All the provisions and forage has to be brought on the backs of mules and horses from Shipping Point and Cheeseman's Creek, the roads being impassable for wagons.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 39
Sunday morning pleasant but cloudy, George W. Clarks 24th Birth Day he is Corporal of the Guard to day. Lt. Allen has gone up to Cairo to day for Provisions. About 2 O'clock our Regt. moved from our original position to the foot of the hill for better protection from the cold north wind Allen returned late this evening Provisions for the Regt. for Five days.
SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233
This afternoon, when riding down to Huttonville, I met three or four hundred sorry-looking soldiers. They were without arms. On inquiry, I found they were a part of the secession army, who, finding no way of escape, had come into our lines and surrendered. They were badly dressed, and a hard, dissolute-looking lot of men. To use the language of one of the soldiers, they were "a milk-sickly set of fellows," and would have died off probably without any help from us if they had been kept in the mountains a little longer. They were on their way to Staunton. General McClellan had very generously provided them with provisions for three days, and wagons to carry the sick and wounded; and so, footsore, weary, and chopfallen, they go over the hills.
An unpleasant rumor is in camp to-night, to the effect that General Patterson has been defeated at Williamsport. This, if true, will counterbalance our successes in Western Virginia, and make the game an even one.
The Southern soldiers mentioned above are encamped for the night a little over a mile from here. About dusk I walked over to their camp. They were gathered around their fires preparing supper.
Many of them say they were deceived, and entered the service because they were led to believe that the Northern army would confiscate their property, liberate their slaves, and play the devil generally. As they thought this was true, there was nothing left for them to do but to take up arms and defend themselves. While we were at Buckhannon, an old farmer-looking man visited us daily, bringing tobacco, cornbread, and cucumber pickles. This innocent old gen[tle]man proves to have been a spy, and obtained his reward in the loss of a leg at Rich mountain.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 30-1
Details sent out to
get all the provisions possible and return by 12 o'clock. I went to town, but
did not get my horse shod, met the command as I went out, coming in. Went some
ten or eleven miles and camped on creek on steep hillside. Rained all night. I
and John Henry slept dry in my Yankee tent. Most Company got into stable and
crib.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 6
Was quite unwell for
a day or so. Nothing of particular interest occurred. Foraging parties were
sent out to gather all the provisions and vegetables they could, as scurvy was
making its appearance in a slight form. Visited the University of Mississippi
with Doctor Powell. Buildings were fine and well built, grounds handsome and I
saw the finest astronomical apparatus, they say, that there is in the country;
also a splendid collection of minerals purchased of a Mr. Budd in New York.
Weather beautiful.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 6
Throwing up
breastworks all day, and we now are impatiently awaiting the enemy. Provisions
are scarce; had a couple of hard crackers and a teaspoonful of salt pork gravy.
Somewhat different from good old Mrs. Mottley's suppers at the Linwood House on
Main street, where we Richmond boys most delighted to board. However, I didn't
suffer much, having succeeded in getting a good dinner for a slight
compensation. The people in this neighborhood are in rather poor circumstances,
and of course we are willing to pay for anything we get of them.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 95
The gun-boats
and steamers are still below the bend, where they have been since Monday. They
come up every day and throw shells at our batteries, but seldom elicit a
response. Yesterday our guns were engaged about an hour in shelling the Yanks
on the opposite side of the river, and their aim was so accurate that one shot
cut one of the enemy in two. Several other shots were very accurate. The
enemy's fleet is busy all the time, and it is thought that they are landing a
force on the west bank, but for what purpose, I am unable to say, as the whole
country is overflowed, and unless the water falls it will be impossible for
them to plant batteries, or any thing else, on that side. Yesterday four boats
came down from Red river laden with corn, bacon, etc., which relieves us of the
fears we were beginning to entertain on account of the scarcity of provisions.
It is said we have enough to last through a long siege. No news of the two
vessels which passed our batteries on Sunday night. They have passed above the
mouth of Red river.
SOURCE: Edwin
L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army
of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 127
"I am monarch
of all I survey." Last night, intelligence being received that an attack
was expected on Washington; we were ordered to move there instanter, and at
once the regiment was in motion. It got off in the course of the night, leaving
me here in charge of about forty men who were too sick to be moved. I am left
without provisions or money, except a few pounds of flour with which to feed
and care for the sick, and the ten well ones left with me, to aid me and to
look up deserters who have been left here. How am I to do it? I find a strong
secession element here, and at times it is very bold. The hurrahs for Jeff.
Davis are frequent, and all day the children are flaunting secession flags in
our faces, and flying secession kites in our camp ground
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac.
