21 below zero and windy.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Friday, January 16, 1863
20 below zero. I wrote to sister Letitia.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, January 17, 1863
Second Lieutenant Randolph and Corporal Taisy returned. I received my mittens.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Sunday, January 18, 1863
I wrote to adjutant general. Second Lieut. Randolph spent the evening with me.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Monday, January 19, 1863
I received watch, books, etc., from Lake City. Train arrived in evening. I slept on floor. Some of Barrett's company returned.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Tuesday, January 20, 1863
Four of Barrett's company under arrest. I wrote out the charges, etc., of three. One mink skin, $2.50. One-half of a rat skin, 10.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Wednesday, January 21, 1863
Singing book and lessons, $2. Train left.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Thursday, January 22, 1863
We received our song books, The Academy Vocalist. A scene about them.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Friday, January 23, 1863
Matches, 15. I sold six traps for $5.50. I paid expressage on box containing Sioux skull, 50.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, January 24, 1863
I copied proceedings of court martial.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Sunday, January 25, 1863
Beautiful mirage. I wrote to Mrs. Dilley, acknowledging the reception of hospital stores. Sergeant Fred Miller, Company G of the 7th, reduced to the ranks. At singing school. (Adjutant sings in my office.)
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Monday, January 26, 1863
Henry Selover and I recited tactics I translated some Virgil.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Tuesday, January 27, 1863
Butter 35. Studied the second part, School of Battalion.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Wednesday, January 28, 1863
I was sick. Adjutant excused me from guard mount. I cleaned my gun. Studied music lesson, etc.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Thursday, January 29, 1863
Feel some better and did my office business. Made out a new roster for February. Very blustery, snowy, a howling, blustering storm.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Friday, January 30, 1863
Whitney and train returned. I sold my gold watch for $28 and bought a silver lever, $23, and sold it to Norton. Received $7. He owes me $16. I bought a silver Lepine for $17. Singing school. Sore eyes.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, January 31, 1863
I wrote off eight orders for officers. Battalion drill. Paper, postage, 10.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Jefferson Davis to John Jenkins, September 21, 1847
(From Vicksburg Sentinel, September 29, 1847.)
Brierfield, Sept. 21st, 1847.
John Jenkins Esq:
Dear Sir:—In your
paper of the 1st inst., I observed a notice of a long article in the
"Mississippi Advertiser," being an attack upon my "friends"
in general, and myself in connection with the fact, that the 2d Mississippi
Regiment, had offered to elect me their Colonel, and that I declined to accept.
Much stress is laid upon a paragraph in a number of your paper issued whilst I
was in Mexico, referring to a rumor that I would probably become the commander
of the 2d Mississippi Regiment. I saw the paragraph, and at the same time
a notice of it in a New Orleans paper, which treated the rumor as ridiculous.
Either or both views seemed to me very unimportant, as no vacancy existed, and
there was no prospect that one would happen. Col. R. Davis left his Regiment on
leave of absence, not to resign, but to make such arrangements as would enable
him to return to his command, and remain during the war. This information
communicated to me, by himself, I frequently gave to others, to correct an
impression that he would not return.
He rejoined his
Regiment very soon after I left Monterey. Ill health has subsequently compelled
him to resign, and a vacancy thus unexpectedly occurred. In the mean time your
paragraph, which the Advertiser considers as so effective, had become old, if
you can bear the supposition, perhaps Sir, it was forgotten in the 2d Regiment;
the more supposible, as the report you noticed came from them, and could
acquire no additional importance by travelling back. The "Advertiser"
says: "The announcement of the rumor of some circumstances, had time to
reach the camp of the 2d Regiment in Mexico, and also the refusal of the tender
of the Brigadier Generalship." Now, Sir, I have just said I thought the
announcement had too much time, and I have some reason to believe the refusal
had not enough. A Physician formerly a member of the 1st Mississippi Regiment,
now on duty in the medical staff of the division which includes the 2d
Mississippi Regiment, wrote to me from camp Buena Vista, on the 10th July; five
days before the letter of the committee, from whose letter I make the following
extract: "The 2d Mississippi, leave for Augua Nueva, in a few days, and
more troops are expected up. We were all delighted to hear that you have been
promoted to Brigadier, and would take command of this Division."
The idea of electing
me Colonel of the 2d Mississippi Regiment, I have been informed by some of the
officers, was as old as its organization; and repeatedly when we were at
Monterey, members of the 2d Mississippi Regiment, expressed a wish, in the
event of their Colonelcy becoming vacant to have my services in that capacity.
These will remember, whilst I acknowledged the compliment, the extent to which
I always discouraged the proposition, and will recognize in the third reason of
my letter to their committee a principle they have heard me more fully present.
By them my reply might have been anticipated, yet if they supposed I could not
resist an invitation so generously and unexpectedly given, they were not far
wrong. Had
I been physically
able, and free to accept, they would probably have been right.
