Dr. Spencer G. Welch to Cordelia Strother Welch, January 3, 1864

Camp near Orange Court House, Va.,

January 3, 1864.

The cars ran off the track below Gordonsville yesterday, consequently we have no mail to-day. You do not know how anxious I am to hear from you. Your letters relieve the distress of my mind like a soothing balm placed upon a painful wound. I am sure I could forget the loss of our dearest earthly object much sooner if I could only be with you; but time will blunt the keenest thorns of anguish. I shall walk over and see your brother this evening if he does not come to see me before then. He was quite well when I last saw him, and had been busy repairing the roads.

The weather remains intensely cold, but the wind has abated somewhat to-day. I think yesterday was the coldest day I ever experienced, and it was made worse by the strong biting wind which blew incessantly. It is most severe on the wagoners and others who are out and exposed so much. When I saw the First South Carolina Regiment starting off on picket yesterday morning in the bitter cold I felt for them, but they seemed full of the life and vigor which the troops of Lee's army always display under the most trying circumstances.

I gave my old black coat to my brother. It fits him well and he is very much pleased with it. He has been keeping a chicken and it is now nearly grown, so we intend to have a big dinner soon, and will make a pot of dumplings and also have stewed corn and Irish potatoes.

I have been living in the same tent with Dr. Tyler. We slept together and were very comfortable, but I got a tent for myself yesterday and will have a chimney built to it and be ready to move in by the time he gets back. He and I are good friends and always get along very agreeably together, but he is too fond of drinking and gambling to suit me.

News is very scarce here now, and it would be difficult for me to write you a longer letter.

SOURCE: Dr. Spencer G. Welch, A Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 84-6

 

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: February 29, 1864

 Raining moderately.

There is a rumor that Frederick's Hall, between this city and Fredericksburg, was taken to-day by a detachment of the enemy's cavalry, an hour after Gen. Lee passed on his way to the army. This is only rumor, however.

A dispatch from Gen. Lee's Chief Commissary, received to-day, says the army has only bread enough to last till the 1st of March, to-morrow! and that meat is getting scarce again. Col. Northrop, the Commissary-General, indorses on this, that he foresaw and frequently foretold that such a crisis would come. He says transportation sufficient cannot be had, and that he has just heard of an accident to the Wilmington Railroad, which will diminish the transportation of corn one-half; and he says a similar accident to the Charlotte Road would be fatal. Comfortable! And when I saw him afterward, his face was lit up with triumph, as if he had gained a victory! He predicted it, because they would not let him impress all the food in the country. And now he has no remedy for the pressing need. But the soldiers won't starve, in spite of him.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 161

John O. Parrish

J. O. PARRISH, proprietor of newsstand, and dealer in books, stationery, and fancy articles, at Garden Grove, was born in Washington County, New York, July 16, 1831, son of Hiram and Cyrena (Whitney) Parrish, natives of the same State, the latter being of English ancestry. Mr. Parrish was reared on a farm, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. He received a good substantial education, and when eighteen years old commenced teaching school. For twenty-five years he was an earnest, capable and successful teacher, never shirking his duty, but performing it firmly and conscientiously. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Tenth Ohio Cavalry, and was appointed First Lieutenant. He served two years and then resigned. He re-enlisted as a private in Company I, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, remaining in that company until the close of the war, when he was mustered out August 27, 1865. He participated in most of the battles fought by Sherman's army during the first two months of the Atlanta campaign. In 1854 he was married to Mary H. Harkness, a native of Delaware County, New York, and they have two children — Nancy M., wife of George W. Moore, a resident of Garden Grove; and Ella S., a prominent teacher of Decatur County. During President Hayes' administration she was appointed deputy postmistress and held the position seven years. Mr. Parrish was postmaster during that period. He is now serving his second term as mayor of Garden Grove. Mr. Parrish lived one year in Licking County, Ohio, after the war, and in 1866 settled in Johnson County, Missouri, where he lived nine years. He came to Garden Grove in 1875 and commenced editing a paper called the Iowa Express. In 1881 he sold out to Bryson Bruce, the present proprietor and editor of the Garden Grove Express. In 1865, while in the service, he met with a very serious accident by the cars running off the track, which crippled him for life. Three persons were killed and twenty wounded. By his own industry Mr. Parrish is possessed of a nice home and a profitable business. He is highly respected by all who know him. His twelve years' residence has won for him a prominent place among the leading citizens of Decatur County. Politically he is an ardent and influential Republican.

