Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, September 27, 1863

Culpeper Court House, Va., September 27, 1863.

We are having lovely weather at present; our camps are beautifully situated at the foot of the Blue Ridge, with the mountains in view, with pure air and plenty of good water; the best country in Virginia we have yet been in.

I had a visit yesterday from the Rev. Mr. Coles, Episcopal minister at the village, who told me he had seen Mr. Wilmer some few weeks since, and he had talked a great deal of me, and told him I had been his parishioner. He says Mr. Wilmer is not connected with the army, and has no church, but occupies himself in works of charity, and when he saw him he was on his way to visit the sick and wounded of the Confederate army, after its return from Pennsylvania.

I have tried, but unsuccessfully, to get some news of the Wises.¹ Mr. Wise’s command undoubtedly went with Longstreet to Tennessee, but whether he went I am not able to ascertain.

_______________

¹ General Henry A. Wise and son, brother-in-law and nephew of Mrs. Meade.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 151

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, October 26, 1862

Headquarters First Brigade,

Fourth Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Natchez, Oct 26, 1863.

By former letters you will understand my heading and dates; lest, however, they should not have been received, I will recapitulate, by the remark that I have been relieved from the command of the Second Brigade, First Division, now employed at garrison duty in Vicksburg, and have been assigned to the command of the First Brigade, Fourth Division. My headquarters at present at Natchez and the same quarters I formerly occupied. This change is entirely agreeable to me, the command equally good.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 343

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Friday, October 2, 1863

The weather is quite cool for this time of year in the "Sunny South." There is no news of any importance. Things are very quiet.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 145

Diary of Charles H. Lynch: May 20, 1863

We remained here until this date having the finest of times, when orders were received to pack up and report to the regiment at Fort Marshall. Orders having been received for the regiment to report to General Robert H. Milroy at Winchester, Virginia.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 15

125th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio, October 6, 1862. Moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, January 3, 1863; thence moved to Louisville, Ky., and duty there till January 28. Attached to District of Western Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to February, 1863. Franklin, Tenn., Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 4th Army Corps and Dept. of Texas, to September, 1865.

SERVICE. – Moved from Louisville, Ky., to Nashville, Tenn., January 28, 1863; thence to Franklin, Tenn., March 5, and duty there till June. Repulse of attack on Franklin March 9. Moved to Triune June 2, thence to Murfreesboro, Tenn. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. At Hillsboro July 3-August 5. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Occupation of Chattanooga September 9. Lee and Gordon's Mills September 11-13. Near Lafayette September 14. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Colwell's Ford November 19. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Pursuit to Graysville November 26-27. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Operations in East Tennessee till April, 1864. Charlestown December 28, 1863. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17, 1864. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton May 8-13. Buzzard's Roost Gap May 8-9. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Mills July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Buckhead, Nancy's Creek, June 18. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Operations against Hood in North Georgia and North Alabama October 3-November 3. Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there till March, 1865. At Knoxville, Blue Springs and Nashville till June. Moved to New Orleans, La., June 16; thence to Texas and duty there till September. Mustered out September 25, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 104 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 114 Enlisted men by disease. Total 225.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1548-9

Requisition by Governor Henry A. Wise for Albert Hazlett, November 1, 1859

The Commonwealth Of Virginia,

To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

Know you, that our Governor, in pursuance of authority vested in the Executive by law, hath constituted and appointed William N. Kelly the Agent of this Commonwealth, to demand and receive from the Executive authority of the State of Pennsylvania a Fugitive from Justice, called William Harrison alias Albert Hazlett, alias E. H. or some name not known, & to deliver him to the proper authority of this State, to be dealt with according to Law.

{SEAL}

Witness, Henry A. Wise our said Governor, this first day of November A.D. 1859 and in the eighty fourth year of the Commonwealth.

By the Governor.

Henry A. Wise

George W. Munford

Secretary of the Commonwealth.

[Endorsed]

Requisition for Harrison alias Haslett

In obedience to the Warrant of Wm P Parker by Gov of Penn^a I have granted my warrant to the within named Wm N. Kelly to take the person of Wm Harrison, alias Albert Hazlet and deliver him to the authorities of the State Virginia.

Witness my hand as Pres^g Judge of the 9 Judicial district of Penn^a the 5 Nov 1869

S. H. Graham.

SOURCE: Massachusetts Historical Society, Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Third Series, Volume 1, p. 513-4

Governor Henry A. Wise to Robert Tyler, November 6, 1859

Richmond, Va., November 6, 1859.

