• Motor Coaches and Class A Motorhomes Class B Motorhomes and Vans Class C Motorhomes Fifth Wheel Trailers Travel Trailers Tear Drop Trailers Tent and Folding Trailers Truck Campers Off Road RVs Civil War Books by state: Alabama Arizona Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 10TH.—The condemned spies have implicated Webster, the letter-carrier, who has had so many passports. He will hang, probably. Gen. Winder himself, and his policemen, wrote home by him. I don’t believe him any more guilty than many who used to write by him; and I mean to tell the Judge Advocate so, if they give me an opportunity.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday 10th

The weather is more settled today. Nothing in particular has occured. We are getting more of the particulars of the great Battle at Pittsburgh Landing, it was the most desperate fight of the War so far. There is nothing from Yorktown, to which all eyes are now turned. Both parties are in great force there. There must be another desperate encounter there. Our troops are flushed with Victory. The rebels are desperate.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 9TH.—There are several young officers who have sheathed the sword, and propose to draw the pen in the civil service.
To-day I asked of the department a month’s respite from labor, and obtained it. But I remained in the city, and watched closely, still hoping I might serve the cause, or at least prevent more injury to it, from the wicked facility hitherto enjoyed by spies to leave the country.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday April 9th 1862

It has stormed all day, rain, sleet and snow falling incessantly. News today of a great Battle West. Beauregard defeated and Island No 10 taken with all the land Batteries. Our armies everywhere victorious, more prisoners, guns, and munitions than our troops know what to do with. The City is in wild excitement over the news. A Salute of 100 guns ordered by the Sec’y of War. The great “Anaconda” is drawing in his coils tighter and tighter around the rebels. They have behaved most cowardly in every instance where they did not have the advantage in numbers or position. The proud “Southerners” had better strike the word chivalry from their vocabulary. I think they are a race of bombaster cowards and events are proveing it every day. We have had one Bull Run. They have a “Bully Run” every time they meet our troops.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday 8th

This has been a most dismal day, rain or Sleet has been falling all the time. I am all the time thinking of the Thousands of Soldiers who are now out in the storm without tents or shelter. Such must be the condition of Genl McDowells Division, which has advanced into Virginia on their way to Richmond leaving their tents behind, and also those who are now besieging Yorktown. The news tonight is that Island No 10 and the Shore Batteries have been surrendered to our troops. We shall get particulars tomorrow, probably. Genl McClellan is having a desperate time of it at Yorktown. The Rebels under McGruder are, it is said, Thirty thousand strong, but they must capitulate or run and run they cannot very easily. We are expecting news of a great battle at or near Corinth every day betwen Halleck and Beauregard. Each have over a hundred thousand men. It will be the great Battle of the war I think. Nothing has been heard from the Merrimac as yet.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 8TH.—Col. Bledsoe has been appointed Assistant Secretary of War by the President. Now he is in his glory, and has forgotten me.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 7TH.—R. G. H. Kean, a young man, and a connection of Mr. Randolph, has been appointed Chief of the Bureau of War in place of Col. Bledsoe, resigned at last. Mr. Kean was, I believe, a lieutenant when Mr. Randolph was colonel, and acted as his adjutant.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Monday April 7 1862

Rain last night and mud this morning. In the office as usual. A fire broke out this morning on the corner of the Ave & 7th Street, it has been burning most of the day. Six stores and one Hotel were destroyed before three o’clock. Willie came down to the office before three to go home with me. I took him down to see the fire, he was some frightened at the noise and confusion. It has snowed most of the day and no wind so the fire did not burn very rapidly. All the engines were there, but the efficiency of the fire department was not much. Went down to the “National” to meet some gentlemen with S Seely of NY to examine Models & Drawings in reference to Iron covering for Ships of War. Staid till 1/2 past 10. We had the corrigated Iron in question. We think that there must be “something up” down the River as since 9 o’clock two messengers have called at our door with Dispatches for Comodore Smith from the War Department, perhaps the “Merrimac” is out again.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 6TH.—Two spies (Lincoln’s detective police) have been arrested here, tried by court-martial, and condemned to be hung. There is an awful silence among the Baltimore detectives, which bodes no harm to the condemned. They will not be executed, though guilty.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Sunday 6th

