Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, November 27, 1862

This is Thanksgiving Day as ordered by the President of the United States. Spent the day in the woods on picket duty. My dinner was hard tack and ham; day exceedingly pleasant. Thought of friends at home but do not regret being where I am. We are brigaded with the 4th Minnesota, 48th Indiana and 59th Indiana—Colonel Sanborn commanding brigade, General Quimby's division, General Hamilton's corps, General Grant's army of the West.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 4

Major-General Henry Wager Halleck to Elizabeth Hamilton Halleck, December 14, 1861

St. Louis, Dec. 14, 1861.

MY DEAR WIFE: It is Saturday night and pretty late at that. My week’s work is ended and a hard one it has been. To-morrow I shall rest, at least a part of the time. Schuyler (Hamilton), Cullum and the other members of the staff, are pretty well worked out, but I feel in better working order than when I first came here. I have often felt that my powers of labor had never been fully tested, but now I have as much as I can possibly do. The task before me is immense, but I feel that I can accomplish it. I believe I can say it without vanity that I have talent for command and administration. At least I have seen no one here who can accomplish half so much in twenty-four hours as I do. I never go to bed leaving anything of the day's business undone. Nearly all back business is cleaned up, and everything is getting straightened out and put in its place. This is very encouraging and I begin to see my way through the chaos and corruption which Fremont left behind him. Of course all his satellites abuse me in the newspapers, but this does not annoy me in the least.

I enclose a letter just received from Mrs. Sherman. How do you suppose I answered it? I could not say her husband was not crazy, for certainly he has acted insane. Not wishing to hurt her feelings by telling her what I thought, and being unwilling to say what I did not believe, I treated the whole matter as a joke, and wrote her that I would willingly take all the newspapers said against General Sherman, if he would take all they said against me, for I was certain to gain by the exchange!

SOURCE: T. F. Rodenbough, Editor, Journal of the Military Service Institution of the United States, Volume 36, Issue 135: May-June 1905, p. 554

Captain Charles Wright Wills: March 29, 1863

Camp at Lagrange, Tenn., March 29, 1863.

All perfectly quiet except the regular picket firing every night which here exceeds anything I ever before met in my experience. ’Tis singular, too, for we have a large force of cavalry here and I should think the rascals would hardly dare to venture so near them. A few days since three guerrillas came up to one of our cavalry pickets, and while he was examining one of their passes the others watching their chance gobbled him. They at once retreated. The sergeant of the picket heard a little noise on the post and just got there in time to see the secesh disappear. He raised the alarm, and a party followed them on the run for 15 miles, rescued our man, killed three and captured four of the rascals, Yesterday some of Richardson's men displaced a rail on the track ten miles west of this place, and captured a train. They got away with their prisoners, but hadn't time to destroy the cars. ’Tisn't safe to go three miles from camp now, although 100 men can go 40 miles in any direction safely. Do you hear of any deserters returning under the President's proclamation? I hope to the Lord that my black sheep won't come back. A letter came for him to-day, and I opened it. ’Twas from his father advising him to get out of this “Abolishun” war as quickly as he could. His “Pa and Ma” are welcome to him. Generals Sullivan, Denver and Hamilton have all left this country within the last few days, for Vicksburg. General Smith commands our division now. We are now in the 2d Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps. The colonel of the 6th Iowa is the ranking officer in the brigade but he is now sick, so Colonel Wolcott of the 46th Ohio now runs. Two captains of the 46th Ohio, and myself have been constituted by Smith a “Board of Survey,” to appraise damages committed by our army in the property of loyal citizens here. I think he has just done it to get the citizens off his hands. Have no idea that they will ever be allowed anything for their losses. There were three bills, each over $2,500. sent in to us yesterday. I hope the general will allow us to drop the business this week; if he will not, however, we can be kept busy for almost any length of time. By Smith’s orders the reveille is sounded now at 4 o'clock a. m. and the men appear with arms and accoutrements, and form line of battle. This is to avoid any bad consequnces which follow a Rebel cavalry dash at daylight, if we should be found in our tents. I think 'tis an excellent policy to be always ready for the enemy, but I declare I dislike this early rising very much.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 165-6

Captain Charles Wright Wills: January 4, 1863

January 4, 1863.

