. At 10 a.m. of the 29th of November Lieut. R. H. Mason and twenty men of Company A started with dispatches from General Schofield to the commanding officer post of Williamsport, distant about nineteen miles. He accomplished his errand successfully, passing several parties of rebels during the journey, and returning to his command at Nashville on the 1st of December, without losing a single man. At noon on the 29th ultimo the regiment, with the balance of the brigade, abandoned their works at the river and moved across to the Franklin pike; thence took up their line of march to Franklin. Just before dark, when within three miles of Spring Hill, the brigade passed the wagon train, already halted, and filed to the right of the road. Two companies of this regiment were deployed as skirmishers, the regiment moving forward as their support, forming the right of the advance line of the brigade; constant skirmishing until within half a mile of Spring Hill, when the brigade halted; the skirmishers having moved too far to the right, lost the support of the regiment. In this skirmish the regiment had 4 men wounded. At about 10 a.m. the brigade resumed its march through Spring Hill, and halted about 1.30 a.m., and rested until 3 a.m. of the 30th, at which time the march was again resumed. At about 7 a.m. reached Franklin, the brigade taking position on the right of the road and commenced fortifying, the left of the Fiftieth Ohio resting on the Franklin pike, the Seventy-second Illinois being on the right of the Fiftieth Ohio. Were at work on the fortifications at the time the enemy made their first assault. About 4 p.m., two divisions of the Fourth Corps, being in front of the works, gave way on the approach of the enemy and rushed pell mell into our works. At the same time the support on our left gave way, and the flank of our regiment being turned, the four left companies fell back, and as our right flank also became exposed to the enemy, the remaining companies were also ordered to retire to the second line of works, which was done. At that time, all of our field officers being wounded, I, being the senior captain, took command of the regiment, and a charge was ordered to recover our first position. In the charge all of our color guard, consisting of 1 sergeant and 8 corporals, were shot down, and the night being so dark it was not perceived that our colors, which had been shot to shreds, were missing. An attempt was made to regain the colors, which was unsuccessful. The regiment was ordered to retire by Colonel Strickland, commanding brigade, at about midnight. The regiment then crossed the Harpeth River, and the next morning joined the brigade while on the march to Nashville, at which place we arrived about 3 p.m. on the 1st instant, and camped near Fort Negley. The regiment remained in camp until the 2d instant, when it was assigned to the corps commanded by General A. J. Smith.

The regiment lost in killed, wounded, and missing during the time which we belonged to the brigade, 9 officers and 142 enlisted men. I append a list of casualties.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 J. A. SEXTON,

 Captain, Seventy-second Illinois Volunteers, Comdg. Regiment.

 Lieut. JOHN B. McLOE,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 3d Brig., 2d Div., 23d Army Corps.

_______________

* Nominal list (omitted) shows 10 men killed, 9 officers and 57 men wounded, and 75 men missing.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 392-3

5th Indiana Cavalry

Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., August 22 to October 30, 1862. Companies "C" and "F" at Carrollton, Ky. Company "I" at Rising Sun, Ind. Companies "A" and "G" at Newburg, Ind. Company "B" at Rockport, Ind. Companies "D" and "L" at Manckport, Ind. Companies "E" and "H" at Cannellton, Ind. Company "K" at Mt. Vernon, Ind., and Company "M" at Evansville, Ind., December, 1862, to February, 1863. Regiment moved to Louisville, Ky., February 28, 1863; thence to Glasgow, Ky., March 4-11. (Cos. "C," "F" and "I" moved to Louisville, Ky., December, 1862; thence to Munfordsville, Ky., and Joined Regiment at Glasgow, Ky., March, 1863.) Attached to District of Western Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to August, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to October, 1863. 4th Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to November, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Cavalry Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to May, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to July, 1864. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to August, 1864. Dismounted Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division 23rd Army Corps, to September, 1864. 1st Brigade, Cavalry Division, 23rd Army Corps, to September, 1864. Louisville, Ky., to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Military Division Mississippi, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 6th Division, Cavalry corps, Military Division Mississippi, to June, 1865.

SERVICE. — Operations against Morgan in Kentucky December 22, 1862, to January 2, 1863 (Cos. "C," "F," "I"). Action Burkesville Road, near Green's Chapel, December 25, 1862 (Cos. "C," "F," "I"). Scout duty from Glasgow, Ky., toward the Cumberland River till April 17, 1863. Expedition to the Cumberland River April 18-22. Skirmish at Cumberland River April 18. Celina April 19. Scouting in the vicinity of Glasgow till June 22. Marrow Bone Creek, Tenn., May 18. Near Edmonton, Ky., June 7. Expedition from Glasgow to Burkesville and Tennessee State line June 8-10. Kettle Creek June 9. Moved to Tompkinsville June 22. Pursuit of Morgan July 4-26. Buffington Island, Ohio, July 19. March from Louisville to Glasgow July 27-August 8. Burnside's Campaign in East Tennessee August 16-October 17. Occupation of Knoxville, Tenn., September 2. Rheatown September 12. Kingsport September 18. Bristol, Va., September 19. Zollicoffer September 20-21. Jonesborough September 21. Hall's Ford, Watauga River, September 22. Carter's Depot and Blountsville September 22. Blue Springs October 10. Henderson's Mill October 11. Rheatown October 11. Blountsville October 14. Bristol October 15. Warm Springs October 20 and 26. Knoxville Campaign November 4-December 23. Siege of Knoxville November 17-December 5. Log Mountain December 3. Walker's Ford, Clinch River, December 5. Bean's Station December 14 Blain's Cross Roads December 16-19. Clinch River December 21. Morristown Road January 16, 1864. Kimbrough's Mills January 16. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17 and January 26-28. Near Fair Garden January 27. March to Knoxville, thence to Cumberland Gap January 29-February 10. March to Mt. Sterling, Ky., February 17-26. Duty at Mt. Sterling, Paris and Nicholasville, Ky., till May 1. March to Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 1-12. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Varnell's Station May 7 and 9. Demonstration on Dalton May 9-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Cassville May 19. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Mt. Zion Church May 27-28. Stoneman's Hill May 29. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Allatoona June 23-25 and 30. Nickajack Creek July 2-5. Mitchell's Cross Roads July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Campbellton July 10. Marietta July 19. Stoneman's Raid to Macon July 27-August 6. Clinton and Macon July 30. Sunshine Church, Hillsbore, July 30-31 (most of Regiment captured). Dismounted men on guard duty at Decatur and Atlanta till September 13. Ordered to Louisville, Ky., and guard duty there till January, 1865. March to Pulaski, Tenn., January 17-February 12. Post duty at Pulaski and operations against guerrillas in that vicinity till June. Expedition from Pulaski to New Market, Ala., May 5-13. Mustered out June 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 40 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 188 Enlisted men by disease. Total 230.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1107

