23rd. Cleared off pleasantly. Busy in morning getting memorandum receipts of the stores for the month. Afternoon rode to town and beat Melissa at a game of chess. F. gone. Had a good time. Spent the evening. M. and N. went to theatre to hear Macbeth.

Monday, 23d–General Logan’s division arrived today, accompanied by the Seventeenth Engineers’ Corps with pontoon bridges.

They bring the news that our men are still throwing shells into Vicksburg, and that the rebels are vacating the place. Our quartermaster went out into the country with the teams and brought in nineteen loads of cotton.

Washington Monday Feb 23^rd 1863

A cold winters day, but thawing in the sun. Some faint attempts at sleighing in the streets and some jingling of bells which sounds like old times. The like has not been heard here for the past two or three years. But the snow will all be gone in a day or two and then it will be mud. The dearth of news still continues. Nothing from the armies today. Gen^l Hooker is in town tonight perhaps concocting some scheme to bring the rebels to grief. I think the weather for the past two or three days has been severe enough to bring his own army to “grief.” But I have great faith in Hooker. I have spent most of the evening with Gen^l Havelock at his room. He gave me his “cart de visite” for Julia and showed me his Medals and his Commission from the Sultan, presented in a silk bag with a large Medal. Took wine with him and sat and conversed for two hours. Cap^t Thornett called with me. Rc^d a letter from my dear Sister Harriet Northam, which gave me much pleasure. Also rc^d one from Home & from “Willie.” Sent ten photographs by mail to Julia, postage two cents. Shall be glad if they arrive in safty. Business dull in the office, plenty of time to read and write letters. Spent an hour at Charleys after I left the office, baby improves every day.

February. – The members of our society sympathized with General McClellan when he was criticised by some and we wrote him the following letter:

“Canandaigua, Feb. 13, 1863.

.
“Maj. Gen. Geo. McClellan:

“Will you pardon any seeming impropriety in our addressing you, and attribute it to the impulsive love and admiration of hearts which see in you, the bravest and noblest defender of our Union. We cannot resist the impulse to tell you, be our words ever so feeble, how our love and trust have followed you from Rich Mountain to Antietam, through all slanderous attacks of traitorous politicians and fanatical defamers–how we have admired, not less than your calm courage on the battlefield, your lofty scorn of those who remained at home in the base endeavor to strip from your brow the hard earned laurels placed there by a grateful country: to tell further, that in your forced retirement from battlefields of the Republic’s peril, you have ‘but changed your country’s arms for more, – your country’s heart,’ – and to assure you that so long as our country remains to us a sacred name and our flag a holy emblem, so long shall we cherish your memory as the defender and protector of both. We are an association whose object it is to aid, in the only way in which woman, alas! can aid our brothers in the field. Our sympathies are with them in the cause for which they have periled all – our hearts are with them in the prayer, that ere long their beloved commander may be restored to them, and that once more as of old he may lead them to victory in the sacred name of the Union and Constitution.

“With united prayers that the Father of all may have you and yours ever in His holy keeping, we remain your devoted partisans.”

Signed by a large number.

The following in reply was addressed to the lady whose name was first signed to the above:

“New York, Feb. 21, 1863.

“Madam–I take great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the very kind letter of the 13th inst, from yourself and your friends. Will you do me the favor to say to them how much I thank them for it, and that I am at a loss to express my gratitude for the pleasant and cheering terms in which it is couched. Such sentiments on the part of those whose brothers have served with me in the field are more grateful to me than anything else can be. I feel far more than rewarded by them for all I have tried to accomplish. – I am, Madam, with the most sincere respect and friendship, yours very truly,

“Geo. B. McClellan.”

FEBRUARY 23d.—I saw a letter from Gen. Lee to day, suggesting to the government on appeal to the Governors of the States to aid more directly in recruiting the armies. He says the people habitually expect too much from the troops now in the field; that because we have gained many victories, it does not follow that we shall always gain them; that the legitimate fruits of victory have hitherto been lost, for the want of numbers on our side; and, finally, that all those who fail to go to the field at such a momentous period as this, are guilty of the blood of the brave soldiers who perish in the effort to achieve independence.

