Cape Girardeau, November 11, 1861. We have just arrived here after a week’s absence from any sign of civilized life. Saturday the 2d we (our company) went out six or seven miles from the Point to guard a bridge on the Cairo and Fulton Railroad. Sunday we came back to the Point, and found the [...]
NOVEMBER 10th.—A gentleman from Urbana, on the Rappahannock, informs me that he witnessed the shelling of that village a few days ago. There are so few houses that the enemy did not strike any of them. The only blood shed was that of an old hare, that had taken refuge in a hollow stump.
NOVEMBER 9th.—Gen. Winder and all his police and Plug Ugly gang have their friends or agents, whom they continually desire to send to Maryland. And often there comes a request from Gen. Huger, at Norfolk, for passports to be granted certain parties to go out under flag of truce. I suppose he can send whom [...]
NOVEMBER 8th.—There are many applications for passports to leave the country. I have declared my purpose to sign no more for the Secretary without his official order. But he is signing them himself, as I find out by the parties desiring the usual passports from me to leave the city. They, like guilty men, dislike [...]
NOVEMBER 7th.—We hear of the resignation of Gen. Scott, as Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. forces.
NOVEMBER 6th.—All accounts from the North indicate that great preparations are being made to crush us on the coast this winter. I see no corresponding preparations on our side.
NOVEMBER 5th.—To my amazement, a man came to me to-day for a passport to Norfolk, saying he had one from the Secretary to pass by flag of truce to Fortress Monroe, etc. He wished me to give him one to show at the cars, not desiring to exhibit the other, as it might subject him [...]
NOVEMBER 4th—Several were arrested yesterday. Still I doubt whether we are dealing fairly, even with enemies. They have been encouraged to come into and go out of the country by the facilities afforded them; and now, without any sort of notification whatever, they are to be arrested when they present themselves. I hate all traps [...]
NOVEMBER 3d.—From this day forth, I hope Mr. Benjamin and I will be of better accord. I have an official order, directed by him and written by Col. Bledsoe, to the effect that no more alien enemies are to have passports. On the contrary, when any one avows himself an alien enemy, and applies for [...]
NOVEMBER 2d.—It has culminated. Mr. Benjamin’s quarrel with Beauregard is openly avowed. Mr. Benjamin spoke to me about it to-day, and convinced me at the time that Gen. B. was really in the wrong. He said the general had sent in his report of the battle of Manassas, in which he stated that he had [...]
MANASSAS JUNCTION, VA., November 2, 1861. Dear Father: I received your letter this morning through Captain Barnes and I never was more surprised in my life, to hear that you had applied for my dismissal for, although I should like very much to go home, I do not like the idea of being discharged from [...]
CAMP PICKINS, MANASSAS, VA., NOV. 2, 1861. Dear Sir: Yours of the 29th ult. was received to-day, contents duly noted, and I hasten to reply. I must confess to a feeling of surprise that you desire the discharge of your son, Mr. G. B. Lee Battle1, 2, 3, 4, 5, from service, as I was [...]
NOVEMBER 1st.—There is an outcry against the appointment of two major-generals, recommended, perhaps, by Mr. Benjamin, Gustavus W. Smith and Gen. Lovell, both recently from New York. They came over since the battle of Manassas. Mr. Benjamin is perfectly indifferent to the criticisms and censures of the people and the press. He knows his own [...]
OCTOBER 31st.—Mr. Benjamin, it is understood, will be a candidate for a seat in the C. S. Senate. And I have learned from several members of the Louisiana legislature that he will be defeated. They charge him with hob-nobbing too much with Northern friends; and say that he still retains membership in several clubs in [...]
October 31, 1861 Winfield Scott relieved from duty as Supreme Comander of the United States.
OCTOBER 30th.—I understand a dreadful quarrel is brewing between Mr. Benjamin and Gen. Beauregard. Gen. B. being the only individual ever hinted at as an opponent of Mr. Davis for the Presidency, the Secretary of War fights him on vantage-ground, and likewise commends himself to the President. Van Buren was a good politician in his [...]
October 30, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 All the State prisoners (148) in Fort Lafayette were removed to Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. Rebels attacked the Union camp at Morgantown, Ky., but were repulsed with considerable loss. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New [...]
OCTOBER 29th.—The election to take place during the ensuing month creates no excitement. There will be less than a moiety of the whole vote cast; and Davis and Stephens will be elected without opposition. No disasters have occurred yet to affect the popularity of any of the great politicians; and it seems no risks will [...]
October 29, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 The great naval and military expedition, destined to operate off the Southern coast, sailed from Hampton Roads at 6 A.M.—naval under Com. Dupont and military under Gen. T. W. Sherman.The expedition was composed of the following vessels: three war steamers, six sail war-vessels, [...]
OCTOBER 28th.—The most gigantic naval preparations have been made by the enemy; and they must strike many blows on the coast this fall and winter. They are building great numbers of gun-boats, some of them iron-clad, both for the coast and for the Western rivers. If they get possession of the Mississippi River, it will [...]
October 28, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 A rebel transportation train captured by Gen. Lane near Butler, Mo. Battle at Cromwell, Ky.; rebels lost two killed and five wounded. Battle at Saratoga, Ky.: Union loss three wounded; rebel loss 13 killed, 17 wounded, and 44 prisoners. A Chronological History of [...]
OCTOBER 27th.—Still the Jews are going out of the country and returning at pleasure. They deplete the Confederacy of coin, and sell their goods at 500 per cent profit. They pay no duty; and Mr. Memminger has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in this way. The press everywhere is thundering against the insane policy [...]
Bird’s Point, October 27, 1861. I haven’t written for a full week because I really had nothing to write and in fact I have not now. Although soldiering is a hugely lazy life, yet these short days we seem to have but little spare time. We are up nearly an hour before sun up, have [...]
Camp Leslie, Hall’s Hill, Fairfax County, Va., Oct. 27, 1861. Dear Sister L.:— It is a beautiful Sabbath morning and I am on guard. I suppose you are now at church, but have you thought of me this morning and wondered where I was and what I was doing, whether I was well or sick, [...]
OCTOBER 26th.—Immense amounts of patriotic contributions, in clothing and provisions, are daily registered.