APRIL 13th.—The Federal monitors, gun-boats, and transports no more menace the City of Charleston! The fleet has sailed away, several of the iron-clads towed out of the harbor being badly damaged. But before leaving that part of the coast, the Yankees succeeded in intercepting and sinking the merchant steamer Leopard, having 40,000 pairs of shoes, etc. on board for our soldiers. It is supposed they will reappear before Wilmington; our batteries there are ready for them.

Gen. Wise assailed the enemy on Saturday, at Williamsburg, captured the town, and drove the Federals into their fort–Magruder.

The President was ill and nervous on Saturday. His wife, who lost her parent at Montgomery, Ala., a month ago, and who repaired thither, is still absent.

Congress still refuses to clothe the President with dictatorial powers.

Senator Oldham, of Texas, made a furious assault on the Secretary of War, last Saturday. He says Senators, on the most urgent public business, are subjected to the necessity of writing their names on a slate, and then awaiting the pleasure of some lackey for permission to enter the Secretary’s office. He was quite severe in his remarks, and moved a call on the President for certain information he desired.

The Sentinel abuses Congress for differing with the President in regard to the retention of diplomatic agents in London, etc. And the Enquirer, edited by John Mitchel, the fugitive Irishman, opens its batteries on the Sentinel. So we go.

April 13, 1863, Memphis Daily Appeal (Jackson, Mississippi)

From the Richmond Examiner.

 The reader will find in the report of evidence in the police court, the true account of a so-called riot in the streets of Richmond. A handful of prostitutes, professional thieves, Irish and Yankee hags, gallows birds from all lands but our own, congregated in Richmond, with a woman huckster at their head, who buys veal at the toll-gate for a hundred and sells the same for two hundred and fifty in the morning market, undertook the other day to put into private practice the principles of the commissary department. Swearing that they would have goods “at government prices,” they broke open half a dozen shoe stores, hat stores, and tobacco houses, and robbed them of everything but bread, which was just the thing they wanted least. Under the demagogue’s delusion that they might be “poor people,” “starving people,” and the like, an institution of charity made a distribution of rice and flour to all who would ask for it. Considering the circumstances, it was a vile, cowardly and pernicious act; but the manner in which it was received exhibits the character of this mob. Miscreants were seen to dash the rice and flour into the muddy street, where the traces still remain, with the remark that “if that was what they were going to give, they might go to h-ll.” It is greatly to be regretted that this most villainous affair was not punished on the spot. Instead of shooting every wretch engaged at once, the authorities contented themselves with the ordinary arrest, and hence the appearance of the matter in the police report of the morning.

 If it were the only thing of this sort which has appeared in Southern cities, it would not be worth attention. But as the reader has already seen from our columns, some two weeks ago there was one in Atlanta, immediately followed by one in Mobile; which was succeeded by another in Salisbury; then in Petersburg; and the very next day by this in Richmond. Now if these were unconcerted tumultuous movements, caused by popular suffering, they would not, could not, have this regular gradation of time from one city to another in the line of travel from the South to North. It is impossible to doubt that the concealed investigators in each case were the same. Having done the work in one city, they took the cars to the next. That they are emissaries of the Federal government it is equally difficult to doubt. For some time past the Northern press has teemed with intimations of some wonderful secret machinery which was at work to overthrow the South. This is what they meant. No doubt the next arrival of Northern newspapers will be filled with lies about these thief saturnalia, which will shame Munchausen. As three hundred Yankee prisoners went off by flag of truce on yesterday, the whole story, with all the additions which malice and invention can supply, has already got as far as Old Point.

 No doubt either that they will be represented as “bread riots!” Bread riots! while this and every other city of the South has always had large appropriations for the poor uncalled for; when labor is so scarce that everything in human shape that is willing to work can make from two to four dollars in the day; when seamstresses refuse two dollars and a half, with board, because the said board does not include tea and butter! Plunder, theft, burglary, and robbery, were the motives of these gangs, foreigners and Yankees the organizers of them.