This would be contrary to the “rules and regulations” as understood by the Adjutant and Inspector-General (a Northern man), and no doubt the Secretary of War and the President will reject the plan.

The petition of forty members of Congress in my behalf came from Mr. Seddon, the Secretary, to our bureau to-day. He asks the superintendent if there is a necessity for such an officer, one whose rank is equal to that of a commandant of a camp of instruction. He says important services only should require the appointment of such an officer. Well, Gen. Rains recommended it. I know not whether he can say more. I shall not get it, for Congress has but little influence, just now.

February 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Confederate States want nothing but their rights under the laws of nations at the hands of European Powers. They object decidedly to any kind of armed intervention, having in view a compulsory peace on terms dictated from Europe. Any settlement of the war must be of their own arranging, without foreign dictation, and free from coercion after the precedents of Greece and Belgium. We wish no interference which may involve either our boundaries or our institutions, or our free trade policies. These matters are our own, with which it is the business of none to meddle, and with which no outsiders can meddle without injuring us. All we ask is justice according to national law. Receiving this at the hands of the nations of Europe, we are quite capable of achieving our own destiny, and of readily establishing peaceful relations with the United States by treaty, and creating such relations with our European neighbors as will be redound greatly to the mutual interest and prosperity of ourselves and them.

The discrimination made abroad between the two Powers engaged in this war in America, by which the sovereignty of the rump United States is recognized, and that of the Confederate States practically denied, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice, according to law and usage.

The acquiescence in a paper blockade of the Confederate coast, contrary to the law of blockade, which the Powers of Europe solemnly agreed to in 1856, and which they successfully proposed to the Confederate States, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice by the law laid down and unmistakably plain.

The prohibition of Confederate cruisers from carrying their prizes into the ports of European nations, under a profession of impartiality between acknowledged belligerents, operating only to protect Yankee commerce and to cripple the Confederate navy, is unjust. We desire intervention to the extent of correcting this injustice according to national law and custom.

Action, in these particulars, will suffice to give us fair play and allow free scope to the operation of our great resources and power. It will amply suffice to close the war with the Yankees. We repeat, the Confederate States want no such intervention as that discussed in England. The Emperor NAPOLEON appears to have much more correct views concerning this matter.

February 23, 1863, The New York Herald

The significant special advices from Washington which we published yesterday, in reference to Mr. Seward’s late peace proposition to the French government, involve considerations of too much importance to be lightly passed over. What is this peace proposition? Mr. Seward, in his despatch to Mr. Dayton, our Minister at Paris, dated February 6, after emphatically dismissing the recommendations of France for a peace conference in some neutral country, between delegates from the two parties involved in this war, says:

On the other hand, the Congress of the United States furnishes a constitutional forum for debates between the alienated parties. Senators and Representatives from the loyal people are there already, fully empowered to confer. And seats are also vacant and inviting the Senators and Representatives of the discontented party, who may be constitutionally sent there from the States involved in the insurrection. Moreover, the conferences which can thus be held in Congress have this great advantage over any that could be organized on the plan of Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, viz: That Congress, if it thought wise, could call a national convention to adopt its recommendations, and give them all the solemnity and binding force of organic law. Such conferences between the alienated parties may be said to have already begun. Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri – States which are claimed by the insurgents – are already represented in Congress, and are submitting, with perfect freedom and in a proper spirit, their advice upon the course best calculated to bring about in the shortest time a firm, lasting and honorable peace. Representatives have been sent, also, from Louisiana, and others are understood to be coming from Arkansas. There is a preponderating argument in favor of the Congressional form of conference over that which is suggested by Mr. Drouyn de Lhuys, viz: That while accession to the latter would bring the government into concurrence with the insurgents in disregarding and setting aside an important part of the constitution of the United States, and so would be of pernicious example, the Congressional conference, on the contrary, preserves and gives new strength to that sacred instrument, which must continue through future ages the sheet anchor of the republic.

