Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: Sunday, January 1, 1865

Snowed a few inches in depth during the night clear and cool morning.

The new year begins with the new rumor that Gen. Hood has turned upon Gen. Thomas and beaten him. This is believed by many. Hood's army was not destroyed, and he retreated from before Nashville with some 20,000 men. Doubtless he lost many cannon; but the Federal accounts of his disaster were probably much exaggerated.

The cabinet still remains.

The President is considered really a man of ability, and eminently qualified to preside over the Confederate States, if independence were attained and we had peace. But he is probably not equal to the role he is now called upon to play. He has not the broad intellect requisite for the gigantic measures needed in such a crisis, nor the health and physique for the labors devolving on him. Besides he is too much of a politician still to discard his old prejudices, and persists in keeping aloof from him, and from commanding positions, all the great statesmen and patriots who contributed most in the work of preparing the minds of the people for resistance to Northern domination. And the consequence is that many of these influential men are laboring to break down his administration, or else preparing the people for a return to the old Union. The disaffection is intense and wide-spread among the politicians of 1860, and consternation and despair are expanding among the people. Nearly all desire to see Gen. Lee at the head of affairs; and the President is resolved to yield the position to no man during his term of service. Nor would Gen. Lee take it.

The proposition to organize an army of negroes gains friends; because the owners of the slaves are no longer willing to fight themselves, at least they are not as "eager for the fray" as they were in 1861; and the armies must be replenished, or else the slaves will certainly be lost.

Thus we begin the new year—Heaven only knows how we shall end it! I trust we may be in a better condition then. Of one thing I am certain, the PEOPLE are capable of achieving independence, if they only had capable men in all departments of the government.

The President was at St. Paul's to-day, with a knit woolen cap on his head. Dr. Minnegerode preached a sermon against the croakers. His son has been appointed a midshipman by the President.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 371-2

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: January 9, 1865

Bright, clear, and cold.

It is said the government depot at Charlotte, N. C., has been burned (accidentally), consuming a large amount of corn.

We have nothing further of the movement of Grant's troops. We have Hood's acknowledgment of defeat, and loss of 50 guns before Nashville.

The papers contain the proceedings of a meeting in Savannah, over which the Mayor presided, embracing the terms of submission offered in President Lincoln's message. They have sent North for provisions—indicating that the city was in a famishing condition. Our government is to blame for this! The proceedings will be used as a "form," probably, by other cities—thanks to the press!

The Examiner is out this morning for a convention of all the (Confederate) States, and denouncing the President. I presume the object is to put Lee at the head of military affairs.

The rumor of the death of Gen. Price is not confirmed. Gen. Pemberton has been relieved here and sent elsewhere. The Piedmont Railroad has been impressed. A secret act of Congress authorizes it.

Miers W. Fisher writes that if the cabinet indorses the newspaper suggestions of giving up slavery and going under true monarchies, it is an invitation to refugees like himself to return to their homes, and probably some of the States will elect to return to the Union for the sake of being under a republican government, etc. He says it is understood that the Assistant Secretary often answers letters unseen by the Secretary; and if so, he can expect no answer from Mr. S., but will put the proper construction on his silence, etc.

Flour is $700 per barrel to-day; meal, $80 per bushel; coal and wood, $100 per load. Does the government (alone to blame) mean to allow the rich speculators, the quartermasters, etc. to starve honest men into the Union?

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 381

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864-January 23, 1865: No. 3. — Abstract from returns of the District of Tennessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau, U.S. Army, for November 20, November 30, and December 10, 1864

[Page 56.]

No. 3.

Abstract from returns of the District of Tennessee, commanded by Maj. Gen. Lovell H. Rousseau, U.S. Army, for November 20, November 30, and December 10, 1864.

NOVEMBER 20.