 One thing is certain, that if any exhibition of the sort appear again, it must be put down in such a manner that it will never be repeated. There would never have been but one if the magistrates and citizens of the town in which they occurred had done their duty. A most contemptible notion, that such disturbance is a shame, which must be hidden, (as well try to hide the sun!) led them to coax and wheedle the audacious miscreants engaged in it. That course ensured their recurrence. It always does so. When an individual permits himself to be black-mailed by a scoundrel, he is always bled again and again till he is exhausted; so too a community which permits itself to be bullied by its criminal population, must expect to find it bolder every day until it rules all. We know that a street rabble, of which a cowardly king was afraid, once got such possession of Paris; that it produced an anarchy of blood and horror which lasted two years; lasted till the mob met a Corsican lieutenant who was not afraid of it or aught; when it vanished in a whiff of powder smoke and never was heard of again. Times of revolution and war are always fertile in this species of crime, and unless checked properly it becomes exceedingly dangerous to the public cause. There is only one way to check it properly. The opportunity to do so should not be avoided, or approached reluctantly, but eagerly sought and pursued to its very utmost extent of availability.

 It is useless to dwell on this truth. For citizens who have arms in their hands and yet permit their money and property to be ravished from them by cowardly burglars and thieves, because they are incited to come in a gang of fifty in broad day light, instead of by twos or threes at midnight, we have no sympathy. If the officers of the law, with the ample decision and energy to do more than arrest highway robbers and disperse a mob of idlers at their heels, whose presence there deserved immediate death quite as well, no words or arguments can furnish them with the pluck they lack.

April 13, 1863, Savannah Republican (Georgia)

 The editor of the Lake City Columbian paid a visit to Jacksonville, and gives the following account of the destruction of that town by the Abolitionists:

 Probably about one-third of the town was destroyed by the fires set by the enemy. A heavy rain and the efforts of the few citizens remaining, with the heavy aid of our troops as soon as they reached town, extinguished the flames in many of the buildings. Of the Churches, but two were burned–the Episcopal and the Catholic. The residence of the late Judge Pearson, and another dwelling near the former, was destroyed. Around the Catholic Church, pretty much all the buildings for the space of two blocks, were consumed. The Washington Hotel and the former residence of Mrs. Foster, and all for the space of two blocks in their rear, were destroyed with the exception of Mr. Hern’s house on the upper corner. The Court House and Jail were consigned to the flames. The four stores in the two-story brick block on Ocean street, north of Hoeg & Ambler’s block, were entirely destroyed. On Bay street, the following buildings were totally consumed: Bisbee & Canova’s block, T. O. Holmes’ block, Mr. Kipp’s house, Mr. Bisbee’s, Judge Dorman’s, Dr. Baldwin’s, and the four brick stores below Hoeg & Ambler’s owned by Messrs. Canova, Blackwell and Miller; also a brick store near, on the street running north. On the hill above the late Judson House, the buildings were entirely swept away, including the residences of Messrs. Geo. R. Foster, Emery, Gibbs, Fairbanks and several others whose names are unknown to us. In fact, from the railroad Depot to Mrs. Haddock’s place, (a distance of two miles,) there is not a building of any description left standing; even the brick church being burned and the brickyard destroyed. Besides this, an almost irreparable injury has been done to Jacksonville by the destruction of her beautiful shade trees. It was evidently the intention of the villains to destroy the whole town; but as usual, in their infamous and cowardly undertakings, they only partially succeeded.

April 13, 1863, The Daily Dispatch (Richmond, Virginia)

A terrible tornado passed over Bayou Teche, La., on the 29th ult. It swept over a tract only two hundred yards in breadth. The residence of Mr. Honore Dejean was lifted up and carried some distance, killing nearly all in it, including Mr. Dejean, Mrs. Dejean, Emile and Matilda, their daughters, Mrs. Zeringus and child, a young man and a colored boy. Oaks, five feet in diameter, were torn up and broken like flax. As it crossed the bayou, it overturned a forest of very large gum trees, all of which it rooted up or decapitated at different lengths from the ground, say from 15 to 30 feet, and, strange to say, they were the full length mentioned above, one half carried off and the other left standing.

April 13, 1863, Savannah Republican (Georgia)

 On Thursday and Friday last, feeble outbreaks of females armed with pistols and bowie knives, headed by a few vagabonds, were made in Augusta, Milledgeville and Columbus, in this State, for the purpose of helping themselves to merchandize at what they considered fair prices–all of which were promptly suppressed by the proper authorities.

 The Columbus Sun, alluding to the affair in that city, says:

 This is some of the legitimate fruits of what Gov. Brown is pleased to call “impressments” for the benefit of the people! It began in this State with that functionary, two years ago, in Atlanta, or other markets in Georgia, where salt was selling at ten and twelve dollars per sack, and has culminated in just such riots and lawless outbreaks as we witnessed in Columbus this morning.

