Diary of Judith W. McGuire: Richmond, Virginia, Tuesday Morning, February 18, 1862

The wires are cut somewhere between this and Tennessee. We hear nothing farther West than Lynchburg; rumours are afloat that Donelson has fallen. We are too unhappy about it to think of any thing else.

SOURCE: McGuire, Judith W., Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 93

Further News from Fort Donelson

3,000 Rebel Prisoners ask to be Armed and Enrolled in the Armies of the Union.

Clarksville Evacuated.

WHITE FLAGS FLYING AT NASHVILLE.

TENNESSEE VIRTUALLY REDEEM’D

CAIRO, Feb. 20. – Only sixteen remain of company G., 11^th Illinois regiment, who are not killed, wounded or taken prisoners.

Gov. Yates and staff left for Fort Donelson last evening.

The Wounded officers of the 11^th Illinois are Lieut. Col. Ransom, Lieut. Churchill, Co. A, Lieut. Wilcox, Co. B, Lieut. Dean, Co. D., Capt. Andrews, Co. D, Lieut. Duncan, Co. H, and Lieut. Blackstone, Co. I.  The killed are Capt. Shaw, Co. B, Lieut. Boyce, Co. G.  The Missing are Lieut. Kenyon, Co. K, and Lieut. Vore, Co. E.  Not over 100 effective men are left of the 11^th regiment.  The wounded are partly at Mound City and the rest at Fort Donelson.  It is thought that this regiment will return to their old quarters at Bird’s Point.

One thousand secesh prisoners left for Camp Douglas last evening, via the Illinois Central Railroad.  More will follow to-day.  Those sent yesterday were Mississippians and Texans.  Two boat loads have arrived and will be forwarded immediately.

The 2^nd Michigan Artillery arrived last evening by steamer City of Alton.

Jas. Friedeman of Co. D, 8^th Wisconsin was buried today at Bird’s Point.

A rebel officer states that the exaggeration of Major Post of the 8^th Illinois who was taken prisoner before the surrender of Fort Donelson materially aided in preventing any further resistance on their part.

The body of Lieut. Colonel White of the 31^st Illinois has just arrived.

Three thousand rebel prisoners at Fort Donelson have asked to be allowed their arms and enrolled in the army of the Union.

A special order was issued to-day forbidding the issue of passes to Fort Donelson and other points on the Ohio river above Cairo.

The report is current and uncontradicted that Clarksville is evacuated.

It is reported that Gov. Harris has convened the Legislature of the State of Tennessee to repeal all laws passed by the Confederate Legislature inconsistent with the Federal Constitution.

White flags are flying at Nashville, and Gen. Grant has been invited to occupy Clarksville. – If this is true, Tennessee can be counted out of the Southern Confederacy.

The casualties among the officers of the 18^th Illinois, are, Killed, Capt. J. S. Craig, company A, Lieut. John Mauseur, Company C.

Wounded – Col. Lawler, Capt. D. H. Brush, company K; Capt. H. S. Wilcox, company B; Capt. J. W. Dillon, company C; Capt. P. Lawler, company D.

Supposed to be taken prisoners – Lieut. Tole, company D; Lieut. Kelley, company E; Lieut. Thompson, company F; Capt. Cruise, company G; Lieuts. Lawrence and Conner, company K.

The whole number of killed in the regiment is 50, wounded 150.

There is an awful flutter at Columbus, but we hear nothing decisive.

Brig. Gen. John Pope arrived from St. Louis, to-night.

The number of field pieces taken is much larger than heretofore telegraphed.  We have at least 70 guns.

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

Specials to the New York Papers

(Tribune Correspondence.)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. – Gen. Sanders resignation has not been received here, and people who know his impatience for a fight pray it may not come.

Little has been said of the prize money earned by the crews of our blockading vessels, but the amount cannot be small.  The share due to Commander Alden, of the South Carolina, which made so many captures in the Gulf, is one hundred thousand dollars.  Nineteen times that sum is to be divided among his officers and men.

Gen. Grant was nominated as a Major-General to-day.  The Senate, which has since had no Executive Session, will not confirm him until the official reports are received.