Now, it is altogether probable that the idea, and the only idea, here intended to be conveyed to the French government is that European mediation is inadmissible in any form, as there can be no accommodation, no peace with our rebellious States, short of their absolute submission to the Union. This conclusion inevitably attached itself to the required return [continue reading…]

February 23, 1863, The New York Herald

Owing, no doubt, to the severe snow storm which raged yesterday, our news from the Army of the Potomac and from the West did not reach us. It is probable, however, that no movements have taken place in either direction. From Fortress Monroe we learn that the flag of Truce boat which arrived there on the 20th instant, brought down between two and three hundred Union prisoners who had been exchanged. The Richmond Enquirer of the 20th instant tells of an advance of the Union army in Middle Tennessee, but its reports are so vague as not to be worth much credit. The Texas journals complain of the invasion of the border counties of that State by Mexican banditti, some of the fighting under the United States flag.

February 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Yankee gunboat Flambeau, of the blockading squadron, steamed in towards Sullivan’s Island about ten o’clock on Saturday morning, displaying a white flag at the foremast’s head. The unusual incident for a time gave rise to much speculations among the wondermongers in the city; but a boat from Fort Sumter having boarded the Flambeau, her mission was ascertained to relate to nothing more important than the delivery of some letters, etc., unless, indeed, her commander desired a closer view of our defences. The letters were chiefly for the officers of the captured gunboat Isaac P. Smith; but among them, we understand, was one from Lord LYONS to the commander of the British war steamer Petrel, containing instructions for that vessel to repair immediately to Washington. The Petrel will accordingly leave this morning. From this movement of the Petrel, some infer that the intended demonstration against Charleston has, for some cause, been postponed.

The Flambeau, after delivering the letters, returned immediately to the fleet.

Sunday, 22d.—1 P. M., heavy cannonading; supposed to be salute in honor of Washington’s birthday.

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

Feb. 22d. We fired a salute to-day, of seventeen guns, in honor of the birth-day of Washington.

Sunday, February 22d, 1863.

Mother has come to me! O how glad I was to see her this morning! And the Georgia project, which I dared not speak of for fear it should be mere talk and nothing more, is a reality. – Yes! we are actually going! I can hardly believe that such good fortune as getting out of that wretched Clinton really awaits us. Perhaps I shall not like Augusta either; a stranger in a strange city is not usually enchanted with everything one beholds; but still – a change of scene – a new country – new people – it is worth while! Shall we really go? Will some page in this book actually record “Augusta, Georgia”? No! I dare not believe it! Yet the mere thought has given me strength within the last two weeks to attempt to walk. Learning to walk at my age! Is it not amusing? But the smallest baby knows more about it than I did at first. Of course, I knew one foot was to be put before the other; but the question was how it was to be done when they would not go? I have conquered that difficulty, however, and can now walk almost two yards, if some one holds me fast.

Sunset. Will [Pinckney] has this instant left. Ever since dinner he has been vehemently opposing the Georgia move, insisting that it will cost me my life, by rendering me a confirmed cripple. He says he could take care of me, but no one else can, so I must not be moved. I am afraid his arguments have about shaken mother’s resolution. Pshaw! it will do me good! I must go. It will not do to remain here. Twenty-seven thousand Yankees are preparing to march on Port Hudson, and this place will certainly be either occupied by them, or burned. To go to Clinton is to throw myself in their hands, so why not one grand move to Augusta?

22nd. Snowing in the morning and all day. Thede came over and stayed with us to breakfast, 10 A. M. During the day read 3rd volume of Irving. Stormed so I did not go to town. A year ago we had the little affair at Independence. Oh what a time in rain, snow and ice at Kansas City.

Sunday, 22d–Dress parade was dispensed with today on account of the smallpox scare. One case of smallpox was discovered in Company K. Instead of the regular inspection, the doctor vaccinated all who could not show a scar less than a year old.

Sunday Feb 22^nd 1863.

