Major Wilder Dwight: January 28, 1862

Cantonment Hicks, Near Frederick, January 28, 1862.

If I write you from my experience, I shall have little to tell of a soldier's life. It is one of the disadvantages of this detached duty that it separates one from the life of the regiment. This I could find more disposition to regret, if I saw much life now in the regiment; but, in truth, we are devoting ourselves to keeping warm and dry under every assault of heaven and earth, rain and mud. . . . .

Yesterday we had a new excitement and amusement. Colonel Geary got up a party to Point of Rocks, by special train, in the evening, to witness his private theatricals. We had a gay excursion. A crowded car of young ladies and old generals; off we went at about six o'clock. When we reached Point of Rocks, we emerged from the car; and, amid the clanging, brazen music of the band, piled ourselves into army-wagons, whose sternness was soothed with a little straw. On we went, jolting and laughing, to the camp. There we found an out-door stage, bright with hanging Chinese lanterns; and, in the chilly night, well wrapped up, we shiveringly admired the “Geary Thespian Corps.” Toodles was very well played; and, indeed, the acting was successful. We came back by the cars at midnight. Our moving train at the unusual hour, so near the enemy's lines on the other side of the Potomac, set their signal-lights playing, and, undoubtedly, they failed to explain the activity in Colonel Geary's camp by its true cause. In truth, it is an experience, — an open-air theatrical display in January, within reach of Rebel guns, and in sight of Rebel signal-fires.

General Banks went off to Washington yesterday. Rumor gives him various errands. We only hope that he goes to hear of some movement that he may share or inaugurate. I do not even guess a motive, for my guesses come back on me dishonored so often that I weary of conjecture.

If the history of the volunteer force for this great war of ours shall ever be written, I can certainly give some very amusing episodes of appointments of officers, and their character and capacity. Our Board continues its weeding ruthlessly. To-day, under the terror even of our presence, were two resignations, — one of a colonel.

I enclose for you a very unfair photograph of my friend General Hamilton. It does not do him justice; yet it is, of course, a likeness. Place it in my album, if you please. Colonel Geary promises to exchange with me also, so that I shall have the whole Board in my book.

The association has been such a pleasant one that I shall like to have you keep a souvenir of it. . . . .

To one who believes in omens, as I do, who hails the crescent with a right-shouldered glance, the battle of Mill Spring is something more than a victory. It is an augury, and it fills me with hope.

I am scribbling the close of this letter in the rooms of the Examining Board, interrupted by a chat with General Hamilton.

I give you all joy of Kentucky. Will not father allow his forebodings to be corrected a little? Love to all.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 191-3

Major Wilder Dwight: January 25, 1862

Cantonment Hicks, Near Frederick, January 25, 1862.

At last we have symptoms of sunshine in our tedious and sullen sky; and at last, also, we have symptoms of breaking light on the horizon of the future. The rout of Zollicoffer (Phoebus, what a name!), of great results in itself, gets its best significance from the confidence it inspires in what may and must follow, if “alacrity” shall replace torpor, under the quickening guidance of our new War Secretary. I hear the best accounts of Mr. Stanton, and he certainly has the confidence of the country. Indeed, it begins to seem as if we were on our way out of the woods at last. I have had the greatest pleasure in a visit from ——. The Colonel went down to Washington on Monday, and brought back —— with him. I found him snug in one corner of the Colonel's fireplace on my return to camp in the afternoon. An evening full of talk, and gladdened by a great many home-memories, followed. Unluckily, we are in the midst of our rain and mud, so we could not show our prettiness; but I think he enjoyed seeing a little of the plain prose of soldiering, perhaps as much as its gayer phase. You have no idea of the depressing influence of mud, — deep, miry, insidious, hopeless mud. The Slough of Despond is no allegory. The soil of Maryland is very unpropitious, and we cannot find dry ground, at this season, for our camps. Another box from Mrs. Ticknor opportunely brightens this dull time. But it seems that, in this vicinity, we can hardly expect rapid motion just now.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 190

Major Wilder Dwight: January 21, 1862

Head-quarters Examining Board, January 21, 1861.

It has rained and hailed and sleeted for the past four days. We are kept under marching orders, but, I think, with no view of an immediate movement, though it cannot be long before we shall be called on to make ourselves useless or useful, according to our guidance.

I understand your state of suspense as to the army. For myself, I can see no other wisdom than patience and faith. I confess that, now and then, this seems difficult; but whether McClellan will not vindicate himself is not so clear; and if, when our army moves, it moves in organized obedience to a single will, the wonder will not be that so much time has been spent in preparation, but that the preparation has been made. . . . .

While I write this letter, the examination of an unlucky lieutenant is going on. The young man is wandering now through the mazes of battalion drill, and he seems rather lost. I hope this work is nearly over.

On the whole, bad as the season is, and ominous as the anniversary on which I write (six months ago, Bull Run), I should like to see some fighting done.

We have telegraphic news to-day of a “Great battle and victory over Zollicoffer in Kentucky.” I hope it may not dwindle as Nelson's victory did. I take great comfort in reading the extracts from the Southern newspapers. They seem to write without hope. Love to all.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 189-90

Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to William A. Platt: January 28, 1862

Fayetteville, Western Virginia, January 28, 1862.

Dear Brother William: — The excellent glass has reached me. It is all I could ask. I will settle with you when I see you. In the meantime, accept thanks.

I have applied for leave of absence during February, and if granted, shall leave for home the last of the week. We are a good deal in the field just now, and have made some good moves lately, considering the weakness of our forces, and that we have but forty cavalrymen. I see in the papers a good deal said about “too much cavalry accepted.” If we had only five hundred now, we could do more injury to the enemy than has yet been done by the Port Royal expedition. We are elated with the victory in Kentucky. I am especially pleased that McCook gets the plumes.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

W. A. Platt,

Columbus, Ohio.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 196

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Sunday, January 26, 1862

A lovely winter day, frozen in the morning, warm and thawing before noon. Inspected with Adjutant Avery the quarters; creditably clean. Feel happy today; fine weather, good health, the probable victory over Zollicoffer, the prospect — this chiefly — by next Sunday of seeing my darling Lucy and the boys — “all the boys.”

