Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 155. Report of Capt. Abraham N. Snyder, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 155.

Report of Capt. Abraham N. Snyder, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. THIRTY-FIFTH IOWA INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS, 

Columbia, Tenn., December 23, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of the Thirty-fifth Iowa on December 15 and 16, before Nashville:

Early upon the morning of December 15, in obedience to orders from Col. S. G. Hill, commanding Third Brigade, the regiment moved from camp in advance of the brigade, and formed line of battle on left of Hardin pike, moving forward with Company E deployed as skirmishers. At 11 o'clock the regiment was ordered to support the battery attached to the brigade, and formed on the left and to the rear of it, remaining in that position until near 2 p.m., when we were again ordered forward, and our line swinging around from the right at nearly a right angle with our former position, brought us directly in front of the enemy's fort, and between the battery attached to the brigade and the enemy's fire. Continued skirmishing was carried on until about 3.30 p.m., when we were ordered to take the fort, with instructions to hold our fire until all were in the works. With fixed bayonets the men moved forward, never halting until we had taken and passed through the first work and reached the stone wall east of it. Major Dill being unable to proceed farther, upon being notified by the adjutant, I immediately assumed command of and reformed the regiment, the command remaining in its new position until ordered to move to the right and front, where we encamped for the night in line of battle. Before daybreak (16th) the command was ordered to move to the right and follow the Thirty-third Missouri, keeping well closed up. Company H was deployed as skirmishers. Some few moments later the command was moved still farther to the right and formed line of battle, moving across an open field in rear and to the left of the Bradford mansion, under a heavy artillery fire, until they reached the ravine, when they were again moved to the right and facing the enemy's works. At 4 p.m. the line moved forward; crossing the open field and passing through the enemy's work, formed on the left of the Thirty-third Missouri.

Of both officers and men I cannot speak too highly, as all were prompt and efficient at all times and under all circumstances. Captain McKelvey, Company K, and Captain Dixson, Company G, being first in the enemy's work on the 15th, deserve great credit for their courage and bearing during the charge. Lieutenant Washburn, Company A, commanded Company E as skirmishers on the 15th, until recalled before the charge, and was slightly wounded by a shell while skirmishing with the enemy. Lieut. Whiting M. Wetherill, commanding Company H, being deployed with his company to skirmish, on the 16th, and becoming detached from our front by the continued movement to the right, seeing the lines formed and charging, gallantly led his men forward and was first to enter the fort of four guns upon the right front of the Fourth Corps, pushing forward and pressing the enemy until dark, when he rejoined the regiment.

I inclose herewith list of casualties of the command.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. N. SNYDER,        

Captain Company F, Commanding.

Lieut. HENRY HOOVER,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

* Embodied in table, p. 101.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 465-6

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 154. Report of Lieut. Col. John H. Stibbs, Twelfth Iowa Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 154.

Report of Lieut. Col. John H. Stibbs, Twelfth Iowa Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. TWELFTH IOWA VETERAN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,    

Near Pulaski, Tenn., December 28, 1864.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Twelfth Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry during the actions of 15th and 16th of December, 1864, near Nashville, Tenn.:

In accordance with instructions from your headquarters, I had my men under arms at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, and at a few minutes after 8 moved outside our line of works and formed line to the right of the Hardin pike; my regiment formed the right of our brigade line; afterward being ordered to the left, I moved my regiment to the left of the pike and formed as the left center of the brigade line. We then threw forward a heavy line of skirmishers, and awaited the forming of the general line. At about 10 o'clock, the order to advance being given, our skirmishers pushed rapidly forward, and found a considerable force of the enemy, who were easily driven back. Our main line advanced steadily and without opposition, constantly changing our point of direction toward the left, until we had advanced two miles, when, coming on to the crest of a hill, we were opened on by one of the enemy's batteries, posted directly in our front and distant about 1,000 yards. Our men were then ordered to lie down, and our brigade battery brought forward and opened fire on the enemy. We were held in this position for about an hour and a half, the enemy keeping up a constant fire on our line, doing us but little damage. The First and Second Brigades of our division, to our right, having advanced their lines, swung around to the left, charged and captured the enemy's redoubts in our front. We were then moved forward, swinging our line to the left, and conforming to the line on our right. After advancing about half a mile we came upon a strong redoubt of the enemy, situated to the right of the Hillsborough pike and just five miles from Nashville. Our line was pushed well forward, and shortly before 4 p.m., everything being ready, we were ordered to charge. Our men moved rapidly up the hill, but before gaining the crest the enemy moved their guns and most of their support to a fort about 300 yards in the rear, and to the right, from which they gave us a heavy raking fire as we moved onto and over the first works. On gaining the first work our brigade commander, Col. S. G. Hill, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, was shot through the head and instantly killed. Our brigade line being in considerable disorder, I ordered the command halted and lines reformed, which order was promptly complied with, our men in the meantime keeping up a heavy fire on the enemy in our front. On gaining the crest of the first hill Colonel Marshall, of the Seventh Minnesota, and Lieutenant Reed, acting adjutant Twelfth Iowa, with about 200 men of the two regiments, being in advance, pushed rapidly forward, obliquing to the left, and captured the second work, with a large number of prisoners, three or four guns, several ammunition wagons, and a large number of small-arms. The balance of the brigade, as soon as formed, moved forward, but night coming on, we were compelled to halt. Colonel Marshall, Seventh Minnesota, being senior officer, assumed command of the brigade, and having properly reformed our lines, ordered us to bivouac for the night.

It is impossible to give an exact estimate of prisoners and property captured in this charge, as all were so anxious to pursue the enemy that prisoners and captured property were given over or taken to possession of by other commands that came up in our rear. The loss of my regiment in this day's fight was seven men wounded.

On the morning of the 16th we were called up before daylight and moved by the flank half a mile to the right, taking position on and joining the left of the Second Brigade of our division, my regiment forming the right of our brigade line. About 8 o'clock, our skirmishers having driven the enemy in front back to their works, we were ordered to move forward, and advanced on the double-quick for about half a mile, rapidly swinging our lines and changing our direction to the right until we had arrived within short musket-range of the enemy's works, when we were ordered to halt. During the advance the enemy opened on us heavily with artillery, but owing to our rapid movement and their inaccurate aim we suffered but little. After a ten minutes' rest we were ordered to close to the right and double our lines. The brigade on our right having doubled, and left an interval in the line, I moved by the flank and closed on them, forming line with the right resting on the Granny White pike. The Seventh Minnesota formed on my left, and the other regiments of the brigade, Thirty-third Missouri and Thirty-fifth Iowa, formed a second line in our rear. Our front was covered by a stone wall and a heavy rail fence, which we threw down, and formed into a slight breast-work. We were kept in this position during the greater part of the day. The enemy in the meantime kept up a troublesome musketry fire on our line, but by keeping close to our work we suffered but little damage. Company C of my regiment, detailed as sharpshooters, kept up a vigorous fire on the enemy, and during the day rendered excellent service. About 3 p.m. I was ordered to throw up an earth-work in my front, and procured tools and had my work half completed, when, at about 4 o'clock, a charge was commenced by the right of our division. I at once ordered my men to cease work and prepare for a charge, and a moment after ward, being told that we were ordered to advance, I gave the command forward. The ground in our front was such that we passed one-third the distance before we were fairly under fire, and after that our movement was so rapid that the enemy could give us but two or three volleys before we were at their works. The work was a heavy stone wall, with a ditch on the inner side, and the outer face strengthened with earth and rails, so that it was almost impossible to scale it. Had the enemy made a determined stand they might have inflicted very serious injury on us before losing their works, but their line having been broken on the left, and our advance being so rapid and determined, they were thrown into a panic and fled from their works in confusion, leaving their colors, guns, caissons, and hundreds of prisoners in our hands. After the work had been taken I moved my regiment rapidly forward for about half a mile, when, the charge being finished, I was ordered to the rear to pick up prisoners and captured property. In this charge, as on the previous day's, it was impossible to get a list of what we had captured. Large numbers of prisoners were taken charge of by officers of other commands. I collected about 200 prisoners and sent them under charge of my own men to Nashville. On going to the rear I found on the line of works charged by our brigade, 4 12-pounder Napoleon guns, with caissons complete, one army wagon, and about 400 or 500 stand of small-arms, all of which I collected and turned over to a proper officer, after which I moved my regiment to the front and bivouacked for the night. My loss in this day's fight was 1 man killed and 11 wounded. During the charge on this day there were four flags captured by men of my regiment, but two of them, captured by Privates Samuel H. Flint, D Company, and Michael Wivinis, I Company, were afterward thrown down by them, in order that they might continue the pursuit of the enemy. I still have in my possession two flags, one a large regimental flag, captured by Corpl. Luther Kaltenbach,* F Company, and a battery flag, captured by Private A. J. Sloan,* H Company.