SOURCE: “Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa,” p. 558

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: October 5, 1864

All in Andersonville will remember Daly, who used to drive the bread wagon into that place. He came to Savannah with us and was in this hospital; a few days ago he went away with some sailors to be exchanged. Soon after leaving Savannah he fell off the cars and was killed, and a few hours after leaving here was brought back and buried; it is said he had been drinking. Getting better every day, eat right smart. Mike waiting for a favorable chance to escape and in the meantime is getting well; heard that Battese has gone away with sailors to our lines Its wonderful the noticeable change of air here from that at Andersonville — wonder that any lived a month inhaling the poison. If some of those good fellows that died there, Jimmy Devers, Dr. Lewis, Swain, McGuire and scores of others, had lived through it to go home with me, should feel better. Have a disagreeable task to perform — that of going to see the relatives of fifteen or twenty who died and deliver messages. Rebel surgeons act as if the war was most over, and not like very bad enemies. Fresh beef issued to those able to eat it which is not me; can chew nothing hard, in fact cannot chew at all. Am all tired out and will stop for to-day.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 100-1

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 19, 1863

Lagrange, Tenn., June 19, 1863.

The general and Sam went to Memphis yesterday to visit General Hurlbut, and the major and I have charge of the machine. The cavalry under command of Colonel Mizner went south last Tuesday. They have a good sized object in view, and if they succeed will be gone some ten days, though they may possibly be back by Wednesday next. They will operate between Panola and Grenada. Another mounted expedition has gone from Corinth to Okolona, a third from Corinth to Pikeville, Ala., and a fourth also from Corinth to Jackson, Tenn., which place has, since we evacuated it, been occupied by some Rebel cavalry (infantry also reported) from the east of the Tennessee river. All of this cavalry (of course excepting the Rebel) belongs to General Oglesby's command. You see he has it in motion. Deserters are constantly coming in from Johnston's army; and if we can believe their stories, and the information gained from the corps of spies employed along this line, Grant's rear is not in as much danger as our southern brethren would fain have us think. Johnston's army is not in the best condition imaginable; and it is far from being as strong as he would like it. Have no idea that he can march thirty-five thousand men. Grant must have an enormous army. How awful it would be if the yellow fever would visit his camps. I suppose you know that my regiment is at Snyder's Bluff. I think that is on the Yazoo, near Haines. Don't you see some more of my extraordinary fortune in being detached just as the regiment is ordered to where there is a prospect of hard knocks. We were all loaded on the cars ready to move, when Sam came down to the train and took me. The regiment then left immediately. There is a possible chance now of the general's being ordered to Vicksburg; but I've given up all hope of my getting there. We are having a great deal of trouble with the citizens here. A great many secesh citizens ask to be exempted from taking the oath, because they have rendered service to our army. This one gave a quart of buttermilk to a sick soldier, another donated an onion to the hospital, another allowed a sick officer to stay in his house for only $2. per day, etc. A number of the claims really have some point to them, and although 'tis against my theory, I really can't help pitying some of them. We had a sad accident last week near this post. General Hurlbut ordered a small train with a guard of some 60 men to be sent north on the railroad to repair the telegraph line. Twelve miles only from here the train broke through a little bridge over a deep but narrow "swash" and killed five and wounded ten of the party. An examination showed that the bridge had been burned the night before, and afterward the rails had been propped up only strongly enough to keep their places when no weight was upon them. 'Twas a fiendish, cowardly act, but of course committed by men whose business is robbery and murder, and who have no connection with the army.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 181-2

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 7, 1863

Headquarters, Left Wing 16th Army Corps,

Lagrange, Tenn.,

June 7, 1863.

