June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

LATEST FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

RICHMOND, June 7. Letters from Hamilton’s Crossing state that a brigade of Yankees, with six pieces of artillery, have crossed the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, and taken up a position in the vicinity of the site of the Bernard House. The movement is supposed to be a feint. Three transports and one gunboat went up the Mattipone River on Friday, and heavy firing has since been heard in that direction, but the cause was not ascertained. The Yankees have burned several mills and houses in King William county. It is reported that they have also carried off large numbers of negros.

LATEST FROM VICKSBURG AND PORT HUDSON.

JACKSON, June 6. We have not even a rumor today, either from Vicksburg or Port Hudson. Heavy firing continues at the former place. Last night it was terrific.

A gentleman direct from Clinton, La., states that the Federals assaulted Port Hudson, and after four days’ hard fighting GARDNER routed them at every point with great slaughter. The negros were put in front and were shot down like dogs. On the last day GARDNER slipped out a regiment of mounted infantry, who came charging through the Federal lines, whooping and yelling. The enemy stampeded, and were pursued and slaughtered dreadfully. The cold steel was freely used. The enemy are at Baton Rouge, and the siege of Port Hudson has been raised. Near Greenville five transports containing [continue reading…]

June 8, 1863, The New York Herald

General Grant does not appear to have ever made a speech, or to have told any one what he would like to do against the rebels. No phrases of his live in the popular memory, and he does not even electrify the nation or the troops under his command with congratulatory orders. But he fights a great deal. He has been sneered at; he has been maligned; he has been neglected, and has done more against the rebellion than any other general now in the field. Like the other Ulysses, he has delight of […..] battle with his peers,” on terribly contested fields, where it seemed at the time that the existence of the rebellion was in question, and he has been successful always. All this a glance at his career in this war will show.

His name first came prominently before the public in connection with the fight at Belmont, in November, 1861. Price was then doing his utmost to push the fortunes of the rebellion in Missouri, and there was a rebel force of at least fifteen thousand men at Columbus, on the Mississippi, a portion of which it was expected would be thrown across to reinforce Price. There was danger also that some small bodies of Union troops out in Southeastern Missouri, in pursuit of Jeff. Thompson, would be picked up by this rebel advance. Grant was at Cairo, with a small force. He could not, of course, have hoped to make any impression on Columbus or assume the offensive in any way upon a large scale. But he resolved to keep the enemy busy, to protect the detachments, and to prevent, if possible, the reinforcement of Price. This is the whole nature of the affair at Belmont. It was a diversion. After a successful deception of the enemy as to his intentions, he suddenly landed above Belmont with only twenty-eight hundred men of all arms. With this force he captured and destroyed an intrenched camp, took two field batteries and two hundred prisoners, under the fire of the guns at Columbus. Immediately after the commencement of the fight General Polk, at Columbus – as we learn by his own statement – threw across eight regiments and crossed in person. Grant was thus threatened with capture. He could not get away, and was compelled with his [continue reading…]

June 8, 1863, The New York Herald

The government received despatches from Vicksburg last night dated up to Wednesday, the 3d inst. The siege was then still going on; but not a word of the particulars of the operations there appears to have been received, or, at least, not promulgated. Despatches from Cairo yesterday say that the fire seen in Vicksburg on Monday last was caused by the explosion of our shells, and that one side of Washington square was burned down. Our lines have advanced so close that the armies are now within speaking distance. The siege guns were all planted, and were expected to open fire on Wednesday. On Friday every gun in position threw shells into Vicksburg to the number of “[…..] within one hour.” So says a despatch from Memphis; and if it be true it is a matter worthy of conjecture how long the city could stand this kind of bombardment.

The intercepted despatches from the rebel General Pemberton to General Johnston state that the forage at Vicksburg was all gone, the ammunition nearly exhausted, and that he could hold out ten days more.