A pleasant trip with Lieutenants Avery and Ellen and two riflemen of Company B to Long Point, with its romantic views of New River. The only dash to this pleasure is the report that my friend Bob McCook is seriously wounded. Later, not seriously only gloriously wounded. Good! He and I were friends before the war and more intimately since. His regiment and ours also fraternized very cordially — Yankees and Germans. Sperry went to Raleigh last night with Company B.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 194

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, January 26, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 54TH REGT. O. V. U. S. A.,

CAMP DENNISON, January 26, 1862.

To-day the sword is received, and a very elegant and superior sword it is, I assure you, with its double scabbard and sword-belt all complete, well worthy of the donors.¹ My only prayer now is that by the grace of God, I may be enabled so to use it that they may not believe the gift ill-bestowed. I shall acknowledge the favor to-morrow if my time is not too much cut up. I have my head, hands, and heart full now and find every moment precious to me. . . .

You ask me to publish the correspondence between the kind friends who have presented me with the splendid sword and myself. I am almost ashamed to publish now the compliments through the daily papers. I would prefer, unless they preferred the other course, to wait until I had accomplished something that would be deemed worthy of the honor. One of my former associates at the Cincinnati Bar, who has taken the field, Colonel McCook, has recently at the battle of Fishing Creek, near Somerset, won laurels. Several Cincinnatians distinguished themselves, some were killed, and many were wounded. I do not like, or rather I do not think it quite in good taste to publish at this time, that which it would have been quite proper and of immense benefit to me and my regiment to have published a month or six weeks ago. I have not fully made up my mind, however, in regard to the matter, and whatever I do, you shall be at once apprised of.

I have the honor to command a regiment composed of as fine a body of men as perhaps were ever got together, and, if there is faith in human nature, they are all devoted to me. I feel sometimes, barring the deeds, like a hero of romance. I have three fine horses; one of them a stallion, that nobody can back or manage but myself; the very realization of all I ever hoped for in a horse, perfect in size, in symmetry of form, in color, in carriage, in speed, and in gait. His harness is complete. My pistols are the best of Colt's revolvers, with one of which I cut a card one inch on the line below the centre at a hundred and twenty-five yards distance a few days ago. I govern at despotic will nearly a thousand men, each one of whom leaps with alacrity to perform my bidding, and some, perhaps many, of whom would count it small cost to spill his blood for me. A soldier is always guarding the door of my tent, a line of soldiers always surrounds it, all my individual wants are supplied, the most of my wishes anticipated. I have recruited from all over the State, and all over the State I have friends, particularly among the women who are deluging me with presents for the regiment. The other day I received boxes containing two hundred exceedingly fine country woven blankets, with an equal number of flannel shirts, flannel drawers, pairs of socks and mittens from the ladies of Fayette County. Just afterwards the ladies of Preble County sent an immense quantity of blankets, socks, etc. The day before yesterday the ladies of Clifton sent some two dozen pillows, with cases, a number of sheets, shirts, old linen, etc., for hospital purposes, and to-day a large quantity of coverlids, pillows, preserved and canned fruits, etc., were sent down for the hospital. Just now as I am writing a man has come in with a dozen or two fresh eggs, each one carefully wrapped in paper, with a can of peaches, a bottle of vinegar, and a jar of tomatoes for the Colonel. Scarce a day passes that they don't send me chickens and all that sort of thing. Now, on the other side, I have a terrible responsibility, the mothers and fathers, sisters and wives, sweethearts, friends, and relations of all these brave boys look to me for their weal or woe. If I make a mistake by which human life is needlessly sacrificed, how terrible is the penalty! For this reason I am cautious. . . . I won't say I fear, for I hate the word; I don't fear anything, man or devil, but I don't choose to be in advance of myself — my hour has not yet come. I won't ask praise until I have earned it. I am very glad my friends have sent me this sword. It is more gratifying to my feelings than I can express to you, and I wish you would take occasion to write to each one of them, a list of the names of whom I will give you, your own personal recognition of the claim they have to your gratitude for the kindness and honor they have done your son.

You say you fear I am passing a gloomy winter in camp. I wish you could see me at this moment and the interior of the hut I live in. It is to me a paradise of delight. Do you recollect the old kitchen at the farm, and the saddles and bridles, bits and spurs that garnished the walls. View me now only more so ; pistols and swords, bridles and belts, caps and gauntlets, foils and uniforms, a rough pine cupboard with a bottle of whiskey and a jug of water, pipes, a table covered with a blanket, and that thoroughly littered, letters answered and unanswered, mostly the latter; Hardee & Scott, the Army Regulations, and the Lord knows what. Buffalo robes to sleep on, and horse rugs, red, gray, and blue blankets for cover; lie down when I please, get up when I please, breakfast from eight till eleven, dinner from twelve to four, for no heed do I pay to special orders in the eating line. I make the men eat to the tap of the drum, but I eat when I please. No woman to bother me, save the country maidens who come to camp to see the soldiers, and they not much. Nary baby to keep awake o' nights. The fact is, camp life to a field-officer is a bachelor's paradise.

__________

¹ Presented by friends in Massachusetts.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 178-80

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, February 9, 1862

CAMP PIERPONT, VA., February 9, 1862.

Is not the news from Tennessee glorious? ^l  It is very important in a strategical point of view, as it enables us to get in the rear of both Columbus and Bowling Green, and cut off the communication and supplies from these places, compelling their evacuation, which effected, we can attack them in the open field. Dranesville, Mill Spring, and Fort Henry prove most conclusively that they are not invincible, and will run just as soon, if not sooner, than we will. They have had a most beneficial effect on our morale, and I think all hands are now here looking forward to the period when we can do something.

___________

¹ The surrender of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River, February 6, 1862. The Federal troops under Brigadier-General U. S. Grant, and the gun-boats under Commodore A. H. Foote, defeated the Confederate troops under Brigadier-General Tilghman. The Confederates surrendered after the attack by the gunboats and just as the Federal troops arrived.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 245

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, January 24, 1862

CAMP PIERPONT, VA., January 24, 1862.

The mysterious movements of the Burnside expedition puzzle me very much. It has now been about ten days, and yet we have no reliable information of its whereabouts. The victory in Kentucky² was certainly very important in its results, and if the Confederate Army of the Potomac do not fight better than Zollicoffer's army, we ought to be victorious. For ten thousand men to run as they did, after losing only one hundred and fifty killed, is more disgraceful than the behavior of our troops at Bull Run. At Ball's Bluff, though we were overpowered by superior numbers, yet our men behaved with great gallantry.