April 13, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

THE MORRIS ISLAND BATTERIES that participated in the recent engagement with the iron-clad fleet were Battery Wagner and the Cumming’s Point Battery. They were ordered not to open fire until the last of the attacking fleet had come within range, and hence it chanced that their first fire was directed against the doomed monster Keokuk. The firing at these batteries, like that at all the others which were engaged, was highly creditable – a large proportion of their shots having hit the mark. We have heard the manner in which the guns at the Cumming’s Point Battery were handled highly commended. In entering the fight, by way of Ship Channel, the Monitors passed Battery Wagner with closed ports; but when withdrawing, baffled and disappointed, from the contest, every turret vomited forth it huge missiles against the defiant sand fort. Battery Wagner was commanded by Maj. CLELAND K. HUGER, and was manned by the Mathewes Artillery, Capt. J. RAVEN MATHEWES, and the Gist Guard, Capt. C. E. CHICHESTER, who hastened from a sick bed to participate in the fight. – The Cumming’s Point Battery was commanded by First Lieutenant LESESNE, and manned by a detachment from his regiment, the 1st S. C. (regular) Artillery. Neither battery was damaged by the enemy’s fire, and the only casualties that occurred were those resulting from the accidental ignition and explosion of an ammunition chest. The effects of this terrible explosion are detailed in the following note from Captain MATHEWES:

BATTERY WAGNER, 11th April, 1863.

To the Editor of the Mercury: I will thank you to publish, for the benefit of the friends and families of those of my command who were so unfortunate as to be injured by the accident at this battery during the action of the 7th instant, the following correct list:

Killed – Sergeant G. W. Langley, from Aiken, S. C.; Privates Amos Fitzgerald and Jerry Dyer, from Habersham County, Georgia.

Wounded – 2d Lieutenant G. E. Steadman, not dangerously, from Aiken; Corporal Mathew Martin, slightly, from Habersham County, Georgia; Privates Samuel Red, seriously, from Barnwell District; Marion Quillon, slightly, from Barnwell District; Thos. Prince, slightly, from Aiken.

J. RAVEN MATHEWES,
Captain Mathewes Artillery.

April 13, 1863, The New York Herald

UNITED STATES TRANSPORT GEORGE PEABODY,

AT SEA, April 10, 1863.

We arrived at Port Royal on the morning of the 9th, and found, to our great satisfaction, that the movement towards the capture of Charleston began on the afternoon of the 7th instant by the iron-clads, which went up the harbor for the purpose of testing their guns and drawing the fire of the enemy. A portion of the iron-clads went up as an advance squadron to feel the way, and at about two o’clock all of the iron vessels were engaged, while Forts Sumter, Moultrie and the batteries on Sullivan’s and Morris’ islands opened with a terrific fire and with a remarkable degree of precision.

The harbor was literally enveloped in smoke, while the thundering of artillery and the booming of the fifteen inch guns were truly awful – a real feu d. The major portion of the fire of our iron-clads was directed at Fort Sumter, which replied in salvos and with great rapidity, the shot frequently striking the iron-clads. The New Ironsides blazed away fiercely, at times being entirely wrapped in smoke, while lurid sheets of flame were continually emitted from her sides.

The Monitor batteries fired their guns very rapidly for such heavy ordnance, while the Keokuk, with her eleven-inch guns, threw in shell in fine style.

At about four o’clock the New Ironsides, with Admiral Du Pont on board, dropped down the channel, and shortly afterwards the Keokuk was injured, it is said by a torpedo exploding under her bottom. The rebels made her the especial mark of their guns, and during the time she was under fire it is said that no less than sixty shots penetrated her armor; but only one man was killed. As soon as it was found that she was injured Captain Rhind withdrew his vessel and grounded her on the Morris Island beach, where she now lies, a total wreck.

