MAY 14th.—We have been beaten in an engagement near Jackson, Miss., 4000 retiring before 10,000. This is a dark cloud over the hopes of patriots, for Vicksburg is seriously endangered. Its fall would be the worst blow we have yet received. Papers from New York and Philadelphia assert most positively, and with circumstantiality, that Hooker [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 14TH.–Started again this morning for Jackson. When within five miles of the city we heard heavy firing. It has rained hard to-day and we have had both a wet and muddy time, pushing at the heavy artillery and provision wagons accompanying us when they stuck in the [...]
Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn., May 13, 1863. I have been on a General Court Martial for the last ten days, and we will not, in all probability, adjourn for some weeks yet. We tried Governor Yates’ brother. He is Adjutant of the 6th Illinois Cavalry. Another little reverse on the Rappahannock. All right! [...]
MAY 13th.—Col. Gorgas, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, sent in to-day a report of the arms captured in the recent battle. It appears from his statement that, so far, only eight guns have been found, taken from the enemy, while we lost ten. Thus, it would appear, our papers have been “lying,” in regard [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 13TH.–Up early, and on the march to Jackson, as we suppose. I dreamed of my bunk-mate last night. Wonder if his remains will be put where they can be found, for I would like, if I ever get the chance, to put a board with his name [...]
MAY 12th.—The departments and all places of business are still closed in honor of Gen. Jackson, whose funeral will take place to-day. The remains will be placed in state at the Capitol, where the people will be permitted to see him. The grief is universal, and the victory involving such a loss is regarded as [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 12TH–Roused up early and before daylight marched, the 20th in the lead. Now we have the honored position, and will probably get the first taste of battle. At nine o’clock slight skirmishing began in front, and at eleven we filed into a field on the right of [...]
MAY 11th.—Lieut.-Gen. J. T. Jackson died at 3 P.M. yesterday. His remains will arrive in the city at 5 P.M. this afternoon. The flags are at half-mast, and all the government offices and even places of business are closed. A multitude of people, mostly women and children, are standing silently in the streets, awaiting the [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 11TH.–We drew two days’ rations and marched till noon. My company, E, being detailed for rear guard, a very undesirable position. General Logan thinks we shall have a fight soon. I am not particularly anxious for one, but if it comes I will make my musket talk. [...]
MAY 10th.—Detachments of Federal troops are now marching into the city every few hours, guarded by (mostly) South Carolinians, dressed in home-spun, died yellow with the bark of the butternut-tree. Yesterday evening, at 7 o’clock, a body of 2000 arrived, being marched in by way of the Brooke Pike, near to my residence. Only 200 [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 10TH–Left camp after dinner. Dinner generally means noon, but our dinner-time on the march is quite irregular. Advanced unmolested till within about three miles of Utica, and camped again at dark. This forenoon my bunk-mate (Cal. Waddle) and I went to a house near camp to get [...]
MAY 9th.—The papers contain the following order from Gen. Lee : “HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, “May 7th, 1863. “GENERAL ORDERS No. 59. “With heartfelt gratification, the General Commanding expresses to the army his sense of the heroic conduct displayed by officers and men, during the arduous operations in which they have just been engaged. “Under [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 9TH.–Orders this morning to draw two days’ rations, pack up and be ready to move at a moment’s warning. We drew hard-tack, coffee, bacon, salt and sugar, and stored them in our haversacks. Some take great care so to pack the hard-tack that it will not dig [...]
MAY 8th.—To-day the city is in fine spirits. Hooker had merely thrown up defenses to protect his flight across the river. The following dispatch was received last night from Gen. Lee: “CHANCELLORVILLE, May 7th, 1863. “TO HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT DAVIS. “After driving Gen. Sedgwick across the Rappahannock, on the night of the 4th inst., I [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 8TH–We were ready to continue our march, but were not ordered out. Some white citizens came into camp to see the “Yankees,” as they call us. Of course they do not know the meaning of the term, but apply it to all Union soldiers. They will think [...]
May 8, 1863, Southern Confederacy (Atlanta, Georgia) The Fort Brown Flag of March 20th gives a detailed account of the capture and release of the renegade Judge Davis. A party of Texas Rangers crossed the Rio Grand, surrounded the house in which Davis and Montgomery were lodged in company with a number of renegades, [...]
May 8, 1863, Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Texas) In distributing the cotton cards lately bought by the State, the Military Board have fixed their prices at $10 per pair. As they have enough to go very far towards supplying the demand, it is to be presumed that the price of cotton cards will speedily come [...]
May 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK – FURTHER DETAILS OF THE LATE BATTLES. RICHMOND, May 7. – The correspondent of the Richmond Whig gives some further details of the battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. HOOKER accomplished the capture of Marye’s Heights by a ruse. On Saturday evening he moved several heavy columns [...]
May 8, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi) We infer that something of a panic exists south of us. Droves of negroes, mules &c., have been pressing through our village, northward and eastward bound, for some days. The stampede seems to have frightened many of our own citizens, and we hear of a number who [...]
May 16, 1863, The New York Herald Our Murfreesboro Correspondence. MURFREESBORO, Tenn., May 10, 1863. My despatches of last night will have intimated to you the loss of the forces under Colonel A.D. Streight, sent to destroy the military machine shops and arsenals at Rome, Georgia. The rebel papers received stated the capture positively; but [...]
Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn., May 7, 1863. Isn’t the Grierson “raid” glorious? Two other expeditions started from this point and were gone respectively five and ten days each. Although they made good long marches and took about 40 prisoners and 500 animals, still we forget them in looking after Grierson. We have the [...]
MAY 7th.—A scout came in to-day with the vexatious intelligence that a body of hostile cavalry is still in Louisa County. And later in the day we have information that the Mattapony bridge was burned last night! Thus again is communication interrupted between Gen. Lee and the city! Our wounded cannot be brought to the [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 7TH.–Our company detailed and reported this morning at headquarters for picket duty, but not being needed, returned to camp. Were somewhat disappointed, for we preferred a day on picket by way of change. Pickets are the eyes of the army and the terror of those who live [...]
MAY 6th.—The excitement has subsided, as troops come pouring in, and many improvised cavalry companies go out in quest of the fox—who has vanished we know not exactly whither. It is believed we have taken 15,000 or 20,000 prisoners, and that the enemy’s killed, wounded, and prisoners must reach the appalling number of 40,000. On [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 6TH.–This day has been a hot one, but as our duties have not been of an arduous nature we have sought the shade and kept quiet. While in camp, the boys very freely comment upon our destination, and give every detail of progress a general overhauling. The [...]