A delightful morning. Hearing that the “27th” were soon to move, I crossed the River to Alexandria and walked out to their Camp. But to my surprise found the Camp vacated. The Regt left on Friday. Lieut Gaul was left in charge of some Stores but he expects to leave tomorrow. The Regt went by RR to Warrenton junction and are on the Way to Richmond. God Speed them. A deserted camp is about the most desolate place imaginable. The tents were all standing but all was still and lonely where so lately all was life and motion. I got back to Washington about 5 o’clock. The Steam Boat was crowded both ways. The country over there looks desolate enough. “Poor Virginia” “put back half a century.”

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 5TH.—Newbern, N. C., has fallen into the hands of the enemy! Our men, though opposed by greatly superior numbers, made a brave resistance, and killed and wounded 1000 of the invaders.
The enemy were piloted up the river to Newbern by the same Mr. Dibble to whom I refused a passport, but to whom the Secretary of War granted one.
The press everywhere is commenting on the case of Dibble—but Mordecai still sits at the gate.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Saturday April 5th 1862

Nothing has occured today worthy of notice. Everyone is looking anxiously for news from three or four different points. From “Buels Army” & Com Foote Ten; from McClellan who is now at Fortress Monroe with a large Army, 130,000; from Genl Burnside in N. Carlina; and from New Orleans & Savannah. A delegation from the North is here holding a sort of Caucus attempting to galvanize the old Democratic Party into life. It moves at the suggestion of old Breckinridge supporters, which gives the matter a bad odor. It will not do to talk of Party till this Rebellion is crushed.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 4TH.—The enemy are shelling our camp at Yorktown. I can hear the reports of the guns, of a damp evening. We are sending back defiance with our guns.
The President has not taken any notice of my communication. Mr. Benjamin is too powerful to be affected by such proofs of such small matters.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Friday April 4th 1862

A delightful day. Quite still times here now since the soldiers left, but there are still soldiers in every direction, but the great Mass have left. 130,000 have gone down to Fortress Monroe. A large army is out in Virginia and a number of Regts are in the Forts over the River. I think there is but one full Regt now quartered in the City, the 91st Pa on Franklin Square. Julia and the boys attended the Festival this evening. The Lion of the evening was Lieut Morris of the “Cumberland.” Julia had a long chat with him. The little boys were interested and shook hands with him and came home quite elated. I was at the “National” with S D Moody most of the evening. No particular news.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Thursday 3d

Today obtained and sent the Photographs to Thos Bourne. They were finished while I was in the Gallery. I sent them by Adams Express. I was in the “National,” saw a number of my friends there. Went to the Festival with wife & Julia, staid till near 11. They had a Negro Band, four or five. It seemed like a Ball but there was no dancing. The place abounded awkward men & Homely women the latter teasing for ones money.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 3D.—Congress is investigating the Roanoke affair. Mr. Benjamin has been denounced in Congress by Mr. Foote and others as the sole cause of the calamities which have befallen the country.
I wrote a letter to the President, offering to show that I had given no passport to Mr. Dibble, the traitor, and also the evidences, in his own handwriting, that Mr. Benjamin granted it.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Wednesday April 2nd

There is a great dearth of news here now, but a great looking for of great events about this time, but few soldiers are here now compared with what there has been. The forts over the River are all maned and probably 50,000 men besides. There must now be about 200,000 tending towards Richmond now in Virginia. Fortress Monroe seems to be the great rendezvous. I expect it will be Norfolk first, and then Richmond. “Bud” has had a fever all day and we fear he is going to have chill fever. All the rest of us are quite well. Wife rcd letters today from Mrs Brownson (Lyons) and from Bd Hamton. Geo S Griswold of Lyons called upon me at the office. He is Lieut in the 2nd Regt NY Artillery stationed at Fort Ward over the R.