The Monitor batteries stuck to their ground until about five o’clock, when, owing to the tide falling and night coming on, they withdrew out of range, the enemy firing at them with renewed vigor until out of the reach of their guns. [continue reading…]

April 13, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Confederate steamer Stonewall Jackson, Captain BLACK, formerly the British steamer Leopard, left Nassau on Wednesday last, with a cargo consisting of several pieces of field artillery, 200 bbls. saltpetre, 40,000 army shoes, and a large assortment of goods bound to this port. On Saturday night, about 11 o’clock, off the beach of Long Island, a few miles from this bar, she got among a fleet of blockading vessels. The Yankees having discovered the presence of the Stonewall Jackson, they commenced firing at her from nearly every direction. Captain BLACK finding his vessel surrounded, with no chance for escape, headed her for Long Island beach, where she was run ashore after a half hour chase, during which the enemy kept up a constant discharge of artillery at the ship, and penetrated her hull in three or four places. The Stonewall Jackson was burned by Captain BLACK’S orders, about 4 o’clock, on Sunday morning, and everything about her has been destroyed, except the iron part of her hull. The passengers, officers and crew have reached this city, but have lost many of their personal effects.

April 13, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

Proudly this thirteenth day of April, the second anniversary of the surrender of Fort Sumter, dawns upon the city of Charleston. The boasted iron-fleet, which was in three hours to have reduced our defences and pulverised the walls of Fort Sumter, battered and discomfited by our skilled artillerists, after tarrying five days within our bar, probably to repair damages and get orders from Washington, has gone. Abitt, excessit, evasit, erupit!

Yesterday afternoon at three o’clock the Monitors crossed the bar – three of them steaming, the other three towed by wooden vessels. Most of them passed southward, and were soon lost to the view. It is likely that they have gone to Port Royal, whither one of their number, worse injured, probably, than the rest, had preceded them four days ago. The Ironsides frigate was also towed beyond the bar, and at dark yesterday had resumed the position she lately occupied as the flagship of the blockading squadron. It is stated, however, by observers that her steam pump has been kept steadily in motion, that her water line has been raised by the removal of a portion, at least of her armament, and that she has been careened, evidently undergoing repairs on one side.

From the Stono River we also get intelligence that twenty-four of the transports, recently anchored in that stream, have disappeared – whether to remove troops, or only to bring more to Folly Island, with a view to the capture of Morris Island, we know not. But, at any rate, the progress of the great Yankee movement towards Charleston, both by land sea, has been suddenly stayed in the first and most dreaded advance, and our people, while they may not rejoice in the expectation that their final ordeal is passed, can at least enjoy a breathing spell from anxiety concerning the water approach, while every exertion should be given towards the security of Charleston otherwise.

In announcing to the public this almost ludicrous, hardly expected and most gratifying conclusion of the vaunted attack of the steel-plated Yankee armada, crippled, defeated and driven back in an engagement of not two hours and a half with a few admirably served batteries, we cannot forbear to invoke, as a proper spirit of profound thankfulness to the Giver of Victory, and of humble, prayerful trust in Him for a continuance of the providential mercies which, beginning with the reduction of Sumter two years ago, have signally marked the progress of operations in this quarter.

April 13, 1863, The New York Herald

The arrival of the steamer George Peabody from New Orleans, Hilton Head and Charleston puts in possession of the details of the attack on the latter place, from which the Peabody sailed on the 9th, two days after the fight commenced. Our Monitors stood fire splendidly. The Keokuk, it appears, was damaged by the explosion of a torpedo under her bottom, which so seriously injured her that Captain Rhind ran her on the shoal off Morris Island, where she now lies, a complete wreck. Although the fire poured upon her was terrific, no one was injured except Captain Rhind, and he only slightly. The Nahant received five hundred shots, some of which so riddled her smokestack and injured her turret that she had gone to Port Royal for repairs. The Ironsides was struck forty times, but not damaged. Fort Sumter fired hot shot, but two of her ports were knocked into one by the fire of our vessels. During the engagement on the afternoon of the 7th our iron-clads were so near to the city of Charleston that their two hundred-pounder Parrott guns could with ease have landed shells in it; but as the movement was only intended as a preliminary one to the grand attack, Admiral Du Pont would not permit the city to be shelled. The rebel iron-clads Palmetto State and Chicora were in sight, and tried the range of their guns, but did not attempt to make use of their boasted powers as rams; and it was not until our iron-clads retired that they came out fairly from behind the walls of Sumter.

General Hunter had gone up the bay when the Peabody was at Charleston. It was reported at the latter place and at Port Royal that our troops were rapidly gaining the rear of Charleston. The details which we give today, and the map accompanying them, are worthy of the most careful attention.

