LIEUT. COL. FULTON

Athens county has reason to be proud of this gentleman who so nobly rallied the 53rd after the singular conduct of COL. APPLER in ordering it to retreat, and then himself leaving it to its fate and flying to the river. Col. FULTON fought bravely dring both Sunday and Monday commanding the 53rd during the whole time.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

We understand that Thos. Grosvenor died . . .

. . . at Huntsville, Ala., on the 14th inst., of congestion of the brain. We were not acquainted with Mr. Grosvenor, but we understand that he was employed in the Sutler’s department of the 18th Regiment.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

CHAPLAIN ST. JAMES FRY . . .

. . . of the 63d Ohio Regiment was in town yesterday with money for many of the friends of soldiers in Capt. Picket’s company. The list will be found in another place.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

The Richmond Whig announces . . .

. . . that Mr. Swan of Tennessee has offered a resolution in the Confederate Congress proposing the immediate recall of the Commissioners sent to Great Britain, and the abandonment of all further attempts to conciliate the favor and secure the recognition of that government.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 10, 1862

Why is a sheet of postage stamps like distant relations?

Because they are but slightly connected.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

Gen. Sherman’s Official Report

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION,
Tuesday, April 8, 1862.

Major Gen. Grant, Commanding Army in the Field

SIR. With the Cavalry, placed at my command and two Brigades of my fatigued troops I went this morning out on the Corinth road. One after another abandoned camps of the enemy lined the roads, with hospital flags for their protection. At all we found more or less wounded and dead. At the forks of the road I found the head of General Wood's division. At that point I ordered cavalry to examine both roads, and found the enemy's cavalry. Colonel Dickey, of the Illinois cavalry, asked for re-enforcements, I ordered General Wood to advance the head of his column cautiously on the left-hand road, whilst I conducted the head of the third brigade of the fifth division up the right-hand road. About half a mile from the forks was a clear field, through which the road passed, and immediately beyond a space of some 200 yards of fallen timber, and beyond an extensive camp. The enemy's cavalry could be seen in this camp, and after a reconnaissance I ordered the two advance companies of the Seventy-seventh Ohio, Colonel Hildebrand, to deploy forward as skirmishers, and the regiment itself forward into line, with an interval of 100 yards. In this order I advanced cautiously until the skirmishers were engaged.

Taking it for granted this disposition would clean the camp, I held Colonel Dickey's Fourth Illinois Cavalry ready for the charge. The enemy's cavalry came down boldly to the charge, breaking through the line of skirmishers, when the regiment of infantry, without cause, broke, threw away [their] muskets, and fled. The ground was admirably adapted to a defense of infantry against cavalry, the ground being miry and covered with fallen timber.

As the regiment of infantry broke, Dickey's cavalry began to discharge their carbines and fell into disorder. I instantly sent orders to the rear for the brigade to form line of battle, which was promptly executed. The broken infantry and cavalry rallied on this line, and as the enemy's cavalry came to it our cavalry in turn charged and drove them from the field. I advanced the [center] brigade upon the same ground, and sent Colonel Dickey's cavalry a mile farther on the road.

On examining the ground which had been occupied by the 77th Ohio we found fifteen dead and about twenty five wounded. I sent for wagons, and had all the wounded sent back to camp and the dead buried; also the whole camp to be destroyed. Here we found much ammunition for field pieces, which was destroyed; also two caissons, and a general hospital, with about 280 Confederate wounded and about 50 of our own.

Not having the means of bringing these off, Colonel Dickey, by my orders, took a surrender, signed by Medical Director Lyle and all the attending surgeons, and a pledge to report themselves to you as prisoners of war; also a pledge that our wounded would be carefully attended and surrendered to us to-morrow as soon as ambulances could go out. I enclose the written document, and a request that you cause to be sent out wagons or ambulances for the wounded of ours to-morrow, also that wagons be sent out to bring in the many tents belonging to us, which are pitched all along the road for 4 miles. I did not destroy them. However I know the enemy cannot move them. The roads are very bad, and the road is strewn with abandoned wagons, ambulances, and limber-boxes. The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind [limber] boxes.

