We are still in the pine barrens of Georgia; darkness is now hovering
around us. The troops are all on half rations, forage is scarce. We are late
going into camp to-night, but the troops are all in fine spirits this evening.
All seem confident that success with its glories will fall around this army.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 281
About sundown
the shelling ceased, and nearly all of us returned to camp to endeavor to
sleep, as we had been up all the night preceding unloading a corn boat. We had
all got comfortably settled for the enjoyment of that sweet restorer of tired
nature, when the whole fleet of mortar boats, ships-of-the-line, and I do not
know how many gun-boats, turned loose their storm of iron hail into our midst
without giving any warning. The effect on soldiers suddenly aroused from sleep
can be imagined. We sprang to our feet, and hardly taking time to draw on our
coats, took to our heels in search of shelter. Indeed it was enough to make the
stoutest heart quake to hear the shells hurtling over our heads and the
fragments crashing through the timber or ploughing up the earth at our feet. I
started to the trenches to get with my company, which had been left on picket,
but as I had to go through the thickest of the fire to get there, I backed out
after going several hundred yards, and made for the shelter of a large tree in
a swamp near by; but found five men crouched down behind it; tried another with
a like result, and another and another, and found all "full;"
concluded that the front seats were all taken or reserved for the officers. Saw
a wagoner driving his team through the thickest of the shells and observed that
the mules took it quite easy; concluded that a soldier was as good as a mule
and emulating their unconcern, I made for the river bank, where I got a good
position high and dry, and watched closely the progress of the fight. I enjoyed
the grandeur of the scene to the fullest extent.
Simultaneously
with the opening of the mortar boats, the men-of-war and gun-boats attempted to
run past our batteries, which one of them, a large steamship, succeeded in
doing notwithstanding the terrible fire which was poured into her. It is said
that she would have surrendered if our men had ceased firing upon her. Two
others attempted to follow in her wake, but one of them was forced to retire
badly crippled, and the other was set on fire by a hot shot from one of our
guns, when her crew abandoned her, and she burned to the water's edge. She
drifted down with the current, and a tremendous explosion a few hours later
told that she had blown up. Others of their craft are supposed to have suffered
considerably. After a hot engagement of two hours and a half, the firing ceased
and the enemy withdrew. Our loss in the whole bombardment, is, so far as I can
learn, five killed and wounded, while the enemy's loss must have amounted to
hundreds, as nearly every shot from our guns took effect. From some of the crew
of the burnt vessel who were picked up this morning, we learn that nearly all
of her men, over three hundred in number, were either killed, burnt or drowned;
only a few swam to the shore. Our batteries sustained no damage whatever. Taken
altogether we came off well, and if they are not satisfied that they can't take
this place, let them come again. The vessel which passed last night was lying
in plain view this morning, and firing signal-guns as though she would like to
get back to her consorts below, which are also in view today.
The train from
Clinton, La., came in this morning at an unusual hour, bringing the sick from
the hospital, and reported that the Federal cavalry were near that place in
strong force. If this is true, and we can't get the Yankee ship from above, our
supplies are cut off, as we have but limited stores of subsistence here. So that
if the siege is prolonged for some time, we may expect to undergo all the pangs
of hunger; we are now, and have been for weeks, living on half rations of meal
and pork. We now calculate on living on half an ear of corn per man, before
this place is given up. To-day we have been allowed to live in peace up to the
present hour, 2 P.M. We are cooking rations, expecting to be sent to the
ditches again to-night.
SOURCE: Edwin
L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western
History, Vol. 1, p. 125-7
AT READVILLE.
A busy day for Co. E we have been ordered to camp. Each man was told to carry rations enough for two meals. We formed company for the first time, out of doors, on the Boylston Street mall marched to the Boston and Providence Depot, and after hand-shaking with our friends, went aboard the cars, arriving at Readville, ten miles out, at four o clock and here the troubles and tribulations of many a fine young man began. We found that either the regiment had come too soon or the carpenters had been lazy, for only three of the ten barracks were roofed, and some were not even boarded in, so while the carpenters went at work outside, we went at it inside, putting up and fixing the bunks.
