At daylight I
visited our sick in the hospitals talked & consoled them all I could bid
them good bye at 7½ Oc we took leave of Benton Barracks marched to the packet
landing & took passage on the packets Warsaw & Jenny Dean for Helena
Arkansaw & at 3¼ Oc we started from the levve at St. Louis, our Co is on
the Warsaw we laid up for the night 20 miles below St Louis near the Sulphor
Springs
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 99
6 Oc we let loose
& started on our way rejoiceing 2½ Oc Wm Perkins preached to us text get
wisdom &c he is a prisbeterian & Chaplain of the 7 Illinos Inft on the way
to his Reg Walker Chaplain of the 118 Ill Inft opened servises by prayer. on
his way to the Reg. we laid by for the night at Saml Vancils. Cape Girardeau
County & 15 miles above the town of that name I went on shore & to the
house & spent part of the evening with them
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 99
1 James M. Tuttle was born in Noble County,
Ohio, September 24, 1823, removed to Farmington, Iowa, in 1846, was a merchant,
was sheriff of Van Buren County 1856-57, and treasurer and recorder 1838-61. He
went out in May, 1861, as lieutenant colonel of the Second Iowa Infantry, was
promoted to colonel September 6, 1861, to brigadier general June 6, 1862, and
resigned June 14, 1864. He then removed to Des Mo'nes and engaged in real
estate business, and later in pork packing. He was the Democratic candidate for
governor in 1863, and for Congress in 1866. He was a representative in the
General Assembly in 1872 and again in 1881. He was department commander of the
Grand Army of Iowa in 1887. In 1886 Governor Larrabee appointed him a member of
the lowa Soldiers Home Commission, and he was chairman of the commission when
the home was built. His death occurred in Des Moines October 24, 1892.
SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 99-100
All seemed quiet in
the morning & we started on our way. 12 noon we passed the Noted Island No
10 viewed as we passed the squads of soldiers & their trusty cannon
commanding the Mississippi each way. at dark we landed at Mitchaels wood yard
and tied up for the night. I being officer of the Guard had the pleasure of
placing out the first picket guard of our Regiment in an enemys country
Tennisee & releeving it & passing around to see that all was wright
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 100
5 Oc morning I went
out and brought in the picket guard and we loosed cable & started, we
landed on Island No. 36 Arkansas & wooded Mississippi County, 45 miles
above Memphis. 5 Oc we landed at Memphis and at 7 Oc we was called of the boat
& formed in line marched into Court Square & formed in columns by
companies ordered to load & lay down in line on our arms. it is a
beautifull place with new trees & blue grass, so we all laid on the grass
and had a good sleep. I wrote a letter in there by the gass light to my
children. the people are much excited & are expecting an attact on the
citty & are rejoicing at our arivel.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 100
At 6 Oc [A] M we
were called out of Court Square & formed in line marched to the boats &
took our breakfast then formed in line & marched into the navy yard, at 5
Oc we formed again in line & ware marched inside of the fort, it is a
strong fort & well arranged for the defence of the citty. I took dinner
with Mr. Place & Geo Black of the 6th Iowa they are here convelesant George
Black took me all over the grounds & explained as best he could the many
new things about war to me & my curiosity was much gratified & amused.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 100
We have been fixing
up for convenience as well as we can our quarters is a long open stable close
on the bluff bank of the river almost perpendicular & from 40 to 80 ft high
& close to the shore is to be seen the bottom of skifts sticking out of
watter they are fastened to 2 Rebel gun boats that our guns sunk in the navel
fight & their crews are in them
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, pp. 100-1
I am the officer of
the Guard & have to be on duty all night. I have charge of the Military
prison & prisoners in this Fort Pickering there is one rebble who claims to
be a deserter from their army and wishes to take the oath & be sent north.
I have charge of one 2nd Lieut of Co A 130 Ill Inft charged of being absent
without leave
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 101
10 Oc I was released
I have been on duty for 24 hours without any sleep, there is strong expectation
here of an attack & our officers are having the buildings near our
embankment torn down & to hurry it on the Negroes set fire to two and burnt
them down, there is perhaps from one to two hundred houses will be torn down and
some verry costly ones. 9½ Oc night we recd an order to report our company at
Head quarters in 15 minutes armed and equiped ready to go into action many of
our men was asleep but before the time we ware on hand & Co H of our Reg
& 2 companeys of the 120 Ill were put in line & marched by our Major Woodward
to the south Sallyport of this Fort Pickering & there awaited an attack
& as they did not come Genl Asboth & Major Woodward marched us about a
mile outside & posted our comps in different plases to watch & open on
them if they came & we divided our Co & Cap Fee took one and I the
other platoon & we posted some rods apart, he & a part of his men got a
sleep but I & my men did not sleep any I awoke him & some of his men
twice, one of his men got down in front of us & we commenced firing on him
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 101
A light frost in the
morning & our Co was in it all night guns in hand & no blankets with us
& no rebels came to let us try our guns or grit and it was luckey for them.
