SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923,
p. 501
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan:Tuesday, December 22, 1863
A man killed at the theatre tonight — accident—
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan:Wednesday, December 23, 1863
In camp all day
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923,
p. 501
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan:Thursday, December 24, 1863
Volunteer to guard boat to Pine bluffs. Delayed
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923,
p. 501
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday, December 25, 1863
Pleasant day Pleasant ride
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923,
p. 501
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Monday, July 6, 1863
Several horses were stolen last night, mine nearly so. It is
necessary to be very careful, in order to prevent this misfortune. We started
at 6.30, but got on very slowly, so blocked up was the road with waggons, some
of which had been captured and burnt by the enemy yesterday. It now turned out
that all Ewell's waggons escaped except thirty-eight, although, at one time,
they had been all in the enemy's hands.
At 8.30 we halted for a couple of hours, and Generals Lee,
Longstreet, Hill, and Willcox had a consultation.
I spoke to about my difficulties with regard to getting
home, and the necessity of doing so, owing to the approaching expiration of my
leave. He told me that the army had no intention at present of retreating for
good, and advised me to stop with them and see what turned up; he also said
that some of the enemy's despatches had been intercepted, in which the
following words occur: — “The noble but unfortunate army of the Potomac has
again been obliged to retreat before superior numbers.” I particularly observed
the marching to-day of the 21st Mississippi, which was uncommonly good. This
regiment all wear short round jackets, a most unusual circumstance, for they
are generally unpopular in the South.
At 12 o'clock we halted again, and all set to work to eat
cherries, which was the only food we got between 5 A.M. and 11 P.M.
I saw a most laughable spectacle this afternoon — viz., a
negro dressed in full Yankee uniform, with a rifle at full cock, leading along
a barefooted white man, with whom he had evidently changed clothes. General
Longstreet stopped the pair, and asked the black man what it meant. He replied,
“The two soldiers in charge of this here Yank have got drunk, so for fear he
should escape I have took care of him, and brought him through that little
town.” The consequential manner of the negro, and the supreme contempt with
which he spoke to his prisoner, were most amusing. This little episode of a
Southern slave leading a white Yankee soldier through a Northern village, alone
and of his own accord, would not have been gratifying to an abolitionist.
Nor would the sympathisers both in England and in the North feel encouraged if
they could hear the language of detestation and contempt with which the
numerous negroes with the Southern armies speak of their liberators*
I saw General Hood in his carriage; he looked rather bad,
and has been suffering a good deal; the doctors seem to doubt whether they will
be able to save his arm. I also saw General Hampton, of the cavalry, who has
been shot in the hip, and has two sabre-cuts on the head, but he was in very
good spirits.
A short time before we reached Hagerstown there was some
firing in front, together with an alarm that the Yankee cavalry was upon us.
The ambulances were sent back; but some of the wounded jumped out, and,
producing the rifles which they had not parted with, they prepared to fight.
After a good deal of desultory skirmishing, we seated ourselves upon a hill
overlooking Hagerstown, and saw the enemy's cavalry driven through the town
pursued by yelling Confederates. A good many Yankee prisoners now passed us;
one of them, who was smoking a cigar, was a lieutenant of cavalry, dressed very
smartly, and his hair brushed with the greatest care; he formed rather a
contrast to his ragged escort, and to ourselves, who had not washed or shaved
for ever so long.
About 7 P.M. we rode through Hagerstown, in the streets of
which were several dead horses and a few dead men. After proceeding about a
mile beyond the town we halted, and General Longstreet sent four cavalrymen up
a lane, with directions to report everything they saw. We then dismounted and
lay down. About ten minutes later (being nearly dark) we heard a sudden rush — a
panic — and then a regular stampede commenced, in the midst of which I descried
our four cavalry heroes crossing a, field as fast as they could gallop. All was
now complete confusion; — officers mounting their horses, and pursuing those
which had got loose, and soldiers climbing over fences for protection against
the supposed advancing Yankees. In the middle of the din I heard an artillery
officer shouting to his “cannoneers” to stand by him, and plant the guns in a
proper position for enfilading the lane. I also distinguished Longstreet
walking about, hustled by the excited crowd, and remarking, in angry tones,
which could scarcely be heard, and to which no attention was paid, “Now, you
don't know what it is — you don't know what it is.” Whilst the row and
confusion were at their height, the object of all this alarm at length emerged
from the dark lane in the shape of a domestic four-wheel carriage, with a
harmless load of females. The stampede had, however, spread, increased in the
rear, and caused much harm and delay.