George Thompson to William Lloyd Garrison, October 22, 1835

THURSDAY AFTERNoon, OCT. 22, 1835.

MY BELovED BRothER GARRISON: The news has reached me of yesterday’s proceedings in Boston. I rejoice that you have escaped the jaws of the lion, and are yet among the living — the living to praise God. To Him let us render our humble acknowledgements. May you be sustained under your present afflictions, and survive to behold the triumph of those principles which you have for some years lived only to advocate! I sympathise with you, and every sufferer in our holy cause, and could almost envy you the honor of having been assailed by a blood-thirsty multitude. Put your trust in that Being who smiles at the wrath of men, and will cause it to advance his glory. After all, what have our enemies done? what have their tar and feathers, their demolitions, their lacerations, scourgings and hangings effected? Have they extinguished the truth? No. Have they shaken our principles? No. Have they proved wrong to be right; falsehood, truth; cruelty, kindness; or slavery, liberty? No. Have they shaken the throne of the Eternal Have they stopped the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, that the cry of the slave cannot enter? No! None of these things have occurred. Our principles live, and are triumphing in every direction. The God of the American slave sits high on his throne, counting the sighs and groans of his people, and will come down to deliver. Abolitionists live, and multiply, and daily wax stronger and stronger in the work of mercy they have laid hold upon, nor can any scourges our enemies can plait, nor any gibbets they can erect, be aught but the emblem of their own infatuation and madness.

I think I see the end of these outbreakings. The opposers of this cause have themselves a bitter lesson to learn. They will rouse a spirit which will speedily turn and rend them, when it is too late to prevent it. Let them make mob-law paramount to all other law, and those respectable instigators will at no distant day be destroyed by the recoil of their own weapons. Our cause advances rapidly, majestically, and gloriously — who can stay its course? I have not time to write more. My heart is with you. As the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, so is my soul to your soul. Your joys, sorrows, perils, persecutions, friends and foes, are mine. May God direct us in this crisis, and enable us with meekness and wisdom to do his perfect will, and cheerfully suffer every thing which awaits us.

Your unalterably attached friend and brother,

GEO. THOMPSON.

SOURCE: Isaac Knapp, Publisher, Letters and Addresses by G. Thompson [on American Negro Slavery] During His Mission in the United States, From Oct. 1st, 1834, to Nov. 27, 1835, p. xii

Gerrit Smith, about October 1847

The free colored people of this country have lost their self-respect. Hence my gravest doubt of their redemption. Hence too, my gravest doubt that they will ever exert an effectual influence for the redemption of their enslaved brethren. . . . Could I but get the ear of my northern colored brethren, — could I but get it away from their flatterers and deceivers — I would say to them: “Cultivate self-respect; cultivate self-respect,” — for by that means, and not without that means, can you peaceably regain your own rights, or the rights of your race at the south.

SOURCES: Octavius Brooks Frothingham, Gerrit Smith: A Biography, p. 229 which does not date this document; Proceedings of the National Convention of Colored People and Their Friends; held in Troy, NY; on the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th of October, 1847, for the date of the conventon. 

John Brown to Amos A. Lawrence, March 11, 1857

New Haven, Conn., March 11, 1857.

Dear Sir, — The offer you so kindly made through the telegraph some time since emboldens me to propose the following for your consideration. For one thousand dollars cash I am offered an improved piece of land which with a little property I now have might enable my family, consisting of a wife and five minor children (the youngest not yet three years old), to procure a subsistence should I never return to them; my wife being a good economist, and a real old-fashioned business woman. She has gone through the two past winters in our open cold house, unfinished outside, and not plastered. I have no other income or means for their support. I have never hinted to any one else that I had a thought of asking for any help to provide in any such way for my family, and should not to you, but for your own suggestion. I fully believe I shall get the help I need to operate with West. Last night a private meeting of some gentlemen here voted to raise me one thousand dollars in New Haven, for that purpose. If you feel at all inclined to encourage me in the measure I have proposed I shall be grateful to get a line from you, care of Massasoit House, Springfield, Mass.; and will call when I come again to Boston. I do not feel disposed to weary you with my oft-repeated visitations. I believe I am indebted to you as the unknown giver of one share of Emigrant Aid stock ; as I can think of no other so likely to have done it. Is my appeal right?

Very respectfully your friend,

John Brown.

SOURCE: William Lawrence, Life of Amos A. Lawrence: With Extracts from His Diary and Correspondence, p. 126-7