I am now sleepy, have slept none since thursday night it is at least 65 hours
since I slept & I believe I could go 24 more. I took dinner with G N Udell
of Centerville, Appanoose Co Iowa at his Boarding house in the citty of Memphis
with the family of the Seargent of the 17 Reg Iowa Vol afternoon we rambled
through the citty viewed A Jackson's monument in Center of Court Square &
seen the work of traytor hands the defacing of his words that ware cut in his
monument (The Federal union must be preserved)
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 101
I had the pleasure
of seeing a number of friends from Iowa that came in from Holly Springs for
supplies in Hamilton & Quimbys divisions that arrived this afternoon
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 101
8 Oc a detail of 10
men from each Co was made for fatigue duty & I was put in command &
went & commenced to clear up & set our tents; 10 Oc an order came for
us to prepare rations & get ready to march at 8½ night we ware called in
line and marched to the landing in Ft Pickering 9½ Oc we went on board the
packets Anglo Saxon, Ida May & Lebanon for Helena Arkansas.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 101
At 8½ Oc we started
from our moorings at the boat landing in ft Pickering Memphis Tenn we left
Seargent R Murdock & 6 privates from our Co Gin hospital & our 1st Lieut
Wm M McCreary was taken from the hospital last evening & put in a packet
for St Louis where he intends going into hospital he has been quite poorly
since the 1st of Dec not one day able for duty & from our election of Co
officers on the 14th of Aug he was not one hour with us untill the 1st of Oct
& was quite unwell by times between the 1st of Oct & the 1st of Dec. He
has now resigned & there will be another Lieut to appoint at ¼ to 3 Oc afternoon we landed at Hellena
Arkansas it is a low muddy place with numerous ponds of filthy green looking
watter, it is small villedge built of frame
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, pp. 101-2
ASHLAND, July 4, 1848.
DEAR SIR,—I comply
so far with the request contained in your note of the 23d ultimo, as to
acknowledge its receipt, and to say that, submitting to the decision of the
Philadelphia Convention, so far as I was personally affected by it, I can not
give my countenance or encouragement to the use of my name in connection with
the Presidency. Abstaining from the expression of any opinion in regard to the
nomination which was actually made, I will only observe that Ohio, Indiana, and
Massachusetts, and other Northern States, had it in their power to prevent it,
if they had chosen to unite upon one whose attachment to the Whig cause was
never doubted; but they did not think proper to do so. Ought they then to
complain of what was done, upon the ground that General Taylor is not pledged
to the support of Whig measures and principles?
I tender my thanks
to you for the friendly sentiments toward me which you were kind enough to
express, and I am, etc.
ASHLAND, July 19, 1848.
If I have not before
written to you, my dear Miss Susan, I pray you to believe that my silence has
not proceeded from any want of regard to you or from any insensibility to the
kindness which you have displayed toward me, in your obliging letter of the 4th
March last, and in presenting me with the valuable writings of Archbishop
Leighton.
With perfect truth
and candor I say that I have rarely ever made a visit to any individual in my
life that afforded me higher satisfaction than that which I derived from seeing
you. Your physical misfortunes, your resignation to the will of our Maker, your
gentle and intelligent countenance, and your interesting conversation, all
combined to give to the short interview I had with you a thrilling interest. I
have oftentimes thought of it, and have frequently described the touching scene
to my friends.
I have looked enough
into the volume which you kindly sent me to be convinced that it merits your
high commendation of it; and I intend to give the whole of it an attentive
perusal.
I am very thankful,
dear Miss Susan, for the friendly manner in which you allude to the domestic
afflictions with which it has pleased Providence to visit me.
I have had a large share of them. Since my return home another has been added
to the former number in the death of a most promising grandson, at New Orleans,
under circumstances which greatly aggravated our grief. I am happy, however, to
tell you, on the other hand, that the sweet little granddaughter, whose case of
spinal affection I mentioned to you, is much better, runs about with the free
use of her limbs, and we hope will have her strength and health fully
re-established. In behalf of her I thank you for the little book which you had
the goodness to send her. She is yet too young to read it herself, but I trust
that she will be spared to be able hereafter to peruse it. In the mean
time her excellent mother will make her familiar with its contents.
