Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 23, 1864 – 9 a.m.

June 23, 1864, 9 a. m.

The Rebels opened furiously from the mountain last night about 12. Here they are firing at a division of the 14th who had advanced and were fortifying. No harm done. I failed to wake up. It is reported this morning that Ewell's Corps has arrived to reinforce Johnston. Don't think it will make him strong enough to assume the offensive, if true, and don't believe it any way. Artillery commenced again half an hour since, and goes on slowly. Rebels haven't gone, surely.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 267

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 26, 1864

Front of Kenesaw Mountain, June 26, 1864.

Nothing worth mentioning has occurred since my last. The usual amount of artillery and musketry have kept us sure of the enemy's still holding his position. I have sent you, piecemeal, a journal of every day since May 1st, excepting the last four days, which were stupid. It promises to be interesting enough now. We received orders yesterday p. m. to be ready to move at dark, and were all glad enough. When we are in the face of the enemy I believe one is better contented in the front line than anywhere else, though, like every other good thing, it becomes old. At 7 p. m. we moved out and it took us until 2 a. m. to march three miles. We relieved Jeff C. Davis' division, which moved farther to the right. It is right at the foot of the west one of the twin mountains. The Johnnies shot into our ranks with impunity. They have to-day killed one and wounded three of our brigade that I know of, and more in the 1st Brigade. Dr. Morris' brother is the only man struck in our regiment; he is not hurt much.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 267

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 27, 1864 - Daylight

June 27, 1864, daylight.

The battle comes off to-day. It will be opened on the flanks at 6 a. m. We do not commence until 8 a. m. Our brigade and one from each of the other two divisions of the corps are selected to charge the mountain. The 17th A. C. will try the left hand mountain. If we are successful with a loss of only half our number in this mountain charging, I will think our loss more than repaid. I believe we are going to thoroughly whip Johnston to-day, and if we fail I do not care to live to see it.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 268

Brevet Major-General George Armstrong Custer to the Soldiers of the 3rd Cavalry Division, April 9, 1865

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION,       

Appomattox Court-House, Va., April 9, 1865.

SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION:

With profound gratitude toward the God of battles, by whose blessings our enemies have been humbled and our arms rendered triumphant, your commanding general avails himself of this his first opportunity to express to you his admiration of the heroic manner in which you have passed through the series of battles which to-day resulted in the surrender of the enemy's entire army. The record established by your indomitable courage is unparalleled in the annals of war. Your prowess has won for you even the respect and admiration of your enemies. During the past six months, although in most instances confronted by superior numbers, you have captured from the enemy in open battle 111 pieces of field artillery, 65 battle-flags, and upward of 10,000 prisoners of war, including general officers. Within the past ten days, and included in the above, you have captured 46 pieces of field artillery and 37 battle-flags. You have never lost a gun, never lost a color, and have never been defeated, and notwithstanding the numerous engagements in which you have borne a prominent part, including those memorable battles of the Shenandoah, you have captured every piece of artillery which the enemy has dared to open upon you. The near approach of peace renders it improbable that you will again be called upon to undergo the fatigues of the toilsome march, or the exposure of the battle-field, but should the assistance of keen blades, wielded by your sturdy arms, be required to hasten the coming of that glorious peace for which we have been so long contending, the general commanding is proudly confident that in the future, as in the past, every demand will meet with a hearty and willing response. Let us hope that our work is done, and that, blessed with the comforts of peace, we may soon be permitted to enjoy the pleasures of home and friends.

For our comrades who have fallen, let us ever cherish a grateful remembrance. To the wounded and to those who languish in Southern prisons, let our heartfelt sympathies be tendered.

And now, speaking for myself alone, when the war is ended and the task of the historian begins; when those deeds of daring which have rendered the name and fame of the Third Cavalry Division imperishable, are inscribed upon the bright pages of our country's history, I only ask that my name may be written, as that of the commander of the Third Cavalry Division.

G. A. CUSTER,

Brevet Major-General.

Official:

            L. W. Barnhart

                        Captain and A. A. A. G.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 46, Part 1 (Serial No. 95), p. 1133-4  Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 156

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 140. Report of Maj. David G. Bowers, Fifth Tennessee infantry, of operations November 22-30, 1864.

No. 140.

Report of Maj. David G. Bowers, Fifth Tennessee infantry,

of operations November 22-30, 1864.

HDQRS. FIFTH REGT. EAST TENNESSEE VOL. INFTY.,       

Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with circular just received, bearing date of the present instant, I respectfully submit the following report of the operations of the Fifth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers, viz:

On the 22d of November, at daylight, I received orders to march, and took up the line of march from Pulaski, on the Columbia pike, and arrived at Lynnville at 11 a.m., a distance of twelve miles from Pulaski. At Lynnville we went into camp, and remained quiet until 1 p.m. November 23, at which time I received orders from General Cox to report to Colonel Casement, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, and at the same time received a verbal order to report immediately with my regiment on the pike leading to Columbia. I fell in at the rear of the brigade, and marched until 7 p.m., and then went into camp, having marched a distance of eleven miles. I received orders to be ready to march at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 24th, and took up the line of march at daylight toward Columbia. We arrived at Columbia at 10 a.m. same day, having gone eight miles, and took position to the south of the town, and received orders to construct works of defense. At 2 p.m. I moved to the right and to the southwest of the town, and took position in line of battle, my right resting near the Mount Pleasant pike, and facing to the south. We there constructed a line of breastworks and sent out skirmishers, who engaged the enemy. We remained in that position until 7 p.m. on the 25th, when we received orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. About 11 p.m. we moved slowly through the town, and crossed the Duck River; moved up the river half a mile, and rested for the night. Captain Sparks and thirty men were on picket, and did not cross the river until the morning of the 27th. On the 26th one man of Sparks' detail was wounded. On the morning of the 26th we moved in position, and there remained until the 29th. At 7 p.m. on the 29th we were ordered into line, and marched out half a mile on the Franklin pike, and took position behind earthworks to the left of the pike. We remained there half an hour, and then took up the line of march for Franklin. We arrived at Franklin at 5 a.m. on the morning of the 30th, having marched twenty-three miles during the night. Captain Ragle, Company K, and thirty men, brought up the rear of the brigade from Columbia, and arrived at Franklin about 9 a.m., having lost one man, who, from fatigue, was left by the way, and probably fell into the hands of the enemy. On the night of the 29th our wagons were attacked by the enemy, and one of them burned or destroyed, containing regimental baggage Part of our baggage, which was sent to Pulaski, by instructions from Colonel Henderson, for want of transportation, was destroyed on the 23d, including part of the regimental and company books and papers.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

DAVID G. BOWERS,          

Major, Commanding Fifth Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.

