The Colonel sent in his resignation this morning. It will go to Department head-quarters tomorrow.
Saw the new moon over my right shoulder this evening, which I accept as an omen of good luck. Let it come. It will suit me just as well now as at any time. If deceived, I shall never more have faith in the moon; and as for the man in the moon, I shall call him a cheat to his face.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 101
The devil is to pay in the regiment. The Colonel is doing his utmost to create a disturbance. His friends are busy among the privates. At noon an effort was made to get up a demonstration on the color line in his behalf. Now a petition is being circulated among the privates requesting Major Keifer and me to resign.
The night is as dark as pitch. A few minutes ago a shout went up for the Colonel, and was swelled from point to point along the line of company tents, until now possibly five hundred voices have joined in the yell. The Colonel's friends tell the boys that if he were to remain he would obtain leave for the regiment to go back to Camp Dennison to recruit; that he was about to obtain rifles and Zouave uniforms for them, and that there is a conspiracy among the officers to crush him.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 101-2
Petitions from four companies, embracing two hundred and twenty-five names, have been presented, requesting the Major and Lieutenant-Colonel to resign.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 102
The Colonel's resignation has been accepted. He delivered his valedictory to the regiment this evening. Subsequently he passed through the company quarters, shaking hands with the boys and bidding them farewell. Still later he made a speech, in which he called God to witness that he was a loyal man, and promised to pray for us all. The regiment is disorderly, if not mutinous even. The best thing he can do for it and himself is to get out.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 103
The Colonel returned at noon. I was among the first to visit him. He greeted me very cordially, and called God to witness that he had never spoken a disparaging word of me. Busy bodies and liars, he said, had created all the trouble between us. He had heard that charges were to be preferred against him; he knew they could not be sustained, and believed it an attempt of his enemies to injure him and prevent his promotion. He affirmed that he had enlisted from the purest of motives, and entered into a general defense of his acts as an officer and gentleman. I listened respectfully to his statement, and then said: "Colonel, if your conduct has been such as you describe, you need not fear an investigation. I hold in my hand the charges and specifications of which you have heard. They are signed by my hand. I make them believing them to be true. If false, the court will so find, and I shall be the one to suffer. If true, you are unfit to command this regiment or any other, and it should be known. I present the charges to you, the commanding officer of the Third Regiment, and with them a written request that they be forwarded to the General commanding the division." He took the package, tore open the envelope, and seated himself while he read.
In less than an hour Captains Lawson and Wing called on me to report that the Colonel would resign if I would withdraw the charges. I consented to do so.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 97-8
The naval
nominations were confirmed as submitted. I have labored hard to have as little
wrong committed as possible, and yet I fear injustice may have been done to
some worthy officers.
Randall, appointed
Postmaster-General in place of Dennison, this day attended the Cabinet-meeting,
and Harlan sent in his resignation. He was at the meeting of the Cabinet, but
made no mention of it at that time.
Mr. Stanbery, the
Attorney-General, read the rough notes, as he called them, of an embryo report
on the subject of filling vacancies. The paper possesses ability.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, p. 563
This has been a cold, blustry day, and the Regiment has been out skirmishing. They found no enemy; bought a little corn, and came home.
All is conjecture here as to the intention of our leaders. My conjecture is that outside pressure will compel us to do something within the next fifteen days, or lose still more confidence. But what can we do? Nothing, here. The roads are impracticable for artillery—the weather too bad to fight. If we do anything we must go south. I am getting very tired of this, and wish I could feel that it would be proper for me to resign.
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. 75
Raymond is reported
to have played the harlequin and again deserted. Although it is difficult to
believe that one of his culture and information could make such an exhibit of
himself, I am prepared to credit any folly of his. He has clearly no
principles, no integrity, and is unconscious how contemptible he appears. Under
Weed's teaching he has destroyed himself.
The President
informs me that Dennison has handed in his resignation. His reasons are his
adherence to the Republican Party. He was president of the national convention
which nominated Lincoln and Johnson, and has imbibed the impression that his
character is involved, that his party obligations are paramount to all other
considerations. He has been trained and disciplined. In due time he will be a
wise man.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, pp. 552-3
Senator Doolittle
took breakfast with me this morning. He is pleased that a cane on which there
had been great competition at the fair between him and Senator Harris had been
voted to him. The rivalry had run the cane up to over $3000. I, of course, was
glad he was victor.
