Major General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, August 30, 1863

Vicksburg, Mississippi,

August 30, 1863.

YOUR letter of the 8th of August, inclosing one from Senator Wilson⁸ to you, reached here during my temporary absence to the northern part of my command; hence my apparent delay in answering. I fully appreciate all Senator Wilson says. Had it not been for General Halleck and Dana,⁹ I think it altogether likely I would have been ordered to the Potomac. My going could do no possible good. They have there able officers who have been brought up with that army, and to import a commander to place over them certainly could produce no good. While I would not positively disobey an order, I would have objected most vehemently to taking that command or any other, except the one I have. I can do more with this army than it would be possible for me to do with any other without time to make the same acquaintance with others I have with this. I know that the soldiers of the Army of the Tennessee can be relied on to the fullest extent. I believe I know the exact capacity of every general in my command to lead troops, and just where to place them to get from them their best services. This is a matter of no small importance. . . .

The people of the North need not quarrel over the institution of slavery. What Vice-President Stephens acknowledges the cornerstone of the Confederacy is already knocked out. Slavery is already dead, and cannot be resurrected. It would take a standing army to maintain slavery in the South if we were to make peace to-day, guaranteeing to the South all their former constitutional privileges. I never was an abolitionist, not even what could be called antislavery, but I try to judge fairly and honestly, and it became patent to my mind early in the rebellion that the North and South could never live at peace with each other except as one nation, and that without slavery. As anxious as I am to see peace reestablished, I would not, therefore, be willing to see any settlement until this question is forever settled. Rawlins and Maltby¹⁰ have been appointed brigadier-generals. These are richly deserved promotions. Rawlins especially is no ordinary man. The fact is, had he started in this war in the line instead of in the staff, there is every probability he would be to-day one of our shining lights. As it is, he is better and more favorably known than probably any other officer in the army who has filled only staff appointments. Some men, too many of them, are only made by their staff appointments, while others give respectability to the position. Rawlins is of the latter class. My kind regards to the citizens of Galena.

__________

⁸Henry Wilson of Massachusetts (1812-1875), who in 1872 was elected Vice-President of the United States on the ticket with General Grant.

⁹Charles A. Dana (1819-1897), Assistant Secretary of War, and late editor of the New York Sun.

¹⁰Jasper A. Maltby (1826-1867), lieutenant colonel Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry, August, 1861; colonel, November 29, 1862, and brigadier general, August 4, 1863.

SOURCES: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 27-9, 115;  James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins, p. 434

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 22, 1862

Orderly Clark, Sergeants Spencer, Sweet and White went out on a scouting expedition and brought in a pair of ponies and some things to eat.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 30

Senator John Sherman to Major General William T. Sherman, May 19, 1862

SENATE CHAMBER, WASHINGTON, May 19, 1862.

Dear Brother:

Your official report was so complete and satisfactory that it has settled forever all the absurd stories about the battle of the 6th and 7th. It also shows me that with all my care to be right I made several mistakes, especially as to the volunteers of the 6th and 7th.

Deep anxiety is felt here as to your position. I talked with the President on Saturday about the general state of the war. He evidently fears the accumulation of forces under Beauregard and said he had and would again telegraph Halleck not to move forward until he was certain to win. If the Mississippi is clear of the enemy and we get Richmond, it is thought that will secure the border States and we can afford to wait. In the mean time, even under terrible financial pressure and drain of active war, the country is flourishing. Our bonds are above par, trade is active and produce bears a good price. Much of this may be induced by the inflation of paper money, but gold is abundant, foreign importations active, and foreigners are making investments here heavily. In my experience in public affairs I have never known times more easy. If the war could only be brought to a close upon the basis of the unity and integrity of the Government, we should have a rebound of national prosperity that would soon heal all the losses and burdens of the war. As to politics now, lines are being drawn. Radicals and Conservatives are taking sides without regard to party reasons. If the rank Secessionists would only give up their insane attempt at division they could easily secure every reasonable right. They must, however, lay aside the insolence and dogmatism with which they have domineered over our better men. If they do not abandon their cause, events will force a war in the cotton States between the whites and blacks. Hunter has already invited it, but his inconsiderate proclamation will be set aside. However, delay, defeat or a much longer continuance in the barbarity of rebel warfare will prepare the public mind in the North for a warfare that will not scruple to avail itself of every means of subjection.

In the course of business I have received many kind messages for you from your many friends, among others from Swords, Van Vleit, Garesche and others.

Affectionately yours,

JOHN SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 150-1

Major General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, March 10, 1863

Young’s Point, Mississippi,

March 10, 1863.

NOW that Congress has adjourned, I have thought possible you might want to make a visit to this part of the country. I need not assure you that I would be most glad to see you here, and have you stay during the contest which will take place in the next thirty days from this writing. You will have time to join me if mails are prompt. The canal through would have been a success by today but for the great rise of water. The river is now several feet above the whole country hereabout, and our canal was dependent for its success upon keeping the water out of it. The upper dam has broken and submerged things generally. To stop this off will take a number of days, but we will do it. In the meantime, so far as I now know and have official reports, the Yazoo Pass expedition is going to prove a perfect success. This is highly important if for no other purpose than to destroy the transportation and embyro gunboats the enemy had there. They have been working for one year on one boat of gigantic proportions up that stream.

Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, a young man of great merit, who has been put on General Hunter’s staff, but who was on mine as a lieutenant, and I objected to relieving until the present campaign is over, writes to Rawlins in a private letter that our success in getting into Yazoo Pass is due to the energy of C. C. Washburn. He felt an interest in the enterprise and took hold with a will, and with men worthy of the object to be accomplished. I have ordered the army corps of McPherson through that way with additional forces, making him effective men to the number of about twenty-eight thousand. McPherson is one of my best men, and is fully to be trusted. Sherman stands in the same category. In these two men I have a host. They are worth more than a full brigade each. McPherson will effect a lodgment on the high lands on the Yazoo River east bank, and will co-operate with the troops from here. The class of transports adapted to the pass being so limited, some delay will necessarily take place in getting them to their destination. I have sent up the river for all the small class of boats that can be got.