__________

² Battle of Mill Springs, Kentucky, January 19, 1862. The Federal troops under Brigadier-General George H. Thomas defeated the Confederate troops under General G. B. Crittenden, led by General F. K. Zollicoffer. Federal loss, killed, wounded, and missing, 194 (O. R.).

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 243

LOUISVILLE, Feb. 3, [1862]

Capt. H. M. Fogg, of Nashville, a member of Zollicoffer’s staff, who was wounded near Somerset, is dead.  Maj. Cliff, surgeon of Somerset, is here and will be sent to Bowling Green on Tuesday, to be exchanged. – It is thought that Gen. Buell will arrange for the exemption of all surgeons from arrest hereafter.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport Iowa, Tuesday Morning, February 4, 1862, p. 1

Zollicoffer's Defeat

Vivid Description of the Battle Field.

(Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.)

A Ride to the Battle – The Battle Ground – Scenes on the Battle Field – Pursuit of the Enemy – The Rebel Camp – The Property Taken – One Hundred and Ninety Rebels Buried.

Having seen many accounts of the battle of Webb’s Cross Roads, (variously called the battle of Fishing Creek, Old Fields, Somerset, and Mill Springs,) it would seem hardly necessary to chronicle any further relative to it.  But as this is the first battle field I visited before the dead and wounded were removed, I feel disposed to make a note of some of my experiences connected with it.

During two weeks prior to the engagement, I was at Somerset, attending to some business matters for the Twelfth Kentucky Regiment. – All this time, much anxiety was felt by the forces under General Thomas, so that an advance could be made upon the fortified position of Zollicoffer, at Mill Springs.  The welcome tidings finally reached us Friday morning, Jan. 17th, that Gen. Thomas was at Webb’s Cross Roads, seven and a half miles west, or south west of Somerset, with 6,000 men and, before 11 o’clock a. m., Schoepff’s brigade was under way to join them.  The difficulties of that march through rain and mud, have been better described by those who were in it than I can do it.  That Zollicoffer would come out of his entrenchments and attack our forces was entirely unexpected – consequently no battle was looked for this side of his position at Mill Springs.

Early on Sunday morning, January 19th, we heard the roar of cannon beyond fishing creek, which betokened a battle.  Like many younger men I felt “eager for the fray.”  Lieut. Colonel Howard, of the Kentucky 12th, being confined to his bed by sickness, I mounted his well known charger, “Nelly Gray,” and went to fill his place, or rather to try.  The distance from Somerset to the Salt works on Fishing Creek, where we crossed, is five miles.  The mud, a kind of reddish clay and very soft, was from six inches to half as many feet in depth.  I fell in with a squadron of Wolford’s Cavalry, escorting six caissons of ammunition, each caisson being drawn by eight horses, driven by for riders.  There were also in the company thirty six relief horses in harness, for Standart’s Battery, which was already on the ground.  To see this train in motion while the horses were pressed to the top of their speed, could be compared to nothing better than a wild tornado, accompanied by a halt a dozen whirlwinds playing with the mud as though it were the chaff of a threshing floor, obscuring at times the caissons, horses and riders.  The cavalcade reached the high bank overlooking Fishing Creek, in about twenty minutes from Somerset, and came to a halt.  The Creek was so high that it was said it could not be forded or at least the ammunition would be spoiled in passing through.  In addition to this a frightened wagon-master reported that Zollicoffer’s forces had got between our army and the Creek and thus cut off supplies and reinforcements from Somerset.  During these few moments of suspense, and while the fire of artillery seemed to be increasing I rode down the long steep hill to the water’s edge, determined to cross at all hazards.

While calculating my chances in one of the strongest currents I ever saw forded, a gentle man upon a powerful strong-limbed horse rode up and gave it as his opinion that the creek could be forded.  Being more excited that I was he plunged into the stream.  Without waiting to see how he “came out,” and knowing that mortal horse could not do more than “Nelly Gray,” I followed.  We made the opposite shore in safety.  By this time the whole cavalcade (excepting caissons) had reached the creek, and in a few minutes passed safely over.  We halted with the cavalry in front of widow Campbell’s house (secesh), and sent forward a reconnoitering party.  Soon one of the party returned and reported the road clear.  The distance from Fishing Creek to Webb’s Cross Roads, where our forces had bivouacked the night before the battle, is two and a half miles.  We had made about two miles of this distance, when the artillery ceased firing and soon after we met a man riding furiously down the hill. – When we succeeded in bringing him to a halt, he told us Zollicoffer was dead and his army in full retreat.  This man was hardly recognized by his old acquaintances, for his naked, sparkling eye balls seemed to be the only two spots about him not covered with mud.  It was Dr. Hale.  When he had told us his story, on he flew to tell it to other persecuted Union men.  Zollicoffer is slain, his forces are overthrown, scattered and destroyed!  We are again free!  Men, women and children shouted and even wept for joy.  At that moment I did not wait to moralize for while Dr. Hale was spreading the glad tidings in one direction, Nelly Gray had anticipated the cavalcade in the other, and was first on the battle field.  My first inquiry was for the Kentucky 12th, but no one could tell me where they were, or what party they had taken in the action.  Only one dead man had been brought in.  The body laid upon the ground in front of one of the Minnesota tents surrounded by some twenty soldiers.  It had been stripped of all clothing except the pants and two soldiers were busy in washing off the mud with which it had been covered.  It was almost as white and transparent as the most delicate wax work.  The fatal wound was in the breast, and was evidently made with a pistol ball as it could be easily covered with the end of my finger.  There was another wound upon the inside of his right arm, above the elbow, and still another glancing wound a little above his hip.  This was Zollicoffer!  He whose name had so long been a terror to men who loved their country on the banks of the Cumberland.  With some doubts at the time in my mind as to whether this was really the body of the rebel chief, I turned away to visit the field of battle.

