MARCH 4th.—The enemy bombarded Fort McAlister again yesterday, several gun-boats opening fire on it. It lasted all day; during which one of the iron-clads retired, perhaps injured. We had only two men wounded and one gun (8 in. columbiad) dismounted. The fort was but little injured.

Recent Northern papers assert that their gun-boats have all passed through the canal opposite Vicksburg. This is not true—yet.

Lincoln is now Dictator, his Congress having given him power to call out all the male population between the ages of twenty and thirty-five years, and authority to declare martial law whenever he pleases. The Herald shouts for Lincoln—of course. We must fight and pray, and hope for revolution and civil war in the North, which may occur any day.

Our cavalry, under Gen. Jones, has done some brilliant skirmishing recently in the vicinity of Winchester; and as soon as the March winds dry the earth a little, I suppose Hooker will recommence the “On to Richmond.” We shall be weaker the next campaign, but our men are brave.

March WEDNESDAY 4, 1863

Danced at the Castle, on the Green until one OC. Left Vicksburg at three, arrived at Big Black [River] after dark. Walked the Trestle, met another train, proceeded one mile ran off the track, where we went up to Landis’s Batery¹ and had a splendid cup of Coffee in honor of Gen Price’s visit.

1. Winkler’s Bluff

March 4, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Black Republican Congress of the United States goes out of power today. The new House of Representatives elect have a right to their seats should an extra session be called. But it is not at all probable that the President will assemble them, or that they will exercise any legislative functions, until the regular session of December next, which may not be avoided. Before vacating their seats, the party of Mr. LINCOLN has taken care to put large powers into his hands – besides great appropriations of money, the right to call out and officer the whole militia of the United States, and to suspend the Habeas Corpus, and imprison at discretion. It remains to see whether the people of the North are prepared, for the sake of better attempting the conquest of the Confederate States, to yield every vestige of liberty to a Military Dictator. An issue is now upon the Northern Democrats which, it appears to us, must decide their fate, no less than their country. If they acquiesce in the execution of the powers recently conferred upon the President, they are likely to be crushed out. Mr. LINCOLN […..] than controlling the army, will master the country. Notwithstanding the Hew York Herald, we judge that the discontent and demoralization already existing at the North, will not be soothed by the bold attitude assumed by the Abolition party. Nothing but some great and early military success can enable the Yankee President to use these extraordinary powers.

March 4, 1863, The New York Herald

We hear the most gratifying reports of the improved physical condition, discipline, efficiency and fighting spirit of the Army of the Potomac. General Hooker, by his personal attendance to the wants of his men, and by the fresh soft bread and vegetables with which he is supplying them, is reducing his sick list and increasing his effectives, while by his example of cheerfulness and confidence he is diffusing the same spirit, in his behalf, through out his army. All accounts assure us that the Army of the Potomac only asks for a dry, windy day or two in order to move forward to a terrible reckoning with the enemy.

March 4, 1863, The New York Herald

Reports of a battle at Vicksburg have been in circulation in this city since Saturday last, and the statement from the Petersburg (Va.) Express of the 28th ult. would appear to confirm them. But as neither Admiral Porter’s despatch of the 28th, announcing the loss of the Indianola, nor the Richmond Enquirer of the same date make any allusion to an engagement, it is reasonable to conclude that no battle of the character mentioned in the Petersburg Express has taken place, although intelligence of an attack by General Grant’s forces upon the rebel works may be expected at any moment. It is certain that the government has not received any account of a great battle in that vicinity. The Memphis Bulletin of Saturday, the 28th ult., says that it was confidently believed in leading circles in that city that the rebels were then evacuating Vicksburg. Letters received in Washington yesterday state that the expedition under General Washburne to open the Yazoo Pass has been entirely successful, and promises to furnish the key to that stronghold; and despatches from Cairo of the same date say that the gunboat Carondelet and five others have reached the Tallahatchie river by way of the Yazoo. Vicksburg would thus appear to be closely environed by our forces, and therefore the reported evacuation wears a strong color of probability.

