Diary of Musician David Lane, November 25, 1863

Knoxville.  Only seven days of siege, and our larder nearly empty. We have been on half rations since September 25th, consequently had no surplus to fall back on.

On the second day of the siege our rations were reduced to quarter rations. Now coffee and sugar have given out entirely. The men are constantly under fire. The enemy have advanced their sharpshooters to within one-fourth of a mile of our line. On the 20th they got possession of a house, just under the hill in our front, and annoyed us exceedingly. Colonel Comstock was ordered to burn it; he called for volunteers to perform the perilous feat. Instantly a company was formed, headed by A. J. Kelley, of Company E, and led by Lieutenant Josiah Billingsly. The house was set on fire and burned to the ground, but the heroic Billingsly was killed by a shell on his return.

Their sharpshooters had now advanced so near the men were forced to remain all day in their rifle pits. Every man who showed even his head became a target.

Yesterday morning, after it became fairly light, I jumped up on the embankment in front of me, as had been my custom, to see what advancement the enemy had made during the night. I took one quick glance around, and as I looked I saw two curls of smoke directly in front of me; on the instant one bullet whistled over my head; another dropped into the sand at my feet.

This morning Lieutenant Colonel Comstock received a mortal wound from one of them. A number of our boys have been wounded. The first four or five days of the siege our men divided up into reliefs and went up on the bank, in the rear of our pits, to cook and eat their food. On the 24th, as I was eating my breakfast, a rifle ball struck a camp kettle, standing beside me, and spilled its contents. About that time one of my comrades was struck in the face, the ball passing through both cheeks, nearly cutting off his tongue. Inspired by these gentle protests. we moved our kitchen over the brow of the hill, where we could cook and eat our "flapjacks" undisturbed.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 128-9

Diary of Musician David Lane, November 30, 1863

Our rations touch the starvation limit, and still "the song and the jest goes round." Not a murmur, not a word of complaint. We simply "gird up our loins" a little tighter. Our fare now is one-fourth pound per man of a mixture made up of coarse black flour, bran and unbolted corn meal; beef in proportion; not half as much as a man would eat, even of that vile stuff, at one meal. Night before last our pickets were driven in and sixteen of our boys captured. Last night an attack was made on Fort Saunders. We had expected a night attack and were on the alert. About 9 o'clock our pickets were driven in and the ball opened. It was "fast and furious" while it lasted, but was soon over. The Rebels lost about one thousand in this assault.

Dr. Crosby, our Regimental Surgeon, has been to General Ferrera [sic] and got me detailed for hospital service, and has given me charge of a ward in the City Hospital. The doctor says he has discovered in me the "sympathetic touch," more soothing to irritated nerves than opiates. That is the way he puts it.

Our doctor has the poetic temperament, although one would hardly suspect it by his looks. But he is kind and tender to the sick and wounded, and skillful in his profession.

It is rumored Grant is organizing a force to send to our relief. God speed him on his way, for we are on the verge of starvation.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 129-30

Diary of Musician David Lane, December 8, 1863

Knoxville.  Thanks to Almighty God—and General Grant the crisis is passed. General Sherman arrived on the 5th inst., but Longstreet had fled, and he returned immediately to Chattanooga. Nobody seems to know the exact date of Longstreet's withdrawal. Our forces were sent out in pursuit yesterday, the 7th inst., but no enemy could be found. We have passed through a terrible ordeal. Twenty days and nights under fire. Twenty days with death or surrender staring us in the face and surrender meant Andersonville, a fate worse than death. On our retreat from Lenoir we were compelled to leave most of our wounded. We have recovered our own and about three hundred wounded Rebels.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 130-1

Diary of Musician David Lane, December 21, 1863

Knoxville, Tenn.  I have been three weeks "head nurse" in the first ward of the First Brigade hospital. Dr. Crosby is with the regiment at Blains Cross Roads, about eighteen miles from here. Most of my patients are from my own regiment, and were wounded at Campbell's Station or during the siege of Knoxville. The building we occupy was once a court house. The room is about thirty feet by forty. There are two large fireplaces, one on each side of the room. There are now thirty-three patients. All but six of the wounded can walk about the room with or without the aid of crutches. Around each fireplace is a group of men, eagerly discussing the probability of being sent to Washington or Baltimore. At one end of the room, resting one arm on the railing that surrounds the "judgment seat," stands the "ward boss," trying to write to the loved ones at home.

