Diary of Corporal David L. Day: January 11, 1862

As I look out on the Old Dominion, the Mother of presidents, statesmen and heroes, my mind is filled with historical reminiscences of its past greatness and glory. Alas! that Virginia, a state that bore such a proud record in the history of our country, a state that has done so much and sacrificed so much to gain our independence and establish our government, should now be sunk in the mire and slough of rebellion.

There is no appearance of leaving here today; many of the officers are going ashore to look around, and the boys are amusing themselves as best they can. Many and various are the speculations and conjectures as to our destination. Some think we are to make an attack on Yorktown, others that Norfolk is the point of attack. Some prophesy that we shall go up the James river, others that we are going far down the coast. I have not bothered myself much about it, but conclude we shall fetch up somewhere. As one looks on “old glory” proudly waving over the frowning battlements of Fortress Monroe and the rip raps, he would naturally conclude that this part of Virginia had not passed the ordinance of secession. Fortress Monroe is built of granite and earthworks, and is calculated, I believe, to mount some 400 or 500 guns. It is the largest and strongest fort on the coast and the only complete work in this country; hence it is called a fortress. The rip raps is an unfinished work, built on an artificial island, and situated about a mile east of Fortress Monroe. When completed, it will be a powerful work, and all vessels going to Norfolk or up the James river will have to pass between the two forts.

Looking west we can see the ruins of Hampton, burned last fall by order of Gen. Magruder. Speaking of Magruder reminds me of an anecdote I have somewhere read of him. While serving in Mexico, he ranked as captain of infantry in the regular army. While there he was in the habit of spreeing it pretty hard, and early one morning, after he had been out on a pretty rough time, his regiment received orders to march. By some strange oversight, the captain failed to replenish his canteen, and in a little while he began to experience an intolerable thirst. In this dilemma he called on one of his privates, whom he supposed might have something, and asked him what he had in his canteen. He was told that it contained a certain kind of Mexican liquor, of which the captain was very fond. After taking a pretty good bumper, he said, “Private Jones, you will hereafter rank as corporal, and be obeyed and respected as such.” After a while, his thirst again coming on, he goes and calls for some more of the liquor. This time he about found the bottom of the canteen, and thanking the corporal for his politeness, said to him, “Corporal Jones, you will hereafter rank as sergeant, and be obeyed and respected as such.” And, as the story went, if the canteen had held out a while longer, private Jones might have ranked as brigadier general.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 19-20

Diary of Corporal David L. Day: January 10, 1862

A thick, heavy fog envelopes the bay this morning, so thick we cannot see half the boat’s length. In a little while the fog began to settle, and it looked curious to see the topmasts of the boats and schooners above the fog as they passed us, their hulls being hidden entirely from view.

9 a. m. Weighed anchor and proceeded on our journey. Our boat being first after the flag-boat, we soon passed the boats that ran by us in the fog.

ARRIVAL AT FORTRESS MONROE

A little before noon we sighted Fortress Monroe, and as we passed the Minnesota and other men-of-war lying in the roads, the sailors sprung into the rigging and cheered lustily, to which the boys responded heartily from the boats, the bands playing as each boat passed. At 12 m., our boat dropped anchor between the rip raps and the fort. Every available place on the boat for sight seeing was quickly taken, the boys eagerly looking at things the like of which they never saw before, and many of them probably never supposed existed. – Here it appears is the rendezvous of the expedition; gunboats, tugboats and supply vessels in great numbers are lying here to join us. If one-half the armada lying here accompany us, we may naturally conclude there is heavy work to be done somewhere, or else we are taking force enough to break down all opposition and make an easy job of it.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 18-19

Shelling of Sewall’s Point

BALTIMORE, May 9.

The special correspondent of the American sends the following relative to affairs in Hampton Roads and the Peninsula:

FORT MONROE, May 8.

This has been a most stirring and exciting day at Old Point, and all are anticipating the early fall of Norfolk.  At 11 o’clock the steamer Naugatuck was observed raising steam, and about 12 o’clock she moved out by the side of the Monitor, which vessel also cleared her decks for action, taking down her awning, and stood forth in full fighting trim.

11:30. – The gunboat Dacotah has just moved up on line of battle, together with the sloops of war Seminole and San Jacinto.  The flag ship Minnesota was also under steam.

12 o’clock. – The Naugatuck has moved up towards Elizabeth river, followed by the Monitor and Dacotah in line of battle.  The San Jacinto follows slowly.

Heavy firing can still be heard in the direction of James river, where, you have already been informed by telegraph, the Galena and other boats of gone.  The Susquehanna has just gone up in the meantime, the Dacotah, Monitor and Naugatuck have reached the channel and taken a position near Sewall’s Point.  The Dacotah fired a shot towards Craney Island.  A second shot from the Dacotah struck the beach at Sewall’s Point.