Capt. C. D. RHODES,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 428-9

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 139. Report of Col. John M. Orr, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry, of operations November 28-30, 1864.

No. 139.

Report of Col. John M. Orr, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Infantry,

of operations November 28-30, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS 124TH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,  

Nashville, Tenn., December 7, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of the One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers since the afternoon of the 28th of November, 1864, at which time my regiment was detached, by order of Col. J. S. Casement, from the brigade, and ordered to the rear to guard the crossing at Rutherford's Creek, near Columbia:

On the afternoon of the 29th I received orders from Major-General Schofield to picket all roads running east for a distance of one mile from the pike, between Rutherford's Creek and Spring Hill, Company B being left on picket on said creek. In compliance with orders, I moved the remainder of the command forward. After moving two or three miles, Company C was ordered by General Ruger to move off the road and into the woods to the support of his own pickets. The company was posted by his assistant adjutant-general, there to await the order of the general. Moving on to Poplar Grove, five companies (D, E, H, I, and K), under command of Lieut. Col. Henry H. Neff, were placed on a road leading east. Companies A, F, and G, under my own immediate command, advanced toward Spring Hill, some one mile and a half or two miles from Poplar Grove. While here cannonading could be distinctly heard in the direction of Spring Hill. Report soon came by courier that the enemy held the pike in my immediate front, and were advancing. Company A was immediately deployed as skirmishers, and advanced upon the enemy. Companies F and G were ordered to blockade the pike. They were then ordered to the front as skirmishers, which order was promptly obeyed, and soon connected their left with the right of the advancing line. Company A soon became hotly engaged with the enemy; Companies F and G were also soon engaged, forcing the enemy to retire, after which I ordered the companies previously stationed on the roads to move forward and join their command. Company A lost one man, seriously wounded through the left lung, who was left at a house near by, and fell into the enemy's hands. From here we moved on toward Franklin, where we arrived at 6 a.m. 30th, here going into position with the brigade. While here Company B joined us from off picket at Columbia, having been detained until the rear of the army had passed; Company C failed to report. It was placed on picket, by order of Brigadier-General Ruger, there awaiting his orders to be relieved, but he failing to give the necessary instructions, the company is supposed to have maintained its position awaiting for orders, but receiving none, was captured by the enemy.

 JNO. M. ORR,          

 Colonel, Commanding.

 Capt. C. D. RHODES,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 427-8

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 138. Report of Lieut. Col. John W. Hammond, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, of operations November 22-30, 1864.

No. 138.

Report of Lieut. Col. John W. Hammond, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry,

of operations November 22-30, 1864.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FIFTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS, 

Nashville, Tenn., December 6, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of my regiment from the 22d of November, 1864, to the date of our arrival at Franklin, Tenn.:

The regiment was with the brigade all the time covered by this report. The only items worthy of special notice (if any are) are the following: On the 25th two companies (E and F), under Major Baker, were sent up Duck River, on the north side, to reconnoiter the fords for five miles, which he did, and returned at 12.30 p.m., having found the fords impracticable and no enemy in sight of them. Company D was sent the same day to Rutherford's Creek to construct a foot bridge, which was done, and the company left there on picket, and joined the command at Spring Hill on the night of the 29th of November. The march from Columbia to Franklin, twenty-two miles, from 8 p.m. to 4.30 a.m., with scarcely a halt, would be worthy of notice if the regiment had been separated from the brigade. The regiment arrived at Franklin, Tenn., November 30, 4.30 a.m., not having lost a single man, so far as known, by straggling or otherwise.

I was ordered to hold my regiment as a reserve to the First Brigade, guarding the ford at Columbia, on the 28th and 29th of November. There the regiment was under some shelling from the enemy's batteries, but, with its usual happy fortune, sustained no loss. Beyond this, nothing occurred out of the usual routine until the battle of Franklin, a report of which is not desired.

Respectfully submitted.

JOHN W. HAMMOND,       

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Capt. C. D. RHODES,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 427

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 137. Report of Lieut. Col. W. Scott Stewart, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry, of operations November 22-30, 1864.

No. 137.

Report of Lieut. Col. W. Scott Stewart, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry,

of operations November 22-30, 1864.

HDQRS. SIXTY-FIFTH ILLINOIS VETERAN VOL. INFANTRY,       

Nashville, Tenn., December 6, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In accordance with circular of December 5, I hereby have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Sixty-fifth Illinois from November 22 to November 30, 1864:

The regiment left Pulaski, Tenn., on the 22d day of November, at 7 a.m., marched seven miles, and went into camp near Lynnville; the next day it broke camp at 1 p.m., and marched about eight miles on the road toward Columbia; the march was continued early on the 24th, and the regiment arrived at Columbia at about noon, when it immediately took up position south of the city and intrenched strongly. At 11 o'clock the following day the regiment was ordered out on picket duty, and was posted as reserve of the skirmish line, behind a protecting rail breast-work. Shortly after the regiment was in position the enemy advanced in force, but he was checked as soon as the front was cleared from our retiring skirmishers by our promptly delivered fire. The enemy not deeming further attempt to advance his infantry prudent, brought his artillery into position, and the regiment was exposed to a severe fire from the front and the right flank. The rail fence proved to be a pernicious position, for the regiment crowded behind it, and to prevent a useless and great loss of life, the order was given to retire. With the loss of 1 officer and 3 men wounded (severely) and 1 private killed, the regiment fell about seventy-five yards back, under the shelter of the hill crest. The line was immediately established, and Companies B, G, and K, under command of Capt. R. S. Montgomery, advanced as skirmishers into the old position behind the rail breast-work. After dark the regiment, in compliance with received orders, marched back to camp, leaving the above-mentioned detachment on the skirmish line. It crossed the Duck River the same night, and went into camp one mile and a half north of Columbia early on the morning of the 26th. Companies B, G, K held, according to orders, their position against the enemy's pressing infantry and most destructive artillery, and at 7 o'clock on the 26th of November, after having lost more than one-third of their number, the companies retired in good order and fell back to the first line of breast-works, where they remained until the 27th of November; they crossed the river after dark and joined late at night the regiment. The regiment remained in camp until the 29th, when it in the evening resumed the march, and arrived at Franklin early in the morning of the 30th; distance, twenty-five miles.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. S. STEWART,     

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Sixty-fifth Illinois.

Capt. C. D. RHODES,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 3d Div., 23d Army Corps.