General Rosecrans is pushing his forces forward with success. On the 2d instant he had advanced as far as Middleborough, half way between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, and a despatch from the former place, dated the same day, says that an expedition of one thousand cavalry and one thousand six hundred infantry, left Murfreesboro the following morning, and encountered the enemy at Bradyville. After severe fighting the enemy were driven from the town, with the loss of eight killed and twenty wounded, and eighty privates and none officers captured. There were also captured three hundred new saddles and accountrements and a large collection of official orders and papers and the private baggage of the enemy, who were a portion of John Morgan’s and Wharton’s divisions.

General Rosecrans, in his official despatch to General Halleck, yesterday, says that, when the enemy made a stand at Bradyville, Colonels Paramour and Long went in with sabres and whipped them in about three minutes, Stake’s cavalry advancing bravely with carbines. He reports that we took seventy prisoners, including eight officers, their camp equipage, tents, saddles, some seventy horses and Basil Duke’s regimental papers. He mentions that Major Murphy did good service, and reports our loss at one man killed and one captain and seven men wounded. [continue reading…]

Tuesday, 3d–Everything is quiet. I went down town again this afternoon. Our men have pulled a steam tug up on the bank and the engineers have a force of a thousand men re-calking it.

3rd. The Convention of Govs. took place. I was too lame to venture out. It stormed awfully, snow and rain, and the boys suffered considerably. 2nd Ohio out en masse, as escort. No letter from Fannie. Finished her letter and wrote to Lucy Randall. Played checkers with McAulis.

March TUESDAY 3, 1863

Gen (Stephen D.] Lee¹ gave Gen Price a Ball at his Hd. Qts. Mrs Willis’s Residence. We visited all of our Fortifications around the City, and also the battle ground² seven miles above. We have a splendid view of the Yankee fleet oposite the City.

1. Stephen Dill Lee
2. Battle of Chicasaw Bayou

MARCH 3d.—We like our new quarters—and the three Samaritan widows, without children. They lend us many articles indispensable for our comfort. It is probable they will leave us soon in the sole occupancy of the house. There is ground enough for a good many vegetables—and meat is likely to be scarce enough. Bacon is now $1.37½ cts. per pound, and flour $30 per barrel. The shadow of the gaunt form of famine is upon us! But the pestilence of small-pox is abating.

We have now fine March weather; but the floods of late have damaged the railroad bridges between this and Fredericksburg. The Secretary of War requested the editors, yesterday, to say nothing of this. We have no news from the West or from the Southeast–but we shall soon have enough.

The United States Congress has passed the Conscription Act. We shall see the effect of it in the North; I predict civil war there; and that will be our “aid and comfort.”

Gen. Toombs has resigned; and it is said Pryor has been made a major-general. Thus we go up and down. The President has issued a proclamation for prayer, fasting, etc., on the twenty-seventh of this month. There will certainly be fasting—and prayer also. And God has helped us, or we should have been destroyed ere this.

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

(CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.)

CAMP GREGG, ARMY OF POTOMAC, Feb. 23.

It snowed night before last and yesterday to the depth of ten or eleven inches. It is as dry as powder. The men turn out now and then by companies, regiments and brigades, and have a snow fight. In one case two divisions turned out, Generals and all, formed line of battle, sent out skirmishers and fought a regular battle.

We are living in what the boys call bunks. Most of them are constructed by digging a pit from one to three feet deep, putting up forks at each end to support the ridge pole, which in its turn supports the upper ends of long thick boards or slabs, the other ends resting on the ground, and the whole covered with earth. A fireplace is dug out at one end, a chimney built above it as high as a man’s shoulders, and a barrel set on top of that. I have not known a single instance of these barrels taking fire. Some few have their bunks covered with tent flies. A still smaller number have tents. All have fireplaces to their dwellings, whether bunks or tents, which add very much to their comfort. Nearly every mess has two apartments – one for a kitchen, the other a dormitory.

The condition of the roads lays on both sides the absolute necessity of keeping the peace for the present. If more fighting must be done, I know of no place where we could do it with a better prospect of success than here.

There are a good many cases of pneumonia, a large proportion of them proving fatal. Otherwise the health of the soldiers is excellent.

Our rations of beef and bacon alternately – pretty often neither – and flour, are very scant. We occasionally get a very small quantity of sugar. Salt is very scarce.