We are going through a campaign here such as has not been heard of on this continent before. The soldiers see the position of the enemy in front of them, but I presume do not see how they are to attack. Their camp ground is several feet below water, held in its place by the levees. Constant rains falling keep the roads almost impassable. With all this the men are in good spirits, and feel confident of ultimate success.

The health of this command is a subject that has been very much exaggerated by the press. I will venture the assertion that there is no army now in the field showing so large a proportion of those present with their commands being ready for duty. Really our troops are more healthy than could possibly have been expected, with all their trials. Although I have told you but little of plans here, it is more than I am in the habit of writing on this subject. You will excuse me, therefore, from saying how I expect to co-operate with McPherson, at least until you come down. General Washburn will have command of a very important cavalry expedition from the Yazoo River if all other plans succeed. . .

SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 23-6

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, January 21, 1862

Nothing of importance. Everything is very quiet in this locality. We have nothing but the regular camp duty to perform. Mess number 7 have now used up all their cooked rice.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 30

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, May 12, 1862

HEADQUARTERS 5TH DIV., May 12, 1862.

CAMP BEFORE CORINTH.

My Dear Brother:

. . . I was gratified on Monday when I came in contact with my old Kentucky command. They gathered around me and were evidently pleased to meet me again, officers and men. I think Mr. Lincoln is a pure minded, honest and good man. I have all faith in him. . . .

I think it is a great mistake to stop enlistments. There may be enough soldiers on paper, but not enough in fact. My aggregate, present and absent, is 10,452. Present for duty, 5,298; absent sick, 2,557; absent wounded, 855. The rest are on various detached duties, as teamsters or hospital attendance, embracing about 600 sick in camp.

About this proportion will run through the whole army. I have not really one thorough soldier in my whole army. They are all green and raw. . . .

Last evening I had to post my own pickets and come under the fire of the enemies’ pickets. Came near being hit. Of course, being mounted and ahead, I and staff always get an undue share of attention.

I made my official report on the battle of the 6th and 7th on the 11th of April, sent it to Grant, and he to Halleck. It has not been published and it is none of my business. An officer ought not to publish anything. His report is to the Government, may contain confidential matters, and the War Department alone should have the discretion to publish or not, according to the interests of Government. . . .

I have been worried to death by the carelessness of officers and sentinels; have begged, importuned, and cursed to little purpose; and I will not be held responsible for the delinquencies of sentinels fresh from home, with as much idea of war as children. All I know is, we had our entire front, immediate guards and grand guards, and I had all my command in line of battle well selected before we had seen an infantry soldier of the enemy. We had been skirmishing with the cavalry for several days, and we could not get behind them. All we could see was the head of their column, and that admirably qualified by familiarity of the country for the purpose of covering an approach.

Grant had been expecting Buell a whole week before he arrived. We all knew the enemy was in our front, but we had to guess at his purpose. Now that it is known, all are prophets; but before, we were supposed to be a vast aggressive force sent by an intelligent Government to invade the South, and for us to have been nervous on the subject would have indicated weakness. Beauregard then performed the very thing which Johnston should have done in Kentucky last October.

My force was divided; he could have interposed his, attacked McCook at Nolin and Thomas at London, and would have defeated us with perfect ease. The secessionists would then have had Kentucky and Missouri both. Why he did not is a mystery to me. And Buckner told me that Johnston’s neglect on that occasion was so galling to him that he made him give a written order not to attempt to manoeuvre. . . .

We are now encamped six miles from Corinth, pickets about one mile and a half in advance. I am on the extreme right, McClernand is in my rear and guards off to the right. The roads are again pretty good and I don’t bother myself about the plans and aims of our generals. I will do all I can with my division, but regret that I have not better discipline and more reliable men. Too many of the officers are sick of the war and have gone home on some pretence or other. I am in pretty good health and keep close to my work. The success of our arms at Norfolk and Williamsburg are extraordinary and may result in peace sooner than I calculated. All I fear is that though we progress we find plenty of push everywhere. Weather begins to be hot.

Affectionately yours,

W. T. SHERMAN

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 148-50

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, January 20, 1862

It snowed some today and turned colder; the weather is very changeable. I wrote a letter to father and enclosed $20.00 of the $26.00 I received from the Government on the 8th inst.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 30

Senator John Sherman to Major General William T. Sherman, May 10, 1862

WASHINGTON CITY, May 10, 1862.

My Dear Brother:

I received your recent letter in which you mention your position on the morning of Sunday very opportunely.

It arrived on the morning I had to make a speech on Ohio volunteers. The imputations, whether just or unjust, upon our regiments make it necessary in the opinion of our delegation that someone should speak, and I did so. I was exceedingly anxious for your report and went or sent to the Adjutant General's office daily for several days, but was informed that none of the details or division reports had come, although several were published in the newspapers. I collected all the information I could and made my speech. Whether I am in a mile of the truth is mere chance, but I believe my statement is more accurate than any made. Head it and let me know. You will see from Harlan’s remarks there is much feeling against Grant and I try to defend him, but with little success. Why is not your report sent in? Pray hereafter have a copy sent to me of all future reports. . . .

I never spoke under greater embarrassment than I did yesterday. It was a delicate subject, upon which my constituents were sensitive, and yet I was in ignorance how far your reply would overthrow me. . . .

As to your personal position you need not fear. Halleck’s opinion about your action of Sunday is the opinion of the country. You are as likely to be abused on my account as on your own. I am so accustomed to storms of factious opposition as to be perfectly serene under it. I hope you will become so.

Affectionately,

JOHN SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 147

Major General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, November 7, 1862

La Grange, Tennessee,

November 7, 1862.

NOT having much of special note to write you since your visit to Jackson, and knowing that you were fully engaged, I have not troubled you with a letter. I write now a little on selfish grounds. I see from the papers that Mr. Leonard Swett is to be called near the President in some capacity. I believe him to be one of my bitterest enemies. The grounds of his enmity I suppose to be the course I pursued whilst at Cairo toward certain contractors and speculators who wished to make fortunes off of the soldiers and government, and in which he took much interest, whether a partner or not.⁷  He called on me in regard to the rights of a post sutler for Cairo (an appointment not known to the law) whom he had appointed. Finding that I would regard him in the light of any other merchant who might set up there, that I would neither secure him a monopoly of the trade nor his pay at the pay table for such as he might trust out, the sutler never made his appearance. If he did he never made himself known to me. In the case of some contracts that were given out for the supply of forage, they were given, if not to the very highest bidder, to far from the lowest, and full 30 per cent, higher than the articles could have been bought for at that time. Learning these facts, I immediately annulled the contracts.