The hospital tents had been hastily pitched in a small open field at the cross roads and along the edge of the woods skirting the south side of this field were the first marks of the storm of destruction which had waged so fearfully an hour before.  Nearly through the middle of the field is the road leading to Mill Springs, in a south or southwesterly direction.  I entered the woods on the east side of this road.  All along the edge of the open field lay the bodies of four or five of our men.  As I advanced into the woods the marks of cannon shot could be seen on every side, but I saw none of these marks nearer than twenty feet from the ground nor did I see a dead or wounded man who had been struck with a cannon shot, Dr. Cliffe, Zollicoffer’s brigade surgeon, afterwards told me that among all their wounded, so far as they had come in, only one had been injured by artillery and he had lost his arm.  Passing through the woods from the first open field, a distance of nearly half a mile, we reached another open, half cleared field on the left of the road.  In this field there stands some deadened timber, many large stumps and trees, some of the latter having been cut down, and some fallen from decay.  In this field the ground is quite steep, with a southern descent to near the center of the field, and then rises as rapidly till you reach the woods on the south.  In the eastern part of this field is a log house and a barn and an apple orchard.  Eighty five dead rebels lay in this field, which by way of distinction, I will call the “old field.”  Further on and to the right of the road is the cornfield where the brave Indiana 10th suffered so severely.  In the woods and along the road the scene was dreadful. – One body was placed in a sitting posture with the back leaning against a tree, the hands crossed in his lap, his eyes partially open and lips slightly parted.  The ball had entered his left breast just above the region of the heart.  Another laid upon his side with the head and arms thrown back, the ball had cut away a part of his skull over his left eye.

Among a score or more of our own noble dead, I saw not one badly mangled body, like those which I saw at Vienna.  And I loved, also, to fancy at least, that I saw clearly stamped upon each cold face a clam and holy satisfaction in pouring out their blood in a noble cause – to save from ruin the land of our fathers.  There are mothers, wives and sisters, who would gladly have braved the leaden hailstorm of the battle field, to minister to the dying soldier.  Let such console themselves – that death is a common lot, and far more preferable in any form, to life in a land of despotism and anarchy.  The cause in which your husband, brothers and sons have fallen is not a cause of wickedness and oppression, but of truth, freedom and right.  The fields of Kentucky have been freshly watered with hallowed blood, and the pirates are being hunted from her borders.  My own brave boy was either among the slain or pursuing the flying foe.  In which of these positions I might find him, I know not.  I could possibly enjoy no higher honor than in the sacrifice of all I held dear, for the salvation of my country.  With all the anxieties common to parents, I searched for his well known countenance among the slain.  So close was the resemblance in many cases that my pulse quickened and my brain began to reel.  I remembered that he wore a pair of boots of peculiar make, and before I dared to let my eyes rest upon the face, there was a mark –  not on his.  I passed on in haste, but suddenly felt compelled to stop once more, against a tree, leaned back in the more classic composure was the fairest and most beautiful countenance I ever saw in death.  No female complexion could be more spotless.  The silky locks of wavy auburn hair fell in rich profusion, upon fair temples and a faultless forehead.  Some friendly hand had parted his garments, bearing his breast, from which the read current of life flowed out, and had bathed his temples, which were still warm but had ceased to throb forever.  O, ye winds, bear these tidings softly to the loved ones at home.

Among the wounded of our men, it was really comforting to see with what patient heroism they bore their pains.  I said to one poor fellow, with a shattered leg, “you must be in great pain, can I do anything for you?”  He said, “There are others worse off than me, when they are carried in, you can tell them where I am if you please.”  Another man had a ball through his right hand, breaking two of the bones.  He had done it up himself with a wet bandage and with his other hand was carrying one corner of a stretcher, with a wounded man, carrying another corner of the same stretcher, was a man with his head and face covered with blood.  He said he was not hurt at all, he had only lost a large piece of his hat and a small piece of his scalp.

In the “old fields” among the rebels some of the scenes were horrid and revolting in the extreme.  A large number of the dead were shot in the head.  One was shot directly in the eye and the brain was oozing from the wound.  Five dead and one wounded lay behind one log, all but the wounded one were shot in the head.  One rebel had a ball through his neck which destroyed the power of speech – though I don’t think his wound was mortal.  Several of the dead were old and gray headed men.  A dark complexioned man with a heavy black beard, who said he was from Mississippi was lying on the ground with a broken thigh.  He was stern and sullen – he had only one favor to ask – that was that some one of us would kill him.  I said to him we will soon take you to the surgeon and do all we can to relieve you for we are satisfied you have been deceived by wicked men, and do not know what you have been doing.  To which he meekly replied – that is possible.  A younger man, quite a boy, begged me not to let the Lincolnites kill him.  An elderly man sat with his back against a stump with a ball directly through the center of the head at the base of the brain.  There was a ghastly grin upon his countenance, his eyes were stretched widely open and staring wildly into vacancy while his breath was rapid, deep and heavy.  His was a living death for he was senseless.  A lad of fourteen with a mashed ankle, protested his innocence and begged to be taken care of.  He said he had never fired a gun at a Union man and never would.  Numbers of rebels made in effect the same declaration.

I left these fields of human suffering with feelings such as I never before experienced. – The freshness of death seemed to fill the whole atmosphere.  It was a scene which a man needs only to look upon once in his life time in order to occupy all his power of reflection.  Following the wake of our victorious and pursuing army the road, adjoining the fields and woods, were strewn with blankets, knapsacks, haversacks, hats, boots, shoes, guns, cartridge boxes, broken wagons, &c., as perfect a scene of destruction as can well be imagined.

When I left on Thursday evening Col. Hoskins told me the captured horses and mules would probably reach 2,000.  Prisoners were being brought in in little squads, and Capt. Alexander, of Wolford’s cavalry reported that he had 200 penned up in the rocks two miles below their camp.  Crittenden’s entire force (except himself) consisting of about 2,000 men, are supposed to be on this side of the river.

I returned from the rebel camp in company with Dr. Straw and his prisoner, Dr. D. B. Cliffe, of Franklin, Tenn., Zollicoffer’s brigade Surgeon.  Dr. Cliffe seems much of a gentleman and claims to be a Union man.  He says he had to enlist or quit the country, but he had never taken the oath of allegiance to the Southern Confederacy.  He confirmed the news of the death of Zollicoffer, and cut several sticks and limbs, as mementoes from near the place where he fell.  Besides Dr. Cliffe, I saw several other prisoners who seem to be gentlemen, but the mass of them were rough hard unpolished subjects – just such a set as one would be likely to judge “fit for treason, stratagem and spoils.”

I have only noted such items as came under my own observation and comparatively only a few of them.  The order of battle and acts of personal bravery will be better told by those who witnessed them.  Lieut. E. G. Jacobs told me he saw a Minnesotian coolly advance from the ranks some distance, and placing his rifle by the side of a tree take a long and deliberate aim toward the old log house, when a rebel head which had been peering from behind the corner of the house was suddenly discovered to have a body attached to it by its pitching at full length from the end of the house.  I found seven dead bodies in this old building who must have been killed by close shooting between the logs.  When I left 190 rebels had been buried in the old field, and many more still in the woods.  Thirty eight of our own men had been buried in the first field near the tents.

