Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 2, 1862

News from the North indicate that in Europe all expectation of a restoration of the Union is at an end; and the probability is that we shall soon be recognized, to be followed, possibly, by intervention. Nevertheless, we must rely upon our own strong arms, and the favor of God. It is said, however, an iron steamer is being openly constructed in the Mersey (Liverpool), for the avowed purpose of opening the blockade of Charleston harbor.

Yesterday in both Houses of Congress resolutions were introduced for the purpose of retaliating upon the North the barbarities contemplated in Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

The Abolitionists of the North want McClellan removed — I hope they may have their will. The reason assigned by his friends for his not advancing farther into Virginia, is that he has not troops enough, and the Secretary of War has them not to send him. I hope this may be so. Still, I think he must fight soon if he remains near Martinsburg.

The yellow fever is worse at Wilmington. I trust it will not make its appearance here.

A resolution was adopted yesterday in the Senate, to the effect that martial law does not apply to civilians. But it has been applied to them here, and both Gen. Winder and his Provost Marshal threatened to apply it to me.

Among the few measures that may be attributed to the present Secretary of War, is the introduction of the telegraph wires into his office. It may possibly be the idea of another; but it is not exactly original; and it has not been productive of good. It has now been in operation several weeks, all the way to Warrenton; and yet a few days ago the enemy's cavalry found that section of country undefended, and took Warrenton itself, capturing in that vicinity some 2000 wounded Confederates, in spite of the Secretary's expensive vigilance. Could a Yankee have been the inventor of the Secretary's plaything? One amused himself telegraphing the Secretary from Warrenton, that all was quiet there; and that the Yankees had not made their appearance in that neighborhood, as had been rumored! If we had imbeciles in the field, our subjugation would be only pastime for the enemy. It is well, perhaps, that Gen. Lee has razeed the department down to a second-class bureau, of which the President himself is the chief.

I see by a correspondence of the British diplomatic agents, that their government have decided no reclamation can be made on us for burning cotton and tobacco belonging to British subjects, where there is danger that they may fall into the hands of the enemy. Thus the British government do not even claim to have their subjects in the South favored above the Southern people. But Mr. Benjamin is more liberal, and he directed the Provost Marshal to save the tobacco bought on foreign account. So far, however, the grand speculation has failed.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 161-2

Captain Charles Fessenden Morse, August 19, 1862

Near Culpepper, Va., August 19, 1862.

Yesterday afternoon came orders to our corps, directing wagons to be instantly packed and sent to the rear, and our men to be provided with three days' rations, and to be ready to march at a minute's notice. We were bereft of our tent and all other luxuries, but no movement commenced until about half-past eleven P. M., when we started and marched about a mile, then halted and are still halting, for what purpose Pope only knows. Last night, for the weather was fearfully cold, we kept as close around the fires as we would in winter. I have just had some bread and butter and peaches for breakfast, and am now enjoying a good cigar, so I shall be fortified against whatever may turn up to-day. From what I can learn, this is the nature of our movement: Pope has found that his army is not quite large enough to take Richmond, and is going to let the enemy once see his “back,” and find out that a "line of retreat" may be very useful by falling back as far as Warrenton and concentrating with McClellan.

Orders to “fall in” and “march.”

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 81-2

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw, July 23, 1863

Centreville, July 23, 1863.

People used to tell me, when I was at Cambridge, that those were to be the happiest years of my life. People were wrong. Dissatisfied as I have always been with myself, I have yet found that, as I grew older, I enjoyed more and more.