Quite a number of car-loads of grain and hay were brought to Cairo on these contracts, and a change of Quartermaster having taken place in the meantime the new Quartermaster would not receive them without my order, except at rates he could then get the same articles for from other parties. This I refused to give. The contractors then called on me, and tried to convince me that the obligation was binding, but finding me immovable in the matter, asked if General Allen’s approval to the contract would not be sufficient. My reply was, in substance, that General Allen was Chief Quartermaster of the Department, and I could not control him. They immediately left me, and, thinking over the matter, it occurred to me that they would go immediately to St. Louis and present their contract for approval without mentioning the objection I made to it. I then telegraphed to General Allen the facts, and put him on his guard against these men. For some reason, however, my dispatch did not reach St. Louis for two days. General Allen then replied to it, stating that those parties had been to him the day before, and knowing no objection to the contract he had approved it.

The parties then returned to Cairo evidently thinking they had gained a great triumph. But there being no money to pay at that time, and because of the bad repute the Quartermaster's Department was in, they were afraid to take vouchers without my approval. They again called on me to secure this. My reply to them was that they had obtained their contract without my consent, had it approved against my sense of duty to the government, and they might go on and deliver their forage and get their pay in the same way. I would never approve a voucher for them under that contract if they never got a cent. I hoped they would not. This forced them to abandon the contract and to sell the forage already delivered for what it was worth.

Mr. Swett took much interest in this matter and wrote me one or more letters on the subject, rather offensive in their manner. These letters I have preserved, but they are locked up in Mr. Safford’s safe in Cairo. I afterwards learned from undoubted authority that there was a combination of wealthy and influential citizens formed, at the beginning of this war, for the purpose of monopolizing the army contracts. One of their boasts was that they had sufficient influence to remove any general who did not please them.

The modus operandi for getting contracts at a high rate, I suppose, was for a member of this association to put in bids commencing at as low rates as the articles could be furnished for, and after they were opened all would retire up to the highest one who was below any outside person and let him take it. In many instances probably they could buy off this one for a low figure by assuring him that he could not possibly get the contract, for if he did not retire it would be held by the party below. You will see by the papers that I am on the move. If troops are furnished me to keep open my lines of communication, there will be no delays in this department. Once at Grenada I can draw supplies from Memphis, and save our present very long line.

I do not see my report of the battle of Iuka in print. As the papers in General Rosecrans’s interest have so much misrepresented that affair, I would like to see it in print. I have no objection to that or any other general being made a hero of by the press, but I do not want to see it at the expense of a meritorious portion of the army. I endeavored in that report to give a plain statement of facts, some of which I would never have mentioned had it not become necessary in defense of troops who have been with me in all, or nearly all, the battles where I have had the honor to command. I have never had a single regiment disgrace itself in battle yet, except some new ones at Shiloh that never loaded a musket before that battle. . . .

__________

⁷Leonard Swett (1825-1889), a successful Illinois lawyer and an intimate friend of President Lincoln, made the nomination speech for the latter in the Chicago Convention of 1860, which the writer happened to hear, and in 1887 he delivered the oration at the unveiling of the Lincoln Statue in Chicago. During the war Mr. Swett had charge of a large number of cases for the Government, earning a high reputation both as a civil and as a criminal lawyer. He said to Grant at Cairo, “We are the lowest bidders and insist upon having the contract; if not, the matter will be placed before the President;” to which the General calmly replied, “I shall buy the hay in open market at a lower rate than you offer it, and will transport the hay on your road [the Illinois Central], of which I shall take immediate possession.” Grant then added, “If I find you in this military district at the expiration of twenty-four hours, you will be imprisoned and probably shot.” Hastening to Washington the indignant lawyer laid the matter before Lincoln, who said, “Well, Swett, if I were in your place, I should keep out of Ulysses Simpson's bailiwick, for to the best of my knowledge and belief Grant will keep his promise if he catches you in Cairo. In fact, Leonard, you had better ‘take to de woods,’ as the colored brother remarked.” Mr. Swett, who in later years became one of the General's greatest admirers, and who was one of the 306 that strongly urged Grant’s nomination for a presidential third term, told this story as here related by the present writer.

SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 18-22, 114-5

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, January 19, 1862

Lieutenant Durbin and some of the boys went out scouting. They brought in a lot of corn to feed the horses; also some walnuts, hickory nuts, corn meal and molasses. The lieutenant took a “secesh” flag from a schoolma'am.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 30

Major General William T. Sherman to Senator John Sherman, May 7, 1862

CAMP EIGHT MILES FRONT OF CORINTH,

May 7, 1862.

My Dear Brother:

. . . . . . . . . .

The scoundrels who fled their ranks and left about half their number to do their work have succeeded in establishing their story of surprise, stuck with bayonets and swords in their tents and all that stuff.

They were surprised, astonished and disgusted at the utter want of respect for life on the part of the confederates, whom they have been taught to regard as inferior to them, and were surprised to see them approach with banners fluttering, bayonets glistening and lines dressed on the centre. It was a beautiful and dreadful sight and I was prepared for and have freely overlooked the fact that many wilted and fled, but gradually recovering, rejoined our ranks. But those who did not recover, their astonishment has to cast about for a legitimate excuse; and the cheapest one was to accuse their officers, and strange to say, this story is believed before ours who fought two whole days. . . .

In this instance the scamps will soon learn their mistake. Those who ran and cried “surprise,” “cut up,” &c., expected all who stood to their work to be killed, but all were not killed and enough remained as witnesses, after the public are satisfied with the horrid stories of men butchered, &c. . . .

For two days they hung about the river bank filling the ears of newspaper reporters with their tales of horrid surprise. Regiments all cut up, they the only survivors and to our utter amazement we find it settling down as history. . . .