A despatch from Murfreesboro, dated the 7th, says that Col. Wilder, of the mounted infantry, has broken up a band of guerillas near Liberty, taking all their horses and sixty-two prisoners. It is said that the troops from Mississippi in Gen. Bragg’s army are mutinous, and that a Col Sucker has been under arrest for some days past. This news comes from deserters. [continue reading…]

June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

In our issue of Saturday we gave a list of houses destroyed by the enemy during their recent raid against Bluffton. As matter of general interest to our readers we give a list of the houses that were spared by the fire. In many instances the fine old shade trees saved the property:

1. Episcopal Church.
2. Methodist Church – set on fire but not destroyed.
3. E. Baynard.
4. George Chisolm.
5. Col. E. M. Seabrook.
6. W. Gaston Allen.
7. Mrs. Fickling.
8. Rev. Jos. Seabrook.
9. Masonic Lodge – set on fire but not destroyed.
10. Middleton Stuart.
11. T. J. S. Farr.
12. Paul Seabrook.
13. John A. Seabrook.
14. Jas. Farris.
15. –. Philips.
16. J. D. Seabrook.
17. Mrs. H. R. Hardee – set on fire but not destroyed.
18. Jos. M. Farr.
19. Mrs. Jas. Kirk.
20. Francis’ School House.
21. J. J. Cole.
22. Jas. Pope, Sr.
23. N. G. Graham.
24. T. H. Coe.
25. Thos. Jeffords.
26. Geo. Winnyham.
27. Billiard Room.
28. Wm. Proctor.
29. C. B. Kirk.
30. Wm. Mickler.

June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

We gather from our Western exchanges the following additional information of the progress of hostilities at Vicksburg:

A despatch from Rodney to the Natchez Courier states, on the authority of a paroled prisoner, that the enemy’s dead were five to one of ours on the battle field of Baker’s Creek. At Big Black bridge our loss was ten, the enemy’s four hundred. The enemy had taken, in all the operations, 5000 prisoners, of which 1600 were captured after crossing Big Black.

Gen. Osterhaus was mortally wounded at the battle near Raymond, which was a desperate fight on both sides, with clubbed muskets – a real hand to hand fight. This appears to refer to a part of the operations known as the battle of Baker’s Creek.

After the terrible slaughter on Friday, General Grant issued an order for new ladders to be made and the assault to be renewed on Saturday, at 2 o, but the men refused to be led again to the […..] pen.’ The Twentieth Ohio sent a petition to General McClernand, and positively refused to participate again in the murderous work.

Col. Womack, Chief of Grant’s staff, expressed the opinion that Vicksburg would not be taken for six months, if ever. They imagine now that our forces in Vicksburg is from 75,000 to 100,000 men. The entire Federal loss around the entrenchments at Vicksburg is estimated by them at from 35,000 to 45,000. [continue reading…]

8th.—We have had a cavalry fight near Culpeper Court-House. We drove the enemy back, but I am afraid that our men won no laurels, for we were certainly surprised most shamefully.

Sunday, 7th–The rebels made an attack on our forces at Duck’s Point, Louisiana, where, it is reported, two negro regiments met the attack and captured two hundred prisoners and five pieces of artillery. Who says that the negro will not fight? I say he will fight! Arm the negroes and let them fight for their liberty! There are some Northern troops with them at Duck’s Point, and together they make a strong garrison.

7th. After breakfast and morning work, went up to the bluff and enjoyed a good bath. A small stream of water enters the ground and runs for half a mile underground and comes out clear and cool from the rocks, beneath a high bluff. Runs through a big trough, falling several feet. Read the Independent and wrote home and to Fannie. Talk of a raid soon.

Headquarters, Left Wing 16th Army Corps,
Lagrange, Tenn.,

June 7, 1863.

