Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: December 21, 1864

Raining; rained all night.

The following dispatch was received this morning:

"WILMINGTON, December 20th, 1864, 10 A.M.—The head of the enemy's fleet arrived off this port during last night. Over thirty steamers are now assembling, and more are following.—BRAXTON BRAGG."

It may be hoped that Gen. Bragg will do something more than chronicle the successes of the enemy this time. He is nearer to him than when he remained at Augusta; and yet the press could be made reticent on arrivals, etc.

Lieut. Col. Sims, Assistant Quartermaster General, has contracted with the Southern Express Company to transport all the funds of the Quartermaster's Department—hundreds of millions!

Mr. Hunter was with the Secretary this morning, when I laid before the latter Bragg's dispatch. I doubt not it failed to contribute to a mollification of their painful forebodings.

By Northern papers I see President Lincoln disapproves Gen. Dix's order to troops to cross the Canada line in pursuit of raiders. Gold is $45 for one to-day.

The army has no meat this day, the commissaries, etc. have it all, and are speculating with it—it is said. So many high officials are interested, there is no remedy. We are at the mercy of the quartermasters, commissaries, railroad companies, and the Southern Express Company. The President and Secretary either cannot or will not break our shackles.

An official account states the number of houses burnt by the enemy in Atlanta to be 5000!

There is a rumor of another and a formidable raid on Gordonsville. The railroad is now exclusively occupied with the transportation of troops—perhaps for Wilmington. The raid may be a ruse to prevent reinforcements being sent thither.

The Andersonville Report belongs to the Adjutant-General's Office, and therefore has not come back to me.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 360-1

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: November 12, 1862

The heavy firing heard did no execution. Letters from Gen. Lee indicate no battle, unless the enemy should make an egregious blunder. He says he has not half men enough to resist McClellan's advance with his mighty army, and prefers manoeuvring to risking his army. He says three-fourths of our cavalry horses are sick with sore-tongue, and their hoofs are falling off, and the soldiers are not fed and clad as they should be. He urges the sending of supplies to Gordonsville.

And we have news of a simultaneous advance of Northern armies everywhere; and everywhere we have the same story of deficiency of men and provisions. North and south, east and west of us, the enemy is reported advancing.

Soon we shall have every one blaming the Secretary of War for the deficiency of men, and of quartermaster and commissary stores.

The Commissary-General, backed by the Secretary of War, made another effort to-day to obtain the President's permission to trade cotton with “Butler, the Beast.” But the President and Gov. Pettus will manage that little matter without their assistance.

Major Ruffin's (Commissary's Bureau) statement of the alarming prospects ahead, unless provisions be obtained outside of the Confederacy (for cotton), was induced by reports from New Orleans. A man was in the office to-day exhibiting Butler's passport, and making assurances that all the Yankee generals are for sale — for cotton. Butler will make a fortune — and so will some of our great men. Butler says the reason he don't send troops into the interior is that he is afraid we will burn the cotton.

It is reported that a fleet of the enemy's gun-boats are in the James River.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 187-8

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 4, 1862

Lee is making herculean efforts for an “on to Washington,” while the enemy think he merely designs a defense of Richmond. Troops are on the move, all the way from Florida to Gordonsville.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 147-8

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: December 24, 1864

Savannah has been evacuated, without loss to us, except of some stores, which could not be removed. The city was surrendered by its mayor, Arnold by name, and he seems to be worthy of the traitorous name. Our troops marched towards Charleston. Savannah was of little use to us for a year past, it has been so closely blockaded, and its surrender relieves troops which were there for its defence, which may be more useful elsewhere; but the moral effect of its fall is dreadful. The enemy are encouraged, and our people depressed. I never saw them more so.

On the 22d General Rosser beat a division of the enemy near Harrisonburg, and on the 23d General Lomax repulsed and severely punished another, near Gordonsville.

To-morrow is Christmas-day. Our girls and B. have gone to Cedar Hill to spend a week. Our office has suspended its labours, and I am anticipating very quiet holidays. A Christmas present has just been handed me from my sweet young friend S. W. — a box filled with all manner of working materials, which are now so scarce and expensive, with a beautiful mat for my toilet at the bottom of it. Christmas will come on the Sabbath. The “Colonel” is gone, but J. and C. will take their usual Sunday dinner, and I have gotten up a little dessert, because Christmas would not be Christmas without something better than usual; but it is a sad season to me. On last Christmasday our dear R. T. C. was buried; and yesterday I saw my sweet young cousin E. M. die, and to-morrow expect to attend her funeral. Full of brightness and animation, full of Christian hope and charity, she was the life of her father's house, the solace and comfort of her already afflicted mother, one of the many mothers whose first-born has fallen a sacrifice to the war. This interesting girl, with scarcely a warning, has passed into heaven, leaving a blank in the hearts of her family never to be filled.