Every battery (three) was harnessed up in position before called on to fire and cavalry (only 250 in my whole division) was in the saddle at daylight, and the attack did not begin until the sun was two hours high. . . .

Prentiss was not surprised, for I sent him word an hour before the enemie’' infantry began to appear, and he was not made prisoner until after 3 P.M. . . .

I confess I did not think Beauregard would abandon his railroads to attack us on our base (when he knew that by waiting a short time we should be forced to advance) where he would most assuredly have been beaten.

I am on the extreme right and we are in contact with the enemies’ pickets. Some fierce struggle must soon follow, but that the war is ended or even fairly begun I do not believe.

Affectionately your brother,

W. T. SHERMAN.

SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman letters: correspondence between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, p. 145-6

Major General Ulysses S. Grant to Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, June 19, 1862

Corinth, Mississippi,

June 19, 1862.

YOUR letter of the 8th inst., addressed to me at Covington, Ky., has just reached me. At the time the one was written to which it is an answer I had leave to go home or to Covington, but General Halleck requested me to remain for a few days. Afterward when I spoke of going he asked that I should remain a little longer if my business was not of pressing importance. As I really had no business, and had not asked leave on such grounds, I told him so, and that if my services were required I would not go at all. This settled my leave for the present, and for the war. So long as my services are required I do not wish to leave. I am exceedingly obliged to you for the interest you have taken in the appointment recommended by me, and also for the assurance that the Secretary of War receives it with such favor. I will endeavor never to make a recommendation unsafe to accede to.

I shall leave here on the 21st for Memphis, where my headquarters will be located for the time being. Western Tennessee is fast being reduced to working order, and I think, with the introduction of the mails, trade, and the assurance that we can hold it, it will become loyal or, at least, law-abiding. It will not do, however, for our arms to meet with any great reverse and still expect this result. The masses this day are more disloyal in the South from fear of what might befall them in case of defeat to the Union cause than from any dislike to the Government. One week to them (after giving in their adhesion to our laws) would be worse under the so-called Confederate Government than a year of martial law administered by this army. It is hard to say what would be the most wise policy to pursue toward these people, but for a soldier his duties are plain. He is to obey the orders of all those placed over him, and whip the enemy wherever he meets him. “If he can” should only be thought of after an unavoidable defeat. If you are acquainted with Senator Collamore of Vermont, I would be pleased if you would say to him that there is a young colonel in the Eleventh Illinois Regiment, a native of his State, that I have taken a great interest in for his gallantry and worth. I mean Colonel Ransom.⁶ He has now been wounded three times in separate engagements, but never showed a willingness to relinquish his command until the day was decided, and always declines a leave to recover from his wounds lest something should transpire in his absence.

__________

⁶Colonel Ransom. Thomas E. G. Ransom (1834-1864), major Eleventh Illinois Infantry, July 30, 1861; colonel, February 15, 1862; and brigadier general, November 29, 1862. He was among the most gallant of our young volunteer officers of the Army of the Tennessee.

SOURCE: James Grant Wilson, Editor, General Grant’s Letters to a Friend 1861-1880, p. 15-7, 114

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, January 18, 1862

Some of the boys went out on a scouting expedition, but did not meet with any success.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 30

The Fall of Lexington – Why Mulligan was not Re-enforced – Fremont Vindicated

We make the following extract from the speech of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, in defense of Gen. Fremont, delivered on Friday last.  It is but an extract, but sufficient to justify to the General with the honest and patriotic people.  The speech was made in reply to the attack of F. P. Blair:

I come now to the fall of Lexington.  I happened to be in St. Louis on the 14th of September, and found the whole city excited with the news that had just reached there, that Price was marching upon the gallant defender of the town of Lexington, and when my friend speaks about the Home Guard it appears to me that Colonel Mulligan didn’t bear very high testimony to their gallantry then.  But I saw Lieutenant Governor Hall and he told me that Price was marching toward Lexington with fifteen thousand men, and that Fremont ought to send out a column to intercept him.  I asked him how many men Fremont had, and he said he thought he had twenty thousand.  I thought if he had that number he certainly could send out some, and I went to General Fremont, full of zeal for the re-enforcement of Mulligan, and told him what Lieutenant Governor Hall had said, and that if he had twenty thousand men some ought to be sent out. – He said: “I will tell you, confidentially, what I would not have known in the streets of St. Louis for my life.  They have got the opinion that I have twenty thousand men here.  I will show you what I really have got.”  He rang his bell, and his secretary came and brought the muster roll for that day, and by that muster roll he had in St. Louis and within seven miles round about, less than eight thousand men, and only two of them full regiments.  It was a beggarly array of an army, and it was all needed to defend that city at that time.  But I asked him if he could not spare some of these?  Sir, the tears stood in his eyes, as he handed me two telegraphic dispatches he had that day received from Washington.  I will read them, that you may see how little was at his command to re-enforce Mulligan.  Mr. Colfax then read the dispatches, ordering him to send five thousand armed infantry to Washington, and continued: I have shown you that he had the men, but no guns; and when he bought guns, the necessity for which was imperious, he was denounced from one end of this country to the other because they were not Springfield rifles of the best quality.  You must send five thousand well armed infantry to Washington at once, and this draft on him was to be replaced by troops from Kansas, or wherever he could best gather them.  I asked him, “What can you do (and my heart sank within me as I asked the question) here with an inferior force, and your best forces sent away to Washington?”  Said he, “Washington must have my troops, though Missouri fall, and I fall myself.”  After I heard that I would have been a traitor to my convictions if I did not stand up to defend this man, who was willing to sacrifice himself to defend the imperiled capital of the country.