_______________

* Nominal list of casualties, on file, shows 3 men killed, 3 officers an 15 men wounded, and 5 men missing during the month of November, 1864.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 426

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 136. Reports of Col. John S. Casement, One hundred and third Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations November 22-30 and December 15-16, 1864.

No. 136.

Reports of Col. John S. Casement, One hundred and third Ohio Infantry, commanding Second Brigade,
of operations November 22-30 and December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS, 

Nashville, Tenn., December 8, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade from November 22, the time of leaving Pulaski, until November 30, the day we arrived at Franklin:

Left Pulaski on the 22d and marched to Lynnville, distance twelve miles. On the 23d and 24th marched to Columbia, distance seventeen miles, and went into position on a ridge about one mile south of the town, the right of the brigade resting on the Mount Pleasant pike, and threw up works. On the 25th the Sixty-fifth Illinois, Lieut. Col. W. S. Stewart commanding, was ordered to the front to relieve the Sixteenth Kentucky Infantry, which was occupying a rail barricade commanding the crossing of a creek near the skirmish line. The regiment was hardly in position when a brisk skirmish ensued, during which our skirmish line was driven in, but the enemy finding that they could not dislodge Colonel Stewart with their infantry fire, got batteries into position and opened a cross-fire of artillery on him, which obliged him to retire a short distance. Soon afterward three companies of the same regiment were sent to occupy the barricade, which they did until the next morning, but not without considerable loss. At about 12 o'clock on the night of the 25th the brigade withdrew across Duck River, leaving our skirmish line in its original position. On the 27th the One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana, commanded by Col. John M. Orr, was ordered to Rutherford's Creek, with instructions to picket all roads leading to the east. Colonel Orr afterward received further orders from General Ruger, for which you are referred to his report. On the evening of the 29th we withdrew from the vicinity of Columbia, and reached Franklin at daylight the next morning.

Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing is as follows: Commissioned officers — Capt. Robert S. Montgomery, Capt. Axel F. Ekstrom, and Lieut. James Miller, Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, wounded. Enlisted men — One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana., 1 killed, 9 wounded, 39 missing; Sixty-fifth Illinois, 3 killed, 15 wounded, 5 missing; Fifth Tennessee, 1 wounded, 3 missing. Total, 4 killed, 25 wounded, and 47 missing.

I inclose herewith the reports of regimental commanders.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. S. CASEMENT,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. THEO. Cox,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Div., 23d Army Corps.

_______________

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS, 

Nashville, Tenn., December 5, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with orders received from headquarters Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this brigade during the battle of the 30th ultimo:

The brigade went into position at about 9 a.m., east of the Columbia pike, forming the center of the division, facing south, in the following order: Sixty-fifth Indiana, Lieut. Col. J. W. Hammond commanding, on the right; Sixty-fifth Illinois, Lieut. Col. W. S. Stewart commanding, in the center; One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana, Col. John M. Orr commanding, on the left; and the Fifth Tennessee, Maj. D. G. Bowers commanding, in the reserve; and threw up strong works, with an abatis of Osage orange. The enemy attacked in force at about 4 p.m., engaging the whole line. The firing was kept up with great vigor until dark, during which time the enemy made several distinct charges, but were repulsed each time with terrible slaughter. Soon after dark the firing ceased and a skirmish line was advanced, when a large number of the enemy's killed and wounded were found; among the former was Brigadier-General Adams. During the engagement quite a number of prisoners came over our works and were passed to the rear, but it is impossible to form any correct estimate of the number taken by this brigade.

Our loss in killed and wounded was as follows: Sixty-fifth Indiana, 1 killed, 5 wounded; One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana, 1 killed, 5 wounded; Sixty-fifth Illinois, 1 wounded; Fifth Tennessee, 1 killed, 5 wounded; total, 3 killed and 16 wounded. Among the wounded was Lieut. Amos Groenendyke, Company F, One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana.

Both officers and men did their whole duty; not a man left the works unless ordered to do so, which accounts for the small loss.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. S. CASEMENT,     

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. THEO. Cox,

            Assistant Adjutant-General.

_______________

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS,

Spring Hill, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders received, I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this brigade during the battles of the 15th and 16th instant:

We withdrew from our line near the Franklin pike at daybreak on the morning of the 15th and massed out of sight of the enemy, where we remained until after noon, and then moved to the right of the army and went into position at dark, east of the Hillsborough pike, the First Brigade of this division being on our right and the Sixteenth Corps on the left, and during the night threw up works, which we occupied during the next day, and as our line was within easy musket-range of the enemy, they annoyed us considerably during the day with musketry fire; but at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon a portion of the Sixteenth Corps charged and took a hill in our front, on which the enemy had a strong line of fortifications, and the First Brigade of this division charged at about the game time and carried the hill in their front, which relieved us entirely. We then moved to the right and occupied the works vacated by the First Brigade, where we remained during the night.

Our loss is as follows: Wounded — One hundred and twenty-fourth Indiana Volunteers, 3; Fifth Tennessee Volunteers, 1; Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteers, 5; total, 9.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. S. CASEMENT,     

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. THEO. Cox,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Div., 23d Army Corps.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 424-5

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 135. Report of Capt. James W. Berry, Eighth Tennessee Infantry, of operations December 15-16, 1864.

No. 135.

Report of Capt. James W. Berry, Eighth Tennessee Infantry,

of operations December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. EIGHTH TENNESSEE VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,    

Near Spring Hill, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that during the operation against the enemy's left, in front of Nashville, on the 15th of December, this regiment, with the others composing the brigade, was held in reserve as support for the Third Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps. During the night of the 15th the latter brigade was withdrawn and our own advanced and occupied the ground, throwing up during the night strong breast-works, which we occupied until about 2 o'clock of the following day. About this hour the brigade was ordered to charge the works in their front, which was successfully done. In this charge this regiment held the extremity of the line of our brigade. In that portion of the works taken by this regiment, in connection with the One hundredth Ohio, were captured four pieces of artillery, which, or at least two of them, were being loaded by the gunners, but they were so closely pressed that they were compelled to abandon them, leaving the charges in the muzzles of the guns. These two regiments also captured two mules and wagon, the latter being loaded with grape and canister. Subsequently this regiment moved forward about 150 yards to the crest of a hill, built temporary works and camped for the night, and the next morning we found the enemy gone.

We lost none in these actions.

Respectfully,

J. W. BERRY,                       

Captain, Commanding Eighth Tennessee Infantry.