I take great pleasure in mentioning Capt. S. G. Knee, H Company, acting major; Lieut. D. W. Reed, C Company, acting adjutant; and Lieut. H. C. Morehead, D Company, acting quartermaster, for their valuable services rendered on the field. Assistant Surgeon Underwood stood faithfully to his post and dressed the wounds of our men where the fire was hottest. Chaplain Humphrey rendered invaluable service in caring for our wounded on the field and in the hospital. Sergeant-Major Burch and Color-Sergeants Grannis and Clark displayed skill and courage in the performance of their duties.

I desire to call your especial attention to the fact that during the two days' fight my regiment was almost entirely unofficered, all the line officers of my regiment except four having been mustered out of service on the 1st instant, and all my companies being commanded by sergeants; during the fight all did their duty nobly, and are deserving of an especial mention; but to mention particularly deserving ones, I would have to name all, as every man of the regiment did his whole duty.

I transmit herewith a list of the casualties in my regiment during the two days' fight.†

I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. H. STIBBS,      

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Twelfth Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

 Lieut. HENRY HOOVER,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

ADDENDA.

HEADQUARTERS TWELFTH IOWA INFANTRY,        

Pulaski, Tenn., December 29, 1864.

Maj. J. HOUGH,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Detach. Army of the Tennessee:

MAJOR: I have the honor-to make the following statement concerning two flags captured from the enemy on the 16th instant, in action near Nashville, Tenn., and which I now forward to your headquarters:

The flags were captured during the grand charge made on the enemy's line on the afternoon of the 16th instant. The large one be longed to a Mississippi regiment, I think the Forty-fourth, and was captured by Corpl. Luther Kaltenbach,* F Company, Twelfth Iowa Infantry. The color-bearer had been shot down, and as my regiment advanced Corporal Kaltenbach ran forward and picked up the flag. The small flag belonged to a battery, the name of which I have been unable to learn, and was captured by Private Andrew J. Sloan,* H Company, Twelfth Iowa Infantry. This flag had been taken from the staff by one of the enemy, who was afterward captured by Private Sloan, who took the flag from him.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JNO. H. STIBBS,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Twelfth Iowa Infantry.

_______________

* Awarded a Medal of Honor.

† Embodied in table, p. 101.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 462-5

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 153. Report of Col. William R. Marshall, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 153.

Report of Col. William R. Marshall, Seventh Minnesota Infantry, commanding Third Brigade,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION,                   

DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,  

Near Pulaski, Tenn., December 28, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Third Brigade, First Division, Detachment Army of the Tennessee, in the battles before Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864:

The Third Brigade comprised the Twelfth Iowa Veteran Infantry Volunteers, commanded by Lieut. Col. J. H. Stibbs; Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Maj. William Dill commanding; Thirty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col. William H. Heath commanding; Seventh Minnesota Infantry Volunteers, Lieut. Col. George Bradley commanding; and Battery I, Second Missouri Light Artillery, Capt. S. H. Julian; the brigade commanded on the 15th, at the opening of the battle, by Col. S. G. Hill, Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteers.

In obedience to orders from the brigadier-general commanding the division, the brigade moved from its position behind intrenchments for defense of Nashville at 7 a.m. 15th instant, and formed in line of battle, with its left resting on the Hardin pike, connecting with Second Division, the right connecting with Second Brigade of First Division, Colonel Hubbard's. Two companies were deployed forward as skirmishers, covering front of brigade. At 10 a.m. the line advanced, crossing the Hardin pike obliquely to the left, conforming to the movements of troops on our right and left. Our skirmishers, pushing rapidly toward the enemy, were soon briskly engaged, driving the enemy's skirmishers before them. About 11 a.m. we arrived in front of enemy's works, consisting on his extreme left, which was nearly in our front, of a formidable fort defended by a four-gun battery. Captain Julian's battery wheeled into position and opened on the enemy's works at from 1,200 to 1,500 yards distance. A rapid and effective fire from the battery was kept up for more than an hour. The enemy's guns poured a heavy fire into our battery, which was completely exposed in an open field, but without disabling our guns or for a moment interrupting Captain Julian's fire. Later in the day the battery was advanced to cover the charge we made. The infantry of the brigade were kept lying down during this first artillery fire, not being within musket-range of enemy. Our skirmishers got close up to enemy's works, and contributed not a little to the success which crowned the day's operations. The forts on the enemy's left being carried about 4 p.m. by the right of our division, the Third Brigade advanced, under a fierce artillery and musketry fire, and charged a formidable work on the right of the Hillsborough pike, carrying the work at the point of the bayonet most gallantly. It was at the parapet of this work that the gallant and lamented Col. S. G. Hill, commanding the brigade, lost his life. He was shot through the head, and died in a few minutes, without speaking. The service lost in Colonel Hill's death one of its bravest and best officers. The enemy's battery that was in the fort on right of Hillsborough pike was being removed, but we succeeded in capturing two guns and a battle-flag. When we had gained the first fort a terrible fire was poured into us from a second work, 200 yards to the left of Hillsborough pike. I ordered a charge on this second work, and carried it, capturing one piece of artillery, caisson, battery wagon, horses, &c. In the two works we captured about 200 prisoners. When we had gained the second work we pressed on to the left, and got in rear of the enemy, where General Garrard's division and the right of the Fourth Army Corps were pressing them in front. We opened a deadly fire on the enemy's rear, as he broke from his works when charged by General Garrard and Fourth Corps, and could have taken a great number of prisoners, but left them to the troops that came over the works in their front. Night now closed our work, and we were ordered into line a little way east of and parallel to the Hillsborough pike.

The casualties of the brigade on the 15th were, 1 officer killed and 1 wounded, 1 enlisted man killed and 35 wounded.

The battery fired about 1,000 rounds; the infantry expended very little ammunition except on the skirmish line, the heavy work having been done with the bayonet.

On the morning of the 16th the Third Brigade, on the left of Colonel Hubbard's — the left of the Third Division — was advanced, covered by skirmishers, from its position during time night toward the Granny White pike, and conforming to the movement of brigades on our right, obliqued and wheeled to the right until it confronted the enemy's strong works across the Granny White pike, at the foot of the Overton (or Brentwood) Hills. My right rested on the pike, connecting with left of Colonel Hubbard's brigade. We pushed forward, under a severe fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry, until partly covered by a fence and stone wall running from the Bradford mansion to the pike. Here we halted until the grand charge in the afternoon. Captain Julian's battery was posted about 400 yards in rear of the infantry, and opened and kept up a heavy fire on the enemy's works. In our immediate front was a four-gun battery. Between 3 and 4 p.m. I observed the right of the division — the First Brigade — advancing to charge the enemy's left, and quickly Colonel Hubbard's brigade, immediately on my right, started on the charge. Seeing that Colonel Hubbard ought to be supported, I ordered the brigade to follow and charge the works in our front. Most bravely did the lines rise, and with cheers, breasting the storm of shot and shell from the four guns in our front, and the fierce musketry fire of the infantry supports of the battery, charge and carry the very strong works on the left of the [Granny] White pike. The splendid Pointe Coupée Battery of four Napoleon 12-pounders, a great number of small arms, and 300 to 400 prisoners were taken. The gallant Colonel Hubbard, who had gained the enemy's works on the right of the pike before I reached those on the left, was sweeping down toward my front, and claimed part of the guns as his capture. Although there can be no doubt that my brigade first entered the works by the front, I thought it but fair to the ever-gallant Second Brigade, which got the start of us in the general charge and pierced the enemy's line in advance of us, to divide the guns; accordingly, Colonel Hubbard took two and the Third Brigade two. We made a short halt upon gaining the enemy's works, and pressed on up the hills about one mile, pursuing the fugitives, capturing many, until, by command of the general, halted at the base of the steep part of the mountain, and put into position for the night.