He telegraphed to Washington that he was preparing to obey the order received, and I doubt not it made his heart bleed, knowing the strait Mulligan was in.  Then he telegraphed to Gov. Morton and Gov. Denison for more troops and the answer he received was that they had received orders to send all their troops East.  So there his reliance failed.  My friend says that it cannot be shown that he moved any of his men until after Lexington had fallen.  Lexington fell on Friday, the 22d of September.  I well remember the day.  Here are dispatches to Gen. Pope on the 16th of September, and dispatches from Gen. Sturgis to Col. Davis, hurrying the men.  The wires were hot with orders hurrying the men to re-enforce Mulligan.  Pope telegraphed on the 17th of September that his troops would be there day after to-morrow, which would have been two days before Lexington surrendered, and Sturgis thought he should be there on Thursday.  Col. Mulligan told me himself that if Sturgis had appeared on the opposite side of the river he though Price would have retired.  Thus from three sources Fremont sent on troops to re-enforce Mulligan, but he failed to do it because the elements seemed to be against him, and not because he did not seek to do so in every possible way that he could send succor to him.  At this very time there were all the different posts in Missouri to be held; his three months’ men were rapidly retiring, and his best men sent to Washington, Price, with fifteen thousand me, marching to Lexington; McCullough threatening Rolla, Hardee threatening Ironton, and Polk and Pillow at Columbus; and all over the State where organized bands of rebels – about eighty thousand men – threatening him, and he with an inadequate force to meet them.  And while thus struggling, from every side were launched against him the poisoned arrows of hate and partisan enmity; and while Fremont was out hunting the enemies of his country, somebody was in St. Louis hunting up witnesses against him, and giving ex parte testimony taken there; and while he was facing the foe, endeavoring to secure victory, a synopsis of the testimony was sent upon the wires all over the country, so that the public mind should be poisoned against, and his overthrow might be easier.  I think, in the name of humanity – if there is no such word as justice – they should at least have sent him this evidence after he came back to his post; but to this very hour the committee have not sent him this testimony at all.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, January 17, 1862

Warm and pleasant. Nothing of importance. Some of the boys are quite sick from the effects of vaccination, though on some of them it did not work. Mine worked fine, and some of the boys took virus from my arm and vaccinated themselves. The surgeon vaccinated a few of the boys as many as four or five times before it took.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29-30

United States Presidential Candidates who were Veterans of the Civil War

Major General George B. McClellan	1864	Democratic Party
Major General Winfield Scott Hancock	1880	Democratic Party
Brigadier General John W. Phelps	1880	Anti-Masonic Party
Brigadier General Neal Dow	1880	Prohibition Party
Brevet Brigadier General James B. Weaver	1880	Greenback-Labor Party
Major General Benjamin F. Butler	1884	Greenback Party
Brigadier General Clinton B. Fisk	1888	Prohibition Party
Brevet Brigadier General James B. Weaver	1892	People’s Party
Major General John McAuley Palmer1	1896	National Democratic Party

_________

¹Confederate Lieutenant General Simon B. Buckner was his running mate for Vice President.

The Iron Battery Naugatuck

The government is soon to be place in possession of a small but staunch iron gunboat, the gift of Mr. Stevens, contractor for the famous floating battery at Hoboken.  This craft was originally a canal boat, and has been fitted up at Bordentown, N. J., with a screw propellers, water-tight partitions, and at the contrivances for sinking her to a fighting depth which have been introduced in the great battery.  She is, in fact, designed to illustrate on a small scale, the principal novelties and merits of that mammoth concern; and at a preliminary test to which she was subjected some months ago, in the presence of a large number of army and navy officers and scientific gentlemen, she was found to work admirably.  She could be entirely submerged, with the exception of her gunwale, in a few minutes, and could be quickly turned about, like a [teetotum], in her own length.  Since those satisfactory experiments, Mr. Stevens has still further strengthened her and improved her sailing and fighting qualities, and is now prepared to turn her over to the Government free of expense, for active service.  Her name is Naugatuck.  Her dimensions are those of an ordinary canal boat, and she will be sent by canal from New York, where is now is to Washington.  Her speed above water, is ten knots and hour, when submerged to the depth of 7½ feet, about seven.  She can carry coal for twelve days, and a crew large enough to work the vessel and handle her armament.  The latter consists of a single 100 pounder of the Parrott pattern, which experiments have proved to be perhaps the most formidable rifled gun in the world. – Whenever the Naugatuck is sunk to her fighting depth by the admission of water to the chambers in her bow and stern, her entire machinery, steering apparatus and vulnerable parts will be below the water line; and nothing will be exposed to the enemy’s shots but a narrow strip of white pine, (which does not splinter,) constituting the gunwale, and the gun itself.  Her small size and the scantiness of her exposed lines, would enable her to approach close to a hostile vessel in a dark night, and deliver her 100-pounder with terrible effect.  The Naugatuck will start for Washington at an early day.  Captain Faunce, late of the revenue cutter Harriet Lane, has, by directions of the Government, inspected this novel craft during her preparations for service.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

How Dr. Russell Got The Letter Of The Washington Telegraph Censor – Stock Gambling – A Banker Goes Shares On The Trent News

The following is taken from the Judiciary Committee’s Report on the Censorship of the press at Washington:

The Censor testified that on Friday, December 27, at 2 o’clock P. M., he received positive orders to suppress all dispatches concerning the matter, but at forty-five minutes after two he allowed the following dispatch to go:

“Samuel Wood, New York Hotel, New York: – Act as though you heard some very good news, for yourself and me, as soon as you get this.

W. H. RUSSELL”

The committee say that any man of ordinary discernment might have detected in that dispatch the contraband information, and that Mr. Russell has not, by his letters to the London Times entitled himself to privileges which were denied to our own citizens.  Stock speculations were active and remunerative, and the committee think Mr. Russell’s friend made a good thing out of the good news.  H. G. Fant, a banker of the city, was examined by the committee, in reference to his operations in stock upon the Trent affair.  Mr. Fant had read in the Herald that Mason and Slidell were to be given up, and he put to work Mr. Robert J. Corwin to ascertain whether the communication had been made to Lord Lyons.  He ascertained in the Department of the Interior, that it had.  Mr. Fant invested in stocks, and Mr. Corwin’s share of the profits was $1,300.

The reporters for the press were not allowed to send a word over the wires about the settlement of the Trent affair.  Mr. Fant, a banker, used Mr. Corwin to pump the Secretary of the Interior.  Mr. Smith was pumped, and Mr. Corwin pocketed, as his share $1,300.  Then, Dr. Russell advised his friend Samuel Wood, of New York.  How much Mr. Wood made, and what fell to the share of the special correspondent of the London Times is not stated.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, January 16, 1862

A squad of the boys went out scouting¹ and took one man a prisoner, besides bringing in nine mules and six hogs. They took the man to headquarters, turned the mules over to the regimental quartermaster, and the hogs we made use of as so much extra pork for the company.

