Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: November 23, 1861

Brownell and Brooks left on furlough, so I had double duties.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 4

25th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery.

Organized by detachment from 2nd Ohio Cavalry at Fort Scott, Kansas. August 27, 1862. First designated 3rd Kansas Independent Battery. Organized as 25th Ohio Battery February 17, 1863. Attached to 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Frontier, October, 1862, to June, 1863. Artillery, Cavalry Division, District Southeast Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to August, 1863. Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, Arkansas Expedition, to January, 1864. Columbus, Ohio, to April, 1864. Artillery, 3rd Division, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. Artillery, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to July, 1865. Garrison Artillery, Little Rock, Ark., Dept. of Arkansas, to December, 1865.

SERVICE.--Blount's Campaign in Missouri and Arkansas September 17-December 10, 1862. Expedition to Sarcoxie September 17-25. Reconnoissance to Newtonia September 29-31. Action at Newtonia September 30. Occupation of Newtonia October 4. Cane Hill November 29. Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Expedition to Van Buren, Ark., December 27-29. March over Ozark and Boston Mountains to Cane Creek, Mo., January 1-10, 1863. Moved to Camp Solomon February 27. Campaign against Marmaduke March and April. Ordered to Rolla, Mo., May 22 and refitting till June 26. Moved to Pilot Knob, Mo., June 26, and reported to General Davidson. Expedition against Price and Marmaduke in Arkansas. March to Clarendon, Ark., on White River July 1-August 8. Grand Prairie August 17. Steele's Expedition against Little Rock August 18-September 10. Bayou Metoe or Reed's Bridge August 27. Bayou Fourche and capture of Little Rock September 10. Duty at Little Rock till November. Ferry's Ford October 7. Duty at Benton, Pine Bluff, and Little Rock till January, 1864. Reconnoissance from Little Rock December 5-13, 1863. Reenlisted January 3, 1864. Moved to Columbus, Ohio, January 21-29. Return to Little Rock, Ark., March 17, and garrison duty there at Fort Steele till December, 1865. Mustered out December 12. 1865.

Battery lost during service 23 Enlisted men by disease. Total 23.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1494-5

26th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery.

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, as Company "F" 32nd Ohio Infantry, August, 1861. Left State for West Virginia September 15. At Grafton, W. Va., September 18, and at Beverly September 22. Attached to Kimball's Brigade, Reynolds' Command, West Virginia, to October, 1861. Cheat Mountain District, West Virginia, to November, 1861. Milroy's Brigade, Cheat Mountain District, to March, 1862. Milroy's Brigade, Mountain Department, to May, 1862. Schenck's Brigade, Mountain Department, to June, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of Virginia, to July, 1862. Garrison at Winchester, Va., to September, 1862. Miles' Command, Harper's Ferry, W. Va., September, 1862.

SERVICE.--Stationed at Cheat Mountain Summit, W. Va., October, 1861. Action at Greenbrier October 3. Duty at Greenbrier till December 13. Camp Allegheny December 13. Ordered to Beverly and duty there till April, 1862. Expedition on the Seneca April 1-12. Action at Monterey April 12. At Staunton till May 7. Battle of McDowell May 8. March to Franklin and duty there till May 25. Pursuit of Jackson up the Shenandoah Valley. Battle of Cross Keys June 8. Duty at Strasburg and Winchester till July. Detached from 32nd Infantry for Artillery duty July 20, 1862, and stationed at Winchester till September 11. Retreat to Harper's Ferry September 11-12. Defence of Harper's Ferry September 12-15. Battery surrendered September 15. Paroled and sent to Annapolis, Md., thence to Chicago, Ill., and to Camp Taylor, Cleveland, Ohio. Exchanged January 12, 1863. Again attached to 32nd Infantry and moved to Memphis, Tenn., January 20-25, 1863. Attached to 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Moved to Lake Providence, La., February 20, and to Milliken's Bend, La., April 17. Movement on Bruinsburg and turning Grand Gulf April 25-30. Battle of Port Gibson, Miss., May 1. Raymond May 12. Jackson May 14. Champion's Hill May 16. Capture a Battery of six guns and assigned to duty as Artillery till August 3, 1863. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss., May 18-July 4. Assaults on Vicksburg May 19 and 22. Attached to Battery "D" 1st Illinois Artillery and to 3rd Ohio Battery August 3 to December 22, 1863, and garrison duty at Vicksburg, Miss. Served with Artillery, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps. Expedition to Monroe, La., August 20-September 2, 1863. Expedition to Canton and Brownsville October 14-20. Permanently detached from 32nd Ohio as 26th Ohio Battery December 22, 1864. On Veteran furlough January 1 to February 3, 1864. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Duty at Vicksburg till November, 1864, attached to Maltby's Brigade, District of Vicksburg. Expedition to Rodney and Fayette September 29-October 3. Expedition to Woodville October 4-11. Woodville October 5-6. Moved to Natchez, Miss., and garrison duty there till April, 1865. Ordered to Texas April, 1865, and duty on the Rio Grande, Texas, till August. Ordered home for muster out. Mustered out at Todd's Barracks, Columbus, Ohio, September 2, 1865.