I picked a morning-glory (a white one) for you on the battlefield of Bull Run, the other day, but crushed it up and threw it away, on second thought, — the association was not pleasant; and yet it was pleasant to see that morning-glories could bloom on, right in the midst of our worries and disgraces. That reminds me that I haven't narrated where I went on Tuesday; we started very early and went over the whole Bull Run battleground down to Bull Run Mountains and Thoroughfare, thence to Warrenton, and back to near Manassas Junction, by the Orange and Alexandria R. R., — a killing march of between 52 and 54 miles on a scorching day and nothing learnt, except this, that there was nothing to learn. However, men and horses have stood it pretty well. At Manassas Junction I met General Gregg and his division of Cavalry. Gregg told me he had applied for my regiment some time ago; that he had a brigade of five regiments which he meant to give me, but the War Department didn't answer his application, — the Brigade was still waiting for me; — provoking, isn't it?¹  However, I long ago gave up bothering about such things; I see so many good officers kept back, because they are too good to be spared, and so many poor ones put forward merely as a means of getting rid of them, that I never worry. Don't think that a piece of vanity, I don't mean it so. I don't call any cavalry officer good who can't see the truth and tell the truth. With an infantry officer, this is not [so] essential, but cavalry are the eyes and ears of the army and ought to see and hear and tell truly; — and yet it is the universal opinion that P—'s own reputation, and P—'s late promotions are bolstered up by systematic lying.

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¹ General David McM. Gregg had known Lowell in the Peninsula, having been a captain with him in the Sixth U. S. Cavalry.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 278-9, 429

Brigadier General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Meade, November 13, 1862

CAMP NEAR RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, VA., November 13, 1862.

Day before yesterday we moved to this position, some ten miles from Warrenton. On the same day McClellan left us, to the regret and sincere grief of the whole army. Yesterday, I am informed, Generals Halleck and Meigs made their appearance at Warrenton, and it is understood a grand council of war is to be held to-day. McClellan has always objected to operating on this line, and insisted on the James River as being the proper base for operations. Halleck, under Washington influence, has been trying to force operations on this line — that is, the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Now, this road has but one track, and the distance from Alexandria to Gordonsville is over one hundred and fifty miles. This distance and the known capacity of the road is insufficient by one-third to carry the daily supplies required for this army. This fact to an ordinarily intelligent mind, unbiased by ridiculous fears for the safety of Washington, ought to be conclusive. The next line, and the one Burnside favors as a compromise, is the one from Fredericksburg to Richmond. This is open to the same objection as the other, except it is only seventy-five miles. Still, it will require a larger army to protect these seventy-five miles and keep open our communications than it will to attack Richmond itself. What the result of the council will be, no one can tell; but, as I have above conjectured, it is probable that, if Burnside proves stubborn, he will be told he must give way to one who is more reasonable. I also hear that Hooker is at Warrenton, and has been placed in command of Fitz-John Porter's corps, Porter having been relieved and ordered to Washington. I have not seen Hooker, as he did not arrive at Warrenton till after I had left. His having command only of a corps, under Burnside, in command of the army, and Sumner in command of two corps, is decidedly a coming down for Hooker, from the expectations the army and the public had been led to indulge in from the tone of the public press; and confirms what I have told you, that Hooker talked himself out in Washington. What we are coming to I cannot tell, but I must confess this interference by politicians with military men, and these personal intrigues and bickerings among military men, make me feel very sad and very doubtful of the future. It does seem as if Providence was against us, and that it was decreed we should not succeed as we ought to. The assigning of Hooker to Porter's corps leaves Reynolds, I presume, permanently in command of our corps, and will leave me undisturbed in command of my division. For this I ought to be, and am, duly grateful, and as some time since it was the height of my ambition to have a division, I suppose I ought to be satisfied with its accomplishment, which I would be, if I saw matters going on in other respects as I think they ought to.

The enemy, who for some time were disposed to dispute our advance and had constant skirmishing with us, have been quiet for two days past. They are said to be in force at Culpepper Court House, some eighteen miles in our front, and Jackson, with a considerable body, is reported as being yet in the Valley of the Shenandoah, waiting for a good chance to fall on our rear, and effect one of his bold and audacious raids. I look anxiously to see the result of McClellan's removal on the public mind.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 326-7

The center of our army across the Potomac . . .

