Marched to Lumpkins Mills; weather very warm. Christmas eve I retired to my bed on the bare ground completely worn out with the day's march and the duty of the night before. I slept so soundly, did not dream of St. Nicholas and no vision of Christmas gifts disturbed my sleep. I was only too happy to get a soft place to lie down.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
Was transferred to Black's
picket at Holt's and stood to-night.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby
Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 4
Christmas eve! Clear
and cold.
A dispatch from Hon.
J. L. Orr and H. V. (on their way home) informs the Secretary that
from the delay in the transportation of troops over the Piedmont Railroad,
there must be either criminal neglect or treachery concerned in it.
Again it is rumored
that Savannah has been evacuated. There is something in the air that causes
agitation in official circles. Mr. Secretary Seddon's room was locked nearly
all day yesterday.
If troops cannot be
transported expeditiously over the Piedmont Road, fears may be entertained for
Wilmington, when, the gale subsiding, the enemy's fleet has reappeared.
There is a rumor on
the street that the government is to be removed to Lynchburg.
Gen. Lee has induced
the President and Secretary of War to call for the clerks (detailed ones) to
repair to the trenches again this weather. The emergency must be great, as
these soldiers get, as clerks, $4000 per annum, and rations, etc.
A dispatch from Gen.
Bragg.
WILMINGTON,
N. C., December 23d, 1864.-The fleet, which drew off in the rough weather, is
again assembled; seventy vessels now in sight on the coast. The advance of the
troops (C. S.) only reached here to-night.—B. B.
The clerks are
drawing lots; one-half being ordered to the trenches. Of two drawn in this
bureau (out of five) one is peremptorily ordered by the Secretary to remain,
being sickly, and the other has an order to go before a medical board "to
determine whether he is fit for service in the trenches for a few days."
Great commotion naturally prevails in the departments, and it is whispered that
Gen. Lee was governed in the matter by the family of the President, fearing a
Christmas visit from the negro troops on this side the river.
The following note
was received to-day from the Vice-President:
RICHMOND,
VA, December 23d, 1864.—Hon. Jas. A. Seddon, Secretary of War: Will you please
send me, through the post-office, a passport to leave the city? I wish to
depart in a few days. Yours respectfully,
ALEX. H. STEPHENS.
The President is
hard at work making majors, etc.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 363-4
WINCHESTER, [Va.], December 24, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR: I thank you for putting Mr. Guyer in the trail of the facts
I enquired for.
Have you spoken to Foote's Resolution? And what position have you taken?
I presume the same with Mason.
I hope your election is safe. Is there any danger of Bayly, or of Wise?
Which have you any reason to look to as an opponent?
One of my delegates said to me to-day he would like to have my advice
before going to Richmond. I of course told him I would like to confer with, not
to dictate to, him. I think in this section we will have things all right for
you. I heard favorable news from our Senator who has been somewhat doubtful
to-day through his brother, who said, if he did not go for you, he ought to be
turned out. He said he did not think he would fail you, that he was certain you
were his choice unless Bayly were preferred by him. I shall write to him and
set matters right as to him. In Jefferson I learn all is well. In Hampshire I
know it is. Here in Clark, Warren and Page I am quite confident.
I wish you a Merry Christmas. We hear flying rumours of the Capitol
Conflagration. Do you go home at Xmas? If not why not come here for a day?
I was glad to see your movement about the message. Your position is
favorable and a good move on the Free trade pound would strengthen you
immensely in a party point of view.
The Yankees seem loath to make another advance since the good whipping we gave them here on the thirteenth in the battle of Fredericksburg. Milton Bossardt's company went into the fight with forty men, and thirty of them were killed or wounded. He escaped very narrowly. A hole was shot through his hat and one of his shoe heels was shot off. Pick Stevens never shuns a fight. He goes boldly into them all.
I will not write you about the battle, for you must have seen enough in the newspapers concerning it. According to their own newspaper accounts, the Yankees were defeated much worse than we at first thought they were.
Some of us sent out to-day and got some eggs, and are going to have an egg-nog to-night, so you see we are trying to have some enjoyment for Christmas if we are out here in the woods. The Government is trying to help us, for we drew several extra good things to-day.
You must keep in good spirits. I will get home some of these days yet. I may surprise you.
SOURCE: Dr. Spenser G. Welch, A Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 38-9
A fine day; a pleasant chatty Christmas eve with the gentlemen of my staff in the hospital tent of the adjutant: viz., Captain Nye (R. L.), Captain Delay, Lieutenants Turner and Stanley -- all of Thirty-sixth O. V. I. and good men.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 552
Called on the President to commute the punishment of a person condemned to be hung. He at once assented. Is always disposed to mitigate punishment, and to grant favors. Sometimes this is a weakness. As a matter of duty and friendship I mentioned to him the case of Laura Jones, a young lady who was residing in Richmond and there engaged to be married but came up three years ago to attend her sick mother and had been unable to pass through the lines and return. I briefly stated her case and handed a letter from her to Mrs. Welles that he might read. It was a touching appeal from the poor girl, who says truly the years of her youth are passing away. I knew if the President read the letter, Laura would get the pass. I therefore only mentioned some of the general facts. He at once said he would give her a pass. I told him her sympathies were with the Secessionists, and it would be better he should read her own statement. But he declined and said he would let her go; the war had depopulated the country and prevented marriages enough, and if he could do a kindness of this sort he was disposed to, unless I advised otherwise. He wrote a pass and handed me.
The numerous frauds at the Philadelphia Navy Yard are surprising. But it is well to have an exposure, hit where and whom it may.
In the trial of Thurlow Weed at New York for libel on Opdyke, Stover, contractor, convicted of fraud, was a witness and gave strange testimony. Plaintiff's counsel sued for exemplified copy of his conviction. If it comes properly from the court, must grant it, but am not disposed to be mixed up with the parties.
Osborn writes, or telegraphs, denying explicitly and unequivocally any knowledge of the publication of the contraband news respecting the attack on Fort Fisher, and wishes me to communicate to Secretary Stanton. Sent Stanton a copy of the dispatch.