Capt. J. H. BROWN,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 423

Official Reports of the Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee, November 14, 1864 — January 23, 1865: No. 134. Reports of Col. Oscar W. Sterl, One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry, of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

No. 134.

Reports of Col. Oscar W. Sterl, One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry,

of operations November 30 and December 15-16, 1864.

HDQRS. 104TH REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,                      

Nashville, Tenn., December 6, 1864.

SIR: In obedience to your command, I have the honor to transmit a report of the part taken by the One hundred and fourth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the battle at Franklin, Tenn.

The regiment (in connection with the brigade) reached Franklin, Tenn., from Columbia, about 5 o'clock on the morning of the 30th ultimo, and bivouacked in line until about 8 a.m., when the brigade went into position in two lines, on the right of the division — the One hundredth and One hundred and fourth Ohio formed the first line, the One hundredth on the right, its right resting on the Columbia pike, and the One hundred and fourth joining it on the left. The regiment immediately erected in its front a good breast-work, most of the companies putting head-logs upon their works. These were scarcely completed until the rebels advanced in two lines against the Second Brigade of the division, on our left. A curve in the works of the left wing of the regiment enabled the left companies to enfilade the lines of the rebels as they advanced, and the three left companies fired several rounds, doing good execution, when the rebel lines fell back in disorder and confusion. Immediately afterward a brigade of the Fourth Corps, which had been posted on a ridge about 500 yards in front of our works, began falling back, first in good line and order, and afterward in great haste and confusion, when it became apparent that the real charge was being directed against that part of the line occupied by this regiment, the One hundredth Ohio, and the brigade of the Second Division on the right of the pike. As the line of the Fourth Corps fell back from the ridge it was followed at a distance of not over 100 paces by the first line of the rebel infantry, which gained rapidly upon it, so that the men of the Fourth Corps had scarcely crossed our works until the ditches in front were filled with rebels, scrambling to get over the works, and in some instances, upon the right of the regiment and in front of the One hundredth Ohio, many of the rebels passed over the works in company with the rear of the Fourth Corps men. The confusion and hurry of the crossing of this advance line, their officers crying to them, to “get to the rear and reform,” came near throwing our line in confusion, and the three right companies borne back by them, and in doubt as to the commands, fell back a few paces, but in almost a moment afterward rushed back, with fixed bayonets, and regained their works. The Sixteenth and Twelfth Kentucky rushed from the second line simultaneously with them and joined them and the One hundredth Ohio, on the first line, from which (having overcome all the rebels who had crossed the works) they kept up a constant and destructive stream of fire, cutting down by hundreds the rebels who had accumulated and massed in the ditches and immediately in front. The other seven companies to the left, so soon as the Fourth Corps men had crossed, began to pour forth such a severe fire that though the rebels in greater number than their line had gained the ditches, were unable to attempt getting over the works, but were cut to pieces by the destructive fire of the men. The rebels in this charge were seen in three lines at least, but if in more, the smoke of the firing prevented us from seeing their approach. So soon as it became apparent that this charge was repulsed, the firing was stilled, and those of the rebels in the ditches who were not killed or wounded were ordered to ground arms and surrender, when about 300 climbed over the works and were sent to the rear. Then almost immediately a second charge of the rebels followed, equaled only in fierce determination and bravery by that of the first charge; this was again met by a fire equally as true in aim and destruction as before, resulting in the complete repulse of the enemy, when about 200 more prisoners were taken in over the works. By the time the second charge was repulsed night had come, and, though firing was afterward directed at our line from the front, and replied to by our men, yet no subsequent charge was successful in reaching near to our works. The regiment remained in the works until after 11 p.m., when, with their command, retired across the Harpeth River, and took up the line of march toward Nashville.

Eleven rebel battle-flags were taken in front of our lines (two by Color-Corpl. Newton H. Hall,* Company I, who shot their bearers, and crossed over and captured them during the heaviest of the firing); 9 of them were turned over to brigade headquarters; the others are reported as having been sent to friends at home by mail before it was known by the captors that they should be turned over, or orders received requiring it. The slaughter of the rebels was very great, the ditches were filled with them, and the ground for many rods in front was literally covered with their dead and wounded.

The officers and men all did nobly, and when the battle was ended and the rolls called scarcely any were missing.

Our casualties in this engagement were: Killed, 1 commissioned officer, 16 enlisted men; wounded, 2 commissioned officers, 32 enlisted men; missing, 6 enlisted men; total, 3 commissioned officers and 54 enlisted men.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

O. W. STERL,                       

Colonel 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

ACTG. ASST. ADJT. GEN., 1ST BRIG., 3D DIV., 23D A. C.

_______________

HEADQUARTERS 104TH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,  

Near Spring Hill, Tenn., December 22, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In accordance with instructions, I would respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the One hundred and fourth Ohio Infantry Volunteers in the operations of the 15th and 16th of December, in front of Nashville, Tenn.:

Having been relieved from our position in the works to the right of the Franklin pike, in connection with the rest of the brigade, the One hundred and fourth moved to the right of the Granny White pike, in rear of the Fourth Corps; remained there until 1 p.m., when this regiment, in connection with the rest of the brigade, was moved off to the right, through the works, marching in the rear and parallel to the Fourth Corps and Smith's corps until we had gained the extreme right, when, changing direction, we were moved to the front, crossing the Hillsborough pike over the ridge on which the Fifteenth Indiana Battery was in position and into a corn-field, where the brigade was halted in column of regiments, the One hundred and fourth in front. Here we lost three men wounded from gunshots from the enemy posted on the ridge in front of us. The troops in our immediate front being at this time pressed very hard by the enemy the First Brigade was ordered up for support, the One hundred and fourth taking the advance. Moving up under protection of the ridge we obtained position without loss. Remaining quiet until after dark, the brigade was placed in position in line of battle, the One hundred and fourth on the right and flank. The night was passed in throwing up works. December 16, remained in position in our works until between 3 and 4 p.m., when the order came for the First Brigade to charge the works in trout of us. The One hundred and fourth having been placed on the flank in the works at an angle with our main line we were detained some little time in changing front. On reaching their works the enemy were found flying in confusion, having abandoned them without much resistance. The brigade again going into position in line of battle, the One hundred and fourth on the left, temporary works were thrown up during the night.

