Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: November 24, 1862

Fredericksburg not shelled yet; but the women and children are flying hither. The enemy fired on a train of women and children yesterday, supposing the cars (baggage) were conveying military stores. The Northern press says Burnside is determined to force his way, directly from the Rappahannock to Richmond, by virtue of superior numbers. The thing Lee desires him to attempt.

The enemy are landing troops at Newport News, and we shall soon hear of gun-boats and transports in the James River. But no one is dismayed. We have supped on horrors so long, that danger now is an accustomed condiment. Blood will flow in torrents, and God will award the victory.

Another letter from Gen. Whiting says there is every reason to suppose that Wilmington will be attacked immediately, and if reinforcements (10,000) be not sent him, the place cannot be defended against a land assault. Nor is this all: for if the city falls, with the present force only to defend it, none of our men can escape. There is no repose for us!

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 195-6

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 3, 1861

The Secretary arrived to-day, sick; and was accompanied by Major Tyler, himself unwell. And troops are beginning to arrive in considerable numbers. The precincts of the city will soon be a series of encampments. The regiments are drilled here, and these mostly forwarded to Manassas, where a battle must soon occur, if the enemy, now in overwhelming numbers, should advance. The Northern papers say the Yankee army will celebrate the 4th of July in Richmond. Nous verrons. But no doubt hostilities have commenced. We have accounts of frightful massacres in Missouri, by German mercenaries. Hampton has been occupied by the enemy, a detachment having been sent from Fortress Monroe for that purpose. They also hold Newport News on the Peninsula. There are rumors of a fight at Philippi. One Col. Potterfield was surprised. If this be so, there is no excuse for him. I think the President will make short work of incompetent commanders. Now a blunder is worse than a crime.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 48

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, March 11, 1862

CAMP AT HUNTER'S MILLS, VA., March 11, 1862.

I send you a few hasty lines to tell you where we are, and to relieve the anxiety which you will doubtless have from the reports in the papers. Yesterday at 11 A. M. we received orders to march. At 1 P. M. we got off, and marched fifteen miles, arriving at this point about 8 P. M. The whole army has advanced, and we are on the extreme right, distant about twelve miles from Centreville. We presumed when starting yesterday that we would have a brush in a day or two with the enemy. But this morning we hear that McDowell's Division, that advanced on Centreville, finding it was evacuated, and hearing that they had evacuated Manassas, continued on and is now in possession of their lately vaunted impregnable stronghold. Thus the prospects of another Bull Run battle are dissipated — unless they have, as the French say, only reculer pour mieux sauter.

We hear to-day of the disastrous naval conflict at Newport News.¹ This is a very bad business, and shows the superior enterprise of our enemies. There is no reason we should not have had the Cumberland iron-clad, as the Merrimac has been prepared by them. The loss of two such vessels as the Cumberland and the Congress, two of our finest frigates, is a very serious blow, not only to our material interests, but to our pride and naval forces.

I have not time to write you much beyond the fact that I am well. I have been in the saddle all day, posting troops and pickets, and making all the preparations to meet the enemy, though, from the reports in existence and believed, there is not much probability of his showing himself about here.

__________

¹ Destruction of the gun-boats Cumberland and Congress by the Confederate iron-clad Merrimac.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 251

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, May 8, A. M.

The iron-clad ship-of-war Galena, and gunboats Arostook and Port Royal started up the James River this morning.  They have passed Dog’s Point battery, and heavy firing has been heard up the river since their departure.  They will cut off the river communication with the rebels south of the Chickamacomico.  Instantly after the gunboats started the rebel tug J. B. White came out in front of Newport News, having left Norfolk this morning with a crew and two citizens on board, on a mission to Tannery Point.  By previous consent, they ran over to Newport News and surrendered to Gen. Mansfield.

Sewall’s Point is being evacuated.  The Monitor, Naugatuck and several gunboats have just left for Sewall’s Point.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, May 6.

The flag of truce which went up James river yesterday morning to receive released prisoners, returned to-day, not having accomplished its object.  This is the third time Gen. Wool has been deceived about the release of these prisoners.

The Jamestown and Yorktown passed down the river, past the flag of truce, at half past one this morning, bound for Norfolk.

The gunboat Teaser came alongside yesterday P. M., to ascertain the object of the flag of truce.  The Teaser is armed with a 100-pounder Parrott gun.  All the officers of the Teaser, with one exception were drunk.

A dispatch was received here this morning from Newport News, that the Merrimac was in sight.  The Monitor, &c., all got ready but the Merrimac has not yet been seen here.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, May 8, 1862, p. 1

From Fortress Monroe

FT. MONROE, March 31. – All quiet here to-day.

Capt. Zroxer of the Ӕronautical Department makes a balloon reconnoissance this afternoon.  This is the first made since last summer.

A boat containing five well known secessionists was captured on the James river about Newport News Yesterday, transporting produce and stores for the rebel army.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 4

From Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, April 3. – The weather to-day is clear and pleasant.  Everything is progressing in the most satisfactory manner.