Now, Sir, to return
to the article of the "Advertiser," having gratuitously made the
supposition, that the invitation of the 2d Regiment, was procured to subserve
some purpose, and be refused, the editor with all the solemnity of an
indictment proceeds: "If Col. Jefferson Davis has, at any time, or in any
form," &c &c, to instruct me what it is requisite for me to do in
the case. To the low suspicion, I have nothing to reply. It must find its
rebuke in every ingenuous mind, and its refutation must come from my friends of
the 2d Mississippi Regiment, who best know the degree of its falsehood. How an
unprejudicated mind could originate such things, it is difficult to conceive. Nor
is it more easy for me to imagine whose vanity has been wounded, whose envy
excited, whose jealousy has prompted him to this misrepresentation of a free
offering, an honorable distinction, which my fellow citizens of the 2d
Regiment, have been pleased to confer upon me.
At the close of the
Advertiser's article, is a call for information as to the ground on which I
declined the proffered command. Those who volunteer advice, ought to have a
great deal of information, and I am happy to have it in my power to contribute
any. I therefore send you for publication the correspondence in relation to
this transaction. It is comprised entire, in two letters herewith enclosed. No.
1 the
letter of the committee, No. 2, a
copy of my reply.
Very truly your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
SOURCE: Dunbar
Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters,
Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 96-8
A. McWillie and others to Jefferson Davis, July 16, 1847
(From Vicksburg Sentinel, September 29, 1847.)
Buena Vista, Mexico,
July 16th, 1847.
Genl. Jefferson
Davis—Sir: — As you will doubtless have learned before this reaches you, the
office of Colonel of the 2nd Mississippi Rifles will be vacated on the 1st of
September next, by the resignation of Col. Reuben Davis.
Feeling a deep
interest in the selection of his successor, the officers held a meeting on last
evening to ascertain, if possible, who was the choice of the regiment.
Knowing and
appreciating the high reputation you have acquired as commander of the 1st
Mississippi Regiment, there was on the part of the meeting a unanimous
expression of opinion in your favor, and the undersigned were appointed a
committee to ascertain the preference of the whole regiment, to communicate
with you upon the subject, and to know if you would accept the command if
tendered to you. We have made such enquiry among the men, and we are happy to
be able to state, that you are the unanimous choice of the whole regiment. We
therefore request that you will communicate to us at the earliest practicable
period, what your views are upon the subject, so that we may communicate the
same to the regiment. Permit us to indulge the hope personally that it may not
be incompatible with your wishes and interests to assume the command, and that
we may soon have the pleasure of greeting you as our leader.
Very respectfully,
Your ob't serv'ts,
A. McWILLIE,
Capt. 2nd Miss. Rifles,
E. DOWSING,
1st Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles,
F. AMYX,
1st Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles,
A. J. TRUSSEL ,
2nd Lieut. 2nd Miss. Rifles.
SOURCE: Dunbar
Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters,
Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 98-9
Jefferson Davis to A. McWillie and others, August 19, 1847
(From Vicksburg Sentinel, September 29, 1847.)
Brierfield, Warren co., Miss.,
August 19th, 1847.
Gentlemen:—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your most gratifying letter of the 16th ult., conveying to me the information that my esteemed friends of the 2nd Mississippi Riflemen unanimously offer to elect me their regimental leader.
The honorable post you offer has every thing to commend it to me; it is the free gift of Mississippians; it invites me to field service in a region where the energy and health of the troops will not be impaired by the climate, and it assures me of being in the column of the general in whom I have unmeasured confidence.
Your proposition under all the circumstances which attend it, is an honor of which the highest reputation might well be proud, and for which I feel more grateful than I have power to express. In declining a station so honorable, so acceptable to my tastes, feelings and associations, and offered in a manner so highly complimentarily, I have three reasons to submit to you in justification of my decision:
1st. I have not so far recovered from my wound as to be able to travel immediately; the probable date of your advance admits of no delay in one who would join you in your present position, and the anticipated character of your movement, in the event of an advance, renders it doubtful whether an individual could join you on the march.
II. Before the receipt of your letter I had accepted a commission to fill a vacancy in our Representation in the U. S. Senate.
III. I have held that vacancies occurring in the field afford opportunities to reward merit among yourselves, and that policy dictates, and esprit du corps demands, that promotions should thus be made. I feel that your kindness has made me an exception to a rule, and that I best show myself worthy of your generosity by declining to take advantage of it.
Though I shall not be with you to share the glory, it is permitted me to hope that at no distant day the fortune of war will give you an opportunity to fulfill the expectations of you, so early and confidently announced by myself, in common with your many friends and admirers.
To you alone now is Mississippi's standard confided. Rent and blood-stained it may be; but in your hands, can never be dishonored. It may droop with the cypress, but will be crowned with the laurel.
For yourselves, gentlemen, please receive my sincere thanks, for the grateful terms in which you have conveyed the flattering wishes of my friends and fellow citizens of the 2nd Mississippi Rifles, to whom I pray you make my acknowledgements acceptable.
With assurances of the deep interest I will always feel in your prosperity and fame, and with the hope that under the blessing of peace we may be early reunited at home. I am very cordially,
Your friend and ob't serv't.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Messrs. Capt. A. McWillie, Lieut. E. Dowsing, Lieut. F. Amyx, Lieut. A. J. Trussell, committee 2nd Mississippi Rifles.
SOURCE: Dunbar
Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters,
Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, pp. 99-100
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)