12:30 – The Susquehanna moves up and takes the lead of the San Jacinto and Seminole – no answer from either.  The Dacotah and Seminole are steaming up Elizabeth river.  The Naugatuck is lying off towards the mouth of the James River.

Presently, the Dacotah and Monitor approached Craney Island and Sewall’s Point.  The Dacotah fires every few minutes alternately at Sewall’s Point and Craney Island, the enemy making no reply, although the balls reached their intended destination. – The Monitor is taking the lead.  Meantime the Seminole and Susquehanna open upon Sewall’s point, and two shots are fired from the Point, the latter falling short of the Monitor, which is now a mile above the other vessels.

12:40. – The rebels are firing rapidly from Sewall’s Point, principally on the Monitor, while a succession of shells are being poured on the enemy from the Susquehanna, Dacotah, Seminole and San Jacinto, broadside after broadside.  The Rip Raps also threw occasional shells at Sewall’s Point.

12:50. – The Susquehanna, Dacotah, San Jacinto and Seminole are pouring shells and the Monitor threw her first two shells full a mile and a half from the Point.

FORT MONROE, May 8.

Shortly before noon to-day the Monitor, Naugatuck, Seminole, Susquehanna, Dacotah and San Jacinto, in the order in which they are named, steamed up toward Sewall’s Point – Capt. Lardner, of the Susquehanna, in command of the expedition.

As soon as within range, fire was opened with a shot and shell against Sewall’s Point.  Most of the shots were good ones.  It was nearly half an hour before a reply was made from the Point.

The Rip Raps next opened fire, and then the Naugatuck for the first time.  Several shots were fired from the single gun on the extremity of the Point, when one from the Monitor struck in the vicinity, doubtless disabling the gun, as it has not been fired since.  The position of the Monitor was far in advance of the rest of the fleet, and she continued in motion until within a mile or two of the Point where considerable execution must have been done by here accurate firing.

The Naugatuck kept in the back ground, the range of her Parrot gun enabling her to do so.  Sewall Point battery replied briskly.  The Rip Raps fired occasionally.  A continual fire was kept up from the gunboats.  On account of the distance, no details can be given.  Nothing occurred till two o’clock, when the firing was very feeble from the Point.  The Monitor about this time returned from her advanced position and joined the fleet.

At 2:15 a very dense smoke arose rapidly from the Point, caused probably by the burning of the rebel barracks and other buildings.  At about half past two o’clock, the Merrimac made her appearance, when the fleet returned with the exception of the Monitor.  The Merrimac is still (5 o’clock) off the Point.  The Monitor is ready to attack her.

1 P. M. – The Monitor is now within a mile of Sewall’s Point, moving slowly forward and firing.  The enemy are also firing briskly from Sewall’s Point at the Monitor and shells are falling thickly around her.  Craney Island is also joining in the fight, and has thrown shells at the Monitor, one of which exploded directly over her.  The Monitor moved steadily forward, and occasionally firing, and receiving shells and shot from the rebel battery with perfect indifference.

2 P. M. – The monitor has fallen back, and lays alongside of the Susquehanna, probably for the purpose of communicating with her.  The Naugatuck in the meantime has been throwing shells into Pig’s Point, and the fleet has also thrown a number of shells in the same direction.

2:15 P. M. – The Monitor and Dacotah are moving along again slowly up the mouth of the Elizabeth river, and dense black smoke has commenced to arise from Sewall’s Point, indicating that our incendiary shells thrown there have fired the barracks.  The Dacotah continues to throw her shells directly into the point.  The vessels by constantly changing position destroy the range of the rebel gunners, but they are, however, making quite a determined fight, their works giving us almost shell for shell, shot for shot.  The Monitor has laid out of action for nearly an hour, and is probably cooling her guns.  The Rip Raps battery has the range of Sewall’s Point perfectly.

2:45 P. M. – The Merrimac now makes her appearance on the scene.  She has just passed from behind Sewall’s Point, and is slowly running down toward the Federal fleet.  Simultaneously with the appearance of the Merrimac the Monitor started from behind the wooden vessels and moved up to meet the enemy.  The larger vessels have drawn aside and left.  The Monitor and Naugatuck are now in the approaching path of the Merrimac.  The vessels of the fleet had been lying quietly at anchor for the last half hour, when the signal from the flag ship ordered them all to return.  The Susquehanna leads the way, followed by the San Jacinto, Seminole, Dacotah and Monitor, being all apparently using the greatest speed towards the fort.  To the spectator, this seemed rather mortifying, but as they moved down in line the Monitor was seen to halt, and the San Jacinto and Dacotah also followed her example, leaving the Susquehanna and Seminole moving ahead.  The four steamers and the Monitor having taken their position the Merrimac also halted, and the vessels stood there not more than a mile and a half apart – the Merrimac apparently unwilling to come further down and the Monitor unwilling to go further up.  The Minnesota also steamed up in front of the fortress wharf, followed slowly by the Vanderbilt, when both stopped.  After laying in this position the Minnesota turned round and steamed back, and the Vanderbilt turning slowly backed water down the river.  Whilst this maneuvering was going on firing had entirely ceased from all points.