In the charge, which was made across an open field about 400 yards wide, that noble and brave young officer, Adjt. S. E. Day, of the Thirty-third Missouri Infantry Volunteers, was mortally wounded; he died in hospital on the 19th instant; Lieutenant Rutledge, of Thirty-third Missouri, was seriously wounded; Captain McKelvy and Lieutenant Potter, of Seventh Minnesota, slightly wounded; 11 men were killed and 89 wounded.

I cannot too highly commend the gallant conduct of all the officers and men of the brigade; no troops ever behaved more gallantly. The Twelfth Iowa had not a single line officer, owing to the recent muster-out of non-veterans, yet their conduct was none the less soldierly and brave.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. R. MARSHALL,             

Colonel Seventh Minnesota,   

Comdg. Third Brig., First Div., Detach. Army of the Tennessee.

Capt. W. H. F. RANDALL, Assistant Adjutant-General.

There were captured by my command in the two days' engagement, 5 12-pounder guns — brass, 1 steel — (exclusive of the 2 Napoleon's conceded to Colonel Hubbard, which would have made the number 7), 5 caissons, 1 battery wagon, about 500 prisoners, and 2 battle-flags.

There was expended, by Captain Julian's battery, 2,000 rounds of 3-inch shell and solid shot; by the infantry, mostly by the skirmishers, about 7,000 rounds of rifle-musket ammunition.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. R. MARSHALL,             

Colonel Seventh Minnesota,   

Comdg. Third Brig., First Div., Detach. Army of the Tennessee.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 460-2

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 152. Report of Capt. Joseph R. Reed, Second Battery Iowa Light Artillery, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 152.

Report of Capt. Joseph R. Reed, Second Battery Iowa Light Artillery,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND IOWA BATTERY,            

In the Field, December 21, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit the following report of the part taken by this battery in the recent engagement in the vicinity of Nashville:

On the morning of the 15th instant the battery moved from its position at 8 a.m. and marched in the brigade, following all its movements in column and line until the enemy was discovered in a strongly intrenched position on our front. Here, by direction of General McArthur, I placed my rifle section in position 200 yards in rear and a little to the right of the brigade line. From this position I fired ten rounds from each gun, when I moved it forward and placed it in position on a slight eminence in front of the brigade, and also brought forward my 12-pounders as fast as I could find positions where they could be used to advantage. I occupied this position until the brigade was moved forward, when I replenished my limber-chests and followed it, and, under direction of Colonel Hubbard, occupied a position on the left of the battery of McMillen's brigade, within 600 [yards] of the enemy's works, on which I opened a vigorous fire, which I continued until the work was carried. I immediately moved forward and placed the battery in position on the left of this work and opened fire on the summit of the next hill, up the sides of which our skirmishers were then advancing. As soon as this position was carried I moved to the front of the work and opened on the enemy's line in the woods and pike 1,000 yards to our front, paying particular attention to a hill to the right of the line, on which the enemy had placed a battery. When this hill was carried and the enemy's line broken by the charge of the brigade, a confused mass of the enemy broke from the stone wall at the pike and started to the rear across an open field. On this ground I opened all my guns with shot and shell, plowing through and exploding amongst them; a larger number of them ran back to the wall and, as I afterward learned, surrendered. I then moved to the front and reported to Colonel Hubbard, who directed me to open on a battery of the enemy which was firing on the left of our line. As our position was immediately on the enemy's flank and our fire enfiladed him, the battery was limbered up and the whole line moved to the rear after a very few moments. I continued firing until he passed beyond my range, and it being then quite dark I encamped for the night.

During the night I had thrown up a slight work on the front of my guns, and at 5 a.m. was harnessed and hitched up, and at 7 a.m. moved out of our works with the brigade. Changed front to the right and opened fire on the enemy's train, which was in sight, moving to the right and rear. The brigade moving to the front, was soon hotly engaged. By direction of General McArthur I moved one section to the front and placed it in position on a crest to the right and rear of the brigade and in front of the line of the Twenty-third Corps, immediately following it with the other four guns, which I put in position still farther to the right. From this position I kept up a vigorous fire on the enemy's line until the final charge at near 3 p.m. As soon as the line was carried I moved three guns (all for which I had any ammunition) to the front, following the brigade and opening on the enemy from every favorable position. At dark I encamped with the brigade, bringing forward during the night the balance of the battery.

During the two days I expended 1,500 rounds of ammunition. I had but a single casualty during the whole engagement, and that resulted from the accidental, premature discharge of one of the pieces.

To my lieutenants, Coons and Burk, I am indebted for prompt and efficient assistance. My non-commissioned officers and men uniformly behaved with coolness and gallantry.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. R. REED,   

Captain, Commanding Second Iowa Battery.

Lieut. T. P. GERE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 458-9

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 151. Report of Lieut. Col. William B. Britton, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 151.

Report of Lieut. Col. William B. Britton, Eighth Wisconsin Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

SIR: The following is the part the Eighth Wisconsin took in the battles of Nashville, December 15 and 16, 1864:

I received orders on the night of the 14th to have my regiment in readiness to move at 6 o'clock on the following morning. At 8 a.m. the regiment moved out of camp on the Charlotte pike about one mile. I was here ordered to move left in front, to throw out one company on my right flank as skirmishers to guard against surprise. Company K, under command of Lieutenant Fellows, was detailed for this purpose. I advanced in this position about half a mile. The enemy was here discovered. I at this time sent forward Company H, under command of Lieutenant Ellsworth, to skirmish and feel the enemy in front. This company was in a short time hotly engaged. I was here ordered to file my regiment left, and passed over to the Hillsborough pike. Here I formed in line of battle, on the left of the brigade, and moved forward about three-quarters of a mile, with Company F, Lieutenant Greenman, in front skirmishing, having at this time three companies out in this position. We moved forward until we encountered the enemy and drove them 300 yards. Came to a halt to support batteries at this time engaged. Lay in line of battle here one hour under fire of rebel batteries. At about 1 p.m. was ordered to move, with still another company out as skirmishers. Company D, Captain Williams, was thrown forward, followed by the regiment. Advanced to within 300 yards of the rebel works; skirmishers moving up to the very ditch of the fort, silencing the guns. According to instructions, I here formed in the rear of the Fifth Minnesota in column of regiments; received orders to follow that regiment and assault the rebel works. The advance was sounded, and I followed the Fifth twenty paces in the rear and participated in the assault, capturing at this time several prisoners. After capturing the fort the regiment swung considerably to the left to cut off the retreat of rebels from the fort. Finding myself flanked I notified Colonel Hubbard, commanding the brigade, who ordered me at once to change my regiment at right angles with the advance line, which I did, and in a short time was prepared for the enemy. Two of my companies here joined me from skirmishing. Company B, under Sergeant Stewart, with Company D, was moved to the left of the regiment as flankers. They at once encountered a heavy force on the pike, behind stone walls. I changed front forward with the regiment and moved in line of battle to the pike. A halt was here sounded, and we lay directly across the pike about thirty minutes. Was ordered forward with my regiment left oblique. After passing the pike about 200 yards another charge was ordered. We took the double-quick and went forward splendidly, capturing quite a number of prisoners, among them a rebel major and several other officers. At this time we had flanked the rebel works. Companies B and D, on the flank, coming forward on a charge, captured fully 200 prisoners and 2 pieces of artillery. We drove the rebels here about one mile. Darkness coming on we bivouacked here for the night. This day the regiment captured fully 225 prisoners and 2 pieces of artillery, with a loss of only 2 killed and 9 wounded.

