Left camp at Upton Hill
at eight A.M., and marched through Washington. Went into camp at five P.M.
Distance, fifteen miles.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History
of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters
and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 267
I am still at
Barnum's, and having transferred my sick to the charge of Mr. S., I have a
little more time to think, and to journalize my thoughts. I have looked around
a little to-day, and my observations have almost made me wish I had no country.
When every right which freemen hold dear is at stake, to see men calculating
the pecuniary cost of preserving them, sickens the heart, and shakes our
confidence in human nature. When the poorer classes are laboring day and night,
and exposing their lives in the cause of that government on which the rich lean
for protection in the possession of their wealth, to see these loud mouthed
patriotic capitalists cheating them in the very clothes they wear to battle,
the soul revolts at the idea of human nature civilized into a great mass of
money-makers. May we not expect, ere long, that these same patriots will be
found opposing the war because it will require a tax on the riches which they
shall have amassed from it, to defray its expenses? We shall see.
* I assume that the
slave population are not of those against whom we fight.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 15-6
On my arrival here,
I found our tents pitched on ploughed ground, in a swale. The bottoms of the
tents were very damp, and the mud in the streets over shoe-top. I at once set
to work to correct this. I had the streets all ditched on either side, the dirt
thrown into the middle, and already, instead of the mud and water streets and
tents, we have them so firm, smooth and dry that they are swept every day. I
hope by this, and by constant care in ventilating the tents, to arrest the
rapidly increasing sickness.
Having finished the
above note for the day, I have, on the point of retiring, just received an
order from Gen. King to be ready to move at a minute's notice. The enemy is
probably again threatening Washington. I must prepare.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 19
It is now between
two and three months since our regiment went into camp. We have had nearly
three hundred cases of measles, with about as many of diarrhoea, dysentery and
fever. Not one quarter of the regiment but has been sick in some way, and yet
last night every man who left home with the regiment slept in camp-not one
death by sickness or accident, none left behind, not one lost by desertion! May
we not challenge the armies of the world for a parallel? We are sleeping on our
arms every night, in anticipation of an attack on Washington, and it seems to
be the general belief that we shall be attacked here. I am no military man, and
my opinion here is of no account to the world, but to me, for whose especial
benefit it is written, it is worth as much as would be the opinion of a
Napoleon. That opinion is, that we shall have no fight here—that the enemy is
out-generaling us by feints to induce us to concentrate our forces here, whilst
he makes a strike and overpowers us elsewhere.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 19-20
RICHMOND, April 17,1
1861.
Well, my dearest
one, Virginia
has severed her connection with the Northern hive of abolitionists, and
takes her stand as a sovereign and independent State. By a large vote she
decided on yesterday, at about three o'clock, to resume the powers she had
granted to the Federal government, and to stand before the world clothed in the
full vestments of sovereignty. The die is thus cast, and her future is in the
hands of the god of battle. The contest into which we enter is one full of
peril, but there is a spirit abroad in Virginia which cannot be crushed until
the life of the last man is trampled out. The numbers opposed to us are
immense; but twelve thousand Grecians conquered the whole power of Xerxes at
Marathon, and our fathers, a mere handful, overcame the enormous power of Great
Britain.
The North seems to
be thoroughly united against us. The Herald and the Express both give way and
rally the hosts against us. Things have gone to that point in Philadelphia that
no one is safe in the expression of a Southern sentiment. Poor Robert is
threatened with mob violence. I wish most sincerely he was away from there. I
attempted to telegraph him to-day, but no dispatch is permitted northward, so
that no one knows there, except by secret agent, what has transpired here. At
Washington a system of martial law must have been established. The report is
that persons are not permitted to pass through the city to the South. I learn
that Mrs. Orrick and her children, on her way here to join her husband, who is
on the convention, has been arrested and detained. There is another report that
General Scott resigned yesterday and was put under arrest. I hope it may be so,
but I do not believe it. I have some fear that he will not resign. Reports are
too conflicting about it.
Two expeditions are
on foot,—the one directed against the Navy Yard at Gosport, the other Harper's
Ferry. Several ships are up the river at the Navy Yard, and immense supplies of
guns and powder; but there is no competent leader, and they have delayed it so
long that the government has now a very strong force there. The hope is that
Pickens will send two thousand men to aid in capturing it. From Harper's Ferry
nothing is heard. The city is full of all sorts of rumors. To-morrow night is
now fixed for the great procession; flags are raised all about town.
