Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, October 8, 1862

We did not get into bivouac until late last night, and again started on our march early this morning. We marched until 3 p. m., when we halted to rest, going into bivouac for the night in a large field of cow-peas, near the town of Ripley, Mississippi. We ran out of rations and foraging parties were sent out. They brought in sweet potatoes and fresh pork, which is all we have to eat. I picked some cow-peas and cooked them; they are rather strong, yet better than nothing to eat. The report is that the rebels have scattered out and escaped, and that we shall not follow them any longer. We are so far from our base of supplies that we are in danger of being captured.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 75

Capture of the Alfred Robb

A Tennessee river pilot, who appears to be a wide awake fellow, gives an amusing account of the manner in which the rebel steamer Robb was captured by our gunboats.

It seems a government steamer, heavily ladened with government stores in wending her way up the river, got aground.  News of this mishap quickly reached the confederates, and about 200 of them took possession of the Robb, put a light field piece on board, and started down the little stream in which she has been concealed since the first expedition of our gunboat up the Tennessee river, for the purpose of bagging a rich prize.  The Robb arrived in the vicinity of the federal transport, still hard aground, after night.  The soldiers were concealed in the thickets, on shore, and the little privateer hunting a snug resting place quietly awaiting the approach of daylight for the consummation of her intentions.

During the night, a couple of gunboats – regular night hawks, they do most of their going after dark – possibly suspicioning mischief, came sneaking up the river.  One of them anchored a short distance below where the rob was concealed, and the other passing up on the opposite side of an island in the river was not detected by those on board the Robb, and going up the river a short distance she, too, came to anchor and awaited daylight.

Conceiving the coast to be clear, early the next morning the Robb started out to take possession of her prize.  Before reaching it, however, one of the “Lincoln sneaks,” as they are called in Dixie, was discovered creeping after her.  Greatly alarmed the little rebel steamer turned her head up stream, and went off sputtering and puffing at an alarming rate.  The gunboat paid the usual compliments of the morning, by sending a couple of shells, which exploded near the skedadling little steamer, to which it lacking in politeness, paid no attention beyond raising more steam and puffing with more vigor.  Rounding an abrupt bend in the river, all on onboard the rebel craft were horror-struck at finding themselves immediately under the broadside of another gunboat, which appeared to be waiting their approach.  Though surprised the party on board the Robb did not lose their presence of mind, and as if by instinct, every man on board seized table cloths, towels, and whatever other white substance on which they could lay their hands, and waived them with frantic vigor, amidst despairing shouts of “don’t shoot, we surrender.”

The gunboat didn’t shoot and directed the rebel steamer to follow in her wake, quietly made her way to headquarters, when the privateer was handed over to the proper authorities.

The Robb was the last rebel craft in the Tennessee, and we doubt not the gunboats will take care that many years will elapse before a flag hostile to the general government is ever again spread to the breeze on that beautiful stream. – Evansville Journal.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Iowa Beeves

Of the 4,790 beeves sold at New York last week, 310 were from Iowa – a larger number than from any other Western State except Illinois and Ohio.  Iowa beef rates high in the Eastern markets.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

New York, May 3 [1862].

The gunboat Santiago De Cuba, from Port Royal 30th, arrived, bringing the prize rebel steamer Isabella, formerly the Ella Worley, from Nassau to Charleston, with arms, ammunition, wines, cigars and medicines.

The Santiago chased the Nashville but she was too swift for her.

The Santiago also captured a schooner from Charleston with cotton; also 2 other schooners with cargoes from the southern ports.  Nothing new from Port Royal.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

New York, May 4 [1862].

The steamer Empire City, from Port Royal, arrived with the prize steamer Nastro Signora.  Captains and crews of the prizes Dixie, Wave and Bella are prisoners aboard the Empire City.

The Steamer Roanoke, from Havana 29th, has arrived.  Papers from Mexico state that the French commissioners had stated they would no longer treat with the present Mexican Government.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Boston, May 3 [1862].

