Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, Sunday, February 15, 1863

10 Oc I spoke to the contrabands from 1st Epistle General of Peter 1st ch 24 & 25 v. Our Chaplain closed after me we had a good time services out dores 1 Oc I spoke to them from Rev 20th ch 12th v it was the funeral of a black man I presented the alter & over 30 came forward & many ware converted it was a time of great power Evening I spoke to them again out dores, from Matthew 11th 28 & 29 & 30 I invited mourners & near 40 came to the alter & many ware made happy in a Saviours Love, it was a time of great power the behaviour of the soldiers present was excellent, thank God. 4 Oc I was on Dress perade In the afternoon I took a little Boy & Girl Jessey Ann & John Turner Brother & sister, with straight hare & hazel eyes & skin nearly white, live specimens of the boasted institution of the south. I took them about amongst our officers & men, some of whom justify the cruel thing. These ware the chattles of John Woodburn of Madison Ia.¹² & his father old John Woodburn deceased the wench sais is father to the little boy & she sais he promised to free the child, but he was late slave to his half brother

_______________

¹² "Ia." is the old abbreviation for Indiana,

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 109-10

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, April 3, 1863

Two funerals to-day. We have quite a graveyard started. From all I can hear, by talking with soldiers of other regiments, none of them have been hit as hard as the 128th New York. And it all comes from our being stuffed into the hold of the Arago a month before we sailed. A big responsibility rests somewhere.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 95

Diary of Edward Bates, Monday, July 18, 1859

Attended the funeral of James. H. Bacon (who died suddenly Saturday night) at the Union Presbyterian church. My wife, and daughter Matilda attended the body to Bellefontaine Cemetery, but I did not, having business at the Office.

. . .

Several persons lately have died of sun stroke [.]

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 33

Diary of Edward Bates, Tuesday, July 19, 1859

Attended the funeral of Mrs. Asa Wilgus from Christ's Church to Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Very hot and dusty, but a brisk breese.

See hack 6. pages. — This evening I recd, the National Intelligencer of the 16th. July, which contains a long extract from a recent letter of Mr. Cass,³¹ Secy, of State, to our Minister at Berlin,³² about the liability of naturalized citizens to compulsory service in the army of their native country, if they go back voluntarily.

In this letter Mr. Cass abandons the ground taken in his letters to LeCle[r]c³³ (a frenchman at Memphis) and Hoffer³⁴ (a German at Cinc[inna]ti.). He now holds the equality in this respect, of native and naturalised Citizens; but does it in a confused and clumsy way, as if the change in his opinion had been wrought rather by fear of the consequences, than conviction of the right.

I was grieved to see the Nat:[ional] Intel:[ligencer] support Mr. Cass' first view, and now in its comments³⁵ on his last letter (which is open to the sharpest criticism) refusing to turn with Mr. C[ass].

I have prepared a long letter (Private) to Mr. Jas. C. Welling,³⁶ assistant editor of the Nat:[ional] Intel[ligence]r., giving my views on the subject and placing the question, I think, on impregnable grounds.

Note³⁷ — Mr. Welling answered me in a very friendly letter of 5 sheets — making a very good argument, I think against our naturalization laws, but (these laws being in force) no argument at all against our duty to protect the citizanes [sic] we have made.

I have replied in the most friendly spirit, but, I think, clinching the argument on my side[.]

["KENTUCKY TO BE STRUCK FROM THE ROLL OF SOUTHERN STATES. — The Charleston Mercury says that 'if the recent meetings for the reception of Senator CRITTENDEN in Kentucky, are a reflex of the feelings and opinions of the people of that State, she may as well be stricken from the roll of Southern States.'

 

"Very well; let Kentucky be stricken from the roll of the Southern States, and let the rest of the slaveholding States that will not learn political lessons from the South Carolina Gamaliels, be stricken out too. But how much of the South will then be left?"]

_______________

³¹ Supra, June 8, 1859, note 83.

³² These instructions to the American Minister to Prussia Joseph A. Wright, July 8, 1859, may be found in the archives of the State Department.

³³ See supra, June 8, 1859.