3:30. – The Merrimac now turns round and steams back toward Norfolk with her rebel flag flying.  The Dacotah again proceeds up towards the Merrimac and the Monitor starts toward the mouth of the Elizabeth river.  The Dacotah is now within easy range of Sewall’s Point, but the batteries there do not open on the shore.  The Monitor has stopped and the Merrimac is lying stationary about a mile from the Craney Island Battery.  Here commenced an important movement, which cannot be made public just yet.  The Vanderbilt and Arago have now steamed in front of the wharf.  The Merrimac has run back under the guns of Craney Island, and the Monitor is steaming off towards here at full speed.  The Minnesota is also coming up again at full speed, the effort being to draw the rebels again.  For the past two hours the fleet has been moving back and forwards, but the Merrimac still lies under the guns of Craney Island.  The Minnesota, Arago and Vanderbilt have gone back to their anchorage, and there is no prospect of a fight to-night.  The troops are going on board the transports, and the war vessels, including the Monitor, have all returned to their anchorage.

The President viewed the action from a tug-boat lying about a mile in rear of the fleet.  He has just returned, and as he passed up the wharf was vociferously cheered by the troops.

Our fleet have retired.  The Merrimac is again steaming up.  An officer of the Seminole states that the rebel staff on the Point was twice shot away during the bombardment.  The first time it fell, it was picked up and a rebel in a red shirt jumped on the ramparts with a stump of the staff and flag, and waved it, when a shell struck him killing him and it is supposed others near him.

Of the many shots fired at the fleet by the rebels, not one struck our vessels. – Some went over their masts, but most fell short.  The rebels could be distinctly seen from the vessels carrying all of their wounded and dead.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, May 10, 1862, p. 1

From Fortress Monroe

BALTIMORE, March 26. – The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the Baltimore Union gives a report of two contrabands relative to the condition of the Merrimac.  She returned to Norfolk with six feet of water in her.  Six steamers  towed her up, and it was feared at first she would go down before her pumps could be rigged on board.  Her fires were extinguished shortly after hauling off from the Monitor.

These contrabands positively assert the death of Buchanan, and that the Lieutenant in command on Sunday, and seven seamen, and a number of wounded.  They positively assert the death and burial both of Lieutenant Miner, her second officer, and not Jones.

The Monitor stands out in the Roads, this side of Sewall’s Point, with steam up ready for action.  The greatest confidence is felt in the result.  She is in fine condition.

It is rumored that Yorktown or a considerable portion of it is burned.  A large fire was visible in that direction Sunday night.  A large fire was also seen to-day in the neighborhood of New Market Bridge, which seemed to be quite extensive.

The Cambridge reports that the Nashville, loaded with a valuable cargo of cotton and naval stores, ran the blockade last Tuesday night, which was dark, with lights extinguished.  She was abreast of the Cambridge before discovered.

On Sunday the Chippewa, a faster steamer arrived to take the place of the Cambridge.

Fort Macon and Beaufort are still in possession of the rebels.

On Sunday night the Sawyer guns at the Rip Raps made some capital shots at Sewall’s Point.  Tuesday morning one shell filled with new rebel fire exploded in the midst of the rebel parade ground, and it is believed to have done considerable damage.  The rebels fired at the Rip Raps but the balls fell short about fifty yards.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 3

Letter from Fortress Monroe

FORT MONROE, May 28 via BALTIMORE – The steamer Massachusetts, which left Sunday morning for City Point with a flag of truce, returned early this morning.  The boat took up Colonel Hamson, of Kentucky, who was expected to be exchanged for Col. Corcoran and also Capt. Robertson of Virginia, Lieut. Whitaker, a private, a lady, and Mr. Lowe, of Kentucky.  The boat arrived at City Point on Sunday evening.  The next morning Gen. Wool’s communications were delivered and on Tuesday an answer was received from Gen. Huger.  Col. Corcoran and the other prisoners not having been delivered up, Col. Hamson and the officers were brought back.  Col. Hamson is very severe upon General. Huger for his failure to fulfill his agreement.

Our gunboat fleet still remains 15 or 20 miles below City Point.  Nothing has recently been done beyond _____ county.

A short Distance on the Appomattox, a squad of Meigs Cavalry were seen on the banks.  A few Shells scattered them.