Another severe Snow Storm. All day long has it fell and tonight it is deeper than it has been before this winter and it is cold and freezing. Bitter weather for the poor soldiers in the field, as well as for the poor horses in the service. I have not been to church nor hardly out of the house today, have been reading and writing most of the day. Cap^t Thornett has spent an hour or so in my room, he has given me a little of his history. He is a man near forty and has been a long time in the British Army. Served in India and through the Crimean War. His Father was a Naval officer, his Mother is still living in “Kent,” spends half the year in France with a daughter. At the age of 16 she was in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo and was at the Celebrated Ball described by Byron, “There was a sound of revelry at night.” I obtained the Sunday morning Chronicle but there is no news. We are waiting, waiting. We must have Victories. I shall be much disappointed and pained if we do not. It seems now as tho a defeat would be ruin to us. Vicksburg, Savannah, Charleston & Wilmington are all invested by our troops. Rosecrans has 100,000 men in Tenn. and Hooker must have near that number near Fredericksburgh V.A. O for pleasant dry weather, and good roads.

FEBRUARY 22d.—This is the anniversary of the birth of Washington, and of the inauguration of President Davis, upon the installation of the permanent government of the Confederate States. It is the ugliest day I ever saw. Snow fell all night, and was falling fast all day, with a northwest wind howling furiously. The snow is now nearly a foot deep, and the weather very cold.

My communication to the President, proposing an appeal to the people to furnish the army with meat and clothing (voluntary contributions), was transmitted to the Secretary of War yesterday, without remark, other than the simple reference. The plan will not be adopted, in all probability, for the Secretary will consult the Commissary and Quartermaster-General, and they will oppose any interference with the business of their departments. Red tape will win the day, even if our cause be lost. Our soldiers must be fed and clothed according to the “rules and regulations,” or suffer and perish for the want of food and clothing!

I have some curiosity to learn what the President has indorsed, or may indorse, on the paper sent him by Mr. Lyons, signed by half the members of Congress. Will he simply refer it to the Secretary? Then what will the Secretary do? My friends in Congress will likewise be curious to learn the result.

February 22, 1863, The New York Herald

The defence which General McDowell read before the court of inquiry at Washington is a paper too voluminous for our columns. Yet it contains points of great interest, to which we desire to advert.

As far as the charges against General McDowell are concerned, we think he has been completely successful in refuting them. He was accused of […..], disloyalty and treason.” As to the first charge, he has shown that he has never drank anything stronger than water; and as to the alleged disloyalty and treason, there was not a shadow of proof produced to substantiate those cruel charges so flippantly made by the abolitionists. The outcry raised against him in the Senate by Mr. Wade and in the republican journals, about protecting rebel property while he was in command of the Army of the Rappahannock, is demonstrated to be without any foundation to rest upon. The charges of Sigel, too, about his permitting Longstreet to pass through Thoroughfare Gap, and about his failure to play his proper part in the second battle of Bull run – charges reiterated in all the radical journals – have fallen to the ground, and recoiled upon the heads of their authors, the same men who, by their to “To Richmond” clamor, caused him to lose the first battle of Bull run, by goading the administration to order him to make the attack before his raw troops were sufficiently drilled and disciplined for offensive operations.

But the weightiest charge made against him was that he obtained the separation of his corps from the army of McClellan, and willfully defeated the peninsular campaign by refusing to cooperate with that general in the advance upon Richmond. The testimony proves exactly the contrary: that he never sought to have an independent command, and that he did his utmost to effect a junction with McClellan, but was prevented by positive written orders from the War Department, which he produced before the court. General McClellan and General Hitchcock, of the War Department, both equally acquit McDowell of any responsibility in failing to join the Army of the Potomac. On the 24th of April he received at Falmouth a despatch from the War Department, dated April 30, telling him that […..] can occupy Fredericksburg with such force as in his judgment may be necessary to hold it for defensive purposes, but not with a view to make a forward movement.”

Meantime, McDowell, with the aid of his troops and the trees cut down by them, rebuilt the railroad bridge over the [continue reading…]

February 22, 1863, The New York Herald

There is no news today from the Army of the Potomac. From the South we have an interesting commentary upon the diplomatic correspondence of M. Orouyn de Lhuys and Mr. Seward in the Richmond papers. The plans of the French Minister for mediation and peace are pretty roughly handled; in fact, they are rather uncivilly declined, the Emperor himself is somewhat snubbed, and Mr. Seward’s letter to the French Minister is described as the sublimity of insolence. The Southern confederacy, we are told, needs no commissioners to settle the difficulty, either of French or any other suggestions; the commissioners already exist in the persons of Generals Lee, Beauregard, Longstreet, Jackson and Joe Johnston.