My Dear Sir: Thank you for yours. Please cause this provision of our laws to be published generally in your papers: Code of Virginia, chapter 17, title 10, section 18, — “The governor shall not grant a pardon in any case before conviction, nor to any person convicted of treason against the Commonwealth, except with the consent of the General Assembly, declared by joint resolution. Neither shall he grant a reprieve to any person convicted of treason for a longer period than until the end of the session of the General Assembly during which it may be granted, or until the end of the succeeding session when it is granted during the recess.”

Brown is convicted of treason and sentenced for 2d of December, and General Assembly meets the 5th. I could reprieve only for ninety days, as session of General Assembly is limited for that time only.

Yours truly,

Henry A. Wise.

SOURCE: Lyon Gardiner Tyler, The Letters and Times of the Tylers, Volume 2, p. 554

Major-General William T. Sherman to Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, November 2, 1864

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

In the Field, Rome, Ga., November 2, 1864.

Lieut. Gen. U.S. GRANT,

City Point, Va.:

Your dispatch is received.* If I could hope to overhaul Hood I would turn against him with my whole force. Then he retreats to the southwest, drawing him as a decoy from Georgia, which is his chief object. If he ventures north of the Tennessee I may turn in that direction and endeavor to get between him and his line of retreat, but thus far he has not gone above the Tennessee. Thomas will have a force strong enough to prevent his reaching any country in which we have an interest, and he has orders if Hood turns to follow me to push for Selma. No single army can catch him, and I am convinced the best results will result from defeating Jeff. Davis' cherished plan of making me leave Georgia by maneuvering. Thus far I have confined my efforts to thwart his plans, and reduced my baggage so that I can pick up and start in any direction, but I would regard a pursuit of Hood as useless; still if he attempts to invade Middle Tennessee I will hold Decatur and be prepared to move in that direction, but unless I let go Atlanta my force will not be equal to his.

W. T. SHERMAN,

 Major-General, Commanding.

­­­_______________

* Of November 1, p. 576

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 39, Part 2 (Serial No. 79), p. 594-5; John Bell Hood, Advance and Retreat, p. 265-6

John Brown to his Children, January 23, 1852

Troy, N. Y., Jan. 23, 1852.

Dear Children, — I returned here on the evening of the 19th inst., having left Akron on the 14th, the date of your letter to John. I was very glad to hear from you again in that way, not having received anything from you while at home. I left all in usual health, and as comfortable as could be expected; but am afflicted with you on account of your little boy. Hope to hear by return mail that you are all well. As in this trouble you are only tasting of a cup I have had to drink deeply, and very often, I need not tell you how fully I can sympathize with you in your anxiety.  . . . How long we shall continue here is beyond our ability to foresee, but think it very probable that if you write us by return mail we shall get your letter. Something may possibly happen that may enable us (or one of us) to go and see you, but do not look for us. I should feel it a great privilege if I could. We seem to be getting along well with our business so far, but progress miserably slow. My journeys back and forth this winter have been very tedious. If you find it difficult for you to pay for Douglass' paper, I wish you would let me know, as I know I took liberty in ordering it continued. You have been very kind in helping me, and I do not mean to make myself a burden.

Your affectionate father,

John Brown.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 148

Major Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, July 24, 1861

Camp Chase, July 24, 1861.

Dear Uncle: — I am surrounded by the bustle and confusion attendant upon a hurried leaving of camp. We go tomorrow at 5 A. M. to Zanesville by railroad, thence down the Muskingum on steamboats to Marietta, and on the Ohio to Ripley Landing, a short distance from Point Pieasant in Virginia. We are to be a part of General Rosecrans' force against Wise.

Last night I had a good chat with Fremont. He is a hero. All his words and acts inspire enthusiasm and confidence. He and the governor reviewed our regiment today. Lucy, Laura, and many friends were present. It was a stirring scene. I wish you could have been here. You would subscribe heartily to General Fremont. Good-bye. My saddest feeling — my almost only sad feeling — is leaving you in such bad health.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

P. S. — Always send me full sheets of paper — the blank sheet is so useful. The use and scarcity of paper is appalling.

S. Birchard.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 42-3

Major-General Thomas J. Jackson to Mary Anna Morrison Jackson, November 11, 1862

November 11th.

. . . Tell Colonel E––– that I am glad to see he has so pleasant a post as Charlotte, and that I would rather be stationed there¹ than anywhere else in the Confederacy. Colonel Boteler deserves the lasting gratitude of the country for having done so much towards clothing our men.

_______________

¹ Where his wife then was.

SOURCE: Mary Anna Jackson, Life and Letters of General Thomas J. Jackson (Stonewall Jackson), p. 365

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, September 24, 1863

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, September 24, 1863.