We had occupied our very pleasant quarters but two days when an order came for us to pack up for Vicksburg. Received the order at dark and by daylight the next morning we were in Lagrange. General Oglesby had moved his headquarters here and he gobbled me without a moment’s warning. The regiment moved on for the doomed city yesterday and left me. Now don’t write me any of your “glads,” for I’m almost demoralized over the matter. Am uneasy as the d—. The idea of leaving just when I know that the regiment is moving on to a fight doesn’t look at all right; but then I’m where I’d rather be than at any other place in the army, and suppose that other chances will be offered for fighting. If the general had entirely recovered from his wound, I am sure that we would leave this railroad guarding business to some one of less importance in the field, but he is hardly able to stand an active campaign yet. Sam Caldwell, Major Waite and myself compose the staff now and it is so pleasant. It’s “Sam” “Waite” “Charley” and “general.” I have been east on the railroad to-day looking at the defenses of the road. ‘Twill be completed to Corinth by Wednesday next, when the road to Jackson and from here to Corinth will be abandoned. We’ve had another scare here to-day. Some 800 Rebels within a few miles of us. One of the cars on which our regiment was loaded flew the track yesterday, and one man was killed and several hurt. None of my company, or that you knew.

June 7th. Slight firing from pieces of artillery, heard in rear of Port Hudson, early this morning; at ten A. M. ship and crew inspected by Commodore; at ten thirty, called all hands to muster, performed Divine service, and mustered crew around capstan. Nothing more, worthy of being recorded, occurred during this day. I forgot here to mention, as is the custom in the naval service, on the first Sunday of every month, that the articles of war were read to the ship’s company assembled together on the quarterdeck, before Divine service was performed, by the first Lieutenant and Executive Officer, Mr. L. A. Kimberly.

JUNE 7th.—I saw yesterday a specimen of the President’s elaborate attention to the matter of appointments. Lient.-Gen. A. P. Hill having asked for a military court to his corps, and having recommended the officers, the President, with his own hand, laid down the rule of selection for the guidance of the Secretary, viz.: the State which had the greatest number of regiments would be entitled to the choice of positions, to be taken from the candidates of its citizens according to qualifications, recommendations, etc. It appeared that North Carolina stood first on the list, Virginia next, Georgia next, and so on.

Oh that we could get something decisive from Vicksburg! If Grant’s and Banks’s armies should be destroyed, I think there would be some prospect of peace at an early day. For, if Lincoln should persist in a prolongation of the war, the probabilities would be the expulsion of the enemy from the Mississippi Valley and the recovery of New Orleans. After the fifteenth of this month, operations must cease on the Carolina and Georgia coasts—Charleston and Wilmington being still in our possession. But we should not be idle. Lee, in disdaining the sheltered army of the invaders, would be likely to invade in turn; and the public demand of retaliation for the cruelties and destruction of private property perpetrated by the enemy could not be resisted. His men would probably apply the torch to the towns and cities of the Yankees, destroying their crops, farming utensils, etc., as the invaders have done in Virginia and elsewhere.

To avoid these calamities, it is possible Lincoln would make peace. Therefore we are so anxious to hear from Vicksburg, the turning-point of the war.

Besides, we shall not please England by our treatment of her consuls; and this may stimulate the United States to concentrate its wrath upon its ancient foe.

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

                      JUNE 7TH.–The 20th was at the front all day, sharp shooting. There is a good deal of danger in this kind of business, but we have our fun at it notwithstanding. Another effigy hoisted a little above our rifle-pits, in an instant drew the fire of the enemy. It was our ruse to get them to raise their heads a little, and when they did, we fired back, and the result generally justified the refrain to which our thoughts were moving,

                                              Should a rebel show his pate,
                                              To withdraw he’ll prove too late.

                      We have caught them that way several times.

                      We still keep unshaken confidence in General Grant, and the ultimate success of our cause. We shall stand firm at our posts, yielding cheerful obedience to all orders, and march bravely on without halting to wrangle and grumble at every imaginary shortcoming in our officers, while our country is in such distress, and when her cries are borne to us upon every breeze. To be in Grant’s army, McPherson’s corps, Logan’s division and the 20th Ohio, commanded by our brave and courteous colonel, M. F. Force, is to be as well off as any soldier in any army in the world.