C. T.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

Zollicoffer’s Defeat -- The Rebels “See it.”

FORTRESS MONROE, Jan. 27. – The Richmond Dispatch of Friday shows that the rebels are much perplexed at their defeat in Kentucky. – The Dispatch says: “ We regret to say that the report of the Federal victory in Kentucky, conveyed to us on Wednesday night from Northern sources, is more than confirmed by intelligence received here at the War Department.  It appears that our defeat was more decisive than even the Northern accounts had led us to believe.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

From the South

BALTIMORE, Jan. 27. – The Richmond Dispatch says:

“The disaster in Kentucky, and the apprehension it has caused for the safety of our connection with the Southwest through Virginia and Tennessee, by the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, and the possible interruptions of our intercourse with the South via the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad by Burnside’s expedition directs attention to the vital importance of completing the connection between the Richmond and Danville and the North Carolina Railroad.”

Augusta, Ga., Jan 23. – A private letter received from Charleston S. C. this morning says that five stone vessels were sunk in the channel yesterday.

The Savannah Republican of this morning says the statement that Federal vessels and gone up Broad river is incorrect.

The Dispatch contains a statement that the report had reached Baltimore of the loss of five of Burnside’s fleet in Pamlico Sound, and that a large steamboat, probably the Louisiana, had been burnt.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

The Troops at Mill Spring Fight

The 10th Indiana, Col. Manson, who bore so noble a share in the Mill Spring battle were recruited in the vicinity of Lafayette, Indiana, and the intelligence that seventy five of the regiment are killed creates a profound sensation in that community.  The citizens of Lafayette have dispatched special messengers to the scene of battle.  The Courier says in passing along the railroad crowds of people flocked to the cars, in the hope of learning some additional particulars of the great battle at Somerset.  Many and eager were the inquiries.  An old man and his wife, who had walked five miles to the station asked in trembling tones for a copy of the Courier containing a list of the killed and wounded.  We were not surprised to learn that this venerable couple had two sons, a son in law and a nephew in the gallant Tenth.

Col. McCook of the 9th Ohio regiment who was wounded at the battle near Somerset, is the honored commander of one of the best regiments in the service.  It is composed in part of German veterans, all of whom have seen service in Europe.  They were in the three months campaign in Western Virginia, and are the same who, the day previous to the battle of Rich Mountain, while lying in front of the Rebel entrenchments at Laurel Hill, sent a formal request to Gen. McClellan for a permission to storm the breastworks at the point of the bayonet, assuring the General that they could do the work in a very short time.

Standart’s, Wetmore’s and Kinney’s Batteries were among the reinforcements that came into the fight near Somerset.  Standart’s Battery has been stationed at Somerset, Kenney’s Battery has lately been at Lebanon, Wetmore’s Battery has lately been at Danville but they all came up in time to take part in the fight. – The Batteries are all Northern Ohio Batteries.  Capt. Standart is of Cleveland, Capt. Kinney is of Geneva, Ashtabula county, and Captain Wetmore of Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county.  These batteries belong to Col. Barnett’s Regiment.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

The Late Somerset Battle

The battle, unlike the most of the war, grows larger the more that is known of it.  One hundred and ninety two dead bodies of the rebels were buried up to Tuesday night, and they were still found thick in the woods.  It was first supposed that the forces engaged were about equal, but it is now known that the enemy outnumbered us two to one.  The regiments under Gen. Thomas’s command at the time of the fight were the 10th Indiana, 4th and 12th Kentucky, 2d Minnesota, 9th and 14th Ohio, and 1st and 2d East Tennessee Regiments.  These eight regiments could not bring at the utmost over six thousand men onto the field and of these only about one half were actually engaged in the combat.  The consolidated morning report of the troops at Mill Spring last Friday has been found.  Crittenden had under him at that time and there, one thousand three hundred and twenty two men sick, and fourteen thousand two hundred and six men fit for duty.  And by papers found on the person of Gen. Zollicoffer, it appears that two new regiments reported for duty at Mill Spring on Saturday, the 18th.  The testimony of all the intelligent prisoners whom we took is to the effect that the whole force moved from their camp to the attack on Sunday, except a small guard on the north side, and “White’s old regiment,” a shattered and demoralized body of men on the south side of the river.  Not less than fifteen thousand men marched out to give battle as they supposed, to three regiments of Union troops.

It must not be thought however, that this large force was at all available to Crittenden. – A great proportion of it, perhaps one half, was the raw drafted levies of two months’ men, lately raised in Tennessee.  They have been coming to Crittenden in squads from one to five hundred for weeks.  Just organized into regiments, and armed principally with shotguns, they could not be supposed to add much to the strength of the rebel army and in case of such a panic as occurred were an element of positive weakness.  And they were even further useless because they had no hearts for a fight against the Union.  One of them coming near our lines rushed across to us, exclaiming “I am a Union man,” and immediately commenced firing on his late comrades!  We understand that there were about 10,000 of such troops at Knoxville.  We mean to carry guns to them and make them our first soldiers from their party of the country!

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 3

Incidents of the Battle at Webb’s Cross Roads

While the body of Zollicoffer lay upon the ground in front of a Minnesota tent surrounded by soldiers an excited officer rode up exclaiming to the men, “What in h-ll are you doing here?  Why are you not at the stretchers bringing in the wounded?”  “This is Zollicoffer,” said a soldier.  “I know that,” replied the officer – “he is dead and could not have been sent to h--- by a better man, for Col. Fry shot him – leave him and go to your work.”

When the two Parrott guns were planted on the hill at Brown’s house overlooking the enemy’s camp, the peculiar wh-r-r-r of the shells was new to our astonished darkie who with hat off and eyes protruding, exclaimed to his sable companion, “Gosh Almighty Sam, don’t dat go howlin trou de wilderness?”

In nearly a direct line with the course we had marched from the battle field to the rebel works, is a bold elevation about three fourths of a mile this side of said works on which one of our batteries was immediately planted and commenced throwing shot and shell into their camp.  Several regiments had lain down upon the ground to rest from the fatigue of their march and as the rebels answered but feebly, with two guns their shot passed high over the heads of our men. – As the intervals grew longer and longer – watching the shot became a matter of amusement with them. – “Secesh ball!  Secesh ball!” they would cry out, while half a dozen would start and run after it – others calling out, “Run harder or you won’t overtake it.”  While this amusement was going on a rabbit sprang out of a bush between the lines when the cry, “Secesh ball!  Secesh ball,” and the boys took after it with better success, for they caught it.