If possible I shall
visit home on Saturday. Tell Gill that I shall send or bring down the sturgeon
twine and six bushels of potatoes, which should be planted as soon as they
reach home. I wish much to see you after so long an absence, and the dear
children, since they have had the measles. Do, dearest, live as frugally as
possible in the household,—trying times are before us.
1 As the ordinance was passed on the 17th,
this date ought to be 18th.
SOURCE: Lyon
Gardiner Tyler, The Letters and Times of the Tylers, Volume 2, p.
641-2
"I am monarch
of all I survey." Last night, intelligence being received that an attack
was expected on Washington; we were ordered to move there instanter, and at
once the regiment was in motion. It got off in the course of the night, leaving
me here in charge of about forty men who were too sick to be moved. I am left
without provisions or money, except a few pounds of flour with which to feed
and care for the sick, and the ten well ones left with me, to aid me and to
look up deserters who have been left here. How am I to do it? I find a strong
secession element here, and at times it is very bold. The hurrahs for Jeff.
Davis are frequent, and all day the children are flaunting secession flags in
our faces, and flying secession kites in our camp ground
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac.
Behind the Scenes. A Diary of Unwritten History; From the Organization of the
Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia
about the First Day January, 1863, p. 10
Arrival at the
National Capital. By daylight the cupola of the Capitol greeted our eyes, a
reviving sight after three sleepless nights. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and Capt.
Chas. H. Tompkins had a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of roast beef,
soft bread and coffee. After unloading battery, we marched towards Camp Sprague,
and established our quarters on the left of those of the First R. I. infantry
regiment and battery. Our camp was named "Camp Clark," in honor of
the celebrated Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, the model of a Christian minister
and true patriot.
SOURCE: Theodore
Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 7-8
Grand review of the
Rhode Island troops by President Lincoln and Gen. Scott. Marched in front of
the White House and through the principal streets of Washington.
From this time up to
the 4th of July, nothing of importance occurred; everything went on quiet and
pleasant; battery drills and manual of the piece were the usual occupation.
Sometimes the long roll would be beat during the night, or guards would fire at
some imaginary object of suspicion. On such an occasion a cow was shot.
SOURCE: Theodore
Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First
Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 8
* * * * * * * * * *
I am again in the midst of trouble, occasioned by a telegram from Grant saying that the order is out for me to come to the command of the military division of the Atlantic Headquarters at Washington. The President repeatedly asked me to accept of some such position, but I thought I had fought it off successfully, though he again and again reverted to it.
Now, it seems, he has ordered it, and it is full of trouble for me. I wrote him one or two letters in Washington which I thought positive enough, but have now written another, and if it fails in its object I might as well cast about for new employment. The result would be certain conflict resulting in Grant's violent deposition, mine, or the President's.
There is not room on board of one ship for more than one captain.
If Grant intends to run for President I should be willing to come on, because my duties would then be so clearly defined that I think I could steer clear of the breakers, but now it would be impossible. The President would make use of me to beget violence, a condition of things that ought not to exist now.
He has no right to use us for such purposes, though he is Commander-in-Chief. I did suppose his passage with Grant would end there, but now it seems he will fight him as he has been doing Congress. I don't object if he does so himself and don't rope me in. . . .
If the President forces me into a false position out of seeming favor, I must defend myself. It is mortifying, but none the less inevitable.
Oppose confirmation of myself as Brevet General on ground that it is unprecedented, and that it is better not to extend the system of Brevets above Major-General. If I can't avoid coming to Washington, I may have to resign.
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 306
I have repeatedly
observed on the utter impossibility of keeping a diary without long chasms.
More than a month has gone by, and an eventful one, too, without my dotting a
single item! I must brush up and try to preserve the features of my few days
for remaining in this great country, which, while commanding my highest
admiration, I find, after five years of trial, I do not and cannot like.
I went last night to
Cambridge House. Lord Palmerston has emerged from the tortures of the gout, and
is in admirable looks and spirits. He looks upon the exraordinary report of the
bombardment for forty hours of and from Fort Sumter, without any one being
hurt, as an absurdity which further news will clear up. Nothing else engaged
the conversation of the whole company. Italy, Poland, Hungary, and Holstein all
yield in interest to the drama thought to be now formally inaugurated in
America. One gentleman confidently predicted that the Southerners would capture
Washington and give the Northerners the severest thrashing they have ever had.
Motley has worked himself into such a fever at the prospect that he says he can
neither read nor write, and must go home.