Doolittle says my
letter was complimented by men of all parties in the Senate and that Senators
referred to my reports and other writings in flattering terms. Blair says it was
read at a meeting at his house the evening before publication, and that, about
fifty being present, they, every man, extolled it, although men of different
shades of politics and parties were present.
There are flying
rumors that Speed and Harlan, and some say Stanton, have sent in their
resignations. It is excessively warm and I have not thought proper to call on
the President and inquire. Possibly Speed has resigned, though I have some
doubts; more as regards Harlan; and I am incredulous as regards Stanton.
SOURCE: Gideon
Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and
Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864 — December 31, 1866, pp. 553-4
At 8½ Oc we started
from our moorings at the boat landing in ft Pickering Memphis Tenn we left
Seargent R Murdock & 6 privates from our Co Gin hospital & our 1st Lieut
Wm M McCreary was taken from the hospital last evening & put in a packet
for St Louis where he intends going into hospital he has been quite poorly
since the 1st of Dec not one day able for duty & from our election of Co
officers on the 14th of Aug he was not one hour with us untill the 1st of Oct
& was quite unwell by times between the 1st of Oct & the 1st of Dec. He
has now resigned & there will be another Lieut to appoint at ¼ to 3 Oc afternoon we landed at Hellena
Arkansas it is a low muddy place with numerous ponds of filthy green looking
watter, it is small villedge built of frame
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, pp. 101-2
Cannonading in the
direction of Bridgeport. The President is making speeches to the soldiers—telling
them that they will be in the heart of Middle Tennessee in two weeks. Captain
Feeney has sent in his resignation, which, if accepted, will deprive us of one
of the best officers in the regiment.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, p. 369
Camp Cairo, Illinois.
. . . colder than ever morning Drill as usual. Our Co. is on Police Duty to day
L. F. Williams Captain of the Guard to day by order of H. A. Rust
Capt. Parke Capt.
Merrill & Liut Stout are to day placed under arrest—by order of that
Benevolent Old Creature, Col. Buford. The nature of the charges to be preferred
against them is still a mystery to all. but some of the more knowing ones are
slyly hinting around that a petition has been gotten up here in camp, setting
forth the objections to Col. Buford as a Col. & respectfully soliciting him
to resign his Office, & that said petition has been signed by said Officers
for which offense his majesty has seen fit to place them under arrest: how true
this is remains to be seen.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230
DEPARTMENT OF STATE, February 26, 1853
MY DEAR COLLEAGUE, I
informed General Pierce that you propose to tender your resignation on the 4th
of March, but that if he desires it, you are willing to continue to act till
your successor is appointed. He stated in reply that he would be gratified to
have you pursue this course.
Having been
requested to prepare a form of resignation to be used by all the members of
President Fillmore's cabinet, I transmit you the inclosed. If it meets your
approbation, please sign and return it to me. I will see that it is placed in
General Pierce's hands at the proper time.
SOURCE: Ann Mary
Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With
Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 58
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 4, 1853.
SIR,—I have the
honor to acknowledge the reception of your letter of this date, tendering to me
the resignation of your office as Attorney-General, and expressing your
readiness to continue in the discharge of your official duties until a
successor shall have been appointed.
I highly appreciate
the considerations of courtesy and of public duty which induced this act, and
with great satisfaction avail myself of your proffered service.
SOURCE: Ann Mary
Butler Crittenden Coleman, Editor, The Life of John J. Crittenden: With
Selections from His Correspondence and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 58
Our troops are rapidly
evacuating Norfolk, and as all of them pass through Suffolk, we are, as a
matter of course, in a high state of excitement. It goes hard with our troops
to see such places as Yorktown and Norfolk given up without a struggle, but we
have every confidence in our leaders, and hope for the best.
To-day we completed
the reörganization of our company—our officers now being
Edgar F. Moseley, Captain.
Benjamin H. Smith, Senior First Lieutenant.
Henry C. Carter, Junior First Lieutenant.
James S. Utz, Second Lieutenant.
First Lieutenant,
John M. West, declined to serve, and sent in his resignation, making an
appropriate speech. We part with him with regret, for no kinder heart than his
ever beat within the breast of man.