Upon the high ground last referred to the rebels made a brief stand half an hour before we reached it, but were driven off by a few shots from Stannard’s Battery.  One of these six pound shots struck a poplar tree about two feet in diameter, directly in the center and some twenty feet from the General, passing entirely through the tree, tearing off splinters eight or ten feet long and passing on “thro de wilderness.” – Another shot struck a tree seven or eight inches in diameter directly beside the other but lower down cutting it off nearly as square as though it had been done with a saw.

Being among the first who entered the rebel fortifications I discovered a barrel which proved to contain apple brandy.  Pulling out the corn cob from the bung hole I turned it up and filled a canteen.  While doing this one of Bob McCook’s skirmishers came in and says, “vat you gets there?”  I replied that it appeared to be pretty fair apple brandy upon which the Dutch man ran to the door calling out furiously, “Hans!  Henrick! schnaps!  See come a rous!”  Upon which a dozen Dutchmen came in, and the brandy which was not spilled upon the ground was soon transferred to their canteens.  I said, “boys you had better look out – this is a doctor’s shop, and there may be strychnine in that brandy.”  They paused a moment to look at each other when one of them exclaimed, “Py Got, Hans, I tells you vat I do.  I drinks some and if it don’t kill me, den you trinks” – upon which he took a long and hearty pull at his canteen and smacking his lips a moment said, “All right, Hans, go ahead.”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 3

Signs of Despair among the Rebels

The tone of the Southern press grown more and more desponding.  We observe several recent articles from Southern newspapers which show that hope and confidence are wavering in view of the situation.  It is quite evident that there is a foreboding of the end now apparently near and inevitable.

The Richmond Examiner of the 16th of instance “sees but one chance of success from the net that has been coolly drawn around us, it is to concentrate our energy on one point and cut it through to convert our defensive into an offensive war and transfer the scenes of at least a part of these hostilities to the enemy’s own country.  Situated as we are, it is only possible at one point, and that is Kentucky.”

But since the time when the Examiner discovered one possible point in Kentucky the army of Zollicoffer, which held the key to Tennessee has been utterly routed and dispersed.  The examiner anticipated the movement and declared that if the plan of Buell – that is of flanking Bowling Green on either side – was successful, it must result in a great disaster.  “Its only hope then was in an offensive campaign across the Ohio from the point that Gen. Johnston now defends.”

But when the intelligence which had not then reached Richmond, of the utter rout of Humphrey Marshall’s forces at Prestonburg and of Zollicoffer’s defeat at Somerset, which took place three days afterwards, became fully know that “only hope” must have perished.

The Richmond Whig of the 17th apparently to counteract the discouraging effect of the Examiner of the day previous, said, “Let us turn for a moment to the West, Price, Polk, Marshall and Zollicoffer having whipped the cowardly mercenaries at every point.”  Of course this was intended to cheer up the despondent Southern ear, but how much more disheartening must be the reaction when the truth was known.

The Richmond Dispatch discovers that even in Richmond there are men who are loyal to the Union and the fervor of its denunciation of such indicate clearly the fear that Union sentiments may become contagious as the fortunes of the Confederacy from day to day become more gloomy.

The Trenton (Tennessee) Standard “regrets to say considerable evidence of disloyalty to the Confederate Government has been manifested in West Tennessee,” designating the counties of Carroll, Weakly and McNairy as the localities of formidable Unionism and resistance.  In that part of the State, too, where secession in the start, had unresisted and absolute sway.

The articles we recently published from the Memphis Argus, where filled with the most bitter hostility to Jeff. Davis and his conduct of the war.  There would be no utterances of that sort – no recrimination so intensely wrathful except in the abandonment of all hope of present success under his auspices.

All these things clearly denote the growing suspicion, at least in the minds of sharp intelligent observers of events, that the catastrophe is not very far off.  They perceive how completely they are beleaguered by hostile forces on every hand – that the Port Royal expedition is still in potential activity in the heart of South Carolina, that Burnside’s expedition, whatever the point to which it is directed, will meet no adequate opposing force; that Butler has a position on the Gulf coast where he can assail either Mobile or New Orleans at pleasure; that Lane’s expedition will soon move down through Arkansas and Louisiana irresistible.  In short, turn which way they will, now that the hope of our instant war with England, on which they counted, is dissipated, there is nothing but black, rayless despair. – {St. Louis Democrat.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 3

A Scene After the Battle

(Extract from A letter of L. F. Drake, Chaplain of the 31st Ohio regiment, to the Western Christian Advocate.)

I went to the camp of the 10th Indiana regiment, where the dead and many of the wounded were, and at the request of Captain Hoagland, I visited some of the houses and tents where the wounded of both armies were, and aided all I could to alleviate their sufferings.  About ten o’clock I lay down in a tent and tried to sleep, but the shrieks and groaning of the wounded and dying reached my ears, and pierced my heart, and I could not sleep.  In a short time Dr. Linnett and Mr. Olds, from Lancaster, Ohio, came in to sleep in the tent I was occupying.  One of them remarked that there was a wounded soldier in an old blacksmith shop, who was desirous of seeing a chaplain.  I arose from my couch, and after wending my way through the mud and wet, I found the shop filled with the wounded, and one was lying upon a forge.  Some were mortally wounded, and a few were not.  After conversing and praying with one of them a short time, he obtained peace and pardon.  I then asked him what regiment he belonged to.  Said he, “I am your enemy, but we will be friends in heaven.”  He then requested me to write to his grandfather in Paris, Tennessee who is a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, and inform him of his condition, and his being prepared to die in the full triumph of faith.  I conversed with several others, and tried to point them to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.  There are times when the soldiers care but little about being conversed with upon the subject of religion, but when in the condition of these men they would prefer seeing a faithful minister of the Gospel than any of their wicked commanders or associates.  I was also permitted to see General F. K. Zollicoffer, who was laid out on a board in a tent in the cold embrace of death.  I saw the place where he was shot and laid my hand upon his broad forehead.  He was about six feet tall, and completely and well built, one among the finest heads that I ever saw.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

Specials to the New York Papers

(Special to Post.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. – Gen. McClellan was before the Van Wyck Contracts Investigating Committee to-day.

Mr. Henderson, the New Missouri Senator, is in favor of the expulsion of Bright.