. . . is now at Warrenton, and is pushing the enemy gradually backward.  The rebel army is now beyond the Rappahannock at that point, having resisted our advance only by occasional skirmishing, to cover their retreat.  The right wing, General Banks’ division, is at Strasburg, and Jackson’s force is supposed to be at Woodstock.  Our left wing, some 80,000 strong, which went down the Potomac, is supposed to be in the vicinity of fortress Monroe, and is likely soon to be heard from.  Watching for the iron plated battery Virginia is now the matter of absorbing interest at the Fortress.  It is understood that, in addition to the smart little Ericsson Monitor, other and novel means of assault on the rebel monster have been prepared, upon which great reliance is placed.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 12, 1862, p. 1

The Rebels Driven from Warrenton -- Snow

WASHINGTON, March 29. – Yesterday the enemy, in a large force, were driven from the Warrenton Railroad Junction by Gen. Sumner.

Snow is falling to-day.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, April 5, 1862, p. 4

Special Dispatch to the Herald

MANASSAS, April 10.

The country between Manassas and Warrenton has been effectually cleared of rebel scouts.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Saturday Morning, April 12, 1862, p. 1

From Washington

WASHINGTON, March 12.

Nothing new at Manassas.  The Rebels have retired towards Gordonsville.  They rest with their advance at the Cape Daine river, their camps extending back to Gordonsville, 12 miles.

Telegraphs from Fort Monroe, report all quiet.

Parties who accompanied a rebel flag of truce, admit that the Monitor severely wounded the Merrimac.

Information from Winchester to-night, indicates that our forces are in possession there.  Nothing valuable to our army was found at Manassas

Special to Tribune.

The Naval Committee of the Senate agreed to-day to recommend an appropriation of $250,000 for the construction of furnaces for the manufacture of 20 inch Dahlgren guns.

The Washington Star of this evening says: “He have positive information that the rebels have retreated as far as Gordonsville.  Our scouts have probably penetrated as far as Culpepper Courthouse, 34 miles in the rear of Manassas.

Times’ Dispatch.

The statement published that a council of war in Washington decided 6 to 4 that the army of the Potomac could not be moved against the enemy at present, is entirely untrue.  The Generals were unanimous that an advance would be possible and proper.  The difference was as to the plan of the proposed attack.  A correspondent of the Times, who accompanied the advance upon Centreville and Manassas has just come in.  It was only last Friday that the retreat of the rebels from Centreville commenced.  Gen. Johnston left Friday morning; Gen. Smith left Saturday P. M., and Col. Stewart last Monday – the day our army left camp on the Potomac.

The retreat was conducted very orderly at first.  Nothing was left at Centreville that could be useful to us.

The forts were planked and very formidable.  The commanded the roads, and the fire of not less than a hundred guns could be converged upon any approach to the defenses, but the guns were never brought from Manassas to mount the Centreville forts.  The railroad track extended from Manassas to Centreville, and a telegraph line.

The rebel generals had their headquarters at Centreville altogether, and a more convenient and complete military establishment could not be found in Washington than they had through Manassas.

The enemy continued their retreat as quietly as it began.  They carried off all their heavy guns from Manassas, forty or fifty in number – part of their army marching by turnpike to Warrenton, and part to Gordonsville, where, it is said, they would make a stand.

It was On Monday evening that the first sign of panic was noticed at Manassas.  A part of Stuart’s rear column was preparing a train to move southward by railroad when they learned that some excited rebels had set fire to the bridges ahead of them.  They immediately began to burn and destroy, and run away in general confusion.  Five hundred barrels of flour, piled in ranks, had their heads stove in; barrels of molasses suffered the same way.  Fourteen or fifteen kegs of powder were left, which they did not know how to destroy in safety to themselves.

It seems to be confirmed that the enemy had, for weeks, between 50,000 and 60,000 troops at Centreville and Manassas, and that they only began their retreat last Friday.  What they mean is a mystery, as that number of men in their fortifications would have been equal to three times the force assailing them.

They must have feared to trust those whose enlistment was expiring, or their powder, which many accounts agree is of very inferior quality.

The strongest news brought by the Times’ correspondent is that Gen. Jackson and one half of his army, whom Gen. Banks yesterday supposed he was closely watching in Winchester, wend down the railroad to Manassas one week ago, and quietly marched off southward in the valley of the Shenandoah.

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