To-day our
"right section," under the command of Lieutenant Smith, left for Zuni
station on the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad. We will leave in a day or so.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 114-5
Still clear &
cold Routine of Drill gone through with. Battalion Drill this forenoon and
afternoon. One of the Orders published on Dress Parade this evening—was the
acceptance of the resignation of Lieut. Buchanan of Comp B. this Regt.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230
Was elected major of the regiment in place of Chester resigned. It was hard for me to give up my company, but I should not decline promotion, as my promotion will give it to others—I trust I may always be able to do my duty.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 9
December 29th, 1862.
As I was sitting by my cosy fire last evening—for we have evenings here, long, dreary ones—thinking of past events and trying, with my weak vision, to pierce the dark future, the thought occurred to me where is all the trust and confidence with which I started out, and which cheered and sustained me until our late defeat? Have we made no advance? Surely we have made blunders, but will we not profit by them? We are learning the art of war—time is required to change a citizen into a soldier. Our officers are being weighed the light weights cast aside or relegated to their class—and the good work will go on until one is found of size and weight to cope with Lee. 'Tis said, "Great generals are born, not made;" that true greatness is also modest, and does not vaunt itself; but our President is on the lookout for him and will find him—never fear—one who has the genius to plan, the will to do, the nerve to dare. As I pondered, hope returned and all my gloomy forebodings fled away.
As I was about to retire for the night, our door was thrown open and some letters were handed in. Among them was one for me. I recognized the well-known hand—tore open the envelope, and, after perusing the welcome contents over and over again, I went to bed and dreamed of home.
Inexpressibly dear, to the soldier, are letters from home. It is interesting to stand by as the mail is being distributed, and, as the names are called, witness the animated, joyful expression that illuminates the countenance of the happy recipients, while those less favored retire to their tents disappointed and sad.
Captain Goldsmith has returned, but will not stay long, as he has sent in his resignation. The regiment is hard at work building winter quarters. Our houses are all built after the same pattern-eight feet by ten in size, five feet high-rafters one-fourth pitch, covered with tent cloth. The different companies are separated by streets one rod wide. The men do not work with very good heart, as they expect orders to leave as soon as finished. They say this has been their experience in the past.
Contrary to expectations, the health of the men does not improve with frosty nights. Diarrhea, colds and rheumatism prevail, with now and then a case of fever.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 24-5
Another day of sleet and
gloom. The pavements are almost impassable from the enamel of ice; large
icicles hang from the houses, and the trees are bent down with the weight of
frost.
The mails have failed, and
there is no telegraphic intelligence, the wires being down probably. It rained
very fast all day yesterday, and I apprehend the railroad bridges have been
destroyed in many places.
The young men (able-bodied)
near the Secretary of War and the Assistant Secretary, at the War Department,
say, this morning, that both have resigned.
It is said the Kentucky
Congressmen oppose the acceptance of the portfolio of war by Gen. Breckinridge.
Whoever accepts it must
reform the conscription business and the passport business, else the cause will
speedily be lost. Most of our calamities may be traced to these two sources.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp
Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 394-5
Cloudy and thawing.
No war news, but it
is known Sherman's army is not quiet, and must soon be heard from in spite of
the interdict of the government.
It is said Mr.
Trenholm, Secretary of the Treasury, is in the market buying gold, and that the
fall has already been from $50 to $30 for one.
Corn-meal has risen
from $50 up to $75 per bushel. Flour to $500 per barrel.
Vice-President
Stephens has not left the city, but presides in the Senate.
Messrs. B. Woolley,
Hart & Co., Nassau, N. P., write most pressing letters for the liquidation
of their claims against the Confederate States Government. Perhaps they are
becoming alarmed after making prodigious profits, etc.
Conner's brigade and
other troops are en route for South Carolina from Lee's army.
Judge Campbell,
Assistant Secretary of War, was smoked out of his room to-day, and came into
mine.
The judge, however,
does but little more just now than grant passports into the enemy's lines;
permission to speculators to bring into the city supplies for sale, often under
pretense of being intended for their own use; exemptions, details, etc. If he
were disposed, he could realize a million of dollars.
It is said the Hon.
A. R. Wright went North to get his son paroled, who is in prison there.
Judge Campbell talks
of resigning.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 378-9