Behind the Scenes. A Diary of Unwritten History; From the Organization of the
Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia
about the First Day January, 1863, p. 10
Clear and pleasant.
Cannon heard down the river.
Mr. E. A. Pollard,
taken by the Federals in an attempt to run the blockade last spring, has
returned, and reports that Gen. Butler has been relieved of his command—probably
for his failure to capture Wilmington. Mr. Pollard says that during his
captivity he was permitted, on parole, to visit the Northern cities, and he
thinks the Northern conscription will ruin the war party.
But, alas! the lax
policy inaugurated by Mr. Benjamin, and continued by every succeeding Secretary
of War, enables the enemy to obtain information of all our troubles and all our
vulnerable points. The United States can get recruits under the conviction that
there will be little or no more fighting.
Some $40,000 worth
of provisions, belonging to speculators, but marked for a naval bureau and the
Mining and Niter Bureau, have been seized at Danville. This is well-if it be
not too late.
A letter from Mr.
Trenholm, Secretary of the Treasury, to Mr. Wagner, Charleston, S. C. (sent
over for approval), appoints him agent to proceed to Augusta, etc., with
authority to buy all the cotton for the government, at $1 to $1.25 per pound;
and then sell it for sterling bills of exchange to certain parties, giving them
permission to remove it within the enemy's lines; or "better still,"
to have it shipped abroad on government account by reliable parties. This
indicates a purpose to die "full-handed," if the government must die,
and to defeat the plans of the enemy to get the cotton. Is the Federal
Government a party to this arrangement? Gold was $60 for one yesterday. I
suppose there is no change to-day.
Judge Campbell,
Assistant Secretary, returned to his room today, mine not suiting him.
Col. Sale, Gen.
Bragg's military secretary, told me to-day that the general would probably
return from Wilmington soon. His plan for filling the ranks by renovating the
whole conscription system, will, he fears, slumber until it is too late, when
ruin will overtake us! If the President would only put Bragg at the head of the
conscription business—and in time—we might be saved.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 382-3
GENERAL: I received your letter of the 29th with the map. Have made arrangements to move as light as possible, and hope to get started to-morrow, although with raw troops and raw mules I fear there will be some difficulty. I have but few wagons over and above the regimental wagons. The provisions will have to be hauled with hired teams until Captain Mackay can have time to break in his raw mules, which I fear will delay us much longer than we should be delayed. I have been told that the country we are going to is very poor, and it will be necessary to pass through speedily should we attempt to penetrate to Knoxville. I will therefore submit for your consideration if it would not be a better move for my main force to go down the river (should we succeed with Zollicoffer) as far as Burkesville, take to that place subsistence enough to last us to Nashville, place the subsistence on flat-boats, and march with a light train in two columns, one on each side of the river; the provisions and extra forage being floated down the river in boats under a strong guard.
The enemy being thus threatened on their rear and right, would greatly aid your advance in their front, and should they make a determined stand at Bowling Green, I might with my column cut off their retreat at Gallatin.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 7 (Serial No. 7), p. 524
B. A.
Hancock, who had been sent to Cumberland Gap the day before after provisions
for McNairy's Battalion, returned. As rations had been very scarce for the last
few days, we were glad to see a supply brought into camp.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 54
Having now received
the necessary supply of provisions, General Zollicoffer issued orders for a
forward movement of his brigade on the morrow.
Clear and pleasant;
later cloudy.
Yesterday, Mr. Peck,
our agent, started South to buy provisions for the civil officers of the
department. He had $100 from each, and it is to be hoped he will be back soon
with supplies at comparatively low prices. He obtained transportation from the
Quartermaster-General, with the sanction of the Secretary, although that —— —— had
refused to order it himself. Gen. Lee advises that all government stores be
taken from Wilmington, as a London newspaper correspondent has given a glowing
account (republished in the New York Herald) of the
commerce of that place, and the vast amount of government property there. Gen.
Lee advises that the stores be deposited along the line of railroad between
Columbia and Danville, and be in readiness to move either way, as the roads are
“liable to be cut at any moment." Will the government act in time to save
them?
Gen. Cooper went to
the President to-day in high dudgeon, because papers were referred to him from
the Quartermaster-General's and Ordnance offices signed by subordinates,
instead of the heads of the bureaus. The President wrote an elaborate decision
in favor of the general, and ordered the Secretary to make a note of it.” Thus,
important affairs wait upon “red tape.”
I saw Secretaries
Benjamin and Mallory, and some lesser lights, riding down the river in an ambulance-wagon,
supposed to be going a fishing. They were both excessively fat and red.
Clouds, sunshine, and showers.