Capt. Simms and the officers of the Sumter arrived at Southampton, England, 17th in the steamer from Gibraltar.  The vessel is to be sold there.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, October 7, 1862

We kept on the march last night till 1 a. m., when we stopped in bivouac. The men were all very tired, yet were willing and anxious to go on if only they could capture Price, or even a part of his army. Leaving our bivouac at 8 o'clock this morning, we again started after Price. We soon came upon the rebels and shelled their rear guard almost all day. We took a great many prisoners. It is reported that they are breaking up into small bands and getting away through the timber and are scattering in every direction.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 74-5

The “Contrabands” at Port Royal

Massachusetts teachers at Port Royal give encouraging accounts of their educational enterprise among the contrabands.  The Boston Journal, noticing the substance of those communications, says:

“The negroes are busily employed in planting cotton, corn and potatoes, laboring cheerfully for slight pecuniary rewards, and manifesting a tractable, obedient, and deferential spirit, which has deeply impressed the white teachers who are striving to fit them to take care of themselves.  On some plantations they have planted sufficient corn to meet their own wants before the Government undertook to direct their labors.  Some of them are very intelligent in practical matters, and manage the affairs of the plantations to which they belong with much skill.  They all manifest an eager desire to learn to read, and make excellent progress.  Old negroes, sixty or seventy years of age, press forward to be taught.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Iowa Items

Pitt Cooke, Esq., of Ohio, took the entire non-resident delinquent tax list at the late sale in Franklin county, amounting to near 60,000 acres, and producing a revenue of about 7,000.  This amount put all the county finances in a flourishing condition.

The 4th Iowa Cavalry reached the camp of Billows Creek, Taney county, Mo., about the 17th ult.

The Tipton Advertiser suggests the 10th of September next as the time, and Tipton as the place, for holding the Republican Congressional convention for this district.

Patrick Donegan, an industrious citizen of Dubuque, was killed on Wednesday night last by falling into a mineral hole.  He left a wife and four children to mourn his untimely death.

One Vowell, of Keokuk, is threatening to demolish the editor of the Gate City for speaking disparagingly of secession sympathizers.  Which Vowel is that, friend Howell?  We presume he is one of the numerous family of i. o. u’s.

John Sherfey brought into town yesterday the head of a cold born two or three days since, which had but one eye, and was minus the upper jaw.  The single eye was located in the most approved Cyclopean style – right in the center of the forehead, and was very large.  The upper jaw being non est, the lower one protruded far out like the nose of a shovel fish.  Barring these two little discrepancies the animal was otherwise all right.  It lived but one hour. – Muscatine Journal, 3d.

Maj. Perry, of the 3d Iowa cavalry, has taken command at Lebanon, Mo., in place of Col. Warren who rejoins his regiment.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Monday, October 6, 1862

We started this morning at daylight and crowded the rebels very hard all day, capturing their trains and some of their artillery — ammunition, arms and caissons. I never saw such a stampede in all my life. They drove their wagons and artillery through the timber, over fallen trees, two and three abreast, wiggling through the standing timber as best they could with every teamster for himself. Some of the artillery men took the cannon off the running gears, and throwing them into gullies, covered them with leaves. Everything imaginable was strewn along the road—tents, bake ovens, corn meal, fresh beef and a great many other things; some of their supplies they burned up, to keep from falling into our hands. We captured some of General Price's headquarters' supplies, among such a buffalo robe which the men tore up for souvenirs.¹

__________

¹ During that day's march I saw, I think, the meanest man in the Union army. We had just started up a long, steep hill when I noticed one of our men coming out of a one-room log hut by the roadside. As he passed us, with an oath, he growled that he had gone into the hut to get something to eat, but all he could find was a half-bushel bag of corn meal. This the woman, who by the way had the courage to stay with her home, begged him not to take, as it was all the food she had, but he took it. Then when about halfway up the hill, the bag of meal, in addition to his accouterments, becoming too heavy, he with another oath, dumped half the meal out on the ground and ran on to catch up with his command. For such a man I cannot find words to express my contempt. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 74

Yorktown Evacuated!

So say our telegraph dispatches.  If this be true, where will the rebels rally?  Richmond and Norfolk cannot long withstand an attack of the Federal forces.  There has been no fight at Corinth, and it is possible there may be none.  The fact of it is, the Southern Confederacy is not fighting at this juncture for vitality, but its leaders are contending simply that they themselves may escape.  The rebellion is virtually dead, the rebels scattered; they can never again concentrate in sufficient force to contend with any show against the Federal troops.  Yorktown evacuated, Gloucester is ours, gunboats going up York river, McClellan pushing the enemy to the wall, soon Richmond, the capital of the rebel league, will be hours and the stars and stripes again wave over the ancient dominion.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, October 5, 1862

The entire Sixth Division, taking up the line of march² this morning at 6 o'clock, marched five miles and then formed a line of battle. We heard some very heavy cannonading out on the Hatchie river, in our front. General Hurlbut had cut off the retreat of the rebels at the bridge crossing the river, but after a hard fight they got away and continued their retreat to the south, on the east side of the river. We resumed our march at 1 p. m. and after covering ten miles stopped for the night. The Second Iowa Cavalry was ordered back to Corinth.