by Horatio Nelson Taft

Tuesday April 1st 1862

A fine pleasant day. Went down to the Ave in the morning, got Draft of $20, sent to Mrs Barnes Phila. Called at McClees Photograph Rooms. He told me that he had mounted 2300 pictures the day before. The call for Photographs by Army officers has been unprecedented the past six months. My wife and Julia called upon me at the office today. I went this evening with Julia down to the Church Festival, did not attend or go in tonight, intend to go tomorrow. I was in at Willards, about as many officers there as usual and the Ave is crowded afternoons. Ed Dickerson gave us a call this evening. Holly has been to the Festival, has just come home. 11 o’clock. Julia is not yet in. “Bud” has gone to bed long ago, sick. The Fair was too much for him last night.

edited by G.W. Cable

April 1, 1862.—The last ten days have brought changes in the house. Max R. left with the company to be mustered in, leaving with us his weeping Annie. Hardly were her spirits somewhat composed when her brother arrived from Natchez to take her home. This morning he, Annie, and Reeney, the black handmaiden, posted off. Out of seven of us only H., myself, and Aunt Judy are left. The absence of Reeney will not be the one least noted. She was as precious an imp as any Topsy ever was. Her tricks were endless and her innocence of them amazing. When sent out to bring in eggs she would take them from nests where hens were hatching, and embryo chickens would be served up at breakfast, while Reeney stood by grinning to see them opened; but when accused she was imperturbable. “Laws, Mis’ L., I nebber done bin nigh dem hens. Mis’ Annie, you can go count dem dere eggs.” That when counted they were found minus the number she had brought had no effect on her stolid denial. H. has plenty to do finishing the garden all by himself, but the time rather drags for me.

by John Beauchamp Jones

APRIL 1ST.—Gen. Sydney Johnston having fallen in battle, the command in the West devolved on Gen. Beauregard, whose recent defense at Island No. 10 on the Mississippi, has revived his popularity. But, I repeat, he is a doomed man.

← Previous Page

• 
  
  

• Spam Blocked

  381,891 spam comments

  blocked by
  Akismet

• Fort Sumter and Charleston Webcam

  

  Check out the Historic Charleston & Fort Sumter 360° Zoom, Pan & Tilt Webcam

•  

  April 1862

  S	M	T	W	T	F	S
  « Mar				May »
  		1	2	3	4	5
  6	7	8	9	10	11	12
  13	14	15	16	17	18	19
  20	21	22	23	24	25	26
  27	28	29	30

• Archives

  Select Month January 2011  (1) September 2008  (32) August 2008  (31) July 2008  (31) June 2008  (50) May 2008  (52) April 2008  (58) March 2008  (63) February 2008  (53) January 2008  (51) December 2007  (53) November 2007  (59) October 2007  (54) September 2007  (48) August 2007  (54) July 2007  (121) June 2007  (366) May 2007  (347) April 2007  (328) March 2007  (211) June 1863  (1) May 1863  (4) March 1863  (13) February 1863  (193) January 1863  (82) December 1862  (31) November 1862  (50) October 1862  (439) September 1862  (557) August 1862  (233) July 1862  (327) June 1862  (294) May 1862  (316) April 1862  (45) March 1862  (63) February 1862  (46) January 1862  (64) December 1861  (64) November 1861  (61) October 1861  (33) September 1861  (31) August 1861  (33) July 1861  (34) June 1861  (33) May 1861  (38) April 1861  (213) March 1861  (194) February 1861  (186) January 1861  (196) 0  (2)

• Feeds and Admin

  • Login
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.org

• Categories

  • A Soldier’s Story of the Siege of Vicksburg (63)
  • Administrivia (7)
  • Blogroll (1)
  • Civil War (5924)
  • Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office (368)
  • Diary of the Union Secretary of the Navy (333)
  • Rebel War Clerk's Diary (1225)
  • War Diary of a Union Woman in the South (83)

• Administrivia

  • Privacy Policy

• Interesting History Related Blogs

  • American Heroes’ Memorial
  • Civil War Bookshelf
  • The Blog of Henry David Thoreau
  • Mason-Dixon Wild West

• Sites I check

  • CW Interative’s - This Week in the Blogs