The House Committee on Territories will soon report a bill organizing Arizona as a free Territory.  The Wilmot Proviso will be a part of the bill.

Mr. S. A. Allen has been appointed an agent to accompany our forces into Tennessee to take charge of the cotton crop in behalf of the Government.

(Times’ dispatch.)

Andy Johnson will probably proceed to Nashville as soon as Gen. Buell’s army takes possession of that city, and assist in organizing a Provisional Government for Tennessee.  The people there are panting for freedom, and a resumption of their connection with the union.  They will probably send a full delegation of loyal men to Congress by the last of March.

The President to-day nominated Col. Garfield of Ohio, as Brigadier General in compliment for his thrashing Humphrey Marshall.

The War Department has proofs, which is considered conclusive, that young Walworth is a spy.

(World’s Correspondence.)

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19. – The recent news from Europe touching the determination of the allied powers to put Hapsburg as a ruler over Mexico, would thus create a monarchy on our borders, is exciting profound emotion here.  The fact that some such scheme was on the table has been in the possession of the Department for some time past and it will be found that the dispatches have been already sent to our Ministers at London, Paris and Madrid protesting energetically against any such project.

(Tribune Correspondence.)

The Navy Department will issue proposals to-morrow for building a number of steam men-of-war of various kinds.  The Department will withhold for the present the proposals for iron-clad steamers.  The construction of gunboats will be urgently pressed.

(World’s Dispatch)

Among other things presented to the House yesterday was the memorial of the American Geographical and Statistical Society asking the intercession of Congress in reference to the ship canal connected the river St. Lawrence and all the great Lakes on the boundary with the Atlantic ocean in the Bay of New York., and any future adjustment of the commercial relations between the United states and Great Britain.

(Tribune’s Dispatch.)

In well informed circles here it is positively asserted that Gen. Fremont has been completely vindicated of all the charges brought against his conduct of the war in Missouri, by the vote of the joint Committee of Investigation.  A highly important command is indicated for him in the far West.

(Herald’s Dispatch.)

A disposition has been manifested in the Senate to pass over most of the nominations for Brigadier Generals for the present and let the nominees win their stars by gallantry and efficiency in the field before they are confirmed.

A broad line of distinction has been drawn in the Senate between officers who lounge about the hotels or dawdle in drawing rooms, and those who devote their attention to the improvement of the efficiency of their command or are in active duties in the field.  Whenever these come up, the nomination of one against whom or in whose favor there is nothing particularly to be said by common consent, it is passed over to await the future conduct of the candidate and let him prove his merit by his deeds.

NEW YORK. Feb. 20. – A special states that Senator Wade and Andrew Johnson had an interview with Gen. McClellan yesterday and urged the necessity of action with the army on the Potomac as well as in the West.

The Senate will take up the Mexican treaty in Executive Session.

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

Important From Tennessee

Returning Reason and Loyalty.

WASHINGTON, March 20.

The citizens of Gallatin, Tenn., which has been decidedly disloyal, met in a town meeting recently and were addressed by Baillie Poyton, voted a petition for a Post Office there, and expressed their willingness to return to their allegiance.  A post office is to be established there in a few days.

John Lellyett has been appointed Postmaster at Nashville.  He wrote some of the best articles against secession during the agitation of that subject in Tennessee.

A Special agent of the Post Office Department, acting on the Tennessee and Kentucky borders, reports as follows:

“It is gratifying wherever I have been to find that there is a strong desire for re-establishing the mails, and a willingness among the people to return to their allegiance.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, March 22, 1862, p. 1

From St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 28.

Memphis papers of the 19th say Gen. Polk issued orders yesterday that the track of the Memphis and Ohio R. R. should be torn up and bridges destroyed, preparatory to the evacuation of Colum/cbus, and demolition of the fortifications.  The Columbus forces are to fall back to Island No. 10, about 45 miles below Columbus which, it is said, completely commands the river, and can be fortified with heavy guns, and made impregnable.

The Democrat’s Clarksville dispatch of the 26^th, says the rebel soldiers before leaving Nashville plundered many dwellings and business houses, and excited great alarm  among the people.  Several rebels were shot by citizens when robbing.