We had occupied our very pleasant quarters but two days when an order came for us to pack up for Vicksburg. Received the order at dark and by daylight the next morning we were in Lagrange. General Oglesby had moved his headquarters here and he gobbled me without a moment's warning. The regiment moved on for the doomed city yesterday and left me. Now don't write me any of your “glads,” for I'm almost demoralized over the matter. Am uneasy as the d----. The idea of leaving just when I know that the regiment is moving on to a fight doesn't look at all right; but then I'm where I'd rather be than at any other place in the army, and suppose that other chances will be offered for fighting. If the general had entirely recovered from his wound, I am sure that we would leave this railroad guarding business to some one of less importance in the field, but he is hardly able to stand an active campaign yet. Sam Caldwell, Major Waite and myself compose the staff now and it is so pleasant. It's “Sam” “Waite” “Charley” and “general.” I have been east on the railroad to-day looking at the defenses of the road. ’Twill be completed to Corinth by Wednesday next, when the road to Jackson and from here to Corinth will be abandoned. We've had another scare here to-day. Some 800 Rebels within a few miles of us. One of the cars on which our regiment was loaded flew the track yesterday, and one man was killed and several hurt. None of my company, or that you knew.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 180-1

General Joseph E. Johnston to Senator Louis T. Wigfall, December 4, 1862

Chattanooga,

Dec. 4th, 1862.

My dear Wigfall:

After a perilous journey, I arrived a little after twelve last night, having been delayed by three railroad accidents. A telegram from the Ad. Genl. urges me, in the name of the President, to reinforce Pemberton, who “has fallen back from his positions by advance of very superior force of the enemy” with “a sufficient force of Genl. Bragg's command.” “Genl. Holmes has been peremptorily ordered to reinforce him — but his troops may be too late,” I am told. Genl. Pemberton in falling back, moves towards Vicksburg, where Holmes must cross the river — every step he makes, therefore, brings him nearer to his reinforcements. But as this march is in a direction exactly away from Bragg, and the enemy's army is between, every day's march makes a junction of the latter with Pemberton more difficult. I proposed the order to Holmes more than two weeks ago. Had it been given then, his troops would now be near Vicksburg, and we should be secure of our possession of the Mississippi. As matters now are, the enemy being between our armies, and probably superior to any one of them, their junction must be difficult — impossible, if his troops are well directed. I have not had time yet to learn if the movement of Bragg's troops is practicable, and if so, what time will be necessary for it, nor what Pemberton's force is, nor that of the enemy — nor where he is — nor in what direction he proposes to move. Under such circumstances a much wiser man, than any I know, might fail to plan wisely. The thing to be done is to urge Holmes to expedition. Do tell the Secretary of War to do so.

The President does not consider, in estimating the time Bragg's movement may require, what an obstacle the Tennessee is. Nor that Vicksburg at least, will secure Holmes's junction.

Nobody ever assumed a command under more unfavorable circumstances. If Rosecranz had disposed our troops himself, their disposition could not have been more unfavorable for us.

My suggestion to the President, referred to above, was to unite the troops of Pemberton and Holmes and attack Grant. It was about the 15th ulto. Genls. Cooper and G. W. Smith were present.

I shall join Bragg at Tullahoma tomorrow; the railroad arrangements make it impracticable sooner. All the information necessary to me is still to be gained.

Mrs. J. sends cordial regards to Mrs. Wigfall and yourself.