The last time I wrote I told you of my having referred to Washington the question of a further advance. As I expected, no decisive answer was sent to me, but I was told to act in accordance with my own judgment. The next thing I was summoned to Washington and informed that the President considered my army too large for a merely defensive one, and proposed to take a portion of it away. I objected and reasoned against this, and left Washington with the belief that the President was satisfied. I had just arranged the programme for a movement, and was about issuing the orders, when orders came from Washington, taking troops away. Of this I do not complain. The President is the best judge of where the armies can be best employed, and if he chooses to place this army strictly on the defensive, I have no right to object or murmur. I was in Washington from 11 p. m. Tuesday till 1 p. m. Wednesday; saw no one but the President, Mr. Stanton and General Halleck; was treated very courteously by all. I told the President and General Halleck that if they thought I was too slow or prudent, to put some one else in my place. Halleck smiled very significantly, and said he had no doubt I would be rejoiced to be relieved, but there was no such good luck for me. I cannot very well tell you all that transpired; the intelligence, by no means favorable, had been received from Rosecrans, and it was evident, without any one knowing what exactly might or could be done, that there still existed a feverish anxiety that I should try and do something. Now that I have been weakened, I presume the country will not be so exigeante.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 150-1

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, October 22, 1863

Headquarters Second Brigade,

First Div., Seventeenth Army Corps,

Vicksburg, Miss., Oct. 22, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

I propose sending to you to-day, per Adams’ Express Company, a box of pictures.

The group will be interesting to strangers, containing as it does, Generals Grant and Thomas; the other gentlemen are members of General Grant's staff — Captain Jane, Colonel Duff, Colonel Riggin, and Captain Carncross, the latter aid to General Thomas.

I congratulate you upon the results of the late election, partial news of which has this night reached me. The soldiers of Ohio will begin to feel that they may yet find a home outside their camp. I think Mr. Pugh and his tool, Mr. Vallandigham, have gone to their political grave, from which there will be no resurrection.

Major General U. S. Grant and Officers
New Orleans, 1863

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 342-3

Diary of Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, October 1, 1863

We had brigade inspection this morning at 7 o'clock, by General McArthur. Colonel Hall of our regiment is in command. There were three regiments of infantry, one of cavalry and three batteries. In the afternoon I was on fatigue duty, and part of the time in a heavy rain; this is our third successive day of rain.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 145

Diary of Charles H. Lynch: April 29, 1863

Our company was ordered for guard duty to guard the railroad bridge over the Gunpowder River, on the Baltimore & Philadelphia Road. A very pleasant change and much enjoyed in the fine early spring weather. The fishing and sailing were fine. Many boats at that point we were allowed to use. Many attempts had been made to burn the bridge. It had to be kept well guarded. (It was later destroyed by rebel guerillas making a raid through Maryland.)

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 15

124th Ohio Infantry

Organized at Cleveland, Ohio, and mustered in January 1, 1863. Left State for Louisville, Ky., January 1; thence moved to Elizabethtown, Ky., and duty there till February 10, 1863. Attached to District of Western Kentucky, Dept. of the Ohio, to February, 1863. Franklin, Tenn., Army of Kentucky, Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to June, 1865.

SERVICE.--Moved to Nashville, Tenn., February 10, 1863; thence to Franklin February 21, and duty there till June. Action at Thompson's Station, Spring Hill, March 4-5. Thompson's Station June 2. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Camp at Manchester till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. At Poe's Tavern August 20-September 9. Passage of the Tennessee River September 10. Lee and Gordon's Mills September 11-13. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Reopening Tennessee River October 26-29. Brown's Ferry October 27. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Orchard Knob November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. March to relief of Knoxville, Tenn., November 28-December 8. Operations in East Tennessee till April, 1864. Operations about Dandridge January 16-17. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May 1 to September 8. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge and Dalton, Ga., May 8-13. Battle of Resaca May 14-16. Adairsville May 17. Near Kingston May 18-19. Near Cassville May 19. Advance on Dallas May 22-25. Operations on line of Pumpkin Vine Creek and battles about Dallas, New Hope Church and Allatoona Hills May 25-June 5. Pickett's Mills May 27. Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw Mountain June 10-July 2. Pine Hill June 11-14. Lost Mountain June 15-17. Assault on Kenesaw June 27. Ruff's Station July 4. Chattahoochie River July 5-17. Peach Tree Creek July 19-20. Siege of Atlanta July 22-August 25. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Lovejoy Station September 2-6. Pursuit of Hood into Alabama October 3-26. At Athens, Ga., October 31 to November 23. March to Columbia, Tenn., November 23-24. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Huntsville, Ala., and duty there till March, 1865. Operations in East Tennessee March 15-April 22. Duty at Strawberry Plains and Nashville till June. Mustered out June 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 7 Officers and 78 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 124 Enlisted men by disease. Total 210.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1548

Governor William F. Packer to Governor Henry A. Wise, December 1, 1859

State of Pennsylvania,

Executive Chamber. Harrisburg, Dec. 1, 1859.