Cavalry skirmishing went on until quite dark, a determined
attack having been made by the enemy, who did his best to prevent the trains
from crossing the Potomac at William sport. It resulted in the success of the
Confederates; but every impartial man confesses that these cavalry fights are
miserable affairs. Neither party has any idea of serious charging with the
sabre. They approach one another with considerable boldness, until they get to
within about forty yards, and then, at the very moment when a dash is
necessary, and the sword alone should be used, they hesitate, halt, and
commence a desultory fire with carbines and revolvers.
An Englishman, named Winthrop, a captain in the Confederate
army, and formerly an officer in H.M.'s 22d regiment, although not in the
cavalry himself, seized the colours of one of the regiments, and rode straight
at the Yankees in the most gallant manner, shouting to the men to follow him.
He continued to distinguish himself by leading charges until his horse was
unfortunately killed. I heard his conduct on this occasion highly spoken of by
all. Stuart's cavalry can hardly be called cavalry in the European sense of the
word; but, on the other hand, the country in which they are accustomed to
operate is not adapted for cavalry.
—— was forced at last to give up wearing even his Austrian
forage-cap; for the last two days soldiers on the line of march had been
visiting his ambulance in great numbers, under the impression (encouraged by
the driver) that he was a Yankee general. The idea now was that the army would
remain some days in or near its present position until the arrival of the
ammunition from Winchester.
_______________
* From what I have seen of the Southern negroes, I am of
opinion that the Confederates could, if they chose, convert a great number into
soldiers; and from the affection which undoubtedly exists as a general rule
between the slaves and their masters, I think that they would prove more
efficient than black troops under any other circumstances. But I do not imagine
that such an experiment will be tried, except as a very last resort, partly on
account of the great value of the negroes, and partly because the Southerners
consider it improper to introduce such an element on a large scale into
civilised warfare. Any person who has seen negro features convulsed with rage,
may form a slight estimate of what the result would be of arming a vast number
of blacks, rousing their passions, and then allowing them free scope.
SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three
Months in the Southern States: April-June, 1863, p. 287-92
Labels:
21st MS INF CSA,
A P Hill,
Ammunition,
Arthur Fremantle,
Black Confederates,
Dead Horses,
horses,
James Longstreet,
Jeb Stuart,
John Bell Hood,
Negro/Negroes,
POW's,
R E Lee,
Richard Ewell,
The Retreat From Gettysburg,
Wade Hampton,
Wagons,
Wilcox,
Yankees
Diary of John Hay: April 20, 1861
Colonel Washington called this morning but could not see the
President.
It would seem like a happy chance to have a General
Washington living and fighting among us at this time.
The streets were full of the talk of Baltimore. It seems to
be generally thought that a mere handful of men has raised this storm that now
threatens the loyalty of a State.
I went up with Nicolay, Pangborn and Whitley to see the
Massachusetts troops quartered in the Capitol. The scene was very novel. The
contrast was very painful between the grey-haired dignity that filled the
Senate Chamber when I saw it last, and the present throng of bright-looking
Yankee boys, the most of them bearing the signs of New England rusticity in
voice and manner, scattered over the desks, chairs and galleries, some loafing,
many writing letters slowly and with plough-hardened hands, or with
rapid-glancing clerkly fingers, while Grow stood patient by the desk and franked
for everybody. The Hall of Representatives is as yet empty. Lying on a sofa and
looking upward, the magnificence of the barracks made me envy the soldiers who
should be quartered there. The wide-spreading sky-lights overarching the vast
hall like heaven, blushed and blazed with gold and the heraldic devices of the
married States, while, all around it, the eye was rested by the massive simple
splendor of the stalagmitic bronze reliefs. The spirit of our institutions
seemed visibly present to inspire and nerve the acolyte, sleeping in her temple
beside his unfleshed sword . . . .