The spirits of the men are very fine. Today a large number are hunting rabbits, which they easily run down and catch, when they can find them, in the deep snow.

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

We publish elsewhere a bill, which we understand was prepared at the suggestion of General JACKSON (Stonewall), with the earnest and urgent endorsement of Gen. ROBT. E. LEE, which was brought before Congress by the Chairman from the Military Committee of the House, and which, after four days’ debate full of twaddle and demagoguism, was lain on the table. Such conduct, in such an hour as this, must excite feelings of mingled disgust and indignation in the breast of every earnest lover of his country. We speak moderately when we say that arguments and votes such as have been given on this bill, indicate a disposition in Congress to trifle with the cause – to jeopardize the destinies of these Confederate States, from motives having a shallow or selfish view, to the pleasure of stragglers and absentees without leave from the army. Congress has been in session near two months, and no measure has been adopted to meet the evil complained of by our Generals. Demagoguism in the army itself has done much harm, but we trust the worst of that is past and over under the better influences of danger present. We have had too much demagoguism in the legislation for organizing the army, and much disorganization and confusion have resulted; but it was intended to conform to the supposed opinion of the patriotic and devoted volunteers. This failure to legislate for the restoration of laggards to their posts of duty, is a sacrifice of the strength and efficiency of our forces in the field to a mawkish and contemptible deference to the convenience of those who are violating military law and endangering the very existence of their country. We trust that public opinion in the army and throughout the Confederate States will stamp with reprobation this squeamish temporising of Congress in a vital matter, at the crisis of our fate. We do not despair that, on a reconsideration, the measure will yet be adopted. Our sole danger is a deficiency of troops. It is time to stop buncombe and to recruit our armies, before disasters overtake us, as last Spring. We have spoken often on this most momentous of subjects. We invoke the voice of the Southern press on the questions of conscription and the return of absentees to their corps. The public cannot adopt or execute measures, but it may stimulate those who have the power to enact laws and those who have the authority and responsibility for executing them. Delay and a want of preparation – not of fighting population – have lost us States and cities enough. Will the past teach us nothing? Peace parties at the North and foreign intervention, all turn upon the military results of the Spring campaign.

March 3, 1863, The New York Herald

The news from Vicksburg is important. The capture of the Union ram Indianola by the rebels, in addition to the Queen of the West – lately taken at Fort Taylor on the Red river – is confirmed by an official despatch from Rear Admiral Porter, received by the Navy Department yesterday. It appears that the Queen of the West and the ram Webb were employed by the enemy against her, twenty-five miles below the headquarters of the Mississippi squadron, and rammed her until she surrendered. Admiral Porter says that he does not know the particulars; but he charges that if his instructions had been followed up the disaster would not have occurred. The Indianola was built at Cincinnati, at a cost to the government of $100,000. She is flat bottomed, iron-plated, her sides spread out at an angle of forty-five degrees, and fall in above deck at the same angle, rendering her almost impregnable to the force of any shot. She registers one hundred and forty-two tons burthen, and is built to carry two heavy guns.

The rebel privateers are keeping up a vigorous campaign on the seas. The Florida captured the ship Jacob Bell on the 12th ult., in latitude 24, longitude 65, bound from China to the port of New York. The Jacob Bell had a cargo of 22,000 packages of tea, 2,500 rolls of matting, 5,000 boxes of fire crackers, 400 boxes of fans, 8,000 mats of cassia and 210 boxes of camphor, the whole being valued at about a million of dollars, upon which the United States government lost over $175,000, or $200,000 in revenues, as that would be about the duty on the goods aboard. The rebel privateer burned the vessel, and transferred her passengers and crew to a Danish vessel, which conveyed them to St. Thomas. The United States steamer Alabama and the ship Shepherd Knapp were at the latter port on the 20th ult., and were then about to start on a cruise in search of the privateers Alabama and Florida. Great fears were entertained by the United States merchant ships at St. Thomas of the rebel privateers.

We are in possession of this news by the arrival of the steamer Delta from St. Thomas at Halifax yesterday. Her report also states that the steamer Columbia ran the blockade at Wilmington, N.C., and arrived at St. George, with a cargo of cotton and tobacco.