The Richmond Enquirer says that the Union forces of General Jeff. C. Davis were encountered and dispersed by the rebel General Forrest at Franklin on the 17th inst.

Captain Hutchinson, of schooner Olive Hayward, arrived yesterday morning from Curacoa, reports that on the 10th instant, when in latitude 26, longitude 64 41, he saw the rebel privateer Retribution, which chased his vessel for three hours, but being to windward of the Retribution he escaped by outsailing her.

A letter from an officer of schooner Miranda, of New Haven, after giving an account of the recent depredations of the Alabama, states that the Alabama arrived in St. Domingo on the 28th ultimo, at six P.M., and left the following morning, steering for the Mona Passage. The Miranda sailed the following morning for Mayaguez, and arrived safely in Porto Rico, after being in the Passage two days.

A special meeting of the Chamber of commerce was held yesterday. There was a large attendance. The depredations of the Alabama were the principal subject of discussion. Memorials were adopted calling on Congress to pass the bill empowering the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal, on the issuance of which authority the Chamber has before it the propriety of fitting out volunteer vessels to capture the Alabama and other rebel cruisers. Resolutions were also adopted calling on the government to occupy, by an armed force, the Texan borders contiguous to Mexico, through which latter country an important contraband trade is carried on for the relief of the rebels. Also resolutions in favor of the construction by the government of an oceanic and coastline of telegraph from Galveston to Fortress Monroe and Washington. A full report of the proceedings will be found in another column.

21st. In the morning we issued rations for eight days. Then cleaned out and chopped wood. Thede came bringing a line from home. Seemed to have had a good time. Glad to see him again. He will be a great deal of company for me. Fannie Turner came.

Saturday, 21st–Yesterday was clear and warm, but today it rained all day. We have had full rations ever since leaving Memphis. Today we received eight days’ rations with an extra ration of desiccated potatoes. Orders came to clean up for inspection.

Washington Saturday Feb. 21^st 1863.

It was a mild pleasant morning but is quite cold tonight with indications of more snow. In the office all day as usual. Not much to do, read the news papers and old “Pepy^s Diary” about half the day, left him in the midst of the “great Plague in London” summer of 1664, more than a thousand per day dying of it. When it first broke out in a house, the House was closed and a red cross was Marked upon the door, and “The Lord have Mercy on us” written under it. He was an Educated man but like every body else at that time was realy ignorant and believed in charms. He was silly enough to carry a hares foot in his pocket to protect himself from the cholic to which complaint he was subject. I have been this evening to hear Mrs Swishelm Lecture upon the Indian Murders in Minnesota last summer. She is a small delicate looking woman. She has been a very beautiful woman and may still be called beautiful for a lady over 40 or 45 yrs. She had a crowded House and her lecture was fine and quite characteristic of the woman. It had many very fine hits in it at rebels of the South and sympathisers at the North as well as at the “Noble Indian” “as the puling sentimentalists of East call him.” She was frequently applauded and sometimes most vociferously. I took a walk on the Av^e after leaving the office before dinner. The Av^e seemed to be more crowded than ever. The “Currency Bill” pass the “house” last night, good so far.

FEBRUARY 21st.—Major-Gen. Hood’s division passed through the city today, and crossed over the river. I hope an attack will be made at Suffolk. It is too menacing a position to allow the invader to occupy it longer.

No attack on Charleston yet, and there is a rumor that the command of the expedition is disputed by Foster and Hunter. If it hangs fire, it will be sure to miss the mark.

February 21, 1863, The New York Herald

Our news from the Southwest indicates the approach of stirring events. The Union troops are now in view of the city of Vicksburg, and the mortar boats were towed down and ready for action yesterday. A barge containing seven thousand bushels of coal followed the example of the ram Queen of the West, and run the blockade at Vicksburg on Saturday night, passing harmlessly through in the dark. The gunboat Conestoga destroyed Bolivar Landing, a scattered village fifty miles above Memphis. The river is rapidly overflowing its banks on the Louisiana side to such an extent that the little town of DeSoto, opposite Vicksburg, is now nearly under water, and it is thought that the whole peninsula will ere long be submerged. The Queen of the West has gone up Red river on the hunt for rebel boats supposed to be lying there.

