From Boston

BOSTON, April 30.

Col. Lee and Maj. Revere, of the 20th Mass. regiment, have been exchanged, and start to join their regiment at Yorktown immediately.

The steamship North America passed Farther Point at 11:15 last night for Quebec.

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

From the Shenandoah

Times’ Dispatch.

WASHIGNTON, April 29.

By advices from the department of the Shenandoah received to-day, we learn that Gen. Banks notwithstanding the bad roads is cautiously bushing his advance towards Staunton, being already within a few miles of that place.

It is considered doubtful whether the rebel Jackson will make a stand at Staunton, as he fears being flanked by a column from the mountain department.

Gen. Banks’ troops are in the best spirits.

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

From the Army of the Potomac

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC

April 29.

The rebels apparently realized that McClellan is making great preparations to open the second siege of Yorktown.  Your earthworks begin to present a very formidable appearance, and all yesterday and last night the enemy kept up a brisk fire, trying to drive us out.  Nobody was injured and the work progressed.  This morning the enemy opened a vigorous fire, which was kept up for three hours, from the batteries near the river, but receiving no response, ceased.

Yesterday Gen. Hancock, with a portion of his brigade, went to drive the rebels from the woods near our earthworks.  Our troops poured in their fire in all directions causing them to retreat, leaving their dead and wounded.  During this skirmish our troops silenced the new rebel battery, dismounting the guns erected Sunday night, and which had interfered with our working parties.

The weather is favorable.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, August 24, 1862

I went out on picket this morning to remain at the one post for twenty-four hours. I was on vedette for eight hours, two hours at a time. The vedette has to stand out in advance of the reserve post, one hundred yards or more. This post is about three miles east from Bolivar on the main road, having a high rail fence on either side. If the rebels should make a raid on the town, they would have to come in on this road.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 64

Review: Civil War Battlegrounds

Civil War Battlegrounds: The Illustrated History

of the War's Pivotal Battles and Campaigns

By Richard Sauers

There is no better way to learn about the Civil War than by visiting the numerous battlefields throughout the south and east on which it was fought.  However, in these tough economic times travel can be expensive, and sometimes prohibitively so.  Thankfully over the years several battlefield guidebooks have been published.  Some are better than others, but all of them offer a low cost way to explore America’s Civil War battlefields; and the only travel needed to do so is a trip to your local bookstore or library.

Richard Sauers’ “Civil War Battlegrounds: The Illustrated History of the War's Pivotal Battles and Campaigns” is a recent addition to the battlefield guidebook genre.  From the war’s beginning at Fort Sumter to its conclusion at Appomattox, Sauers visits a total of eighteen of the war’s most significant battlefields.  Each battlefield sketch is accompanied by useful information for tourists: phone numbers, websites, hours of operation, admission fees, parking details and available tours and programs.  Many sidebars appear throughout the book cover a variety of topics and trivia about the battles and their participants.

To call Sauers’ book a guidebook is a bit of an overstatement.  The heavy use of modern and historic photographs, illustrations and works of art overpowers his sparse text, and the maps which are often too small to be accurately read only give the reader an impression of the action at large.  To subtitle the book as “The Illustrated History of the War's Pivotal Battles and Campaigns” is also an overextension.  A thumbnail sketch of each battle (in a relatively large font) gives a general overview of the action, but it is hardly would I would call a history of each battle.

 “Civil War Battlegrounds” is not a book for serious students of the American Civil War, but it is a good tool to use when planning a battlefield visit.  However, if a visit to a Civil War battlefield isn’t in your budget this year, it is a perfect book for those who are just beginning to explore this turbulent period in American History.  And with its heavy use of photographs and illustrations it would also appeal to younger readers interested in history as well.

ISBN 978-0760344538, Zenith Press, © 2013, Paperback, 9.5 x 10 x 0.6 inches, 160 pages, Maps, Photographs and Illustrations & Index. $26.99.  To purchase this book click HERE.

From Washington

WASHINGTON, April 29.