Very respectfully,

O. W. STERL,                       

Colonel 104th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

|Capt. J. H. BROWN,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.|

_______________

* Awarded a Medal of Honor.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45, Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 421-3

6th Indiana Independent Battery Light Artillery

Organized at Evansville, Ind., and mustered in at Indianapolis, Ind., September 7, 1861. Left State for Henderson, Ky., October 2. Attached to District of Paducah, Ky., to March, 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, District of Memphis, Tenn., to November, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, 17th Army Corps, to January, 1863. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to July, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps, to December, 1863. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, Sturgis' Expedition, June, 1864. Artillery, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, to November, 1864. 1st Brigade, Post and Defences of Memphis, Tenn., District of West Tennessee, to December, 1864. Artillery Reserve, District of West Tennessee, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. — Duty at Henderson, Calhoun, South Carrollton, Owensburg and Paducah, Ky.. till March, 1862. Moved from Paducah to Savannah, Tenn., March 6-10. Expedition to Yellow Creek, Miss., and occupation of Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., March 14-17. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. March to Memphis, Tenn., Juno 1-July 21, via Lagrange, Grand Junction and Holly Springs. Action near Holly Springs July 1. Duty at Memphis, Tenn., till November 26. Grant's Central Mississippi Campaign November 26, 1862, to January 10, 1863. Duty at Lagrange, Lafayette and Colliersville, Tenn., till June, 1863. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., June 9; thence to Vicksburg, Miss. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss. Siege of Vicksburg June 12-July 4. Advance on Jackson, Miss., July 4-10. Siege of Jackson July 10-17. Camp at Oak Ridge and Bear Creek till October 14. Expedition to Canton October 14-20. Bogue Chitto Creek October 17. Moved to Memphis, Tenn., November; thence to Lagrange and Pocahontas, and duty there till January, 1864. Veteranize January 1, 1864. Moved to Vicksburg, Miss., January 31-February 3. Meridian Campaign February 3-March 2. Return to Memphis and duty there till June. Sturgis' Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Brice's (or Tishamingo) Creek, near Guntown, June 10. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Camargo's Cross Roads, near Harrisburg, July 13. Harrisburg, near Tupelo, July 14-15. Smith's Expedition to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Assigned to duty at Memphis, Tenn., as garrison September, 1864, to July, 1865. Mustered out July 22, 1865.

Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 1 Enlisted man killed and 15 Enlisted men by disease. Total 17.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1113

7th Indiana Independent Battery Light Artillery

Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., and mustered in December 2, 1861. Left State for Louisville, Ky., December 6. Attached to Artillery, 4th Division, Army of the Ohio, to June, 1862. Artillery, 1st Division, Army of the Ohio, to September, 1862. Artillery, 5th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of the Ohio, to November, 1862. Artillery, 3rd Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. Artillery, 3rd Division, 14th Army Corps, to July, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1864. Garrison Artillery, Chattanooga, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to April, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 4th Division, District of East Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. — Duty at Camp Wickliffe, Ky., till February, 1862. Advance on Nashville, Tenn., February 14-25. Occupation of Nashville, February 25 to March 17. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 17-April 6. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Buell's Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee June to August. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 21-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg to Loudon, Ky., October 1-20. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8. Reserve. Nelson's Cross Roads October 18. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 20-November 7 and duty there till December 26. Dobbin's Ferry, near Lavergne, December 9. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro till June. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of the Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Lookout Mountain November 23-24. Mission Ridge November 25. Duty at Chattanooga and Ringgold, Ga., till May, 1864. Reconnoissance from Ringgold toward Tunnel Hill April 29. Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign May to September. Demonstrations on Rocky Faced Ridge May 8-11. Battle of Resaca May 14-15. Advance on Dallas May 18-25. 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 in 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. Utoy Creek August 5-7. Flank movement on Jonesboro August 25-30. Battle of Jonesboro August 31-September 1. Ordered to Chattanooga, Tenn., September 20, and post duty there till December. Old members mustered out December 7, 1864. Veterans and Recruits on duty at Chattanooga, Tenn., till July, 1865. Mustered out July 20, 1865.

Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 22 Enlisted men by disease. Total 29.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, Part 3, p. 1113

Lucy Chase, December 24, 1863

Norfolk, Va., Dec. 24th, 1863.

We shall continue our school through the holidays. A prospect of rest and vacation wearies us.

My sister went to Newbern for a day or two, a week or so ago. She had, for a few weeks, had the entire superintendence of a school of four hundred children. Small children, too, and raw. It was the reception school of the city. Thirty or forty new scholars came every day. A school that only one with a gift could control, and only one with a body could bear upon her shoulders. It was the school in which we had taught through the summer, giving our extra time to the refugees and to the farms.

Difficulties and delays have blocked the path-way to our own special family schoolhouse; but now we have one, the doors are open; and by New Year's, we shall have a school-house of our own. At present, we are teaching in a church.

Three hundred more refugees came in on Tuesday; seventy wagon “loads” on Saturday; and one hundred and twenty “loads" a day or two ago. The Doctor drops them upon his farms now, that the city may no longer be over burdened.

Lucy Chase.

SOURCE: New-England Educational Commission for Freedmen, Extracts from Letters of Teachers and Superintendents of the New-England Educational Commission for Freedmen, Fourth Series, January 1, 1864, p. 12

Laura M. Towne: May 13, 1862

St. Helena's, May 13, 1862.

Yesterday was a gloomy day on this island. I have been interrupted by a wedding. Tom and Lucy have just been united in this parlor by Mr. Pierce as magistrate, and we presented the bride with a second-hand calico dress, a ruffled night-gown and a night-cap. She came in giggling and was soon sobered by Mr. Pierce's quiet, serious tones.

To go back to the beginning of my letter. This is a sad time here. On Sunday afternoon Captain Stevens, son of General Stevens,¹ who commands here, and is the husband of the Mrs. Stevens we knew at Newport, came here with a peremptory order from General Hunter for every able-bodied negro man of age for a soldier to be sent at once to Hilton Head. This piece of tyranny carried dismay into this household, and we were in great indignation to think of the alarm and grief this would cause among the poor negroes on this place. We have got to calling them our people and loving them really — not so much individually as the collective whole — the people and our people.

We had been talking of going to Hilton Head in Mr. Forbes' yacht, and at tea-time we discussed the whole affair and said we should not go sailing under the circumstances. Miss Walker left the tea-table crying, and we all were sad and troubled. My old Rina and little Lucy were waiting on table and they kept very quiet. After tea Rina came hanging around my room, and asking questions in an offhand but rather coaxing way. She wanted to know why we were going to Hilton Head, and when I said we would not go, she wanted to know what we would do then. I said, “Spend the day in the cotton-house unpacking clothes as usual.” She looked uneasy but did not say much.