About sunset, we saw a load of straw on the way to our barracks at first we supposed it was for bedding for horses, but we were green. It was to take the place of hair mattresses. Could it be that Uncle Samuel proposed that we should sleep in the straw (I remember when a youngster, of going to Brighton, to see the soldiers just home from the Mexican war, they had straw in their tents to sleep on. I little thought then, that I should be jumping upon the wheels of a wagon, tugging for straw enough for a bed, but such was the fact,) straw was used, but for a very little while by most of us.
After our first supper (and a gay picnic one it was) in this wilderness, we sang songs, told stories, formed new, and found old acquaintances, until after eight o’clock. Then for the first time in camp, we heard “Fall in Co. E;” the roll was called, and it was found that of the one hundred and twenty-five names ninty-nine had reported. Our captain made a little speech, to which of course we did not reply and then for bed. We had (that is the quiet ones) made up our minds for a good night’s rest, so as to be all right for the arduous duties of the morrow. There were some however, who thought noise and confusion the first law of a soldier. It was late, and not until after several visits from the officers that the boys decided to quiet down.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 5-6
Our first morning in camp. We were rudely awakened and dragged from our bunks at six o’clock, very few being used to such early hours, except perhaps on 4th of July, and were expected to be on the parade ground before our eyes were fairly open.
My advice is if you ever enlist again, start with buckle or congress boots, or none at all, don’t wear laced ones. Why Thereby hangs a tale. One man who wore laced boots was late, consequently had to fall in at the foot of the column. In a minute or two, around came the adjutant and some other officer, who wanted a man for guard. The man who was late at roll-call, was detailed of course. He went without a word was posted on the edge of a pond his orders being “Keep this water from being defiled, allow no privates to bathe here, let only the officers bathe and the cooks draw water to cook with.” The orders were fulfilled, but the poor guard was forgotten, and paced up and mostly down (as it was a pleasant grassy sward,) till eleven o clock. That was his first experience of guard duty, and he always owed a grudge to the sergeant of that guard and his laced boots.
Meanwhile, the company, left standing in the street, with their towels, combs, &c., proceeded to the water, where the pride of many a family got down on his knees, and went through the farce of a toilet, and then back to breakfast.
To-day we have been busy cleaning up and getting ready for our friends from home. It has been as novel a day as last night was new, it is a great change, but we will conquer this, and probably worse.
Our friends began to arrive about three o clock, and by supper-time the barracks were well filled, many remaining to supper so shawls and blankets were spread upon the ground, and we gave them a sample of our food. The coffee was good but so hot, and having no saucer with which to cool the beverage, we had to leave it till the last course. Our plates were plated with tin, but very shallow, and as bean soup was our principal course we had some little trouble in engineering it from the cook s quarters to our tables. We must not forget the bread, it was made by the State, and by the looks, had been owned by the State since the Mexican war. We had never seen the like, and begged to be excused from enduring much of it at a time. (We afterwards found no occasion to grumble at our food, for as you may remember, we were looked after well during our whole service. We had as good rations as any one could wish, but here, within ten miles of home, we felt that this was rough on the boys.)
For a week, little was done but feed and drill us, to toughen us for the dim future, and the furloughs were granted very freely. We were soon astonished to find that we had for a surgeon, a man who meant business. Among other things, he thought government clothes were all that we needed, so spring and fall overcoats and fancy dry goods had to be bundled up and sent home. All our good things were cleaned out, everything was contraband excepting what the government
allowed. We had always thought it a free country, but this broke in on our individual ideas of personal freedom, and we began to think we were fast losing all trace of civil rights, and becoming soldiers pure and simple. Nothing could be brought into camp by our friends unless we could eat it before the next morning but goodies would come, and as we had to eat them, of course we were sick.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 6-7
In camp near
Culpepper, Va.—Weather delightful. Rumors of marching tomorrow morning.