The town is full to-night of feverish rumors about a
meditated assault upon the town, and one, which seems to me more probable, on
Fort McHenry. The garrison there, is weak and inadequate, and in spite of the
acknowledged bravery of Robinson and Hazard, it must fall if attacked.
Ellsworth telegraphs that his regiment has been raised,
accepted, and that he wants them sent to Fort Hamilton for preliminary drill. Cameron
authorised the answer that the commander there should have orders to that
effect. Much is hoped from the gallant Colonel's Bloodtubs. They would be worth
their weight in Virginia currency in Fort McHenry to-night.
The Massachusetts men drilled to-night on the Avenue. They
afford a happy contrast to the unlicked patriotism that has poured ragged and
unarmed out of Pennsylvania. They step together well, and look as if they meant
business.
Jim Lane wrote a note to the President to-day, offering to
bring any assignable number of northern fighting men over the border at the
shortest possible notice. Gen. Scott seems to think that four or five thousand
men will be a sufficient garrison to hold this town against any force that may
be brought out from Maryland or Virginia woods.
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 13; Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and
Letters of John Hay, Da Cappo Press, 1988 (Paperback), p. 4-6
Labels:
Baltimore,
Elmer Ellsworth,
Ft Hamilton,
Ft McHenry,
Galusha A Grow,
James H Lane,
John Hay,
Lincoln,
Maryland,
Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania,
Rumors,
US Capitol,
Washington DC,
Winfield Scott
Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Colonel Eliakim P. Scammon, May 7, 1862 – 6:30 p.m.
Camp Number 6, Giles, May 7, 1862, 6:30 o'clock.
Sir: — We
arrived here after a pretty severe march of twenty-eight miles. We know really
very little of the enemy. It is reported that the Jenifer Cavalry is at
Newbern, the Forty-fifth at Cloyd's Mountain, thirteen miles distant, also the
Twenty-second. We are without artillery and perhaps you would do well to send
us some. We are told that the enemy are informed of our strength and of the
large amount of property of theirs in our hands. There is no reason other than
this fact for apprehending an attack. The current rumor is that they intend
fortifying Cloyd's Mountain. You can judge from these facts what is required.
My opinion is we are perfectly safe. The property is valuable, very valuable,
especially for us here. It is worth here not less than five thousand dollars.
Respectfully,
R. B. Hayes,
Lieutenant-colonel 23D Regiment O. V. I.,
Commanding.
P. S. — General Heth is nowhere near here.
[colonel E. P. Scammon.]
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 255
Major Wilder Dwight to Elizabeth White Dwight, June 3, 1862
Dear Mother, — I send you my journal. You will see by it
that I became a prisoner by carelessness, mixed, perhaps, with good-nature. D——
is with me. I stay here to see about my exchange, &c. I am sorry you had so
much anxiety for me, but thankful to be able to relieve it. Love to all. My
reception by the regiment is reward enough. I must get back to them.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Amelia Dwight, Editor, Life and
Letters of Wilder Dwight: Lieut.-Col. Second Mass. Inf. Vols., p. 269
Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett: Friday, August 5, 1864
No better. Wrote mother, hope it will get through. Officers
sent to Columbia, S. C, yesterday. Find two or three old Eclectic Magazines to
read, Rogers's Poetical Works, and Caudle Lectures. I never knew what silly
things those were before.
Changed $50 U. S. for $200 C. S. currency.
SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William
Francis Bartlett, p. 121
Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: December 3, 1862
One of the President's Aids, Mr. Johnston, has asked the
Secretary's permission for Mrs E. B. Hoge, Mrs. M. Anderson, Miss Judith
Venable, and Mrs. R. J. Breckinridge, with children and servants, to leave
Richmond by flag of truce, and proceed to their homes in Kentucky. Of course it
will be granted — the President sanctions it, but does not commit himself by
ordering it.