The tremendous cannonading all day yesterday at Drewry's Bluff was merely an artillery duel-brought on by the heavy skirmishing of pickets. The batteries filled the air with discordant sounds, and shook the earth with grating vibration. Perhaps 100 on each side were killed and wounded "not worth the ammunition,” as a member of the government said.
Gen. Lee's dispatches to the President have been withheld from publication during the last four days. The loss of two trains of commissary stores affords the opportunity to censure Lee; but some think his popularity and power both with the people and the army have inspired the motive.
I saw to-day some of our slightly wounded men from Lee's army, who were in the fight of Thursday (12th inst.), and they confirm the reports of the heavy loss of the enemy. They say there is no suffering yet for food, and the men are still in good spirits.
Both the Central and the Fredericksburg Roads are repaired, and trains of pro[v]isions are now daily sent to Gen. Lee.
The Danville Road was not materially injured; the raiders being repulsed before they could destroy the important bridges. Supplies can come to Petersburg, and may be forwarded by wagons to the Danville Road, and thence to Lynchburg, etc.
Fresh troops are arriving from the South for Beauregard; but he is still withheld from decisive operations.
The Departmental Battalion is still out; the enemy still menacing us from the Chickahominy.
During the last four days correspondence has ceased almost entirely, and the heads of bureaus, captains, majors, lieutenant-colonels, adjutants, quartermasters, and commissaries, have nothing to do. They wander about with hanging heads, ashamed to be safely out of the field—I mean all under 50 years of age—and look like sheep-stealing dogs. Many sought their positions, and still retain them, to keep out of danger. Such cravens are found in all countries, and are perhaps fewer in this than any other. However, most of the population of the city between 17 and 50 are absent from the streets; some few shopkeeping Jews and Italians are imprisoned for refusing to aid in the defense, and some no doubt are hidden.
Most of the able-bodied negro men, both free and slave, have been taken away-in the field as teamsters, or digging on the fortifications. Yet those that remain may sometimes be seen at the street corners looking, some wistfully, some in dread, in the direction of the enemy. There is but little fear of an insurrection, though no doubt the enemy would be welcomed by many of the negroes, both free and slave.
At 1 P.M. to-day a train arrived from Guinea's Station with 800 of our wounded, in Sunday's and Thursday's battles.
The following prices are now paid in this city: boots, $200; coats, $350; pants, $100; shoes, $125; flour, $275 per barrel ; meal, $60 to $80 per bushel; bacon, $9 per pound; no beef in market; chickens, $30 per pair; shad, $20; potatoes, $25 per bushel ; turnip greens, $4 per peck; white beans, $1 per quart, or $120 per bushel; butter, $15 per pound; lard, same; wood, $50 per cord. What a change a decisive victory-or defeatwould make!
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 211-2
Last night a train arrived from Memphis bringing provisions, but not sufficient to relieve us from half rations. Things look gloomy in and around Corinth. The troops are compelled to subsist in part on corn obtained by the foraging parties. The Seventh is now shelling corn for the purpose of making hominy. Should the rebels make a raid now upon Corinth (for which the soldiers al hope and pray) we dare say they would be met in a becoming manner, and somebody would be made sick-we are strongly of the opinion that it would not be the Union soldiers.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 127-8
Made 18 miles to-day. Rear guard for the corps in the morning, but the 2d and 3d Divisions took a right hand road and in the p. m. the 4th Division also went to the right. We followed a cow path to camp. Passed through two large turpentine camps. The boys fired most all the trees and nearly burned us up. The smoke made the road very disagreeable. There is not much destruction of property since Logan's last order. Hear of no skirmishing. The chivalry give us very little trouble, never stop but at rivers. Foragers get a good many animals. Provisions plenty. Hear nothing of the left wing, or Kilpatrick.
SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 345
 |
| Combined knife, fork and spoon, used by the boys at the siege of Vicksburg. |
A little dirt has been thrown up ahead of us, as a shield, in case we have to fight the enemy. We hear all sorts of reports about the strength of Johnston's army, but the truth will only appear when we meet it. One captive said the report in Vicksburg was that Pemberton despaired of getting help from the out side, and was ready to surrender when the last meal rations have been eaten. He probably understands the resources of our commissary, as well as the magnanimous disposition of Grant to issue provisions to a starving foe. Well, why not? The first square meal received from Uncle Sam will be an occasion to them of thanksgiving. They will get the best that we can issue. And when the war is over, true soldiers of both armies will be among the first to break the bread of reunion and quaff the cup of restored peace and good will.
SOURCE: Osborn Hamiline Oldroyd, A Soldier's Story of the Siege of Vicksburg, p. 65-6