There are no troops or citizens at City Point.

A steamer arrived from Hatteras this morning.  No News of interest.

There is no truth in the report of Gen. Burnside’s occupation of Raleigh.

The Union prisoners at _____ are on their way to New York, having been released and delivered to Gen. Burnside at Washington, North Carolina.

The Norfolk Day Book, which was suspended yesterday morning reappeared in the afternoon, the restrictions having been removed.

In consequence of the frequent violation of the orders prohibiting trade with Norfolk and Portsmouth, a new and stringent order was issued today as follows:

HEADQ’RS DEPARTMENT OF VIRGINIA,

May 28.

No goods of any kind will hereafter be transported by express companies to Norfolk, Portsmouth or Gosport, except by permission of the commanding General, and then only in case the articles have been furnished with the name of those whom they belong and to whom they are to be delivered.  Hereafter no vessels, not employed by the army or navy will be permitted to go to Norfolk, Portsmouth or Gosport or any other place on either side of the roads not occupied by the troops of the United States, except by express authority of the commanding General.  Any violation of this order will subject the vessels and property to seizure and confiscation and the persons who may be the cause, directly or indirectly will be severely punished.

By command of Major General Wool.

Quite a disturbance took place in Norfolk last night.  It is said to have been occasioned by a negro shooting a corporal named John Bunks of Co C, 99^th New York Regiment. – The disturbance became general and the greater part of the company was engaged.  Three negroes were killed and two or three wounded.  Six of the ring leaders were sent to the Rip Raps.  To-day many others were arrested.  All is now quiet.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3

From Norfolk and Vicinity

BALTIMORE, March 26.

A Fort Monroe correspondent, of a Baltimore paper, gives a report of two contrabands, relative to the condition of the Merrimac.  She returned to Norfolk with six feet of water in here.  Six steamers towed her up and it was feared at first she would go down before pumps could be rigged on board.  Her fires were extinguished shortly after hauling off from the Monitor. – These contrabands positively assert the death of Buchanan and that of the Lieut. In command on Sunday, and 7 seamen and a number of wounded.  They positively assert the death and burial of both.  Possibly Lieut. Miner, her second officer and not Jones, is meant.

The Monitor stands out in the Roads this side of Sewall’s Point, with steam up, and ready for action.  The greatest confidence is felt in the result.  She is in fine condition.

It is rumored that Yorktown, or a considerable portion of it, is burned.  A large fire was visible in that direction Sunday night.

A large fire was also seen to-day in the neighborhood of New Market Bridge, which appeared to be quite extensive.

The Cambridge reports the Nashville, loaded with a valuable cargo of cotton and naval stores, to have run the blockade last Wednesday night, which was dark, with her lights extinguished.  She was abreast of the Cambridge before she was discovered.

On Sunday the Chippewa, a faster steamer, arrived to take the place of the Cambridge.

Fort Macon and Beaufort are still in possession of the rebels.

On Sunday night the Sawyer gun at the Rip-Raps made some capital shots at Sewall’s Point.

On Tuesday morning one shell filled with the new rebel fire exploded in the midst of the rebel parade ground, and is believed to have done considerable damage.

The rebels fired at the Rip Raps, but the ball fell short about fifty yards.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1

Vandalism

A dispatch from Norfolk, dated the 7th inst., to the Petersburg Express, says:

“Three private dwellings on the shore opposite Old Point were fired at yesterday by the Federals from the Rip Raps. A shell exploded in an out house of a private citizen, killing a bullock and doing other damage."

– Published in The North Carolina Weekly Standard, Raleigh, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 16, 1862, p. 2

The Fortifications At The Rip Raps

The recent order of Mr. Secretary Stanton changing the name of the important work at the Rip Raps calls to mind the fact that an excellent one was suggested long ago by a citizen of Virginia, and for reasons so good that it is worth while to quote the following passage from Joseph Martin’s description of Virginia, published in 1834 or 1835:

It is a circumstance worth notice that the material for the structure of the Castle of the Rip Raps is drawn from most of the commercial States of the Union. In walking over the piles you behold the dark grey granite of Maine, the whitish blue and black speckled granite of Connecticut, the red freestone of the same State, the pied granite of the Susquehanna, the deep blue of the Little Falls of Potomac, and the ash-colored of the James river.

In this edifice, which is to form a stronghold in a central position, defend our great naval depot, and to protect our naval power over the ocean, and especially to afford a place of refuge to the commerce of the nation, each commercial State may point to a portion of the blended strength which it has contributed to the common structure. The Castle at the Rip Raps should then be called, as well from its use as from its origin, The Castle of the Federal Union; and when attacked by foreign or domestic assailants, it should run up with the ensign of ‘the Federal Union’ the watchword, “it must be preserved.’”

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, April, 9, 1862