Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 12, 1862

we was marched around to the left of our armey and was expecting to have to fight every minnet but did not for thar was no fiting don except the pickets and cannonading

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 26

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 13, 1862

we was marched back to the wright and laid in a line of battel all day under the Yankees shells but non of ous got hurt     And that nite we was sent to the front on picket and laid clost to the enemey all nite 

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 26

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December [15?], 1862

went marching about day we comenced fyring at them and cept it up all day and there was about 15 kild and wounded in our Regt: but non kild in our Company, B. Richmond and P. S. Donahan was slightly wounded and that nite we marched back in the woods And we staid thar all day the next day and at nite we had to bild ous sum brest works

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, pp. 26-7

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 16, 1862

General Hood came riding up and said well Boys you all did such great works hear last nite that you scard the Yankees on the other side of the river but we staid thar all day

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 17, 1862

we marched back to our old camps

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 24, 1862

cool and cloudy and it was wash day with me.

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 25, 1862

Christmas morning was foggy but soon cleard off and was a pritty day but I dident have nothing to drink nor no young ladies to talk too so I seen but little fun

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 26, 1862

warm cloudy day and me and M. Walker went to the depot

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 27, 1862

We [presumably Corporal Malone and M. Walker] and Lewis Smith went back to the Depot and after nite I went to the show to see the Monkey.

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 28, 1862

clear and warm and Preacher Miller of Company C. preached for ous in the evening and his text was in 126 Psalms and third virse the Text was this The Lord hath done great things for us: Whereof we are glad

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 29, 1862

prity warm sunshiney day And I was on divishion gard at General Hoods headquarters

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 30, 1862

warm and cloudy but no rain

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 31, 1862

last day of 1862 was cool and cloudy and our Regiment had muster inspection in the day and at nite our Company had to go on picket gard down the bank of the Rapahanok River whar we was in about a hundred yards of the Yankees pickets they was on one side of the river and we was on the other we was in talken distence but our officer would not alow ous to talk they would cum down on the bank and hollow to ous and say if we would bring the boat over that they would come over on our side and have a talk. So that was the last of our works for the year 1862.

BARTLETT Y. MALONE Co. H. 6th N. C. Regiment

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 27

Diary of Henry Greville: Monday, December 9, 1861

Alice Enfield came to pass a few days with me. Nothing is now thought of but the 'Trent' affair, and whether there will be a war or not. As we must in two or three days receive the résumé of the President's Message, the tone of which will probably decide the matter, it is idle to discuss the various probabilities. Were the American Government carried on the same principles as those of other nations, and not entirely ruled by the passions of the mob, it would be at once pronounced that their going to war on such a case as this, and in their present predicament, would be impossible. I understand the City thinks that they will agree to our demands.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, pp. 414-5

Diary of Henry Greville: Wednesday, December 11, 1861

I had a pleasant little dinner of nine people here yesterday-Enfields, Mrs. Sartoris, Lady Adelaide Cadogan, Henry Loch, Robert Meade, Bertie Mitford, and Robert Bourke. The latter was very amusing with his account of his late American tour, and particularly of his interview with Seward, whom he describes as a dry, irritable little personage, not to say blackguard. Bourke is much in favour of the Confederates. He saw a large portion of their army—very fine men, well drilled, but badly accoutred.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, p. 415

Diary of Henry Greville: Thursday, December 12, 1861

The Frederick Cadogans and Pahlen dined with me, and we went to Léotard in the evening-his performance is as wonderful as it is beautiful in its way.

Prince Albert's malady, which is a gastric fever, is taking the usual course, and is likely to last twenty-one days.

On going out to-day I heard from Charles that Clarendon had told him the Duc d'Aumale received a letter from the Prince de Joinville, who on hearing of the 'Trent' affair went to General McClellan and told him that it was quite impossible that England could patiently submit to such an outrage that General McClellan had agreed with the Prince, who entreated him to go and tell the President how much better it would be to deliver up Mason and Slidell at once, before any demand were made by us. McClellan did so, but found the President of a different opinion and resolved to do nothing of the sort. This fact makes it almost certain that the Message expected to-night will hold such language as to make war inevitable.