A dispatch received from Gen. Halleck says:  “It is the unanimous opinion that Gen. Sherman saved the fortune of the 6th, and contributed largely to the victory of the 7th.  He was in the thickest of the fight, had three horses shot, and was himself wounded twice.  I respectfully ask that he be made Major General of volunteers.”

Lieut. Robinson is ordered to the command of the battery of E. A. Stevens, commonly, but erroneously called the Naugatuck, now at fort Monroe.

The Secretary of the Treasury is now prepared to pay all indebtedness of a date prior to the 1st of Feb’y, in cash, of the month of Feb’y of 40 per cent in cash, of subsequent date 30 percent cash.

The emancipation commissioners met to-day.  Several petitions were filed, and during the morning thirty or forty persons waited on the board for information regarding the mode of procedure.

Tribune’s Dispatch.

WASHINGTON, April 29.

The War Department has issued an order for supplies of arms and clothing for the loyal blacks to be enrolled in Gen. Hunter’s division.

WASHINGTON, April 30.

Brig. Gen. W. T. Sherman in accordance with the recommendation of Gen. Halleck has been nominated for a Major General.

A letter received here from a gentleman high in authority in Tennessee, contains the following:  “Say to the P. M. General that we are succeeding beyond our most sanguine expectations.  As soon as the rebel army is driven beyond the limits of Tennessee the state will stand for the Union by an overwhelming majority.  I hope the government will be impressed with the absolute necessity of the army entering East Tennessee.  They are murdering and plundering our people by thousands.  Their acts of inhumanity and barbarity are without parallel.”  The letter concludes:  “Great God!  Is there no relief for that people?”

The Post Office department has re-opened the following offices in Tennessee: Murfreesboro, Springfield and Franklin.  If the administration should not in all respects meet the expectations of the country, the failure will not be for the want of volunteer advice on war, financial and slavery questions.  Numerous letters proffering it, being constantly received from all parts of the United States, and even foreign lands.

It is not probable that smuggling goods into Virginia from the Chesapeake bay and adjacent waters, will much longer be profitable speculations.  The numerous recent captures show several regulations are strictly enforced.

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

From Tennessee

LOUISVILLE, April 29.

PITTSBURG, Tenn., 10 P. M., April 29th. – Heavy firing across Lick Creek this morning was caused by artillery practice with the rebels by our advance guards, who after slight skirmishing in which we captured several prisoners, occupied Pea Ridge and at 9 o’clock occupied Monterey, 12 to 14 miles from Corinth.

A very intelligent sailor from Boston deserted from the rebels this side of Corinth, reports that the capture of New Orleans was generally known in the rebel camps on the morning of the 27th.  It was also stated on the 18th, at the time of two Louisiana regiments enlisted for twelve months expired, but by a new conscript of law were required to serve two years longer, on being so informed, both regiments laid down their arms, and refused to fight, when Beauregard detailed for regiments to guard them as prisoners.

It was not known that Gen. Halleck was in command here, but the general impression among the troops is that Gen. Buell was, and our army retreating to Nashville.

Col. J. C. Kelton, A. A. G. arrived to-day, relieving Captain McLean, who was obliged to go to Cincinnati on account of ill health.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, August 23, 1862

Some very hot weather today. It is my turn off duty today, but I dread the picket tomorrow on the main road going into Bolivar.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 64

Southern News

FT. MONROE, April 29.

A flag of truce from Norfolk to-day brought down the wife and family of Parson Brownlow, and also the wife of Congressman Maynard.  The party, consisting of four ladies, two gents and six children, are all from Tennessee.  They bring the report that all the Union families of Tennessee have been ordered by proclamation to leave within 36 hours.  1,800 Union men left for Kentucky a week ago Friday.  Of a party of four hundred attempting to leave, one hundred had been killed.

There can be no doubt of the capture of New Orleans.  The Southern newspapers speak of it in the most dismal strain, and demand that the mystery of the surrender of the city shall be explained.

The Norfolk Day Book, in an editorial, says: “It is by far the most serious reverse of the war.  It suggests future privations to all classes of society; but most to be lamented of all, it threatens our army supplies.”  The raising of meat, and corn and wheat, instead of cotton and tobacco, is earnestly recommended by the disconsolate editor.