I am not on duty, but my patients ignore the fact, and frequently interrupt me with: "Mr. Lane, please step here a minute;" or, "Please give me a drink of water." I return and try to shut out all sights, all sounds, all thoughts but those of home. Vain effort. The voice of my favorite, Fred Byron, faintly strikes my ear: "Davie; oh, Davie!" Involuntarily I drop my pen and hasten to his side. "What is it, Fred? What can I do for you, my boy?" "Oh, I'm so tired, and nobody cares but you. That man with black whiskers handles me as though I am made of wood." I turn him gently over, adjust his bed and pillow, moisten his hot, feverish brow, and give him a sup of cool water. "There, Fred, now go to sleep, and when you wake you will feel better." As I turn to leave him, after bidding him good-night, he grasps my hand in both of his. "Oh, Davie, you are so kind; nobody can do for me as you can.'

He is a German, from Massachusetts, nineteen years old, fair as Adonis—brave as a hero—which he is.

I have many strong attachments here, and cannot well forsake them to return to the regiment.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 131-2

Diary of Musician David Lane, December 26, 1863

Knoxville.  I still remain at the hospital—can all winter if I choose. The sick and wounded are doing fairly well. Most of them will soon be well enough to go home on furlough. They are to be sent fast as it may be safe for them. One squad starts tomorrow. The men are eager to get away from here somewhere—anywhere.

This is called a United States General Hospital. It partakes of the nature of such an institution only so far as patients and shoulder-strapped doctors go toward making it one. And patients are becoming scarce, thank God. It is not a desirable place for convalescents, and, as soon as they are able, they gladly leave for their regiments. The wounded are all to have furloughs so says the Surgeon—and they are very impatient. They would run any risk to escape this den of filth, privation and starvation.

Think of a hospital where the patients have no bedding but the blankets they brought with them; no clothing but the dirty rags they wore from the field; no dishes but their tin cups and butcher knives; where there is no "bed pan," and only two night vessels for one hundred forty sick men; where washing is put off, week after week, for want of soap, there being not so much as one piece to wash hands with. I went to every store, grocery and sutler's shop in the city this morning, seeking soap and finding none. Where wounded soldiers are fed on coarse bread and beef or vegetable soup twice a day, and not half enough of this to satisfy.

It is no valid excuse that hospital stores cannot be procured here. They might have been sent from Kentucky before this time. Our troops the Ninth Corps in the field are in no better condition. They are encamped eighteen miles from here, unfit for duty for want of clothing; all are ragged; many have not a shoe to their feet or rags enough to cover them. Washington's army at Valley Forge is the only parallel in the history of this Nation. We have drawn very little clothing since we started for Mississippi in June last. I saw our Quartermaster Sergeant yesterday, Mr. Woodin; he assures me there is no prospect of our receiving supplies in the near future. What I have said applies to the Ninth Corps only; the Twenty-third and other corps are well supplied. The reason given is we are out of our department, and there is no regular channel of supply. I have just drawn two months' pay. I intended to send every dollar of it to my wife, who needs it, but will be compelled to use some of it or go naked. I have only one shirt, and that is nearly worn out. Army shirts-no better than those issued to us—cost six dollars at the sutler's. My shoes are nearly off my feet, and army shoes cost four dollars. I am destitute of socks, and socks cost one dollar. I do not wish to find fault, but the thought will arise, if sutlers can get their goods over the mountains, why cannot the Government? Again, there is, and has been, a heavy stock of clothing at the Gap. Why don't they send it on?

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 132-4

Diary of Musician David Lane, December 31, 1863

A squad of ten convalescents left for the North today. The balance of the wounded will go as fast as their condition will permit. Twenty-six, out of thirty in my ward, will be able to go by Wednesday next, and I will be left without patients. I rejoice with the poor fellows. The thought of going home, where kind friends can minister to their wants and supply their needs, is a wonderful tonic.

There has been much excitement among the old regiments the past two weeks. The Eighth Michigan boys have enlisted for "during the war," nearly every man. The same is true of several other regiments whose terms of service expire next spring. They are to have four hundred dollars bounty and thirty days' furlough.

The Seventeenth is not included in this order, having over a year to serve. There is much talk of the Ninth Corps leaving this department. I wish I knew it to be true.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 134-5

Julia Kean Fish to Senator Charles Sumner, August 26, 1852

Permit me, my dear Mr. Sumner, to add my humble tribute of admiration to the congratulations you are receiving from your friends upon the successful defence of freedom made by you this morning. You can afford to look quietly on and let the excitement pass by; the truths brought forward by you to-day must and will make a lasting impression even here, where prejudice holds the common mind fast bound in ignorance and error.

