June 17, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

STORMING OF THE ENEMY’S WORKS AT WINCHESTER, VA.

RICHMOND, June 16.

A despatch from General LEE to the President, dated June 15, says:

‘God has again crowned the valor of our troops with victory. EARLY’S division stormed the enemy’s entrenchments at Winchester, capturing their artillery, etc.’

The weather is very warm, and there has been no rain in this vicinity for several weeks.

Assistant Quartermaster LARKIN SMITH has been assigned to the special charge of the collection of the tax in kind. A Controlling Quartermaster, with the rank of Major, is to be assigned to each State, and a Post Quartermaster, with the rank of Captain, to each Congressional District. Farmers residing near posts where Quartermasters are now stationed, are requested to deliver to the Government a portion of their crops of small grain, hay, and clip wool for the present year, and to take receipts for the quantity delivered, in advance of the assessment.

June 17, 1863, Galveston Weekly News

                      In the coarse of one’s life, much that is obscene and offensive is heard and read, but the lowest depth of obscenity by which the English language has probably ever been defiled, h as been brought to light in Yankee letters taken from the battle field.  These letters, too, it must be stated, are for the most part written by females claiming to be the wives and sweethearts of the men to whom they were written.  A gentleman in this city has recently been placed in possession of several letters penned by Northern females whose language and sentiments are so loathsome, so utterly degraded, that it is strange the hands that wrote them were not stricken powerless to the act.  If publication were given them, no person in the South would be found to read them without blushing to think he had ever been associated with a race of beings so low in the scale of humanity as the Yankees, and all delicacy would be shocked beyond even conjecture.  Surely the race we are fighting will be henceforth celebrated as the lowest in the scale of created beings.

June 17, 1863, The New York Herald

The present aggressive campaign of the rebel army of Virginia is one of the most daring and desperate enterprises in the history of modern warfare. Leaving Richmond, the rebel capital, and his base of operations, to the chances of capture, and with our powerful Army of the Potomac in his rear, General Lee has pushed his advanced columns through Northern Maryland into Pennsylvania, while the main body of his army, around through the Shenandoah valley, is streaming along a line of one hundred miles in extent. To an opposing military leader possessed of any Napoleon ideas no finer opportunity than this would be desired for cutting this long line of the enemy forces and cutting them up in detail. Certainly the War Office has never had a more inviting opportunity for the capture of Richmond.

Let us first consider the movements and probable designs of the enemy. From our Washington correspondence we learn that the secessionists of that city have been giving out for some days past the following as General Lee’s programme, his whole army being estimated at 96,000 men: –

First – That one column started six days ago from Gordonsville for Parkersburg, on the Ohio river.

Second – That another column left Culpepper Court House to proceed by way of Grafton to Pittsburg and Wheeling, with instructions, after occupying Pittsburg to join the first column for a march through Ohio.

Third – That another column was to proceed by way of Winchester and Harper’s Ferry into Maryland and Pennsylvania, towards Harrisburg or Baltimore, in the way of a diversion to occupy the attention of the army of General Hooker. This last column, in [continue reading…]

June 17, 1863, Galveston Weekly News

                      Our exchanges frequently record romantic incidents connected with the war, but we have seen none better than the following, which we clip from the Nashville Dispatch:

Headquarters Dep’t of Cumberland,  }
April 17^th, 1863.                                        }

                      General:–The General commanding directs me to call your attention to a flagrant outrage committed in your command, a person having been admitted inside your lines without a pass and in violation of orders.  The case is one which calls for your personal attention and the General commanding directs that you deal with the offending party, or parties, according to law.

                      The medical director reports that an orderly sergeant in Brigadier General __________’s division was to day delivered of a baby, which is in violation of all military law and of the army regulations.  No such case has been known since the days of Jupiter.

                      You will apply the proper punishment in this case, and a remedy to prevent the repetition of the act.

                      The above, says the Dispatch, is a copy of a genuine letter, emanating from the headquarters of that rigid disciplinarian Gen. Rosencranz.

June 17, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

(CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.)

RICHMOND, Saturday, June 13.

Night before last, Gen. LEE was telegraphed in regard to the enemy’s approach by way of the Chickahominy. His answer was received forty minutes after the despatch to him left the War Office. Its nature is unknown, but some believe he will parry the demonstration below this city by hastening his movements forward. Indeed, it is contended by some that the forward movement has but recently received the official sanction.