Marching orders we have been expecting several days, but this is the first
rumor for some time. It has been mysteriously quiet. If, instead of May and
fine weather, we had had dead of winter, storm and mud, we would have been
provoked with five or six rumors daily. So that's nothing; but we shall march
soon. Usual drill forenoon and afternoon; march an hour under knapsack. Go to
Culpepper with several for examination for commissions in negro regiments. At
5:30 o'clock drew one day's rations. This task is assigned me this week, for my
company. At dark, orders for three days' more rations. Had a tedious task
lasting until 9 p. m. Quartermaster is getting everything ready to leave and
hinted we should move at 12 midnight. Got orders at 8 o'clock to strike tents,
pack nothing unnecessary; build no fires. Everything soon ready; we are
waiting, the boys are jolly, full of spirit. At 11 o'clock we marched—winter
quarters again broken.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a
War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864,
p. 22
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
After a very cold
night spent in sleeplessness, I arose, determined to have something better to
eat than our daily ration of coarse meal and poor beef, supplemented
occasionally with a little sugar and molasses. I procured a permit from Captain
Feeney, which was duly approved by Colonel Tillman, but could not pass the
pickets on it: had to return a short distance and go around them, which was no
easy job, considering the topography of the country. After cooning logs over
the same crooked little stream some half dozen times, we (Arch Conaway and
myself) found ourselves in a dense canebrake, and then in the midst of an
impassable swamp. Being lost, we struck out straight ahead, and finally came to
a farm-house; asked if we could purchase any potatoes, pork, or butter, and
were told "nary tater;" pushed on to the second house, and the same
question asked, and the same answer returned; ditto at the third house and the
fourth started on return; found an aged colored individual, who agreed to steal
us a small hog at night for the small consideration of ten dollars and a half.
No help for it. Must have a change of diet. [A story is told of a soldier in
this regiment, when at Port Hudson, which is appropriate in this connection.
He, like our author, needed a "change of diet," and slipped into a
farmer's hog-pen one night to get it. He saw, what appeared to him, a fine
large porker, lying fast asleep, and with practiced skill approached and
knocked it in the head with his axe. On attempting to turn it over he found his
game had been dead three or four days.]
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, p. 20-1
Yesterday we moved
back into civilization, and took up quarters in a swamp near the broad
Mississippi. Have a good camping-ground for this country, and if we can get
good rations, I think we will have a healthy regiment once more. We have been
through the flint-mills since we went into quarantine.
The men have
suffered a great deal from bowel complaints, colds, and measles: some have died
of small-pox, and but for the promptness of Surgeon McNelly in having us well
vaccinated, and the infected sent to the pest-house, we might have had a
serious time of it. We are now in better spirits, as we can see what is going
on and hear the news, besides having the advantage of the sunshine and facilities
for purchasing provisions, etc. While writing, I have been detailed as ship's
carpenter on board of a steamboat now fitting out to capture the Federal
gunboat Indianola, which passed our batteries at Vicksburg sometime since, and
has been annoying our transports between this point and Red River. The attempt
will be dangerous, and nothing but the exigency of the case would warrant the
undertaking.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, p. 22-3
Embarkation of the
Second Battery on the steamer Kill Von Kull, and of the Second Rhode Island
Infantry, on the State of Maine.
Early in the morning
the tents were struck, everything packed up, order was given to mount, and by
nine o'clock we commenced our march through Westminster street; from thence,
through South Main street, to India Point, where the steamers lay, and started
by about four o'clock in the afternoon. The docks were crowded immensely during
the day; the fair sex, especially, was strongly represented. Amid the pealing
of cannon and the farewell cheers of the multitude, we gradually distanced the
shore. Those present will well remember that memorable day. Gov. Sprague and
the patriotic Bishop Clark accompanied the Second Regiment, infantry, on the
State of Maine. On our approaching Fort Adams, we were saluted by the artillery
there. By nightfall, we were made acquainted with the first government ration—pilot
bread, the so-called salt-junk, and a cup of coffee. The meat was of a rather
poor quality, although it was served out with good grace by our respected
captain, W. H. Reynolds.