General Nelson is in command at Nashville, Gen. Buell still being on the north side of the river.

The Union sentiment is very strong, and our troops are received with the greatest cordiality.  Great indignation is expressed against Gov. Harris, who was fairly driven away by Union men, they having become bold at the proximity of Union troops, and dared to assert their rights.  Before leaving Harris made a speech, recommending the citizens to burn their private property, and calling on Tennesseeans to rally and meet him at Memphis, but none paid any attention to him, and it is thought he will not receive any considerable reinforcements.

Gen. Crittenden’s command had joined Johnston at Murfeyville.

The railroad bridge at Nashville was destroyed by Floyd, against the urgent request of the citizens, which caused much indignation.

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

Tennessee --- Confiscation

Political matters in Tennessee have begun to assume shape.  The poor, down trodden Unionists, who have stood up for the Government amid the most terrible oppression, once more have the recognizance of their rights.  Tennessee would gladly take her former position in the Union, but that cannot be.  She has been one of the most violent of the Confederacy and she should not be permitted to return again to her allegiance, possessing the State rights she had before she raised her parricidal hand against the Government.  She is one of those States that have brought so much misery, bloodshed and debt upon our country and it will be an outrage upon the loyal States, if she be permitted to return to the Union vested with all the rights, privileges and immunities she possessed before she sought to overthrow the Government.

In quelling this attempt of certain states, banded together as a separate Confederacy, to dissever the Union, our Government has contracted an enormous debt.  The question now arises, who is to pay this indebtedness?  Shall the citizens of the loyal States be assessed to cancel a debt incurred in defending the Government against an attempted subversion by a few rebellious states?  Or shall the rebels who have brought the debt upon the Government be made to liquidate it?  Common sense teaches the latter, and no one, unless he directly sympathizes with the rebels will object to the passage of an act confiscating their property for that purpose.  Some discrimination must be made in favor of those citizens of these rebellious States who have not participated nor sympathized in the movement.  A general tax would effect all alike.  We can see no alternative but a confiscation for the use of the Government, of all the property, both real and personal, of every man in the Southern States who has aided or abetted in any shape whatever in this monstrous treason against the Government.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 27, 1862, p. 2

From Washington

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18.

The nomination of Gen. Grant as Major General was sent into the Senate to-day.  He will be confirmed.

President Lincoln’s boy, William, is still in a critical condition.

The bill which the territorial committees of both houses are maturing, will organize the rebel country into free territories, on the principle that by rebellion these States committed suicide, and that with them their local laws and peculiar institutions have died.

Congress has passed a joint resolution directing Commissioner French to illuminate the public buildings in honor of the recent victories.

Saturday evening an illumination of private dwellings will probably be requested as a means of distinguishing loyal from disloyal citizens.

In a speech in Stark’s case, Mr. Carlisle of Va., to-day foreshadowed a pro-slavery policy in the treatment of the rebel states saying that the Senate must receive persons duly accredited hereafter, by the Legislature of Missouri, even if they have been in arms against the government.  It is coming to be generally hoped that Carlisle will be obliged this to give his seat back to Mason.

Secretary Stanton has recently said that the victory of Fort Donelson is due to Gen. Halleck, who planned, to the President, who recognized, and to Gen. Grant, who executed the campaign.

N. L. Wilson, President of the Marietta and Cincinnati R. R., is here, and says that the Baltimore and Ohio R. R. will be open within thirty days.

Very few private flags have been displayed in Washington for our late victories.

An order was issued to-day, at the request of the entire Indiana delegation, terminating the furlough under which Capt. Hazzard, of the army, was allowed to serve as Col. Of the 37th Ind. Vols.  He is charged with tyranny to his troops.

Schuyler Colfax has sent $100 to Quartermaster Pierce, at Paducah, to be expended in the relief of soldiers wounded at the attack on Donelson.

Capt. Craven, in command of the Tuscarora, is not like the other captains who have pursued rebel privateers.  If he catches the Nashville, he will blow her out of water, avoiding capture if possible.

A subscription is on foot at Alexandria, among the women, for the purchase of a flag to be presented to Farnsworth’s Illinois Cavalry Regiment.