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 322-3

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, October 22, 1864

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, October 22, 1864.

Since I wrote to you we have received the news of Sheridan's last victory — this time over Longstreet, and with an army that had been surprised and driven in disorder for four miles. This certainly is very remarkable, and if not modified by any later intelligence, will prove one of the greatest feats of the war, and place Sheridan in a position that it will be difficult for any other general to approach. We are now anxiously waiting to hear of his having followed up his success and taken Gordonsville, when he can destroy the railroad from Lynchburg to Richmond, which runs through Gordonsville, and is called the Virginia Central Road. If he does this, he will aid our operations here most materially, because, until that road is destroyed, we cannot compel the evacuation of Richmond, even if we succeed in seizing or breaking the Southside and the Danville Roads. I suppose, in a short time, a movement will be made to get on the Southside Road and complete the investment of Petersburg, from the Appomattox, below to above the town.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 235-6

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, November 20, 1862

Don't you wish you were here in Winchester?  Our headquarters are about one hundred yards from Mr. Graham's, in a large white house back of his, and in full view of our last winter's quarters, where my esposa used to come up and talk with me. Wouldn't it be nice for you to be here again? but I don't know how long you could remain.  . . . I hope to have the privilege of joining in prayer for peace at the time you name, and trust that all our Christian people will; but peace should not be the chief object of prayer in our country. It should aim more especially to implore God's forgiveness of our sins, and make our people a holy people. If we are but His, all things shall work together for the good of our country, and no good thing will He withhold from it.

Monday. If you had been in Winchester when I commenced this letter, you would not be there now, for your husband is no longer there, but his heart is with his little darling. Write to me at Gordonsville, as I hope to be there by Thursday.

SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 366

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, June 26 1862

CAMP NEAR NEW BRIDGE, VA., June 26, 1862.

Everything is quiet on our part of the line. Yesterday Heintzelman, on the left, made an advance, which of course was disputed, resulting in brisk skirmishing, with some loss in killed and wounded on both sides. Heintzelman gained his point, however, and maintained it. We were under arms all day, ready to take part in a general action, if one should result. In the meantime, the batteries opposite to us have been throwing their shot and shell at us, but without inflicting any injury. There is a report that the great "Stonewall" Jackson with his army has left Gordonsville and is coming to Richmond, to turn our right flank. His withdrawal from the Valley of Virginia would indicate weakness of the army here, for he would never leave so important a field, and where he had been doing good service, unless it was a matter of great importance to strengthen their Richmond army. This report, in connection with the fact that they keep up a great drumming and bugling in front of us, to make us believe they are in great force, leads me to doubt whether their army is as strong as represented, and whether they do actually outnumber us, as some believe.

I yesterday rode to the extreme right of our lines, where our cavalry are stationed, watching the whole country, to apprise us of any advance. At one of the outposts, Reynolds, whom I was accompanying on a tour of inspection, sent for the officer in command of the detachment to give him some instructions, when I found he was our old neighbor, Benoni Lockwood, who seemed really glad to see me. The adjutant of the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, now serving with our division, is your relative, Will Biddle. The health of the army, at least of our division, is very fair — some little bilious attacks and diarrhoea, but nothing serious. We have an abundance of good food; no army in the world was ever better supplied and cared for than ours is, all reports to the contrary notwithstanding.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 278-9

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, May 30, 1862

CAMP OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG, May 30, 1862.

It would appear from your letter that the Great Stampede, or, as it is called, the “Third Uprising of the North,” had not reached 2037 Pine Street¹ on the 25th instant, though it must have been in the city at the time. We, who are in the midst of the troubles and dangers, are greatly amused to see the terrible excitement produced in Philadelphia, New York and Boston by the inglorious retreat of Banks before a force but little larger than his own. McDowell has gone to Manassas, and has taken every one with him except our division, who have now the honor of holding Fredericksburg and the railroad from thence to Acquia Creek. Had not the enemy, in anticipation and fear of our advance, destroyed all the bridges on the rail and other roads between this point and a place some ten miles this side of Richmond, thus preventing their advance rapidly, as well as ours, I should look, now that we are reduced to one division (about ten thousand men), to their concentrating and coming down suddenly on us. This is their true game, from which they will perhaps be diverted by McDowell's movements, and their own work — placing obstructions to their rapid movements. At the latest accounts they had all retired from our front and gone back either to Richmond or Gordonsville. Still, they are much more enterprising than we are, and we are on the lookout all the time.

__________

¹ Home of General Meade's family.

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

From Virginia

HARRISONBURG, Va., April 29.

Three thousand rebels, under Edward Johnson, formerly of the Federal army, are posted a few miles from Stanton, but in a position easily accessible to escape in case of Gen. Milroy’s approach.

