Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 24, 1863

Lay over in camp at Smith's Fork all this day quiet and unmolested.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 29

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 25, 1863

Detailed to go out as skirmishers, and to support some batteries.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 29

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 26, 1863

All quiet in camp at Smith's Fork.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 29

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 27, 1863

Report of two thousand rebels in battle line on Snow Hill in the rear of Liberty, Tenn. Hearing this we were reinforced by Col. Hall and fell into battleline and remained so for the night.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 29-30

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 28, 1863

All quiet in camp to-day, only some little foraging for ducks, chickens, pigs, &c., so that the sons of Uncle Sam's family enjoyed themselves well on this day.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 29-30

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 29, 1863

Left camp at Smith's Fork, DeKalb Co., Tenn., and marched five miles from this camp to Orbenstown, bringing with us many of the Union families of this county, whose whitened locks and old age, wealth and respectable appearance would make a heart, although it was as hard as stone, melt to look upon them, as they were compelled to leave their birth-place, and all that was near and dear to them, and flee from them to our protection and safety, to escape the jaws and clutches of those traitors of so desperate a character, in their old age, and robbed of their sweet homes and everything, in all probability for ever and ever, by those notorious scoundrel secesh or rebel traitors, as you or any other one may see proper to term them — for no hand can write, or artist paint, or tongue tell, the sufferings of the Union families in the Southern States, that fall into the jaws of those hellish fiends. You will please excuse me for setting forth these hard spelled words, for I can not help it, when thinking of the sufferings of our poor Union soldiers and many Union families. So our march was continued this same day to Milton battle-ground, a march of 16 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 29-30

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, April 30, 1863

Left Camp Milton battle-ground and took up our march for our old camp Murfreesboro', and arrived safe and sound in camp, having fulfilled our mission of another grand scout, making a march of 14 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 30

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, August 1, 1851

Marshfield, August 1, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—I am getting along pretty well, although a violent change in the weather, from hot to cold, has proved a little unfavorable.

I am glad to learn that you are going to the Virginia Springs. I am sure you will be very cordially received.

I have written to Mr. Corwin that I will meet him at New York, whenever it may suit his convenience; and shall of course repair to Washington, whenever you may deem my presence there to be necessary; nevertheless, my hope is to stay here for some considerable time, with no further migrating than to New Hampshire. Mrs. Webster will set out on her proposed visit to Western New York on the 4th instant.

Of Mr. Allen, consul at Honolulu, I hear nothing since I wrote you, except perhaps that his indisposition continues.

I shall probably write you on the 4th, or earlier, if in the mean time I hear from you, addressed to you at Capon Springs.

Yours, always truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 456-7

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, August 5, 1851

Boston, August 5, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—I came to this city yesterday, and found it and all the hotels so crowded with strangers, that I wish myself out of it again as soon as possible. Many hundreds of people are here from the South, who have occupied my whole time, and whom I have promised to see in a mass to-day. They all speak in the highest terms of praise of your administration.

My health is gaining, but I do not yet get rid of that tendency to diarrhœa, which I contracted in Pennsylvania, in April; and while this lasts I must be weak. One misfortune is, that I cannot take, even in the smallest quantities, the common remedy, opium. I am obliged mainly to rely on diet and care.

I find Mr. Marcoleta here, in great affliction. He came here to be married to a beautiful young lady, a Miss West, who died suddenly soon after his arrival. He seems very much depressed; says he can do nothing at present; and proposes to go to Nicaragua, on a short visit, for the purpose of communicating with his government.