There was no fighting on the Rappahannock yesterday, and no
rumors to-day.
Letters were received from Gen. Lee to-day. He says several
thousand of his men are barefoot! He suggests that shoes be taken from
the extortioners at a fair price. That is right. He also recommends a rule
of the department putting cavalry on foot when they cannot furnish good horses,
and mounting infantry that can and will procure them. This would cause better
care to be taken of horses. Gen. Lee also writes for more arms — which may
indicate a battle. But the weather is getting bad again, and the roads will not
admit of marching.
Mr. Gastrell, M. C, writes to the Secretary of War for
permission for Messrs. Frank and Gemot, a Jew firm of Augusta, Ga., to bring
through the lines a stock of goods they have just purchased of the Yankees in
Memphis. Being a member of Congress, I think his request will be granted. And
if all such applications be granted, I think money-making will soon absorb the
war, and bring down the prices of goods.
We are a confident people. There are no symptoms of trepidation,
although a hostile army of 150,000 men is now within two day's march of our
capital. A few of guilty consciences, the extortioners, may feel alarm — but
not the women and children. They reflect that over one hundred thousand of the
enemy were within four miles of the city last spring and summer—and were
repulsed.
The negroes are the best-clad people in the South. They have
their Sunday clothing, and the half-worn garments of their masters and
mistresses; and having worn these but once a week, they have a decidedly
fresher aspect than the dresses of their owners. They are well fed, too, at any
cost, and present a happy-appearance. And they are happy. It is a great mistake
of the Abolitionists, in supposing the slaves hail their coming with delight;
on the contrary, nearly all the negroes regard their approach with horror.
It might be well for the South if 500,000 of the slaves were
suddenly emancipated. The loss would not be felt — and the North would soon be
conscious of having gained nothing! My friend, Dr. Powell, near the city,
abandoned his farm last summer, when it was partly in possession of the enemy,
leaving fifty negroes on it — which he could have sold for $50,000. They
promised not to leave him, and they kept their word. Judge Donnell, in North
Carolina, has left his plantation with several hundred thousand dollars worth
on it — rather risking their loss than to sell them.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 201-3
Labels:
Abolitionists,
Arms,
Barefooted,
Children,
Confederate Congress,
Emancipation,
Flags of Truce,
horses,
Jefferson Davis,
Jews,
John Beauchamp Jones,
Negro/Negroes,
R E Lee,
Rappahannock River,
Seddon,
Slave Prices,
Slaves,
Women
Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: May 27, 1863
Early in the morning before sunrise the First Louisiana was
ordered into line of battle. Companies B, H, and E, were ordered “as
skirmishers.” My company was well posted in the skirmish drill, and I had no
fear about them. A dense forest in which was hidden a powerful foe lay between
us and his strong fortification, the fearful nature of whose armament we had
already been made sensible by the destructive missiles he had previously hurled
crashing through the trees at us. But not much time was allowed for these
reflections. We were quickly deployed, and Lieutenant Gardner being in command
of Company E gave the command of the first platoon to me, and the second to
Lieutenant Koblin. Colonel Holcomb was acting Brigadier General and he quickly
gave the command “Forward.” Flushed as we were with success, having been
continually seeing the enemy fleeing before us for the last two months whenever
we came up with them, victory had come to be almost a matter of course with us.
So the boys expected a real “picnic,” and it may as well be said that they got
it before the day was over. We had not proceeded more than two hundred yards
before the grey coats of our enemies appeared among the trees, and they made
their presence further known by a shower of bullets. The men returned the fire
with interest and a sharp fight was kept up for a few minutes when the rebs
gave way. I ordered the men to move forward as rapidly as possible, and not
halt to load, but to load and fire as they marched. They had practiced this on
the drill ground and knew how. In the excitement of the moment we entirely
overlooked the necessity of keeping in line with the rest of the skirmishers
and we soon found ourselves alone with one platoon of soldiers. The woods were
so dense I could not see the length of my platoon. I was afraid to be in the
rear for the danger of firing into them, and if we were forward of them they
would fire into us. I could see no remedy, so we kept on our way, loading and
firing into the bushes ahead as rapidly as possible, I could hear the
stentorian voice of Colonel Holcomb as he gave the command, “Forward on the
right!”