Battery lost during service 22 Enlisted men by disease.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1495

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

Beverly, Virginia, August 24, 1861.

Dear Uncle: — Thank you for the postage stamps. The traitors at home, you need not fear.  . . . We are needed here. Shall march towards the enemy tomorrow again. I am better pleased with this than with the main army at Washington.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

S. BlRCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 75-6

James Russell Lowell to Thomas Hughes, September 9, 1863

Harvard College, Sept. 9, 1863.

My dear Hughes, — Will you do anything that lies in your way for my young friend Mr. Lincoln, and very much oblige me thereby? He wishes particularly to see you, and would like a few hints about employing his very short time in London well. He has been one of our tutors here.

To almost any other Englishman I should think it needful to explain that he is not President Lincoln, you are all so “shady” in our matters. The Times, I see, has now sent over an “Italian” to report upon us — a clever man, but a double foreigner, as an Italian with an English wash over him. Pray, don't believe a word he says about our longing to go to war with England. We are all as cross as terriers with your kind of neutrality, but the last thing we want is another war. If the rebel iron-clads are allowed to come out, there might be a change.

If you can give Mr. Lincoln any hints or helps for seeing Oxford you would be doing him a great kindness, and adding another to the many you have done me.

Cordially yours,

J. R. Lowell

SOURCE: Charles Eliot Norton, Editor, Letters of James Russell Lowell, Volume 1, p. 372-3

George William Curtis to John J. Pinkerton, April 13, 1860

North Shore, 13th April, 1860.

My Dear Pinkerton, — Thanks for your kind response. I have had the same suspicion of Pennsylvania, but my general feeling is this: that the nomination of Mr. Bates would so chill and paralyze the youth and ardor which are the strength of the Republican party; would so cheer the Democrats as a merely available move, showing distrust of our own position and power; would so alienate the German Northwest, and so endanger a bolt from the straight Republicans of New England, — that the possible gain of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and even Indiana, might be balanced. Add to this that defeat with Bates is the utter destruction of our party organization, and that success with him is very doubtful victory, and I cannot but feel that upon the whole his nomination is an act of very uncertain wisdom.

It is very true that there is no old Republican, because the party is young, and it will not do to ask too sharply when a man became a Republican. Moreover, a man like Mr. Bates may very properly have been a Fillmore man in '56, because he might not have believed that the Slavery party was as resolved and desperate as it immediately showed itself in the Dred Scott business; this is all true, but human nature cries out against the friends of Fremont in '56 working for a Fillmore man in '60, and there is a good deal of human nature in the public. The nomination of Mr. Bates will plunge the really Republican States into a syncope. If they are strong enough to remain Republican while they are apathetic, then in the border States you may decide the battle.

I think New York is very sure for the Chicago man, whoever he is; but if Bates is the man, we shall have to travel upon our muscle!! Individually believing, as I do, in the necessary triumph of our cause by causes superior to the merely political, I should prefer a fair fight upon the merits of the case between Douglas and Seward, or Hunter or Guthrie and Seward. I think Douglas will be the Charleston man.