³⁴ Secretary of State Cass to Mr. Hoffer of Cincinnati, June 14, 1859, in the archives of the State Department.

³⁵ July 16, 1859.

³⁶ Supra, June 20, 1859, note 3.

³⁷ Inserted later.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 33-4

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Thursday, February 14, 1861

This day has passed off much as others have of late, nothing very startling having occured. J C Wright, a member of the “Peace Convention” from Ohio, died yesterday. His funeral took place in the Hall of the Convention today. We attended the Musical soire of Miss Douglass this evening. A great crowd there and some of the notables of this City, some Members of the Cabinet, some M.C.^s, some Artists &c. Music was fine, refreshments very nice. The crowd very genteel but quite too large. Got home ¼^th past 11 o'clock but left the crowd there.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 18.

Diary of Elvira J. Powers, Wednesday, May 4, 1864

A death in the house. Little Clark, the only son of Rev. E. P. Smith, aged three and a half years, died last night. It is a sad affliction. The disease, decline from measles. The funeral service was held in the parlor, this P. M., by Rev. Mr. Allen. His body was embalmed and is to be sent to the Sabbath School of the parish, over which Mr. S. presided, at Pepperill, Massachusetts.

To me it seems strangely touching this trusting of the precious remains to the chances of travel, and so many miles away, to land in the throng of sad little faces to whose questioning glances he can perchance respond

"From the land o' the leal."

He was laid out in a child's military suit of light blue, with star-flowers, snow-drops, rose-buds, and leaves of the rose geranium. It was a sweetly sacred bequest to the Sabbath School.

SOURCE: Elvira J. Powers, Hospital Pencillings: Being a Diary While in Jefferson General Hospital, Jeffersonville, Ind., and Others at Nashville, Tennessee, as Matron and Visitor, p. 72

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, January 1, 1863

The Arago did call for our mail and the body of Lieutenant Sterling was put on board to go to his family in Poughkeepsie. We gave the old ship three cheers, and then some one sang out three cheers for the lice you gave us. John Van Hoovenburg died last night. We made a box for him out of such boards as we could find. Though we did our best, his bare feet showed through the cracks. But that made no difference to poor Johnnie. The chaplain was with him to the end, says he was happy and ready to go. This is how we spend our New Year's day. We wish each other a happy New Year though just as if we were home and had a good prospect of one. After the funeral Walter Loucks and I went up the river quite a distance, so far it seemed as if our legs would not carry us back. Negro huts are scattered along. I suppose white people cannot live here and so the darkeys have it all. Some cultivate patches of ground and in one garden we saw peas in bloom. We bought a loaf of bread and a bottle of molasses of an old woman, and though the bread was not what it might have been, it tasted good. There are some orange trees, but no oranges. The darkies say they will blossom in about a month. A man in Company E, a sort of poet, who was always writing songs for the boys to sing, was cutting wood to-day and the axe flew off the handle and cut the whole four fingers from the right hand. There were no witnesses and some there are who say he did it so as to get a discharge. The doctor has dressed the hand and he is going about in great pain just now.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 78

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 10, 1862

8 Oc I went down into the citty to the government undertaker & made arrangements & arranged to have him burry Corporal Butler D Bailey at 2 Oc. I got the Col to releave our Company from duty that all mite escorte the corps to the graveyard. evening our Chaplain preached to the paroled prisoners. I exorted, text, thou shalt not go with the multitude to do evil we had a good time it turned it into a speaking meeting & there was great liberty

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne: December 26, 1862

Leroy was buried early this morning. My part in it was to form the company and march it by the left flank to the grave. For fear this may not be plain I will add, that the captain and orderly are always at the right of the line when the company is in line for any purpose and that end of the line is the right flank. The tallest men are on the right also and so on down to the shortest, which is Will Hamilton and Charles Tweedy, who are on the left, or the left flank as it is called. This arrangement brings the officers in the rear going to the grave, but when all is over the captain takes command and marches the company back by the right. I got through without a break and feel as if I was an old soldier instead of a new one. But it is a solemn affair. Leroy was a favorite with us and his death and this, our first military funeral, has had a quieting effect on all. Last night the chaplain and some officers, good singers all, came in and we almost raised the roof singing patriotic songs. Speeches were made and we ended up with three cheers that must have waked the alligators out in the swamp. Sweet potatoes and other things are beginning to come in and as they sell for most nothing we are living high. But we are in bad shape as a whole. Mumps have appeared and twenty-four new cases were found to-day. Colonel Smith, our lieutenant-colonel, has been up the river to try and find out if better quarters could not be had and has not succeeded. He is mad clear through, and when asked where we were to go, said to hell, for all he could find out.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 76-7