To His Excellency, the Governor of Virginia, Richmond, Va.:

Sir — Your letter of the 25th, having been missent to Harrisonburg, Virginia, was not received until this morning. Of all the desperadoes to whom you refer, not a man, so far as I can learn, was a citizen of Pennsylvania; nor was their rendezvous (which you say was unobstructed by guards or otherwise), in this State, but in Maryland or Virginia. In relation to them, Pennsylvania has done her duty. Virginia has no right to anticipate that she will not do so in the future. The information you have received in regard to a conspiracy to rescue John Brown, will, undoubtedly, be found, in the sequel, utterly and entirely without foundation, so far as Pennsylvania is concerned. Nor will we permit any portion of our territory, along our borders, or elsewhere, to be made a depot, a rendezvous, or a refuge, for lawless desperadoes, from other States, who may seek to make war upon our southern neighbors. When that contingency shall happen, the constitutional and confederate duty of Pennsylvania shall be performed; and, under all circumstances, she will take care to see that her honor is fully vindicated.

WM. F. PACKER

SOURCE: George Edward Reed, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Fourth Series, Volume 8, Papers of the Governors, 1858-1871, p. 198-9

Governor Henry A. Wise to Governor William F. Packer, November 25, 1859

Richmond, Va., November 25, 1859.

To His Excellency, the Governor of Pennsylvania:

Dear Sir — I respectfully send to you the information contained in a letter to the President of the United States, of which the enclosed is a copy. I submit it to you in the confidence that you will faithfully co-operate with the authorities of this State in preserving the peace of our coterminous borders. Necessity may compel us to pursue invaders of our jurisdiction into yours; if so, you may be assured that it will be done with no disrespect to the sovereignty of your State. But this State expects the confederate duty to be observed, of guarding your territory from becoming dangerous to our peace and safety, by affording places of depot and rendezvous to lawless desperadoes who may seek to make war upon our people.

With the highest respect,

I am, sir, yours truly,

HENRY A. WISE

SOURCE: George Edward Reed, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Fourth Series, Volume 8, Papers of the Governors, 1858-1871, p. 197

Governor Henry A. Wise to James Buchanan, November 25, 1859

Richmond, Va., November 25, 1859.

To His Excellency, James Buchanan, President of the United States:

Sir — I have information from various quarters, upon which I rely, that a conspiracy, of formidable extent in means and numbers, is formed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and other States, to rescue John Brown and his associates, prisoners at Charlestown, Va. The information is specific enough to be reliable. It convinces me that an attempt will be made to rescue the prisoners, and, if that fails, then to seize citizens of this State as hostages and victims in case of execution. The execution will take place next Friday as certainly as that Virginia can and will enforce her laws. I have been obliged to call out one thousand men, who are now under arms, and, if necessary, shall call out the whole available force of the State to carry into effect the sentence of our laws on the 2d and 16th proximo. Places in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania have been occupied as depots and rendezvous by these desperadoes, unobstructed by guards or otherwise, to invade this State, and we are kept in continual apprehension of outrages from fire and rapine on our borders. I apprise you of these facts in order that you may take steps to preserve peace between the States. I protest that my purpose is peaceful, and that I disclaim all threats when I say, with all the might of meaning, that if another invasion assails this State or its citizens from any quarter, I will pursue the invaders wherever they may go into any territory, and punish them wherever arms can reach them.

I shall send copies of this to the Governors of Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

With due respect and consideration,

Yours truly,

HENRY A. WISE

SOURCE: George Edward Reed, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Fourth Series, Volume 8, Papers of the Governors, 1858-1871, p. 197-8

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, November 1, 1864 – 6 p.m.

CITY POINT, VA., November 1, 1864 – 6 p.m.

Major-General SHERMAN,

Atlanta, Ga.:

Do you not think it advisable now that Hood has gone so far north to entirely settle him before starting on your proposed campaign? With Hood's army destroyed you can go where you please with impunity. I believed, and still believe, that if you had started south whilst Hood was in the neighborhood of you he would have been forced to go after you. Now that he is so far away, he might look upon the chase as useless and go in one direction whilst you are pushing in the other. If you can see the chance for destroying Hood's army, attend to that first and make your other move secondary.

U.S. GRANT,

Lieutenant-General.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 39, Part 2 (Serial No. 79), p. 576; John Bell Hood, Advance and Retreat, p. 265