__________

² As we passed the field hospital of the Confederates on the Corinth battlefield, we saw eighteen of their dead, evidently having died from wounds, lying side by side, and almost black in the face, which at the time was said to have been caused by their drinking a mixture of water, vinegar and gunpowder. Our army had barrels of vinegar, one for each regiment, so stationed as to permit the men to come and help themselves. Now, our quartermaster, in hastily removing the commissary's supplies back of the inner lines during the battle, had, for lack of facilities, left standing these barrels of vinegar. It is supposed that the Confederates took the vinegar and made a drink of it, for after the battle there was no vinegar to be found. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 73-4

Taxation

Since the days of Cesar Augustus, when the edict went forth that all the world should be taxed, the subject of taxation has been one that has found no favor in the eyes of the people.  There is an innate principle in man, that rebels against the idea of giving money for the general good.  Even in his charities, he wishes his benevolence confined to a specific object.  A subscription for the universal brotherhood of mankind would have few signers.  As you narrow down the object, to our country, our State, our county, our city, our society, our relatives, our family, in proportion does man’s liberality expand.  The man who gives grudgingly to his own family is a niggard, and  will rarely be found contributing to any charitable object, and only then in the hope of subserving some selfish interest.  How such men screw and twist in view of taxation.  They regard it as money thrown away, and are ever ready to complain of the excess of their taxation over that of others.  Next to the self-evident truth, that “all men are born free and equal,” is the right of every man to grumble at his taxes!

Our people have so long lived under a mere nominal taxation, that the idea of an increase sufficient to meet the heavy additional expenses, incurred by the war forced upon us by the South, has caused many to fancy they see ruin staring them in the face.  Secretary Chase says, that the total national debt on the first of July next will not be over six hundred millions.  Looking at this amount in the light of their own private resources, many persons are led to conclude that we shall never be able to liquidate such heavy indebtedness.  Uncle Sam has a large number of children, and, compared with the amount of wealth in his family, this is but a small sum.  After all, it’s his own children who are his creditors, and they will not be unnatural as to oppress him for the amount; so that they get the interest, they will be content to let the principal remain.

But before we conclude that all is lost let us compare our condition with other countries.  There is Old England, for instance, one of the richest, proudest, most haughty and overbearing nations on the face of the globe.  It is true that her children are the best taxed people on earth, and that she drove her son Sam away from her by her cruel and excessive taxation, but she will do for an example; for if she lives under the taxes she finds it necessary to impose upon her people, the United States can grow rich, every mother’s son of us, under the comparatively insignificant taxes that will be necessary to oil the machinery of the Government, and make its wheels run smoothly.

We will select, for example, two articles of luxury, those most generally used in our country and against which the most fault has been found with Congress for taxing so high in its tax bill, viz; spirituous liquors 15 cents per gallon; in England the tax is $2.50 per gallon!  Quite a difference, say ye.  In our bill tobacco is taxed 1-3 per alb.; the English tax it 40 cts. per lb. on unmanufactured, and $2.30 on cigars!  Another difference.  In this way Englishmen pay for their Government $360,000,000 annually. – This may seem to be an enormous sum to our inexperienced eyes, yet it is not one-half the taxes the people there have to pay for the privilege of being the subjects of Victoria, Dei gratia, Queen of England.  Before they begin to pay this amount, or for leave to toil and earn it, they are subjected to $300,000,000 taxes in the shape of rent and tithes, and $40,000,000 poor rate, making a total of 700,000,000!  Then there are the game laws and other peculiarly English regulations that in themselves amount to an enormous tax, perhaps more than the aggregate tax of which we complain.