On the morning of the 16th the regiment was in line at daylight. About 8 a.m. was ordered to move forward on the left of the Eleventh Missouri. I formed as ordered. Before moving from this position was ordered to move to the rear and center of the brigade as a reserve or support. I moved as ordered until we met the enemy about 400 yards to the front, my left resting near the Granny White pike. We here lay down in line of battle. This was about 9 a.m. We here lay until about 3 p.m. under fire of artillery and infantry. I had several men wounded while lying in this position. At 3 p.m., the grand charge being ordered, the regiment moved forward in good style: at double-quick, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, capturing a great many prisoners, two stand of colors, carrying the enemy's last line of works, and shared with other regiments in the capture of the batteries, both on our right and left. After passing the enemy's works we pushed forward fully a mile beyond, taking in prisoners at every step. Colonel Hubbard here ordered me to halt my regiment to let the men close up. I lay here about fifteen minutes, the regiment all the while pouring in volley after volley at the retreating rebels. My skirmishers here captured three pieces of artillery in the road. I moved the regiment forward to a position on the hills, about one mile beyond this point and two miles in the rear of the works captured. It was now becoming dark; the regiment was ordered to bivouac for the night. This day the regiment lost 5 killed and 46 wounded.

I think it will not be claiming too much when I say the regiment captured in the two days' battle a full battery of artillery, two stand of colors, and at least 500 men, and as many small-arms.

The regiment behaved gallantly — all, both officers and men.

I have the honor to be, lieutenant, your most obedient servant,

W. B. BRITTON,      

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Eighth Regiment Wisconsin Veteran Vols.

Lieut. T. P. GERE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 457-8

1st Battalion Missouri State Militia Cavalry ("Krekel's")

Organized at St. Charles, Mo., March 26, 1862. Attached to District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri. Duty at St. Charles and in District of Central Missouri operating against guerrillas till November, 1862. Skirmish at Bob's Creek March 7. Big Creek March 9. Scouts in Calloway County September 4. Prairie Station September 4. Portland October 16. Broken up November 11, 1862.

Battalion lost during service 1 Enlisted man killed and 12 Enlisted men by disease. Total 13.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1302

1st Missouri State Militia Cavalry

Organized in Missouri at large February 3 to April 9, 1862. Companies "A" and "B" in Davies County, Company "C" in Sullivan County, "D" in Putnam County, "E" in Gentry County, "F" in Linn County, "H" in De-Kalb County, "I" in Harrison County and "K" in Lundy County. Company "L" organized in Andrew and Buchanan Counties and attached May, 1863. Company "M" organized in Worth and Gentry Counties and attached July, 1863. Regiment attached to District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1863. District of the Border, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of Central Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to July, 1865. Headquarters at Lexington till March, 1863. (4 Cos. at Sedalia, Mo., November, 1862, to April, 1863.) At independence till April, 1863. At Harrisonville till May, 1863. At Warrensburg till June, 1863. At Lexington till October, 1863. At Warrensburg till July, 1865, operating against Cash's, Davis', Kirk's, Merrick's, Marchbank's, Ballou's, Porter's, Poindexter's, Quantrell's and Cockrell's guerrillas.

SERVICE. — Expedition to Spring Hill May 24, 1862 (Cos. "G" and "K"). Sear's House and Big Creek Bluffs, near Pleasant Hill, July 11 (Cos. "A," "C" and "D"). Clark's Mills July 30 (2 Cos.). Grand River August 1 (Battalion). Operations on Missouri River August-- (Detachment). Near Cravensville August 5. Kirksville August 5-6. Panther Creek and Walnut Creek August 8. Near Stockton August 8 (Detachment). Sear's Ford, Chariton River, August 9 (Detachment). Expedition from Camp Gamble against guerrillas August 12-18. Putnam September 1. Strother's Fork of Black River September 13. Syracuse October 14. Expedition from Independence to Greenton, Chapel Hill and Hopewell October 24-26 (Cos. "E" and "H"). Operations in Jackson and Lafayette Counties October 26-29 (Detachment). Blue Springs, near Independence, March 22. Sedalia April 9, 1863. Hog Island May 18 (Detachment). Near Wellington June 17. Near Papinsville June 23 (Detachment). Saline County July 30. Near Lexington July 30 (Cos. "C," "I" and "K"). Stumptown August 2 (Cos. "F," "G" and "H"). Scout from Lexington to Hopewell August 6-9 (Detachment). Dayton August 10 (Detachment). Near Wellington August 14 (Detachment). Operations against Quantrell's Raid into Kansas August 20-28. Big Creek, near Pleasant Hill, August 22. Scouts in Lafayette County and skirmishes September 22-25 (Cos. "B," "H," "L" and "M"). Operations against Shelby September 22-October 26. Booneville October 11-12. Jonesborough October 12. Merrill's Crossing and Dug Ford near Jonesborough, October 12. Marshall, Arrow Rock Blackwater, October 13. Syracuse October 14. Greenton Valley, near Hopewell, October 21 (Detachment of Co. "B"). Near Lexington November 4 (Detachment) Scouts in Jackson County January 15-17, 1864 (Detachment). Lexington February 22. Operations about Warrensburg February 22-24 (Detachment). Scout from Lexington March 19-22. Scouts in Jackson and Lafayette Counties and skirmishes March 20-30 (Detach merits). Deep Water Township March 27. Near Greenton March 30 (Co. "F"). Offett's Knob April 28. Skirmishes in Johnson County April 28-30 (Cos. "D" and "M"). Scout from Warrensburg May 23-25. Near Shanghai May 27 (Detachment). Scout from Warrens burg to North Blackwater River June 5-9 (Co. "I") Near Kingsville June 12 (Detachment). Lexington June 14 (Cos. "F" and "I"). Lafayette County June 14 (Detachment). Attack on Arrow Rock July 20. Operations in Lafayette and Johnson Counties and skirmishes July 20-31 (Co. "E"). Scout in Saline County August 6-9 (Detachment). Arrow Rock August 7 (Detachment). Saline County August 13 (Co. "H"). Operations in Lafayette, Saline and Howard Counties August 13-22. Near Lexington August 19 (Co. "A"). Dover August 20. Davis Creek August 22. The Tabo August 22. Operations on Texas Prairie, Jackson County, August 25-30. Near Warrensburg September 9 (Detachment). Near Lexington September 18 (Detachment). Near Longwood September 22 (Detachment). Blackwater September 23 (1st Battalion). Prince's Shoals, Osage River, Cole County, October 5-6. Moreau Bottom, Jefferson City, October 7. Near Jefferson City October 8. California October 9. Booneville October 9-12. Sedalia October 15. Little Blue October 21. Independence, Big Blue and State Line October 22. Westport October 23. Mine Creek, Little Osage River, Mafias des Cygnes, October 25. Engagement at the Marmiton or Battle of Chariot October 25. Escort prisoners from Fort Scott to Warrensburg, Mo., October 26-November 1. Near Fort Scott October 28. At Warrensburg and Pleasant Hill, Cass County, operating against guerrillas in Central District of Missouri till July, 1865. Scout from Warrensburg to Greenton Valley November 29-December 3, 1864 (Detachment). Near Lexington January 11, 1865. Scout from Camp Grover to Texas Prairie January 12-15. Scout from Warrensburg to Snibar Hills January 18-22 (Detachment). Scout from Warrensburg to Wagon Knob, etc., February 1-5 (Detachment). Old members mustered out February and March, 1865. Recruits consolidated to a Battalion of 2 Companies. Near Lone Jack March 12 (Detachment). Scout from Lexington March 20-22 (Detachment). Near Pleasant Hill May 3 (Detachment). Mustered out July 12, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 71 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 67 Enlisted men by disease. Total 142.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1302

Diary of Laura M. Towne: Tuesday, June 3, 1862

It is a day of doubt and wearying uncertainty. Mr. Pierce is going home — perhaps not to return, and who can take his place here with the negroes? They trust so implicitly to his word and believe so entirely in his love for them. They come to him with all complaints of wrongs done them and are satisfied with his decisions even when against themselves. Last Sunday after the sermon he spoke to them about going away, of the benefits they were receiving, and of his successor. He said, “Lincoln always did think a great deal about you and was always your friend; now he is thinking more than ever and he is going to send you a protector. He is going to send a much more powerful man than I am, a big general to care for you — a man who has always been your friend. You must love him and obey him.” There was something so self-forgetting and humble in these words, and the manner of speaking, that it made my heart swell, and when he thanked them and said good-bye, a good many were much affected.