These Cuban rumors are substantially groundless. Mr. Bailey, a merchant of Matanzas, well known here as a person of standing, called on me yesterday, having seen in the newspapers that I was summoned to Washington, to consult on Cuban affairs. He came in The Isabel, the very latest arrival from Havana, and says that, on the day of sailing, he passed an hour with the governor-general, that the governor informed him, that on the 4th of July some lawless persons met in the streets in Principé, and raised revolutionary cries; that they soon fled to the hills and woods, and have since offered to surrender themselves on promise of safety to their lives; and that this is the amount of the disturbance. He says, what is undoubtedly true, that some disaffected persons in Cuba, keep up a correspondence with certain Americans in Charleston, Savannah, and New Orleans, principally the two former, and that by these persons the false rumors are spread, and the clamor raised. He added, that the governor-general assured him that he had positive orders from the Queen's government, that if a revolution should break out and look serious, he should proclaim their slaves all free, and put arms in their hands. This proceeds on the idea, that, when freed, the slaves would defend the island against all attacks and all attempts from the United States.

I have heard of this before.

I have written Mr. Letcher, that if he finds it necessary to see me, he must come here. He can do that more easily than I can get to him.

I had one or two things to say, but am broke off by a rush of people, and must defer that part of my purpose.

I hear of your family, all well and happy, at Newport.

Yours, always truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 459-60

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, August 6, 1851

Boston, August 6, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—Your letter of the 2d was only received yesterday; it was directed to New York, whither the newspapers had sent me, but whither I had not gone myself.

If one trusts the newspapers, he can hardly be sure of his own whereabouts.

I shall see Mr. Letcher. It is probably a very good time to buy off our obligations under the treaty of Hidalgo. There is danger, however, that, if this should be done, the money will all go to the creditors of Mexico, leaving her as incapable as she now is of defending her frontiers. Our own territories are interested in this defence against the Indians. Can we trust Mexico? I shall, of course, converse freely with Mr. Letcher on this point, and shall write you.

I am quite content that Mr. ——— should go to China, and do not see how we can do better.

As to the district attorney, I am quite willing that the gentleman you mention should be appointed. For myself, I comply strictly with the regimen of Dr. Croes. Thus far, I get on pretty well. I did not think of going to Newport, because the climate of Newport is exactly that of Marshfield, while Newport is filled up by crowds of people, whereas Marshfield is quite secluded. To-morrow I think of going to New Hampshire, hardly so much for a change of air, as to look after some private affairs. In general, I find that those affected by my complaint avoid the interior, and come to the coast. But this is not universal.

There is no political news of interest here. A very unusual money panic exists both here and in New York.

I shall write you, my dear Sir, frequently, as at Capon Springs, until I hear of your movement further South. There is a telegraphic station at Franklin, New Hampshire, where I am going. But I shall be there for so short a period, that I had better be addressed at Boston.

I am, my dear Sir, as always, very truly yours,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 461

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, August 10, 1851

Franklin, N. H., August 10, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—I came to these regions on the morning of Thursday the 7th, thinking that the mountain air might strengthen me against the time when I expect my enemy, the catarrh, to attack me; and here I am, obeying Mr. Croes, in all things, and getting a pretty good share of air and exercise. Fletcher came up yesterday to stay some days with me. We have had most violent thunder-storms in the last three days; but all has cleared off, and this day is bright and cool, and the atmosphere delicious.

My last letter from you was of the 4th. I do not think three millions an extravagant sum to buy off our treaty obligations with Mexico, if we could have assurance that she would apply it, or a proper part of it, to the defence of the frontiers against the Indians. My fear is, as I intimated in my last letter, that she will either apply the money to her existing debts, or waste it, and still leave the frontiers, her own as well as ours, a prey to savage hostilities.

It gives me great pain to hear that Mr. Corwin thinks of resigning his place. I should deem it quite a misfortune; and I have besought him, and shall continue to beseech him, to give up the idea.

If accounts be true, you have no lack of numbers at Capon Springs. Seven hundred is no mean company.

Yours always truly,

DANIEL WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 462-3

Daniel Webster to Millard Fillmore, August 19, 1851

Franklin, August, 19, 1851.