There I quit, for we received orders to get ready at once to march to Jackson, Tenn. The colonel ordered me to take charge of the train (wagons) and with my company guard it through by the wagon road, while the other nine companies went through by railroad. The regiment got off that evening, but I was delayed until the 31st, when just as I got my company into line to start a couple of the finest houses in town took fire, and burned down. The colonel commanding the 15th Illinois Infantry, which had just arrived, put me under arrest and stationed a guard around my company, but after an hour's detention, my strong protestations against arrest and my arguments in favor of the honorable acquital of my men of the charges, induced him to allow us to proceed on our way. By Lieutenant Mattison's personal smartness the train was taken from the road in the p. m., while I was ahead selecting camping grounds for the night, and I did not get with it for two days, which I traveled alone. The distance is about 90 miles. The first night I stayed at Holly Springs and slept in the bed which General Pemberton, Van Dorn and Lovell of the Rebel Army, and Hamilton, of ours, in turn occupied. 'Twas in the room they occupied for headquarters. Mrs. Stricklin, the lady of the house, was charming. Her husband is a major in the Rebel Army. I ate my New Year's dinner at Dr. Ellis'. He was not at home, but his lady treated me very politely, and I give her credit for having the noblest face I ever saw on woman. She is a sister of Rebel General Hindman. Stayed at a private house at Lagrange that night (Mrs. Cockes) and heard some delightful music made by a daughter. Saw seven mounted Rebels on the 2d, and felt uneasy traveling alone, but got through safe to Bolivar. Here I caught up with my train which I thought was behind. When we started my men were on foot, when I caught up with them at Bolivar, 38 of them were mounted on horses or mules. Stayed at Medon Station last night, and arrived here at 3 this p. m., all safe. I have to go back to Holly Springs to-morrow to testify against the 109th for disloyalty.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 140

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: June 6, 1862

Headquarters 1st Brigade Cavalry Division,

Camp near Boonville, Miss., June 6, 1862.

I am leading an inglorious life now, nothing to do but the brigade writing and ride with the colonel when he goes out on business. The only time I am on the fighting list is when the brigade goes out, and that is very rarely, and only when reconnoisances in force are made, and there is seldom any fighting done then. General Hamilton's whole division marched by our tent to-day and it was a splendid sight; I had thought that I'd never want to see any more troops but his division looked so splendidly, that I really enjoyed the sight of them. I knew that they were only marching into a new camp, but they all had got the idea that they were going into a fight and they were in grand spirits. I never saw the men look as healthy as they do now. One reason is those who were sick have been all left at the river and the weakly ones do not pretend to march in the ranks this hot weather. We are within one hundred yards of General Pope's headquarters and there are continually a lot of brigadiers passing. They nearly always ride on the gallop, and with the aids and escorts all told, say 60 in number to each general, they make quite a dashing appearance. Rosecrans, Buell, Granger, Smith, Sherman, T. W., Plummer, Paine, Hamilton and Pope all rode by at one time to-day.

All the companies we have had out to-day report skirmishing with the enemy We lost two men prisoners, some wounded and several horses. Got some prisoners. The enemy are in some force six miles from here. They are dodging all around us. Rumor says to-day that Buell with his army is going down through Alabama to Montgomery. Pope will move slowly after the enemy through Mississippi, and Thomas will go across to Memphis and down the river to co-operate with Butler in a movement through Southern Mississippi. 'Tis probably the plan of some cuss in the ranks. I wish for one day that you could hear all the camp rumors. They would make a remarkable book.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 97-8

1st Lieutenant Charles Wright Wills: March 24, 1862

Point Pleasant, Mo., March 24, 1862.