June 7.—We are living in fear of a Yankee raid. They have a large force on York River, and are continually sending parties up the Pamunky and Mattapony Rivers, to devastate the country and annoy the inhabitants. Not long ago a party rode to the house of a gentleman on Mattapony; meeting him on the lawn, the commander accosted him: ” Mr. R., I understand you have the finest horses in King William County?” “Perhaps, sir, I have,” replied Mr. R. ” Well, sir,” said the officer, ” I want those horses immediately.” “They are not yours,” replied Mr. R, “and you can’t get them.” The officer began to curse, and said he would burn every house on the place if the horses were not produced. Suiting the action to the word, he handed a box of matches to a subordinate, saying, “Burn!” In half an hour Mr. R. saw fourteen of his houses in a light blaze, including the dwelling, the kitchen, corn-houses and barn filled with grain, meat-house filled with meat, and servants’ houses. Scarcely any thing was saved, not even the family clothes. But he did not get the horses, which were the objects of his peculiar wishes; the faithful servants had carried them away to a place of safety. How strange it is that we can be so calm, surrounded as we are by danger!

Sunday, 7th.—One man of our reserve wounded. Pretty heavy cannonading up the river. Some are in hopes it is Johnston with re-inforcements.

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

June 7th, 1863. (In the cellar.)—I feel especially grateful that amid these horrors we have been spared that of suffering for water. The weather has been dry a long time, and we hear of others dipping up the water from ditches and mud-holes. This place has two large underground cisterns of good cool water, and every night in my subterranean dressing-room a tub of cold water is the nerve-calmer that sends me to sleep in spite of the roar. One cistern I had to give up to the soldiers, who swarm about like hungry animals seeking something to devour. Poor fellows! my heart bleeds for them. They have nothing but spoiled, greasy bacon, and bread made of musty pea-flour, and but little of that. The sick ones can’t bolt it. They come into the kitchen when Martha puts the pan of corn-bread in the stove, and beg for the bowl she has mixed it in. They shake up the scrapings with water, put in their bacon, and boil the mixture into a kind of soup, which is easier to swallow than pea-bread. When I happen in they look so ashamed of their poor clothes. I know we saved the lives of two by giving a few meals. To-day one crawled upon the gallery to lie in the breeze. He looked as if shells had lost their terrors for his dumb and famished misery. I’ve taught Martha to make first-rate corn-meal gruel, because I can eat meal easier that way than in hoe-cake, and I prepared him a saucerful, put milk and sugar and nutmeg—I’ve actually got a nutmeg. When he ate it the tears ran from his eyes. “Oh, madam, there was never anything so good! I shall get better.”

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in post-civil war New Orleans, her diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were generally used instead of full names—and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials. (Read Dora Richards Miller’s biographical sketch.)

Saturday, 6th–Several companies from our brigade were detailed to go out last night and work as sappers and miners on the rifle pits. Our forces are working their way closer to the rebels’ works every day, and Vicksburg is now almost completely surrounded. The rebels are running short of provisions, it is said, and are anxious for reinforcements to break the siege. They made attacks today on our outside lines at four or five different points, driving in our pickets.

6th. After breakfast and morning work issued rations–beef– at daylight. Felt rather tired after the work. Cleaned a carbine I had used for some time. Rather hard job. Another dry sultry day. Thede feels under the weather. Both have the diarrhÅ“a. Boys went for strawberries, but could not get any. Paymaster here.

June 6th. Early this morning the shell from the mortar vessels was seen exploding over the rebel batteries; at ten A. M. our Assistant Surgeon, S. D. Kennedy, being detached, left the ship for New Orleans, for passage North. Artillery firing was heard in rear of Port Hudson during the remainder of this day.