The enemy has succeeded in carrying off the guns, but has crippled his batteries by abandoning the hind limber boxes of at least twenty guns. I am satisfied the enemy's infantry and artillery passed Lick Creek this morning, traveling all last night, and that he left behind all his cavalry, which has protected his retreat, that the signs of confusion and disorder mark the whole road. The check sustained by us at the fallen timbers delayed our advance, so that night came upon us before the wounded were provided for and dead buried, and our troops being fagged out by three days' hard fighting, exposure, and privation, I ordered them back to camp, where all now are.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,

Brig. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Division

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Correspondence between Generals Grant and Beauregard

LETTER FROM GEN. BEAUREGARD

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISS.,
MONTEREY, April 8

SIR At the close of the conflict of yesterday, my troops being exhausted by the extraordinary length of time during which they were engaged with yours on that and the preceding day, and it being apparent that you had received and were still receiving re-enforcements, I felt it my duty to withdraw my troops from the immediate scene of conflict.

Under these circumstances, in accordance with usages of war, I shall transmit this under a flag of truce, to ask permission to send a mounted party to the battle-field of Shiloh for the purpose of giving decent interment to my dead.

Certain gentlemen wishing to avail themselves of this opportunity to remove the remains of their sons and friends, I must request for them the privilege of accompanying the burial party, and in this connection I deem it proper to say I am asking only what I have extended to your own countrymen under similar circumstances.

Respectfully, General, your obedient servant,

P. G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General, Commanding.


GENERAL GRANT’S REPLY

HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD,
Pittsburg, April 9.

Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard, Commanding Confederate Army of the Mississippi, Monterey, Tenn.

Your dispatch of yesterday is just received. Owing to the warmth of the weather I deemed it advisable to have all the dead of both parties buried immediately. Heavy details were made for this purpose, and now it is accomplished.

There cannot, therefore, be any necessity of admitting within our lines the parties you desire to send on the grounds asked.

I shall always be glad to extend any courtesy consistent with duty, and especially so when dictated by humanity.

I am, General, respectfully, your obedient servant,

U.S. GRANT,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Curious Fact

It is a well authenticated fact that soldiers wounded in the head, on recovery from the wound, have, in some instances, lost all consciousness of their personal identity. The case of a soldier who died recently in one of the Paris hospitals, is a striking confirmation of this fact. Wounded at the battle of Solferino, the wound soon cicatrized , but he has ever since labored under a strange hallucination,, fancying himself dead. When asked how he was, he would reply “You want to know how Pierre Valin is? – Why, he was killed at Solferino. What you see is not Valin, but a machine made to imitate him.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Preventive of the Curculio

Mr. A. C. Hubbard, of Detroit, published in the Michigan Farmer a statement that common elder bushes tied to the branches of [a] plum tree had prevented the operation of the curculio for three years in a garden he recently visited. His friend had been upon the place five years. The first two years he tried to save his fruits by shaking the insects upon cloth, with put poor success. And old Frenchman told him to put elder bushes in his trees. He has done so for three years with the success – a full crop of perfect fruit. The bushes were put into the trees every few days from the time the fruit was set until full grown.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

A Marketman at Cairo . . .

. . . a few days since was swindled out of his vegetable and articles, which ad a tendency to excite his ire to a considerable extent. He told the commanding officer there that if the Angel Gabriel stopped at Cairo, there would be no resurrection.

“Why?” asked the officer.

“Because the people would swindle him out of his horn before he had time to make a toot.”

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Restrictions of Agriculture

The rebel Senate came within one vote of passing a law to forbid any man’s [raising] more than three bales of cotton for himself and one for each hand and to fine him forty dollars per bale for all over that amount. That is the sort of legislation the rebels enjoy. They pretended that an attack upon the “rights of the South” was the cause of secession. How do they like this sort of warfare upon their right to raise what products they choose? And how do they like the change from a generous and liberal government to one that rivals the worst despotism of the old world? – {Cleveland Leader

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

The treason law . . .

. . . passed at the last session of the Maryland Legislature went into operation on Thursday. It punishes with death or with from six to twenty years imprisonment all who levy war against the State, adhere to or give comfort to its enemies, and fines all persons furnishing rebels with goods or any assistance, raise enlistments for the rebel army or display Secession flags.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Since the 1st of January . . .