The Peabody also brings a list of the lost on board the Diana at Bayou Sars. A rumor was prevalent in New Orleans, which came from rebel sources, that General Bragg had been defeated in a great battle by General Rosecrans. As this news comes from no other quarter, it may have reference to the defeat of Van Dorn. [continue reading…]

April 12th. Lying off mouth of Red River; at ten A. M. inspected ship and crew, and half an hour afterwards, performed Divine service on quarter-deck. Nothing more worthy of note occurred during the remainder of these twenty-four hours, except that at 10 o’clock P. M. a sudden alarm was given, caused by a lookout hearing a bell tolled on shore, and reported it to be that of a steamer coming out of Red River; the rattle was sprung, calling all hands to quarters. The men turned out of their hammocks, got them up on deck and stowed in the hammock nettings, and were at their guns, ready for action, in five minutes after the alarm was given. It proved to be a false alarm, and one watch went below and turned in on the soft side of a plank.

Sunday, 12th.—Flag of truce sent down river by Federals; don’t know what for. Last night about 11 o’clock gun-boats passed the batteries; very heavy cannonading; a house was set on fire opposite Vicksburg, so that every gunboat could be plainly seen. It was a grand and awful sight to see those great black monsters rushing by, with the constant flashes from the great siege guns, and also from the gunboats. And it seemed as if almost all the demons from the lower world had come up to take part, and yet only one boat was burned and some others damaged. Cannonading all day.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Madisonville, Sunday, April 12th, 1863.

We arrived here about five last evening, and, strange to say, the journey, fatiguing as it was, has not altogether disabled me. But I must go back to Clinton to account for this new change. It would never do to take more than a hundred miles at a single jump without speaking of the incidents by the way. Numerous and pleasant as they were, some way they have unaccountably paled; and things that seemed so extremely amusing, and afforded me so much pleasure during these four days, now seem to be absurd trifles half forgotten.

I now remember lying in state on Lilly’s bed Wednesday, talking to Mrs. Badger (who had been several days in town), Anna, Sarah Ripley, and the others, when Frank suddenly bolted in, just from Port Hudson, to say another good-bye, though I told him good-bye at Linwood Sunday. Presently the General entered, just from Linwood, to see us off; then Mr. Marston and his daughter, and Mr. Neafus, all as kind as possible, until a perfect levee was assembled, which I, lying all dressed with a shawl thrown over me, enjoyed all the more as I could take my ease, and have my fun at the same time. Frank, sitting by my pillow, talked dolorously of how much he would miss us, and threatened to be taken prisoner before long in order to see us again.

– – – – – – – – — – – – – – – – –

When we were finally left alone, I fancy there was very little sleep in the house. As to me, I lay by Lilly wide awake, thinking how lonely she would be without us, and perfectly désolée [continue reading…]

12th. After breakfast, Col. (Abbey) and I got a team and rode horseback to town for rations–got 3 days’ rations. These troops from the Potomac never received any company savings. Marched at noon after giving rations. Ordered to Stanford, 50 miles south of Lexington. Reached Winchester about dark. Got some eggs and biscuit. A darkey came in and had a good visit. Intelligent though uneducated.

Sunday, 12th–Eight gunboats went down the river today. The boys feel quite lively and are anxious to get into action again. We had company inspection in the morning and regimental inspection in the afternoon, with dress parade at 5 o’clock. Some of the men of our regiment were caught in a trap today. They went up into a pigeon house a short distance from camp and were having a game of “chuck luck” when someone informed the officer of the day, who took some guards, surrounded the house, entered and made a quick dive for the rubber poncho, taking all the money lying on the figures, almost $200, and arresting all the participants. He put the fellows in the guardhouse and turned over the money to the hospital steward.