This I expected was intended for Company H as I feared they
were in my rear: So I reiterated the command and kept up a continual fire into
the woods in front. I think when I reiterated the command to “Forward on the
right” it drew the fire of the whole rebel picket line on us, immediately in
our front. But our fire soon silenced them and they disappeared entirely. This
gave us a clear passage so far as the rebels were concerned. But we kept up the
fire and pushed forward as fast as the nature of the ground would admit. We
continued our course in this way for about a mile and a half, when we arrived
at a small creek known as Thompsons creek, crossing this, we ascended a steep
bluff. About half way up I halted the skirmishers and myself and another
sergeant crept to the top to reconnoiter. About two hundred yards from the top
of the bluff across an old cotton field was the rebel breast works. To the
right was a deep basin of about seventy-five acres of felled timber commanded
by a battery of two guns. Everything was silent and scarcely a man was to be
seen, I believed the enemy was concealed behind the breastworks and did not
deem it prudent to approach any nearer until support arrived. I told the
sergeant next in rank to remain there and I would see if I could find any of
the rest of the skirmishers. At the foot of the bluff I found Colonel Holcomb
sitting on the bank wounded and Captain George, Company F, near by in command
of the reserve. The Colonel said to me, “Sergeant where are your skirmishers?”
I saluted him and said “Colonel they are up there (pointing up the bluff). We
are in front of the rebel breast works and cannot go further until we have
reinforcements.” He said, “I am wounded and cannot go further. A piece of shell
struck me on the hip and I am disabled. But you go and tell Captain Parsons to
charge on that gun that is firing down on us and take it.” “Very well,” I said,
I went out to the right in the direction Captain Parson ought to be but could
find nothing of him. I did not look long, and returned to report to the
Colonel. But he had gone to the rear. I then returned to my command. I found
the remainder of the line of skirmishers had arrived and taken up their
positions along the bluff. We had not been there long when the enemy seeing we
were not going to make a charge, opened upon us with a terriffic volley of
grape canister and musketry splitting the limbs of the trees above our heads
into splinters. I had my men stationed in a gully cut out from the side of the
bluff by the action of the water, so that the fire of the enemy could not reach
us. One poor fellow carelessly exposed himself and was shot through the brain
and fell at my feet. I looked down at him. He gasped once, and was dead. His
comrades took him away. The firing ceased and I looked round and discovered we were
alone. I said to the men, “What does this mean?” One of them said somebody
started a report that the rebels had come out from their works and were
flanking us.” I said it was all nonsense. “The rebels dare not come out from
there works; and we will hold the position until we are compelled to leave it.
It has cost us too much hard fighting to abandon it.” So I said to one of the
men, “How many cartridges have you got?” “One,” he replied, “besides the one in
my gun.” I asked another, and he said, “Four.” This I found was the average
number among the men. I said to them, “This is a bad state of things, but I think
we can deceive them for a while at any rate.” I told them that there was no
possible danger of being captured if we only kept a good lookout so that they
could not surprise us. I told them further to fire occasionally when a good
mark presented itself, so as to keep the enemy informed that we were there. I
then went around to the right of where Company H was posted and found Captain
Parsons of Company I and Lieutenant Jenner of Company D with their commands. I
told them of my condition and that we were out of ammunition. Lieutenant Jenner
generously gave me a few packages of cartridges and I returned to our heroic
little band, after promising Captain Parsons and Lieutenant Jenner that I would
hold the position to the last extremity. The sight of the cartridges inspired
the men, and whenever a mark presented itself it was attended to. The retreat
happened at about 12 m. We held the position until 2 p. m., when they returned.