The most reliable news from Gordonsville, is that there are only four brigades there, not numbering 15,000.  Gen. Longstreet, with his command, has gone to Yorktown.  Should Johnson retire there he will probably reinforce Jackson on the Blue Ridge.

The Richmond Examiner, of the 22d, says, in effect that the destiny of the Confederacy is trembling on the result at Yorktown.  If successful, it will give us six months for carrying out the conscription act, arming and equipping a large army, and launching a fleet of Merrimacs; but if unsuccessful, Virginia is lost.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 2, 1862, p. 1

Specials to the New York Papers

(Special to Times.)

WASHINGTON, March 12. – The statement published that account in council of war in Washington decided by 6 to 4 that the army of the Potomac could not be moved against the enemy at present, is entirely untrue.  The Generals were decisive that an advance was possible and probably the only difference was as to the plan of proposed attack.

A correspondent of the Times who accompanied the advance upon Centreville and Manassas, has just come in.  It was only recently that the retreat of the rebels from Centreville commenced.  General Johnson left Friday morning, General Smith left Saturday afternoon, and Colonel Stewart last Monday, the day our army left camp on the Potomac.  The retreat was conducted very orderly at first.  Nothing was left at Centreville that could be useful to us. – The forts were well planned and very formidable.  They commanded the roads and the fire of not less than a hundred guns could be converged upon any approach to the defences.  The guns were never brought from Manassas to mount the Centreville works.  A railroad track is extended from Manassas to Centreville, and a telegraph line.  The rebel Generals had their headquarters at Centreville.  Although a more convenient and complete military armament could not be found in Washington than they had at Manassas.  The enemy carried off all their heavy guns from Manassas, forty to fifty in number, part of their army marching by turnpike to Warrenton and part to Gordonville, where it is said they would make a stand.  It was announced that the first sign of panic was noticed at Manassas.  A part of Stewart’s rear column was preparing a train to move southward by railroad, when they learned that some excited rebels had set fire to the bridges.  Then they immediately began to burn and destroy and run away in general confusion.  500 barrels of flour were stove in.  Barrels of molasses suffered the same way.  160 barrels or kegs of powder were left, which they did not know how to destroy in safety to themselves.

It seems to be confirmed that the enemy had two weeks since, between 50,000 and 60,000 troops at Centreville and Manassas, and that they had began their retreat last Friday.  Why they went is a mystery, as that number of our men in their fortifications would have been equal to three times their forces assembling there.  They must have feared to trust their men whose enlistments were expiring, or their powder, which many accounts agree, is of very inferior quality.

The strangest news brought by the Times correspondent is, that Gen. Jackson and one half his army, whom Gen. Banks yesterday supposed he was closely watching in Winchester, went down the Railroad to Manassas one week ago, and quietly marched off southward.  The other half are said to be moving southward in the valley of the Shenandoah.

(Special to Tribune.)

The Naval Committee of the Senate agreed today to recommend an appropriation of $25,000 for the construction of furnaces for the manufacture of 20 inch Dahlgreen guns.

The ––– of this evening says we have positive information that the rebels have retreated to as far as Gordonville.  Our scouts have probably penetrated the country as far as Culpepper C. H., 35 miles in the rear of Manassas.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

From Winchester

WINCHESTER, March 12. – Despatches say Gen. Jackson’s force yesterday consisted of Loring’s brigade and several fine batteries and 300 of Ashley’s cavalry, 4,000 in all.  They commenced evacuating the place about sunset last night.  The cavalry were the last to leave.  They departed just before we entered the town.

It is represented that there is a large secession force at Strasburg, and that they intend to make a stand there.  Owing to the state of affairs at Manassas, it is believed that Gen. Jackson will make his way up the Shenandoah valley to the Virginia Central Railroad and thence to Richmond.

Prominent secessionists here say that the rebel forces will make a stand at Gordonsville and that the place is well fortified.

Several prisoners and a small amount of ammunition are all the seizures we have made.

WINCHESTER, VA., March 12. – Gen. Jackson’s forces left here last night.  The forces of Generals Hamilton and Williams are just entering the town.  There was a strong fort one mile out which was evacuated by Gen. Jackson last night.  As the regiments pass along they are cheered and greeted by the citizens and responded to by our officers and men.  The other column of General Banks’ division, which will approach the Berryville route, have not yet arrived.  Not a shot has been fired.

Yesterday the rebels arrested eighty of the most prominent unionists and sent them to Richmond.

Coffee sells at seventy-five cents and one dollar per pound; sugar twenty-five to thirty-seven cents; calico fifty cents.  Other articles are more abundant.

It is represented by the resident friends of the Union that two-thirds of the population of the town and country are loyal, but have been compelled to succumb to the secession pressure so far as the expression of opinion is concerned.