Diary of Lucy Larcom, May 22, 1861

They write to me of her funeral, of the white flowers beside her head, and of her own lilies of the valley strewn over her in the grave by one who knew how she loved them. Everything that would have made her happy, had her eyes been open to see, and her ears to hear. They sang the hymns she loved, "Rock of Ages," and "I would not live alway," and "Thy will be done." And my dear friend is free!—her soul has blossomed into heavenly light! I told her once that this book was for only her to see; I do not like my thoughts when I think them for myself alone; and there is no other friend who would care as she cared. Will she read them now?

SOURCE: Daniel Dulany Addison, “Lucy Larcom: Life, Letters, and Diary,” p. 92

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, November 30, 1862

11 Oc Am Mullen & I attended church at MEC text Simon lovest thou me 3 Oc attended the funeral of Wesly Harison text Eclezeastes 12th 5th, at MEC also evening at same ch. text Prov 3rd 17th all by Rev TP Davis I spent an hour at BI Wests. staid the night with A H Mullen

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 96

Diary of Corporal Lawrence Van Alstyne: Monday, December 8, 1862

The storm is over and it is warm and pleasant. Lieutenant Sterling's funeral sermon was preached this morning on the quarter-deck. On account of lack of room only his company and the commissioned officers attended. His body will be sent home when we land.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 69

Diary of Corporal Lawrence Van Alstyne: December 12, 1862

At daylight Company B was called on deck and made to form in a three-sided square, the open side towards the rail. Poor Haight was then brought up in a rough box, which was set across the rail, the most of it projecting over the water, the end towards us being fastened down by a rope fastened to an iron on the deck. The chaplain made a prayer, and just as the sun rose out of the water the rope was slipped off, and the box plunged down into the water. I should have said that the engines were stopped and except for the chaplain's words the utmost silence prevailed. I shall never forget this, my first sight of a burial at sea. It has all been so sudden, and so unexpected. He was only sick a few days. Never complained no matter what came, but always was foremost in any fun that can be got out of a life like this. It was at his father's house I took tea when home on my five day furlough, and I am glad I could give his mother such a good account of him. It is hard for us to understand why Lieutenant Sterling's body can be kept for shipment home, while that of Haight could not.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 71

Accidental Death to a Member of the Rebel President’s Family.

(From the Richmond Examiner, May 2.)

The President and his family have just met with a great affliction in the sudden and violent death of Joseph E. Davis, second son of the President, about four years old. He fell from the east portico on Saturday afternoon, between three and four o’clock, a distance of fifteen feet, fracturing his hip and injuring his head. Mr. Davis and his wife were absent from the mansion at the time of the accident, and some minutes must have elapsed before the facts of the accident and the discovery of the condition of the child were made known by the servant. The sufferer was taken into the nursery, and a messenger despatched in haste for the President and his lady. Drs. Peticolas, Conway and Garnett, the family physicians successively came in and applied their skill without avail. The child was insensible when picked up and never recovered consciousness, dying in about three quarters of an hour later been taken up by the servant and carried into the house. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at five o’clock from St. Paul’s church, the Rev. Dr. Minnegerode officiating. The occasion called forth a large throng of sympathizing friends, and the service were of the most affecting character. The interment took place at Hollywood, where the President’s family have a vault.

SOURCE: “Accidental Death to a Member of the Rebel President’s Family,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio, Thursday Morning, May 12, 1864, p. 1, col. 8

The Funeral of Little Joseph.

