Diary of Corporal John Worrell Northrop: Wednesday, May 11, 1864

A chilly day. Shortly after noon it began to rain and continued all night to which all prisoners are exposed. Drew a little more bread and bacon, not one-half as much as we needed. Prisoners continue to come; report our army south of Fredericksburg having had quite a race with Lee; fighting has been almost continuous. They report we have taken about 4,200 prisoners in the movement. About 2,000 of our men were sent away at 9 a. m., it is supposed, to Danville.

SOURCE: John Worrell Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 45

Diary of Corporal John Worrell Northrop: Saturday, May 14, 1864

Owing to wet clothing and a chill I could not sleep. Before day I was watching the country. At sunrise we were alongside the Little Roanoke River near its confluence with the Staunton. On the bridge over the Staunton several guns were planted, one so near the track that the engine swept it off. This was in expectation of a cavalry raid. We were 46 miles from Danville. Here they retain their slaves and agriculture is in its usual state. As we approach the Dan River the country is admirable, rolling land, rich valleys. The road runs near the river several miles north of Danville, then sight is lost of it. At this point I judge it is larger than the James at Lynchburg. It was after 3 p. m. when we got off the train at Danville and marched through the place, and an hour later when we get into quarters in a large brick building formerly a tobacco warehouse. In passing through we tried to buy bread of women who offered, but guards would not allow. Several buildings were filled with prisoners. As we got near the building we were to enter I saw a man taken at the battle of Chickamauga eight months before, who attempted to talk but was driven away. He was on parole building a high fence back of our prison. We were crowded so thickly into the building that there is scarce room to lie down. While waiting for rations a man passed through with tobacco at $1 in greenbacks and $3 in "Confed" a plug. At length rations came, corn bread and bacon warm. This was new, men had a great relish for it. It was the third day's ration drawn during the nine days we had been prisoners. Danville is four miles from the North Carolina line on the Dan, a branch of the Roanoke River. It has water power for manufacturing, but not developed; lies in a fertile country; the river is boatable to the falls in the Roanoke 40 miles east to Clarkville. Population, 1,900. Close confinement, not being allowed to get faces to windows, although they are heavily barred with strips of oak plank, the nature of our rations and conditions in general, began to work perceptibly on men. Water is insufficient and bad, taken from the Dan, muddy in consequence of rain. Diarrhoea is becoming universal. Bread is coarse, no seasoning.

SOURCE: John Worrell Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 46

Diary of Corporal John Worrell Northrop: Sunday, May 15, 1864

Those who complained bitterly of soldiering in our ranks, are very gloomy and wish they were back to their regiments, saying they never would complain again of the service. We can only hope and wait for events to bring things right. Patience at home in the midst of friends is indispensable. Here deprived of liberty, in the hands of enemies, we cannot dismiss her. If needed then it is needed much more now. Guards frequently fire into windows, on getting a glimpse of someone, scattering glass and splinters in our faces. In going down stairs to the recess three men were bayoneted in the legs and two taken out under threat of being shot for words they had said. Twelve hundred men are in the building on three floors, so crowded that at night it is impossible to move without treading on someone, in the total darkness.

SOURCE: John Worrell Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 46-7

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriet Plummer Bartlett, Sunday, August 28, 1864

Libby Prison (hospital),

Richmond, August 28, 1864.

Dear Mother, — I was sent here from Danville on Friday night. Traveled all night. I arrived here yesterday morning; went to see Colonel Ould. I am “to be sent North by first flag of truce boat,” so I hope I may reach home before this letter does. I am still very feeble and shall not be fit for duty for several months. Nor then for active field duty. I am very well treated here;¹ as Colonel Ould said to me, “Libby is not half so bad as it has been represented.”

Hoping to see you soon,

I am ever your affectionate son,

W. F. Bartlett,

Brigadier General U. S. A.

_______________

¹ He told his mother afterwards that the statement as to good treatment was inserted to meet the contingency of the opening of his letter.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 132

Diary of Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Saturday, August 27, 1864

Of course awake at daylight. Reached Burkesville Junction shortly after, where we lay in the sun all one day, en route to Danville. Reach Richmond at nine. In Richmond at last. Saw Ould. To go North by first flag truce boat!! I wish they knew it at home this night. Meantime I go to “Libby,” and here I am in Libby Prison Hospital, rather comfortably off. Sedgwick, Twentieth, here. I shall sleep to-night after last night's experience. How can I be grateful enough to God for his great mercy.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 131

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriett Plummer Bartlett, August 20, 1864

Prisoners' Hospital,

Danville, Va., August 20, 1864.

