We are still penned
up as prisoners in the rear of the army, close by General Grant's headquarters.
A great many prisoners came in to-day. From some of them I heard that my
brother was well.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 61
We left this place
at dark last night, but only got a distance of two miles, and it took us until
9 in the morning of the 9th.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 61
Fighting to-day at
Spottsylvania Court House. Prisoners still coming in, two more from my company.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 62
This morning about
800 more prisoners came in. Most of them were from my brigade, as well as from
Dole's Georgians. I was surprised to see my brother with them. He was taken
yesterday, but before he surrendered he sent two of the enemy to their long
home with his bayonet.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 62
Raining hard all
day, and fighting all last night. About 2 o'clock this afternoon about 2,000
prisoners came in, with them Major-General Johnson and Brigadier-General
Stewart. We have moved four miles nearer to Fredericksburg. I suppose they
think we are too close to our own lines, and they are afraid we will be
recaptured, as it was a few days ago. We heard our boys', or, as the Yankees
call it, the Rebel yell. We prisoners also gave the Rebel yell. A few minutes
after that they brought cannon to bear on us, and we were told to stop, or they
would open on us. We stopped.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 62
Left here this
morning and passed through Fredericksburg. Crossed the Rappahannock on pontoon
bridges, and got to Belle Plain on the Potomac at 3 o'clock-nineteen miles
to-day. It rained all day, and it is very muddy.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 62
We are still camped
here. Have been prisoners since the 5th of this month, and have drawn three and
a half days' rations. On that kind of a diet I am not getting very fat. We
certainly would have suffered a great deal, but our Yankee guard gave us quite
a lot of their own rations.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 63
Left this morning at
11 in a tugboat, and from here packed into the Steamer S. R. Spaulding. We are
now on our way to a regular prison. We got there at 8 o'clock to-night, and
found it to be Point Lookout, Md., fifty miles from Belle Plain. It is in St.
Mary's County. We were drawn up in line, searched for valuables, and they taken
from us, and marched to prison, one mile from the landing. There are sixteen
men in each tent.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 63
Saw Mack Sample,
Will Stone and several of our company to-day that have been prisoners since the
battle of Gettysburg. We get two meals a day.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 63
I heard to-day that
my brother Morris was a prisoner at Fort Delaware, Pa. I asked for a parole
to-day to go and see my parents in New York, but they could not see it.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 64
We are guarded by
negro troops, who are as mean as hell. At each meal there is a guard placed
over 500 prisoners, who go to their meals in ranks of four. We are not allowed
to cross a certain line, called the "Dead Line," but as 500 men go at
one time to meals, of course near the door there is always a rush. To-day one
of our men accidentally crossed the line. He was pushed over by the crowd, when
a black devil shot and killed him, and wounded two others.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 64
Received two letters
to-day, one from home and one from my brother Pincus, who went to Washington on
his way to visit Morris and myself, as he has to get a pass from headquarters
before he can see us. He was refused and returned home. Our daily labor as prisoners
is that at 5 in the morning we have roll call; 6, breakfast, 500 at a time, as
one lot gets through another takes its place, until four lots have eaten; we
then stroll about the prison until 1 o'clock, when we eat dinner in the same
style as breakfast, then loaf about again until sundown. Roll is called again,
thus ending the day. We get for breakfast five crackers with worms in them; as
a substitute for butter, a small piece of pork, and a tin cup full of coffee;
dinner, four of the above crackers, a quarter of a pound mule meat and a cup of
bean soup, and every fourth day an eight-ounce loaf of white bread. Nothing
more this month.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 65
General Early
reports that Rosser, at the head of 300 men, surprised and captured the
garrison at Beverly, Randolph County, on the 11th instant, killing and wounding
a considerable number and taking 580 prisoners. His loss slight.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 46, Part 1 (Serial No. 95), p. 451
Clear and frosty.
We learn vaguely
that the attack on the defenses of Wilmington has been progressing since
Friday, and that the enemy's land forces have effected a lodgment between Fort
Fisher and the town.