It's only 9 a. m., and didn’t get to bed until 2 this morning, so if I do not talk rational you will excuse me. That isn't the excuse either. I rode 50 miles between 9 a. m. yesterday and midnight over roughest road. Two hundred of us were sent out after that d----d Jeff Thompson. We exchanged shots with his pickets 20 miles from here, and chased them four miles farther. The last eight miles was a pike only eight feet wide, thrown up through an immense swamp, and planked. The water came so close to the planks that there was not-a place in-the whole eight miles where a horse dare step off the plank. The total of all the unusual sights I ever saw wouldn't begin to count one in effect where that road and swamp will ten. There are two good sized rivers running through the swamp but they have to be pointed out to you before you can see them, or rather distinguish them from the rest of the swamp. .When we first saw these pickets they were tearing up a culvert. We hurried up and after each side fired four or five rounds they ran. No one hurt here, although the distance was not more than 60 yards. Andy Hulit, my sergeant major and myself were the advance guard, but I have no carbine, and did not get to shoot, but this didn't seem to make any difference to them for they threw buckshot round me quite promiscuously. Well, we fixed up that bridge and pressed on, but they tore down so many bridges that we could go but slowly. Just before the fight I had dropped back a dozen files to get out of building any more bridges, and when our boys saw the secesh, they had just finished destroying another. The horses couldn't cross it, but the boys dismounted and hurrying across on foot, made them take to the swamp in water waist deep, where they hid themselves behind logs, vines and a kind of high grass that grows in bunches as large as a currant bush. When they had concealed themselves to their notion, they commenced firing at us, and of the first four of our boys over the bridge (Andy Hulit led them), three were down, wounded in a minute. We then charged (on foot) right into the brush and water, some of the boys up to their armpits, and made them scoot. They did not number over 20 but their advantage was enormous. We dropped two of them certain, and — I don't think any more. Of four of our men they wounded, three were Company L boys. The two Cockerel brothers, Mathew and Royal, and Eugene Greenslit. The other was from Company A. The Company A boy and Mat Cockerel died before we got them to camp. Royal has a flesh wound in the arm, and Greenslit is shot in the foot, both slight wounds. We drove the Rebels clear off, and captured two horses, and all their blankets, overcoats etc. About 15 miles out we came to Little River. While the major was examining the bridge, we saw a half dozen men running through a swamp on the other side. Over the bridge we went, and into the mud and water after them. We got them all. I captured a couple in a thicket. Andy Hulit came up a few minutes after and we had work to keep a lot of boys from shooting them, while we were taking them back to the river. Well, that was a pretty rough trip and I don't hanker after another like it, although the excitement is rather pleasant too. But being set up for a mark on a road where there is not a sign of a chance to dodge, and having the marksman completely concealed from you, and this other fix of letting them throw shells at you when your carbine won't carry to them, sitting on horseback too, I wish it understood I'm opposed to and protest against, although I never think so until I get back to camp. I don't think that I ever get a bit excited over firing, but I know that I don't look at danger the same when under fire that I do when in quarters. We are all well and I'm getting fat every day. It bores considerably here to think that that one horse Island No. 10 won't come down and surrender like a “gem'men.” Some of the officers here think that we'd better be getting out “o’ this,” but I propose to let Pope work out the salvation of this division. We started from Commerce in General Hamilton's division, were put in General Granger's at Madrid, and are now in General Plummer's. Well, I'm going to do a little sleeping.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 71-3

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Major-General Henry W. Halleck, March 20, 1862

Executive Office, March 20, 1862.

H. W. Halleck, Maj.-Gen. Comg, St. Louis, Mo.:

Sir: — Your assuming responsibility of and defending Gen. Hamilton's order disgracing the 2d Iowa Regt. Vol. Infy. at St. Louis was read by me in the newspapers at Cairo, and was found on my table on my return.