We camped one mile from town. We left here on the 25th day of March, and returned May 2. Went through a campaign of twenty-seven days. In that time we had Washington besieged sixteen days. The balance of the time we were marching and counter-marching in all kinds of weather, and very often without anything to eat.
DEAR SIR:— I am just
in receipt of yours of the 25th. As to going to Washington,
if it is so important to our friend's success, I must strain a point to get
there.
The kidnapping of our
two generals and the state of things growing out of Sheridan's
absence with all the mounted men of this region makes it imperative
that I should for the present stay where I am. A few weeks
will probably change all this — possibly a few days. Who am I to look to for
the truth when I get to Washington? I think you told me that Barrett was
both friendly and well informed in these matters. I have written to
him today on this supposition. Write to me frequently and fully and oblige.
Clear and warm.
The local troops did
not march until this morning, and no one supposes Richmond is seriously menaced
by Grant. I believe the object of the demonstration on the part of the enemy is
to draw our forces away from the vicinity of Washington.
The Chief of the
Signal Corps reports, on information supposed by him to be reliable, that Gen.
Early's captures in Maryland were worth $12,000,000—consisting of some 10,000
horses, 10,000 cattle, 7000 hogs, 4000 sheep, 20,000 barrels of flour, and a
large amount of bacon, etc. Also, that he got between 2000 and 3000 recruits.
All this doubtful.
Mr. G. W. Lamar,
Augusta, Ga., writes the Secretary of War that he knows, personally, over one
hundred men who have bought exemptions, and that they are
bought and sold every day at a certain price. Now will the Secretary order an
investigation? Mr. L. has, or had, nine sons in the army, and he says he could
have bought exemptions for all, as he is rich. And yet a poor ensigncy is
refused one of his sons.
Clear and warm-the earth refreshed.
Gen. Johnston telegraphs to Gen. Bragg to have the United States prisoners at Andersonville “distributed immediately.” He does not allege a reason for the necessity. It may be danger of an outbreak—or that the yellow fever has broken out among them.
I think Grant is about to have a race with Lee for Washington. The news from the Northern frontier is interesting.
A slight shower in the evening-heavy a few miles distant.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 248
Clear and cool; subsequently cloudy.
The Washington Chronicle of the 12th, received yesterday, indicates that Washington or Baltimore, or both, were in danger of falling into our possession.
Lieut.-Col. G. W. Lay said, this morning, in my office, that Grant would not leave—that he held a most important position—that he would not fail in his campaign; that our operations beyond the Potomac were not of sufficient magnitude to produce important results; and, finally, that Germany and Ireland would replenish the armies of the United States, while our last reserves were now in the field.
The colonel had come into my office more than a month ago and said Grant had outgeneraled Pemberton, and would capture Vicksburg. I reminded him of this to-day, and asked his opinion on the present aspect of affairs. He has been recently on Gen. Beauregard's staff, and is irritated at the supposed hard treatment which that general receives from the President. He is a little bitter against the President, and is no special admirer of Lee, who, he thinks, committed a blunder in not fighting Grant at Hanover Junction. And he thinks, if Gen. Johnston forbears to fight Sherman, in pursuance of orders from Richmond, disaster will ensue. But neither he nor any one is capable of sounding the profound plans of Lee. Grant's forces are now far away from Washington.
2½ o'clock P.M. An officer just from Petersburg, arrived at the War Department with the intelligence that a Washington paper of the 13th inst. had been received at headquarters, announcing the capture of BALTIMORE by our troops! The inhabitants within, or a large proportion of them, co-operated with our army! Our people are in ecstasies! This is the realization of the grand conception of a great general, and Lee is immortalized if it only be true.
Dry—the sky bright and brassy—the gardens almost ruined.
Last evening definite news came in the Washington Chronicle of the 14th. Gen. Early was recrossing the Potomac with an immense amount of stores levied in the enemy's country, including thousands of horses, etc. This, the Chronicle thinks, will be beneficial to the United States, as recruiting will be stimulated, to punish us for making prize of provisions, etc. in the enemy's country, after the enemy had despoiled us of everything in their power!
Troops are still going up toward Washington from our army, as well as from the enemy's before Petersburg; and Early, after bestowing his prizes in a place of safety, may return to Maryland and Pennsylvania for another supply. That may be the best policy to get the enemy off our soil. His cutting off communications with the South will not signify much, if we can derive supplies from the North.
A steady, gentle rain from 8 A.M. till 4 P.M.