In the port of Bermuda, on the 19th of February, were the British steamers Cornelia and Mirian, trading to and from the rebel ports. The Cornelia had arrived, with a cargo of cotton, from Charleston, and was loading with firearms and other munitions of war, for Charleston. The Mirian is the mate of the prize steamer Princess Royal, and was to sail for Charleston in a week.

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

VICKSBURG, February 20.

Since the commencement of bombarding the city on Wednesday afternoon, the work has been kept up pretty much in the same manner as was done last summer. The enemy labors under the disadvantage, this time, of being exposed to the view and range of our guns. At the first siege, their mortar boats were anchored behind the timber, which sheltered them, and were a good deal closer to the city than now. The timber being cut down, exposes their position; and our hills being well supplied with long range guns, enables us to give them as good as they send.

Yesterday morning opened bright, fair and quiet, and no movements among the enemy could be observed. Quietness prevailed until eleven o’clock, when the mortars again opened on the city, in the same part that underwent the ordeal the day before. The steamer Vicksburg, which was lying in front of Major Ogden’s battery, was supposed to be the object of their aim, under the erroneous impression that she is being fitted up for a gunboat. But it is more likely that their object was a direct shelling of the city, as all the shells reached and exploded in the lower part of the town. Though they throw their shells with a good deal of accuracy, there has yet been no damage done.

Experience has demonstrated that gunboats and mortars are humbugs – that they can neither take nor destroy Vicksburg, and so little fear is manifested at the shelling, that the streets are full of people, including women and children, and every bluff is covered with ladies to witness the grand exhibition. At first the shells were directed to the lower part of the city, in the vicinity of the depot of the Southern Railroad, and yesterday the same spot seemed to engage their attention until the middle of the afternoon, when they ranged their mortars for the higher parts of the city, and have now got to throw their shells as far north as the Washington Hotel.

Their firing averages one shell in about seven minutes, and their fuses are arranged to about eighteen seconds. They have calculated the distance very nicely, and fire with considerable accuracy, and with enormously heavy charges, shaking every building in the city. There are three batteries erected on the levee, and some of the gunboats are constantly cruising around between them and the fleet above. No damage has yet been done to the city, though the rattling of fragments of shells on the roofs of the buildings is quite astonishing to ears unaccustomed to that kind of music. One or two little wooden houses have been struck, but not seriously damaged.

Until about five o’clock in the afternoon our batteries endured the taunting efforts of the enemy, when a few of our guns let loose on them, and the very first shot is supposed to have dismounted their mortar. Another and another shot from guns in rapid succession, and with amazing accuracy, soon silenced the bellowing batteries of the Yankees, and not another shot was fired by them. The splendid shooting of our men drew encomiums of the highest praise from all who witnessed it. It is now demonstrated that our guns will reach the Yankee batteries, and that our gunners know exactly how to handle their pieces.

During the afternoon one of the soldiers had an arm taken off by a piece of a shell in Washington street. This was the first shell that was sent in that direction, and crowds of people were on the street in that vicinity at the time. This is the only accident that has yet occurred, though the town is full of citizens and soldiers, and none seem to have any wholesome fear of bombshells. By this carelessness and indifference, there may be some accidents, which could easily be avoided by a little prudence and discretion. Though it took thirty thousand shells last summer to kill two persons, it is, nevertheless, true that they will kill if one gets in their way.

VICKSBURG, February 21.

After our guns opened on the enemy’s battery on Thursday evening, their firing was silenced, and not another shot has been sent into the city since. The fact that our pieces would reach them in the position which they occupied, probably made it prudent to fire under cover of the darkness. When daylight approached, yesterday morning, all eyes were turned to the spot from which the enemy was hurling his messengers of death into our midst, with the expectation that the work of shelling the devoted city would be resumed at an early hour. But, to the surprise of all, no enemy was to be seen, and no mortar opened its roar.

The fleet above seemed engaged in moving up stream, and the immense display of steam which was visible on the previous night had nearly all disappeared, leaving the impression among many that the fleet was about evacuating the place. Some dozen transports, including storeships and a few gunboats, were still in sight at the old quarterage. All day a sharp look out was kept for another demonstration from the mortar, but no enemy appeared in that quarter. Considerable relief was felt by this immunity from Yankee shells, after the experience of the last two days. No movements of the enemy were noticed all day, that indicated anything different from their former operations.