Talk of taxation, look at that picture, note these facts and ask yourselves, if Englishmen can live and thrive under such a system of onerous and oppressive taxation, is there any fear that we shall sink under the modicum of taxes that it is proposed to impose on us?  No, as the rich resources of our country are developed, and our people become more numerous, the entire debt of the nation, incurred in the prosecution of this war will be cancelled and we will gain become the most prosperous as the most powerful people on the face of the globe.  Until then, let us bear our share of the public burden, meekly, and even though the traitors who have inflicted it upon us escape the just confiscation of their property to assist in lightening the load, yet let us shoulder it manfully and show to the monarchists of the old world that we, as a Republic, have the stamina to meet one of the exigencies that are common to the history of all nations.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 2

The War News

Particulars of the Evacuation of Yorktown.

OUR FORCES IN PURSUIT O FTHE ENEMY.

Re-opening of Southern Ports

The Merrimac Out Again.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

The Ex-Bridge Tender

The Democrat of yesterday contains a ‘cock and bull story’ about J. H. Reed, formerly bridge-tender here.  It maintains that a man recently executed as a spy at Richmond, Va., under the name of Timothy Webster, was none other than the identical J. H. Reed, who so suspiciously disappeared from this city about a year and a half ago.  Our neighbor’s sensational story sounds very much like some of the telegraph dispatches we occasionally received, and presume is quite as true.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Boats For Government

It is reported among steamboatmen, that Government wants fifty more boats.  The old steamers City Belle, Alhambra and Golden Era, belonging to the Minnesota Packet Company, passed down yesterday to St. Louis, where they are to undergo repairs, and will probably be offered to Government.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Local Matters

TO GET your money’s worth of good goods, and cheap, go to Whisler’s.  *

IF YOU want wall papers of the newest patterns, go to Plummer’s, No. 50 Brady st.  *tf

GREAT EXPECTATIONS can be realized by buying some of those new styles of wall papers.  *tf

BOUNTY, PENSIONS, &c. – See advertisement of Parker & Edwards.  They are reliable men and will transact promptly any business entrusted to them.

DO NOT fail to call in on Farrand’s to-day and purchase a new hat or cap.  You can find them in all styles, prices and colors at cor. Second and Main sts.

DECORATE your dwellings with some of those recherché patterns of wall paper, which can be seen only at Plummer’s, No. 50 Brady street.  *tf

“ARTEMUS WARD.”- Charles F. Browne, Esp., the well known Artemus Ward, showman, etc., will deliver his celebrated lecture on “Babes in the Wood,” Thursday evening at Metropolitan Hall.  See advertisement.

LANDLORDS, paper your houses with some of the beautiful paper hangings which can be found only at Plummer’s.  Then on rent day instead of being met at the door with a broomstick, you will be greeted with pleasant smiles.  *tf

SLIPS TO RENT. – The slips in the Second Baptist Church, corner of Fourth and Perry streets, will be rented to-day (Tuesday). – Those desiring seats will be waited on by the committee, at the Church, from the hour of 9 o’clock A. M. until 4 o’clock P. M.

HITCHING HORSES. – People who are in the habit of allowing their horses to stand in the street unhitched will do well to remember we have an ordinance in this city punishing such negligence by a fine of five dollars.  Farmers had better be on the look-out, or some policeman, on scent of a fee, may haul some of them up before a magistrate and ease their pockets of some surplus demand notes.

INFLUENCE. – The Democrat says jocosely that the GAZETTE has no influence.  That depends altogether, neighbor, upon what constitutes influence.  If it is a limited circulation, published in a community that has not sentiments in common with it, without the enterprise to secure correspondents in the army to sustain the credit of Iowa soldiers, villainously abused by the correspondents of other States, etc., etc., then the GAZETTE has no influence.  If the reverse of these, then the Democrat goes to the wall.

“ORPHANS’ HOME OF INDUSTRY.” – We have received a circular informing us that there is an institution in Iowa by the above name, that it commenced in 1854 without an acre of ground or a dime of money and that now it is regularly incorporated with a board of seven responsible trustees, has more than 500 acres of land, one-fifth good timber, 12 buildings paid for and stock, wagons, machinery, tools, etc. for the use of two establishments.  In the last eight years it has collected, received and disbursed in this charitable work more than $20,000, and received from Eastern cities and provide for 230 orphans of all ages.  It is proposed now to open an asylum to provide for the homeless orphans of deceased soldiers and as the funds are all exhausted, until the crops come in, the institution will have to depend upon the public for support.  Those who are disposed to aid a really meritorious object can do so by addressing C. C. Townsend, missionary, box 142 Iowa city.