I regret your position in this matter, but my opinion of it is not changed. Certain unknown members of that regiment destroyed and carried away, as is alleged, specimens from a museum in McDowell's college, then occupied by rebel prisoners and guarded by that regiment. Admitting the truth of the allegation, and not inquiring whether the property destroyed was the property of a loyal man or a rebel, it must also be true that but few members of the regiment could have participated in the act, or could have known the guilty parties. There must have been many members of the regiment as guiltless of the wrong done and as ignorant of the names of the guilty parties as either of us. Many of them too are just as proud and as sensitive of their good names as either of us, and their feelings deserve just as much consideration as ours. Now, I cannot admit that these men had done any wrong or deserved any punishment. And when I was required to admit this by placing the evidence of their punishment on the records of my office, I could not and did not do it, and I am yet satisfied with my action, and I yet ask earnestly, but respectfully, that the censure cast upon them be removed.

Accept my congratulations upon the brilliant success of the forces under your command.

Very respectfully, your Obdt. Sevt.

Samuel J. Kirkwood

SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 326-7

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton, March 20, 1862

Executive Office, Iowa., March 20, 1862.

Schuyler Hamilton, Brig. Gen. U. S. A., St. Louis, Mo.:

Sir:—Your letter of the 7th inst., in reply to mine returning you certain papers concerning the 2d Regt. Iowa Vol. Infy., is before me.

I regret to perceive, as I think I do, by the tone of your letter, that you have taken offense at my action. I certainly did not intend to offend you, nor do I think my action properly understood can afford just ground for offense. You doubtless did what you deemed your duty in issuing the order sent by you and returned by me. I certainly did what I deemed my duty in returning it. I think you erred in issuing the order; you think I erred in returning it. I do not take offense that you differ with me, nor do I think that you should take offense that I differ with you, or think that my action is intended by me “as a rebuke” to you. This is a great mistake, unless you insist that an expression of difference of opinion is a rebuke.

You say that but for certain reasons you would publish, side by side, your “orders” and my letter. I have no objection to such publication at any time you may think advisable, either for your justification or my condemnation.

I shall not discuss further the matter in issue between us. Each of us is doubtless satisfied of the correctness of his position, and others must decide between us in the future. The flag that our 2d regiment could not carry open through the streets of St. Louis they did carry proudly through the storm of battle at Fort Donelson, and planted it first of all others on the intrenchments of that stronghold of treason. It now hangs on the chair of the speaker of the house of representatives, and will soon be deposited among the most sacred treasures of our state in our State Historical Society. I am content that what I have done in connection with it shall be so written that all who see may read the record. The “miscreants” of whom your order speaks either died in upholding it on that bloody day or helped to carry it over the entrenchments. They may not have entertained as high a regard for the property of a traitor and rebel, as was required by the orders of their superiors, and if punishment had fallen on them alone, I perhaps should not have complained, but when others, as guiltless as either of us, were punished because they either would not or could not point out those of their comrades who had violated orders or failed to obey them, the case is, in my judgment, very different.

I should not have troubled you with this long letter had it not been that I was satisfied from the tone of your letter that you had taken offense at my action. Permit me to again assure you that no offense was intended. I believed then, and from conversation with Col. Tuttle since, am fully convinced you did what you believed to be your duty, and that the performance of that duty was painful to you. I then believed and now believe none the less that you erred, and so said to you frankly. But I cannot admit that in this there is any cause for offense.

Very respectfully, your Obdt. Svt.,

Samuel J. Kirkwood

SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 324-6

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Major-General Henry W. Halleck, February 17, 1862

Des Moines, Ia., Feb. 17, 1862.

Gen. H. W. Halleck, St. Louis, Mo.:

Sir: — I have received from Gen. Schuyler Hamilton Special Order No. 30, issued by him on the 10th inst., disgracing the 2d regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, by causing them to march to the point of embarkation at St. Louis with flag furled and without music.