MY DEAR SIR,—Although I date this letter at Franklin, and shall send it thither to be mailed, yet, in truth, I write it among the White Mountains. I stayed at Franklin until the cars, passing and repassing every few hours, began to bring me many daily visitors; and as I wished for quiet and privacy, I took my own conveyance and came off in this direction. There are few inhabitants in these mountains, and no company, except tourists, who pass along rapidly, and disturb no one's repose. The weather has been fine, and my health improves daily; yet it is not perfect, as the complaint which attacked me at Harrisburg, still more or less annoys me. I have never had confidence that I should be able to avert entirely the attack of catarrh; but I believe that at least, I shall gain so much in general health and strength as to enable me, in some measure, to resist its influence, and mitigate its evils. Four days hence is the time of its customary approach. Within that period I shall fall quietly back on Franklin.

Mr. Letcher's instructions were duly revised, signed, and despatched, and an instruction given about the expulsion from the Isthmus, of Major Barnard and his associates, the surveyors. I also wrote a private letter, giving such suggestions as I thought might be useful.

Mr. Forward writes, that being a candidate for an election as judge, he wishes to be recalled, and I should like to receive your directions in relation to this subject. I suppose it may be as well that he should be permitted to return, and that the mission should remain vacant till the next session of Congress. We have no affairs of importance pending at Copenhagen. If his request be complied with, early notice should be given to him, as he might wish to leave the Baltic by the middle of October.

Mr. Corwin's purpose to resign ere long is, I fear, fixed, although I should devoutly wish that he would reconsider it. Where would you look for a successor? You could hardly go to Ohio, even if a proper man were to be found there, if Mr. Goddard is to go to China. This last appointment appears to me of more doubtful propriety than it did when I wrote you last, since Ohio has already one full mission.

Sir Henry Bulwer has gone to England, and Mr. Marcoleta, I presume to Nicaragua, so that all Nicaraguan affairs must remain in statu quo, till October. No important papers have been received from the Department, expect those which relate to Mexico. All the rest of the world is quiet. Indeed, Mexico is, at present, the main point of interest in our foreign relations. Lord Elgin, you notice, has accepted the Boston invitation for a great celebration in September. I trust you will be present.

Hoping that you are as happy among crowds as I am here in solitude, and enjoying health better than mine, I remain, my dear Sir, always yours truly,

DAN'L WEBSTER.

SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, pp. 463-4

Private William O. Gulick, September 15, 1861

Camp Warren, Sept. 15th, 1861

It is now a little more than a week since I was with you, Although it is but a short time It seems to me about a month. I have seen so many strange and new things in moveing about and liveing as I have that although I am not homesick the time when I look back upon it seems long. You may think strange my writing with a ledpencil but it is so much handier as I am siting on the ground with a board on my lap. I had a letter written to send home, when John³ came down to Davenport and as I did not know when we would leave there and I thought John could carry all the news I did not send it, I suppose John told you all about our camp at Davenport, well it is much better than it is here for here we have nothing but tents. They are smaller than the one we had [illegible], and Thirteen have to mess and sleep in two of them. The first thing may be you would like to know is about my traveling after I left home &s (I did not have time to tell John much) About one oclock I left Lyons⁴ and after a pleasant trip of five hours arrived at Davenport or Camp McClellan⁵ which as John will tell you is very pleasantly situated. There was preaching at Camp Mc.C. evry Sunday I attended and heard a good discourse by Bishop Lee⁶ first Sunday after I left home, I bought me a Bible and some medicine at D. The morning after John stayed with us we were ordered to get ready to move from camp in one hour. We were told it was to go to Burlington In less than half that time every one was ready to march for the boat, We were taken in front of the Burtis House⁷ at Davenport and sworn in servise of U. S. I beleive John was there in time to see us, After takeing the Boat we had a pleasant trip one hundred miles down the great river We had dinner and supper at Leefingwells⁸ expence I was told, We arrived at Burlington about 10 oclock P. M. Was marched through the dust to Camp Warren a distance of 1½ mile from town, we were met by Isaac's⁹ company and after many hearty cheers went in quarters with them for the night. This camp is very comfortable although they are nothing but shanties most of the boys sleep on the ground because they did not know how hard it would be in wet times Friday first day in Camp Warren it rained all day so we had to stay where we could untill we could get and put up our tents. friday night it rained very hard and about midnight I found my self swiming in water, with a number of others. I concluded to take quarters on a table where I took a wet but a good sleep Saturday we put up our tents and dug ditches around them so they are water proofe. Sunday today is comparatively quiet though I hear the Band play a part of the time as the guards have to be changed. I have not been to preaching to day but they say that next Sunday there will be preaching on the ground. We have plenty to eat here and can trade Pork and Beef for all the nicnacks we want. We draw as rations Pork Beef Rice Potatoes Bread sugar Coffee tea molasses vinegar Soap & candles Salt Pepper &c not all at once but all we need as evry other day for a change we have a good mess the Best one in the crowd to my notion. [illegible] myself and 3 other Carpenters one Telegraph operator 3 Mt. Vernon students Fred Wilkes¹⁰ one stone mason besides two other common laborers, mess together We are all well suited and all good cooks Tell Peter¹¹ that Gorum [Josiah Gorhem] the wagon maker at Clinton is in our mess. There is now a full Regiment of Cavalry here a great many of them want horses sadles and equipments besides us, they get them as soon as can be, but no telling when Isaac's Company with some others look well when mounted, as they have theyr saddles.