The Richmond Dispatch of yesterday, says when the enemy’s fleet arrived opposite the city and demanded its surrender, Gen. Lovell refused, and fell back to Camp Moore, after destroying all the cotton and stores.

The iron-clad vessel Mississippi was burnt to prevent falling into the hands of the enemy.  Nothing is said about the Louisiana, but it is supposed that she was scuttled. – It is rumored that she was sunk at first fire.

Camp Moore is 78 miles for New Orleans, on the Jackson Railroad.

The following are the latest dispatches in to-day’s papers:

MOBILE, April 27.

The Yankee Commodore, Farragut, promised the secretary of the Mayor of New Orleans, who visited the fleet by a flag of truce, to make a renewed demand for the surrender of the city, but he has not done so up to this hour, 5 o’clock.

Our ship, the McRae, came up from the forts under a flag of truce, with forty of our wounded.  She communicated with the Federal flag ship, but the result is unknown.  It is rumored that the Federals refused to let her return.

The rumor that Fort Pike has been evacuated and blown up is unreliable.

In a conference held with one of the Federal officers, after the correspondence between Mayor Monroe and Com. Farragut, the officer left, declaring that he would shoot down the flag on the City Hall if it was not hauled down, and he actually brought his ship within range, but has not fired thus far.

It is reported that French and English men-of-war are below, and will enter their protest against shelling the city; and it is believed the Yankee vessels are short of both provisions and ammunition.

The city is remarkably orderly, but the excitement is intense and the feeling of humiliation deep.

RICHMOND, April 28.

The following dispatch was received to-day by Adj. Gen. Cooper from Gen. Lovell:

CAMP MORE, April 27.

Forts Jackson and St. Phillip are still in good condition and in our hands.  The steamers Louisiana and McRae are safe. – The enemy’s fleet is at the city, but they have not forces enough to occupy it.  The inhabitants are staunchly loyal.

MOBILE, April 28.

The forts on Lake Pontchartrain were all evacuated on the 24th inst.  We have sustained considerable loss in supplies and dismounting, but not in destroying the guns.  At Fort Pike all the buildings were burnt, including the telegraph office.  The operator has gone to the limits of the city to open an office if possible.

All the gunboats on the lake have been burnt by our own people.  The Mobile boats, Whiteman, Brown and several others are running troops, stores and ordnance to Manchock, after which we fear they will be burned.

The Yankee fleet was returning again to Ship Island.

In a local paragraph, the Norfolk Day Book, under the head of markets, mentioned the very small supply of edibles exposed for sale, and says it becomes a question of great moment, as to where and how the people are to be fed.

The Death of Samuel B. Todd, brother of Mrs. Lincoln, is announced.  He died on the battlefield from the effects of the wounds he received at Shiloh, in the action of the 7th.

It is reported by the flag of truce that the Merrimac has steam up.  It was expected in Norfolk last night that she would come out to-day.  She has not made her appearance, however.

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

From New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, April 21.

A special dispatch to the Delta, from Ft. Jackson yesterday, says the enemy’s fire had much slackened.  He has fired 39,000 lbs. of powder, and over 1,000 tons of iron.  This bombardment is unprecedented in the annals of warfare.  Our loss so far is five killed and ten wounded.  The mortar vessels are out of sight behind a point of woods.  We sunk two of them yesterday and disabled a steamer.

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

Civil War Cannon Has A Story To Tell

By Mike Maloy, Staff Writer, mmalloy@amestrib.com

A 1862 Civil War cannon is on display in front of Story County

Administration building in Nevada. A dedication of an engraved

stone commemorating the cannon will be at noon on Friday.

Photo by Nirmalendu Majumdar, AmesTribune

NEVADA — Story County’s cannon has a story to tell, and now it has some help.

Gov. Terry Branstad will be among the dozens of guests on hand at noon Friday for a dedication of an engraved stone commemorating the 1862 Civil War cannon located on the ground of the county administration building in Nevada.

The cannon’s spoked wheels have been parked at the same location since 1901, but for more than a century, anyone seeing it had to ask about its provenance. Now, chiseled into a nearby boulder, is the story of Jason D. Ferguson, first person from Story County to die in the Civil War. He was killed at the Battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862, in southwestern Tennessee.