Company H, B, and the second platoon of Company E retreated. They had been back
to our starting point in the morning. They all felt chagrined that they had
retreated so rashly, the officers in particular. One said, “Sergeant Smith,
where have you been?” I replied that I had been right there all the time. He
said, “You have not.” I replied that I had, and appealed to the men of my
command to prove my statement. He became convinced, and said, “Well, by G—d, I
would give a thousand dollars to be in your boots.” I did not know before that
I was doing anything more than my duty. They brought a supply of ammunition,
and I believe some grub, but I don't quite remember about the last. At 5 p. m.
a flag of truce was displayed from the breastworks of the enemy. A tremendous
cheering was heard all along the line, and contending parties of both sides
laid aside their arms and rushed out to see each other as though they had been
friends long parted. Two officers met, the flag of truce was found to be a
mistake, the two disappointed armies retired behind their breastworks, and the
firing begun again. But the truce showed me that I was right in my calculation
that there was a large force behind the breastworks in front of us, where we
charged up the bluff; for no sooner was the truce proclaimed than the rebel
soldiers swarmed out on the parapet like ants on an ant hill. If all the forces
in that immediate vicinity had combined and attempted to charge across that
plateau, there was force enough there to have swept it away like chaff from the
summer threshing floor, or ever they could possibly reach the breastworks. I
have thought sometimes that it was a blessing in disguise that Colonel Holcomb
was disabled on that morning, or that I failed to find Captain Parsons to
deliver his message.
SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from
a Soldier's Diary, p. 58-66
Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Saturday, May 21, 1864
Very warm and sultry until about 5 o'clock p. m. when quite
a hard thunder-storm come up and cooled off the air; remained in our breastworks
until about 4 o'clock p. m. when the first line was abandoned for the second
where we remained about an hour when all withdrew. Our Division was in rear and
had not gone more than twenty-five rods from our works when the rebs charged on
our picket line but without effect in our front, except to make us double quick
back and reoccupy our intrenchments where we remained about two hours then
quietly withdrew and marched all night. It's been a worrying day. Since the
fourteenth we've done nothing but march and countermarch and change about.
SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections
and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 63
Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: Friday, September 12, 1862
Spent a good part of the day building me a bed. Got some
boards at a house near camp. Drove down some stakes, made some crossbars and
fastened them and laid boards on top, making a very comfortable cot. Archie, Ed
and Reeve full of the Old Nick at night. Nothing of interest transpired. Report
that we were bound soon for Ohio.
SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman
Harris Tenney, p. 31
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, December 15, 1863
Last night rainy damp day
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January
1923, p. 500
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, December 16, 1863
Rained hard all day
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January
1923, p. 500
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Thursday, December 17, 1863
Tolerably cold
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January
1923, p. 500
Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday, December 18, 1863
Cool all day
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa
Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January
1923, p. 500
Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Sunday, July 5, 1863
The night was very bad — thunder and lightning, torrents of
rain — the road knee-deep in mud and water, and often blocked up with waggons “come
to grief.” I pitied the wretched plight of the unfortunate soldiers who were to
follow us. Our progress was naturally very slow indeed, and we took eight hours
to go as many miles.
At 8 A.M. we halted a little beyond the village of Fairfield,
near the entrance to a mountain-pass. No sooner had we done so and lit a fire,
than an alarm was spread that Yankee cavalry were upon us. Several shots flew
over our heads, but we never could discover from whence they came. News also
arrived of the capture of the whole of Ewell's beautiful wagons.* These reports
created a regular stampede amongst the waggoners, and Longstreet's drivers
started off as fast as they could go. Our medical trio, however, firmly
declined to budge, and came to this wise conclusion partly urged by the pangs of hunger, and partly from the
consideration that, if the Yankee cavalry did come, the crowded state of the
road in our rear would prevent our escape. Soon afterwards, some Confederate
cavalry were pushed to the front, who cleared the pass after a slight skirmish.