Commands.	Present for duty.		Aggregate present.	Aggregate present and absent.	Serviceable horses.	Pieces of artillery.
	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rousseau).*	172	3,916	5,925	7,536	36	6
Post of Nashville, Tenn. (Miller) .	178	4,698	5,502	6,217	298	37
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	6	380	477	987	....	....
Post of Fort Donelson. Tenn. (Brett).	2	108	123	149	60	6
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	3	60	144	163	98	6
Post of Gallatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	39	907	1,081	1,155	3	6
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson). †	96	2,617	3,379	3,654	194	12
District of Northern Alabama (Granger). ‡	3	....	3	3	....	....
Post of Decatur, Ala. (Given).	106	2,285	3,041	3,906	60	6
Post of Larkinsville, Ala. (Hall).	24	493	630	839	....	....
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson).§	1	....	1	1	....	....
Post of Columbia, Tenn. (McCoy).	35	810	923	1,123	3	12
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (Milroy). ||	52	1,028	1,320	1,902	2	8
Post of Stevenson, Ala.	3	128	133	147	....	6
Post of Decherd, Tenn. (Warner).	32	703	833	884	....	....
Post of Murfreesborough, Tenn. (Van Cleve).	40	1,008	1,224	1,395	20	57
Total .	792	19,141	24,739	30,061	774	162

 

Command.	Present for duty—equipped.
	Infantry.		Cavalry.		Artillery.		Total.
	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rousseau).*	163	3,759	....	....	4	132	167	3,891
Post of Nashville, Tenn. (Miller).	158	3,988	....	....	16	753	174	4,741
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	8	369	....	....	....	....	8	369
Post of Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Brott).	....	....	....	....	2	108	2	108
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	....	....	....	....	3	60	3	60
Post of Gallatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	35	790	....	....	4	139	39	929
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson). †	84	2,360	....	....	5	226	89	2,586
District of Northern Alabama (Granger). †	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
Post of Decatur, Ala. (Given).	102	2,165	....	....	4	124	106	2,289
Post of Larkinsville, Ala. (Hall).	26	525	....	....	....	....	26	525
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson). §	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
Post of Columbia, Tenn. (McCoy).	32	676	....	....	3	134	35	810
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (Milroy). ||	46	945	....	....	3	88	49	1,033
Post of Stevenson, Ala.	....	....	....	....	3	128	3	128
Post of Decherd, Tenn. (Warner).	32	703	....	....	....	....	32	703
Post of Murfreesborough, Tenn. (Van Cleve).	30	738	....	....	9	374	39	1,112
Total.	716	17,018	....	....	56	2,266	772	19,284

* At Nashville, Tenn.

† At Johnsonville, Tenn.

‡ At Decatur, Ala.

§ At Pulaski, Tenn.

‖  At Tullahoma, Tenn.

[Page 57.]

Abstract from returns of the District of Tennessee, &c.—Continued.

NOVEMBER 30.

Commands.	Present for duty.		Aggregate present.	Aggregate present and absent.	Serviceable horses.	Pieces of artillery.
	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rousseau). *	474	10,390	13,560	16,307	....	....
Post of Nashville, Tenn. (Miller).	60	2,000	2,296	2,556	367	41
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	8	376	456	954	....	....
Post of Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Brett).	3	106	122	151	59	6
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	3	109	140	164	98	6
Post of Gatlatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	4	144	153	157	4	6
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson). †	63	1,964	2,360	2,649	87	6
District of Northern Alabama (Granger).	3	....	3	3	....	....
1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery F, (Pease). ‡	4	120	140	151	60	6
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson).*	1	....	1	1	....	....
Indiana Light Artillery, 21st Battery (Andrew).*	4	134	142	158	2	9
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (Milroy). §	5	83	95	116	....	8
Post of Stevenson, Ala. (Krzyzanowski).	2	124	132	148	9	10
Post of Murfreesborough,  Tenn.  (Van Cleve).	70	1,361	1,716	2,095	....	57
Total	704	16,911	21,316	25,610	686	155

 