Relieved as I am now
from the cares, the troubles and the responsibilities of public life, I hope to
profit by retirement in making those preparations for another and better world
which are enjoined upon us by our highest and eternal interests. In these, your
example of perfect submission and complete obedience will be constantly
remembered by me, with great benefit and advantage. Instead of condoling with me,
as some of my friends have, on account of my failure to obtain the nomination
at the. late Philadelphia Convention, their congratulations on the event would
have been more seasonable and appropriate.
I request you to
present my respectful regards to your brothers and their families; and accept
for yourself my prayers that He who has enabled you so calmly and cheerfully to
bear up under the heavy privations which you suffer, may continue His watchful
care over you to the end, and that we may both hereafter meet in the regions of
eternal bliss.
SOURCE: Calvin
Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, pp.
569-70
ELIZABETHTOWN, N. J., July 19, 1848.
MY DEAR MR. CLAY,—I
have been most unfortunate in respect to your very kind note to me of May 30,
addressed to this place. It followed me to Frederick, Md., then to Washington,
a second time to Frederick, thence to Leonardstown (our friend John Lee's
post-office), and after lying there long after I had left his hospitable
mansion, it has finally just overtaken me here, viâ Washington.
It is now sixty days
since I landed on the Jersey shore, with a Mexican disease upon me, and
although obliged to travel and to engage in the most vexatious and disgusting
work, I have not had the strength to walk three hundred yards at once in the
whole time. I am still very feeble, and go to-morrow to the sea shore to gain
vigor to meet the same court (nearly) in my own case, at the beginning of the
next month.
I left Mexico in the
comfortable belief that the choice of a Whig candidate for the Presidency had
been narrowed down to two names, yours and that of General Taylor, and that you
would be the nominee. The day after I landed a distinguished public man from a
wing of the Capitol, a friend of yours, passing by got out of the train to see me. I
stated my impressions and wishes to him, and was astonished to hear him say
that your friends in Congress, with four exceptions—Berrien and Botts, but no
Kentuckians, were two of them—had given you up on some calculation of a want of
availability! I promptly said, if I could be flattered into the belief that my
name on the same ticket (below yours) would add the vote of a single State, I
might be considered as at the service of the party, and authorized him to say
so on his return to Washington, notwithstanding my reluctance to change my army
commission, etc. In a day or two I went to Washington, visited Frederick and
returned, but I was confined to a sick bed, and, although I saw many political
men, I was not in a condition to converse or to exercise the slightest
influence. I believe the impression was quite general that I was not likely to recover.
At the end of a week, however, I got back, with difficulty, to Frederick, and
there the nomination of General Taylor reached me.
If he shall frankly
accept the nomination as a Whig, with a pledge to administer the Government on
the principles of the party, I shall fervently pray for his success. If not, I
shall at least be indifferent.
SOURCE: Calvin
Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, pp. 570-1
ASHLAND, August 5, 1848.
MY DEAR SIR,—I
received, at the Estell Springs (from which I returned yesterday), your favor
transmitting a sketch of Mr. ———’s speech at Versailles, for which I thank you.
How derogatory is it
for politicians to attempt to ridicule and degrade themselves in the presence
of General Taylor! And how inconsistent is it to denounce party in the same
breath in which the Whig party is called on to support the General as a Whig,
that is, a party man! It is mortifying to behold that once great party
descending from its lofty position of principle, known, avowed and proclaimed
principle, and lending itself to the creation of a mere personal party, with a
virtual abandonment of its old principles.
I have a letter from
General Scott in which he states that he authorized, on his landing from
Mexico, a distinguished gentleman from Washington, to say that he was willing
to run as a candidate for the Vice Presidency on the ticket with me.
SOURCE: Calvin
Colton, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Henry Clay, pp. 571-2
ASHLAND, August 24, 1848.
MY DEAR SIR,—I duly
received, and perused with lively interest and gratitude, your friendly letter
of the 27th ultimo.
The Whig party
presents an anomalous condition. Without any candidate who recognizes his
obligation to conform to their principles, the members of it are called upon as
a party to support the no-party candidate; and I have been urgently and
repeatedly appealed to, to indorse as a Whig General Taylor, who, while he
adopts the name in a modified form, repudiates the principles of the party! I
need not say, that I have done, and shall do, no such thing. Self-respect,
consistency with deliberate opinions long ago formed, and my sense of public
duty, will restrain me from taking any prominent or active part in the canvass.
Whatever I may do, I will not expose myself to any reproaches from those if
there be any such—who might be misled by my opinion. I have submitted quietly
to the decision of the Convention, and beyond that I feel under no obligations.