My Dear Mother, — I have been very ill with dysentery, consequent on the exposure after the over-exertion and exhaustion on the 30th of July. I am still very weak, but have turned the corner and am out of danger. General Young, C. S. A., came to see me while I was sick, and told me he would see Commissioner Ould when he went to Richmond, and do all that he could to get me sent to our lines (either exchanged or paroled), where I could soon get well, or at least die among friends. I have not heard from him yet. It is more than a week, and as he promised to write as soon as he saw Ould, I fear his letter must have miscarried. I am not so anxious, now that I am getting better. Still I hope we shall be exchanged before long. All the other generals have been exchanged down at Charleston, S. C. I shall probably go to Columbia, S. C, as soon as I get well enough. I had a letter from Captain Amory from there a few days ago. They are much more comfortable there, and want me to come. I shall be glad to get anywhere, where I can have company. I walked out a few steps on crutches to-day for the first time. I am still very weak. I have heard nothing from our lines since our capture. See Richmond paper occasionally. Give my love to all at home, and to Aunt Carry and Uncle Edwin. Send them a copy of this letter if it reaches you.

Much love,

W. F. B.

I hope my horses and all my things got home safely. Dr. White promised to see to it.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 128-9

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriet Plummer Bartlett, August 5, 1864

Prisoners' Hospital,

Danville, Va., August 5, 1864.

Dear Mother, — I will write a few lines in the hope that they may reach you at some time. You know, of course, that I was taken prisoner, that my leg (wooden) was crushed; the man next me was killed by the same shell. I was very much used up and have been very weak from diarrhoea since. I was brought from the prison to this place night before last. The other officers were all sent to Columbia, S. C, yesterday, Colonel Weld and Captain Amory included; so I am all alone I shall be sent there when I am well enough, I suppose. I am in a tent here, and have plenty of fresh air. I hope no blame is given me for the failure of Saturday. I certainly did all in my power. I held the pit with, hardly any force after the rest of the line had been retaken. The rebel flag was within six feet of mine, just the ridge of dirt between, for nearly an hour. It was impossible to withdraw without sacrificing all the men, so I held on as long as possible in hope of reinforcements. The negroes were crowded into the same pit with us when they retreated in such confusion, and we have been treated worse, an account of being taken with them.

I shall get better here, I think. I don't suppose you will be able to send me anything. Tufts, the Massachusetts Agent in Washington, will know. Write me. Not more than one page is allowed, I believe. Address Prisoner of War, Danville, Va. Has George got home yet? And my horses? Take good care of Ned. I made arrangements to have him sent home in case anything happened to me. The Chaplain and Dr. White promised to see to it. If you can send me a small box with something to eat and drink, some tea and coffee, I should like it. It might get to me. Send it through Tufts, Massachusetts Agent in Washington. Send this letter to A. P. I shall not be able to write any more at present. I have Uncle Edwin's “letter” with me, and may be able to use it. Don't be worried about me, I shall be well soon. I shall get a pair of crutches made so I can get about soon. My half-dollar pocket-piece did me good service; brought me eight dollars confederate money, with which I bought a tooth-brush. Milk two dollars qt., etc. My love to all. Let them write me often; some will get through.

Your affectionate son,

W. F. Bartlett.

Brigadier-general U. S. A., Prisoner of War.

(Envelopes, $8. a package.)

There has been some talk of exchanging sick and wounded prisoners. I hope it will be effected.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 121-3

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, August 3, 1864

Hospital outside Danville. The past few days seem like a horrible dream which I can never forget. The misery that I have suffered is more than I can ever tell. I was brought here that night in a filthy cart from the prison. I could not have lived there much longer. I have a straw bed here and slept well last night. Got some milk this morning. Pain in my bowels very bad; very weak. Sent for tooth-brush this morn, by Doctor, $6. Milk, $1 pt. I suppose they are very anxious at home about me. I hope I shall be able to write soon; will try to write up the past few days. Wagon sent for me to go back to prison — said I could not go. Wrote a note to Major Morfit, commanding, telling I was too weak. He let me stay. Took the captain who was here.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 120-1

Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: August 1, 1864

Start this A. M. for Danville. Ride in dirty freight cars. Got to Burkesville Junction about nine. Wait there all day long in heat and dirt. Am getting weaker every hour. Train does not come for us till nearly nine P. M. So full that I had to ride on narrow platform of last car, which was a passenger-car, the conductor's, but he would not let us go in it. So three of us sat on this place all night, — Colonel Marshall, Captain Amory, and I, — the most horrible night I ever passed. Could not sleep, all cramped up. Humane treatment of a prisoner of my rank, sick and wounded. Southern chivalry! Reached Danville early.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 119-20

Diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut: April 7, 1865

Richmond has fallen and I have no heart to write about it. Grant broke through our lines and Sherman cut through them. Stoneman is this side of Danville. They are too many for us. Everything is lost in Richmond, even our archives. Blue black is our horizon. Hood says we shall all be obliged to go West — to Texas, I mean, for our own part of the country will be overrun.