At noon, Generals Lee and Longstreet arrived, and halted
close to us. Soon afterwards Ewell came up. This is the first time I ever saw
him. He is rather a remarkable-looking old soldier, with a bald head, a
prominent nose, and rather a haggard, sickly face: having so lately lost his
leg above the knee, he is still a complete cripple, and falls off his horse
occasionally. Directly he dismounts he has to be put on crutches. He was
Stonewall Jackson's coadjutor during the celebrated valley campaigns, and he
used to be a great swearer — in fact, he is said to have been the only person
who was unable to restrain that propensity before Jackson; but since his late
(rather romantic) marriage, he has (to use the American expression) “joined the Church.” When
I saw him he was in a great state of disgust in consequence of the supposed
loss of his waggons, and refused to be comforted by General Lee.
I joined Longstreet again, and, mounted on Lawley's
venerable horse, started at 3 P.M. to ride through the pass. At 4 P.M. we
stopped at a place where the roads fork, one leading to Emmetsburg, and the
other to Hagerstown. Major Moses and I entered a farmhouse, in which we found
several women, two wounded Yankees, and one dead one, the result of this
morning's skirmish. One of the sufferers was frightfully wounded in the head;
the other was hit in the knee: the latter told me he was an Irishman, and had
served in the Bengal Europeans during the Indian Mutiny. He now belonged to a
Michigan cavalry regiment, and had already imbibed American ideas of Ireland's
wrongs, and all that sort of trash. He told me that his officers were very bad,
and that the idea in the army was that M'Clellan had assumed the chief command.
The women in this house were great Abolitionists. When Major
Fairfax rode up, he inquired of one of them whether the corpse was that of a
Confederate or Yankee (the body was in the verandah, covered with a white
sheet). The woman made a gesture with her foot, and replied,”If it was a rebel,
do you think it would be here long?” Fairfax then said, “Is it a woman who
speaks in such a manner of a dead body which can do no one any harm?” She
thereupon coloured up, and said she wasn't in earnest.
At 6 o'clock we rode on again (by the Hagerstown road) and
came up with General Longstreet at 7.30. The road was full of soldiers marching
in a particularly lively manner — the wet and mud seemed to have produced no
effect whatever on their spirits, which were as boisterous as ever. They had
got hold of coloured prints of Mr Lincoln, which they were passing about from
company to company with many remarks upon the personal beauty of Uncle Abe. The
same old chaff was going on of “Come out of that hat — I know you're in it — I sees
your legs a-dangling down,” &c. When we halted for the night, skirmishing
was going on in front and rear — Stuart in front and Ewell in rear. Our bivouac
being near a large tavern, General Longstreet had ordered some supper there for
himself and his Staff; but when we went to devour it, we discovered General
M'Laws and his officers rapidly finishing it. We, however, soon got more, the
Pennsylvanian proprietors being particularly anxious to propitiate the General,
in hopes that he would spare their live stock, which had been condemned to
death by the ruthless Moses.
During supper women came rushing in at intervals, saying —“Oh,
good heavens, now they're killing our fat hogs. Which is the General? which is
the Great Officer? Our milch cows are now going.” To all which expressions
Longstreet replied, shaking his head in a melancholy manner — “Yes, madam, it's
very sad — very sad; and this sort of thing has been going on in Virginia more
than two years — very sad.”
We all slept in the open, and the heavy rain produced no
effect upon our slumbers.
I understand it is impossible to cross the lines by flag of
truce. I therefore find myself in a dilemma about the expiration of my leave.
_______________
* It afterwards turned out that all escaped but
thirty-eight.
SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three
Months in the Southern States: April-June, 1863, p. 283-7
Labels:
Abolitionists,
Arthur Fremantle,
Description of Ewell,
George B. McClellan,
James Longstreet,
Jeb Stuart,
Lafayette McLaws,
R E Lee,
Richard Ewell,
Shenandoah Valley 1862,
skirmishes,
Stonewall Jackson,
The Irish,
The Retreat From Gettysburg,
Wagons,
Weather
Diary of John Hay: Friday, April 19, 1861
Early this morning I consulted with Major Hunter as to
measures proper to be taken in the matter of guarding the house. He told me
that he would fulfil any demand I should make. The forenoon brought us news of
the destruction of Government property at Harper's Ferry. It delighted the
Major, regarding it as a deadly blow at the prosperity of the recusant
Virginia.