The accident which has brought mourning to the hearthstone of President Davis is sad indeed, and the afflicted family will have the sincere sympathy of the entire people. This blow, added to his responsible position, must weigh heavily upon Mr. Davis, but he will doubtless be consoled by the reflection that little Joseph has been transplanted to a fairer and better clime, where wars and strifes are unknown, and where anthems of praise ever ascend to the Great Source of all perfection. The earthly “mansion” may be clothed in the habiliments of mourning and each member of the family circle will feel an aching void whenever the little prattler is missed from the group, but Joseph has a mansion “not built with hands eternal in the heavens.”

Of the death and funeral of this interesting little boy the Enquirer says:

“The afflicting dispensation of Providence which removed from this world a beautiful child of President Davis, has created a void never to be filled, but the deep sympathy of a whole country with the afflicted family may in some measure mitigate their grief. The funeral of little JOSEPH DAVIS on Sunday last, from St. Paul’s Church, was attended by one of the largest gatherings of the citizens of Richmond that any of the events of the last three years have called together. It was a tender and silent expression of the sympathy and regard of a large community for the President and his family. The whole country will join in condoling with the distressed family.”

SOURCE: “The Funeral of Little Joseph,” The Daily Progress, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 4, 1864, p. 2, Col. 3

The Telegraph announced a few days since . . .

. . . the afflicting dispensation of Providence which removed from this world a beautiful child of President Davis. It has created a void never to be filled, but the deep sympathy of a whole country with the afflicted family may in some measure mitigate their grief. We learn from the Richmond papers that the funeral of little Joseph Davis on Sunday last, from St. Paul’s church, was attended by one of the largest gathering of the citizens of Richmond that any of the events of the last three years have called together.—It was a tender and silent expression of the sympathy and regard of a large community for the President and his family. The whole country will join in condoling with the distressed family.

SOURCE: “The Telegraph announced a few days since . . .,” The Daily Confederate, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, May 4, 1864, p. 2, col. 2

Fatal Accident—A Son of President Davis Killed by a Fall

A most distressing accident occurred at the President’s Mansion on Saturday afternoon last. About 5 o’clock Joseph E. Davis, about four years old, son of President Davis, who had been playing about the yard during the earlier part of the evening, was missed, when search was instituted, and in a short time he was found lying in an insensible condition on the brick area below the east portico of the residence, with his left thigh broken and a severe contusion on his forehead. When discovered, an elder son of the President, named Jefferson, was kneeling by, endeavoring in the most affectionate manner to make him speak, but apparently not realizing the reason which prevented his brother from doing so. As soon as possible Drs. Wellford, Haxall, Conway, and Peticolas, were in attendance; but all their efforts proved ineffectual, and the little fellow, after an hour’s suffering, during which time he was perfectly insensible, breathed his last. The exact cause of the unfortunate accident is not known; but as there was a step-ladder leading from the area in the yard to the porch above, a distance of from fifteen to twenty feet, it is conjectured that he was standing near its top, and losing his balance, fell over into the yard below. The funeral took place at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, from St. Paul’s Church. A large crowd of sympathizing friends were in attendance, and the ceremonies of the occasion were of the most impressive.

SOURCE: “Fatal Accident,” Daily Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, Monday Morning, May 2, 1864, p. 1, col. 6

Diary of Gideon Welles, Sunday, July 13, 1862

On Sunday, the 13th of July, 1862, President Lincoln invited me to accompany him in his carriage to the funeral of an infant child of Mr. Stanton. Secretary Seward and Mrs. Frederick Seward were also in the carriage. Mr. Stanton occupied at that time for a summer residence the house of a naval officer, I think Hazard, some two or three miles west, or northwest, of Georgetown. It was on this occasion and on this ride that he first mentioned to Mr. Seward and myself the subject of emancipating the slaves by proclamation in case the Rebels did not cease to persist in their war on the Government and the Union, of which he saw no evidence. He dwelt earnestly on the gravity, importance, and delicacy of the movement, said he had given it much thought and had about come to the conclusion that it was a military necessity absolutely essential for the salvation of the Union, that we must free the slaves or be ourselves subdued, etc., etc.

