Showing posts with label Theophilus H Holmes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theophilus H Holmes. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: July 19, 1861


We had fighting yesterday in earnest, at Bull Run! Several brigades were engaged, and the enemy were repulsed with the loss of several hundred left dead and wounded on the field. That was fighting, and we shall soon have more of it.

Brig.-Gen. Holmes, my friend and fellow-fugitive, now stationed near Fredericksburg, has been ordered by Gen. Beauregard to be ready to march at an hour's notice. And Col. Northrop's chin and nose have become suddenly sharper. He is to send up fighting rations for three days, and discerns the approach of sanguinary events.

Mr. Hunter calls every evening, just as the dusky shades of eve descend, to inquire if we have any news.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 63

Saturday, May 17, 2014

General Joseph E. Johnston to General Samuel Cooper, November 22, 1861

HEADQUARTERS,
Centreville, November 22, 1861.
General COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:

SIR: I have received Major-General Jackson's plan of operations in his district, for which he asks for re-enforcements. It seems to me that he proposes more than can well be accomplished in that high, mountainous country at this season. If the means of driving the enemy from Romney (preventing the reconstruction of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and incursions by marauders into the counties of Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan) can be supplied to General Jackson, and with them those objects accomplished, we shall have reason to be satisfied, so far as the Valley District is concerned.

The wants of other portions of the frontier – Aquia District, for in-stance – make it inexpedient, in my opinion, to transfer to the Valley District so large a force as that asked for by Major-General Jackson. It seems to me to be now of especial importance to strengthen Major-General Holmes, near Aquia Creek. The force there is very small compared with the importance of the position.

Your obedient servant,
 J. E. JOHNSTON,
 General.
_______________


SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 5 (Serial No. 5), p. 966-7

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, November 9, 1861

. . . I trust that my darling little wife feels more gratitude to our kind Heavenly Father than pride or elation at my promotion. Continue to pray for me, that I may live to glorify God more and more, by serving Him and our country. ... If you were only here, you would have a very nice house, the description of which I will postpone until after answering your letters; and if there isn't room, it will be deferred for the next letter, as it will take nearly a whole letter to tell you how very nice it is. And if your husband stays here this winter, he hopes to send one of his aides for one little somebody. You know very well who I mean by “little somebody.”

And now for an answer to your questions; and without stating your questions, I will answer them. My command is enlarged, and embraces the Valley District, and the troops of this district constitute the Army of the Valley; but my command is not altogether independent, as it is embraced in the Department of Northern Virginia, of which General Johnston has the command. There are three armies in this department — one under General Beauregard, another under General Holmes, and the third under my command. My headquarters are for the present at Winchester. A major-general's rank is inferior to that of a full general. The rank of major-general does not appear to be recognized by the laws of the Confederate States, so far as I have seen; but there may be some law embraced in the Army Regulations which I have not seen. At all events, the President appoints them in the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and these appointments are only for the war. As the regulations of the army of the Confederate States do not require the rank of major-general, there is no pay and no staff appointed for it; but I expect to have two aides, and at least an adjutant-general. I am making up my staff slowly, in consequence of desiring to secure a good one, and some of them being at a distance. My promotion places me between a brigadier and a full general; but I don't think that either a major-general or a full general will be paid any more than $301 per month (the pay of a brigadier), but as commander of an army my additional pay is $100, making in all $401 per month. I send you a check for $1000, which I wish invested in Confederate bonds, as I think, as far as possible, persons should take Confederate bonds, so as to relieve the government from any pecuniary pressure. You had better not sell your coupons from the bonds, as I understand they are paid in gold, but let the Confederacy keep the gold. Citizens should not receive a cent of gold from the government when it is so scarce. The only objection to parting with your coupons is, that, if they are payable in gold, it will be taking just so much out of the Treasury, when it needs all it has. Give my love and congratulations to William1 upon his promotion. I saw Captain Barringer at Manassas, and his regiment of cavalry presented a fine appearance. I send you a letter announcing that Amy2 has gone to a better world. The tears came to my eyes more than once while reading it.
__________

1 His brother-in-law, Major W. W. Morrison.
2 His faithful old servant.

SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 205-7

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

General Joseph E. Johnston to Brigadier General William H. C. Whiting, March 15, 1862 – 10:40 a.m.

RAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE, March 15, 186210.40 a.m.

Brigadier-General WHITING:

MY DEAR GENERAL: I have just received the dispatches by Captain Randolph, duplicates of which were delivered yesterday by a courier, who bore a brief reply to General Holmes.

The depot at Fredericksburg, unless very small, should be broken up. A point well in rear should be chosen.

It was my intention in falling back to take a line on which the two bodies of troops could readily unite against the body of the enemy operating against either. The Government wishes us to be within reach, also, of the troops on the east and southeast of Richmond. The large force in the valley and the good roads hence to Culpeper Court-House and Gordonsville make it not impossible that McClellan, who seems not to value time especially, may repair this railroad and advance upon both routes, uniting the valley troops with his own. On every account we must be within supporting distance of each other. I can't understand why you should fight with the Rappahannock in your rear. You should, it seems to me, be on its south side. I cannot join you on the north side without crossing at Fredericksburg.

Stuart reported last night the enemy in heavy force at Cedar Run, 12 miles from here. He has made no report this morning. I am waiting for one. Should have moved to-day towards the Rapidan but for the necessity of sustaining him and avoiding the appearance to the men of falling back from the enemy.

I shall cross and be in condition to co-operate with you as soon as this railroad – worse than that at Harper's Ferry – will get off our stores.

Tell General H. not to have a depot at Fredericksburg. Depots should never be on a defensible frontier. Let him attend to that immediately.

Yours, truly,
 J. E. JOHNSTON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 5 (Serial No. 5), p. 1101-2