After he sat down, Mr. Horton said that all who were sorry to have him go had better express it by rising. All stood up and most of them held up both hands. Some began to bless and pray for him aloud, to say they “thanked massa for his goodness to we,” etc. It quite overcame him for a minute. He covered his eyes with his hands and sat down in the pew. Soon these people began to crowd around him and he had to shake hands with them. I saw then that his face was streaming with tears, as he passed pretty quickly out of church under the old oaks and the people crowded about him. I stood still in the pew watching it all, but soon I had to go on down the aisle, and I saw an old blind man waiting and looking anxious. Dr. Browne said to me, “He is quite blind.” “My friend” (to the blind man), “don't you want to shake hands with Mr. Pierce?” “Yes, massa, but I can't get to him — I'se blin' an' dey crowd so.” “I will shake hands for you,” I said, and gave him my hand. "Thank you, missus — thank you,” he said. I gave Mr. Pierce this handshake and he treasured it, I think.

It is storming most furiously, and I fear Ellen is out in it. It worries me and yet I feel faith that she will come to me. It seems impossible, though; all coming seems stopped. The new war, excitement at the North, the calling-out the militia, the battles, etc., have made it almost impossible that this place can command much notice. The Oriental is wrecked; the Atlantic up for repairs, and communication difficult. That wretch, T., who refused Mr. McKim and Ellen a passage on their permit from Barney and pass from Mr. Pierce, has it in his power to do such mischief and cause such delay and vexation as will make it almost impossible for Ellen to come. She has already had one expensive journey to New York for nothing. Poor Ellen! her trials are far harder than mine — she has borne much more.

SOURCE: Rupert Sargent Holland, Editor, Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne: Written from the Sea Islands of South Carolina 1862-1864, p. 61-3

1st Missouri Cavalry

Organized at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., September 6, 1861. Moved to Benton Barracks September 12, thence to Jefferson City, Mo., September 21 (5 Cos.). Other Companies moved to Jefferson City October 4 and Joined Regiment at Tipton, Mo., October 19. Expedition to Lexington October 5-16 (Cos. "C" and "L"). Capture of Lexington October 16 (Cos. "C" and "L"). Warrensburg October 18. Fremont's advance on Springfield, Mo., October 20-26. 1st Battalion (Cos. "A," "C," "D" and "E") moved to Sedalia, Mo., as escort to General Hunter, November; thence to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and duty there till May, 1862. Attached to Dept. of Kansas November, 1861, to May, 1862. District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to October, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Army of the Frontier, Dept. of Missouri, to February, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of the Frontier, to June, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, District of Southeast Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to August, 1863. Reserve Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Arkansas Expedition, to December, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Division Cavalry, Army of Arkansas, to January, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, to September, 1864. (Regiment consolidated to 7 Cos. September 10, 1864.) 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to March, 1865. Separate Brigade, 7th Army Corps, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. — Operations about Atchison, Kansas, January 20-24, 1862 (Co. "E"). Pink Hill March 31 (Cos. "C" and "D"). Moved to Independence, Mo., May, 1862, and operating against guerrillas till September, 1862. Scout to Little Blue May 15-17 (Detachment). Independence May 16 (Detachment). Near Sedalia June 5 (Cos. "A," "C" and "E"). Operations in Johnson County June 28-29. Expedition toward Blackwater and Chapel Hill July 6-9. Expedition in Casa County July 9-11. Lotspeach Farm, near Wadesburg, July 9. Sear's House and Big Creek Bluffs, near Pleasant Hill, August 8 (Cos. "A," "C" and "D"). Joined Herron's Division September --. At Rolla, Mo., till June, 1863. Moved to Pilot Knob and Join Davidson's Cavalry Division. Expedition against Little Rock, Ark., July 1-September 10. Pocohontas August 24. Shallow Ford, Bayou Metoe, August 30. Near Shallow Ford September 2. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Expedition from Benton to Mt. Ida November 10-18, Caddo Gap November 11. Near Benton December 1. Reconnoissance from Little Rock December 5-13. At Little Rock till March, 1864. Carter's Creek January 23, 1864. Steele's Expedition to Camden March 23-May 3. Rockport March 25. Arkadelphia March 29. Spoonville April 2. Little Missouri River April 6. Prairie D'Ann April 9-12. Camden April 15. Jenkins' Ferry, Saline River, April 30. Operations against Shelby north of Arkansas River May 18-31. Osceola August 2. Benton August 18. Near Pine Bluff August 18. Scout to Benton September 6-7. Reconnoissance to Princeton October 19-23. Expedition to Saline River November 17-18. Expedition to Mt. Elba January 22-February 4, 1865. At Little Rock till September. Mustered out September 1, 1865.

2nd Battalion--(Cos. "B," "H," "I", and "L.") Moved to Otterville, Mo., November, 1861, and duty there till February, 1862. Expedition to Milford December 15-19. Shawnee Mound, Milford, Blackwater River, December 19. Roan's Tan Yard, Silver Creek, January 8, 1862. Joined 3rd Battalion at Lebanon February 9. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Army of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to February, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, Army of Southwest Missouri, to April, 1862. Cassville, Mo., District of Southwest Missouri, to October, 1862. (Detached from 3rd Battalion at Cassville, Mo., April 7.) Unattached, 2nd Division, Army of the Frontier, to January, 1863; then same as 1st Battalion. Advance on Springfield, Mo., February 13-16. Pursuit of Price to Fayetteville, Ark., February 13-16. Skirmish with Price's Rear Guard February 14-15. Bentonville February 17. Sugar Creek February 18. Reconnoissance to Berryville March 3-7. Battles of Pea Ridge March 7-8. Leetown March 7. Elkhorn Tavern March 8. Operations against Stan Wattee March 19-23. At Cross Timbers till April 6. Moved to Cassville April 6-7. Santa Fe Road April 14. Neosho April 26. Near Newtonia August 8. Union Mills August 20. Occupation of Newtonia October 4, Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Expedition over Boston Mountains December 27-29. Dripping Springs and capture of Van Buren December 28. (See 1st Battalion.)

3rd Battalion — (Cos. "F," "G," "K" and "M."). Moved to Rolla, Mo., November, 1861. Expedition against Sam Freeman December --. Stein's Creek, LaClede County, January 1, 1862. Scouting on the Gasconade till January 15, 1862. Attached to 3rd Brigade, Army of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to April, 1862. 2nd Division, Army of Southwest Missouri, to July, 1862. District of Eastern Arkansas, Dept. of Missouri, to December, 1862. 1st Brigade, 3rd Cavalry Division, District of Eastern Arkansas, to January, 1863, Helena, Ark., District of Eastern Arkansas, 13th Army Corps, Dept. of Tennessee, to January, 1863. District Of Memphis, Tenn., 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 4th Brigade, District of Memphis, 5th Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1863. Dept. of Missouri to December, 1863. New Madrid, Mo., to September, 1864.

SERVICE. — Curtis' Campaign in Southwest Missouri January 15-February 16, 1862. Occupation of Lebanon January 26, 1862. Reconnoissance beyond Bolivar February 6-9. Bolivar February 8. Advance on Springfield, Mo., February 10-13. Pursuit of Price to Fayetteville, Ark., February 13-16. Skirmish with Price's Rear Guard February 14-15. Bentonville February 17. Sugar Creek February 18. Reconnoissance to Berryville March 3-7. Battles of Pea Ridge March 6-9. Leetown March 7. Elkhorn Tavern March 8. Operations against Stan Wattee March 1923. At Cross Timbers till April 6. Advance to Forsyth, thence to Batesville April 7-May 5. (Co. "F" detached as escort to General Jeff C. Davis May 10, 1862, and moved to Army of the Tennessee.) March to Helena, Ark., May 25-July 14. Big Indian Creek, White County, May 23. Searcy, White County, May 27. Taberville August 11. Lagrange September 6. Expedition to Lawrenceville and St. Charles September 11-13. Expedition from Helena to Lagrange September 26. Near Helena October 11. Expedition from Helena to Moro November 5-8. At Helena, Ark., till January 29, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., and duty there till June. Carter's Creek Pike April 27. Expedition to Hernando May 23-24 and May 26 (Detachments). Scouts toward Hernando May 27-28 (Detachment). Operations in Northwest Mississippi June 15-25. Coldwater, near Hernando, June 19 (Detachment). Hernando June 20. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., June 30-July 3; thence to Cape Girardeau escorting train July 20-27. March to Bloomfield and return to Cape Girardeau August 1-6. Expedition to Pocohontas August 17-27. Pocohontas August 24. At Cape Girardeau and Pilot Knob till October 23, and at Bloomfield till December 14. Moved to New Madrid, Mo., and duty there till September, 1864. In swamps of Little River April 6, 1864. Scout to Gainesville, Ark., May 10-25. Expedition to Carruthersville July 5-10. Operations in Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas July 18-August 6.