If Hooker has even so many as 100,000 men, he can scare again the people of Richmond. Let him put 10,000 under the banks of Deep Run; that will keep a large part of Lee’s army in check. Let him garrison the fortifications around Washington with 40,000 regular soldiers and all the militia Curtin can send from Pennsylvania. Let him wait till Lee is beyond Manassas, and then throw 60,000 upon the force in his front at Fredericksburg. Perhaps this is what he is aiming at now. Col. Thomas S. Rhett is in command of our works and artillerists. At the time of the Stoneman raid he had been sent off to Gordonsville. Richmond is powerfully fortified, and a moderate force, supported, can keep in check many times their number of the enemy. Drury’s Bluff is absurdly strong. Yankees will never come there. [continue reading…]

Wednesday, 17th.—Rained light shower yesterday. On detail; worked all night on abatis. Sick and sent to sick camp; firing about as usual.

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

June 16th. Up very early this morning. All Major Peale could muster of the 18th Regiment was only thirty members. The rest of those who escaped were with Captain Matthewson, they taking a different route from Major Peale who followed the route taken by General Milroy.

After breakfast of hardtack and coffee, the Major marched us on through Harper’s Ferry, crossing the Potomac River on a pontoon bridge. On, up Maryland Heights, halting under low pine trees, well up to the top of the Heights. Here we were allowed to remain for rest and sleep. General Dan Tyler, a Connecticut man, was in command of a large force at this point. From the top of the Heights we could see the enemy crossing the Potomac River at Williamsport into Maryland. Our detachment was detailed for headquarters guard at the quarters of General Tyler. The duty was easy and made very interesting about all the time.

Tuesday, 16th–We have had several days of very warm weather which became very hot yesterday, but today there is a high wind accompanied by thunder. The Eleventh Iowa signed the payroll today for two months’ pay. Cannon have been roaring all day and the place still holds out. General Grant still feels confident that he can take the place, and the army is in fine spirits. Only a few tents are used now, and they are only for the sick and wounded.

June 16. Commences with pleasant weather, and the bombardment of Port Hudson still going on—enemy not deigning to make any reply; at ten A. M. received some fresh beef on board from shore, for ship’s company. Gunboat Estrella, and steamers Louisiana Belle and Bee, got under way and started up the river—destination, Bayou Sara. Saw a fire in the vicinity of the upper batteries at Port Hudson. Steamer Bee came down the river, during the afternoon, with despatches; at three P. M. heavy squalls of wind and rain. Between the hours of six and eight o’clock, received provisions from lower fleet, overland.

JUNE 16th.—We have nothing from the West to-day. But it is believed that Hooker is retiring toward Manassas—that fatal field—where another (and the third) battle may be fought. Lee’s army is certainly on the march, and a collision of arms cannot be averted many days. It is believed Gen. Ewell, successor of Jackson, has beaten Milroy at Winchester.

But, while terrible events are daily anticipated in the field, all the civilians seem to have gone wild with speculation, and official corruption runs riot throughout the land. J. M. Seixas, agent of the War Department, writes from Wilmington that while the government steamers can get no cotton to exchange abroad for ordnance stores, the steamers of individuals are laden, and depart almost daily. This is said to be partly the work of the “Southern Express Company,” believed to be Yankees (a portion of them), which contracts to deliver freight, and bribes the railroads and monopolizes transportation. This is the company on whose application Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, granted so many exemptions and details! It takes a great number of able-bodied men from the army, and then, by a peculiar process, absolutely embarrasses, as Gen. Whiting says, the conduct of the war.

Judge Dargan, of Alabama, writes that private blockade-runners are ruining the country—supplying the enemy with cotton, and bringing in liquors and useless gew-gaws.

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

JUNE 16TH.–We were relieved before daylight, and returned to camp pretty tired. I did not feel well last night, and having had no chance to sleep, I am a little the worse for wear this morning.

There was not much firing done during the night, but we had to keep a good lookout, as there are apprehensions of an outbreak. I do not often go star-gazing, but last night I sat and watched the beauty above. Daytime is glorious, but when night unfurls her banner over care-worn thousands among these hills, and the stars come out from their hiding places, our thoughts seek loftier levels. It was just as though one day had died, and another was born to take its place. Not a breeze stirred the foliage, except as fanned by the whirling shells. My thoughts were of home, and of the dear sister there, bedridden, with but little hope of health again. Her dearest wish, I know, is to see her only brother once more before she passes away to that heavenly peace for which she is destined. Through these terrible two years past, thoughts of home and a safe return to an unbroken family circle, have been my constant guiding star.