Another
"peace" visitor has arrived—Hon. Mr. Singleton, of the United States
Congress. It is said that the President (Confederate States) has pledged
himself to appoint commissioners to fix terms of peace. This is but a
forlorn-hope. No terms of peace are contemplated by any of these visitors but
on the basis of reconstruction; and their utmost liberality could reach no
further than a permission for the Southern States to decide, in convention, the
question of emancipation. The President having suggested, however, the
propriety of putting the negroes into the service, and emancipating them
afterward, has aroused the fears and suspicions of many of the people; and but
few have confidence in the integrity of the Secretary of State. Hence the
universal gloom and despondency of the croakers. There may be difficulty in
replenishing the Federal armies, and they may be depleted by spring; and if so,
Gen. Lee may be able to make another grand campaign with the men and material
now at his command. The issue of the next campaign may inaugurate real
negotiations. Wilmington may be taken, blockade-running may cease; but we have
ammunition and other stores for another campaign.
At last we have a
dispatch from Gen. Lee, announcing the fall of Fort Fisher. Most of the garrison,
supposed to be 1500, were taken.
Gold was $70 for $1
on Saturday: what will it be to-day or tomorrow?
A voluminous
correspondence is going on between Mr. Conrad (secret agent to arrest disloyal
men endeavoring to cross the Potomac) and Mr. Secretary Seddon. Mr. Foote,
arrested by their great skill, has applied, indignantly, for a writ of habeas
corpus. Thus the time of our great dignitaries is consumed removing molehills,
while mountains are looming up everywhere.
The following
dispatch was received here at 11 A.M. to-day from Gen. Bragg's A. D. C.:
"January
15th, 1865.—Official information from Gen. Whiting, at Fort Fisher, up to 8
o'clock this evening, reports enemy's attack on fort unsuccessful. Fresh troops
are being sent to him."
This does not agree
with the dispatch from Gen. Lee. It must have been taken last night, and after
the hour indicated. Gen. Lee certainly says it has fallen. It is gone, and I
fear the "reinforcements" also—with Gen. Whiting "to boot."
Alas for Bragg the
unfortunate! He seems to be another BOABDIL the Unlucky.
Dr. Woodbridge
announced in the Monumental Church, yesterday, that only five ladies had
responded to the call to knit socks for the soldiers! A rich congregation, too.
My daughters (poor) were among the five, and handed him several pairs. They
sent one pair to their cousin S. Custis, Clingman's brigade, Hoke's North
Carolina division.
Mr. Lewis,
disbursing clerk of Post-Office Department, has sent in a communication asking
an investigation of the conduct of Mr. Peck, agent to buy supplies for clerks.
What will Mr. Seddon do now?
The
Commissary-General says 100,000 bushels corn for Lee's army may be got in
Southwest Virginia.
An anecdote is told
of James B. Wilson, of the Forty-first, during the late fight at Vicksburg,
which should have appeared in its proper connection.
The Yankees used to
deride our Tennessee boys while in prison, at Camp Morton, with the epithet of
"Butternuts," on account of their clothing. At the fight at Chickasaw
Bayou, one Tennessee regiment (the Third, I think) repulsed six or eight
Federal regiments, capturing five stands of colors and five hundred prisoners,
besides killing a great number. During the action the enemy's sharp-shooters
killed one of our field officers, of which fact they seemed to be aware. As
they were being brought in, Jim Wilson remarked, "You ran against the Butternuts,
did you?" "Yes," replied a saucy fellow, "yes; and we
picked out the kernels (colonels) too."
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, p. 22
PETERSBURG, December
10, 1864.