Old Robert, the dairyman, went to Miss Winsor and asked the same questions and also what Captain Stevens was here for. She had to say that she did not know, for she did not then.

That night at about eight we saw a company of soldiers of the Seventy-ninth New York Highlanders coming up the road. They marched into the yard and made themselves at home, but very soon were ordered to march again. Meanwhile Captain Stevens was finding out from Mr. Pierce, how to go to the different plantations, and was, moreover, saying that he would resign his commission before he would undertake such work again. That night the whole island was marched over by the soldiers in squads, about six or ten going to each plantation. They were unused to the duty, had to march through deep sand, and some all night, to get to their destination, and without dinner or supper, and so they were grumbling at having to do this kind of thing at all. Besides, the soldiers have always been friendly to the negroes, have given them good advice and gentle treatment and thus are honored and loved all over these islands. So I have no doubt the duty was really repugnant to them.

That night about twelve, after all the soldiers had gone, I thought how alarmed the negroes must be. We were charged not to tell them anything, for fear of their taking to the woods, and so they could only guess at what was going on, and I saw that they believed we were going to fly to Hilton Head and leave them to the “Secests,” as they call their masters. They have a terrible fear of this, and would naturally believe there was danger of the enemy, since the soldiers were about. They could not suppose for a moment the real errand was of the kind it proved to be. I was not undressed and so I went out to the “yard” and to Rina's house, which is in the collection of houses of house-servants which surrounds the “yard.” (This is not the negro quarters.) Every house was shut and I knocked at two doors without getting any answer, so I went home. I concluded that they were not at home at all, and I think they were not, for this morning Rina told me that they kept watch along the creek all night, and the two old women of the place both said they were up and awake all night trembling with fear. Poor “Aunt Bess,” the lame one, told me when I was dressing her leg that she was worst off of all, for she hadn't a foot to stand on, and when the “Secests” came and her folks all took to the woods, she should not have the power to go. “Oh, you be quick and cure me, missus, — dey kill me, — dey kill me sure, — lick me to death if dey comes back. Do get my foot well so I can run away.” She was really in great terror.

After I was undressed and in bed we heard a horse gallop up and a man's step on the porch. I got softly out of our window and looked over the piazza railing. It was Captain Stevens' orderly come back. A bed had been made for Mr. Hooper on the parlor floor, but he had gone with the soldiers to reassure the negroes, who all love him and trust him. He went to let them know that General Hunter did not mean to send them to Cuba or do anything unfriendly. He, a young, slight fellow, marched on foot through the sand six miles or more — indeed, he was up all night. Mr. Pierce had gone over to Beaufort to remonstrate with General Stevens, and the next day he went to General Hunter at Hilton Head to see what he could do to protect the men, forced from their homes in this summary manner. But we did not mind being left alone at all, and felt perfectly safe without a man in the house and with the back door only latched. However, the orderly tied his horse in the yard and slept in the parlor. A horse to fly with was surely a likely thing to be stolen, but it was untouched.

The next day soon after breakfast Captain Stevens and two soldiers came up to the house and we sent for the men whose names he had got from Miss Walker, she being overseer of this plantation. There were twelve of them. Some stood on the porch, some below. Captain S. ordered them all below, and he said to them that General Hunter had sent for them to go to him at Hilton Head, and they must go. The soldiers then began to load their guns. The negroes looked sad, one or two uneasy, and one or two sulky, but listened silently and unresisting. Captain S. said none of them should be made a soldier against his will, but that General Hunter wished to see them all. Miss Walker asked leave to speak to them, and told them that we knew no more than they did what this meant, but that General H. was their friend, that they must go obediently, as we should if we were ordered, and should be trustful and hopeful. I said, “Perhaps you will come back in a few days with free papers.” One or two of the men then made a decided move towards their homes, saying that they were going for their jackets. “Only two at a time,” Captain S. said, and two went, while the others sent boys for jackets and hats, for they were called from their field work and were quite unprepared. The women began to assemble around their houses, about a square off, and look towards the men, but they did not dare to come forward, and probably did not guess what was going on. A soldier followed the two men into the negro street and Captain S. rode down there impatiently to hurry them. They soon came up, were ordered to “Fall in,” and marched down the road without a word of good-bye. I gave each a half-dollar and Miss W. each a piece of tobacco. They appeared grateful and comforted when Miss W. and I spoke to them and they said a respectful, almost cheerful good-bye to us. It was very hard for Miss W., for she knew these men well, and I only a little. Besides, she had set her heart upon the success of the crops, so as to show what free labor could do, and behold, all her strong, steady, cheerful workers carried off by force just in hoeing-corn time. Her ploughman had to go, but fortunately not her foreman — or “driver,” as he used to be called.

After they were gone, and we had cooled down a little, I made old Bess's leg my excuse for going to the negro street and through the knot of women who stood there. They moved off as I came, but I called to them and told them it was better to have their husbands go to Hilton Head and learn the use of arms so as to keep off “Secests;” that they could come back if they wanted to, in a few days, etc. Some of them were crying so that I could not stand it — not aloud or ostentatiously, but perfectly quietly, really swallowing their tears. At Miss Winsor's school the children saw the soldiers coming, and when they saw their fathers marching along before them, they began to cry so that there was no quieting them, and they had to be dismissed. They were terrified as well as grieved. On some of the plantations a few of the men fled to the woods and were hunted out by the soldiers; on others, the women clung to them, screaming, and threw themselves down on the ground with grief. This was when the soldiers appeared before breakfast and while the men were at home. I am glad we had no such scenes here. All the negroes trust Mr. Pierce and us, so that if we told them to go, I think they would believe it the best thing to do; but it is not so with all the superintendents, — some are not trusted.

All day yesterday and to-day one after another of the poor young superintendents have been coming in, saying it was the worst day of their lives and the hardest. I never saw more unhappy, wretched men. They had all got really attached to their hands, and were eager, too, to prove what crops free labor could raise. Mr. Pierce had done what he could to induce the negroes to enlist the other day when the man General Hunter sent came here, but none of the gentlemen approved of this violence. They were afraid the negroes might resist, and they thought it a shame to use force with these men who were beginning to trust to our law and justice. I think General Hunter had an idea, which he got from one of the gentlemen of this Association who went to see him, that the persons in charge of the plantations were so eager for the cotton crop that they prevented the negroes from enlisting, or induced them not to. So he was determined to require the presence of the men and see if they were cowards, or why they did not eagerly take the chance of becoming self-defenders.

