SEPTEMBER 6th.—We are not increasing our forces as rapidly as might be desired, for the want of arms. We had some 150,000 stand of small arms, at the beginning of the war, taken from the arsenals; and the States owned probably 100,000 more. Half of these were flint-locks, which are being altered. None have been [...]
September 6, 1861 Union forces captured Paducah without bloodshed. This town gave the Union a large measure of control over the river systems that were vital to the region.
SEPTEMBER 5th.—Our Congress has authorized the raising and organizing of four hundred regiments. The Yankee Congress, 500,000 men. The enemy will get their’s first; and it is said that between 600,000 and 700,000, for three years or the war, have already been accepted by the U. S. Government. Their papers boast that nearly a million [...]
September 5, 1861 Union troops commanded by Ulysses Grant prepared to move into Kentucky in response to the move made by Polk to seize Columbus
SEPTEMBER 4th.—J. R. Anderson, proprietor of the iron-works here, has been appointed brigadier-general by the President. He, too, was a West Pointer; but does not look like a military genius. He is assigned to duty on the coast of North Carolina.
September 4, 1861 Excitement flared… on 4 September when Confederate Major General Leonidas Polk occupied strategic Columbus, Kentucky, fifty miles downstream from Paducah on the Mississippi River.
SEPTEMBER 3d.—My article on the defenses of North Carolina seems to have silenced the censures of the cavilers.
Boston, September 3, 1861 I Persuaded Hale to insert a leading article about Russell in the Advertiser, which I send to Henry. The folly of our press in assaulting so savagely an agency so formidable as Russell has troubled me, and I’m glad to see that McClellan is wiser and spares a few civil words [...]
September 3, 1861 In response to a federal build-up in the West, Leonidas Polk orders Gideon Pillow to lead a force into Kentucky to take Columbus, Kentucky, on September 3, 1861, violating Kentucky’s declared “neutrality” and provoking the State and the majority of its citizens to adhere to the Union. Bushwhackers from northwestern Missouri undermine [...]
September 2d.–Mr. Miles says he is not going anywhere at all, not even home. He is to sit here permanently–chairman of a committee to overhaul camps, commissariats, etc., etc. We exchanged our ideas of Mr. Mason, in which we agreed perfectly. In the first place, he has a noble presence–really a handsome man; is a [...]
SEPTEMBER 2d.—I voluntarily hunted up Capt. Lee’s report, and prepared an article for the press based on its statements.
September 2, 1861 Vernon County, Missouri—Battle of the Mules [Confederate], Battle of Dry Wood Creek [Union] On September 2nd, Grant’s Federals occupied Belmont, preparatory to seizing Columbus, across the Mississippi river. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Sec. of the Treasury issued an appeal to the people for a national loan. Legislature [...]
Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston) September 1, 1862, There are in this State about two thousand wheat growers. The crop this season is a plentiful one, and yet flour is worth $30 per barrel. Now, with all due respect–which simply means our own interests considered–we propose to drop wheat-raisers, wheat-grinders, and wheat-ground sellers, for the present altogether. [...]
SEPTEMBER 1st.—The press and congressional critics are opening their batteries on the Secretary of War, for incompetency. He is not to blame. A month ago, Capt. Lee, son of the general, and a good engineer, was sent to the coast of North Carolina to inspect the defenses. His report was well executed; and the recommendations [...]
September 1st.–North Carolina writes for arms for her soldiers. Have we any to send? No. Brewster, the plainspoken, says, “The President is ill, and our affairs are in the hands of noodles. All the generals away with the army; nobody here; General Lee in Western Virginia. Reading the third Psalm. The devil is sick, the [...]
The first armed clashes of the war, the fall of Fort Sumpter (sic), the subsequent route of inexperienced men and officers at Bull Run, built up the confidence of the Southern armies. One effect of such reverses was to create suspicions in the minds of many men genuinely loyal to the Union. After the equally [...]
Cairo, September 1, 1861. We had blankets given us this last week and new accoutrements throughout. If they would only change our guns now we would have nothing but a move to ask for. A uniform was also furnished us last week. It is of excellent all-wool goods, and not so heavy as to be [...]
September 1, 1861 A Chronological History of the Civil War in America1 Fight at Boone Court House, Va.; rebels routed and village burned. Fight at Bennett’s Mills, Mo. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863
JUNE 30th.—My family engaged packing trunks. They leave immediately.
Camp Wright, Hulton, Penn., Sunday, June 30, 1861. Dear Sister L.:– Major General McCall was here on Friday and organized two new regiments for the war. There are now in this camp and Camp Wilkins about five thousand men. We had a review of all the troops in this camp Friday afternoon. The General expressed [...]
June 29th.–Mrs. Preston, Mrs. Wigfall, Mary Hammy and I drove in a fine open carriage to see the Champ de Mars. It was a grand tableau out there. Mr. Davis rode a beautiful gray horse, the Arab Edwin de Leon brought him from Egypt. His worst enemy will allow that he is a consummate rider, [...]
JUNE 29th.—I cannot support my family here, on the salary I receive from the government; and so they leave me in a few days to accept the tendered hospitality of Dr. Custis, of Newbern, N. C., my wife’s cousin.
JUNE 28th.—We have a flaming comet in the sky. It comes unannounced, and takes a northwestern course. I dreamed last night that I saw a great black ball moving in the heavens, and it obscured the moon. The stars were in motion, visibly, and for a time afforded the only light. Then a brilliant halo [...]
RICHMOND, Va., June 27, 1861.–-Mr. Meynardie was perfect in the part of traveling companion. He had his pleasures, too. The most pious and eloquent of parsons is human, and he enjoyed the converse of the “eminent persons” who turned up on every hand and gave their views freely on all matters of state. Mr. Lawrence [...]
JUNE 27th.—We have, I think, some 40,000 pretty well armed men in Virginia, sent hither from other States. Virginia has—I know not how many; but she should have at least 40,000 in the field. This will enable us to cope with the Federal army of 70,000 volunteers, and the regular forces they may hurl against [...]