Civil War Notebook

Saturday, February 7, 2026

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 10, 1863

Changed across the street to No. 1 barracks, the barracks being moved to this place the evening previous, remaining two days in these barracks, making a march of ¼ mile.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 25

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 12, 1863

Left Louisville barracks and came to Portland the same day, making a march of 3 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 25

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 13, 1863

Entered on board the steamer ''Lady Franklin," detailed for guard down the Ohio river and around up the Cumberland river, with a fleet of twenty-seven steamboats and two gunboats, carrying provisions up to Nashville, and came to Leavenworth. A march of 60 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 25

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 14, 1863

Passed down the Ohio river safely and arrived at Evansville at 12 o'clock at night, making a march of 140 miless [sic].

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 25-6

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 15, 1863

Passed safely down the Ohio river to the mouth of Cumberland river at Smithland. A march of 140 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 26

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 16, 1863

Passed up the Cumberland river all safe, and arrived at Fort Donelson the same day, making a march of 85 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 26

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 17, 1863

Moved slowly and cautiously, feeling our way up the Cumberland river, arriving at Clarksville in the afternoon, capturing one rebel major and horse on the right of the river opposite the said town, and shortly afterward saw some rebel cavalry skulking in sight on the same side of the river above spoken of, when we ran four batteries of our forces down to the river out of Clarksville, and opened upon them .making them skedaddle. Making a march of 35 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 26

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 18, 1863

Moved up the Cumberland river from Clarksville to the shoals, where three of our boats were captured two weeks before, and all the negroes who were on board shot and the whites paroled, and the boats fired and burned. We passed safely on up until our two last boats were about over the shoals first spoken off, and the “Mary Franklin” and “Woodside” were fired into, wounding one colonel, but we escaped being captured.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 26

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 19, 1863

Came to Nashville, our place of destination, at 12 o'clock and put up in the rebel Zollicoffer's house, used as barracks by our forces, making a march of 60 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 26

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 20, 1863

Left Nashville on foot to join my company and regiment again. Came twenty-three miles through rain, and the roads being very muddy, we encamped for the night in a cedar house, used by our videttes or dispatch carriers; a march of 23 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 26-7

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 21, 1863

Came seven miles to Murfreesboro', Tenn., and joined my company and regiment again, having been absent from my command on account of my wound four months all but ten days, making a march of 7 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 27

Friday, February 6, 2026

Daniel Webster to Franklin Haven, June 22, 1851

[Washington,] Sunday morning. June 22, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—It had been my intention to leave Washington for Boston to-morrow, but when it was determined that the corner-stone of the addition to the Capitol should be laid on the Fourth of July, a strong wish was expressed that I should be here on that occasion. I objected to this, but the President seemed to think it important, and I consented. He thought I could make my visit and return in season, but I thought the interval too short, and therefore concluded to stay hereabout till after the Fourth, and then immediately go North, with a pretty good chance for a long visit. The President has gone to Virginia with Mr. Stuart and Mr. Hall, and will probably return at the end of this week, or on Monday of next. In the mean time I think of a little excursion or two into the country; shall probably go to Harper's Ferry where I never was, and to Winchester, and its neighborhood.

My address on the Fourth, will be quite short and general, or may be altogether omitted if the weather should be bad. The

Albany speech is well under way. It will make a handsome pamphlet, though not very long. The Buffalo speech, as it appears in the Intelligencer of yesterday, is pretty well corrected.

If any thing important should come to hand by the mail of to-day or to-morrow, I shall write you again. On Tuesday, I think Mrs. Webster and myself shall go up to the Shenandoah, in the cars. If in any of the mountain streams near Winchester I should happen to take a trout, I shall wish that you were present to take another.

I am, dear Sir, always and everywhere, yours truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 445-6

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, July 20, 1851

Marshfield, July 20, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR, — The despatches for Mr. Severance were mailed and forwarded to the Department for your consideration and final disposition.

To-day I am giving attention to the Mexican treaty, the Indians, &c., but I am deficient in materials from the Indian department, probably on account of Mr. Lea's absence.

I am gaining in health and strength, but rather more slowly than I could wish. The truth is, the attack at Harrisburg, in April, has never been quite overcome; and the fatigues and the necessary labor and effort connected with the Fourth of July may well enough account for this. I have been here now one week, and feel decidedly improved, and pass a great part of every fair day out of doors, generally on the sea; and despatch affairs which must be despatched only in the morning. More than half the time I have dined in the boat, on cold meat and bread.