I have a letter from Henry Loch to tell me of his marriage to Miss Villiers.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, pp. 415-6

Diary of Henry Greville: Saturday, December 14, 1861

This morning I was startled by a very alarming bulletin of Prince Albert's state, dated yesterday, viz. that H.R.H. had passed a restless night on Thursday, and that the symptoms had assumed an unfavourable character during the day. It also stated that the Prince of Wales had been summoned to Windsor, and had passed through town at two this morning. I at once considered this account as nearly hopeless. On going out, I heard that at four yesterday afternoon, whilst the Queen was driving out, a sort of syncope had come on, and the doctors considered the case so critical, that they thought it right to announce the great danger of the Prince to Her Majesty, and they say she received the news with fortitude and calmness. From this fit he rallied, and he passed a somewhat better night, and this morning the report was that there was some mitigation of the dangerous symptoms. I heard, however, from a very good source that the doctors, and particularly Watson, had the worst opinion of the case.

I called at Stafford House and found that the Duchess had gone to Windsor. At six she returned, having only seen Lady Augusta Bruce, who told her the Queen was calm, but the state of the Prince most critical. Later in the day I saw Clanwilliam, who had heard through Colonel Maude that at Windsor every one considered the case as hopeless. I dined with the Flahaults, and at eleven received a note from the Duchess of Beaufort to tell me that Dudley de Ros had just come back from Windsor, and that the Prince was fast sinking. Lavradio dined with us, and told me the Prince's malady resembled that of the late King of Portugal, and that Prince Albert had been deeply impressed by that event, and was constantly harping upon it during his illness; he, indeed, had been very desponding all along.

At twelve I was at the Club, where a telegram arrived stating that the Prince had expired at a quarter before eleven. Every one present (and the room was full), both young and old, seemed consterné by this event, so unlooked for, and possibly pregnant with such disastrous consequences. I tremble for the Queen.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, pp. 416-7

Diary of Henry Greville: Sunday, December 15, 1861

Nothing can equal the consternation produced by this event. This morning Brookfield, who had preached a very fine sermon without any reference to this calamity, said a few words at the end, which were in excellent taste, and were a touching tribute to the character of the Prince. They excited a very deep sensation.

I dined to-night at Flahault's, and was relieved to hear as good a report of the Queen as could possibly be expected. She had passed the night in the room with the body, had been overcome by sleep for two hours, and on awakening had a tremendous burst of grief, succeeded by violent fits of crying. To-day she saw the Duchess of Sutherland, and talked over the whole case with her. She took the Duchess into the room to view the body, and then told her the object of her future life would be to carry out all his views and wishes, that she was determined to exert herself and to fulfil the duties of her position. Ellice was at Flahault's, and said he fully expected she would resume that energy of character which had been so remarkable on her accession, and which after her marriage became absorbed in his. The difficulties of her position were, however, very great. The Prince had taken all trouble from off her hands, and had, in fact, transacted nearly the whole business of the State, and all that of the Court, to the most minute detail. He thought it would be impossible for the Queen to go on without a private secretary, such as Sir Herbert Taylor had been to the two preceding Sovereigns, but such a post should by rights be filled by a Cabinet Minister, and where was he to be found? Sir Herbert Taylor had been tolerated because of the kindness of George III., and suffered to continue with William IV. because of the confidence placed in his high character, although Lord Grey and others had always objected on constitutional grounds to the King having any one about him in so anomalous a position. Lady Augusta Bruce, whom the Queen has adopted since the Duchess of Kent's death, will probably fill the place formerly occupied by Baroness Letzen, but this can only be for her private and domestic affairs. The difficulties, in short, are endless, and meet you at every corner.