It is proposed to modify the language of the resolution, in which shape it will probably pass.

Extensive frauds have been discovered in army contracts in Philadelphia, and two members of the committee on the conduct of the war have left for Philadelphia to investigate the affair.

(Times correspondence.)

The House Committee on Commerce at their meeting to-day, authorized  Gen. Ward to report on the Canadian reciprocity treaty.  The report will suggest a number of important changes, making it more equal and favorable to the U. S.

Certain prisoners released from Richmond and returned here to-day say that of all the clothing forwarded to them by Gen. Wool from Ft. Monroe, some months since, by way of Norfolk, care of Gen. [Huger], not one garment ever reached Richmond.  It is supposed they were appropriated by the confederates.

(Tribune’s Dispatch.)

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29. – The Special Committee on the defences and fortifications of lakes and rivers had an important meeting this morning.  General McClellan laid before the Committee many facts showing the importance of immediate action.  He favors the fortification of a few commanding points, such as Mackinaw, Fort Gratiot, and some place on the Sault St. Marie canal, and the reliance elsewhere upon naval defences, to supply which he recommends the establishment of one or more depots of arms on the lakes.  It is understood that the Committee concur in the General’s views and will make a report in accordance therewith at an early day.

The statement that the House Committee on the District of Columbia has decided to report against the abolition of slavery in the District is untrue.  Whatever is the sentiments of the committee they have not yet been expressed by the vote.  Mr. Upton, of Virginia, to whom the question was referred reported orally that in his judgment, it was inexpedient at present.  No action was taken upon his report, but Mr. Ashley gave notice that if a majority of the Committee espoused Mr. Upton’s views he should submit to a minority report to the House, accompanied by a bill providing for the immediate abolition of slavery within the District.

Gen. Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, has recommended the consolidation of the seventy seven regiments of volunteer cavalry into fifty regiments.  He advised that the field and line officers already mustered in be examined by a Board of Officers who shall sift out at least one third, and recommends the men also be sifted and those not fit for horsemen mustered as infantry our mustered out altogether.

Mr. Tucker was confirmed to-day as Assistant Secretary of War, and Frederick Steele of Missouri, as Brigadier General.

Secretary Seward has issued an order to Ward H. Lamon, Marshal of the District, instructing him not to receive or retain in his custody any persons claimed to be held to labor or servitude unless they are charged with crimes or are held as fugitive slaves under the law of Congress, and to retain none claimed a fugitives longer than thirty days, unless in compliance with a special order emanating from some competent tribunal.

(Times Dispatch.)

Secretary Stanton was shown private letters to-day from Kentucky containing important and extraordinary statements regarding the battle at Somerset, to wit.  That one entire rebel regiment threw down their arms in the conflict and declared their purpose no longer to fight against the government.  This example was followed by companies and individuals of other regiments and accounts for the complete failure and small slaughter attending a deliberate confederate attack.

Gen. Thomas is not pursuing Zollicoffer’s defeated army, the road’s and inadequate transportation not permitting.  He is building a road of thirty miles in length to render his advance into Tennessee easy and permanent.

A deserter from Stuart’s 2nd Cavalry came in our lines this morning and was brought to Secretary Stanton.  He reports Beauregard gone to Kentucky with 5,000 men.

Gen. Smith succeeds in the command at Centreville.

The deserter reports suffering among the rebels from a lack of suitable clothing, salt, coffee, &c.  They have plenty of meat and bread.

(Herald Specials.)

About a dozen vessels ran the blockade of the Potomac yesterday, some up and some down the river.  None were fired at.

Last night the Reliance went down to convoy two transports.  Sixty or seventy shots were fired at them, but with what effect is unknown.

The confirmation of Gen. Stoneman as chief of Cavalry and Gen. Barry as Chief of Artillery have been delayed by an opposition arising from charges brought by personal enemies of the Generals.  They will probably be confirmed in spite of such influence.

On account of some malicious representatives the nomination of Gen. Sturgis was not sent to the Senate with the list of other nominations as Brigadier Generals.

Gen. Sturgis had an interview with the President to-day, and his nomination was immediately sent to the Senate to date for his original appointment.

There is no doubt that Gen. Stone will be deposed and another General not now named will be detailed to the command of the division at Poolsville.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

Rebel News From Richmond

BALTIMORE, Jan 28. – The Richmond Dispatch of yesterday has the following:

New [Berne], North Carolina, is in a ferment of excitement in expectation of an attack in that quarter.  The town is under martial law and every preparation is being made.

(Later from Mill Creek.)

Gen. Crittenden and his staff are safe and unwounded.  General Carroll and staff are safe.  Our loss is reported at 300 killed.  The enemy’s loss is supposed to be twice this number.

Nashville, Jan. 24, via Mobile 25. – The most reliable information of the engagement at or near Somerset is that only two regiments. Col. Buttle’s Tennessee and Col. Statham’s Mississippi, were engaged in the fight near Mill Springs.

Fort Henry is still safe – the enemy for some reason having withdrawn from its immediate vicinity.  The shots of the gun boats were not replied to from the Fort, which will be held at all hazards.

Paris was in a perfect ferment of excitement yesterday.  Many anticipating an immediate descent of the enemy, which they deemed themselves utterly powerless to resist, were preparing to leave their negroes and other property.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 2

New Orleans and the War

We have just had the pleasure of enjoying a protracted conversation with a highly intelligent gentleman, long a resident of that city, who left New Orleans for the North about ten days ago.  Without further particulars as to our informant himself, it is enough to say that he is eminently reliable, a gentleman of mature judgment and excellent sense, and thus worth of the utmost confidence in his statements. – We shall do injustice to his lucid and graphic statements of the condition of affairs in the Metropolis of the Southwest, trusting only to memory to siege the details, but some points will interest our readers, even thus imperfectly presented.

Louisiana was a strong Union State, and the influence of New Orleans eminently so, long after the secession of other states.  The “Co-operationists” represented the intermediate state of public sentiment from loyalty to disloyalty, but leaned most strongly in favor of adherence to the Constitution and the Union. – They took their name and shaped their policy on the scheme of a co-operaiton of the Southern States in order to secure additional pledges from the General Government, and they carried the State to this measure, but the ground taken was not enough and secession came next, and became dominant, overpowering everything.