The cannon, brought to the two-day battle by the Confederacy, was made in Vicksburg, Miss., the year before by the AB Reading and Brother Company. Its serial number is 1.

Ames’ Gretchen Triplett, 75, long has been a researcher of history, and she spent much of the winter spinning through microfilm and pouring over yellowing newspapers to learn more about the cannon.

“It’s all out there, you just have to go look for it,” Triplett said.

There were 425 volunteers in the Union army from Story County — about a tenth of the county’s population at the time — and at least 85 that died “either through disease or killed in action or because of poor medical care,” Triplett said.

The bronze cannon captured by Union troops in the battle, later transferred to the Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois and eventually obtained by the Grand Army of the Republic branch in Nevada. The group is a now-dissolved fraternal organization that served union soldiers after the war ended.

The cannon’s story is told in clippings inside the administration building, but until now there was no explanation near the cannon itself.

Triplett spoke at a Story County Supervisors meeting last October, urging them to have some accounting of the cannon next to it. Board Chairperson Rick Sanders was more than willing to take on the project and has spent the past few weeks promoting the event.

“It should be outstanding,” Sanders said.

More than 200 people are expected to attend. In addition to Branstad, Col. Todd Jacobus, Troop Commander at the Iowa National Guard Readiness Center, will speak.

The Ames Children’s Choir will sing the national anthem and the Heart of Iowa Senior Band kicks off the event at 11:30 a.m.

“This is a once in a lifetime ceremony so we’re hoping employers will give people time off from work,” Triplett said. “Bring a lawn chair.”

– Published in the Ames Tribune, Ames, Iowa, Wednesday, June 12, 2013.  Used by permission.

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, August 22, 1862

No news of importance. The rebels are not making any attacks on us, but they keep us busy watching them.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 63

From Fort Pillow

Special to the Chicago Times.

FORT PILLOW, April 28.

Deserters from the rebel lines bring the gratifying intelligence that New Orleans has surrendered to our forces, under command of Com. Porter, and that city is now in our possession.

On Thursday last the Federal fleet passed Fort Jackson, after a desperate naval engagement, in which one vessel was sunk and several badly damaged.  It is supposed that the Federal loss was very heavy.  The rebel loss was 60 killed and 184 wounded.

The engagement lasted a part of two days.  The Federals took possession of New Orleans without a struggle on Friday.

The rebel force had all evacuated, destroying such steamers as they had no use for, and taking with them the greater part of military stores on deposit in the city.

There is supposed to be a large amount of cotton stored in New Orleans, which will fall into our possession, notwithstanding the efforts of the rebel authorities to destroy the entire stock.

The union citizens of New Orleans were jubilant over the result of their long waiting.

The strength of Fort Pillow is stated by deserters, at 8,000, under command of Gen. Villipigue, who has not been superseded as reported.  They have seven batteries mounting an aggregate of 26 guns.

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

Jason D. Ferguson

Jason D. [Ferguson] gave up his life for his country in the battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862, being then twenty-two years of age. He enlisted for three months in the First Iowa Volunteer Infantry, while attending school at Mount Vernon, and after the expiration of that period reenlisted in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, at Cedar Rapids, and was made first lieutenant of Company D.  The Grand Army Post at Nevada is named in his honor. He was the first man from Story county to be killed in battle.

SOURCE: William Orson Payne, History of Story County, Iowa, Volume 2, p. 393, abstracted from the biographical sketch of his brother, Hiram F. Ferguson.

Parson Brownlow's Forthcoming Book

The manuscript of this new work is now nearly complete, and it will be put to press forthwith.  The title gives the comprehensive view of the scope of the work: “The Perils, Adventures and Sufferings of the Rev. W. G. Brownlow among the Secessionists of Tennessee.”  The extraordinary vigor and fearlessness so characteristic of Parson Brownlow’s pen, are well known; and are eminently calculated to render his new word, founded as it is on such material of personal adventure and experience, a thrilling and fascinating book.  Geo. W. Childs, of Philadelphia is the publisher, and Appleton & Co., of Cincinnati, are publishers for the entire West. – George W. Thompson, of this city, is agent for Scott county.