June 16, 1863, The New York Herald

The invasion of Maryland and Pennsylvania by the rebel forces of General Lee is the all absorbing topic in the war news today. It appears that at noon on Sunday the rebel forces made their appearance in strength at Berrysville and Martinsburg. At the latter place they were met with a stubborn resistance by the Union forces, but in vain, they had to fall back. Yesterday morning our troops evacuated Hagerstown, Md., before the advancing force of the enemy, and fell back upon Chambersburg, removing the stores and railroad stock before they went. Rumors of the capture of our troops at Winchester prove to be untrue.

General Milroy made a gallant defence at Winchester. He was surrounded by a rebel force of 18,000 men, but succeeded, after a hard fight, in cutting his way through and reaching Harper’s Ferry. Our troops at Martinsburg also got back upon the Ferry. General Milroy made a determined resistance before abandoning Winchester, but the rebels being strongly reinforced on Sunday, there was nothing for it but to cut himself out. He lost 2,000 men in killed, wounded and prisoners.

Lieutenant Palmer arrived at Chambersburg yesterday, and reported that he had to fight his way two miles out from Greencastle, and that the enemy were then advancing in three columns from that place – one towards Gettysburg and Waynesboro, one towards Mercersburg and another direct upon Chambersburg. The reports are confirmed by the fact that the rebels entered Chambersburg at nine o’clock last night, as we learn by more recent despatches. A universal panic prevails throughout Pennsylvania. [continue reading…]

June 16, 1863, The New York Herald

The city was startled yesterday with the exciting news of another invasion of Maryland by some advanced detachments of the rebel army of Virginia; by the positive information, in this connection, of a rapid flank movement northward by General Lee with the main body of his army, and by the proclamation of President Lincoln calling for a hundred thousand militia from the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, to aid in the work of driving back the enemy.

With the additional details which we publish today of the movements of the rebel forces in the Shenandoah valley, and on the Potomac below Washington, and in Maryland and Pennsylvania, it is very clear that Gen. Lee has resolved, sink or swim, upon some bold and desperate enterprise to repair the sinking fortunes of the rebellion. It is well known that since the last great battles on the Rappahannock he has been heavily reinforced from North and South Carolina, while our Army of the Potomac has been considerably reduced by the loss of many regiments of veteran volunteers with the expiration of their appointed terms of service. Thus we dare say that the army of Lee, in point of numbers, is now fully equal, if not superior, to that of General Hooker. At all events, it is abundantly manifest that Lee regards himself sufficiently strong to undertake an aggressive campaign, and that in the outset he has stolen a march upon General Hooker and the War Office.

The question recurs, what are the objects and what are the expectations of the enemy in this aggressive campaign? What are they driving at? Is it a destructive foray through [continue reading…]

June 16, 1863, Standard (Clarksville, Texas)

Camp Davis, Coodey’s Creek, }
Cherokee Nation, May 29^th, 1863}

Dear Standard:

                      My last was addressed to you from Butler’s Creek.  I do not recollect how long ago.–Since then we have kept so busy, that I have not felt inclined to write.  On the 14^th our regiment was inspected, and received encomiums from Col. Long, the Asst. Inspector General, attached to Gen. Holmes’ staff.  On the 14^th a volunteer party of 40 of us went with the Col., who was field officer of the day, to inspect the Pickets on the Arkansas, and made our first interchange of compliments with the Feds at the several crossings.  They fired upon us at each exposure of a man’s person on the bank of the river, and we returned the fire with our largest range guns.  We tried them at two fords, and made them run back to their covers, at each.  Returned to camp just at dark, after a novel and interesting trip to us.  From the top of a mountain on our route, we had a fair view of Fort Gibson, and the enemy’s camps.  On the 16^th, at night, Col. Martin Field Officer of the day, notified the Col. that the enemy were crossing the river, and that he had sent a squadron from his regiment. The Col. ordered Maj. Carroll to start instantly with Capt. Hook’s and Captain Wilson’s companies, for the Rabbit ford, had all the other companies got ready–horses under saddle and waited orders.  At midnight the Gen. came over in person, and directed that the remainder of the regiment–should be at the summit of the Grindstone mountain; this side the Rabbit ford, at daylight.  Capt. Elliott, Red River and [continue reading…]

June 16, 1863, Standard (Clarksville, Texas)

Runaway from Jordan’s Saline.

                      I will give the above reward for the apprehension and delivery or to have apprehended & placed in any Jail so that I can get him.  A runaway negro of the following discription viz:

                      Black color 5 feet 8 or 9 inches heavy set weighs about two hundred pounds–said negro was brought from Missouri to Texas.

                                    Jas. S. Moore.
                                                        Bonham Texas.