But, then, the great question, and the thing now most to be dreaded, is the catarrh, which the next month has not failed to bring with it for so many years. In regard to this, I have adopted some new views and opinions arising out of a letter from the Reverend Mr. Croes, New Brunswick, New Jersey, a copy of which I enclose with this letter. I am persuaded that voyages and journeys cannot be relied on with any confidence; nor any change of air, nor the waters of any spring. I have laid Mr. Croes's letter before Dr. Jackson of Philadelphia, who has adopted its general ideas, and put me on a course of medicine, to be begun now, and rigidly adhered to till the day for the regular attack of the disease shall come. He adds iodate of iron to the hydriodate of potash. I begin the course this day; and propose to remain here, unless I should some time hence go as far as Maine and Vermont, for general recreation, or unless I should be summoned to Washington, which I hope may not happen for the present. I shall keep a clerk here, and attend to every thing sent by Mr. Derrick, and especially every thing suggested by you. I keep out of Boston, and out of all crowds. Mrs. Webster proposes to go to Saratoga, the Falls, &c., with her brother, Mr. William Le Roy, and family, setting out about the 5th of August. As I shall hardly be a house. keeper in her absence, I shall escape much rush of company.

I send with this a gratifying note from Mr. Campbell of Charleston.

I see the Cuban news. If there is to be a revolution in that Island, I am glad our hands are free from stain. If the rebels make any progress, there will be serious work, as I suppose that both France and England are under a pledge to guarantee the Island to Spain. Our South will be all Cuban.

Yours, truly,

DAN’L WEBSTER.

P. S. I am very happy to see that Mr. Corwin is with you again.

[Enclosed in the foregoing.]

New Brunswick, N. J., July 15, 1851.

SIR, — As I can deeply sympathize with all who are distressed by attacks of catarrh or asthma, I take the liberty of stating to you, (having just read an article from The National Intelligencer, in which mention is made of your case,) that for years, in Indiana, I was affected with periodical attacks of the catarrh; that during my visit to the Virginia Springs, in 1850, it assumed the appearance of the "Hay Asthma;" that I tried the medicinal waters to be found in Virginia, and at Saratoga; that I crossed the Atlantic in the spring, for the purpose of making a sea voyage; and that I obtained little or no relief, until I was providentially directed to the hydriodate of potash, when a signal cure was effected.

The case was considered by physicians of this country and by Dr. Stokes of Dublin, an extraordinary case, and the rapid cure was certainly extraordinary. It would afford me pleasure to learn that one occupying the distinguished position that you do here, should receive relief. If you have not yet tried this invaluable medicine, it has occurred to me that possibly your physician would not object to your using it for a few weeks.

I am, Sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,

Rовт. В. CROES.

[Extract from a letter from Dr. Samuel Jackson of Philadelphia, enclosed in Mr. Webster's letter of 20th July, 1851.]

Your reliance must not be exclusively placed on the medicinal agents the instruments; for executing the plan of operations, and giving to it a full effect, you must assist yourself. I have to entreat you to avoid all exposures, fatigues, or whatever will disturb or debilitate your economy. Such an occurrence will almost ensure defeat.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pP. 449-51

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, July 21, 1851

Boston, July 21, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR, — I arrived here early on Saturday morning, and on inquiring for Mr. E. H. Allen, our consul at the Sandwich Islands, I learned that he was sick here of a brain fever, and too ill to be seen.

I went immediately to Nahant, where my brother-in-law, Mr. Paige, has a summer residence, and there passed Sunday, and on coming to town this morning have received your letter.

The Tehuantepec business is very important, and I am afraid we shall have a good deal of trouble with it. The object of the canal is very important, and we ought to do all that we can to facilitate it. Nevertheless, until we have a treaty, it does not become a Government matter, and if the parties concerned see fit to prosecute their plans, in defiance of Mexico, they must be regarded as acting at their own risk. I shall be very glad to see Mr. Benjamin. I doubt much whether there is to be an extra session of the Mexican Congress. It is quite clear that General Arista expected no such thing at the date of his letter, and I hardly know how Mr. Letcher can have received later information. Nevertheless, it may be that he has. I shall be ready to go to Washington on any summons.

Have the goodness to direct Mr. Derrick to telegraph me here, if occasion should arise, and the despatch will be sent to me by express wherever I may be. The despatch to Mr. Severance, our commissioner at Honolulu, will be ready, as soon as I receive our paper from the Department for which I wrote to-day. As the French frigate, and The Vandalia have both left the Islands, I do not expect any outbreak in that quarter immediately. But, still, I feel anxious that the communication of Mr. Severance should be on its way, as soon as possible.