Yes, a solitude and a wild waste it may become, but, as to that, we can rough it in the bush at home.

De Fontaine, in his newspaper, continues the old cry. “Now Richmond is given up,” he says, “it was too heavy a load to carry, and we are stronger than ever.” “Stronger than ever?” Nine-tenths of our army are under ground and where is another army to come from? Will they wait until we grow one?

SOURCES: Mary Boykin Chesnut, Edited by Isabella D. Martin and Myrta Lockett Avary, A Diary From Dixie, p. 377

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, April 24, 1865

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac,

Burksville, Va., April 24, 1865.

I received last evening your letter of the 20th, and was sorry to learn you had so narrowly escaped being mobbed, particularly after the credit you had gained for being the first to display mourning. It certainly was very culpable on the part of –––, after taking upon himself the duty of decorating your house, to neglect it as he did. In such times of excitement some allowance must be made for vulgar and ignorant people, and you must be over careful to avoid giving offense, whether justly or otherwise.

Major Henry's letter is very handsome and very creditable to him; I return it herewith. Some one had sent me an extract from the proceedings of the City Councils, containing Mr. Gratz's letter to Councils, and the resolution accepting Mr. Gratz's gift. No letter came with this printed slip, but it posted me up in the great honor that had been conferred upon me.

Some days ago the Ninth Corps was detached from this army and ordered to Washington — destination unknown (but surmised to be Missouri). Yesterday the Sixth Corps was ordered to Danville, to be there under Sheridan's orders; so that I am reduced to two corps — one the Fifth, guarding the railroad from here to Petersburg; the other, the Second, at this point. I presume one of them will soon be ordered away, probably the Second, to guard the railroad from here to Danville. Being reduced then to one corps, I trust the common sense of my superiors will see the absurdity of calling me the commander of an army, and that I shall be relieved and some other duty assigned me.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 276

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, April 20, 1865

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, April 20, 1865.

I am glad you were so prompt in putting your house in mourning for the loss of the President, and I am also glad to see the press in Philadelphia take so much notice of you.

Lyman,¹ much to my sorrow and regret, leaves me to-day, he considering the destruction of Lee's army as justifying his return home. Lyman is such a good fellow, and has been so intimately connected personally with me, that I feel his separation as the loss of an old and valued friend.

I have had for the last two days as guest at my headquarters Mr. Charles J. Faulkner, late Minister to France. He is on his way to Richmond, to assist in bringing back Virginia to the Union. He acknowledges the Confederacy destroyed, is in favor of a convention of the people to rescind the ordinance of secession, abolish slavery, and ask to be received into the Union. This is in my judgment the best course to be pursued. Mr. Faulkner goes from here to Richmond. We also had yesterday the arrival of a Confederate officer from Danville, who reported the rumored surrender of Johnston, and the flight of Jeff. Davis to the region beyond the Mississippi, from whence I have no doubt he will go into Mexico, and thence to Europe.

_______________

¹ Theodore Lyman, aide-de-camp to General Meade.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 274

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, April 12, 1865

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac,

Burksville, Va., April 12, 1865.

Your indignation at the exaggerated praise given to certain officers, and the ignoring of others, is quite natural. Still, I do not see how this evil is to be remedied, so long as our people and press are constituted as they are now. I have the consciousness that I have fully performed my duty, and have done my full share of the brilliant work just completed; but if the press is determined to ignore this, and the people are determined, after four years' experience of press lying, to believe what the newspapers say, I don't see there is anything for us but to submit and be resigned. Grant I do not consider so criminal; it is partly ignorance and partly selfishness which prevents his being aware of the effects of his acts. With Sheridan it is not so. His determination to absorb the credit of everything done is so manifest as to have attracted the attention of the whole army, and the truth will in time be made known. His conduct towards me has been beneath contempt, and will most assuredly react against him in the minds of all just and fair-minded persons.

Grant has left us on a visit to Richmond and Washington. My army is being assembled around this place, where I presume we will await events in North Carolina, and go to Danville, and farther South if it should be deemed necessary. The prevailing belief is that Johnston, on learning the destruction of Lee's army, will either surrender or disband his. It is hardly probable he will attempt to face Sherman and us.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 271

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, April 7, 1865

Headquarters Army or The Potomac, April 7,1865.