JAIL STATISTICS. – Mr. Ackley, the jailor, has kindly furnished us some statistic relative to the prisoners confined in the county prison.  The statistics embrace a period of nine months, during which time 130 persons were incarcerated in that institution.  Of this number there are 88 Americans, 69 Irish, 15 Germans, 2 English, 2 Scotch, 2 French and 2 Canadians.  Two of the number were negroes.  Their religious preferences, what they had of the article, were divided as follows, Catholics, 76; Lutherans, 14; Methodists, 12; Presbyterians, 10; Infidels, 9; Baptists, 5; Episcopalians, 2, Millerite, 1; Universalist, 1.  Of the Irish, nearly all were put in for minor offenses; while those sent to Fort Madison were mostly Americans and Germans.

Just now, there is a lull in business at the jail, there being very few incarcerations, which Is always the case in the spring. – There also seems to be, both here and elsewhere, a great diminution in the amount of crime committed.  Fewer murders and robberies are reported than usual, while the misdemeanors, in this locality, are also on the decrease.  Whether this gratifying state of affairs is to be attributed to the general absorbing interest in the war, or to the probability that many of the professional criminals of the country have gone into the army, or to some other cause is an open question.

THE RIVER probably reached the highest point yesterday it will attain the present season.  The water reached the sidewalk on Front Street, above Perry, and came up Rock Island and Iowa streets nearly to Second.  The river road under and near the bridge is covered several inches.  Cellars all along Front street are flooded.  No serious damage, however, has occurred that we have heard of.  The rise lacked one or two inches of the great flood of 1859, and still more of that of 1851.  The stream was falling at last accounts all the way down.

RAILROAD SHIPMENTS. – The following are the shipments by railroad from this station last week; 2,552 brls. Flour, 8,000 bu. wheat, 3,00 bu. barley, 400 bush. corn, 4,000 bu. potatoes, 600 bu. onions, 1,000 brls meal, 40 tons bran, 712sks. Malt, 43,780 lbs. lard, 8,900 lbs. pork, 1,010 lbs butter, 9,170 lbs. hides, 70 live hogs.  Estimated value of shipments $22,300.

ACCIDENT. – Mr. Christian Snyder, a German, employed in the plow factory of Mr. Krum, met with a painful accident yesterday at the factory.  He was engaged at a circular saw, cutting some lumber, when a piece of wood about three feet long, and a couple of inches square, was caught by the saw and hurled towards him., striking him in the mouth, cutting his lips very much, and causing the blood to flow profusely.  He will be laid up for several days.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Artemus Ward!

Mr. CHAS. F. BROWNE,

(OF FANITY FAIR) has been engaged to deliver his celebrated monologue,

The Babes in the Wood,

AT METROPOLITAN HALL,

THURSDAY EVEING, MAY 8TH, 1862.

ADMISSION, 25 cents.  Doors open at 7 o’clock; lecture to commence at 8 o’clock.

CARD TO THE PUBLIC. – The association engaging Mr. Browne for his present series of lectures respectfully announce that this will be

Positively the only appearance of “Artemus” in this place.

may6d3t

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Bounty, Pensions, and Arrears of Pay

FOR INVALID PENSIONS,

            FOR WIDOWS’ PENSIONS,

                        FOR BOUNTY OF $100.

                                    FOR ARREARS OF PAY,

(Letters of inquiry promptly answered,)

Apply to

PARKER & EDWARDS,

Agents and Attorneys for procuring Pensions, Bounties, &c., Davenport, Iowa

may6dlw

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1

Meteorological Observations

(Under the direction of the Smithsonian Institution)

Made at Griswold College, Davenport,

BY WM. P. DUNWOODY.

Latitude 41.30. North – Longitude 13.39 West – Height above the sea, 737 feet.

DATE	BAROMETER.			THERMOMETER			RAIN. INCH.
	7 A. M.	2 P. M.	9 P. M.	7 A. M.	2 P. M.	9 P. M.
April 28	29.47	29.49	29.48	43	47	44
April 29	29.58	29.47	29.48	43	48	52
April 30	29.34	29.18	29.00	48	60	52	.53
May 1	28.98	29.03	29.03	41	54	46
May 2	29.28	29.30	29.34	45	43	47
May 3	29.39	29.32	29.30	51	62	54	.05
May 4	29.27	29.18	29.17	55	65	50

Mean height of Barometer, 29.26 inches; mean Temperature, 50 degrees; mean amount of clouds 5; general direction of winds, N. W.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 6, 1862, p. 1