. . . the Union forces have captured from the rebels five hundred and ninety siege guns and field pieces. This artillery would equip a grand army, and when it is remembered what pains the rebels have hat to procure these guns, the severity of the loss will be fully apparent.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Governor Tod to the Ohio Volunteers at Pittsburg Landing

COLUMBUS, O, April 13 – Gov. Tod has sent the following dispatch to the Ohio troops engaged in the recent battle at Pittsburg Landing, Tenn

“In behalf of the loyal citizens of the State you love so much, I tender their profound thanks for the gallantry, courage [and] endurance you have displayed.

“Thank God, from the best information in our possession, we are able to claim that Ohio’s soldiers did their duty. Those, yet in the field, we are sanguine, will avenge the deaths of their brave comrades, who fell on the 6th & 7th. On then, gallant volunteers of Ohio, and win new laurels for our State. With one heart the friends you left at home are caring, as Ohio mothers, wives, sisters, fathers and brothers know how to care for their sick and wounded husbands sons and brothers.”

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday Morning, April 24, 1862

Letter From Pittsburg

The following private letter from Shiloh field will be of interest to our readers, and we trust the writer will excuse its publication:

PITTSBURG BATTLE-FIELD,
April 12, 1862

DEAR BROTHER – You have no doubt ere this heard of the greatest battle fought on this continent, and as you feel somewhat anxious to hear from me, I improve the first opportunity by saying that I am unhurt, and that my health was never better than at present. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I was not in the fight, as our division was the last of Gen. Buell’s army to come up, and we did not arrive till four o’clock on Tuesday morning, when the battle was fought and the victory won. We were about 60 miles distant on Sunday morning when the firing commenced, and at noon we could distinctly hear the cannonading. As we came along each report seemed “[Nearer], clearer, deadlier than before.”

The last 38 miles we came on a forced march, and owing to the desperate roads we had to travel, and the incessant rain of Monday night, we had rather a bad time of it. We (the signal corps) came thro with Gen. Thomas, his body guard and staff, but the troops did not arrive till Wednesday.

Soon after our arrival I went out on the battle-field, and the sights I there saw beggar description. The dead were lying in heaps, and in many places the bushes and trees were literally mown down. The ground strewn with dead horses, broken artillery wagons, guns, cartridge-boxes, &c. The only consolation I could gather from this most sickening sight was that there were about two dead rebels to one of our men. I can form no idea of the number killed, but the loss must be very heavy on both sides. The papers have probably given you the particulars more correctly than I can. McCook’s division was in the hottest of the fight, and came out covered with honors. The old 15th has won a name long to be remembered, but not without some loss. Company E, to which I belonged, had 3 killed and 6 or 8 wounded. The other companies suffered much the same. Col. Kirk was wounded in the shoulder. It will disable him for a while, but is not considered dangerous. It is not now thought the rebels will make an attack on the forces now here, and with the position we now occupy, as that would be certain death to the Confederate cause.

I have frequently heard it hinted that Gen. Grant will lose some of his military honors in this fight, while Buell and his army are lauded to the skies. The Illinois boys who were in both say that the Fort Donelson fight was only a skirmish to the side of this one. Gen. Halleck arrived this morning and takes command. Write soon for I have not heard from you since we parted at Franklin, Tenn.

In haste, your brother,

T. W. VAN LAW.


The Col. Kirk mentioned above was a former resident of Ohio, though practicing Law in Illinois when the war broke out. He was chosen Col. Of the 34th Illinois, and was in command of the brigade in McCook’s division when I saw him at Columbia. He is a gentleman and a fine scholar, and the fact of his having two horses shot under him in the late battle shows that he dare go in “harm’s way.”

J. V.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 24, 1862

The Battle Of Winchester

Secretary Seward Visited Winchester on the 28th of last month. A splendid reception was given him and the party which accompanied him. Speaking of the bravery of officers and the gallantry of the troops, a correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette says:

The real hero of the day, however, was Col. E. B. Tyler, commanding our Third Brigade. It was he who led the storming party on our right. He told his men to “remember Cross lanes, and shoot low.” And well did they do their duty. Truly, Cross Lanes has been revenged in the battle of Winchester.

Speaking of the loss, he says:

Our total loss will amount to about 100 killed and 400 wounded. Many of the wounds, however, are slight. The rebel loss is about 1,000 killed, wounded and prisoners.