VICKSBURG, February 23.

Yesterday morning a grand scene presented itself in the distance as the large fleet lay exposed in full view of the naked eye. As they had all withdrawn the previous evening, it was hardly expected that they should all return so soon and so quietly. There was apparently no motion among them, and steam was down, indicating that they must have returned early in the night. It was a confirmation of our convictions that the enemy had not withdrawn, and that instead of leaving, they were only preparing to come with stronger force.

Everything remained quiet, absolutely dull, during the forenoon. The attention of most persons was directed to the lower end of the canal, where the Era No. 5, and another transport from below, were plainly visible. The Era is in behind the woods, where she is excluded from full view, but enough has been seen of her to make her out. The other craft is a sidewheel steamer, and is also lying behind the levee below the mouth of the canal. There is a good deal of mortification expressed at the success of these transports in making the trip safely past our batteries of light artillery below, and the extent of the injuries received, if any, has not yet come to hand.

Jackson Appeal.

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ARREST OF SOLDIERS ABSENT FROM THEIR COMMANDS WITHOUT LEAVE, AND PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO THEIR CAPTORS.

SECTION 1. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That from and after the passage of this Act, it shall be the duty of every commander of a company in the armies of the Confederate States, as soon as he knows that any private or non-commissioned officer of his company is absent without leave, to send up a certificate of the fact to the commander of his brigade, who shall forthwith employ such responsible person or persons as he may think proper, to arrest and bring back to his command such absent private or non-commissioned officer.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That whenever the delinquent absentee, together with the certificate above mentioned of his company commander, to the fact of his absence without leave, shall be delivered to the commanding officer of a military post or camp, such commanding officer shall give a receipt for the delivery of such absentee to the person or persons so delivering him.

SEC. 3. Be it further enacted, That upon the presentation of the receipt above mentioned to the Quartermaster of the post or camp, it shall be the duty of the said Quartermaster to pay to the person or persons presenting such receipt the sum of fifteen dollars, for which this law shall be his warrant and authority.

SEC. 4. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commanding officer of the post or camp who receives the private or non-commissioned officer so delivered, to send as speedily as practicable such private or non- commissioned officer back to the company to which he belongs, together with a copy of the receipt which he has given to the person or persons delivering him.

SEC. 5. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the commanding officer of the company to which the returned private or non-commissioned officer belongs, upon the delivery of the man and the copy of the receipt above mentioned, to enter on the muster and pay rolls of the company, opposite the name of such private or non-commissioned officer, the full sum of fifteen dollars, in order that the said sum may be deducted from the pay of such private or non-commissioned officer.

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Savannah News of yesterday says:

Intelligence was received in official quarters on Saturday evening that the Yankee armada at Hilton Head was in motion, and that a large portion of it had left that harbor. Yesterday afternoon we learned, from what we conceive to be reliable sources, that twelve vessels had made their appearance in Mud River, near Venus’ Point, about eight miles below the city, and that two more were in Wilmington River, or Freeborn’s Cut. It was also reported that the enemy were landing on Skidaway Island, Wilmington Island, and the Isle of Hope. We were unable to satisfy ourself of the truth of the reported landings.

Later. – Thirteen vessels and three iron-clads, with a large number of troop barges, were in Ossabaw Sound last evening, which would indicate an advance on Beaulieu or on Genesis Point. The twelve vessels reported in Mud River are said to be in Wright’s River. It was very evident, from the activity among the military yesterday, that an attack on this city is expected at almost any hour, and that every precaution is being taken to prevent a surprise at any point. The troops are held in readiness to march at a moment’s notice.