That money you sent me I thought I would not nead it so I sent it back with John, I also sent you some apples and peaches half what John brought home, I sent them because I new they would come good and becaus I could. I would have sent something more but I did not know that we would have to go to Burlington so soon.

_______________

³ John Schuyler was the oldest son of Peter and Lorrette Schuyler and therefore was William's nephew although he was about the same age. He later enlisted and died in camp.

⁴ Lyons is a town of about 6000 population, two and one-half miles directly north of Clinton, Iowa. Here Company B of the First Iowa Cavalry was organized about May 1, 1861, under the leadership of Judge William E. Leffingwell of Lyons, its first captain. Samuel S. Burdett of DeWitt, 1st lieutenant, was later promoted to captain. —Lothrop's A History of the First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers (Lyons, Ia., Beers and Eaton, 1890), p. 20.

⁵ Camp McClellan, at Davenport, served as a concentration point for the additional companies permitted by an Act of Congress of July 29, 1861. This act increased the number of companies constituting a cavalry regiment from ten to twelve. This permitted the addition to the First Cavalry of Company L, mustered into the service on September 23rd; and Company M, which went into quarters at Camp McClellan on September 2nd and was sworn into service on September 12th.

⁶ Henry W. Lee, of Davenport, was bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Iowa from 1854 until his death in 1874. He was instrumental in the founding at Davenport of Griswold College and the building of Trinity Cathedral. He also carried to a successful conclusion a money-raising campaign which made possible the purchase of 6000 acres of land by the Iowa diocese.— Downer's History of Davenport and Scott County (Chicago, S. J. Clark, 1910), Vol. I, p. 590.

⁷ The Burtis Opera House, 413 Perry St., Davenport, Iowa.

⁸ Captain (Judge) William E. Leffingwell organized Company B, First Iowa Cavalry, under the name of the "Hawkeye Rangers". This was the first full company of equipped cavalry in the State. It numbered 98 officers and men, according to the Lyons City Advocate of July 27, 1861. It is significant that Capt. Leffingwell raised this company and procured its equipment without aid either from the State or Federal government. At different times before and after the war Leffingwell was a Presidential Elector, Judge of the Eastern Iowa District Court, and President of the Iowa State Senate. He was an able lawyer, and was distinguished for his scholarly attainments.

⁹ Isaac Gulick of Company B, a cousin. He re-enlisted in 1864 and survived the war. He afterwards moved with his parents to State Center, Marshall County, Iowa, and according to latest reports, he is still living there.

¹⁰ Fred Wilkes (Frederick R. Wilkes) also of Company M was William Gulick's most intimate friend and "buddy" until the death of the latter in September, 1863. He had come to Clinton County from Indiana before the war, and joined Company M with the original enlistment in September, 1861. He re-enlisted in 1864 and served out the war.

