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
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
November 28.
My decision to resign my commission was a little depressing, and may have had some influence in bringing on the attack of vertigo, but once decided upon and another surgeon found to take my place it has given me no more trouble. When a surgeon has not enough physical vigor to meet the ordinary exigencies of a regiment in the field, it is clearly his duty to resign, regardless of personal attachments or his own choice. After five months of struggle for strength to endure work in this climate, I take this step. To have sustained the relation of surgeon to the 1st S. C. Vols. and to have found in these brave freedmen, the noble, soldierly qualities which history will celebrate, and, above all, to have found such an unlooked for wealth of intellect, music and religion, is not this experience running over with compensation? As I think of it I am ashamed of any regrets at leaving and filled only with gratitude that I have been permitted to help this race begin to assert its rights to freedom. .
Since our skirmish with the rebels the other day they have condescended to ask a flag of truce with the Major of our regiment who was in command at the picket. The regiment returned to camp today. This is peculiarly gratifying since it indicates that they are compelled to respect the bravery of negro soldiers. They evidently mourn over the loss of their dogs a good deal more than over the loss of an equal or greater number of officers and soldiers. Uncle York says he "sposes ebery dog's wuth mo'n ten mens to de revels."
Capt. Rogers prepared the skin and bones of one of the dogs and took it North to be set up. His good boy "Si" for whom he risked his life at the Ferry, last summer, was followed by some of this same pack of hounds while escaping from bondage. He has gone to New York with the Captain.
SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 396-7
December 2, 1863.
Today is the anniversary of the date of my commission of surgeon, and today I have tendered its resignation on surgeon's certificate of disability. If it gets perfectly red-taped by the first of the year I shall be glad.
Rained all night,
but bright this morning.
We have no clear
account yet of the fighting yesterday; but we know the enemy was repulsed on
this side of the river. It is thought that the operations on the south side
were of greater magnitude, where we lost a brigadier-general (Dearing) of
cavalry. We shall know all in a few days. The fighting was not resumed this
morning.
It is rumored that
Mr. Seddon will resign, and be succeeded by Gen. Kemper. I am incredulous.
The
"dog-catchers," as the guards are called, are out again, arresting
able-bodied men (and sometimes others) in the streets, and locking them up
until they can be sent to the front. There must be extraordinary danger
anticipated by the authorities to induce a resort to so extreme a measure.
Two P.M. No news
from the field—no cannon heard to-day.
Large amounts of
cloth from Europe for the army have recently arrived at Wilmington, N. C.; but
the speculators occupy so much space in the cars, that transportation cannot be
had for it. The poor soldiers are likely to suffer in consequence of this
neglect of duty on the part of the government.
I have been kept for
a week, and am still, in a state of great anxiety about the dangerous political
excitements at home. The President has taken an attitude less friendly to the
secessionists. This has been owing, it would seem, to the occupation of Fort
Moultrie and the seizure of a revenue cutter, in the harbour of Charleston, by
the South Carolina authorities. General Floyd, as Secretary of War, had pledged
his honour to Governor Pickens that there should be no change in the status of
the fortifications in the harbour.
Major Anderson, in
command, with prudent strategy, shifted his little garrison of twenty men from
Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. The South Carolina Commissioners at Washington
protested, alleging breach of faith. Floyd demanded orders to Anderson to go
back. The President declined. Governor Pickens sent militia into Fort Moultrie
and seized a United States cutter. Floyd resigned on 29th of December, and his
resignation was quietly accepted on the 31st by the President, who appointed
Postmaster-General Holt to conduct the department until a successor was named.
The President has addressed Congress, announced his determination to protect
the property and collect the revenue of the United States with all the power at
his disposal, and is said to have directed the frigate Brooklyn to be held in
readiness at Norfolk, while two revenue cutters are proceeding to Charleston
harbour, on board which a new Collector, McIntyre, of Pennsylvania, will exact
the duties on imports. In the interim reinforcements are being sent to Southern
garrisons, as a determination to seize them has shown itself in Georgia,
Alabama, and North Carolina. These facts, if well founded, place the country in
imminent risk of civil war; and if, at the bottom of the whole, there exist, as
Mr. Daniel, our Minister to Turin, vehemently assured me on Monday last was the
case, an immense majority in the South who desire disunion and have been preparing
to accomplish it for twenty years, it would seem that a sanguinary convulsion
is unavoidable. Perhaps a large movement of militia, similar to the one made by
Washington in 1794 against our Whiskey Insurrection, would overawe the
disaffected and restore tranquillity. Certainly, South Carolina has taken, by
capturing forts and cutters, a more decisively insurrectionary character than
could be attributed to the disorderly riots of Pennsylvania.