__________

¹This was really a foraging expedition which at that time they spoke of as “scouting.” — Ed.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

Presidents of the United States who were Veterans of the Civil War

Andrew Johnson	Brigadier General of Volunteers
Ulysses S. Grant	General-in-Chief of the United States Army
Rutherford B. Hayes	Brigadier General, Brevet Major General
James A. Garfield	Major General of Volunteers
Chester A. Arthur	Major General
Benjamin Harrison	Colonel 70th Indiana Infantry, Brevet Brigadier General
William McKinley	Captain, Co. E, 23rd Ohio Infantry, Brevet Major

Spoils of Manassas -- A Thousand Fugitive Slaves a Week – The Sham Fortifications

(Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial, 19)

I presume a thousand slaves have escaped from bondage since Manassas was evacuated.  Most of them fled from the regions of Rappahannock and entered our lines by various routes, some by the highways, some from the jungle.  Of more than fifty whom I saw, not one was unconscious of the issue which sets so many bondmen free.  Some had deserted wives and children, trusting to future opportunities to liberate them. . .  Most of them were under forty years of age, stout, muscular, intelligent fellows, not field hands, but household servants – the class so boastfully assumed to be faithful to their masters..  “Ah, master,” quoth one, “dey tell you white folks we don’t want freedom.  We don’t want nuffin else.  We knows all about it.  Dere’s more coming’ all de time.  More would come if dey could get heart to leave dere wives and children.”  In one drove of twenty-two, I observed several in confederate uniforms.  They said they had been servants to officers in the rebel army.  They had escaped at the ferry on Rappahannock river, where they left the rear guard, terrified with apprehension that we were rapidly pursuing them.  An intelligent fellow said if we had followed on Monday, we could have cut off the rear guard entirely.  Their horses were worn out and the ferry was insufficient to carry them across the river.  They were so panic-stricken, indeed; that many deserted from the column and sought the refuge in the forests.

My first report of the appearance of Manassas after the evacuation, was derived from persons whose imaginations were excited. – The quantity of property deserted was exaggerated.  After deliberate examination I concluded that the whole value at an extravagate estimate, did not exceed $10,000.  To be sure there was a large mass for trophies, but a squalid exhibit for spoils.  Some eight wagons which were left on the premises were ruined by use and by cutting the wheel spokes; four or five worthless caisons were also deserted.  A dilapidated construction train locomotive was left standing on the railroad track; the debris of another, which had been blown to atoms, and fragments of three or four platform cars, were scattered about the ruined depots.  Besides these, a mass of flour reduce to paste – perhaps fifty barrels of it – a dozen boxes of good uniforms, some cotton mattresses for hospitals, and a promiscuous distribution of clothing, kitchen utensils, some useless medical stores, a considerable quantity of half destroyed tents, a miscellaneous collection of file bowie knives, and sundry forts full of Quaker guns, constituted the entire invoice of rebel stores which the army found.  The mass was considered so valueless that it was not guarded, and the soldiers, country people and negroes, have helped themselves freely until the site is pretty thoroughly cleaned up.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

The Confederate Congress . . .

. . . elated with its naval success in Hampton Roads, has made a special appropriation of four millions and a quarter for certain naval purposes, and two millions for floating defences in the Mississippi – all in Confederate paper, which is worth 25 to 50 cents on the dollar.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 29, 1862, p. 4

Parson Brownlow

As the name of this eccentric preacher has been introduced so much of late, to the public, and as little is known of him at the east, we publish the following description of him and an anecdote, which will give a very good idea of the individual:

Brownlow is a man of medium height and rather slim, with a round, “bullet” head, a quiet, pleasing countenance, and a good address; is an excellent, logical and persuasive speaker, and is as little in personal bearing and appearance like the blackguard he likes to make himself appear as one can imagine.

A characteristic story is told of him that is worth recording.  Upon the borders of Virginia, there was a settlement of rough “hard shell” Baptists.  The Methodists had long essayed to effect a lodgment in this quarter, but were summarily defeated by the decisive mode of turning their missionaries neck and heels out of the place – and this is no very tender or “do as you would be done by” style of Christian treatment.  With such vigor did the Baptists hold this tower of the Lord that the Methodists, with all their zeal for propagating the Gospel, and their resolute devotion to the great duty, paused before this Baptist Gibraltar.  The task seemed a hopeless one, and not one of the faithful could be found to encounter the inevitable risk of personal violence – especially as a coat of tar and feathers had been designated as the fate of any new warrior of the cross who should appear in that region in Methodist garb.  At last, Parson Brownlow was appointed to the duty of converting these heathens from the errors of their ways.

Parson Brownlow was much younger, less celebrated than he is now, but the same fiery and reckless spirit animated him then that has since extended his reputation so widely.  He knew the risk was chosen to encounter, and rather relished the novelty and excitement of this new field.  Accordingly, mounted upon his horse, with the inevitable saddle-bags of the Southern horseback traveler, he entered the enemy’s camp, on Saturday morning, and announced his purpose to give the barbarians in their locality a “creed of the new doctrine on the holy day to follow.”  The result was that horse and saddle-bags were taken as spoils, his person roughly maltreated, and he was turned loose in the outskirts of the place and ordered, at his peril, never to study daylight in that quarter again.  The parson footed it home as best he might, but soon after reappeared at the scene of contest, and conflict, with another horse and another pair of saddle-bags, to commence his labors.  His treatment was commensurate with the hearty and religious indignation of his foes, and once more the parson footed it home, sore and horseless.

