Showing posts with label Lexington MO. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lexington MO. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Wednesday, September 25, 1861

Morning Drill. near 20 on the sick list this morning Bad news from Mo. Lexington has been taken by Gen Price. Private Hobbs in Guard House at Cairo for sleeping on his Post, last night while guarding prisoners. 4 prisoners brought in this evening—from near Norfolk Mo. taken after a pretty hard fight—in which 12 of the Enemy were killed—and a lot of arms taken, One of the prisoners has a pretty severe cut across the shoulder.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 227

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Major-General Henry W. Halleck to Brigadier-General William T. Sherman, December 18, 1861

SAINT LOUIS, December 18, 1861.
Brig. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN,  Lancaster, Ohio:

MY DEAR GENERAL: Yours of the 12th* was received a day or two ago, but was mislaid for the moment among private papers, or I should have answered sooner. The newspaper attacks are certainly shameless and scandalous, but I cannot agree with you that they have us in their power “to destroy us as they please.” I certainly get my share of abuse, but it will not disturb me.

Your movement of the troops was not countermanded by me because I thought it an unwise one in itself, but because I was not then ready for it. I had better information of Price's movements than you had, and I had no apprehension of an attack. I intended to concentrate the forces on that line, but I wished the movement delayed until I could determine on a better position. After receiving Lieutenant-Colonel McPherson's report I made precisely the location you had ordered. I was desirous at the time not to prevent the advance of Price by any movement on our part, hoping that he would move on Lexington, but finding that he had determined to remain at Osceola for some time at least, I made the movement you proposed. As you could not know my plans, you and others may have misconstrued the reason of my countermanding your orders.

I deem it my duty, however, to say to you, general, in all frankness and kindness, that remarks made by you, both at Sedalia and in this city (if I am correctly informed), about our defenseless condition and the probability that the enemy would take this city, have led to unfair and harsh comments by those who did not know. I say this merely to put you on your guard in future.

I hope to see you well enough for duty soon. Our reorganization goes on slowly, but we will effect it in time.

Yours, truly,
H. W. HALLECK.
_______________

* See Appendix, p. 819.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 8 (Serial No. 8), p. 445-6