Command.	Present for duty—equipped.
	Infantry.		Cavalry.		Artillery.		Total.
	Officers	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rosseau).*	471	10,410	....	....	....	....	471	10,410
Post of Nashville. Tenn. (Miller).	38	1,179	....	....	19	837	57	2,016
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	8	376	....	....	....	....	8	376
Post of Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Brott).	....	....	....	....	3	106	3	106
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	....	....	....	....	3	109	3	109
Post of Gallatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	....	....	....	....	4	144	4	144
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson). †	59	1,841	....	....	3	107	62	1,948
District of Northern Alabama (Granger). ‡	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery F, (Pease). ‡	....	....	....	....	4	124	4	124
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson).*	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
Indiana Light Artillery, 21st Battery (Andrew).*	....	....	....	....	4	134	4	134
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (Milroy). §	....	....	....	....	2	83	2	83
Post of Stevenson, Ala. (Krzyzanowski).	....	....	....	....	2	124	2	124
Post of Murfreesborough, Tenn. (Van Cleve).	59	978	....	....	9	383	68	1,361
Total.	635	14,784	....	....	53	2,151	688	16,935

* At Nashville, Tenn.

† At Johnsonville, Tenn.

‡ At Stevenson, Ala.

§ At Tullahoma, Tenn

[Page 58.]

Abstract from returns of the District of Tennessee, &c.--Continued.

DECEMBER 10.

Commands.	Present for duty.		Aggregate present.	Aggregate present and absent.	Serviceable horses.	Pieces of artillery.
	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rousseau).*	424	9,210	12,465	15,956	....	....
Post of Nashville, Tenn. (Miller).	61	1,969	2,264	2,471	278	42
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	12	539	693	950	....	....
Post of Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Brott).	2	109	121	151	59	6
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	3	111	139	163	98	6
Post of Gallatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	4	145	153	157	4	6
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson).*	63	1,964	2,360	2,649	87	6
District of Northern Alabama (Granger). †	3	....	3	3	....	....
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson).*	1	....	1	1	....	....
1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery F (Pease).	5	117	138	151	30	6
Indiana Light Artillery, 21st Battery (Andrew). *	4	136	145	157	3	8
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad (Milroy). ‡	4	80	92	115	36	8
Post of Stevenson, Ala .	2	122	130	147	9	10
Post of Murfreesborough, Tenn. (Van Cleve).	65	1,348	1,720	2,101	39	57
Total.	653	15,850	20,424	25,172	643	155

 

Command.	Present for duty—equipped.
	Infantry.		Cavalry.		Artillery.		Total
	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.	Officers.	Men.
Fourth Division, Twentieth Army Corps (Rousseau).*	420	9,238	....	....	....	....	420	9,238
Post of Nashville, Tenn. (Miller).	39	1,219	....	....	19	750	58	1,969
Post of Springfield, Tenn. (Downey).	12	554	....	....	....	....	12	554
Post of Fort Donelson, Tenn. (Brett).	....	....	....	....	2	109	2	109
Post of Clarksville, Tenn. (Smith).	....	....	....	....	3	111	3	111
Post of Gallatin, Tenn. (Gilfillan).	....	....	....	....	4	145	4	145
Troops on Nashville and Northwestern Railroad (Thompson).*	59	1,841	....	....	3	107	62	1,948
District of Northern Alabama (Granger). †	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
Troops on Tennessee and Alabama Railroad (Johnson).*	....	....	....	....	....	....	....	....
1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery F (Pease).	....	....	....	....	5	117	5	117
Indiana Light Artillery, 21st Battery (Andrew).*	....	....	....	....	4	136	4	136
Defenses of Nashville and Chattanooga  Railroad (Milroy).	....	....	....	....	2	88	2	88
Post of Stevenson, Ala.	....	....	....	....	2	122	2	122
Post of Murfreesborough, Tenn. (Van Cleve).	55	945	....	....	8	403	63	1,348
Total	585	13,797	....	....	52	2,088	637	15,885

* At Nashville, Tenn.

† At Stevenson, Ala.

‡ At Tullahoma, Tenn.

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. 9 3), p. 56-8