May

31

Diary of the Union Secretary of the Navy, May 1863

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by Gideon Welles

May 31, Sunday. Captain Simpson, who has been selected by Admiral Foote as his Fleet Captain and special confidant, arrived to-day from Newport. Both he and F. were waiting for me, and met me at the church door as I came from morning service, and accompanied me to my house. We had some general talk in regard to propositions and duties. Foote desires to leave this evening for the North and Simpson goes with him.

Admiral Lardner called this afternoon. Came on from Philadelphia for instructions and final orders. He will sail on Tuesday in the Ticonderoga to take command of the West India Squadron. I am to encounter the resentment of Wilkes and Du Pont at the same time. They are not friends, but may suppress mutual dislike in a mutual assault on me. Wilkes does not disappoint me, but Du Pont does. The former is the least dangerous, though the most rash and violent.

May

31

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary, May 1863

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by John Beauchamp Jones

MAY 31ST.—The commissioners, appointed for the purpose, have agreed upon the following schedule of prices for the State of Virginia, under the recent impressment act of Congress; and if a large amount of supplies\s be furnished at these prices—which are fifty, sometimes one hundred per cent. lower than the rates private individuals are paying—it will be good proof that all patriotism is not yet extinct :

” Wheat, white, per bushel of 60 pounds, $1.50; flour, superfine, per barrel of 196 pounds, $22.50; corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $4; unshelled corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.95; corn-meal, per bushel of 50 pounds, $1.20; rye, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.20; cleaned oats, per bushel of 32 pounds, $2; wheat-bran, per bushel of 17 pounds, 50 cents; shorts, per bushel of 22 pounds, 70 cents; brown stuff, per bushel of 28 pounds, 90 cents; ship stuff, per bushel of 37 pounds, $1.40; bacon, hoground, per pound, $1; salt pork, per pound, $1 ; lard, per pound, $ ; horses, first class, artillery, etc., average price per head, $350; wool, per pound, $3; peas, per bushel of 60 pounds, $4; beans, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, Irish, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, sweet, per bushel of 69 pounds, $5; onions, per bushel of 60 pounds, $5; dried peaches, peeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $8; dried peaches, unpeeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $4.50; dried apples, peeled, per bushel of 28 pounds, $3.”

May

31

A Soldier’s Story of the Siege of Vicksburg

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From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

MAY 31ST.—We were aroused by the bugle call, and in a few minutes on the march again. Halted at noon on a large planta­tion. This is a capital place to stop, for the negroes are quite busy baking corn-bread and sweet potatoes for us. We have had a grand dinner at the expense of a rich planter now serving in the southern army. Some of the negroes wanted to come with us, but we persuaded them to remain, telling them they would see hard times if they followed us. They showed indications of good treatment, and I presume their master is one of the few who treat their slaves like human beings.

I must say—whether right or wrong—plantation life has had a sort of fascination for me ever since I came south, especially when I visit one like that where we took dinner to-day, and some, also, I visited in Tennessee. I know I should treat my slaves well, and, while giving them a good living, I should buy, but never sell.

We left at three o’clock P. M., and just as the boys were ordered to take with them some of the mules working in the field, where there was a large crop being cultivated, to be used, when gathered, for the maintenance of our enemies. As our boys, ac­cordingly, were unhitching the mules, some “dutchy” in an officer’s uniform rode up, yelling, “mens! you left dem schackasses alone!” I doubt whether he had authority to give such an order, but whether he had or not he was not obeyed. When we marched off with our corn-bread and “schackasses,” some of the darkies insist­ed on following. We passed through some rebel works at Haines’ Bluffs, which were built to protect the approach to Vicksburg by way of the Yazoo river. Sherman had taken them on the nine­teenth instant, when our boats came up the river and delivered rations.

May has now passed, with all its hardships and privations to the army of the west—the absence of camp comforts; open fields for dwelling places; the bare ground for beds; cartridge boxes for pillows, and all the other tribulations of an active campaign. Enduring these troubles, we have given our country willing service. We have passed through some hard-fought battles, where many of our comrades fell, now suffering in hospitals or sleeping, perhaps, in unmarked graves. Well they did their part, and much do we miss them. Their noble deeds shall still incite our emulation, that their proud record may not be sullied by any act of ours.

Camped at dark, tired, dirty and ragged—having had no chance to draw clothes for two months.

May

31

Vicksburg.

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May 31, 1863, The New York Herald

The Progress of the Siege of the City.

THE BATTLE AND CAPTURE OF JACKSON.

JACKSON, Miss., May 14, 1863.

IN POSSESSION OF JACKSON.

The Union army have undisturbed possession of Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and the headquarters of the Department of Mississippi and Eastern Louisiana. The federal flag floats gracefully from the dome of the State House, Yankee soldiers are patrolling the streets, prisoners are gathering at the guardhouse, the sick in the hospitals are being paroled, negroes are grinning horribly from the sidewalks, citizens look silently and sullenly at us from behind screens and closed window blinds, and all the details of military government are in full operation.

THE START FROM RAYMOND.

My last was written at Raymond, on the evening after the battle. We encamped there Tuesday night, and early Wednesday morning started for Clinton, a small town on the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad. It was considered indispensably necessary for the success of our movement upon Vicksburg that we should have possession of the railroad and the city of Jackson. We reached Clinton at nightfall and went into camp. Read more

May

31

The Situation.

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May 31, 1863, The New York Herald

There appears to be no later reliable news from Vicksburg than that of Monday last, the 25th inst., which we published yesterday. Despatches from various points — Cincinnati, St. Louis and elsewhere — give many vague reports, out of which may be gathered the fact that no news is known of any fighting later than Monday. General Grant is still represented as prepared for any attack in his rear, and that his army is full of confidence, &c. Our base of supplies on the Yazoo river was not only secure but reinforcements were arriving there rapidly. It is said that the attack on the rebel fortifications on Friday week was not made by the entire line, as reported, but by a force under General Blair, which assaulted the big battery and failed. Whenever the rebels attempted to plant guns, however, they were foiled by our sharpshooters.

We give a map today illustrating all the leading points in the progressing siege of Vicksburg, together with copious accounts of fresh interest, relative to the operations there for some time past, contained both in our correspondence and the rebel statements.

Rumors of a movement of the Army of Cumberland from the vicinity of Murfreesboro find circulation from some sources; but there appears to be no confirmation for them.

There is little doubt, from all the intelligence which reaches us, that the army of General Lee is very actively in motion, and that an attack on General Hooker’s lines is not at all an improbable event. Large masses of the enemy’s troops were traced yesterday on the road to Culpepper and Kelly’s Ford by the clouds of dust which rose in the rear of the Read more