I have felt constrained to return said order to Gen. Hamilton, for the reason that it seemed to me harsh and cruel to punish an entire regiment for an act of which but very few could have been guilty, and for which, as far as has been shown, all may have been innocent, and that I could not, under such circumstances, by receiving said order, admit the justice of the punishment.

I trust I will not be considered as intrusive in calling this matter to your attention, and earnestly requesting that if possible the stigma may be removed from the regiment. Very respectfully your obedient servant,

Samuel J. Kirkwood

SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 324

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Brigadier-General Schuyler Hamilton, February 17, 1862

Executive Department, Iowa,

Des Moines, Feb. 17, 1862.

Schuyler Hamilton, Brigadier-General, Vols., U. S. A.,

Commanding St. Louis Dist., St. Louis. Mo.:

Sir — I received your letter of the 10th inst., enclosing special Nos. 28 and 30, dated on the 9th and 10th inst., in relation to the Second Regiment Iowa Infantry. The former of these orders commends that regiment very highly for their conduct to certain prisoners that were for a long time in their custody. The latter is intended to throw dishonorable reflection thereon on account of the robbing and destruction committed by its members on the museum.

After mature reflection, I cannot consent to retain these orders in my possession or to place them on the files of this department, and therefore return them with the letters enclosing them. My reasons for so doing are that by retaining and filing these orders I would, to some extent, admit the justness of the imputations contained in the latter order. This I cannot do, and there is, therefore, no other course open for me to pursue than the one indicated. The good name of her soldiers is very dear to the people of Iowa, and undeserved disgrace shall not by any act of mine attach to this or any other regiment or to any individual of the brave men she has sent out to fight the battles of the country.

It appears, both from the order itself and your letter, that but a very few members of the regiment could have been guilty of the acts on which the order was based, and it does not appear but that persons entirely outside the regiment may have committed these acts. There are very many members of that regiment whose standing socially, morally and intellectually is equal to yours or mine, who feel an imputation upon their honor as keenly as either of us can do, and I must be permitted to say that, in my judgment, it is harsh and cruel to subject them to the pain of humiliation and disgrace in consequence of acts not committed by themselves and the commission of which by others they could not prevent. The feeling produced by undeserved punishment is never a healthy one and cannot produce desirable results.  *  *  *

I trust that measures may be taken to relieve the regiment from the imputation cast upon it.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Samuel J. Kirkwood.

SOURCE: Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 210-1

Major General Henry W. Halleck's Special Field Orders, No. 35

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS No. 35.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., April 30, 1862.

I. Major-General Thomas' division is hereby transferred from the Army of the Ohio to the Army of the Tennessee, and General Thomas will take command of the right wing, which will consist of his own and the divisions of Brig. Gens. W. T. Sherman, T. W. Sherman, S. A. Hurlbut, and T. A. Davies.

II. The divisions of Major-General McClernand, Major-General Wallace, and one division from General Buell's army corps, to be designated by him, together with the heavy artillery, will constitute the reserve, to be commanded by Major-General McClernand.

III. Brigadier-General Hamilton's reserve division of Major-General Pope's army will remain under General Pope's direction until further orders.­*

IV. Major-General Grant will retain the general command of the District of West Tennessee, including the Army Corps of the Tennessee, and reports will be made to him as heretofore, but in the present movements he will act as second in command under the major-general commanding the department.

*          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *

Brig. Gen. T. W. Sherman is hereby assigned to the command of the Sixth Division of General Grant's army, now commanded by General McKean.

By order of Major-General Halleck:

 J. C. KELTON,

 Assistant Adjutant-General.

__________

* See tabular statement of the two wings and reserve, under date of May 13, p. 185.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 10, Part 2 (Serial No. 11), p. 144-5

Des Moines, Ia., May 16, 1862.