Sunday Night, April 12th—Mr. –– administered the Sacrament here to-day, the first time it was ever administered by Episcopalians in Ashland. There were fifty communicants, the large majority of them refugees. Our society here has been greatly improved by the refugees from Fredericksburg. The hotel is full. The G’s have rented the last vacant cottage, and are boarding others. The R’s, with their three pretty young daughters and son, occupy the ball-room of the hotel. The dressing-room makes a pleasant chamber, and the long dancing-room, partitioned off into rooms by the suspension of their handsome crimson damask curtains, is very pretty; and, for spring and summer use, makes very comfortable apartments. They saved some of their furniture, and are nicely fixed for refugees, who must do the best they can, and be thankful it is no worse. The C’s seem very happy in the old billiard-rooms; the large room answers the double purpose of dining-room and parlour, and the smaller rooms, which I am afraid were once used for card-playing when this place was a summer resort, are now put to a better use, as sleeping apartments and kitchen for three most agreeable families. One family in the opposite cottage has interested us very much. Mr. Wade (the husband) was an Englishman, who had been in office in Washington; he resigned and came South on the breaking out of the war, placed his family in Richmond, and joined our army; he was not young or healthy, and soon was broken down by the service; he was then made clerk in the Quartermaster’s Department, and removed his family to Ashland for cheapness. He was very highly educated and gentlemanly, and his coming here seems to me very mysterious. Soon after his removal to this place he grew worse and died. His wife and five children were left penniless and friendless. They seemed to have no acquaintances, however slight. The villagers, from their limited resources, raised a sum for her present support, and after much difficulty procured her a situation in the Note-signing Department. She goes into the city every morning on the cars, as do several other ladies to the duties of their offices, leaving her children to the care of a faithful coloured nurse, whom she never saw until two months ago. We have taught her the art of making soap of concentrated ley, and often when she gets on the train, a basket may be seen in the freight-train filled with soap, which she sells to the grocers or commissaries. She is an interesting-looking woman, Northern born and educated. Her father, she says, is a Colonel in the Yankee army. She wrote to him again and again, and one of our gentlemen did the same, representing her case. After long silence he has written to her a short letter, which she showed me, inviting her, in rather an indifferent manner, to come to Georgetown, where her mother is now staying, but remits her no money to pay her passage or to support her here. Our gentlemen have interested Mr. Lawley, an Englishman of some note in Richmond, in her case; and her husband having been a British subject, he may be enabled to get her a passport and a free passage on the flag-of-truce boat.

APRIL 12th.—Gen. Van Dorn, it is reported, has captured or destroyed another gun-boat in the West.

Night before last another riot was looked for in this city by the mayor, and two battalions of Gen. Elzey’s troops were ordered into the city. If the President could only see the necessity of placing this city under the command of a native Southern general, he might avoid much obloquy. The Smiths, Winders, and Elzeys, who are really foreigners, since the men from their States are not liable to conscription (vide Judge Campbell’s decision), are very obnoxious to the people. Virginians can never be reconciled to the presence of a mercenary Swiss guard, and will not submit to imported masters.

Notwithstanding the Enquirer urges it, and Mr. Barksdale, of Mississippi, persistently advocates it, Congress still refuses to confer additional powers on the President. Twice, within the last week, Congress has voted down the proposition to clothe the President with power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus. Congress has likewise refused to reconsider the vote postponing the consideration of the bill to create a Court of Claims. Judge S____ was here, working for it, but was doomed to disappointment.

A few nights since, a full Federal band came within a hundred yards of our men, the Rappahannock only separating them, and played “Dixie.” Our men cheered them lustily. Then they played “Yankee Doodle,” when the Yankees cheered. After this they played “Home, sweet Home !” and all parties cheered them. There may be something significant in this. The pickets have orders not to fire on each other, when no demonstration is in progress.

Our members of Congress get salaries of $2750. A cobbler (free negro), who mends shoes for my family, told me yesterday that he earned $10 per day, or $3000 per annum.

A pair of pantaloons now costs $40; boots, $60; and so on.

We have warm weather at last, and dry. Armies will soon be in motion.

Our government and people seem now to despair of European intervention. But the President says our armies are more numerous, and better armed and disciplined than at any period during the war. Hence the contest will be maintained indefinitely for independence. With these feelings the third year of the war opens. May God have mercy on the guilty men who determine more blood shall be shed. The South would willingly cease the sanguinary strife, if the invader would retire from our territory; but just as willingly will she fight hereafter as heretofore, so long as a foeman sets foot upon her soil. It must soon be seen with what alacrity our people will rush to the battle-field!

April 12, 1863, Mobile Register And Advertiser

Grand Gulf, Miss.,. March 17^th, 1863.

Editors Register and Advertiser:

 In a late number of your paper I find, in a communication from your correspondent “N’Importe,” an article in which special mention is made of the meritorious and self-sacrificing labors of the “Florence Nightingale of the South,” Miss Hattie Foster, of Alabama, in behalf of those of our gallant soldiers who were so unfortunate as to be left–torn and mangled, at the mercy of the foe–upon the bloody and disastrous field of Corinth.