SOURCE: Theodore
Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 6
Camp near
Centreville. The troops remained quiet all day. Fresh beef as rations.
SOURCE: Theodore
Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 11
We are now camped upon the banks of Chicamauga, a name that has gone to history inscribed with deeds of blood. This evening companies D, H and I receive marching orders, and under the command of Lieutenant Sullivan of company I, (the captains of companies having been left back at Athens to settle their mule accounts with the A. Q. M,) we now move down the railroad. We stop and draw rations at Ringgold, after which we move on about two miles and go into camp for the night. The country every where along the railroad is all desolated. Trains pass up this evening from Atlanta loaded with wounded soldiers from Sherman's army, which tell us that there has been a fearful work of blood down there.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 246
We moved our camps from our picket posts seven miles from Orange Court House. On the turnpike from there to Fredericksburg, and commenced putting up winter quarters. On the 31st moved into them, and for the first time in a year or two we have with our rations some coffee, sugar and dried apples.
SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate
Soldier, p. 55
Bright and warm.
It is said there is
a movement of the enemy menacing our works on the north side of the river.
There was shelling down the river yesterday and day before, officially
announced by Gen. Lee—two of the enemy's monitors retired.
Gen. Longstreet says
“over 100 of Gen. Pickett's men are in the guard-house for desertion, and that
the cause of it may be attributed to the numerous reprieves, no one being
executed for two months.” Gen. Lee indorses on the paper: "Desertion is
increasing in the army, notwithstanding all my efforts to stop it. I think a
rigid execution of the law is mercy in the end. The great want in our army is
firm discipline." The Secretary of War sent it to the President "for
his information." The President sent it back with the following biting
indorsement:
"When deserters are arrested they should be tried, and if the
sentences are reviewed and remitted, that is not a proper subject for the
criticism of a military commander.—JEFF. DAVIS. November 29th, 1864."
Another dispatch
from Gen. Bragg:
AUGUSTA,
November 30th, 1864.—Following just received from Major Gen. Wheeler: “Four
Miles West Buckhead Church, November 29th, 9 P.M.—We fought Gen. Kilpatrick all
night and all day, charging him at every opportunity. Enemy fought stubbornly,
and left a considerable number of their killed. He stampeded, and came near
capturing Kilpatrick twice; but having a fleet horse, he escaped, bareheaded,
leaving his hat in our hands. Our own loss about 70, including the gallant Gen.
Robertson, severely wounded. Our troops all acted handsomely.”
Gen.
Robertson has arrived here. His left arm is badly broken at the elbow, but he
is doing well.—B. B.
Another dispatch of the same date:
To
establish our communications west, I have ordered the immediate repair of the
Georgia Railroad to Atlanta. With the exception of bridges, the damage is
reported as slight. We should also have a line of telegraph on that route.—B.
B.
I succeeded to-day
in buying of Government Quartermaster (Major Ferguson) four yards of dark-gray
cloth, at $12 per yard, for a full suit. The merchants ask $125 per yard—a
saving of $450. I hope to have it cut and made by one of the government
tailors, for about $50, trimmings included. A citizen tailor asks $350!
The Senate passed a
bill, yesterday, increasing my salary and Custis's $500, which we don't thank
them for unless we can buy rations, etc. at schedule prices. The money is
worthless when we go into the open market.
My landlord, Mr.
King, has gone into the grocery business; and, although he did not raise the
rent for the present year, still asked more upon my offer to pay the amount of
the first quarter to-day—$500, six months ago, were really worth more than
$1000 to-day. At that time I acknowledged the house would bring more than $500.
To-day it would rent for more than $1000. He left it to me to do what was
right. I think it right to pay $800 or $1000, and will do so.
This evening our
servant stepped into the yard just in time to save some clothes drying on the
line. A thief was in the act of stealing them, and made his escape, springing
over the fence into the alley.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 343-5
Bright, clear, and
warm.
A dispatch from Gen.
Bragg.