Gen. Shields is speedily recovering from his wound.

What will the slanderous Chaplain Brown who deserted the 7th regiment because he thought Col. Tyler was a coward say to his noble conduct at Winchester? We knew Col. Tyler would prove this man a liar and a slanderer.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 10, 1862

ISLAND NO. 10 SURRENDERED

When the news, that Island Number Ten had surrendered, was received yesterday morning, the town appeared crazy with excitement. The reading of the dispatches announcing it was cheered again and again. A great victory has been achieved. Three rebel Generals, 6000 prisoners, and 100 cannon, with a large amount of other spoils were taken. Not a man was lost on our side. This is the most glorious achievement of the war. Gen. Pope is henceforth the pride of the American people.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 10, 1862

Victory At Pittsburg, Tenn.

With the news of the surrender of Island Number Ten, came the news also of a brilliant victory by Gen. Grant, at Pittsburgh, Tenn.

The meagre account given in the dispatches of this battle gives us to understand that it was a hard fought one, but none the less glorious in its results. The rebels were defeated, and dispersed in all directions. Gen. Grant was pursuing them in hot haste. The battle lasted nearly a whole day.

LATER. – Since writing the above we have received dispatches which state that the battle began on Saturday and continued during the day. Our forces were that day repulsed with a loss of 3000 killed and several hundred taken prisoners! Gen. Buell came to Gen. Grant’s assistance the next morning, Sunday. This day the rebels were repulsed with terrible loss on both sides. Ours stated to be from 18,000 to 20,000 the rebels from 35,000 to 40,000!! This must be fearfully exaggerated. We will await details with great interest. There is a possibility of Gen. Mitchell’s Division being in the battle. Several hundred men from Athens county were in this Division. The 18th and 3rd Regiments are in it.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, April 10, 1862

The Gunboat Winona Reported Sunk at Port Hudson – Stonewall Jackson said to be at Vicksburg with 40,000 Re-enforcements

NEW YORK, Jan. 25. – Advices from New Orleans state that on Thursday, January 8th, P.M. there was a rumor there that the Winona; one of our gunboats, had been sunk by the south battery at Port Hudson.

It is reported that Stonewall Jackson with 40,000 men had been re-enforced at Vicksburg.

There was nothing from Galveston up to noon of the 8th.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, January 29, 1863

Rosecrans to be Dealt With

Under the above title the New York Post has the following pungent hit at those rose-water-lilly-livered democrats of the peace on any terms that the secesh may dictate persuasion.

The Post Says:

We understand that a committee of “democrats,” to be composed of John Van Buren, Ben. Wood, James Brooks, Vallandigham and Sunset Cox, are about to address a severe note to General Rosecrans, asking him what he means by his singular proceedings in Tennessee. Their feelings have been very much hurt by this rough and ruffianly mode of handling their friends, Bragg, Johnson, Hardee, Rains, etc., and demanded an explanation.

Does he not know that he is irritating the minds of our Southern brethren by his harsh measures? Can he hope to win them back to love of the old Union by his bayonets, swords, and cannon? Why did he not throw down his arms and coax them into their allegiance and duty? His sharp, ill-advised, radical method by gunpowder, we fear, has only confirmed them in their dislike of the federal government.

Mr. Vallandigham, indeed as we understand, is about to bring the case of this offender to the attention of the House of Representatives. He will propose a committee to inquire by what authority Gen. Rosecrans has taken it upon himself to put to death several thousand of our fellow citizens at Murfreesboro, to blow their houses to atoms, seize their cattle, and let their negroes run. He (Vallandigham) has long made the constitution a subject of special study, and he finds that it guarantees to every citizen perfect security in his rights of person and property. No one can be molested in these without due process of law; yet this Rosecrans, sets the provisions of the sacred instrument entirely at naught. Or is he so insane to suppose that his ten inch shells are what the constitution means by “due process of law?” Can he imagine that his “advance of the whole line with enthusiastic cheers” is a fair trial by jury which the constitution awards every man?

It will be in vain for the culprit to plead that he is acting according to laws of war; for that dodge has been attempted by President Lincoln in defense of his edict of freedom; but the “democrats,” in their conscientious devotion to the letter of the constitution, will not admit the plea.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, January 29, 1863