MAY 5th.—To-day the excitement was quite as great as ever, for bodies of the enemy are still in the vicinity. They are like frightened quails when the hawks are after them, skurrying about the country in battalions and regiments. Fitzhugh Lee defeated one of their parties, and reports that the entire calvary force of Hooker, [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 5TH.—We were annoyed some little through the night, by the rebels firing, but they didn’t hit anybody. Two regiments of infantry with some cavalry crossed the river for a little scout. I do not think there are many rebels over there, but what few there are, ought [...]
MAY 4th.—This morning early the tocsin sounded, and the din, kept up for several hours, intensified the alarm. The presence of the enemy would not have produced a greater effect. But, in truth, the enemy were almost in sight of the city. Hon. James Lyons told me they were within a mile and a half [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 4TH.–Early this morning the rebels planted a battery in the woods on the opposite side of the river, and sent shot and shell crashing into our camp. DeGolier’s battery was soon in position, and silenced them before any damage was done. I hope DeGolier and his battery [...]
MAY 3d.—We have no further news from the army, except the usual skirmishing. A number of our wounded arrived last evening. An officer reports that, from what he could see of the enemy’s conduct, the soldiers do not come to the point with alacrity. He thinks they fight with reluctance, and are liable to be [...]
MAY 2d.—The awful hour, when thousands of human lives are to be sacrificed in the attempt to wrest this city from the Confederate States, has come again. Now parents, wives, sisters, brothers, and little children, both in the North and in the South, hold their breath in painful expectation. At the last accounts the two [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 2ND.–As the sun peeped over the eastern horizon, we slipped out of camp and went our way rejoicing. Oh, how beautiful the morning; calm and pleasant, with the great variety of birds warbling, as though all was peace and quiet. When camping in the darkness of night, [...]
MAY 1st.—Gov. Vance writes that Gen. Hill desires him to call out the militia, believing the enemy, balked in the attempt on Charleston, will concentrate their forces against North Carolina. But the Governor is reluctant to call the non-conscripts from the plow in the planting season. He thinks the defense of North Carolina has not [...]
By Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 1ST, 1863.– Logan’s Division, to which we belonged, embarked on transports, that had passed the batteries at Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, last night, about two miles below the latter place, where we had marched down the Louisiana levee to meet the boats. Crossing the Mississippi river, we landed at Bruinsburg, [...]
Title: “Gone off with the Yanks”; A land flowing with milk and honey; A scouting party; An old campaigner Creator(s): Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895, artist Date Created/Published: [between 1861 and 1876] Medium: 1 drawing. Summary: Four vignettes about the American Civil War on one sheet. Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-20764 (digital file from original item) LC-USZ62-79163 (b&w film [...]
Thursday, April 30th. Was not the recollection of this day bitter enough to me already? I did not think it could be more so. Yet behold me crying as I have not cried for many and many a day. Not for Harry; I dare not cry for him. I feel a deathlike quiet when I [...]
APRIL 30th.—The enemy are advancing across the Rappahannock, and the heavy skirmishing which precedes a battle has begun. We are sending up troops and supplies with all possible expedition. Decisive events are looked for in a few days. But if all of Longstreet’s corps be sent up, we leave the southern approach to the city [...]
April 29th. Our company was ordered for guard duty to guard the railroad bridge over the Gunpowder River, on the Baltimore & Philadelphia Road. A very pleasant change and much enjoyed in the fine early spring weather. The fishing and sailing were fine. Many boats at that point we were allowed to use. Many attempts [...]
APRIL 29th.—Gen. Beauregard is eager to have completed the “Torpedo Ram,” building at Charleston, and wants a “great gun” for it. But the Secretary of the Navy wants all the iron for mailing his gun-boats. Mr. Miles, of South Carolina, says the ram will be worth two gun-boats. The President of the Manassas Gap Railroad [...]
April 29, 1863, The Charleston Mercury CHEERING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT. We were informed yesterday by a highly intelligent Confederate officer, recently from the Department west of the Mississippi River, that our prospects there are now brighter than they have been for many months past. The appointment of General Kirby Smith and General Price [...]
APRIL 28th.—The enemy’s raid in Mississippi seems to have terminated at Enterprise, where we collected a force and offered battle, but the invaders retreated. It is said they had 1600 cavalry and 5 guns, and the impression prevails that but few of them will ever return. It is said they sent back a detachment of [...]
APRIL 27th.—A dispatch from Montgomery, Ala., states that the enemy have penetrated as far as Enterprise, Miss., where we had a small body of troops, conscripts. If this be merely a raid, it is an extraordinary one, and I feel some anxiety to learn the conclusion of it. It is hard to suppose a small [...]
April 27, 1863, The Charleston Mercury (CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.) RICHMOND, Thursday, April 23. Certain farmers in Powhatan County, in this State, acting as arbitrators under the new law, declared the price of clover hay in that County should be twenty dollars the hundred weight. This went through the regular channels to the War Department, [...]
Sunday, April 26th. I am getting well! Bless the Lord, O my soul! Life, health, and happiness dawn on my trembling view again! . . . Dr. Stone came to see me a few hours after I arrived; two days after, he called again; this morning I walked out to meet him when he was [...]
APRIL 26th.—This being Sunday I shall hear no news, for I will not be in any of the departments. There is a vague understanding that notwithstanding the repulse of the enemy at Charleston, still the Federal Government collects the duties on merchandise brought into that port, and, indeed, into all other ports. These importations, although [...]
APRIL 25th.—We have bad news from the West. The enemy (cavalry, I suppose) have penetrated Mississippi some 200 miles, down to the railroad between Vicksburg and Meridian. This is in the rear and east of Vicksburg, and intercepts supplies. They destroyed two trains. This dispatch was sent to the Secretary of War by the President [...]
Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn., April 24, ’63. We have just returned from the hardest and yet by far the most pleasant scout in which I have up to this time participated. We started from here one week ago to-day, Friday, and my birthday (how old I am getting) on the cars. We were [...]
APRIL 24th.—We lost five fine guns and over a hundred men on the Nansemond; and we learn that more of the enemy’s gun-boats and transports have passed Vicksburg! These are untoward tidings. Gens. Pemberton and French are severely criticised. We had a tragedy in the street to-day,, near the President’s office. It appears that Mr. [...]
APRIL 23d.—The President’s health is improving. His eye is better; and he would have been in his office to-day (the first time for three weeks) if the weather (raining) had been fine. The expenses of the war amount now to $60,000,000 per month, or $720,000,000 per annum. This enormous expenditure is owing to the absurd [...]
April 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury FROM PORT HUDSON. PORT HUDSON, April 21. – The New Orleans Era of the 16th confirms the report of the destruction of the Confederate prizes, Queen of the West and Diana. The former got aground in Grand Lake. The Yankee fleet approached and a fierce bombardment ensued. A shell [...]