AUGUSTA,
December 3d, 6 P. M.— A strong force of the enemy's cavalry and infantry
advanced from Louisville and encamped last night six miles from Waynesborough.
They turned off this morning toward Savannah. Our cavalry is pressing in the
rear, and all available means is being thrown to their front by rail. There is
time yet for any assistance which can be spared, to be sent by way of Charleston.—B.
B.
The Northern papers
say our army under Hood in Tennessee has met with a great disaster. We are
still incredulous—although it may be true. If so, the President will suffer,
and Johnston and Beauregard will escape censure—both being supplanted in the
command by a subordinate.
Brig.-Gen. Preston
is still directing orders to Col. Shields, who is under the command of
Major-Gen. Kemper, and the conflict of conscription authorities goes on, while
the country perishes. Preston is a South Carolina politician—Kemper a
Virginian. Mr. Secretary Seddon leans to the former.
The law allowing
exemptions to owners of a certain number of slaves is creating an antislavery
party. The non-slaveholders will not long fight for the benefit of such a
"privileged class." There is madness in our counsels!
We are still favored
by Providence in our family. We have, at the market prices, some $800 worth of
provisions, fuel, etc., at the beginning of winter, and my son Thomas is well
clad and has his order for a month's rations of beef, etc., which we get as we
want it at the government shop near at hand in Broad Street. His pay and
allowances are worth some $4500 per annum.
Major Ferguson
having got permission of the Quartermaster-General to sell me a suit of
cloth-there being a piece too dark for the army, I got four yards, enough for
coat, pants, and vest, at $12 per yard—the price in the stores is $125; and I
have the promise of the government tailor to make it up for some $30 or $40,
the ordinary price being $350; the trimmings my family will furnish—if bought,
they would cost $100. Tom has bought a new black coat, made before the war, for
$175, the peace price $15, in specie, equivalent to $600. And my daughter Anne
has made three fine bonnets (for her mother, sister, and herself), from the
debris of old ones; the price of these would be $700. So I fear not but we
shall be fed and clad by the providence of God.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 346-7
Clear and frosty. Ice half an inch thick this morning. All quiet below.
Col. St. John, Niter and Mining Bureau, required 13,000 men to furnish ammunition, etc.
Col. Northrop, Commissary-General, reports only 15 days' bread rations in Richmond for 100,000 men, and that we must rely upon supplies hereafter from the Carolinas and Virginia alone. The difficulty is want of adequate transportation, of course. The speculators and railroad companies being in partnership, very naturally exclude the government from the track. The only remedy, the only salvation, in my opinion, is for the government to take exclusive control of the railroads, abate speculation, and change most of the quartermasters and commissaries.
Hon. J. B. Clarke proposed a resolution of inquiry in the House of Representatives, which was adopted, calling for the number and name of employees in the departments, and the State they were appointed from. Virginia has more than half of them.
Gen. Cooper, the Adjutant-General, Northern by birth, turned out twenty of his eighty clerks yesterday, to replace them with ladies.
It is said and believed that Sherman's cavalry has reached Milledgeville, and destroyed the public buildings, etc.
We have nothing from Wheeler since the 18th inst.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 337-8
Clear, and warm as summer almost.
Another dispatch from Bragg:
"AUGUSTA, November 28th, 1864.—On the 26th instant, the enemy started a heavy cavalry force in this direction, from his main body near Sandersville; Gen. Wheeler promptly following, leaving a portion of his force to confront Sherman. Kilpatrick reached vicinity of Waynesborough yesterday, where Wheeler overtook and attacked him. A running fight has continued to this time; the advantage with us. We are driving them toward Millen. Young's command has just arrived, and will go forward to Wheeler, who will, I hope, be able to mount most of them from his captures. Devastation marks the enemy's route. Hear nothing from the movements of the enemy's infantry, since Wheeler left their front. I fear they may cross the Savannah, and make for Beaufort. It is perfectly practicable."
The number of deserters, under General Order 65, received here and sent to Abingdon, Va., is 1224 men.