The bill reported from the naval committee of the House, framed after consultation with Assistant Secretary of the Navy Fox, provides for the grades of naval officers, viz: Five flag officers, eighteen commodores, thirty-six captains, seventy-two commanders, one hundred and forty-four lieutenants and masters.  Boards to recommend for promotion or retirement.  Flag officers to be appointed only if they shall have received the thanks of Congress, and upon the President’s recommendation for services in battle.

Senator Harris introduced a bill to-day, making rebels outlaws, so far as civil rights are concerned: the fact of plaintiff’s treason to be a complete defense in bar of any action.

Mr. Trumbull’s confiscation bill is the special order of the Senate to-morrow.

Gen. Grant will not be confirmed as Maj. Gen. until his official report of the battle has been received.

The Senate District of Columbia committee, to-day summoned a number of witnesses to investigate the truth of the allegations in deputy jailor Dupall’s letter, relative to barbarities practiced within the jail, on an alleged fugitive slave.

Col. McConnel, of the inchoate and considerably mythical Third Maryland regiment of Vols., has at last been mustered out of service.  Upon evidence that recruiting was going on in Philadelphia to fill up the ranks of the loyal Virginia brigade being raised by John C. Underwood, and order was issued to-day breaking up the organization.

Tribune’s Correspondence.

Gen. Lander’s resignation has not been received here, and people who know his impatience for a fight pray it may not come.

Little has been said of the prize money earned by the crews of our blockading squadron, but the amount cannot be small.  The share due to Commander Alden, of the North Carolina, which made so many captures in the gulf, is over $100,000.  Nineteen times that sum is to be divided among his officers and men.

Gen. Grant was nominated as Major General to-day.  The Senate, which has since had no executive session, will not confirm until the official reports are received.

The House committee on territories will soon report a bill organizing Arizona as a free territory.  The Wilmot Proviso will probably be part of the bill.

Mr. S. A. Allen has been appointed as an agent to accompany our forces into Tennessee to take charge of the cotton crop in behalf of the Government.

Times Dispatch.

Andy Johnson will probably proceed to Nashville, as soon as Gen. Buell’s army take possession of that city, and assist in organizing a provisional government for Tennessee.  The people there are panting for freedom and resumption of their connection with the Union.  They will probably send a full delegation of loyal men to Congress by the last of March.

The President to-day nominated Colonel Garfield, of Ohio, Brigadier General, in compliment for his thrashing Humphrey Marshall.

The war Department has proofs, which are considered conclusive, that young Walworth is a spy.

WASHINGTON, February 19.

Gen. U. S. Grant, the hero of Fort Donelson, has just been unanimously confirmed by the Senate as Major General, an honor conferred in testimony of his gallant conduct in battle.

The reading the Tax Bill will be commenced in the Ways and Means committee to-morrow.  The Bill will not be printed till ordered by the House of Representatives.

In the House of Representatives this afternoon Representative Wickliffe, of Ky., announced the capture of Gen. Price and his army.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, February 20, 1862, p. 1

The Tennessee Union Convention – Large And Influential Gathering

NASHVILLE, May 12.

A special Dispatch to the Cincinnati Gazette says:

The State Union Convention, for which a call signed by one hundred of the leading men of Tennessee, who have become disgusted with the rebellion, had been recently circulated, according to advertisement, assembled at the Capitol to-day.  As was anticipated, from the high standing of the men with whom the movement originated, the meeting was large and enthusiastic.  Delegates were present from all parts of the Sates.  Ex-Governor William P. Campbell presided.  The Convention sat from eleven to four in the day, and will meet again to-night.  The Committee on resolutions offered one that the people of Tennessee return to their allegiance; another inviting the assistance of all good citizens to that end; a third to appoint a committee to confer with the government for the release of Tennessee prisoners, on condition of their returning to their allegiance; a fourth, complimentary of the national soldiers for their forbearance, moderation and gentle conduct.  Addresses were made by Governor Campbell; Mr. Wesenor, of Bedford county; Wm. B. Stokes of DeKalb; Edward Booker of Bedford; Wm. Polk of Mearing; G. S. Brien of Nashville; Governor Johnson and others.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 1