Very truly yours,

J. E. Johnston.

genl. Wigfall,

C. S. Senate.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 98-100

Railroad Accident

Yesterday the express train on the C. I. & N. RR., going west, threw its passenger coach off the track, about two miles from Grand Mound.  The coach was capsized, but, though containing about thirty passengers, no one was very seriously injured.  One man had his arm broken, and four were badly bruised.  The other’s escaped without damage. – Clinton Herald, 10th.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, May 14, 1862, p. 2

Great Gale

TROY, Jan. 25. – A tremendous gale prevailed all through western Vermont, this morning.  As the train, which left Troy for Rutland at 7:15 A. M., was five or six miles above Bennington in the town of Shaftsbury, Vt., it encountered the gale, while passing an embankment about thirty feet high one of the cars was broken from its coupling and thrown by the force of the wind down the bank.  Dr. H. Wright, of Boston, a passenger, was instantly killed.  John Robinson, the Road Master, was severely injured and will not survive.  One other man and two ladies were slightly injured.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, February 1, 1862, p. 4

Railroad Accident -- Soldiers Killed and Wounded

CHICAGO, March 27 – The special train bearing a portion of Col. Barstow’s Third Wisconsin Cavalry regiment met with a frightful accident at 10¼ last night, on the Northwestern Railroad, about five miles from this city.

The catastrophe was caused by the breaking of an axle of the forward car, throwing it from the track.  The next car was thrown at a distance of several feet and upset.  Three others were hurled upon these, making a total wreck of five cars.  Ten soldiers were killed, three seriously wounded, and a large number hurt – not severely enough to prevent them continuing with the regiment.

Names of the killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, are as follows:

KILLED. – Elisha Sharp, Hospital Steward, of Delavan; Wm. Davis, Co. A, Rang Creek, Jackson county; Lucien M. Ransom, Co. A, Sparta; J. F. Hullmon, Co. A, Viroqua; Chas. Storm, Co. A, Bangor; Chas Brigs, Co. A, Tomah, Monroe county; Walter Small, Co. G; Lyman Wm. Case, Co. G, Geneva, Dr. E. M. Burris, Co. G, New Albany; Charles D. Hatch, Co. A, Sparta.

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. – Quarter Master Sergeant L. G. Edwards, Co. G, East Troy, ribs; John Tweedle, Co. A, internal injuries and contusion on left side, Madison, also arm broke; Byron Wilcox, Co. L, both legs broken.  The above are not considered to be dangerously injured.

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. – Davis Custat, Co. A, contusion on head; C. F. Farwell, Co. G, right shoulder sprained; C. Gilson, Co. A, left shoulder and arm, and left foot injured; Geo. Ordsby, Co. A, injured spine; Robert Lawrence, Co. A, shoulder sprained; Fred. H. Johnson, Co. A, right knee and left side injured; William Anderson, Co. A, right ankle sprained; M. J. White, Co. A, hip sprained and head cut; Chas. Putnam, Co. A, knee sprained; John Craits, Co. D, hand badly cut.

The greater part of the last will go with the Regiment; the others are provided with good quarters and will be cared for.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

From Louisville

LOUISVILLE, March 18. – Yesterday morning the train for Bowling Green to Nashville was intercepted at Gallatin by a party of rebel cavalry under the notorious Captain John Morgan who ran the train off the track and took prisoner about thirty bridge builders employed to erect a bridge over the Cumberland river.

A locomotive of the Memphis branch of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad exploded at Russelville depot yesterday, killing the engineer, conductor, porter and a brakeman.  This closes communication on the branch for the present.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 3

Railroad Collision

HARRISBURGH, Pa., Feb. 1.

A collision attended with serious consequence occurred on the Northern Central R. R. yesterday morning.  A freight train and a special train collided at a bend in the road, near Cockeysville, Maryland.  One man, a workman on the road, was instantly killed and 4 others injurred, 2 of them seriously.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport Iowa, Monday Morning, February 3, 1862, p. 1

Iowa Items

The Muscatine Journal thinks that town pays an excellent price for an awfully poor article of gas.  $4.50 is the figures [sic] paid, while “A cat’s eyes” would make a good illuminator.  Bad state of affairs for our neighbors.

The Nonpareil says that Broadway street, Council Bluffs, is now navigable for small craft – mud fourteen inches in the channel and rising.