Senator Waldo P. Johnson, Missouri, told me he would move, to-day, to allow the civil officers, etc. to buy rations and clothes of government, at schedule prices. This would be better than an increase of salary.
No movements below, to-day, that I hear of.
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston was at the department to-day, and was warmly greeted by his friends. If Sherman's campaign should be a success, Johnston will be a hero; if the reverse, he will sink to rise no more. A sad condition, for one's greatness to depend upon calamity to his country!
This morning it is
raining; we are now out of rations; report to the regiment on Blue Water, where
we go into camp and draw from the teams three days' rations, and after feeding
and enjoying each a quart of fine coffee, as good (so we thought then) as any
woman ever made, we again receive orders to saddle up and be off. We proceed
back to Raw Hide, where we join Company K, who came before us in the morning.
Our orders are to remain here and patrol the river between this point and Eastport.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 229-30
The weather has been
fine recently and there have been some indications of a move. Yesterday we were
ordered to cook one day's rations and be ready to march, but it has turned very
cold to-day and everything is quiet again.
About ten days ago I
succeeded in buying some turnips and cabbage, and I found them most delightful
for a change until our box from home arrived. Everything in it was in excellent
condition except the sweet potatoes. It contained ten gallons of kraut, ten of
molasses, forty pounds of flour, twelve of butter, one-half bushel of Irish
potatoes, one-half peck of onions, about one peck of sausage, one ham, one side
of bacon and some cabbage. I am expecting Edwin to visit me to-morrow and I
shall offer him part of the kraut and some of the molasses, but he is so
independent I am afraid he will not accept it.
I saw Colonel Hunt's
wife yesterday, and she is the first lady with whom I have conversed since my
return in December. He pays ten dollars a day board for himself and wife at a
house near our camp.
Dr. Tyler has had
his furlough extended twenty days by the Secretary of War, and will not return
before February. I have been alone for over four weeks. I have had such a quiet
time that I have been reading Shakespeare some recently. I received a letter
from Robert Land's wife begging me to give her husband a sick furlough, and I
told him to write her that if he could ever get sick again he certainly should
go at once.
The postmaster is
here and I must close.
SOURCE: Dr. Spencer
G. Welch, A Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 88-9
Colonel McNairy
started home on a furlough on account of ill health, leaving Captain Allison in
command of the battalion.
Allison received
orders to cross the river and report to Zollicoffer's headquarters as soon as
his men could cook three days' rations. We did not have three days’ rations,
but we cooked what we had, went to the river and commenced crossing, when, on
learning that we did not have the requisite amount of rations, Zollicoffer
ordered Allison to go back to camps and cook the rations, which he ordered the
brigade commissary to furnish. As soon as we had cooked our rations Allison
crossed the river and reported to our General that the First Battalion was
ready to move. Our Captain soon after returned and reported that the order to
cross the river was countermanded.
Mr. Andy Bogle, from
Cannon County, Tennessee, came in a carriage after Clabe Francis, a member of
Allison's Company, who was sick.
SIR: A rebel
steamboat passed Burkesville yesterday at 12 o'clock, loaded with men and
cannon and other arms, clothing, &c.
I send 300 cavalry
to heights on this side to intercept it, if possible. I will move with 300 of
Third Kentucky and the Nineteenth Ohio to an advantageous position at the mouth
of Renick's Creek, 2½ miles above Burkesville, on the Cumberland. I shall move
the whole force here to Burkesville. It is only 4 miles farther from Glasgow
than Columbia. I am not willing to see the Cumberland surrendered, without a
struggle, to Zollicoffer and the rebel invaders. If this movement is wrong, it
can be censured. I know it will be right if we whip the scoundrels and wrong if
otherwise. More boats are expected up. If we delay much longer the enemy will
have time to bring his re-enforcements from Texas and Louisiana.
We have no cannon,
and must rely on our rifles to take off the men from the boats. With one piece
of artillery the boats could be torn to atoms or sunk.
Can you not send me
a section of a battery? I have ordered your commissary to supply rations to the
troops about to move.