There is no news from the Army on the Rappahannock today. Everything remains quiet in that direction. Our intelligence from New Orleans, by the steamers General McClellan and George Cromwell, which arrived yesterday, is very interesting. Great fears are expressed of a crevasse, which would inundate the Crescent City and destroy a great amount of lives and property. The Delta newspaper had been suppressed by General Banks, but it was to be issued again by new editors, under the name of the Era. Our correspondence, with the General Orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Department, will be found full of interest. The news from Havana and Mexico, brought by the steamship Eagle, which arrived here yesterday, does not represent any improvement in the condition of the French army in Mexico. On the contrary, it seems that the invaders are suffering severely from disease and the continual vigilance of the irregular soldiers of that republic. Our Havana correspondent gives a very impartial review of the facts; but from all that can be gathered, it seems that until General Forey receives strong reinforcements he will not be able to storm the Mexican intrenched works at Puebla. On the occasion of the great fight at Tampico, already reported in our columns, several vessels and rifled cannon fell into the hands of the Mexicans. Almonte had issued a new proclamation. The news from Havana is full of interest, containing, as it does, some Spanish comments on Southern independence.

Our correspondent in the Bahamas, dating at Nassau, N.P., on the 16th of February, informs us that the law officer of the British Crown had prosecuted some local pilots for taking Unites States gunboats over the banks of the Bahamas, and that the parties were convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The report of the loss of the Oreto had [continue reading…]

February 21, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The recent daring adventure of the scout, J.J. MAGEE, and his comrades R.F. GELSTON, BARTON WELLS and R.O. REYNOLDS, deserves more detailed mention than our brief notice of last Saturday morning, and we have been at some pains to gather the particulars. The party, in a small canoe, made a landing on Hilton Head Island on Wednesday night, about 9 oclock – WELLS and REYNOLDS remaining with the boat in a safe retreat, while MAGEE and GELSTON secreted themselves in a thicket to await daylight for the accomplishment of their purpose, which was no less than to capture a Yankee, with the view of eliciting information of the recent movements of the enemy’s forces. Daybreak revealed to them their situation, which appeared to be a very exposed one – the wood scarcely affording sufficient protection to conceal them in a crouching position. They found, too, that they were within a hundred yards of the picket station. Making up their minds that they would have to keep close to avoid detection, they lay on the ground, with the prospect of having to remain in this posture until evening. At 8 o’clock a.m., when the guard was relieved, the Yankees passed to and fro almost within reaching distance. Their conversation, however, was not of interest. During the morning as many as forty persons passed and repassed. About 3 o’clock p.m. a soldier turned into the thicket, and approached quite near them. MAGEE felt that his danger was imminent. Drawing his revolver, he levelled it at the fellow, and, putting his finger to his lip to enjoin silence, he called, in a low voice, ‘Come here, sir.’ The Yankee turned pale with fright, and in a hurried voice exclaimed, ‘Don’t shoot!’ Upon being assured that no harm would come to him if he would lie down and keep quiet, the prisoner stretched himself on the ground between the two bold rebels, and a pair of navy revolvers ready for instant use. For six long hours the three kept mute company, MAGEE forcing the prisoner even to suppress his cough, which was very troublesome. At tattoo, the time agreed upon for leaving the island, the three started noiselessly for the rendezvous previously agreed upon, the Yankee wondering how they were to get off the island. He was soon relieved by the appearance, in a safe place, of a canoe, into which he was requested to take a seat. He was at this time very anxious that his rebel friends should get in first, so as not to wet their feet; but GELSTON was very solicitous about his cough, and fearing that wet feet would increase it, insisted upon his getting a good seat, and himself offering to push the boat off and then jump in. A five minutes’ row brought them well off from the shore; they were halted, but being out of reach of the sentinel musket, they did not heed him.

The prisoner is a middle aged man, a native of Maine. He reports, in substance, that thirty new regiments recently [continue reading…]