SOURCE: Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner, Vol. 3, p. 306

Frances Miller Seward to Senator Charles Sumner, September 18, 1852

[Auburn, N. Y., September 18, 1852.]

I have read with great pleasure your eloquent and convincing argument against the Fugitive Slave bill. This fearless defence of freedom must silence those cavillers who doubted your sincerity.² It is a noble plea for a righteous cause. Hoping and believing — yea, through faith knowing, because His Word hath told us so — that the truth will ultimately triumph, since its abandonment by a majority of the Whig party I have been watching with increased interest the course of those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. May God prosper their efforts! I am truly glad to see that Mrs. Fish has become so warm a convert to principles which have as yet failed to win her husband.

_______________

² An allusion to criticisms on Sumner for his delay in speaking.

SOURCE: Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner, Vol. 3, p. 306

Senator William H. Seward to Senator Charles Sumner, September 22, 1852

[Auburn, September 22, 1852.]

Your speech is an admirable, a great, a very great one. That is my opinion; and every one around me, of all sorts, confesses it.

SOURCE: Edward L. Pierce, Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner, Vol. 3, p. 307

Review: Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind

Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: JamesMontgomery and His War on Slavery

By Todd Mildfelt and David D. Schafer

For many people, their introduction to James Montgomery comes from the 1989 motion picture Glory, in which Montgomery is portrayed as a controversial and aggressive Union officer operating along the South Carolina coast during the Civil War. However, the man behind the Hollywood portrayal was a far more complicated and fascinating figure. In Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind: James Montgomery and His War on Slavery, co-authors Todd Mildfelt and David D. Schafer take readers beyond the movie screen to explore the life, military career, and uncompromising opposition to slavery of one of the Civil War's more unconventional officers.

Montgomery was no ordinary soldier. A committed abolitionist, he believed the destruction of slavery was central to the purpose of the war. His military operations reflected those convictions, often placing him at odds with more conservative Union commanders and earning him a reputation as a difficult and controversial subordinate. His service in Kansas during the violent years preceding the Civil War and his subsequent campaigns in Missouri and along the South Carolina coast reveal a man whose personal convictions frequently shaped his military decisions.

One of the strengths of this book is its examination of Montgomery as an abolitionist first and a military officer second. His actions, relationships with fellow officers, and willingness to challenge conventional military practices provide a valuable perspective on the complicated relationship between emancipation and military policy during the Civil War.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Montgomery's character is the contradiction between his passionate opposition to slavery and his own racial attitudes. Although committed to emancipation, Montgomery was hardly a modern advocate of racial equality. His criticism of members of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry for refusing to accept unequal pay, including a decidedly racist speech, illustrates the complicated attitudes that could exist even among those who fought against slavery. The authors deserve credit for addressing this uncomfortable episode rather than simply celebrating Montgomery as an abolitionist hero.

While the book is impressively researched, its considerable length and attention to political and military detail may occasionally challenge readers looking for a more straightforward biography. At approximately 400 pages, the narrative can become somewhat dense, particularly in its treatment of the complicated political and military circumstances surrounding Montgomery's activities. Some readers may also wish for an even greater emphasis on the experiences and perspectives of the enslaved people whose freedom was central to Montgomery's mission. Nevertheless, the extensive research provides important historical context and is one of the book's greatest strengths.

For readers whose only knowledge of Montgomery comes from Glory, this biography offers an opportunity to separate the historical figure from his cinematic portrayal. The movie provides only a glimpse of his story; Mildfelt and Schafer supply the historical background and context necessary to appreciate the man, his motivations, and his contradictions.

Abolitionist of the Most Dangerous Kind is a worthwhile addition to the Civil War bookshelf, particularly for readers interested in abolitionism, Bleeding Kansas, emancipation, and the individuals whose convictions influenced the conduct of the war. James Montgomery may not be among the best-known Union officers, but his story deserves considerably more attention than a supporting role in a Hollywood film.

About the Authors

Todd Mildfelt taught history, social studies, and science in special education programs in secondary schools. He researches and writes about territorial Kansas, the Underground Railroad, and African American migration.

David D. Schafer served as a park ranger for the National Park Service for over three decades at historic sites in Kansas, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, and Texas. He is now an independent historian.