Five hundred men were sent from this island to Beaufort yesterday and went to Hilton Head, to-day, I suppose. But not all of the men went who were required. Two from this place have appeared to-day whose names were down as having to go. One had been to Mr. Pierce a few nights ago to say that he wanted to marry our Moll and come here to live. “When?” Mr. Pierce asked. “Oh,” he said, “to-night.” Mr. Pierce said no, he must have a wedding and a good time, and invite folks to see him married — not do things in that style. So Tuesday was appointed, and the man said he would wait. Then on Sunday came this seizure and we all lamented poor Tom's separation from his Moll. To-day he appeared and was married to-night, as I said before. I saw the other man, Titus, in the yard, and said to him, “Why, I thought you went with the soldiers.” “No, ma'am, not me, ma'am. Me at Jenkins',² ma'am. Ef dey had come dere and axed for me, dey'd had me. But I not here.” He had run, and I was glad of it!

This whole thing looks atrocious and is certainly a most injudicious and high-handed measure, but somehow I trust General Hunter will bring good out of it and meant well. The negroes have such a horror of “Hilty-Head” that nothing would have taken them there but force, I think. It is the shipping-off point, and they have great fears of Cuba. One of the wives who was crying so bitterly the first day, said to me to-day that she was “sick”; she wanted her husband back again “too bad.” They say “too” for “very.” They are all still sad and uneasy and are hanging about all the time in a questioning, waiting attitude.

It is late and I have time for no other letter by this mail. Send this around and keep it afterwards; I have no time to write a journal.

One more thing I want to mention was the touching way in which two of the men came to MissW.and begged her to take care of their wives.

I am getting on famously with my unpacking and repacking, and am selling and taking money that it hurts me to take. One woman bought a great bundle of clothes, and I said, “Don't spend all your money.” “All for my chiluns,” she said. “I haven't bought a thing for myself. I had rather have my money in clothes  — my chiluns naked, quite naked — in rags.” The molasses and pork have not yet reached distributing-points, and when they do the people will have no money to buy.

_______________

¹ Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens.

² Plantation.

SOURCE: Rupert Sargent Holland, Editor, Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne: Written from the Sea Islands of South Carolina 1862-1864, p. 47-54

Governor John A. Andrewto an Officer in One of the First Three Years' Regiments of Massachusetts

Dear ———: I followed the regiment through the streets, and tried hard at the Depot to find you and ——— at the cars last evening to shake hands and say goodbye, but, in vain. I cdnt find in which car was the Company even; and I began and walked through the cars shaking hands along, but the train started and I had to jump off, in motion, before I had finished. . . . Allow me to beg of you all — officers of the field — to have a single eye to the common good, happiness, success and welfare of the whole.

Let no standing on etiquette or dignity, or nice points ever postpone the interests even of the humblest private. Let each one think that the regiment depends on him, as much as if he was the only officer in it. And I pray you regard every little thing that makes for the comfort and convenience of the command, or that promotes its order or safety. A lynch pin out of a cart wheel and not supplied is fatal to the whole load, loses the cargo, and makes the cart and team as useless as if there were none. Every soldier shd be taught and made to care for and save all his property and implements, whether of war or convenience.

I think the regiment, if it fails at all, will fail for the want of that nice and regular discipline and care, which constitutes, in a trader the difference between a bankrupt and a thrifty business man and which in a household marks the odds between the good housekeeper and a disgusting slut. Col. ——— seems to me to think a regiment mainly intended for exhibiting a dress-parade, which is after all, to a regiment, just about what making a handsome bow is to a man. It is a proper accomplishment and properly comes in on receiving or parting with your host or your guest and on occasions of ceremony; but it wont stand in the stead of yr dinner when hungry, nor packing your trunk and getting yr ticket for a journey. . . .

I think Col. ———, under the excitement of battle or great duties is likely to [do] his best. I am more afraid of his failure by the weakness of not comprehending the value of details, and not understanding that all the victories of Life have to be won by preparation long before the battle itself begins. A man must see a thing in his mind, before he can do it with his hand; and unless he has seen every step of the process he has not seen it at all.

Professor Cleaveland¹ lectured on chemistry at Bowdoin College for fifty years; and yet, year after year the grand and charming old man whose memory brings tears to my eyes while I write his name, — patiently worked out every experiment in his laboratory before exhibiting it to his class, and would not believe that he could perform it successfully this year, until he had tried it by testing every process and manipulating it anew — though he had done the same thing a hundred times before — today was always given wholly to its own work. And in fifty years the tradition is that he never failed before his class. What an example and what a happiness there is in such a faithful, devoted, dutiful life. Shallow men may think glory is won by showy action, like a vapid actor tearing passion into tatters close to the foot-lights. But you, I know, are not misled by any such folly; though to you as to me it is always possible not to remember that such notions are always hanging at the door of the wisest and may catch even them.

If you ever read through this long and tiresome sermon, you will see, I hope, in it the evidence of the personal interest and watchful, heart-felt affection, which ought to be entertained by a friend, whose acquaintance has been an intimacy of years. — With every good wish and fervent blessings, believe me, faithfully and always

Yours

John A. Andrew.

____________________

¹ Parker Cleaveland, professor at Bowdoin from 1805 to 1858.

SOURCE: Henry Greenleaf Pearson, The Life of John A. Andrew: Governor of Massachusetts, 1861-1865, Volume 1, p. 229-31

John L. Motley Mary Benjamin Motley, July 24, 1863

Vienna,

July 24, 1863.

Dearest Mary: I wrote yesterday and said that I would write again to-day, thinking you would like to listen to the words of wisdom after I had had time to digest a little of the magnificent news we have just received. But, after all, I haven't much to say. For the details are entirely wanting. The papers only reach to 8th from Boston and 7th from New York; the later is of course by telegraph. We must wait a week to know exactly what has happened, and how large the success is. But isn't it one of the most striking and picturesque things imaginable that Lee's great invading army, after being thoroughly thrashed on the 2d and 3d July, should have moved off in rapid retreat on the 4th July, and that, on the same famous anniversary, Vicksburg, the great fortress and stronghold of the Mississippi, should have surrendered to the United States troops?