Company "F" served detached as escort to General Jeff C. Davis, commanding 4th Division, Army of Mississippi, to September, 1862; then with Headquarters, 9th Division, 3rd Corps, Army of Ohio, to November, 1862. 1st Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. 1st Division, 20th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. At Headquarters, Dept. of Missouri, to August, 1864. Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30, 1862. Campaign against Bragg in Kentucky October, 1862 Stone River Campaign December, 1862-January, 1863. Weem's Springs August 19, 1863.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 51 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 Officers and 179 Enlisted men by disease. Total 234.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1301-2

Governor John A. Andrew to Edwin M. Stanton, May 19, 1862

Boston, May 19,1862.

Hon. Edwin M. Stanton,

Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.:

Sir, — I have this moment received a telegram in these words, viz: —

The Secretary of War desires to know how soon you can raise and organize three or four more infantry regiments and have them ready to be forwarded here to be armed and equipped. Please answer immediately and state the number you can raise.

L. Thomas, Adjutant-General.

A call so sudden and unforewarned finds me without materials for an intelligent reply. Our young men are all preoccupied by other views. Still, if a real call for three regiments is made I believe we can raise them in forty days. The arms and equipments would need to be furnished here. Our people have never marched without them. They go into camp while forming into regiments and are drilled and practised with arms and march as soldiers. To attempt the other course would dampen enthusiasm and make the men feel that they were not soldiers, but a mob. Again, if our people feel that they are going into the South to help fight rebels, who will kill and destroy them by all the means known to savages, as well as civilized man; will deceive them by fraudulent flags of truce and lying pretences (as they did the Massachusetts boys at Williamsburg), will use their negro slaves against them, both as laborers and as fighting men, while they themselves must never “fire at an enemy's magazine” I think that they will feel that the draft is heavy on their patriotism.

But, if the President will sustain General Hunter,¹ recognize all men, even black men, as legally capable of that loyalty the blacks are waiting to manifest, and let them fight, with God and human nature on their side, the roads will swarm if need be with multitudes whom New England would pour out to obey your call.

Always ready to do my utmost, I remain most faithfully,

Your obedient servant,

John A. Andrew.

____________________

¹ Lincoln's proclamation, cancelling Hunter's, bears the same date with this letter of Andrew's, May 19.

SOURCE: Henry Greenleaf Pearson, The Life of John A. Andrew: Governor of Massachusetts, 1861-1865, Volume 2, p. 11-13

John L. Motley to Anna Lothrop Motley, November 17, 1863

November 17, 1863.

My Dearest Mother: . . . I shall say nothing of our home affairs save that I am overjoyed at the results of the elections in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York, without being at all surprised. As to Massachusetts, of course I should as soon have thought of the sun's forgetting to rise as of her joining the pro-slavery Copperheads. The result of the elections in Missouri and Maryland has not yet reached me, but I entertain a strong hope that the latter State has elected an emancipation legislature, and that before next summer the accursed institution will be wiped out of "my Maryland."

The elections I consider of far more consequence than the battles, or rather the success of the antislavery party and its steadily increasing strength make it a mathematical certainty that, however the tide of battle may ebb and flow with varying results, the progress of the war is steadily in one direction. The peculiar institution will be washed away, and with it the only possible dissolvent of the Union.

We are in a great mess in Europe. The Emperor of the French, whom the littleness of his contemporaries has converted into a species of great man, which will much amuse posterity, is proceeding in his self-appointed capacity of European dictator. His last dodge is to call a Congress of Sovereigns, without telling them what they are to do when they have obeyed his summons. All sorts of tremendous things are anticipated, for when you have a professional conspirator on the most important throne in Christendom, there is no dark intrigue that doesn't seem possible. Our poor people in Vienna are in an awful fidget, and the telegraph-wires between London, St. Petersburg, and Paris are quivering hourly with the distracted messages which are speeding to and fro, and people go about telling each other the most insane stories. If Austria doesn't go to the Congress out of deference to England, then France, Russia, Prussia, and Italy are to meet together and make a new map of Europe. France is to take the provinces of the Rhine from Prussia, and give her in exchange the kingdom of Hanover, the duchy of Brunswick, and other little bits of property to round off her estate. Austria is to be deprived of Venice, which is to be given to Victor Emmanuel. Russia is to set up Poland as a kind of kingdom in leading-strings, when she has finished her Warsaw massacres, and is to take possession of the Danubian Principalities in exchange. These schemes are absolutely broached and believed in. Meantime the Schleswig-Holstein question, which has been whisking its long tail about through the European system, and shaking war from its horrid hair till the guns were ready to fire, has suddenly taken a new turn. Day before yesterday the King of Denmark, in the most melodramatic manner, died unexpectedly, just as he was about to sign the new constitution, which made war with the Germanic Confederation certain. Then everybody breathed again. The new king would wait, would turn out all the old ministers, would repudiate the new constitution, would shake hands with the German Bund, and be at peace, when, lo! just as the innocent bigwigs were making sure of this consummation so devoutly wished, comes a telegram that his new Majesty has sworn to the new constitution and kept in the old ministers.

Our weather has become gray, sullen, and wintry, but not cold. There has hardly been a frost yet, but the days are short and fires indispensable. The festivities will begin before long. Thus far I have been able to work steadily and get on pretty well.

Ever your most affectionate son,

J. L. M.

SOURCE: George William Curtis, editor, The Correspondence of John Lothrop Motley in Two Volumes, Library Edition, Volume 2, p. 348-50

Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott to Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler, April 29, 1861

WASHINGTON, D.C. April 29th, 1861

To Brigadier General BUTLER

With our present force we are no longer under apprehensions for the safety of this City. In the course of the day you will be instructed as to forwarding more troops.

WINFIELD SCOTT

SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 54

Brigadier-General Benjamin F. Butler to Colonel Edward D. Townsend, April 29, 1861

Headquarters, Department of Annapolis, April 29th, 1861

Col. E. D. TownsEND, Asst. Adj. Gen’l., Headquarters of the Army, WASHINGTON, D.C.

The 3rd Battalion of rifles is an independent Batt. under the command of a major, & forms no part of any Mass. regiment. I specially desire they may remain here for the defense of this Post, they having been instructed for that purpose. I learn by the master of Transportation that the road is badly guarded from the junction to Bladensburg. I have ordered Col. Bryan of 25th N. York to use his command of 500 men for that duty. I shall direct him to make his Headquarters at Laurel Factory. I will send no more troops until further orders.

By order of Brig. Gen. BUTLER

SOURCE: Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 54

Diary of William Howard Russell: July 16, 1861

I baffled many curious and civil citizens by breakfasting in my room, where I remained writing till late in the day. In the afternoon I walked to the State House. The hall door was open, but the rooms were closed; and I remained in the hall, which is graced by two indifferent huge statues of Law and Justice holding gas lamps, and by an old rusty cannon, dug out of the river, and supposed to have belonged to the original British colonists, whilst an officer whom I met in the portico went to look for the porter and the keys. Whether he succeeded I cannot say, for after waiting some half hour I was warned by my watch that it was time to get ready for the train, which started at 4.15 P. M. The country through which the single line of rail passes is very hilly, much wooded, little cultivated, cut up by water-courses and ravines. At the junction with the Washington line from Baltimore there is a strong guard thrown out from the camp near at hand. The officers, who had a mess in a little wayside inn on the line, invited me to rest till the train came up, and from them I heard that an advance had been actually ordered, and that if the "rebels" stood there would soon be a tall fight close to Washington. They were very cheery, hospitable fellows, and enjoyed their new mode of life amazingly. The men of the regiment to which they belonged were Germans, almost to a man. When the train came in I found it was full of soldiers, and I learned that three more heavy trains were to follow, in addition to four which had already passed laden with troops.

