Breakfasted alone. What has become of Mr. Skinner? Went to
Department and attended to some matters of routine.
Went to Navy Department with Gov. Seward, according to
appointment, about expedition to Charleston. Examined chart with Secretary
Welles and Asst. Secy. Fox. Learned that the “Ironsides and Passaic” will be ready for sea by the 1st. October; which is
more than two weeks longer than Mr. Welles gave me to understand ten days ago.
Fox thinks that James Island ought to have been held and that Hunter was wrong
in withdrawing our force from it; but it is now commanded by our gunboats, so
that a landing upon it is easy, and a force of 10,000 or 15,000 men would
suffice for the reduction of Charleston. A land force, however, would have to
act mainly independently of the naval, — and no naval force but ironclads could
act with any efficiency because, the harbor being a cul de sac, wooden
vessels entering it to bombard the town, would be exposed to fire from all
sides, and could not pass and repass the enemy's batteries, as at Port Royal,
and, by motion, make the enemy's fire comparatively ineffectual. Ironclads,
however, such as the “Passaic”
and the “Ironsides”
could go right into the harbor, with little or no risks, and destroy
the Forts, batteries and the town itself, if not surrendered. After all, it
seemed to me that it would contribute greatly to the certainty of the result if
a land force should be organized, and I determined to confer with the Secretary
of War on the subject, as soon as possible. No time should be lost in making
every arrangement for such overwhelming blows, just as soon as the ironclads
are ready, as will effectually annihilate the possibility of rebel success.
From the Navy Department, we went to Head Quarters where we
found Genl. [Cullom1] who said: “We have got whipped again. We have
just received a telegram that the rebels have defeated our people in Fayette
County, Va., and are driving them down the Kanawha. The trouble is that our men
won't fight.” The style of remark did not suit me, but it is too common among
our generals. In my opinion, the soldiers are better than the officers. — Genl.
Halleck came in, and we asked the situation. There was nothing new, he said,
except confirmation that Burnside drove the rebels out of Frederick yesterday,
and had renewed the fight to-day. Heavy firing had been heard from the
direction of Harpers Ferry and the Frederick and Hagerstown roads. We left Head
Quarters, and I returned to the Department.
Gave O'Harra and Pitt Cooke letter of introduction to Genl.
Mitchell. Visited Mr. Clarke's sealing and trimming machine for the ones and
twos and found them a perfect success; and the ones and twos are sealed and
trimmed by machinery, attended by the most part by women, with such prodigious
advantage to the Government, that it seems difficult to imagine that coining,
except in large masses, can be of much utility hereafter.
Jay Cooke writes that he has visited New-York and conversed with
Bankers; and thinks that $10,000,000 in Gold will be gladly deposited at 4%. I
think that, in this way, all the Gold needed can be obtained at very small cost
and without affecting the market in any way. If it succeeds, it will form not
the least remarkable chapter in the history of the financial success which has
attended me thus far.
Wrote to Katie and Nettie, and to Horton — to Katie,
advising her not to return immediately, — to Horton about Pope.
In the evening, went to Willard's to call on Genl. Schenck,
but did not see him. Met Weed, and went to his room and talked of sundry
matters. He says I have done as well in the New York appointments as was
possible, and advises care as to the securities taken; which advice I think
very good. He thinks the time has come for vigorous measures South; and is for
freeing the slaves, and arming them as far as useful, without noise or
excitement. He saw Hunter in New-York; who says that if he had been sustained,
he would have emasculated the rebellion in South Carolina before now — which he
seemed to believe and which I believe absolutely.
Went to War Department. Telegraph men told me that telegraph
was built to Point of Rocks and several miles beyond the Monocacy towards
Frederick, and that heavy continuous firing was heard, by the operator of the
former place, from the direction of Harpers Ferry, till between three and four
this afternoon; and that firing, though not so heavy, was also heard from the
direction of Middleton, between Frederick and Hagerstown. There was also a
rumor that we had captured a large wagon-train, with considerable number of
prisoners. The inference from the firing heard is that an attack has been made
on Harpers Ferry by a large rebel force, and a stout defense with unknown
result; and that a less important conflict has taken place between the advance
under Burnside and the rebel rear falling back towards Hagerstown on Harpers
Ferry, (probably the former) and that the rebels have been worsted.
Telegram from Gov. Curtin yesterday states that a reliable
gentleman of Maryland who had opportunities to converse freely with officers of
the rebel army, says that the rebel force in Maryland is 190,000, and the other
side of the Potomac 250,000—in all 440,000. This is a specimen of information
collected and believed!
Came home and Cooke called with Mr. Davis, General Birney's
partner, who wants him made a Major General with command of Kearney's corps. I
think this should be done. We must advance all our Republican officers who have
real merit, so as to counterpoise the too great weight already given to
Democratic officers, without much merit. They have been more pushed than the
Republicans and we have been more than just — more than generous even — we have
been lavish towards them. It is time to change the policy.
_______________
1 Name inserted from Warden's excerpt, 473.
SOURCE: Annual Report of the American Historical
Association for the Year 1902, Vol. 2, p. 78-80