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

Sad Casualty

The wife, child and mother of Capt. Chas. A. Sherman of Fort Dodge, Iowa were drowned on the 24th inst., by the sinking of a skiff in which they were crossing Boone river.  Capt. Sherman is now in Eastern Virginia, performing his duties as Commissary of Subsistence.  The elder lady was the wife of S. M. Sherman, Esq., Postmaster of Fort Dodge.  Both ladies were remarkable for their intelligence and amiability of character.  The bodies were recovered the same day. – Thus at a single blow has the gallant Captain been deprived of mother, wife, and only child.

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

Mental Agony

Few Persons can conceive of the mental torture endured by those who have near and dear relatives in the army on receipt of the news that the regiments to which they belong have participated in the battle.  We have seen the tears come into the eyes of strong men and feeble women, as they have talked to us of the terrible suspense in which they have been held; and we have received letters from both men and women, entreating us to tell them, if we know, the fate of their loved ones.  We have invariably done this, though sometimes we have had to keep back a part of what we did know.  We will give one letter, received three days since, though not the most recent one we have had as a sample, suppressing names, etc.

MR. SANDERS. – Dear Sir:  I address you this, hoping in this way to gain some information in regard to my husband.  Since the terrible battle of Pittsburg Landing I have heard nothing of him.  I am almost wild with anxiety.  I have seen a great many lists of the killed and wounded, but none of the Iowa troops.  This suspense is dreadful.  I would rather know the worst, let it be ever so bad.  No, sir, for pity’s sake answer this.  I felt that you would know, if it were possible for any one to know.  I live in a country place, and get but little news.  Please answer this as soon as possible, and you will have a grateful thanks of an almost heart-broken wife.

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

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, August 21, 1862

There is one train a day over the railroad. It is a combination train, and comes in at 6 p. m. and departs at 8 o’clock in the morning. The train does not run at night for fear the track might be torn up, as the rebels are so near.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 63

In The Review Queue: Gettysburg, The True Account of Two Young Heroes in the Greatest Battle of the Civil War

Gettysburg: The True Account of Two Young Heroes

in the Greatest Battle of the Civil War

Iain C. Martin

An exciting and educational look at the greatest battle of the American Civil War for young adults!

In the summer of 1863, General Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia advanced into Pennsylvania in a daring offensive to win the Civil War in a single campaign. They met the Union Army at a quiet crossroads town called Gettysburg, and engaged in the greatest battle ever fought on American soil. Three days of combat ended on July 3 with Pickett's Charge, a heroic assault by nine of Lee's brigades against the Union defenses on Cemetery Ridge. Their repulse at the stone wall became known as the "high-water mark" of the Confederacy. At the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery that November, Lincoln used the occasion to deliver his Gettysburg Address, a short, two-minute speech that became the most famous in American history.

In this original retelling of the Gettysburg story, Iain C. Martin draws upon firsthand accounts—from the generals to the lowly privates and civilians caught in the epic struggle. Readers will discover history through the experiences of two Gettysburg teenagers—Matilda "Tillie" Pierce and Daniel Skelly. Featuring the artwork of Don Troiani, original photos, full-color maps, interesting tales, and trivia, Gettysburg gives young readers a fascinating look into this great turning point of American history—and just in time for the 150th anniversary of the epic battle.

About the Author

Iain C. Martin is a freelance writer and historian, with an MA in history from Southern Connecticut State University. He is author of numerous books, including The Greatest U.S. Marine Corps Stories Ever Told. This is his first book for young adults. 

ISBN 978-1620875322, Sky Pony Press, © 2013, Hardcover, Dimensions 10.5 x 8 x 1 inches, 208 pages, 12 Color Maps, 25 Illustrations, 90 Black & White Photographs, Glossary, Bibliography & Index. $16.95.  To Purchase the book click HERE.

John S. Christian

The body of this young man did not arrive yesterday, but will be here this morning on the Jennie Whipple.  The funeral will take place to-day at 2 o’clk. From Christian Chapel.

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