¹¹ Peter Schuyler, a brother-in-law to Gulick, had married Lorrette, William's oldest sister.

SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 201-4

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 1, 1863

I received a letter from my daughter with information that my son Amandus is much better, the fever broke & he is in a fair way to recover, letter dated the 20th Dec 1862. I have a verry severe cold & my lungs are verry sore, but I am on duty as Officer of the Guard. at 9¼ Oc morning our Reg 36th Iowa was ordered of the boats & formed in line by companyes & ware marched to our Campning grounds on the bank of the river at the lower end of the town of Hellena Arkansas. Our camp is between the Levvy & the river there is some 10 or 12 Reg of Cavelry & infantry in & about the place, the bottom is perhaps ¼ of a mile wide with numerous ponds of standing watter & some of them covered with a green scum, the bluff is verry broken, high point of timberland at the foot of the bluff & opposite to us is the residence of the Rebble Genl Hindman

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 102

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 2, 1863

Night verry high wind with incessant heavy rain, our canvas tents shelter us well from the storm but the storm of wind gave us some uneasiness, we feared our stakes might draw & our tents capsize About 2 Oc a Rebble boat Bracele came up with a flag of truce & anchored opposite town to exchange the crew of our boat Blue Wing which they captured a fiew days since. Mr. Oldfield who knows the Capt of the Blue Wing told me that he David Hugle was at heart a traitor & he believed that the taking of his boat with government stores was as Hugle wished it to be, & Oldfield shook hands & talked with Harry Nolen of Cincinatti who was one that came on shore to see about an exchange & his wife is in Cincinatti sewing to Support herself & family & the citty helps to keep her. At 4 Oc we ware on dress perade

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 102

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 3, 1863

Rain. Continued untill past midnight. We drilled in manuel of arms from 11 Oc to 12 Ос

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 102

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, Sunday, January 4, 1863

Clear & Pleasant with frogs jumping about the ponds. This place, Hellena is almost impassible for persons on foot, this day at 10 Oc I started alone & took a ramble up to Col Busseys¹ head quarters found Horis Cutler on his Staff he is an old acquaintance in Keosauqua, I then rambled out back of the town over the poor broken points that skirt the place, was in & viewed the fortifications they seem well arranged to defend the place against any attack by the enemy. at a frame building on one of the points I heard a black man preach text if the earthly house of this tabernacle &c. at 1 Oc same place I heard another black man preach text John 1st ch & 1st v. 2½ Oc our Chaplain preached out in the midst of our camp text 36 Psalm 11th & 12th v. evening I wrote some to my daughter. 4 Oc we ware on Dress perade

_______________

¹ Cyrus Bussey, a merchant of Bloomfield; state senator, 1860; colonel Third Iowa Cavalry, 1861; brigadier-general, 1864-65.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, pp. 102-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 5, 1863

We was out this morning by request of our Col & had a tryal at target shooting with him the commissioned officers of us, pistol shooting. Capt Hale made the best shooting. forenoon we had company drill & at 4 Oc we ware on dress perade. night I continued my letter to my children. I recd a verry interesting letter from Ellis Burch of Ia.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 103

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 6, 1863

Our Major was grand officer of the day which makes him for this 24 hours next highest in Command to Genl Gorman who is commander of the post TM Fee is officer of the day for the Reg. I drilled the Company fore & afternoon & took them on Dress perade. at 11 Oc last night the long roll beat & some 2 Reg of Inft & 2 or 3 parts of Regments, Cavelry went out in anticipation of an attack on the pickets, but there was no attack.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 103

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 7, 1863

Morning clear & cold with heavy frost & ice on the little ponds thick as heavy window glass Capt drilled the Co & I attended to getting things for our mess the 1st Mo Battery 6 guns came down on the Black Hawk & are camped here. afternoon the 28th Wisconsin Inft came down on ——— & the company grounds being all taken up they passed down

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 103