The résumé of the President's Message has arrived. He makes no mention of the 'Trent' affair, which may perhaps be considered as a loophole. On the other hand, Congress had passed a resolution of thanks to Commodore Wilkes, and the Navy Department had expressed its emphatic approval of the capture of Mason and Slidell, but stated that Wilkes had displayed too much forbearance in not capturing the 'Trent,' and that lenity must not form a precedent for any similar infraction of neutral obligations by foreign commercial vessels.

This is considered as very warlike news. Ellice expects the Americans will brag to the last, and then give in; that they will return such an answer to our despatch as will require the consideration of our Government; that Lyons will come away, which will at once create such a panic at New York as to make it next to impossible for the Government to get money. This is his idea. Another possible event is the murder of Mason and Slidell by the mob—for when a whole people becomes mad, the course they may pursue is difficult to conjecture.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, pp. 417-9

Diary of Henry Greville: Monday, December 16, 1861

The two articles on Prince Albert's death in this day's 'Times' are admirable. The second contains a true and faithful account of all that happened during his last days. I met Lady Ely to-day at Gifford's. She had been at Windsor. The Queen had passed a tolerable night, having been completely exhausted. She had desired that nothing should be said to her about the funeral, and that the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge should settle everything. It is to take place next Monday. King Leopold had telegraphed to recommend that the Queen should be removed from Windsor, partly that she should leave the atmosphere of fever, partly to avoid the preparations for the funeral. The Queen showed some reluctance to leave the Castle, but has determined on going to Osborne on Wednesday. The Duchess of Sutherland offered her Cliveden, and she was at one moment inclined to accept it, but it was thought best she should go to Osborne, where King Leopold is to meet her. As long ago as last Wednesday, Prince Albert, when alone with Princess Alice, asked if the Queen was in the room. She said 'No.' He then told her he knew he was dying, and desired her to write to the Princess Royal to that effect. The Princess quite believed him, and from this moment abandoned all hope. She left the room to write-on her return the Prince asked her what she had written. 'I have told my sister,' she answered, 'that you are very ill.' 'You have done wrong,' he said: 'you should have told her I am dying-yes-I am dying.' The Queen told the Duchess of Sutherland she did not know what she should have done but for Princess Alice. The Prince of Wales had shown much feeling, and threw himself into the Queen's arms, and said she might depend upon his doing all in his power to console and assist her. Granville saw him yester day, and says nothing can be more perfect than his behaviour.

Flahault told me the Emperor had frequently telegraphed for news of the Prince and had sent a message on hearing of his death, full of the most lively expressions of sorrow. Flahault considered this to be quite an European calamity.

The Queen has already begun to act up to her resolution to exert herself and to fulfil the duties of her position, and is to see Palmerston to-day.

Sir Edward Bowater, who accompanied Prince Leopold to Cannes, has died there. Prince Albert had arranged that, if he died or was disabled by illness, Lord Rokeby, who is at Nice, should go to Cannes and take charge of the boy, until Frederick Cavendish¹ could be sent out to replace him.

_______________

¹ Grandson of Lord George Cavendish, who was created first Earl of Burlington.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, pp. 419-20

Diary of Henry Greville: Tuesday, December 17, 1861

I called on Lady Palmerston and found her and Lady Jocelyn greatly dejected. Palmerston is very unwell with a bad fit of gout and is unable to go to Windsor, and Ferguson and Lady P. are most anxious he should not attend the funeral. She told me he was deeply affected by this event, that he had ever had the highest opinion of the Prince's character and ability, and he considered him an immense loss to himself personally. The Prince of Wales had written Palmerston a very nice letter, in which he says he had been desired by his mother to tell P. that she was fully aware she had a life of duty before her, and that she would endeavour to fulfil that duty to the best of her ability, but that she considered her worldly career as at an end.

SOURCE: Alice Countess of Stratford, Leaves from the Diary of Henry Greville: 1857-1861, p. 421