ISBN 978-0806192901, University of Oklahoma Press, © 2023, Hardcover, 406 Pages, Maps,  Photographs, Illustrations, End Notes, Bibliography & Index. $44.10.  To Purchase the book click HERE.

 

Review: Boutwell

Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy

By Jeffrey Boutwell

George Sewall Boutwell is one of those historical figures whose name I recognized but whose accomplishments I never fully appreciated. I knew of his association with Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, and the Radical Republicans, but I had never taken the time to explore the remarkable breadth of his public career. After reading Jeffrey Boutwell's Boutwell: Radical Republican and Champion of Democracy, I came away wondering how a man who contributed so much to American history could have become so largely overlooked. He may well be the greatest man I never knew.

George Boutwell's career was extraordinary. Rising from modest beginnings in Massachusetts, he became the state's youngest governor, helped organize the Republican Party, and supported Lincoln's presidential candidacy in 1860. During the Civil War, he became the nation's first Commissioner of Internal Revenue, helping establish a federal agency essential to financing the war. Later, as a congressman, he became a leading advocate of emancipation and equal rights for formerly enslaved Americans.

His contributions during Reconstruction were particularly impressive. Boutwell helped advance the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, served as one of the House managers during the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, and consistently defended federal protection of African Americans' civil and political rights. As Grant's Secretary of the Treasury, he worked to reduce the national debt, improve the department's administration, and helped thwart the notorious gold-market scheme of Jay Gould and James Fisk in 1869. Even late in life, he remained committed to his principles, becoming an outspoken opponent of American imperialism and the annexation of the Philippines.

Jeffrey Boutwell has done an admirable job bringing this largely forgotten statesman back into the historical conversation. The research is extensive, and the book provides a valuable look at the political struggles that shaped the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the Republican Party. I particularly appreciated the opportunity to follow Boutwell's career beyond the familiar Lincoln and Grant years and see how consistently he advocated the principles of emancipation, equal citizenship, and self-government.

The book does have some shortcomings. At times, the extensive coverage of political events and personalities overshadows Boutwell himself. I would have welcomed more insight into his private life, personality, family relationships, and personal motivations. The author's evident admiration for his subject is understandable, but a somewhat deeper examination of Boutwell's flaws, political miscalculations, and contradictions might have produced an even more balanced portrait. Readers looking for an intimate personal biography may find the emphasis on political history a little overwhelming.

Nevertheless, these criticisms do not diminish the value of the book. Boutwell was not a perfect man, but he was a principled public servant who understood that preserving the Union and abolishing slavery were only the beginning of the struggle for American democracy. His willingness to defend civil rights even when public opinion and political circumstances turned against Reconstruction deserves far greater recognition.

I began this book knowing George Boutwell primarily as a name in the history books. I finished it with a genuine appreciation for his accomplishments and a sense that I had discovered an important figure who deserved to be much better remembered. Jeffrey Boutwell has performed a valuable service in bringing his relative's life and legacy to a wider audience.

George Sewall Boutwell was, quite simply, the greatest man I never knew. This book made certain that I will not soon forget him.

About the Author

Jeffrey Boutwell is a writer, historian, and science policy specialist whose forty-year career spanned journalism, government, and international scientific research. He lives in Maryland. Jeffrey and George share a common ancestor, the indentured servant James Boutwell, who emigrated in 1632 from England to Salem, Massachusetts.

ISBN 978-1324074267, W. W. Norton & Company, © 2025, Hardcover, 368 Pages, Photographs, Illustrations, End Notes & Index. $39.99.  To Purchase the book click HERE.

Landaff Watson Andrews

ANDREWS, Landaff Watson, congressman, lawyer; b. Flemingsburg, Ky., Feb. 12, 1803; grad, law dept. Transylvania U., Lexington, Ky., 1826. Admitted to Ky. bar, 1826, began practice law in Flemingsburg; pros. atty. Fleming County, 1829-39; mem. Ky. Ho. of Reps., 1834-38, 61-62; mem. U.S. Ho. of Reps. (Whig) from Ky., 26th, 27th congresses, 1839-43; Whig presdl. elector, 1845; mem. Ky. Senate, 1857; judge circuit ct., 1862-68, Died Flemingsburg, Dec. 23, 1887; buried Fleming County Cemetery.

SOURCE: The A. N. Marquis Company, Publisher, Who Was Who In America: Historical Volume: 1607-1896, p. 25