Thank you once more.

Yours faithfully,

George William Curtis.

SOURCE: Edward Cary, George William Curtis, p. 130-2

Charles Russell Lowell to Anna C. Jackson Lowell, May 25, 1861

Washington, May 25, /61.

After the movement yesterday across the river, all passing to and fro was forbidden; but Mr. Dalton and myself, by going up to Georgetown and making interest with the Irishmen of the 69th, who have a rather Milesian idea of sentry's duty, succeeded in getting into Virginia. We visited the earthworks and many of the camps, and dined at Arlington House on corn pone and milk. There were no troops yesterday within two miles of Arlington, and the place was just in the prime of its Spring beauty. I have seen no place like it in this country — for position and for well-improved natural advantages. I suppose to-day it is occupied, and in spite of its importance and of its owner's treason, I cannot think of it with much pleasure.

How are Jim Savage and Henry coming on? I hear there is some hitch about their regiment — nothing serious, I hope.

I have been in Washington more than four weeks — in spite of fairest promises, I have not got my commission yet, but still have faith. If I have been of any use to the Massachusetts troops, I am very glad of it.

I wish our people would not feel so very anxious about their comfort. Their health and morale is excellent and they are as efficient as any troops here. I am sure you do not worry so much about my comfort, and I do not see why other mothers should. The greatest kindness to our troops now is to teach them to use what they have.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 209-10

Diary of Josephine Shaw Lowell: September 19, 1861

Spent today and yesterday in collecting contributions for our Society, $110.00. Mr. William Winthrop spent the evening here and states it as his opinion that the war is to last three years, while Father and Uncle Jim think that it will be over in three, or at most six, months. May they prove the truer prophets.

SOURCE: William Rhinelander Stewart, The Philanthropic Work of Josephine Shaw Lowell, p. 19

Review: The West Point History of the Civil War

The West Point History of the Civil War

by The United States Military Academy, Edited by
Clifford J. Rogers, Ty Siedule & Samuel J. Watson

The United States Military Academy was established at West Point, New York on March 16 1802.  The Academy, colloquially known as “West Point” has and continues to train its cadets in a rigorous four-year program for future service as officers in The United States Army.  Graduates of the academy have led soldiers into battle in every American conflict since the War of 1812, including the Civil War.

New estimates of the put the casualties of the Civil War at over 700,000, a figure more than all other American wars combined.  Officers trained at “The Point” led armies on both sides of the war, and often classmates found themselves opposing each other on opposite sides of the battlefields of the war.  Therefore it is fitting that the Academy has published “The West Point History of the Civil War.”  Published by Simon & Schuster, it is the first volume in a series “The West Point History of Warfare.”

“The West Point History of the Civil War” is a large book of 448 pages, measuring 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.6 inches, and weighing 4.2 pounds.  Its semi-glossy pages are richly illustrated with maps, photographs and illustrations highlighting the personalities, battles, and places of the Civil War era.  The book is divided into 6 chapters, each covering a period or aspect of the war and each written by some of Americas best and most prominent historians:

• Origins of the Civil War and the Contest for the Borderlands by Mark E. Neely Jr.
• The War in the East: July 1861-September 1862 by Joseph T. Glatthaar.
• Lee’s War in the East, by Joseph T. Glatthaar.
• Grant’s War in the West by Steven E. Woodworth.
• Coordinated Strategy and Hard War by Earl J. Hess.
• The End of the War and Reconstruction by James K. Hogue.

An in dept study of the war it is not, but nor does it claim to be.  It is an excellent survey of the war, its battles and its participants.  The maps alone, many of them 2 or 3 page fold-outs, are worth the price of this book, not only are they large and clear, but also include nearly 360° eyelevel panoramas of battlefield terrains as the participants would have seen them 150 years ago.

In addition to the text short thumbnail biographies of the war’s most notable participants are peppered throughout the book, and not only include their birth and death dates, but also when applicable the class in which they graduated from the Academy.

The books thick semi-glossy pages are a perfect format for duplicating the maps, photographs and works of art featured between its covers.  It is a thoroughly beautiful book, and would be completely enjoyable just to thumb through on a rainy day and peruse its many gorgeous illustrations.