EDITOR GAZETTE – Dear Sir:  I see by your paper that Dr. C. H. Rawson has resigned his commission in the army.  This is an error.  I had a letter from him yesterday, near Corinth.  He has resigned his post as Surgeon of the Iowa 5th, having received the appointment of Brigade Surgeon, and is acting as such to Gen. Hamilton’s Brigade.  He will not resign while the war lasts.

Respct. yours,

A. J. RAWSON

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 19, 1862, p. 1

Gen. Pope’s Canal – Gen Halleck assumes command, &c.

ST. LOUIS, April 9. – Gen. Pope’s Official report says that the canal across the Peninsula at New Madrid, through which four steamers and several barges were taken, is twelve miles long, six miles of which were through heavy timber, which ad to be sawed off by hand – feet under water.  This great and laborious undertaking originated with Schuyler Hamilton, and the work was performed by Col. Bissell’s Engineer regiment.

Gen. Halleck and portion of staff left for Tennessee river this afternoon, and will immediately assume command in the field.

(Democrat’s special.)

The rebels were pursued by eight thousand of our cavalry.

Rebel prisoners state that Beauregard made a speech to his troops before entering the fight, saying that he would water his horse in Tennessee river or in hell; that the fight before them was hell unless successful.

– Published in the Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 3

Washington Items

WASHINGTON, March 17. – Gen. Fremont has had an interview with the President and the Secretary of war.  He will press his affairs promptly starting to his department.  His staff will therefore be determined on at an early day.  His headquarters will be in the field.  Colonel Shanks, of the House of Representatives, will accompany him as soon as his duties will permit.

A large number of applications have been made by volunteer officers to be appointed to the regular army, but these have been unsuccessful, among other reasons the difficulty of discriminating as to the relative merits of the applicants.

The Senate was four hours in Executive Session to-day and confirmed the following nominations for Brigadier-Generals of volunteers:

Major Wm. F. Barry, Chief of Artillery and Aid to Gen. McClellan’s Staff; Willis A. Gorman, of Minnesota; Col. Schuyler Hamilton, Thomas L. Price, Member of Congress from Missouri Major Jas. N. Hamor, 5th Cavalry, Lieut. Col. Wm. H. Emory, 6th cavalry, Major Andrew J. Smith, 5th cavalry, Moritena L. Patrick, of New Jersey, Isaac F. Arndy, of New Jersey, Otis S. Fry, of Connecticut, Herman G. Berry, of Maine.

WASHINGTON, March 17. – The Clothing Inspection Board concluded its labors to-day and showed its report to the Quarter Master General.  Over two million dollars worth of clothing was condemned.  The testimony taken revealed gross frauds perpetrated against the Government.  These frauds are consequent upon collusion between contractors and manufacturers.

The Monitor is lying in wait for the Merrimac at Fort Monroe.

Com. Goldsboro had received intelligence from the Burnside Expedition.  It was still pursuing its plans, having accomplished everything which it set out to do.  It was just on the eve of making an attack on Newbern.

The Commission to inquire into the cases of political prisoners met at 12 o’clock to-day and the following matters were settled as to its course of action.  The examination will be secret and exparte statements will be received exclusively as to the prisoners held here.  The Commission will adjourn from place to place, examining the prisoners at the localities of their confinement.

WASHINGTON, March 18. – The President has made the following appointments of Cadets at West Point.

Edward W. Baker, Illinois; Steward S. Bayless, Kentucky; Wm. H. Uppenwas, Henry Winter, Jr., Edward Sharp, Mo.; Erastus Gaines, Ill.; Chas. Woodson, Baltimore, also Richard Taylor Churchill, District of Columbia.  The last mentioned is a son of the late Captain Churchill, U. S. A., who died in the service in Mexico.

