APRIL 26th.—Another truly fine spring day. The ominous silence on the Rapidan and Rappahannock continues still. The two armies seem to be measuring each other’s strength before the awful conflict begins. It is said the enemy are landing large bodies of troops at Yorktown. Major-Gen. Ransom has been assigned to the command of this department; [...]
April 26th. Marching orders received. Ordered to report at Martinsburg. Now under General Sigel, who has been put in command of all the forces in the Shenandoah Valley, for an advance up the valley.
APRIL 25th.—A bright and beautiful day; southern breezes. No reliable war news; but there are rumors that our victory at Shreveport was a great one. Nothing additional from North Carolina, though something further must soon occur there. It is said the enemy’s killed and wounded at Plymouth amounted to only 100: ours 300; but we [...]
Scottsboro, Ala., April 24, 1864. Spring is here at last, and summer is almost in sight. The last two days have been fully as warm as I care to see weather in April. There has been a great deal of cold, wet weather here this spring, and vegetable life is unusually backward; but the last [...]
APRIL 24th.—Cloudy and windy, but warm. We have none of the details yet of the storming of Plymouth, except the brief dispatches in the newspapers; nor any reliable accounts of subsequent movements. But a letter from Gen. Whiting indicates that all his troops had been taken northward, and we may expect something further of interest. [...]
APRIL 23d.—A bright day, with southern breezes. It is rumored and believed that Gen. Lee’s army is in motion. If this be so, we shall soon hear of a “fight, or a foot race.” And how can Grant run away, when Mr. Chase, the Federal Secretary of the Treasury, openly proclaims ruin to the finances [...]
April 23d. Early this morning the Johnnie Rebs made an attack on the outposts on the Charlestown Pike. A hot fire was kept up. Our pickets holding them in check while our regiment was ordered out, double quick. We made a forced march out about two miles but the enemy had left. It was thought [...]
APRIL 22d.—A bright day and warmer. Cherry-trees in blossom. We have the following war news: “PLYMOUTH, N. C., April 20th. “To GEN. BRAGG. ………“I have stormed and captured this place, capturing 1 brigadier, 1600 men, stores, and 25 pieces of artillery. ………………………………………………………“R. F. HOKE, Brig.-General.” The President has changed his mind since the reception of [...]
APRIL 21st.—Bright sunshine all day, but cool. Gen. Bragg received a dispatch to day from Gen. Hoke, of Plymouth, N. C., stating that he had (yesterday) stormed Plymouth, taking 1600 prisoners, 25 cannon, stores, etc. etc. This put the city in as good spirits as possible. But the excitement from Hoke’s victory was supplanted by [...]
CAMP, WINTER QUARTERS, April 21st, 1864. My Dear Sister: Once more in our same old quarters, though we little thought a week ago that we would ever live to see them again. We had a very quiet time on picket this week, at the same time the most pleasant we have had this winter. Only [...]
April 20th. A very pleasant morning. Came off picket. After a good clean-up, obtained a pass permitting me to cross the Potomac River into Maryland, as I wished to visit and climb to the top of Maryland Heights, which I had done before. One gets a ?ne view of a tract of country which is [...]
APRIL 20th.—A clear morning, but a cold, cloudy day. The following dispatch from Gen. Forrest shows that the bloody work has commenced in earnest : “DEMOPOLIS, ALA., April 19th. “To GEN. S. COOPER. ………..“The following dispatch has just been received from Gen. Forrest, dated Jackson, Tenn., April 15th. “L. POLK, Lieut.-General. ………..“I attacked Fort Pillow [...]
April 19th. All quiet in camp for the past few days. Detailed for picket duty this morning. Weather ?ne. Located at the bridge over the Shenandoah River. Of?cer of the guard a Lieutenant from the 5th New York Heavy Artillery. General Max Weber, a former colonel, 20th New York Regiment known as the Turner Ri?es, [...]
APRIL 19th.—Cloudy and cold. We have no authentic war news, but are on the tip-toe of expectation. The city is in some commotion on a rumor that the non-combating population will be required to leave, to avoid transportation of food to the city. Corn is selling at $1.25 per bushel in Georgia and Alabama; here, [...]
Scottsboro, Ala., April 18, 1864. No changes to note in the military situation of our portion of Dixie, but the note of preparation is heard on every side. All making ready for the Spring campaign, which every one prophesies will be the bloodiest one of the war. Johnston is undoubtedly collecting all the Rebel troops [...]
APRIL 18th.—Cleared away in the night–frost. To-day it clouded up again! We have an account from the West, to the effect that Forrest stormed Fort Pillow, putting all the garrison, but one hundred, to the sword; there being 700 in the fort—400 negroes.
APRIL 17th.—Rained until bedtime—then cleared off quite cold. This morning it is cold, with occasional sunshine. Gen. Beauregard’s instructions to Major-Gen. Anderson in Florida, who has but 8000 men, opposed by 15,000, were referred by the Secretary of War to Gen. Bragg, who returned them with the following snappish indorsement: “The enemy’s strength seems greatly [...]
Engine “Government” [Commodore?] down the “banks” near Brandy, April 1864 Photograph shows a train off the track laying on its side near Brandy Station, Virginia; MEDIUM: 1 photographic print : albumen; CREATED/PUBLISHED: 1864 April; Andrew J. Russell, photographer; Part of Russell’s Military installations, activities, and views, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Va., and vicinity (Library of Congress); [...]
APRIL 16th.—Rained all night, and in fitful showers all day. We have more accounts (unofficial) of a victory near Shreveport, La. One of the enemy’s gun-boats has been blown up and sunk in Florida. By late Northern arrivals we see that a Mr. Long, member of Congress, has spoken in favor of our recognition. A [...]
APRIL 15th.—Cloudy—slight showers. I published an article yesterday in the Enquirer, addressed to the President, on the subject of supplies for the army and the people (the government to take all the supplies in the country), the annihilation of speculation, and the necessary suppression of the Southern (Yankee) Express Company. This elicited the approval of [...]
April 14th. Sunshine for this morning. Came off picket duty. Visited town on a pass, a lonesome old place. The old buildings show the effects of the war, broken down and ruined. Some must have been fine ones in their day. At dress parade a new national flag was brought out for the first time. [...]
APRIL 14th.— Bright morning—cloudy and cold the rest of the day. No reliable war news to-day; but we are on the tip-toe of expectation of exciting news from the Rapidan. Longstreet is certainly in communication with Lee; and if the enemy be not present with overwhelming numbers, which there is no reason to anticipate, a [...]
APRIL 13th.—A clear, but cool day. Again planted corn, the other having rotted. There is an unofficial report that one of our torpedo boats struck the Federal war steamer Minnesota yesterday, near Newport News, and damaged her badly. I learn (from an official source) to-day that Gen. Longstreet’s corps is at Charlottesville, to co-operate with [...]
April 12th. Nothing important has taken place. Our regular routine of duty goes on from day to day. A strong picket guard is kept up owing to the guerillas in these mountains. Mosby is the chief among them. This seems to be the rainy season, judging by the way it comes down. Mud, mud, sticky [...]
APRIL 12th.—Cloudy—rained in the afternoon. This is the anniversary of the first gun of the war, fired at FortSumter. It is still said and believed that Gen. Lee will take the initiative, and attack Grant. The following shows that we have had another success : “MOBILE, April 11th, 1864. “To GEN. S. COOPER, A. & [...]