A third time the irrepressible Brownlow appeared upon the field, to be served about as before; only his pertinacity and courage had worked upon the curiosity as well as the fancy of a portion of the good people of the region.  Some were for hearing “what the cuss was arter” but he was finally again unhorsed and unsaddle-bagged, and he started home afoot, but he had effected a lodgment among those rude people, who love pluck and grit if they did not love Methodism.  Of course he was expelled again.  And sure enough the fourth time, with the fourth horse and fourth pair of saddlebags, appeared the persevering Parson Brownlow.  By this time there had arisen a decided curiosity to hear what the “cuss” had to say, and the parson at last was allowed to preach.  Well suited in tastes and impulses to the rude congregation before him, he soon won their confidence, and closed a decidedly popular man.  A dozen invitations pressed him to dinner – a universal request that he would come again as soon as he could, and a full restoration of the value of the lost horses, and saddle-bags proved the final triumph of the “irrepressible Methodist.”  The final result was, the place became the most invincible of the Methodists and Parson Brownlow one of the most popular preachers among them.

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

Killed And Wounded In The War Of 1812

From an article in the New York Historical Collections, prepared by Wm. Joey, Esq., mostly from official sources, it appears the whole number of Americans killed and wounded during the war of 1812, extending from June 1812 to March 1815, was 7,738; of these 2,816 were the number killed; this includes both the naval and land forces.  The largest number in the naval forces was at the engagement between the Chesapeake and Shannon, where the number of Americans killed and wounded was 145, and the British 85. – At the battle of New Orleans there were 52 Americans and 2,074 British killed and wounded.  The Americans seem to have suffered the most at the battle of Bridgewater where they had 742 killed and wounded, and the British 643.  In the various skirmishes among the Indians the Americans had over 1,100 killed and wounded.  In the engagement between the Constitution and Java, the Americans had 34, and the British 161 killed and wounded.  During the whole war the total number of British killed and wounded is put down at 8,774, of which 2,560 were among the killed.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, January 15, 1862

Nothing of importance. Got some more pies and doughnuts from a man and his wife who come in three times a week with them, to sell to the boys. We usually lay in a good supply.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

Occupation of Newbern

The New York Commercial Advertiser’s correspondent gives a graphic description of the battle near Newbern and of the town.  It says:

Gen. Foster crossed to the city and found it deserted by the greater portion of the white inhabitants, and the negroes holding a carnival in the houses where they once had served.

The city was entirely enveloped in the smoke of burning bridges and buildings.  Negroes, male and female trooped through the streets , talking loudly, entering deserted houses and coming out with every description of plunder.  White faces appeared furtively at the half-closed doors and windows and sublimely disappeared.  The gloom of ruin and despair hung on everything, and it was left for us to bring order out of this chaos.  A few of the inhabitants had hauled out their fire engine and endeavored to arrest the progress of the flames.  Their efforts were ineffectual as each block that was fired was totally consumed.  Fortunately the air was still and the flames were confined to the blocks in which they originated.  Otherwise the city would have been utterly destroyed.

On the arrival of the soldiers, the negroes became less clamorous.  Our men were fatigued with the terrible labors of the past two days, and flushed with the victory they had achieved, rushed into the houses that were found vacant, which fact was accepted as evidence of the disloyalty of the owner.  The search for food was first vigorously prosecuted, and the securing of trophies came next in order.

Many acts of wanton destruction of property were committed before order could be established.  Before nine o’clock, that night, perfect order prevailed throughout the city.  Citizens applied for protection to their property in many instances, and when real danger existed it was afforded.  The negroes were the most difficult to control.  Relieved from the strict rule which prohibits a negro from being abroad at night, they prowled about the streets until a late hour, but were quiet about ten o’clock.

Officers foraging for the comforts of life were strolling about for some time, and finally secured quarters in the deserted houses.  The furniture had been removed from many houses, but some were found in readiness to be vacated, the furniture being backed and left on the floor. – Some very comfortable quarters were secured in a house with a tolerably good stock of wines and liquors, and a well supplied larder.

On Sunday morning our entire fleet was anchored near the city, and some of our gunboats advanced up the Neuse some distance, to prevent a surprise by the rebels from Goldsboro. – The railroad can be commanded by our gunboats a considerable distance above Newbern.

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

A Promising Family

A business gentleman residing on Long Island has been recently presented with a large family under rather astonishing circumstances.  He is now living with his third wife, the other two having died  childless; but although his last marriage was less than four years ago he has twelve children, all alive and well.  At the first birth his with presented him with one child, and the second with two, and their third with two, at the fourth with three, and at the fifth with four, each weighing over seven pounds.  Eight nurses are constantly employed in attending to the cares of this promising family.  The father is an auctioneer.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, January 14, 1862

Lieutenant Compton with five men went out to capture the man who fired into a passenger train last summer and killed the conductor. When the man saw them approaching to surround his house, he started to run for the timber. He refused to surrender and the men fired on him, shooting him through the thigh, but upon seeing that the man was severely wounded, Lieutenant Compton gave the order to let the man remain at his home.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

Death Of Miss Sadie Curtis

We were deeply pained to learn, last evening, of the death of Miss Sadie Curtis, eldest daughter of Major-General Curtis.  She had been ill for some time, in St. Louis, of Typhoid fever.  The melancholy tidings of her death were telegraphed to Hosmer Curtis, Esq., of this city, last evening.  The dispatch says: “She died this (Wednesday) afternoon, at 3 o’clock.  Her death was calm and peaceful.  We will leave here for Keokuk with her remains Thursday afternoon.”

Miss Curtis was universally beloved by her acquaintances.  She took a deep interest in the welfare of the soldiers, and while remaining here was the efficient Secretary of the Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society.  Her death is deeply regretted by all who knew her, and must be a terrible blow to her father and family.  In this their great affliction they have the sincere and unaffected sympathy of all their friends. – {Gate City.

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

Joseph DeBaird, a sailor . . .

. . . residing at Elliottsvillle, Staten Island, recently applied for the place of night watchman of the town.  Being refused he set fire to several valuable buildings, to induce people to think that a gang of incendiaries was at work, and thus render his appointment a fancied necessity.  He only succeeded in getting arrested.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, January 13, 1862

Some of the boys have been getting whiskey in this locality and today Lieutenant Compton with Carl Frink and John White went to find where they were getting it, but they returned late in the evening without finding the distilling plant.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

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

From Island No. 10

ST. LOUIS, March 27. – A special to the Republican dated near Island No. 10, the evening of the 27th, says only 30 shells were thrown by the mortars to-day to which no response was made by the rebels.