The Supreme Court has decided after an elaborate argument two cases, namely, the United States against Lysander Babbitt and the United States against Robert Coles in favor of settling them in that the Registers and Receivers of public lands cannot return the fees on military bounty land warrants beyond the compensation of $3,000 per annum, to which they were limited by act of 1818.  This decision of a long contested question saves the Government nearly a million of dollars.  The argument on behalf of the Government was prepared and conducted by Assistant Adjutant General Coffin.

It is reported that there are numerous Railroad Representatives here preparing applications to Congress for pecuniary assistance to complete the present lines and open new routes, to an amount, exceeding in the aggregate of fifteen million dollars.  An effort will be made to induce congress to aid their plans either by the government endorsing their bonds, or in the shape of a donation upon the ground of national necessity.

Information received at the State Department indicates a very vigorous re-action against Gen. Mosquara.  Neither the Government of the U. States, or that of Great Britain have ever recognized that government.

Brig. Gen. Burnside was this p.m. confirmed by the Senate as Maj. General of Volunteers.

Diplomatic critics are seriously disturbed by the authentic news received from Cuba, announcing a serious misunderstanding between the allied powers in Mexico.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

Official Announcement

ST. LOUIS, March 14. – The following is a copy of the official dispatch sent to the Secretary of War:

After several days’ skirmishing and a number of attempts by the enemy’s gun boats to dislodge Gen. Pope’s batteries at Point Pleasant the enemy has evacuated his entrenchments at New Madrid, leaving his artillery, field batteries, tents wagons, mules, &c., and an immense quantity of military stores.  Gen. Hamilton has occupied the place.  This was the last stronghold of the enemy in the state.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 4

From Winchester

WINCHESTER, March 12. – Despatches say Gen. Jackson’s force yesterday consisted of Loring’s brigade and several fine batteries and 300 of Ashley’s cavalry, 4,000 in all.  They commenced evacuating the place about sunset last night.  The cavalry were the last to leave.  They departed just before we entered the town.

It is represented that there is a large secession force at Strasburg, and that they intend to make a stand there.  Owing to the state of affairs at Manassas, it is believed that Gen. Jackson will make his way up the Shenandoah valley to the Virginia Central Railroad and thence to Richmond.

Prominent secessionists here say that the rebel forces will make a stand at Gordonsville and that the place is well fortified.

Several prisoners and a small amount of ammunition are all the seizures we have made.

WINCHESTER, VA., March 12. – Gen. Jackson’s forces left here last night.  The forces of Generals Hamilton and Williams are just entering the town.  There was a strong fort one mile out which was evacuated by Gen. Jackson last night.  As the regiments pass along they are cheered and greeted by the citizens and responded to by our officers and men.  The other column of General Banks’ division, which will approach the Berryville route, have not yet arrived.  Not a shot has been fired.

Yesterday the rebels arrested eighty of the most prominent unionists and sent them to Richmond.

Coffee sells at seventy-five cents and one dollar per pound; sugar twenty-five to thirty-seven cents; calico fifty cents.  Other articles are more abundant.

It is represented by the resident friends of the Union that two-thirds of the population of the town and country are loyal, but have been compelled to succumb to the secession pressure so far as the expression of opinion is concerned.

There have been no Richmond papers received here for a week and the citizens are entirely ignorant of the thrilling events which have transpired within that period.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

A Battle -- Winchester Occupied

WINCHESTER, March 12. – This place is at length recovered.  From the Indian march of our forces to Berryville and reconnoissance to this vicinity succeeded in misleading the enemy so they did not know where to expect an attack.  Yesterday P. M. they commenced evacuating the place.

General Hamilton’s men while advancing from Bunker Hill, the Michigan Cavalry leading, 1,200 of the enemy’s cavalry gave battle, supported by a section of artillery.  This was about 5 P. M. yesterday.  A battalion of the 1st Maryland regiment reinforced our cavalry, and one of our sections of artillery came up and replied to the enemy’s guns.  The fight was soon over.  The enemy fled leaving their two guns, several horses and about 30 men killed and wounded.  Our whole loss was 4 killed and 15 wounded, all of 1st Maryland.  Large stores of ammunition, provisions and many horses have fallen into our hands.