I go to Mrs. Webster at Marshfield to-morrow morning. We do not propose to open our house on the usual scale, or to resume our customary establishment. Mrs. Webster thinks of going to Saratoga and Niagara with certain of her New York relations. I shall remain pretty much secluded at Marshfield, or in its neighborhood, seeking rest, and recovery of strength; but ready, nevertheless, to obey the shortest summons to Washington. I have avoided seeing people here as much as possible, and shall continue on that line of politics. Í trust, my dear Sir, that you will write me freely, and not hesitate to call for me, whenever you desire my presence.

I learned at New York that the story of my going to Europe, &c., got out through Mr., to whom, I suppose, Mr. Curtis or myself must have spoken on the subject. Friends here have been quite alarmed at any such idea, but their fears are quieted.

I am, my dear Sir, always truly yours,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 451-2

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, July 23, 1851

Marshfield, July 23, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR, — I thank you for giving me an opportunity of reading Kossuth's warm-hearted and admirable letter.

Having despatched Mr. Benjamin late last evening, I rose quite early this morning and went out upon the sea. The day has been delicious, and the sea air seems to give me new life and strength. I ate more dinner on board the boat (cold salted beef and bread) than I have eaten any day since I left Capon Springs. Fishing for cod, haddock, and halibut is a common and coarse amusement, which the connoisseurs in angling reject. I like it, however, as it gives me occupation while we are out for the benefit of the air and the ocean. I caught thirty codfish to-day, weighing from eight to twelve pounds each, and as the boatmen were also fortunate we brought home a fare which astonished our neighbors. They represented fish as very scarce at this season, as they retire in hot weather into deep water. I told them that I thought I should know where to look for fish.

I never saw Marshfield look so well as it does now; the crops are heavy, the lawns and pastures perfectly green, and the trees remarkably bright and glossy. There are several hundred thousands of trees here, which I have raised myself from the seeds; they are all arranged in avenues, copses, groves, long rows by the roads and fences, and some of them make beautiful and impenetrable thickets on hills which were mere sand hills when I came here. The herds and flocks are in fine order. Llamas from Peru feed in the pastures with the sheep. We have a little fresh-water lake, which is frequented not only by the ordinary ducks and geese, but by beautiful Canada geese or wild geese, which breed in retired places, but will always join their kindred in their emigrations, spring and fall, unless their wings are kept cropped. We have also China geese, India geese, and in short, the same birds from almost every quarter of the world. As to the poultry yard, there is no end to the varieties which my man has collected. I do not keep the run of half the names and breeds.

The situation of this place is rather peculiar. Back of us, inland, rises a large forest, in which one may hide himself, and find as odorous an atmosphere as among the pines of Maine. In front of us, a mile distant, is the sea, every mast visible over the beach bank, and all vessels visible, hulls as well as masts, from the chambers of the house. A drive of one mile and a half, almost entirely over my own farm, brings us to what is called Duxbury beach, a breadth of clean, white, hard sand, seven miles long, which forms at low water a favorite ride or drive in hot weather.

These, my dear Sir, are all trifles, and of course without much interest to any one but myself; but, I confess, that to me Marshfield is a charming place; perhaps one reason is that so many things about it which now appear handsome, are the result of my own attention. I sometimes try to read here, but can never get on, from a desire to be out of doors.

In. truth, I read nothing but my correspondence, and such official papers as it is my duty to peruse. I have found time to prepare the despatch to Mr. Severance, commissioner at the Sandwich Islands, and also a private letter of instructions.

When I left Boston yesterday, Mr. Allen was reported to be better, but there is no probability of his being able to return to his post for some time. When I say that the papers are prepared, I ought to have said that there remains in them one hiatus, to fill which I must wait for a paper from Washington. My dear Sir, you must have much leisure as well as patience, if you can get through this letter.

Yours, always truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 452-4

Thursday, February 5, 2026

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 1, 1862

7 Oc Amandus Mullen & I took the cars for St. Louis arived 8 we then went to the arsenal & to[ok] a view of all the preparations there for war then took the cars & went to Corondelet took a view of the gun Boats building & the big guns. took dinner with Anthony Lobsinger then took the cars for the citty then took the Street Cars & came to Benton Barracks I was on Dress perade A Mullen staid with us the night