I consider my public
career as forever terminated, and I am most anxious to preserve untarnished
that character, around which so many warm-hearted friends have done me the honor
to rally. I should, I think, justly incur their censure if, after all that I
have thought and said (confirmed as my convictions are by observation) against
the elevation of mere military men to the Presidency, could I come out in the
active support of the most exclusively military candidate ever presented to the
American people; one, too, who has forced himself upon the Convention, or been
forced upon it. One who declared that he would stand as an independent
candidate against me, or any other Whig that might be nominated—a declaration
made under his own hand, and which remains uncontradicted by any thing under
his own hand, which the public has been permitted to see.
I do not mean to
intimate what may be my final vote, given quietly at the polls, if I vote at
all; that will depend upon a view of all existing circumstances at the time;
but neither now nor then do I desire to influence any body else.
There is nothing in the
contest to arouse my patriotism, or to animate my zeal. I regard the attempt to
elect General Taylor as one to create a mere personal party. How such a party
may work, I can not foresee; possibly better than that of either of his
competitors; but this possibility is not sufficient to excite any warmth or
enthusiasm with me. General Taylor has, I think, exhibited much instability and
vascillation. He will inevitably fall into the hands of others, who will
control his Administration. I know not who they will be, but judging from my
experience of poor, weak human nature, they will be most likely those who will
have favored and flattered the most.
Standing proud and
erect in the consciousness of having faithfully fulfilled all my public duties,
and supported and cheered by numberless intelligent and warm-hearted friends in
all parts of the country, I acquiesce in the retirement in which I expect to
pass the remnant of my life. Some of those friends may censure me for the
inaction which I have prescribed to myself during the present canvass; but if
they do, I appeal to their "sober second thoughts," or to the
impartial tribunal of posterity. I am, etc.
A weak and disagreeable
state of body since last date has waived my practice of noting; but everything
has been as now—"hell upon earth." We have a few dottings of this
kind: the Rebel quartermaster is from Baltimore, and to counteract some
suspicions of his speculating in rations, makes lots of promises when he comes
in of late. One of our fellows got thick with him and told him where to find a
tunnel, for a plug of tobacco. Soon after he came with a squad of negroes armed
with feeling rods and spades, found and filled it. It had baffled their
scrutiny for three days. The man who revealed the secret betrayed himself and
that evening was hunted out, given a clean shave of his head and on his
forehead was tattooed the word. "Traitor." Next day rations were
ordered withheld till those who did the job reported at the gate. I don't know
that anyone reported but rations came the day after leaving us a vacuum of one
day.
Petitions have been
circulating praying our government for relief. I did not sign. They are
sanctioned by Rebel authority, intended to produce political effect and to
leave the impression in the North that the prisoners condemn government policy
in reference to exchange, therefore to serve a purpose of its enemies. It
abounds in dictation and censure, suppressing facts.
Reports of movements
in north Virginia are true. Sherman is up to Atlanta; Johnston relieved by
Hood. They think Johnston, fights on the principle that "He who fights and
runs away will live to fight another day." Federal cavalry at Montgomery
and Taladega, Ala., and at Macon, Ga., only 60 miles away, which causes great
excitement here. The Rebels are fortifying. Droves of negroes are brought here
from plantations and put to work. Troops and citizens, all sexes and sizes,
flock in and quarters are being built, making a ville of the place. We look
over to it from high ground and reflect that it is one of the new born of
Secessia. A man near the stream cut his own throat today. Several hundred Rebel
soldiers are shipped by rail for Macon. Three men brought in whom the Rebels
suspect were scouts. They were put in the stocks several hours, but gave no
information. James English of our company, of New York City, died July 17th.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 92
Weather severely hot
as it has been learned that a break by the prisoners is planned, and warns them
for three weeks. A supply of sumach buds must have arrived and are given out
freely to be steeped and drank for scurvy. A sergeant belonging to a work squad
outside was shot by a guard, wounding him in the arm and hip and wounding
another man, He took hold of the guard's gun. Some on parole get too intimate
with Rebels; value principles less than extra rations. That such men have to be
shot to remind them that they are dealing with traitors does not so much
matter. While washing my shirt at the creek this afternoon the centry [sic] fired, the shot whizzing by my head
as I stooped, striking in the bank and spattering mud in the faces of four of
us. Lots of shooting has been done by guards for over a week and several men
have been killed and wounded. Limbs are amputated at the hospital for slight
injuries, The arm of one of our men hit by a sentry a few days ago was promptly
sawed off. Another tunnel found; dogs are seeking a trail. New forts are
plainly to be seen. Negroes work all night. Reported fighting at Atlanta and
that some of our forces are expected at Macon.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, pp. 92-3