The Union flag floats triumphantly over Winchester.  The reception of our troops by the people has been most enthusiastic.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p. 3

ST. LOUIS, April 9 [1862].

Gen. Pope’s official report says that the canal cut across the Peninsula at New Madrid, through which four steamers and barges were taken, is 12 miles long, six miles of which were through heavy timber, which had been sawed off by hand several feet under water.  The idea of this great and laborious undertaking originated with Gen. Schuyler Hamilton, and the work performed by Col. Bissell, engineer Missouri regiment.

Gen. Halleck and a portion of his staff left for Tennessee river this p. m., and will assume command in the field.

The Democrat’s special states that the rebels were pursued by 8,000 of our cavalry.  A rebel prisoner states that Gen. Beauregard made a speech to his troops before entering upon the fight, saying that he would water his horse in the Tennessee river or in h-ll; that the fight before them was h-ll unless successful.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, April 11, 1862, p. 2

From Winchester

WINCHESTER, Va., March 12.

This place is at length recovered for the Union.  The march of our forces to Berryville, and a reconnoisance to this vicinity, succeeded in misleading the enemy, so that they did not know where to expect an attack.  Yesterday p.m. they commenced evacuating the place.

Gen. Hamilton, From Bunker Hill, with the Michigan cavalry, meeting 1,200 of the enemy’s cavalry, gave battle, supported by a section of artillery.  This was about 5 p. m. yesterday.  A battalion of the 1^st Maryland regiment reinforced our cavalry, and one of our sections of artillery came up and replied to the enemy’s guns.  The fight was soon over.  The enemy fled, leaving their two guns, several horses and about 30 men killed and wounded.  Our whole loss was 3 killed and 15 wounded, all of the 1^st Maryland.

Large stores of ammunition and provisions and many houses have fallen into our hands and the Union flag flies triumphantly over Winchester.  The reception of our troops by the people has been most enthusiastic.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 2 

From Gen. Banks’ Division

WINCHESTER, Va., March 12.

Gen. Jackson’s forces left here last night by the Strasburg road.

The forces of Gens. Hamilton and Williams are just entering the town.

There was a strong fort one mile out which was evacuated by Gen. Jackson last night.

The regiments as they pass along are cheered and greeted from the houses by the citizens, and responded to by our officers and men.

The other column of Gen. Banks’ division, which will approach by the Berryville route, have not yet arrived.  Not a shot has been fired.

Yesterday the rebels arrested eighty of the most prominent Unionists and sent them to Richmond.

Coffee is from 75c to $1 per pound; sugar 25c to 37c; calicoes 50c.  Other articles are more abundant.

It is represented by the resident friends of the Union that two-thirds of the people of the town and county are loyal, but have been compelled to succumb to the secession pressure, so far as the expression of opinion is concerned.

There have been no Richmond papers received here for a week, and the citizens are entirely ignorant of the thrilling events which have transpired within that period.

SECOND DISPATCH.

Gen. Jackson’s force yesterday consisted of Loring’s brigade, and several field batteries, and 300 of Ashley’s [sic] cavalry – about 4,000 in all.  The commenced evacuating the place about sunset last night.  The cavalry were the last to leave.  The departed just before we entered the town.

It is represented that there is a large secession force at Strasburg, and that they intend to make a stand there, owing to the state of affairs at Manassas.  It is believed that Gen. Jackson will make his way up the Shenandoah valley to the Virginia Central Railroad, and thence to Richmond.

Prominent secessionists here say that the rebel forces will make a stand ad Gordonsville, and have fortified to a great extent.  Several prisoners and a small amount of ammunition were all the seizures we have made.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 1