Though late at night, I seize the time to send you a few lines. I don't know when I last heard or wrote to you, for besides the battles and marches of the last ten days, I have been nearly all the time quite under the weather with a severe bilious catarrh, taking an intermittent form. Thanks to my powerful constitution, and the good care of my attending physician, together with the excitement of the scenes I have passed through, I have managed not to give up, but to be on hand each day. It is impossible for me to give you a detailed account of all our operations; suffice it to say, they have been brilliantly successful, beyond the most reasonable expectations. Richmond is ours, and Lee's army flying before us, shattered and demoralized. Yesterday we took over ten thousand prisoners and five generals, among them Lieutenant General Ewell, and Custis Lee, Charley Turnbull's friend. I hear these officers virtually admit the contest over, and say they believe Lee is prepared to surrender, or at least to disband his army.

We are now at Farmville, on the Appomattox, Lee having started for Danville; but we cut him off and forced him back towards Lynchburg. I am happy to tell you that I have reliable intelligence from Confederate officers that neither Mr. Wise¹ nor his sons are dead.

George is quite well, and has, with Lyman and Dr. McParlin, taken good care of me. Major Smyth joined us just as we were moving, and has had a grand opportunity to see everything.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 269-70

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, April 3, 1865

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, April 3, 1865.

The telegraph will have conveyed to you, long before this reaches you, the joyful intelligence that Petersburg and Richmond have fallen, and that Lee, broken and dispirited, has retreated towards Lynchburg and Danville. We have had three glorious days, the fighting not so severe as much we have done before, but in the results. We are now moving after Lee, and if we are successful in striking him another blow before he can rally his troops, I think the Confederacy will be at an end.

George¹ is quite well, having left his uncle at City Point, where it was deemed advisable he should stop for awhile. Willie² was doing very well, and is not considered in any danger.

Markoe Bache arrived this morning just in time to march into Petersburg with us.

The strong demonstration we made on Lee's right caused him so to attenuate his lines that, notwithstanding their strength, we broke through his left, and poured in such a force that he had to fly to save himself. He was fortunate in keeping us out of the town till dark, which enabled him to get over the Appomattox what remained of his army. The last estimate of our prisoners amounted to fifteen thousand, and deserters and stragglers are being picked up by the thousands. Let us hope the war will soon be over.

_______________

¹ Son of General Meade.

² Brother of Mrs. Meade.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 269

Interesting News from Richmond

WASHINGTON, May 5.

The following statement, dated yesterday on the Rappahannock, has reached Washington:

A colored many came in to-day from the other side of the river, and represented himself as Jeff. Davis’ coachman.  From an examination of him this is probably true.  He reports scraps of conversation, overheard whilst driving Mr. and Mrs. Davis in the carriage, and between Mr. Davis and those who came to see him.  Mr. Davis and Gen. J. E. Johnson [sic] had a heated discussion about the latter’s retreat from Manassas:– Davis disapproved of it and ordered Johnson to make a stand at Gordonsville, Johnson declined to do this, and offered to resign, but he was indisposed to go to Yorktown.  Mrs. Davis said she thought it was very bad in Johnson to be unwilling to help General Magruder.

The coachman overheard a conversation between Johnson and Mrs. Davis, the former saying if he had not left Manassas McClellan would have come out against him, and cut him all to pieces.  Mrs. Davis read an article in the Examiner to her husband, stating that it was part of the Yankees’ plans that Gens. Banks and McDowell were to form a junction in Louisa or Caroline county, and move down on Richmond.  Davis remarked that he thought that was so, but his generals would take care of them.

The coachman represent that Mrs. Davis said that the Confederacy was about played out and that if N. O. was really taken, she had no longer any interest in the matter, as all she had was there; if that was a great pity that they had ever attempted to hold Virginia and other non-cotton growing States; and that she said to Mrs. Dr. Gwinn, daughter of Col. Jas. Taylor, U. S. commissary of subsistence, who was very anxious to get to Washington, where she has one of her children, not to give herself any trouble, but only to stay where she was and when the Yankees came to Richmond she should go.

The coachman says that Mr. and Mrs. Davis have all their books, clothing and pictures packed, ready to move off.  That there is much outspoken Union feeling in Richmond; That having been a waiter in a hotel there, he knows all the Union men of the place, and that the Yankees are looked at with more pleasure by the whites than even the colored people.

Confederate money is not taken when it can be avoided.  Mrs. Davis herself was refused when she offered a ten dollar Confederate note.

Many of the Richmond people which the Union troop[s to come as they are half starved.  The bank and government property is all packed up for removal to Danville, near the N. C. line.  Gen. Johnson did not think they would succeed at Yorktown.  The coachman overheard the rebel officers say if they fail at Yorktown and New Orleans they would leave Virginia.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1