The rebels fired several shots from Sewall’s Point last night at the transports in the harbor, some of the shells falling within fifty feet of a vessel loaded with horses.

A reconnoissance was made from Newport News to Watt’s creek, a distance of 9 miles.  The enemy appeared 3,000 strong, and opened with cannon on our forces, but their balls passed entirely over them.  Our batteries were immediately got in position, and we opened fire on the rebels, when their entire force broke and fled, fording the creek in great confusion, but keeping out of range.  The object of the reconnoissance being accomplished, the troops returned.

The whole country through which our troops passed was formerly the garden spot of Virginia.  It is perfectly devastated and but one house was left standing.  The house, fences and trees have been burned by retreating rebels.

There are no signs of the Merrimac yet, and from her long delay, the opinion is gaining ground that she will not come out.  She has now a fine field to operate in, if she should triumph over the Monitor, and if she should fail to come now it is thought she is afraid to run any further risks.

An officer of the Seminole says he read a Savannah paper of the 23d inst., which acknowledges a terrible rebel defeat at Pea Ridge.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 3

A letter from Fortress Monroe states . . .

. . . that it is ascertained that the rebels intended to attack our camp at Newport News simultaneously with the assault of the Virginia on the fleet and were approaching under Magruder, some 10,000 strong, but the swollen creeks prevented their approach.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 2

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, April 3.

The weather today is clear and pleasant, and everything is progressing in most satisfactory manner.

The rebels fired several shots from Sewall’s Point last night, at the transports in the harbor, some of the shells falling within fifty feet of a vessel loaded with horses.

A reconnoisance was made from Newport News to Watts creek, a distance of nine miles.  The enemy appeared 3,000 strong, and opened on our forces with cannon, but their balls passed entirely over them.  Our batteries were immediately got in position and opened fire on the rebels, when their entire force broke and fled across the creek in great confusion.  The object of the reconnoisance being accomplished the troops returned.

The whole country through which our troops passed was formerly the garden spot but is now perfectly devastated.  But one house was left standing.  The houses, fences and trees have been burned by the retreating rebels.

There are no signs of the Merrimac yet, and from her long delay the opinion is gaining ground that she will not come out.  She has now a fine field to operate on, if she triumphs over the Monitor; and if she fails to come now, it is thought she is afraid to run any risks.

An officer of the Seminole says he read a Savannah paper of the 23d inst., which acknowledges the terrible rebel defeat at Pea Ridge.

A second reconnoisance was also made to Big Bethel.  The enemy was found to have returned and occupied the earthworks in force.  No seeing our scouts they threw shells into the woods occupied by our troops previous to their advance, but they were unoccupied, and no damages was done.

The steamers conveying troops to Newport News were repeatedly fired into from Sewall’s point, and also by a rebel gunboat this p.m.  No injury was sustained, as far as we can learn.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 4, 1862, p. 1

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, March 29.

On Friday evening the rebels threw a ball form one of the rifled guns at Sewall’s Point, which came within 300 yards of the shipping in the upper roadstead.

The Lincoln gun has been mounted, and this morning was tried in order to test the carriage.  Only ten shots were fired.  The second was a splendid ricochet shot – the immense ball, weighing 437 lbs., after making three plunges and renewed flights finally sunk away off near Sewall’s Point.  If the Merrimac can stand ten of these Lincoln pills, as they are called here, she is proof against all appliances of modern gunnery.

There were some signs of activity to-day towards Norfolk.  A steam tug came down to Sewall’s Point, and the smoke from a large vessel could be seen off above Craney Island.  A propeller, apparently a gunboat, also came down the James river within about three miles of Newport News, and after reconnoitering apparently returned up the river.

The present high wind and low water, however forbids all expectation of the approach of the Merrimac until the storm is over.

NEW YORK, March 31.

No News in specials this morning.

The Times has the following:  Capt. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, has returned to-day from a visit to Fort Monroe.  He reports everything quiet there.  The population has increased lately at the fort by persons drawn thither by a desire to see the approaching duel between the Merrimac and Monitor.  Capt. Fox entertains doubts whether the Merrimac will again venture a fight in Hampton Roads.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, April 1, 1862, p. 2

The War News

Our Fleet at Island No. 10.

Battle Progressing.

SKIRMISH NEAR NEWPORT NEWS.

Interesting News from Mexico

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, March 18, 1862, p. 1

The President at Fortress Monroe

FORTRESS MONROE, May 7. – President Lincoln arrived here this morning and spent the day with Gen. Wool. This afternoon he visited Newport News to see Gen. Mansfield and to have a clear view of the Merrimac, which has been lying off Craney Island all the afternoon for the purpose, no doubt, of preventing our gunboats from running up the James river. She made no attempt to come out.

The George Peabody arrived here from Hatteras to-day, and started immediately for New York. No News has transpired.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 10, 1862, p. 3