This was, he said, the first occasion when he had mentioned the subject to any one, and wished us to frankly state how the proposition struck us. Mr. Seward said the subject involved consequences so vast and momentous that he should wish to bestow on it mature reflection before giving a decisive answer, but his present opinion inclined to the measure as justifiable, and perhaps he might say expedient and necessary. These were also my views. Two or three times on that ride the subject, which was of course an absorbing one for each and all, was adverted to, and before separating the President desired us to give the question special and deliberate attention, for he was earnest in the conviction that something must be done. It was a new departure for the President, for until this time, in all our previous interviews, whenever the question of emancipation or the mitigation of slavery had been in any way alluded to, he had been prompt and emphatic in denouncing any interference by the General Government with the subject. This was, I think, the sentiment of every member of the Cabinet, all of whom, including the President, considered it a local, domestic question appertaining to the States respectively, who had never parted with their authority over it. But the reverses before Richmond, and the formidable power and dimensions of the insurrection, which extended through all the Slave States, and had combined most of them in a confederacy to destroy the Union, impelled the Administration to adopt extraordinary measures to preserve the national existence. The slaves, if not armed and disciplined, were in the service of those who were, not only as field laborers and producers, but thousands of them were in attendance upon the armies in the field, employed as waiters and teamsters, and the fortifications and intrenchments were constructed by them.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 70-1

Diary of Edward Bates, Monday, February 24, 1862

Late last night, Mr. Newton⁴ came in to tell me that the Prest had just reed, a telegram to the effect that Columbus was evacuated.⁵ This morning the story is contradicted by another telegram. And now Gen McDowell⁶ tells me that Com[modor]e. Foote⁷ has made a reconnoisance [sic] in one of his boats, and finds a very strong fort there. Still, McDowell says that our affairs look bright and well — No certain news today from Nashville⁸ or Savanna[h] .⁹

I am anxious about Norfolk. The rumor is that we are about to attack Craney Island¹⁰ — may be so, but I think if the attack is made at all, it will be a feint, to draw attention while we assail Suffolk.¹¹ Possibly it may be good policy to risk something in assailing Norfolk before the Merrimack is ready to make a desperate effort to escape.

This afternoon, tho' very unwell, attended the funeral of Willie Lincoln — Note. The Depts. closed today on a/c of the funeral.

The morning was gusty, with several rain storms — cleared off in the afternoon, with very high wind. Note. Stepping out of my own door to speak to Klopfer,¹² with my loose gown on, I was laterally, blown away! Seised by the gust, I had to run before it, for fear of falling, till I caught hold of the boxing of a tree — then came my servant Tom¹³ and helped me in.

_______________

⁴ See supra, Jan. 5, 1862, note 12.

⁵ Columbus, Kentucky, was a Confederate stronghold and railroad terminus on the Mississippi, twelve miles below Cairo. The capture of Fort Henry on February 6 and of Fort Donelson on February 16 forced the evacuation of Columbus.

⁶ Supra, Nov. 16, 1861, note 53.

⁷ Supra, Feb. 17, 1862, note 77.

⁸ Nashville fell February 26, 1862.

⁹ Supra, Feb. 17, 1862, note 83.

¹⁰ Near the mouth of the James River.

¹¹ A town «about eighteen miles southwest of Norfolk on the Nansemond River. It controlled Norfolk's rail connections with the Confederacy.

¹² Henry A. Klopfer, head messenger in the Attorney-General's Office.

¹³ Tom Hare who had come from Missouri with Mr. Bates.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 236

Diary of Senator Orville Hickman Browning, Monday, February 24, 1862

The funeral of the Presidents son took place today at 2 P M in the East Room-Rev Dr Gurley officiating

After the services the body was taken to the cemetery at Georgetown to be deposited in Mr Carroll's vault, and left, for the time being, in the little chapel in the cemetary The President, his son Robert, Senator Trumbull & myself rode out in the Presidents carriage After return from Cemetery I brought Emma home to Mrs Carters to dinner—Found Mrs Col Symington of Pittsburgh there. After tea I returned to the Presidents and Mrs B & I sat up with Tad till after 2 O'clock in the morning.

SOURCE: The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. 1, p. 531