My old friend
"Betsey Bonaparte" and her son have enlisted Berryer and Legrand in a
trial to come off on the 25th inst., before the Court of First Instance in
Paris, asserting the validity of the marriage of Jerome in Baltimore in 1803,
and claiming to share in the property he has left. If the marriage be sustained,
the necessary result would be the illegitimacy of Prince Napoleon and Princess
Mathilde. Here is fine garbage for Imperial scandal! and "Betsey" is
not one, though she can't lack much of eighty, to shrink in the pursuit of
money or to be scared by a crown.
APRIL, 1, 1861
RESOLVED, that in
the resignation of the late superintendent Colonel W. T. Sherman, the Academic
Board deem it not improper to express their deep conviction of the loss the
institution has sustained in being thus deprived of an able head. They cannot
fail to appreciate the manliness of character which has always marked the
actions of Colonel Sherman. While he is personally endeared to many of them as
a friend they consider it their high pleasure to tender to him in this
resolution their regret on his separation, and their sincere wish for his
future welfare.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 375
I received about
nine o'clock Saturday night, your telegraphic dispatch, which I have this
moment answered, “I cannot accept."
I have quite a large
family, and when I resigned my place in Louisiana, on account of secession, I
had no time to lose; and, therefore, after my hasty visit to Washington, where
I saw no chance of employment, I came to St. Louis; have accepted a place in
this company, have rented a house, and incurred other obligations, so that I am
not at liberty to change.
I thank you for the
compliment contained in your offer, and assure you that I wish the
administration all success in its almost impossible task of governing this
distracted and anarchical people.
The Arabia brings the news that Secretary Cobb has resigned. He goes then to join the Disunionists, who, in Georgia, object to joint, but are in favor of separate, secession. Mr. Cobb is forty-five years of age; before he becomes sixty, he will have discovered that a good cause is really only injured by violence, and best promoted by calm and steady action; he will then have become, for he has ample ability, a safe American statesman.
The news in no respect diminishes the gloom of affairs in the United States. The situation is deplorable already, and worse is in prospect. I think it at once proper and becoming to manifest sympathy with my countrymen in their present trials. I have, therefore, declined Mr. Bates's invitation to the New-Year festivities at Sheen. It is impossible to be merry when one's country is gasping for breath.
China news is highly interesting. The first Napoleon has been always condemned by the British press for despoiling the academies and temples of Italy of their treasures of art, which he collected in his gallery of the Louvre. Still, they vindicated the burning of our Capitol and White House in 1814 by Ross; they bombarded the superb private residence of Prince Woronzow at Odessa; and here they are again, this time conjointly with the French, avowedly plundering and carrying off the ornaments and comforts of an imperial summer palace! War necessarily leads to excesses, which every effort should be made to restrict as much as possible. What conceivable benefit to the cause in which they are engaged could the allies derive from purloining pictures, statuary, and articles of novelty? But such are the two heads of European civilization. The French have made a separate convention, after the Treaty of Peace, bargaining for liberty to carry off coolies (hem!), for a recognition of Catholicism throughout China, and an indemnity of twelve millions of dollars! Pretty well for Louis Napoleon, and better, considering his looting, for Marshal Montauban.
BATON ROUGE, Jan. 27, 1861.
MY DEAR SHERMAN: It
is with the deepest regret that the enclosed papers are forwarded to you. I am
so occupied with other matters that I do not know what the Board of Supervisors
have done or will do about your successor. Dr. Smith has made arrangements, I
think, to settle your salary as ordnance officer.
The ordinance
of secession passed the convention yesterday by a very large vote, and a
convention of Southern States will immediately meet to organize a new
confederacy. It will be in operation - a de facto government – before the 4th
of March. We hope this course will lead to a peaceable solution of the matters.
A separation is inevitable - nothing can prevent it now. Why should there be
any strife over it?
Still it is not for
individuals to control these matters. We can only strive and hope.
Wherever you go my
fervent prayers attend you for success and happiness. . .
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 351
BATON ROUGE, January
28, 1861.
MY DEAR SIR: Your
letter was duly received, and would have been answered ere this time could I
have arranged sooner the matter of the five hundred dollars. I shall go from
here to New Orleans to-day or to-morrow, and will remain there till Saturday
after next, perhaps. I shall expect to meet you there, as indicated in your
note to me.