There have been no Richmond papers received here for a week and the citizens are entirely ignorant of the thrilling events which have transpired within that period.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

Chicago Specials

CHICAGO, March 13            . – The Times Washington special of the 12th says our scouts have arrested seven rebel bridge burners caught in the very act near Manassas.

Refugees say the rebels had no very heavy guns mounted in earthworks at Centreville.  The forts all commanded the approaches from Washington.  There were more to prevent our forces coming on either flank.  Ten days ago the rebels had sixty thousand troops there.  The rear guard did not leave until Monday.  Five caissons, five hundred barrels of flour, several hundred barrels molasses were found to-day, all damaged.

The Tribune specials says that it is now estimated that the rebel army has gone to Gordonsville Junction, ninety-three miles from the Potomac and fifty-nine from Manassas.

Our scouts have penetrated as far as Culpepper Court House.  The country around Gordonsville is represented to be well adapted for defences and the railroad connection being vastly more important than those at Manassas.

Evidence before the Committee on the Conduct of the War to-day, shows that the whole rebel army army [sic] opposite less than thirty thousand – fifteen thousand at Centreville and ten thousand and Manassas.

The Committee of investigation at St. Louis has finished sitting the aggregate of claims passed on was upward of ten millions.  The amount was much reduced.

The Naval Committee of the Senate to-day agreed to appropriate twenty five thousand dollars for the manufacture of twenty inch Dalghgreen [sic] guns.  The committee was brought to this conclusion by a telegraph from Assistant Secretary Fox now at Fortress Monroe, urging that orders for their manufacture should be given at once.  He adds that the Monitor can sink the Merrimac but that it will be a terrible struggle.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

From Washington

WASHINGTON, March 12.

Nothing new at Manassas.  The Rebels have retired towards Gordonsville.  They rest with their advance at the Cape Daine river, their camps extending back to Gordonsville, 12 miles.

Telegraphs from Fort Monroe, report all quiet.

Parties who accompanied a rebel flag of truce, admit that the Monitor severely wounded the Merrimac.

Information from Winchester to-night, indicates that our forces are in possession there.  Nothing valuable to our army was found at Manassas

Special to Tribune.

The Naval Committee of the Senate agreed to-day to recommend an appropriation of $250,000 for the construction of furnaces for the manufacture of 20 inch Dahlgren guns.

The Washington Star of this evening says: “He have positive information that the rebels have retreated as far as Gordonsville.  Our scouts have probably penetrated as far as Culpepper Courthouse, 34 miles in the rear of Manassas.

Times’ Dispatch.

The statement published that a council of war in Washington decided 6 to 4 that the army of the Potomac could not be moved against the enemy at present, is entirely untrue.  The Generals were unanimous that an advance would be possible and proper.  The difference was as to the plan of the proposed attack.  A correspondent of the Times, who accompanied the advance upon Centreville and Manassas has just come in.  It was only last Friday that the retreat of the rebels from Centreville commenced.  Gen. Johnston left Friday morning; Gen. Smith left Saturday P. M., and Col. Stewart last Monday – the day our army left camp on the Potomac.

The retreat was conducted very orderly at first.  Nothing was left at Centreville that could be useful to us.

The forts were planked and very formidable.  The commanded the roads, and the fire of not less than a hundred guns could be converged upon any approach to the defenses, but the guns were never brought from Manassas to mount the Centreville forts.  The railroad track extended from Manassas to Centreville, and a telegraph line.

The rebel generals had their headquarters at Centreville altogether, and a more convenient and complete military establishment could not be found in Washington than they had through Manassas.

The enemy continued their retreat as quietly as it began.  They carried off all their heavy guns from Manassas, forty or fifty in number – part of their army marching by turnpike to Warrenton, and part to Gordonsville, where, it is said, they would make a stand.

It was On Monday evening that the first sign of panic was noticed at Manassas.  A part of Stuart’s rear column was preparing a train to move southward by railroad when they learned that some excited rebels had set fire to the bridges ahead of them.  They immediately began to burn and destroy, and run away in general confusion.  Five hundred barrels of flour, piled in ranks, had their heads stove in; barrels of molasses suffered the same way.  Fourteen or fifteen kegs of powder were left, which they did not know how to destroy in safety to themselves.

It seems to be confirmed that the enemy had, for weeks, between 50,000 and 60,000 troops at Centreville and Manassas, and that they only began their retreat last Friday.  What they mean is a mystery, as that number of men in their fortifications would have been equal to three times the force assailing them.

They must have feared to trust those whose enlistment was expiring, or their powder, which many accounts agree is of very inferior quality.

The strongest news brought by the Times’ correspondent is that Gen. Jackson and one half of his army, whom Gen. Banks yesterday supposed he was closely watching in Winchester, wend down the railroad to Manassas one week ago, and quietly marched off southward in the valley of the Shenandoah.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 2