A dispatch from Gen. Hood, who relieves Gen. Johnston, was received to-day. It was in cipher, and I did not learn the contents.
I strove in vain to-day to buy a few cabbage seed!
The following is a copy of a letter received from Gen. Lee, his locality not indicated, but from the date, he must be near the city:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
17th July, 1864.
Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR, RICHMOND.
SIR:— I have received a dispatch from Gen. Early, dated at Leesburg on the 15th inst. On the 8th he crossed South Mountain, leaving Sigel at Maryland Heights. On the 9th he reached Frederick, and in the afternoon attacked and routed the enemy, ten thousand strong, under Wallace, at Monocacy Junction. The next day he moved on Washington, and arrived in front of the fortifications around that city on the 11th. The defenses were found very strong, and were not attacked. After a reconnoissance on the night of the 12th, he withdrew, and crossed the Potomac at White's Ford on the 14th, bringing off everything safely and in good order. He reports the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to have been cut in several places, and severely damaged. The bridges over Gunpowder River, Northern Central and Philadelphia Railroads were burned, and the connection between Washington and Baltimore cut by Johnson's cavalry. The 6th corps (Federal) had arrived at Washington, and it was reported that other parts of Grant's army had reached there, but of the latter he was not certain. Hunter had passed Williamsport, and was moving toward Frederick. Gen. Early states that his loss was light.
I am, with great respect,
Your obed't servant.
[Not signed.]
Custis walked with Lieut. Bell last evening a mile from Hanover Junction to the battle-field of last month (just a month ago), and beheld some of the enemy still unburied! They fell very near our breastworks.
Clear, hot, and dry; my snap beans, corn, etc. burning up.
The papers this morning fail to confirm the capture of as many prisoners, near Petersburg, as were reported yesterday. But the dispatch (subjoined) of Gen. Lee renders it certain that the enemy was routed. There is a suspicion that our exasperated men refused quarter to some hundreds of the raiders, on the plea that they ravish, murder, burn, pillage, etc. It may be so.
Gen. Early, with perhaps 10,000 men, is believed to be in Winchester to-day. He will probably be soon playing havoc with the enemy's railroads, stores, etc., and perhaps may threaten Washington or Harrisburg, or both ; and so have Grant called off from his “siege of Richmond."
We were paid our salaries yesterday, and Custis, after his campaign and his sickness, resolved on a little indulgence. So he had a couple of small saucers of ice-cream—one for his mother, costing $6; quarter pound of coffee and two pounds of sugar, $25; and to-day a rice pudding, two pounds of rice, $5; one pound of sugar, $10; two quarts of milk, $5; total, $51!
Col. Shields, Commandant of Conscripts, etc., informed me today that he received only yesterday the order to proceed to the enrollment of Maryland and foreign residents. Thus the express orders of the President are delayed in the execution, and in such an exigency as this! I know Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, more than a year ago, attempted to interpose grave constitutional obstacles; but surely he can hardly have had the temerity to thwart the President's wishes, so plainly expressed. Nevertheless, the delay has been caused by some one; and Col. S. has apprehensions that some wheel within a wheel will even now embarrass or defeat the effective execution of the order.
Brig.-Gen. Gardner, successor of Brig.-Gen. Winder, has not yet assumed supervision of the passport business, and it remains in the hands of Judge Campbell and Provost Marshal Carrington. Very many persons are going to the United States via the Potomac.
Cool and dry, everything suffering for rain.
All quiet about Petersburg, but later in the day a rumor sprung up that fighting had recommenced there. I doubt it, because by Northern accounts I see Gen. Early is destroying railroads beyond the Potomac, and will undoubtedly threaten Washington itself. If Grant fails to send troops there, Early may even throw shell into the Federal city.
Peter V. Daniel sends the Secretary of War a letter from Mr. Westmoreland, Wilmington, complaining that he is not allowed by government agents to transport cotton to that port, where his steamers are, in redemption of Confederate States bonds, while private persons, for speculative purposes, are, through the favor (probably for a consideration) of government officials, enabled to ship thousands of bales, and he submits a copy of a correspondence with Col. Sims, Assistant Quartermaster-General, and Lieut.Col. Bayne, who is charged with the control of the exporting and importing business. Mr. Daniel thinks there is some “bribery and corruption" even in the South. But Mr. Seddon is incredulous sometimes.
The express company has an arrangement with Col. Sims, the Assistant Quartermaster-General, by which much freight is transported.
New potatoes are selling at $4 per quart in the market.