This morning Col. Buford sent a reconnoitering party of 20 men of the 27th Illinois ashore.  They arrested three prominent residents who report 2,000 negroes are employed on the Island and at the batteries along the Island and at the batteries along the Kentucky shore; that 65 rebel troops including two Lieutenants and four negroes have been killed by shells; that the upper shore battery is abandoned but the others are being rapidly strengthened; that the enemy is 15,000 strong and that their encampment has been moved entirely out of the range of our guns; the rebels are confident of success and they have a good road to Trenton and other points by which they can retreat whenever they choose – they have plenty of provisions.  The rebel steamers loaded with troops were sent to watch the shore to prevent communication; the number of the enemy’s transports are eleven.

Two balloon ascensions were made by Capt. Steiner but the weather was too thick for favorable observation.

A partly finished gunboat building at Memphis was fire[d] the other night but extinguished before much damage was done.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, January 12, 1862

Dr. Smith, a resident here, had his horse stolen last night. This morning Lieutenant Durbin with ten men went out to find the thief, but they returned this evening without finding him.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

The Battle of Winchester

WINCHESTER, March 26. – The following as near as can be ascertained, are the number of wounded at the battle of Sunday last:

In the 7th Ohio, 45; 29th, 8; 5th, 19; 69th, 24; 8th, 19.   In the 7th Indiana, 11; 13th, 13; 14th, 12.  In the 84th Penn’a, 40; 101st, 16. – In the 1st Virginia, 6.  In the 28th Ney York, 1.  In the 1st Ohio battery, 29; 29th Penn’a, 15; 3d Wisconsin 2.  The loss of the balance has not yet been received, but the number is believed to be 105 all told.

All is quiet at Strasburg to-night.

The following is Gen. Banks’ general order relative to the battle on Sunday:

HEADQUARTERS 5th Army Corps,

Strasburg, March 26, 1862.

The Commanding General of the 5th Army Corps, congratulates the officers and soldiers of Gen. Shields’ division and its gallant commander for the auspicious and decisive victory gained over the rebels on the 23d inst.  The Division has achieved renown against superior forces and a subtle enemy.

(Signed)

N. P. BANKS, Maj. General

HEADQUARTERS Gen. Shields’ Division,

WINCHESTER.

General Order No. 11.

Brig. Gen. Shields congratulates toe officers and soldiers of the Division upon the glorious victory achieved by them on the 23d inst., Near Winchester, Virginia.  They defeated an enemy whose forces outnumbered theirs, and who are considered the bravest and best disciplined of the Confederate army.  He also congratulates them that it has fallen to their lot to open the campaign on the Potomac.  The opening has been a splendid success.  Let them inscribe “Winchester” on their banners and prepare for other victories.

(Signed)

Brig. General SHIELDS.

Capt. Norman, of the 23d Virginia, died this morning after having his leg amputated.

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

Railroad Accident -- Soldiers Killed and Wounded

CHICAGO, March 27 – The special train bearing a portion of Col. Barstow’s Third Wisconsin Cavalry regiment met with a frightful accident at 10¼ last night, on the Northwestern Railroad, about five miles from this city.

The catastrophe was caused by the breaking of an axle of the forward car, throwing it from the track.  The next car was thrown at a distance of several feet and upset.  Three others were hurled upon these, making a total wreck of five cars.  Ten soldiers were killed, three seriously wounded, and a large number hurt – not severely enough to prevent them continuing with the regiment.

Names of the killed and wounded, as far as ascertained, are as follows:

KILLED. – Elisha Sharp, Hospital Steward, of Delavan; Wm. Davis, Co. A, Rang Creek, Jackson county; Lucien M. Ransom, Co. A, Sparta; J. F. Hullmon, Co. A, Viroqua; Chas. Storm, Co. A, Bangor; Chas Brigs, Co. A, Tomah, Monroe county; Walter Small, Co. G; Lyman Wm. Case, Co. G, Geneva, Dr. E. M. Burris, Co. G, New Albany; Charles D. Hatch, Co. A, Sparta.

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. – Quarter Master Sergeant L. G. Edwards, Co. G, East Troy, ribs; John Tweedle, Co. A, internal injuries and contusion on left side, Madison, also arm broke; Byron Wilcox, Co. L, both legs broken.  The above are not considered to be dangerously injured.

SLIGHTLY WOUNDED. – Davis Custat, Co. A, contusion on head; C. F. Farwell, Co. G, right shoulder sprained; C. Gilson, Co. A, left shoulder and arm, and left foot injured; Geo. Ordsby, Co. A, injured spine; Robert Lawrence, Co. A, shoulder sprained; Fred. H. Johnson, Co. A, right knee and left side injured; William Anderson, Co. A, right ankle sprained; M. J. White, Co. A, hip sprained and head cut; Chas. Putnam, Co. A, knee sprained; John Craits, Co. D, hand badly cut.

The greater part of the last will go with the Regiment; the others are provided with good quarters and will be cared for.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, January 11, 1862

Our company were all vaccinated today as a protection against smallpox. The regimental surgeon came down from California to do the work. Our captain called the company up in line, and every man had to take his medicine.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 29

Tree Section From The Battlefield at Chickamauga, Georgia

The Battle of Chickamauga took place on September 19 and 20, 1863, in northwestern Georgia.  The battle was the most significant defeat of Union troops in the war’s western theater and involved the second-highest number of casualties in the war, second only to the Battle of Gettysburg.  This tree section was taken from a white oak tree that stood near Confederate General Braxton Bragg as he commanded his troops on Snodgrass Hill.  The quantity of case shot and other iron shot embedded in it is a testament to the “iron hail” into which troops would advance.

SOURCE:  Interpretive sign (seen at right) next to the tree section in the Iowa and the Civil War: Nothing But Victory exhibit at the State Historical Museum of Iowa, Des Moines Iowa, July 18, 2012.

Gen. Shields Improving

NEW YORK, March 27. – The following from Gen. Shields has been received in this city by Judge Doty:

WINCHESTER, March 27.

My wounds are doing well.  I will be able to ride in a buggy in a few days at the head of my command.

JAMES SHIELDS

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