“The West Point History of the Civil War” is a fantastic book, and would be an excellent addition to any history lover’s library.  It serves as a great introduction to the Civil War for novices, and I think even heavily read students of the Civil War would take something away from it.

ISBN 978-1476782621, Simon & Schuster, © 2014, Hardcover, 448 pages, 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.6 inches, Maps, Photographs, Illustrations, End Notes & Index. $55.00.  To purchase this book click HERE.

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, October 28, 1863

October 28, 1863

. . . The guerillas are extremely saucy of late, and, in a small way, annoying. Night before last they dashed at a waggon train and cut loose upwards of a hundred mules and horses, which they made off with, teamsters and all, leaving the waggons untouched. These men are regularly enlisted, but have no pay, getting, in lieu thereof, all the booty they can take, except horses, which they must sell to the Rebels at a fixed rate. They have taken several officers who, from carelessness, or losing their way, have gone alone beyond the lines. Prisoners are treated with consideration, but I fancy that, from all accounts, Libby Prison is pretty dirty and crowded. When some of our officers were taken through Warrenton, on the retreat of Lee, the inhabitants gave them supper; for the 6th Corps were long quartered there and treated the people kindly. When you are here you see how foolish and blind is the clamor raised by some people, to have all property destroyed by the army in the Rebel states, as the troops passed. There was, you know, a great talk about putting guards over houses of Rebels; but, 1st, it is very wrong to punish a people en masse, without regard to their degree of guilt and without properly measuring the punishment; and, 2d, nothing so utterly and speedily demoralizes an army as permission to plunder. It is our custom to put guards over the houses that are inhabited; but, despite that, the cavalry and advanced guard take a good slice of the live-stock; forage, and vegetables. . . .

SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox, p. 39-40

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, May 24, 1864 – 9 a.m.

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, May 24, 9 A. M., 1864.

We have maneuvered the enemy away from their strong position on the Po, near Spottsylvania Court House, and now have compelled them to fall back from the North Anna River, which they tried to hold. Yesterday Warren and Hancock both had engagements with them, and were successful. We undoubtedly have the morale over them, and will eventually, I think, compel them to go into Richmond; after that, nous verrons.

I am writing this letter in the House of God, used for general headquarters. What a scene and commentary on the times!¹

_______________

¹ Battle of North Anna. Federal loss — killed, wounded, and missing — May 22-31,1864 — 1,607 (O. R.).

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 198

Governor Alexander W. Randall to Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, December 23, 1861

Executive Office, Madison, Dec. 23, 1861.

His Excy. Gov. Kirkwood, Iowa:

Dear Sir: — It seems to me that the large amount of labor and responsibility thrown upon the executives of the several states during the past season entitle them to some consideration at the hands of congress. In all cases where forces enough have been sent from any state to entitle the state to an appointment of a Major-General, the Governor ought to be paid the compensation of a Major-General. In all other cases to be paid the compensation of a Brigadier-General, and congress ought to make an appropriation for the purpose. I propose that we make common cause with our members of congress to favor such an act. If the idea meets your approval, please write your members on the subject.

Very respectfully,

Alex. W. Randall.

SOURCE: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa Historical Record, Volumes 1-3, Volume 2, No. 3, July 1886, p. 322-3

Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood to Edwin M. Stanton, August 12, 1862 – 8:45 p.m.

DAVENPORT, August 12, 1862 – 8.45 p.m.

(Received 9.30 p.m.)

Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Will Colonel Byam's Temperance Regiment and Colonel O'Connor's Irish regiment be allowed longer than the 15th instant to fill up? I will have ten regiments instead of five under your requisition of July 8 by telegraph. They will be full this week. You must accept them as volunteers. They enlisted to escape the disgrace of a draft, as they conceive it, and it will not do to refuse them. Answer immediately.

 SAML. J. KIRKWOOD.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series III, Volume 2 (Serial No. 123), p. 362; Henry Warren Lathrop, The Life and Times of Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa's War Governor, p. 216-7;

Senator James W. Grimes to Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont, May 26, 1863

Burlington, May 26, 1863.