About noon yesterday
the First Division of Second Corps of enemy, supporting their cavalry, forced
back our cavalry pickets on the Vaughan road south of the Appomattox and
advanced toward Dinwiddie Court-House. To-day our cavalry, re-enforced by
infantry, drove them back across Hatcher's Run, capturing a few prisoners, and
re-established our lines. General Longstreet made a reconnaissance of enemy's
lines to-day on north side of James River as far as New Market Heights, driving
in their pickets, and found them fortified along the whole distance.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 42, Part 1 (Serial No. 87), p. 855
On the 20th General
Early reported one division of enemy's cavalry, under General Custer, coming up
the Valley, and two divisions, under General Totbert, moving through Chester Gap,
with four pieces artillery and thirty wagons. On the 22d Rosser attacked
Custer's division, nine miles from Harrisonburg, and drove [him] back,
capturing forty prisoners. This morning Torbert attacked Lomax near
Gordonsville, and was repulsed and severely punished. He is retiring and Lomax
preparing to follow.
SOURCE: The
War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and
Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 43, Part 1 (Serial No. 90), p. 679-80
Cloudy and cold, but
wind southeast.
The sullen sound of
cannon heard this morning as usual down the river. I hear of no active
operations there, although the ground is sufficiently frozen to bear horses and
artillery.
Rumors of successes
on the part of Sherman near Savannah are still in circulation.
The rich men are
generally indignant at the President and Gov. Smith for proposing to bring a
portion of the negroes into the army. They have not yet awakened to a
consciousness that there is danger of losing all, and of their being made to
fight against us. They do not even remove them beyond the reach of the enemy,
and hundreds are daily lost, but still they slumber on. They abuse the
government for its impressments, and yet repose in fancied security, holding
the President responsible for the defense of the country, without sufficient
men and adequate means.
The following
dispatch from Gen. Bragg was received to-day at 10 P.M.:
"AUGUSTA,
Dec. 12th. "The telegraph having been cut, we get nothing from Savannah. A
dispatch from Wheeler gives a copy of enemy's order for the line of investment
around Savannah. It is about eight miles from the city, and was to have been
reached on the 9th.
"B. BRAGG."
I have at length
succeeded in getting a suit of clothes; it was made at the government shop for
$50, the trimmings having been found (in the house) by my wife. The suit, if
bought of a merchant and made by the city tailors, would cost some $1000. A
Yankee prisoner (deserter) made the coat at a low price. The government means
to employ them, if they desire it, in this manner. I am very thankful for my
good fortune.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 353-4
Rained all night;
spitting snow this morning. Although Gen. Bragg announces that the enemy's
fleet has disappeared off Wilmington, still the despondency which has seized
the croakers remains. It has probably sailed against Charleston, to co-operate
with Sherman. Sherman says officially that he got, with Savannah, about 1000
prisoners, 150 heavy guns, nearly 200 cars and several locomotives, 35,000
bales of cotton, etc. etc. And Gen. Foster says the inhabitants (20,000) were
"quiet, and well disposed." Most people believe Charleston will fall
next, to be followed by a sweep of the entire sea-board; and grave men fear
that the impetus thus given the invader cannot be checked or resisted.
The great want is
fighting men, and they are mostly exempted or detailed under that portion of
the "War Department" which is quietly worked by Judge Campbell, who
is, of course, governed by his own great legal judgment. Well, the President
has been informed of this, and yet waits for Mr. Secretary Seddon to suggest a
remedy. I have often thought, and still think, that either the Bureau of
Conscription must be abolished or the government must fail. The best generals
will not avail without sufficient men to fight.
Gen. Beauregard
telegraphs from Charleston, December 26th, that there is a conflict of
authority at Mobile as to which branch of the service, navy or army, shall
command the torpedo boat. The two Secretaries are referring it to commanders,
and I fear that, by the time the question is settled, some calamity will befall
the boat, and the city, and the country.
Grant is said to be
moving troops to the north side of the river again, fearing an attack from us,
or intending one himself.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 369
This morning at 3 we moved to the right until daylight, when our corps was again sent to the front. We advanced toward the enemy's works. We moved, of course, very carefully, as we saw their breastworks, and in front of us two cannon. When we got in shooting range, the order was given to "Charge!" We did so with a rebel yell, and as we got upon their breastworks, lo and behold, there were no Yankees, and the cannons we saw were nothing but logs. We followed them to the river, but their whole army had crossed. We, of course, captured a great many of their sick and stragglers.
SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 54