 Having been a recipient of many favors at the hand of this ministering angel, a witness of her zealous labors in the holy cause of humanity, and fully endorsing all that your correspondent says concerning her conduct, it cannot be inferred from this that I desire to distract, in the least, from Miss Hattie’s justly merited good name. On the contrary, if it were possible, I would be delighted to be instrumental in adding more to the celebrity of one whose exalted virtues entitle her to the respect, gratitude and admiration of every defender of Southern independence; and for whose welfare and prosperity prayers should ascend to Heaven daily from every soldier’s mother, sister, wife and daughter throughout the land. But, “let honor be awarded to all to whom honor is due.” The language of your correspondent seems to convey the idea that none save Miss Hattie were engaged in this laudable, though laborious enterprise. But there were many others, who did not (as your correspondent says) mechanically attend and wait upon the wounded as a part of their duty,” but were fully as zealous, as devoted to the cause of suffering humanity as she. Others who, leaving behind them the comforts and luxuries of home, came to Iuka–the scene of the revolting realities of a disastrous battlefield–and remained for days, weeks, and even months, among strangers, devoting their entire attention to the patriotic work in which they were so earnestly engaged; spending the long and tedious days of autumn from early dawn until late at night among the sufferers; striving by every means in their power to render their condition more comfortable; and by their aid many a gallant soldier, who yet lives to testify of their kindness, and to assist in beating back our merciless invader, was restored to health and vigor; who, had this attention been withheld, would now doubtless be slumbering in an untimely grave. Oft have I seen the eye bedimmed with the tear of sympathy, and heard the voice falter while they were standing around the rude cot of the dying soldiers; ministering to his last earthly want, and striving to fasten his mind, in his last moments, upon “the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.” And when the last struggle was o’er, with gentle touch they would close his sightless eyes, and when arrangements were made for his interment, they would provide garments white and clean in which to enshrine his mangled and lifeless body; and then would follow him in his rude coffin to his final resting place, and would with sisterly affection insist that this last solemn rite be performed with care.

 That Miss Hattie was always among the foremost of them, I most freely admit; but I feel assured that her utter lack of vanity forever excludes from her mind all desire to deprive others of their due share of public esteem; and I feel that she would be delighted to see the names of her colaborers brought be brought before the public, that they, too, may receive the just tribute of respect from a grateful people. Among the many who deserve public mention, unfortunately, I can give the names of comparatively few–only of those who were attendants in the ward in which I was confined. But the names of such ladies as Mrs. Cassidy, Mrs. Inman, Mrs. Pettus, Mrs. Maguire, the Misses Dias, the Misses Vaughan, Miss […..]empson, Miss Nugem, Miss McKnight, Miss Reynolds, and a number with whom I am not familiar, deserve not only a place in the memory of those who were actually benefited by kindness, but the gratitude of an entire nation is due them; and their names deserve a place in the history of this struggle–as example to the be admired and emulated by the daughters of our Confederacy in coming generations.

One of the Wounded.

April 12, 1863, Southern Confederacy (Atlanta, Georgia)

 The Lynchburg Republican says, on the authority of a letter from North Carolina, that when a person applies for chewing tobacco, at some of the stores in that State, the answer is “No, but I’ve got the best chewing rosum (rosin) you ever seed.” The soldiers down there are learning to chew “rosum” instead of “backer.”

Camp Winder, April 12, 1863.

Your letter of April 7th came to hand yesterday, bringing the welcome intelligence of all well at home. I will spend part of this quiet Sabbath in writing to you in answer to it. It is a very pleasant and warm April day, –so pleasant that our log church has been abandoned and the chaplains had service in the open air. I witnessed to-day what I never saw before: the sacrament administered in the army. It was, indeed, a solemn and impressive scene; a congregation composed entirely of men, standing around in the circle of which the chaplain was the center, receiving the bread and wine in renewal of their vows and fellowship as Christians.