Suppose that Lee at the present moment has got 70,000 men at Hagerstown, where we know that he has fortified himself, — and that is the very utmost that one can even imagine him to have, — why, Meade by this time must have at least 150,000, after deducting all his losses in the battles. And the militia are streaming in by thousands a day. Government can send him (and I believe has sent him) every soldier they can dispose of from Washington, Baltimore, Fort Monroe, and the Peninsula. Our resources of food and ammunition are boundless, and I don't see how Meade can help cutting off the enemy's supplies. I pore over the map, and I don't see how Lee can help being in a trap. I will say no more, especially as about the time when you read this you will be getting the telegram to the 15th, which may prove that I have made an ass of myself. I send Sumner's letter, written apparently before hearing of any of these great victories. I also send Holmes's oration, which I haven't yet had time to read. No doubt it is magnificent, and I prefer to read it at leisure. I have another copy in the daily. He sent me this one. I also send a paper or two, which please preserve, as I file them. I went to the D'Ayllons' yesterday and brought home Susie. Love to Mrs. Cleveland and Lillie and my chickens.

Ever lovingly yours,

J. L. M.

SOURCE: George William Curtis, editor, The Correspondence of John Lothrop Motley in Two Volumes, Library Edition, Volume 2, p. 339-41

Adjutant-General Lorenzo Thomas: General Orders, No. 12, April 27, 1861

General Orders,

No. 12.

WAR DEP’T, ADJT. GEN.'S OFFICE,

Washington, April 27, 1861.

1. The Military Department of Washington will include the District of Columbia, according to its original boundary, Fort Washington and the country adjacent, and the State of Maryland as far as Bladensburg, inclusive. Col. J. K. F. Mansfield, inspector-general, is assigned to the command, headquarters Washington City.

2. A new military department, to be called the Department of Annapolis, headquarters at that city, will include the country for twenty miles on each side of the railroad from Annapolis to the city of Washington, as far as Bladensburg, Md. Brig. Gen. B. F. Butler, Massachusetts Volunteers, is assigned to the command.

3. A third department, called the Department of Pennsylvania, will include that State, the State of Delaware, and all of Maryland not embraced in the foregoing departments. Major-General Patterson to command, headquarters at Philadelphia, or any other point he may temporarily occupy.

4. Bvt. Col. C. F. Smith, having been relieved by Colonel Mansfield, will repair to Fort Columbus, N.Y., and assume the duties of superintendent of the recruiting service; to which he was assigned in Special Orders, No. 80, of March 15. Major Heintzelman, on being relieved at Fort Columbus, will repair to this city, and report for duty to the department commander.

5. Fort Adams, Rhode Island, is hereby placed temporarily under the control of the Secretary of the Navy, for the purposes of the Naval Academy now at Annapolis, Md.

The necessary transfer of property will be made by the departments interested.

By order:

L. THOMAS,

Adjutant-General.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 2 (Serial No. 2), p. 607; Jessie Ames Marshall, Editor, Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War, Volume 1: April 1860 – June 1862, p. 52 which contained an extract (No. 2) of this order mentioning Butler.

Diary of William Howard Russell: July 13, 1861

I have had a long day's ride through the camps of the various regiments across the Potomac, and at this side of it, which the weather did not render very agreeable to myself, or the poor hack that I had hired for the day, till my American Quartermaine gets me a decent mount. I wished to see with my own eyes what is the real condition of the army which the North have sent down to the Potomac, to undertake such a vast task as the conquest of the South. The Northern papers describe it as a magnificent force, complete in all respects, well-disciplined, well-clad, provided with fine artillery, and with every requirement to make it effective for all military operations in the field.

In one word, then, they are grossly and utterly ignorant of what an army is or should be. In the first place, there are not, I should think, 30,000 men of all sorts available for the campaign. The papers estimate it at any number from 50,000 to 100,000, giving the preference to 75,000. In the next place their artillery is miserably deficient; they have not, I should think, more than five complete batteries, or six batteries, including scratch guns, and these are of different calibres, badly horsed, miserably equipped, and provided with the worst set of gunners and drivers which I, who have seen the Turkish field-guns, ever beheld. They have no cavalry, only a few scarecrow men, who would dissolve partnership with their steeds at the first serious combined movement, mounted in high saddles, on wretched mouthless screws, and some few regulars from the frontiers, who may be good for Indians, but who would go over like ninepins at a charge from Punjaubee irregulars. Their transport is tolerably good, but inadequate; they have no carriage for reserve ammunition; the commissariat drivers are civilians, under little or no control; the officers are unsoldierly-looking men; the camps are dirty to excess; the men are dressed in all sorts of uniforms; and from what I hear, I doubt if any of these regiments have ever performed a brigade evolution together, or if any of the officers know what it is to deploy a brigade from column into line. They are mostly three months' men, whose time is nearly up. They were rejoicing to-day over the fact that it was so, and that they had kept the enemy from Washington "without a fight." And it is with this rabblement, that the North proposes not only to subdue the South, but according to some of their papers, to humiliate Great Britain, and conquer Canada afterwards.

I am opposed to national boasting, but I do firmly believe that 10,000 British regulars, or 12,000 French, with a proper establishment of artillery and cavalry, would riot only entirely repulse this army with the greatest ease, under competent commanders, but that they could attack them and march into Washington, over them or with them, whenever they pleased. Not that Frenchman or Englishman is perfection, but that the American of this army knows nothing of discipline, and what is more, cares less for it.

Major-General McClellan — I beg his pardon for styling him Brigadier — has really been successful. By a very well-conducted and rather rapid march, he was enabled to bring superior forces to bear on some raw levies under General Garnett (who came over with me in the steamer), which fled after a few shots, and were utterly routed, when their gallant commander fell, in an abortive attempt to rally them by the banks of the Cheat River. In this “great battle” McClellan's loss is less than thirty killed and wounded, and the Confederate loss is less than one hundred. But the dispersion of such guerrilla bands has the most useful effect among the people of the district; and McClellan has done good service, especially as his little victory will lead to the discomfiture of all the Secessionists in the valley of the Kanawha, and in the valley of Western Virginia. I left Washington this afternoon, with the Sanitary Commissioners, for Baltimore, in order to visit the Federal camps at Fortress Monroe, to which we proceeded down the Chesapeake the same night.

SOURCE: William Howard Russell, My Diary North and South, Vol. 1, p. 403-4

Did The Patriarchs Hold Slaves?

Let us inquire into the fact. On examination of the passages to which you refer for proof that the patriarchs were slaveholders, we find that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all had many servants, but no mention whatever is made of slaves. That you are strongly inclined to consider the term servants with exclusive application to slaves, we have evidence throughout your communication. But that this exclusive use is warranted by the sacred writers, we do not allow.

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Continued from: Reverend Silas McKeen to Thomas C. Stuart, August 20, 1839

SOURCE: Cyrus P. Grosvenor, Slavery vs. The Bible: A Correspondence Between the General Conference of Maine, and the Presbytery of Tombecbee, Mississippi, p. 37