The Republican gives us the following particulars of the loss of the steamer Nashville, or Rattlesnake:

The steamship Nashville and cargo were destroyed in the Great Ogeechee river on Saturday last by shell from the abolition fleet. She had on board about 700 bales compressed upland cotton, 75 barrels rosin, and 40 boxes tobacco. Having dropped down the river a short time since, she was ordered to change her anchorage and come up. On Friday, at 4, p.m., she weighed anchor, and while proceeding up, she grounded on a sand bar about a mile from Fort McAllister, at the point known as Seven Mile Bend, and in full view of the enemy. Every effort was made to get her off, but with no avail. At the next high tide, early Saturday morning, after making further efforts, but with no better success, she was abandoned by the officers and crew, the fleet, consisting of an iron-clad and three gunboats, being in motion. The iron-clad opened upon her from [continue reading…]

March 3, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

It is meet that, as a people who acknowledge the supremacy of the living God, we should be ever mindful of our dependence on Him; should remember that, to Him alone can we trust for our deliverance; that to Him is due devout thankfulness for the signal mercies bestowed on us, and that by prayer alone can we hope to secure the continued manifestation of that protecting care which has hitherto shielded us in the midst of trials and dangers.

In obedience to His precepts, we have from time to time been gathered together with prayers and thanksgiving, and He has been graciously pleased to hear our supplications, and to grant abundant exhibitions of His favor to our armies and our people. Through many conflicts we have now attained a place among the nations which commands their respect; and to the enemies who encompass us around and seek our destruction, the Lord of Hosts has again taught the lesson of His inspired word: that the battle is not to the strong, but to whomsoever He willeth to exalt.

Again our enemy, with loud boasting of the power of their armed men and mailed ships, threaten us with subjugation, and, with evil machinations, seek, even in our own homes and at our own firesides, to pervert our men servants and our maid servants into accomplices of their wicked designs.

Under these circumstances it is my privilege to invite you once more to meet together and to prostrate yourselves in humble supplication to Him who has been our constant and never failing support in the past and to whose protection and guidance we trust for the future.

To this end I, JEFFERSON DAVIS, President of the Confederate States of America, do [continue reading…]

March 2nd. To-day we have been engaged in coaling ship.

Monday, 2d–Being off duty I got a pass this afternoon and went to town. The quartermaster drew wedge tents for the regiment and clothing for some of the men. I drew a new haversack costing fifty-six cents. Our army is in good condition in equipment, provisions, clothing and munitions of war, and the health of the men is good with the exception of the new regiments, in which there are many sick. The work on the canal continues, with about a week’s work to complete it; we still have the large force of negroes on the job.

Washington Monday March 2^nd 1863.

With a bright day the spirits of everybody seem to rise and counten[an]ces look brighter than for the last fortnight. I wonder no suicides have been committed, it would have been an excellent time and would not have created much surprise. I got a fine Gold Pen out of “Uncle Sam” today $2.75 (Silver holder), am writing with it now. I got almost everything in the way of Stationary out of the old gentleman. Rc^d letter from my friend J T M^cKenzie. Glad to learn that traitors are so scarce at the north. Spent part of the evening at Charleys. Mr Lieb & Lady were there, the lady who came home from Boarding School to spend the Holydays, and got married New Years night, unbeknown to her friends. The lady that was reading a novel to her Father during the week previous called the “Missing Bride” (one of Mrs Southworths Novels) and had nearly completed it much to the old Gentlemans gratification when She was herself a “Missing Bride.” This was a singular coincidence but litteraly true. We are still waiting for news, little of interest afloat today. No Movement of any moment noticed in the papers. No Movement of myself yet. I do so hate to pack up and take new quarters. I might not suit myself any better, and rooms and boarding houses are scarce yet.

2nd. Helped about the meat and bread. My back gets worse. Mason has given me some liniment which he warrants sure cure. Invited to Mr. Rice’s. Charles, Tully, and Theodore went. M. and I couldn’t. Commenced a letter to Fannie Andrews and wrote a short letter to Fred.

March MONDAY 2, 1863

Left Jackson for Vicksburg at daylight—on a pleasure trip in company with, Gen Price and Staff. Mrs Taylor, Mrs and Miss Martin, Mrs and Miss Freeman, Miss Lucy Gwinn and Miss Waugh. Spent a delightful evening at the Castle dancing.

MARCH 2d.—The enemy burnt the steamship Nashville on Saturday near Savannah. She was employed taking provisions to Fort McAlister. I think it was destroyed by an incendiary shell.

There is a rumor to-day of the burning of railroad bridges between this and Fredericksburg.