On arriving at the Washington platform, the first person I saw was General McDowell alone, looking anxiously into the carriages. He asked where I came from, and when he heard from Annapolis, inquired eagerly if I had seen two batteries of artillery — Barry's and another — which he had ordered up, and was waiting for, but which had “gone astray.” I was surprised to find the General engaged on such duty, and took leave to say so. “Well, it is quite true, Mr. Russell; but I am obliged to look after them myself, as I have so small a staff, and they are all engaged out with my head-quarters. You are aware I have advanced? No! Well, you have just come in time, and I shall be happy, indeed, to take you with me. I have made arrangements for the correspondents of our papers to take the field under certain regulations, and I have suggested to them they should wear a white uniform, to indicate the purity of their character.” The General could hear nothing of his guns; his carriage was waiting, and I accepted his offer of a seat to my lodgings. Although he spoke confidently, he did not seem in good spirits. There was the greatest difficulty in finding out anything about the enemy. Beauregard was said to have advanced to Fairfax Court House, but he could not get any certain knowledge of the fact. “Can you not order a reconnoissance?” “Wait till you see the country. But even if it were as flat as Flanders, I have not an officer on whom I could depend for the work. They would fall into some trap, or bring on a general engagement when I did not seek it or desire it. I have no cavalry such as you work with in Europe.” I think he was not so much disposed to undervalue the Confederates as before, for he said they had selected a very strong position, and had made a regular levee en masse of the people of Virginia, as a proof of the energy and determination with which they were entering on the campaign.

As we parted the General gave me his photograph, and told me he expected to see me in a few days at his quarters, but that I would have plenty of time to get horses and servants, and such light equipage as I wanted, as there would be no engagement for several days. On arriving at my lodgings I sent to the livery-stables to inquire after horses. None fit for the saddle to be had at any price. The sutlers, the cavalry, the mounted officers, had been purchasing up all the droves of horses which came to the markets. McDowell had barely extra mounts for his own use. And yet horses must be had; and, even provided with them, I must take the field without tent or servant, canteen or food — a waif to fortune.

SOURCE: William Howard Russell, My Diary North and South, Vol. 1, p. 423-4

What Will You Infer?

f you should still believe that the patriarchs did hold their fellow men as slaves, in the ordinary sense of the term, which we allow to be possible, but from the evidences before us deem altogether improbable; what inference will you draw? That their example warrants others, warrants you to do the same? Try the same mode of reasoning with reference to some other less doubtful cases of patriarchal example. Abraham, through groundless fears that he might be slain on account of his wife, repeatedly said, and taught her to affirm, that she was his sister; in consequence of which, her chastity was put in the utmost peril in the courts of heathen kings who had become enamored of her beauty; and who, on learning the facts in the case, administered to the patriarch sharp reproof for his deceitful dealing with them. Isaac in similar circumstances pursued a like course of deception with regard to his wife, Rebecca. Abraham at the request of Sarah his wife, received Hager, her maid, in her place; that the wife might have children by her, when she had no prospect of bearing any herself. In after years when Sarah had a son of her own, Abraham, at her own importunity, sent Hagar away, scantily provided, to wander with her and his own son Ishmael, as unprotected and solitary out-casts, in the wilderness of Beersheba. Jacob, by arrant falsehood and fraud, deceived his aged father, and obtained his elder brother's birth right. He also had two wives, and two concubines, at the same time; with whom he lived on terms of the greatest freedom “without,” so far as we are informed, “the least remorse of conscience, or”. . . “from God.”

Will you from these facts infer that men in this Christian country and enlightened age, have a right to treat their female domestics, as Abraham treated Hagar? That they are by Scripture authorized to use deceit and fraud, whenever they may judge it for their worldly interest to do so? That they | by the Bible warranted to practice polygamy and concubinage, to any extent they may deem conducive to their highest gratification? They have patriarchal precedents for all these things; and why may they not plead and follow them? If you insist, as you will, that they have now no right to do any of these things; the example of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, notwithstanding; what becomes of your argument built on their example in defence of slavery?  — provided they practised it; which we do not admit. The fact is, the patriarchs were in the main very good men, but owing to the darkness of the times in which they lived, and their own frailty, did some things which were very wrong, and should be followed by us only so far as their conduct agrees with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

_______________

Continued from: Reverend Silas McKeen to Thomas C. Stuart, August 20, 1839

SOURCE: Cyrus P. Grosvenor, Slavery vs. The Bible: A Correspondence Between the General Conference of Maine, and the Presbytery of Tombecbee, Mississippi, p. 45-8

Nathaniel Peabody Rogers: Jaunt to Vermont, October 20, 1838

We have recently journeyed through a portion of this free state, and it is not all imagination in us, that sees, in its bold scenery, — its uninfected, inland position, its mountainous, but fertile and verdant surface, the secret of the noble and antislavery predisposition of its people. They are located for freedom. Liberty's home is on their Green Mountains. Their farmer-republic no where touches the ocean — “the highway of the” world's crimes, as well as its “nations.” It has no seaport for the importation of slavery, or the exportation of its own highland republicanism. Vermont is accordingly the earliest anti-slavery state, and should slavery ever prevail over this nation to its utter subjugation, the last, lingering footsteps of retiring liberty will be seen — not, as Daniel Webster said, in the proud old commonwealth of Massachusetts, about Bunker hill and Faneuil hall, (places long since deserted of freedom) — but wailing, like Jephtha's daughter, among the “hollows,” and along the sides of the Green Mountains.

Vermont shows gloriously at this autumn season. Frost has gently laid hands on her exuberant vegetation, tinging her rockmaple woods, without abating the deep verdure of her herbage. Every where along her peopled hollows and her bold hill-slopes and summits is alive with green, while her endless hard-wood forests are uniformed with all the hues of early fall — richer than the regimentals of the kings that glittered in the train of Napoleon on the confines of Poland, when he lingered there on the last outposts of summer, before plunging into the snow-drifts of the North — more gorgeous than the “array” of Saladin's lifeguard in the wars of the Crusaders — or of “Solomon in all his glory” — decked in all colors and hues, but still the hues of life. Vegetation touched, but not dead, or if killed, not bereft yet of  “signs of life.” “Decay's effacing fingers” had not yet “swept the ‘hills,’ where beauty lingers.” All looked fresh as growing foliage. Vermont frosts don't seem to be “killing frosts.” They only change aspects of beauty. The mountain pastures, verdant to the peaks, and over the peaks of the high, steep hills, were covered with the amplest feed, and clothed with countless sheep; — the hay-fields heavy with second crop, in some partly cut and abandoned, as if in very weariness and satiety, blooming with honey-suckle, contrasting strangely with the colors on the woods — the fat cattle and the long-tailed colts and close-built Morgans wallowing in it, up to the eyes, or the cattle down to rest, with full bellies, by ten in the morning. Fine but narrow roads wound along among the hills — free, almost entirely, of stone, and so smooth as to be safe for the most rapid driving — made of their rich, dark, powder-looking soil. Beautiful villages or scattered settlements breaking upon the delighted view, on the meandering way, making the ride a continued scene of excitement and animation. The air fresh, free and wholesome, — no steaming of the fever and ague of the West, or the rank slaveholding of the South,—the road almost dead level for miles and miles among mountains that lay over the land like the great swells of the sea, and looking, in the prospect, as though there could be no passage. On the whole, we never, in our limited travel, experienced any thing like it, and we commend any one, given to despondency or dumps, to a ride, in beginning of October, chaise-top back, fleet horses tandem, fresh from the generous fodder and thorough-going groomage of Steel's tavern, a forenoon Tide, from White-river Sharon, through Tunbridge, to Chelsea Hollow. There's nothing on Salem turnpike like the road, and nothing, any where, a match for “the lay of the land” and the ever-varying, animating landscape.

We can't praise Vermonters for their fences or their barns, and it seems to us their out-houses and door-yards hardly correspond with the well-built dwellings. But they have no stones for wall — no red oak or granite for posts, or pine growth for rails and boards in their hard-wood forests, and we queried, as we observed their “insufficient fences” and lack of pounds, whether such barriers as our side of the Connecticut we have to rear about an occasional patch of feed, could be necessary in a country where no “creatures” appeared to run in the road, and where there was not choice enough in field and pasture, to make it an object for any body to be breachy, or to stray — and where every hoof seemed to have its hands full at home. Poor fences there seemed to answer all purposes of good ones among us, where every blade of grass has to be watched and guarded from the furtive voracity of hungry New Hampshire stock.

