Jan

31

January 31, 1863, Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

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by Horatio Nelson Taft

Washington Saturday Jan’y 31st 1863

The month of Jan’y has passed away and in looking back I find matters connected with the War in much the same condition they were in a month ago. It seems no nearer a close, but on the whole I think matters look more bright for us generaly. The Rebels through their papers repudiate all ideas of our Peace men at the North as to a “re-construction of the Union.” Nothing Short of entire Independence on their part will bring peace. Well, it seems [to] be a question of endurance, and we will see who can stand it the longest. We are expecting successes now and nothing else, two or three victories would do wonders for us during the next month, as many defeats would ruin us. I think we are pretty well prepared for the former. An immense force must now be near Vicksburgh and we are expecting to hear of a terrible fight there soon. Genl Grant is in command. I have been in the office as usual today. After dinner I called upon Vanmaster and staid an hour and then attended a meeting at Mr Sweatlands rooms convened to make arrangements for a Musical Concert to come off next week for the benefit of the NY Soldiers. P H Ostrander is the active man in the affair. Nothing of importance in the way of news. Congress is squabling over the Negro Regiment Bill. Gold 1.58 today. It is speculation, a sort of [”Morus Multicaulus”?] fever that is raging. Genl Benj F Butler is at the “National.” Many other celebrities are are [sic] in town. Called at Charleys rooms. “Sallie” is quite ill. The baby Jessie sucks her thumb and grows fat.

Jan

31

January 31, 1863, A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

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by John Beauchamp Jones

JANUARY 31ST.—We have dispatches from Charleston, to-day, which reconcile us to the loss of the cargo captured by the blockading squadron early in the week. An artillery company captured a fine gun-boat in Stone River (near Charleston) yesterday evening. She had eleven guns and 200 men.

But this morning we did better still. Our little fleet of two iron-clads steamed out of Charleston harbor, and boldly attacked the blockading fleet. We crippled two of their ships, and sunk one, completely raising the blockade, for the time being. This will frustrate some of their plans, and may relieve Wilmington.

The attack on Fort McAlister was a failure. The monitor which assaulted the fort sustained so much injury, that it had to retire for repairs.

Several blockade-runners between this and Williamsburg were arrested and sent to Gen. Winder to-day by Lieut. G. D. Wise. Gen. W. sent them to Gen. Rains. Mr. Petit and Mr. James Custis (from Williamsburg) came with them to endeavor to procure their liberation. Gen. Rains sent them back to Gen. W., with a note that he had no time to attend to such matters. Such business does not pertain to his bureau. I suppose they will be released.

Major Lear, of Texas, who was at the capture of the Harriet Lane, met on the captured steamer his mortally-wounded son, the lieutenant.

A few days ago, Lieut. Buchanan was killed on a United States gun-boat by our sharpshooters. He was the son of Admiral Buchanan, in the Confederate service, now at Mobile. Thus we are reminded of the wars of the roses—father against son, and brother against brother. God speed the growth of the Peace Party, North and South; but we must have independence.

Mr. Hunter was in our office to-day, getting the release of a son of the Hon. Jackson Morton, who escaped from Washington, where he had resided, and was arrested here as a conscript. The Assistant Secretary of War ruled him entitled to exemption, although yesterday others, in the same predicament, were ruled into the service.