I signed an agreement to-day with Mr. Malsby to publish my new “Wild Western Scenes.” He is to print 10,000 copies, which are to retail at $2; on this he pays me 12 per cent. or 25 cents for every copy sold; $2500 if the whole are sold. He will not be able to get it out before May.

We moved into the west end of Clay Street to-day, and like the change. There are no children here except our own. The house is a brick one, and more comfortable than the frame shell we abandoned.

March 2, 1863, The New York Herald

It is reported by the officers of the British frigate Petrel, which arrived at Hampton Roads from Charleston on Friday night, that the rebels have a dangerous network of torpedoes across the channel at the entrance to Charleston harbor, with the intention of blowing up any portion of the Union fleet which may attempt to enter.

A reconnoitering party under command of Colonel Percy Wyndham, which left Centreville on Friday, reached Falmouth yesterday, and reports having passed through Warrenton, where they found twenty-five of the rebel cavalry, who made their escape. At Elk run and Licking run they came upon a few more, and captured about a dozen. No rebel force is at Culpepper. Colonel Wyndham made a splendid march, considering the state of the roads and the constant obstructions he met with from the rising of the streams.

Brigadier General Cochrane has resigned his command, and has issued a spirited parting address to his soldiers.

We have further particulars today from Wheeling of the surprise and capture of two hundred of the Union cavalry near Strasburg, on the 25th ult., by which it appears that a rebel cavalry scout, eighty strong, came inside our pickets on the Strasburg road. After a skirmish with infantry pickets, in which two were wounded on each side, they retired, capturing a cavalry picket of twelve men. Five hundred of the Thirteenth Pennsylvania and New York cavalry sent in pursuit, recaptured, beyond Strasburg, most of the prisoners and horses, and also took a number of prisoners. The commander of our detachment, exceeding his orders, pursued them beyond Woodstock. After driving in the rebel pickets, he stood parleying in the road, without guarding against surprise. The enemy returned in force, charged upon and threw them into confusion, killing and capturing two hundred in a fight of twenty miles. It is said that the Union troops made no stand, though outnumbering the enemy. If all these facts be correct it was a disgraceful affair, which should be rigidly investigated by the military authorities.

The President and Secretary of War received despatches from General Grant yesterday, giving a very favorable account of the progress of his work at Vicksburg. He says that he only wants a few days of good weather now to secure a success, [continue reading…]

March 2, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

VICKSBURG, February 18.

The suspicion which has been entertained that the enemy was planting batteries on the levee, within range of the city, was confirmed yesterday, when he opened fire upon the town. His operations commenced about 1 o’clock, immediately after the sky became sufficiently clear to give him a good sight of the city. One of our batteries, being located near the depot, seemed to be the object at which the fire was directed, and every shell came within the limits of the city. No harm was done, though they dropped about in the midst of buildings and among crowds of people.

As usual, the ladies again acted a conspicuous part in this scene, and the hills were covered with crinoline to look at the flying monsters as their noise indicated the direction in which they were coming. The remark was frequently heard that […..] looked again like last summer.’ There are a great many women and children in town yet; many have nowhere to go; others have no means to take them away, and some obstinately refuse to leave. At present there is a serious break in the Southern railroad, which prevents many from going, as that is the only route by which they can get away. If General Pemberton’s order is enforced it will create a good deal of suffering in this inclement season. If the poor must leave town the country people should open their doors wide for them.

A good deal of excitement was visible among the fleet when the firing commenced. One of the gunboats immediately dropped down to the neighborhood of the battery, but afterwards went back again to her old quarters. Towards evening considerable stir was noticed in the fleet, the whole of which was under full steam, and a continuous smoke above indicated that the whole squadron was in motion coming down. Now, as the enemy has commenced, it is likely that the grand move of assault upon the city may be near at hand. As soon as the range of his battery is ascertained, the whole force will, no doubt, be precipitated against us. For this we are well prepared, and it matters not whether he comes with the momentum of a hurricane or not, he will find the task before him too heavy to be accomplished.

Since last Friday the continuous rain and fog prevented us from taking any observations of what was going on over in Yankeedom, but it was supposed by all that the enemy would take advantage of thick weather to plant his batteries and mass his forces so as to be ready for active operations as soon as the day became clear. And this conjecture proved [continue reading…]