The farmers looked easy and care-free. We saw none that seemed back-broken with hard work, or brow-wrinkled with fear of coming to want. How do your crops come in, sir? “O, middlin’.” — How much wheat? “Well, about three hundred. Wheat han't filled well.” — How much hay do you cut? “Well, sir, from eighty to one hundred ton.” Corn? “Over four hundred; corn is good.” How many potatoes? “Well, I don't know; we've dug from eight hundred to one thousand.” How many cattle do you keep? “Only thirty odd head this year; cattle are scarce.” Sheep? “Three hundred and odd.” Horse kind? “Five,” and so on. And yet the Vermont farmers are leaving for the West.

The only thing we saw, that looked anti-republican, was their magnificent State House, which gleams among their hills more like some ancient Greek temple, than the agency house of a self-governed democracy. It is a very imposing object. Of the severest and most compact proportions, its form and material (the solid granite) comporting capitally with the surrounding scenery. About one hundred and fifty feet long, and some eighty or one hundred wide, we should judge, an oblong square, with a central projection in front, the roof of it supported on a magnificent row of granite pillars — the top a dome without spire. It looks as if it had been translated from old Thebes or Athens, and planted down among Ethan Allen's Green Mountains. It stands on a ledge of rock; close behind it a hill, somewhat rocky and rugged for Vermont; and before it, descends an exceedingly fine and extensive yard, fenced with granite and iron in good keeping with the building, the ground covered with the richest verdure, broken into wide walks, and planted with young trees. It is a very costly structure; but Vermont can afford it, though we hold to cheap and very plain State houses, inasmuch as the seat of government with us is, or should be, at the people's homes. We want to see the dwelling-houses of the “owners of the soil,” the palaces of the country. There the sovereignty of the country should hold its court, and there its wealth should be expended. Let despots and slaveholders build their pompous public piles and their pyramids of Egypt.

The apartments and furniture of the State House within are very rich, and, we should judge, highly commodious. The Representatives' Hall a semicircular, with cushioned seats, a luxury hardly suited to the humor of the stout old Aliens and Warners of early times, and comporting but slightly with the hardy habits of the Green Mountain boys, who now come there, and in brief session pass anti-slavery resolutions, to the dismay of the haughty South, and the shame of the neighboring dough-faced North.

Their legislature was about to sit — and an anti-slavery friend, one of their state officers, informed us that Alvan Stewart was expected there, to attend their anti-slavery anniversary. We should have rejoiced to stay and hear him handle southern slavery in that Vermont State House. — We trust yet to hear George Thompson there. It shall be our voice, when he comes again, that he go directly into Vermont; that he land there from Canada. Let him leave England in some man-of-war, that hoists the “meteor flag,” and mounts guns only in chase of the slave ship, and enter the continent by way of the gulf of St. Lawrence. Let him tarry some months among the farmers of Vermont, and tell them the whole mysteries of slavery, and infuse into their yeoman-hearts his own burning abhorrence of it, till they shall loathe slaveholding as they loathe the most dastardly thieving, and with one stern voice, from the Connecticut to Champlain, demand its annihilation. We would have him go into the upland farming towns — not to the shores of the lake, where the steamboat touches, to land the plague of pro-slavery — nor to the capital, where “property and standing” might turn up the nose at the negro's equal humanity, or the vassals of “the northern man with southern principles” veto the anti-slavery meeting with a drunken mob — but to Randolph Hill, to Danville Green, the swells of Peacham, and the plains of St. Johnsbury, to Strafford Hollow and the vales of Tunbridge and Sharon — William Slade's Middlebury, and up among James Bell's Caledonia hills. Let the South learn that George Thompson Was Stirring The Vermonters Up Among The Green Mountains. See if Alabama would send a requisition for him to Anti-slavery Governor Jennison, or Anti-slavery Lieut. Gov. Camp. And what response, think ye, she would get back? — a Gilchrist report — or the thundering judgment rather of stout old Justice Harrington to the shivering slave-chaser— “Show Me Your Bill Of Sale Of This Man From The Almighty!” [“]A decision,” said a judge of the present truly upright and learned bench of that state, “no less honorable to Judge Harrington's head than his heart, and Good Law.”

Let George Thompson land in Vermont, and stay there, till other states shall learn the courage to guaranty him his rights within their own borders, if they have not learned it already for shame. He can do anti-slavery's work, and all of it, in Vermont. He need go no farther south. They can hear him distinctly, every word he says, from Randolph Green clear down to Texas. John C. Calhoun would catch every blast of his bugle; and assassin Preston startle at its note, in the rotunda at Charleston. And by and by, when every Vermont farmer shall have heard his voice, and shaken his hand and welcomed him to his hearth-stone, let him come down into Montpelier and shake that granite State House; and mayhap to fair Burlington, to that University — where the colored student can now enjoy, unrestricted, all the equal privileges of “field recitation;” where he may come, under cloud of night, to gaze at the stars on the very same common with the young New-Yorker, and the son of the rich merchant of this fair city of the lake, or accompany them, in broad day, on an excursion of trigonometry, in the open fields. The doors of that college chapel would open wide to George Thompson, after the Green Mountain boys had once heard him speak.

But we are lingering too long for our readers or ourselves, m this noble state. We hasten back to our own native, sturdy quarry of rocks and party politics.

SOURCE: Collection from the Miscellaneous Writings of Nathaniel Peabody Rogers, Second Edition, p. 34-8 which states it was published in the Herald of Freedom of October 20, 1838.

Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Amasa Walker to Lucy Stoughton, June 5, 1864

Camp, June 5, [1864]

Yon have probably seen in the papers that my dear and only brother was killed at Newmarket. He fell at the head of his company and in advance of the general line, while charging the enemy. My family are heartbroken. God pity & sustain them.

He was a gallant, generous, affectionate fellow, and nothing in this world can ever make up his loss.

SOURCE: James Phinney Munroe, A Life of Francis Amasa Walker, p. 95

Amasa Walker to Exene Stoughton, June 5, 1864

North Brookfield, June 8, 1864

My Dear Miss Stouohton:

We have not heard from our son, Lt. Col. Walker, since the 25th and are very anxious about him. Supposing it is probable that you may have had more recent information from him, I write to ask that you will let us know how lately you have heard from him and how he was.

You have doubtless heard that our son Robert was killed at the battle of Newmarket last month.

Very sincerely yours,

Amasa Walker.

Miss Exene Stouohton,

Monticello, N. Y.

SOURCE: James Phinney Munroe, A Life of Francis Amasa Walker, p. 95

George Thompson to William Lloyd Garrison, April 20, 1835

ALBANY, N. Y. APRIL, 20, 1835.

MY DEAR GARRIsoN, — On Saturday morning, I left New York city by the Champlain steamboat for this place. The day was very cold, and the wind, which was right ahead, strong and piercing, so that I was not able to remain long at a time upon deck. I saw enough, however, of the scenery of the Hudson to delight me. In some parts I was strongly reminded of Scotland. I expect much pleasure from a voyage, during the approaching fine weather, when I can gaze, without being nipped by the cold, upon the multiplied specimens of the sublime and beautiful, which are to be found along the banks. I found Mr. Phelps in this city, waiting for me. He had given one address, and prepared the way for further, and I trust efficient exertions. Yesterday, (Sunday) I preached for the Rev. Mr. Kirk, and in the evening, delivered an address to the colored people; they have a neat place of worship, but are at present without a pastor. In this church the Rev. Nathaniel Paul used to preach.

Sunday night. I have just returned from the 4th Presbyterian church, where I have lectured to a very respectable audience. I was favored with fixed attention to an address which lasted about two hours. On Wednesday evening, I lectured here again.

_______________

This letter is continued over a few a span of a few days:

• Wednesday Morning, April 22, 1835
• Thursday Morning, April 23, 1835

SOURCE: Isaac Knapp, Publisher, Letters and Addresses by G. Thompson [on American Negro Slavery] During His Mission in the United States, From Oct. 1st, 1834, to Nov. 27, 1835, p. 63