I need not tell you
that it is with no ordinary regret that I view your determination to leave us,
for really I believe that the success of our institution, now almost assured,
is jeopardized thereby. I am sure that we will never have a superintendent with
whom I shall have more pleasant relations than those which have existed between
yourself and me.
I fully appreciate
the motives which have induced you to give up a position presenting so many
advantages to yourself, and sincerely hope that you may, in any future
enterprise, enjoy the success which your character and ability merit and
deserve. . .
Colonel Bragg
informs me that the necessary orders have been given for the transfer and
receipt by Major Smith of the public property.
I herewith transmit
a request to the secretary to convene the Board of Supervisors, that they may
act as seems best to them in the premises.
In the mean time,
Major Smith will command by seniority the cadets, and the Academic Board will
be able to conduct the scientific exercises of the institution until the Board
of Supervisors can have time to act. . .
P.S. Governor Moore desires
me to express his profound regret that the state is about to lose one who we
all fondly hoped had cast his destinies for weal or for woe among us; and that
he is sensible that we lose an officer whom it will be difficult, if not
impossible, to replace.
SOURCE: Walter
L. Fleming, General W.T. Sherman as College President, p. 353-4
ALEXANDRIA, January
31, 1861.
DEAR SIR: A meeting
of the Board of Supervisors is called by instruction of Dr. S. A. Smith,
vice-president, at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 9, in Alexandria.
May I ask your
attendance, and your influence, with your neighbors for their attendance, as
Dr. Smith's absence will make a quorum hard to get.
Business of
importance will be laid before you, embracing the steps made imperatively
necessary, by my withdrawal from my present duties of superintendent and
treasurer. I have a sealed letter from Dr. Smith to the Board, and I cannot
tell whether he intends to be present or not.
NOTE BY GRAHAM
ENDORSED ON THE ABOVE
Have you received
notice to attend any such meeting? This letter of Colonel Sherman's is all I
know about it. I fear Sherman is to be chiselled out of the five hundred
dollars a year engaged to be paid him in the Arsenal bill of last year. That
bill authorizes it “to be paid quarterly on his own warrant.” The auditor, or
treasurer, one or the other, I understand will not pay it because it was not in
the Appropriation Bill, thanks to the experience and sagacity of some of our
friends. Once Colonel Sherman leaves here, he will neither come back, nor send
back to ask for it.
I am going to New
Orleans, whither I have been trying to get off for more than three months. My
trunk has been in Alexandria for that purpose since Sunday, and I must go on
the "Burton" on Thursday — but I wish that you gentlemen would do
what I should do myself if present: propose to and urge on the Board the passage
of a Resolution directing the vice-president to pay Colonel S. the full amount
due him on that score up to the day of his withdrawal, out of the Seminary
funds, and then take Colonel Sherman's warrant, on the auditor for the amount,
which when appropriated by the legislature would thus be returned to the
Seminary funds.
The increase of his
salary in that manner, was a part of the inducement to him to decline the
appointment to London, and I am sure there was no intention any where to
deceive or disappoint him, and under all the attendant circumstances now no
consideration whatever ought to be allowed to interfere with his immediate
reception of it, and I hope you gentlemen will urge and insist on it.
February 14, 1861.
SIR: I am instructed
by the Board of Supervisors of this institution to present a copy of the resolutions
adopted by them at their last meeting:
RESOLVED, that the
thanks of the Board of Supervisors are due, and are hereby tendered, to Colonel
William T. Sherman for the able and efficient manner in which he has conducted
the affairs of the Seminary during the time the institution has been under his
control – a period attended with unusual difficulties, requiring on the part of
the superintendent to successfully overcome them a high order of administrative
talent. And the Board further bear willing testimony to the valuable services
that Colonel Sherman has rendered them in their efforts to establish an
institution of learning in accordance with the beneficient design of the State
and Federal Governments; evincing at all times a readiness to adapt himself to
the ever-varying requirements of an institution of learning in its infancy,
struggling to attain a position of honor and usefulness.
RESOLVED further,
that, in accepting the resignation of Colonel Sherman as superintendent of the
State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy, we tender to him assurances of
our high personal regard , and our sincere regret at the occurrence of causes
that render it necessary to part with so esteemed and valued a friend, as well
as co-laborer in the cause of education.
POWHATAN CLARKE,
secretary to the Board.