I called to see Joe Jefferson, and found him more of a
gentleman than I had expected. A very intellectual face, thin and eager, with
large, intense blue eyes, the lines firm, and the hair darker than I had
thought. I then went to see Mrs. Lander, and made her tell her story all over
again “just by way of a slant.” Miss Lander the sculptor was there. I liked
Jean M. more and more. Coming up, I found the streets full of the bruit of the
Baltimore mob,1 and at the White House was a nervous gentleman who
insisted on seeing the President to say that a mortar battery has been planted
on the Virginia heights, commanding the town. He separated himself from the
information and instantly retired. I had to do some very dexterous lying to
calm the awakened fears of Mrs. Lincoln in regard to the assassination suspicion.
After tea came Partridge and Petherbridge from Baltimore.
They came to announce that they had taken possession of the Pikesville Arsenal
in the name of the Government — to represent the feeling of the Baltimore
conservatives in regard to the present imbroglio there, and to assure the
President of the entire fidelity of the Governor and the State authorities. The
President showed them Hick’s and Brown’s despatch, which (said) “Send no troops
here. The authorities here are loyal to the Constitution. Our police force and
local militia will be sufficient;” meaning as they all seemed to think, that
they wanted no Washington troops to preserve order; but, as Seward insists,
that no more troops must be sent through the city. Scott seemed to agree with Seward
& his answer to a despatch of inquiry was: “Governor Hicks has no authority
to prevent troops from passing through Baltimore.” Seward interpolated, “no
right.” Partridge and Petherbridge seemed both loyal and hopeful. They spoke of
the danger of the North being roused to fury by the bloodshed of to-day and
pouring in an avalanche over the border. The President most solemnly assured
them that there was no danger. “Our people are easily influenced by reason.
They have determinded to prosecute this matter with energy, but with the most
temperate spirit. You are entirely safe from lawless invasion.”
Wood came up to say that young Henry saw a steamer landing
troops off Fort Washington. I told the President. Seward immediately drove to Scotts’.
About midnight we made a tour of the house. Hunter and the
Italian exile Vivaldi were quietly asleep on the floor of the East Room, and a
young and careless guard loafed around the furnace fires in the basement; good
looking and energetic young fellows, too good to be food for gunpowder, —if
anything is.
Miss Dix called to-day to offer her services in the hospital
branch. She makes the most munificent and generous offers.
_______________
1 Abraham Lincoln, iv, 123. The
attack on the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment took place in Baltimore towards noon
this day.
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 11-13: Tyler Dennett, Lincoln and the
Civil War in the Diaries and Letters of John Hay, p. 3-4.
Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, Wednesday, May 7, 1862 – 6:30 p.m.
Giles Court-house, or Parisburg [Pearisburg], Camp Number
6. — Just reached here from Princeton after a fatiguing march of
twenty-eight miles. Found the major very glad to see us. All anxious, hearing
reports of [the] Forty-fifth reinforced by [the] Thirty-sixth or [the]
Twenty-second with artillery, etc., etc. Now all safe if we are vigilant. The
country after the road strikes New River is romantic, highly cultivated, and
beautiful. Giles Court-house is [a] neat, pretty village with a most
magnificent surrounding country both as regards scenery and cultivation. The
people have all been Secesh, but are polite and intelligent. When Major Comly,
Captain Gilmore, and Captain Drake entered town, the people were standing on
the corners, idly gossiping — more numerous than the invaders. They did not at
first seem to know who it was; then such a scampering, such a rushing into the
streets of women, such weeping, scolding, begging, etc., etc.
Spent the night posting pickets and arranging against an
attack so as to prevent a surprise. At midnight a citizen came in saying the
enemy were preparing to attack us — the Forty-fifth and Twenty-second — when he
was at their camp, twelve miles from here at Cloyd's Mountain. I doubled the
pickets, dressed myself and kept about quietly all the rest of the night.
SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and
Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 254-5
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