The McGregor Times says that the northern communities of Iowa will export through McGregor during the year, products to the value of six million dollars! and in return will purchase supplies to very near the same amount.

The Keokuk Constitution says that the 17^th regiment now at that city, has received its colors, descriptive and pay rolls, army regulations, &c., for the entire regiment.  Col. Rankin has been advised that his regiment as soon as organized, would be ordered to St. Louis and armed.

The Ottumwa Courier says that a Dr. Stark, who formerly resided in Wapello county, and was always very much enamored of the lovely system of slavery, at the breaking out of the war traded his farm for one in a northern county of Missouri.  When he arrived there, he and his son began to broach their secessionism among their neighbors.  It happened, however, that they had fallen among Union men, and a Minnie ball put a finale to the son’s treason, while the old man was notified that his gray hairs alone saved him from a similar fate, and was notified to leave the neighborhood, which he did.

FATAL ACCIDENT. – A portion of a train on the C. I. & N. RR. was thrown from the track on the 29^th ult., caused by a defective tie, producing the instant death of Mr. William Haney, of Clinton, a brakeman, who was thrown from the top of one of the cars and instantly crushed to death.

A deck-hand fell from the Hawkeye State at Keokuk, last Wednesday, and was drowned.  His name was not ascertained.

A. Ingalls, of Independence, Buchanan Co., has invented within the past two years a tire heater, corn husker, rat trap, iron upsetter, evaporator, can crusher, rotary harrow and seed sower.

The Burlington Hawkeye says that a man named John Duling was arrested on Saturday for passing a counterfeit bill on the State Bank of Iowa.  Upon searching him fifty dollars more of the same sort of currency were found on his person.

The river is three miles wide at Burlington, and still rising at the rate of a foot per day.  The Hawkeye says that the ferry boat now runs through the woods and over cultivated fields to Oquawka junction, a distance of seven miles!

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 9, 1862, p. 2

Terrible Railroad Accident

CHICAGO, March 27.

The special train bearing a portion of Col. Brastow’s 3d Wisconsin cavalry regiment, met with a frightful accident at half past 10 o’clock last night, on the Northern RR, about five miles from this city.  The catastrophe was occasioned by the breaking of an axle of the forward car, throwing it from the track.  The next car was thrown a distance of several feet and upset; three others were piled upon these, making a total wreck of five cars.  Ten soldiers were killed, three seriously wounded and a large number hurt, though not bad enough to prevent their continuing with the regiment.  The names of the killed and wounded, are as follows:

Killed – Elisha Sharp, hospital steward, Delavan; Wm. Davis, Co. A, Roaring Creek, Jackson county; Lucien M. Ranson, C. A.; J. J. Palmer, Co. A, Oiroqus; Casper Stone, Co. A, Bangor; Charles Briggs, Co. A, Monroe county; Walter Suell, Co. G. Lynn; Wm. Case, Co. G. Geneva; Dr. E. M. Bemis, Co. G., New Albany; Chas. D. Hatch, Co. A, Sparta.

Seriously Wounded. – Q. M. Sergt. L. J. Edward, Co. G, East Troy, rib broken; Tweedle, Co. G, internal injury and contusion on left side, Madison; Alger, Co. A, left arm broken; Byron Wilconx, Co I, both legs broken.

The above are not considered to be dangerously injured.

Slightly Wounded. – Davis Oustot, Co. A, contusion on head; C. J. Farwell, Co. G, right shoulder sprained; C. Gibson, Co. A, left shoulder and arm and left foot injured; George Crosby, Co. A, Injured in [spine]; Robert Lawrence, Co. A, shoulder sprained; Frederick H. Johnson, Co. A, Right knee and left side injured; M. J. Whiting, Co. A, hips sprained and head cut; Wm. Anderson, Co. A, right ankle sprained; Chas. Putnam, Co. A, knee sprained; John Orites, Co. D, hand badly cut.  The greater part of the last list will go on with the regiment, the others are provided with good quarters and will be well cared for.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1