A number were admitted for the first time to the sacrament, and received into the church. The whole assembly wore such an air of seriousness and devotion as I have seldom witnessed before. There was no excitement, but an exhibition of earnest devotion in the discharge of the highest duty on earth. Far away from wife, mother and sister, separated from them perhaps forever in this world, they met, this mild April Sabbath, in the open air, some of them for the first time, and others to renew their sacramental vows of faith in Christ and fresh exertion to deserve his mercy. Men like these, however gloomy the future may be, look to it pleasantly and happily, contented to receive whatever of good or ill God has in store for them with the supplication, “Thy will be done!” Relying with implicit faith upon his mercy, the future is stripped of its gloom and becomes all bright, beautiful and happy. To such men death is no enemy, but a messenger expected from God sooner or later, and welcome as the quick path to a holier and happier life. With such soldiers in our army and such men at home, we might bid defiance to all the boasted numbers and strength of our enemies and feel sure of victory. But it is sadly true that the mass of our men here and at home are not of this type. Very many of our officers and soldiers– very many more, I think, of our people at home–have grown worse instead of better by the calamity which has fallen upon us. It is strange that it should be so; strange that adversity makes us no wiser and better; that our depravity grows deeper and darker in proportion to the severity of affliction. How little we know of the future! Last Sunday I thought another week could not pass without more blood. The reasons which prevented it during the winter–the weather and the roads–no longer exist. We have for some days had good weather and good roads, and no reason why the enemy should not advance, if so disposed. I place but little confidence in my judgment as to what will happen; but I have rather come to the conclusion that the enemy does not mean to attack us here. There is nothing which seems to indicate an advance. I am inclined to believe we have nearly as many men at our command here as they have opposed to us, and I think it likely they know it.

Their balloons go up every day, and from these they have a full view of the location of all of our troops; [continue reading…]

April 11th. Everything quiet to-day. During the afternoon, the Albatross (our chicken, as the boys now call her) returned from a reconnoitering expedition up to Fort Adams, for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the rebels were fortifying that place. I understand she ascertained that they were not, although contrabands coming on board of us from that vicinity, inform us that they were. This is not the first instance that these negroes have told similar lies to us, and made us a good deal of trouble for nothing. Every day we receive reinforcements to the already large number of contrabands we now have to feed, and soon I expect we will be able to form a regiment, composed of these runaways, and send them wherever their services may be required. They are more an encumbrance than an article of use on board a man-of-war, and for my part I wish we were rid of them. In other words, they are a nuisance not to be tolerated (I hope) long in the U. S. Navy. We have some specimens of dark ebony who have been on board the ship a few seconds over a week or ten days, and a white man cannot speak to one of them and receive a civil answer. One cause, and the principal one, of all this is, if my experience teaches me anything, that every officer and man on board any of our vessels, do not all treat them alike. But enough has been said by me about this race of benighted beings. I will leave them here, after remarking that I pity them because they have not good sense, for if they had they would never leave a plantation (a good home during their whole life, and a kind master,) to cast themselves adrift upon strangers and a cold, unfeeling world. I know many will, and I dare say do now, wish themselves back from whence they were foolish enough to run away.

11th. Left town soon after breakfast. Two negro slaves were snatched from the horses–oh how shameful! Am glad I did not witness the scene. Afterwards several such incidents transpired. How shocking. Major Burnett delivered up one on the word of two Ky. officers. Met the Third Batt. at Mount Sterling. Very pretty country all the way. Letters from Fannie, Will and Fred. Wrote to F. Chaplain at supper. Drake most sick.

Saturday,11th–The Eighth Iowa passed down the river today. We had no drill this afternoon, but were ordered to clean up for inspection. April has been warm and pleasant every day, but today we had a high wind.

APRIL 11th.—Gen. Beauregard telegraphs that Gen. Walker has destroyed another Federal gun-boat in Coosa River. They are looking for a renewal of the attack on Charleston, and are ready for it.

Gen. Lee writes that he is about sending a cavalry brigade into Loudon County to bring off commissary’s and quartermaster’s stores. This will frighten the people in Washington City! He also writes that, unless the railroads be repaired, so as to admit of speedier transportation of supplies, he cannot maintain his present position much longer.

The President has published a proclamation, to-day, appealing to the patriotism of the people, and urging upon them to abstain from the growth of cotton and tobacco, and raise food for man and beast. Appended to this is a plan, “suggested by the Secretary of War,” to obtain from the people an immediate supply of meat, etc. in the various counties and parishes. This is my plan, so politely declined by the Secretary! Well, if it will benefit the government, the government is welcome to it; and Mr. Seddon to the credit of it.