What of the Union element in New Orleans to-day?  The question might as well be asked in mid winter of a snow covered field, as to what is seeded down, and what it will bear.  Just now secession holds sway and Unionism is crushed out.  Only one sentiment is expressed because but one is safe, and martyrdom would be sure to follow the other.  Let this terrorism be removed, and there would come the time for judging as the share of this and other Southern communities who would welcome the restoration of the Federal power and unite with it in utterly sweeping away the reckless demagogues who have betrayed and outraged the South.  Our informant speaks hopefully with reference to the men who are thus “biding their time.”

In New Orleans, under the all overpowering influence of secession, there is but one opinion expressed in public.  The city is quiet and orderly, for its lower order of white society have gone to the wars.  There are no riots, nor disturbances.  The city is dull in commercial respects.  Whatever products belong to their market are plenty and without sale whatever they have been accustomed to seek form abroad are proportionately high.  Thus sugar is 1½ to 2 cents per lb., and mess pork is $50 per barrel.  All fabrics are high, and stocks are very light.  Owing to the scarcity of meats, the planters are feeding their slaves on mush and molasses, the latter staple being cheap.  The scarcity of ardent compounds being also great, large quantities of molasses are being manufactured into New England rum, which the whisky loving must need use in place of the coveted but scarcer article.

In monetary matters, the change is a striking one.  All specie has disappeared from circulation.  It has gone into private hoards, and bills of the sound banks of Louisiana (and there are not better in the United States) are also being stored away by holders, who see no advantage in presenting them for redemption in Confederate Notes.  Said a bank officer of the State Bank of Louisiana to our informant, “Out of $250,000 in currency received in making our Exchanges with other banks, only twenty five dollars of our own issues were received.”  For an institution with a circulation of one and a half million, this is a significant statement.

Another proof of the distrust of the people in the notes of the C. S. A. is seen in the fact of greatly stimulated prices of New Orleans real estate.  Secessionists who do not look beneath the surface wax vastly jubilant over the aspect. – “There, sir, look at it – see what the war, and this cutting loose from the North has done for us.  Real estate in New Orleans has gone up one half.  Glorious!! Sir, don’t you see it?  The cause of exultation diminishes rapidly when it is understood that all this is but the natural cause of holders of property who say to their possessions, in view of the everywhere present Confederate notes – “take any shape but that.”  No wonder they prefer real estate at exorbitant prices, and pass the shinplasters out of their fingers as fast as possible.  This is the sole secret of the flush times in New Orleans real estate.

The money in circulation from hand to hand is “everybody’s checks,” and omnibus tickets for small charge, and the most mongrel brood of wild cats and kittens that ever distressed a business community.  We saw in the hand of our informant, a bank note for five cents, issued by the Bank of Nashville!  Besides small issues of shinplasters, notes in circulation are divided, A desiring to pay B two dollars and a half, cuts a five dollar note in two, and the dissevered portion goes floating about distressedly looking up its better half, (or otherwise) according to which end bears the bank signatures.

As to the feeling of the community regarding the war, the outspoken sentiment is one of intense hatred to the North, or “the United States,” as they express it.  They affect to believe that spoliation, rapine and outrage of every dye would follow the invasion of Northern troops.  Their own troops are only indifferently provided with outfit, and camp comforts are scarce.  A very significant statement was recently made in the St. Charles Hotel, in the hearing of our informant, which we deem to give as nearly in his own words as possible.  A gentleman had gone up to the camps at Nashville, having in charge donations from the citizens of New Orleans.  On his return his unofficial statements were about as follows: “I tell you, you have no idea of the suffering there among our troops.  It would make your heart bleed to see them lying there sick and dying without nurses and medicine.  New Orleans has done a great deal, but she must do more.”

A Bystander – “But why don’t people up that way do something?”

“Well, I’ll tell you.  The fact is, about one half of them say they never wanted the troops to come there at all, and don’t care how soon they are removed.  The other half are doing all they can, but cannot do all.”

“Why don’t they set their niggers to tending the sick?”

“Well, that’s the squalliest point on the whole.  The niggers say that if they were Lincoln soldiers they would attend them.”

A Bystander (hotly) – “Why don’t they shoot the ______ treacherous sons of ______.”

“Well (meaningly) they don’t think it’s quite safe up there to begin that sort of thing.”

A pretty significant confession, one would think to be made publicly in the rotunda of the St. Charles.  And this brings us to speak of the position of the blacks.  What do they think of the War?  The gentleman we quote says “the blacks have been educated fast within the past six months.  They are a different race from what they were.  Their docility is a thing of the past, and their masters stand appalled at the transformation.”  In several of the parishes about New Orleans, what were believed to be the germs of dangerous insurrections have been several times discovered within the past few months.  In St. Mary’s thirteen slaves were shot at one time.  The South have thought it would aid their plans by telling the slaves that the enemy of the Union was the “army of freedom,” and the blacks believe it.  Certainly no Abolition sheet of the North is responsible for the circulation of such a statement.

An instance was told us of a man sent to the North from New Orleans, with the purpose of looking about him a little [bare] and gaining an idea of matters.  He accomplished his mission after diverse adventures, and came back to the Crescent City.  Wherever his formal report was made, it certainly was pretty much summed up in a statement he made openly in a secession coterie at the St. Charles.  Said he, “I went to New York, business is going on there about as ever – never saw things more busy there – should not judge any body had gone to the war didn’t actually hear much about the South.  Then I went to where they were turning out the things for war, and saw how they were doing it, and, and then was when I began to smell h-ll.”

We are exceeding the limits we had proposed for our statement, but let us add a few brief facts.  As to the defences of New Orleans.  There are two forts on the river below the city, which once passed, New Orleans would be in Federal hands in twenty four hours, for it has no defences in itself.  Earthworks were thrown up south of the city, but no guns have been mounted.  The secessionists feel the danger of their position, and are loud in censures of their Confederate government for its dilatoriness.  The foreign population of New Orleans are alarmed at the aspect of affairs.  A large meeting of French citizens has been held, and a delegation waited on the French Consul to ask him to present their petition to the French Emperor to send a national vessel to take them from the city.

It is upon a community thus constituted and filled with these real sources of alarm that the news of Zollicoffer’s defeat must fall.  It will be spread like wildfire all throughout the South.  If Confederate notes were a drug before, and only taken under protest and unwillingly, what will happen when notes “redeemable on the establishment of the Southern Confederacy” are made even more shaky as a currency by the imminent danger of the government.  The beginning of the end is at hand, and thus at no distant day. – {Chicago Tribune.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 1