Absence from home, and very numerous duties in the State, crowded into the comparatively short period of the recess, have caused me to be neglectful of the fact that I have not written you since you attacked Charleston, though I recollect writing very near that time. The result was not such as we all hoped, and as I confess I anticipated, though I will at the same time honestly confess that I could never give a reason for the faith that was in me. I always supposed that there was to be some cooperative land-force; I was mistaken in this, it appears. I have carefully read all the reports of the engagement. They have been read by every one. You may rely upon it that the public fully justifies you in withdrawing from the contest when you did. It would have been extreme folly to continue it longer. It is evident to every one that the article in the Baltimore American was prompted by some sinister motive, and in receiving that attack you only experience what all our commanders upon land or water have been or will be subject to, no matter how successful they may have been, or may be. It must be a gratification to you to feel that the same amount of confidence is reposed in you that was placed in you both by the Department and the nation before the battle.

We are now rejoicing over a supposed victory at Vicksburg. Our people are as truly loyal, devoted, and determined as ever. I see not the slightest abatement among the people of this region of their firm resolution to crush out the rebellion, and to have indeed a “Nation.”

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 236-7

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, December 20, 1863

Quite pleasant weather. We had our regular company inspection at 9 o'clock today with dress parade at 5 o'clock.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 158

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: March 25, 1864

Marching orders received to report at regimental headquarters, Camp Hill, Bolivar Heights, near Harper's Ferry. A cold rain storm on at this time. On account of a hard cold, with a number of others, went to Harper's Ferry by cars. There met by ambulance and rode to camp. My first ride in an ambulance. Bad getting around in camp on account of the deep mud. Harper's Ferry is a side hill town. The Potomac and the Shenandoah on either side. Here the B. & O. R. R. crosses the Potomac into Maryland. Above Harper's Ferry is located the Jefferson Rock, where one gets a fine view. The scenery at this point is grand. The mountains, rivers, and the valley, and also the great Maryland Heights.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 47-8

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: November 21, 1861

Visited Uncle Washington's boat “The Rawson.” Heard Gough lecture.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 4

22nd Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery

One section organized April 1, 1863. Moved to Wheeling, W. Va., April 1. Duty there and in Holmes county, Ohio, till June. Moved to Camp Chase, Ohio, June 19. Battery organization completed at Camp Chase and mustered in July 14, 1863. Moved to Parkersburg, W. Va., thence to Wheeling, W. Va., and, to Hancock, Md., to support Kelly's operations against General Lee in his retreat from Gettysburg, Pa. Sent to operate against Morgan, July. Moved to Camp Nelson, Ky., August 12, 1863. Attached to Willcox's Left Wing forces, 9th Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to October, 1863. De-Courcy's Brigade, Cumberland Gap, Willcox's Left Wing forces, 9th Army Corps, to January, 1864. District of the Clinch, Dept. of the Ohio, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, Dept. of the Ohio, to August, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, 23rd Army Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, District of East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Expedition to Cumberland Gap August 17-September 7. Operations about Cumberland Gap September 7-10. Capture of Cumberland Gap September 9. Duty there till June 27, 1864. Action at Crab Gap December 5. 1863. Reconnoissance from Cumberland Gap January 3, 1864. Near Cumberland Gap June 21. Moved to Knoxville, Tenn, June 27, 1864, and garrison duty there till July 5, 1865. Ordered to Camp Chase, Ohio, July 5. Mustered out July 13, 1865.

Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 2 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 16 Enlisted men by disease. Total 20.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1494

23rd Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery

Detached from 2nd Kentucky Infantry 1861. No record in Ohio troops. See Simmons' 1st Kentucky Battery.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1494

24th Ohio Independent Battery Light Artillery.

Organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mustered in August 4, 1863. Ordered to Cincinnati, Ohio, September 22, thence moved to Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, Ohio, November 10, and duty there guarding Rebel prisoners till August 6, 1864. Moved to Camp Chas August 6, thence to Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill., August 27, and duty there guarding Rebel prisoners till June 10, 1865. Mustered out June 24, 1865.

Battery lost during service 6 by disease.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1494