JUNE 6th.—We have not even a rumor to-day from Mississippi. The Examiner has made a pretty severe attack on Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, for the great number of persons he has “allowed” to pass into the enemy’s country. It does not attribute the best motives to the Judge, who was late coming over to the Confederacy.

The British consul here, it seems, has been meddling with matters in Mississippi, the President states, and has had his exequatur revoked.

Gen. D. H. Hill recommends the abandonment of the line of the Blackwater, for Gen. Martin informs him that the enemy are preparing their expeditions to cut our railroads in North Carolina. Gen. Hill fears if the present line be held we are in danger of a great disaster, from the inability to transport troops from so remote a point, in the event of a sudden emergency. Gen. Lee refuses to let him have Ranseur’s brigade.

There are rumors of picket fighting near Fredericksburg, and Davis’s (the President’s nephew) brigade, just from North Carolina, proceeded through the city to-day in that direction. Shall we have another great battle on the Rappahannock? I think it a ruse.

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

                      JUNE 6TH.–Still banging away. I took a horseback ride around the line to the left in the rear of McClernand’s corps. Everywhere I went I was met with the familiar zip, zip, of rebel bullets flying promiscuously through the air. I read a northern rebel paper, received by a member of the 96th Ohio, filled with false statements about the soldiers around Vicksburg. It said a great many of Grant’s soldiers were deserting. This is of course false, for I have heard of but two deserting their flag in time of need. Those two will never be able to look their old comrades in the face, for if they escape the penalty of death, disgrace and ignominy will not only follow them through life, but stamp their memories and lineage with infamy. The scorn of every loyal soldier will follow these cowards who have deserted in the face of the foe. No true-hearted mother or father can welcome the return of such recreants, who not only disgrace themselves but all their kindred. This paper also stated that the soldiers around Vicksburg are dying off like flies. This is another falsehood, for the army is in good health and spirits, and looking forward to victory with assurance.

June 6, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

LATEST FROM VICKSBURG.

JACKSON, MISS., June 4. There has been heavy firing in the direction of Vicksburg all day, but we have no authentic intelligence from there since Sunday.

A courier has arrived with intelligence that KIRBY SMITH threw his forces across the Mississippi, into Port Hudson, on Sunday. The enemy’s gunboats had made another furious assault upon the place, but were again repulsed. We sunk one steamer, drowning 700 men. The siege of Port Hudson will be raised. No doubt is felt regarding the result.

We have some interesting details of Friday’s fight at Vicksburg. GRANT, in attacking our position, used cotton bales for moveable breastworks. PEMBERTON mounted his 200 pounder guns, and directing his fire at the cotton bales, mowed down whole platoons of the enemy. Official despatches states that the losses of GRANT during the operations of the siege thus far, have been fully 40,000 men. Our entire loss, including that in the action at Baker’s Creek, was 5,000. Confidence in General PEMBERTON since his reply to GRANT’S demand for a surrender, is fully restored. No fears are felt for the result, either at Vicksburg or Port Hudson.

(From the Mobile Tribune.)

JACKSON, June 1. A scout just in reports that the enemy continues to assail Vicksburg daily in the rear, and suffers with tremendous slaughter. The enemy also continues his [continue reading…]

June 6, 1863, The New York Herald

Correspondence of Mr. S.M. Carpenter.

HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, May 27, 1863.

THE GRAND ARMY has subsided. An oppressive dulness rests upon every one, and the sultry days wear away slowly, with our energies dormant and our zeal at zero. The cheering news from Vicksburg stirred us for a while, and the camp seemed livelier and the melody of the bands more merry; but even that excitement has passed away, and utter stagnation prevails. The troops on the barren hillsides pant in the scorching sun, shielding their eyes from the glare and dust, and the hoofs of our cavalry clatter on the hardened ground, fighting flies; but, except these, all is quiet on the Rappahannock. Rumors of wars reach us from the Mississippi with the echo of congratulations over victories; but the pickets of the enemy at Fredericksburg are undisturbed – the Army of the Potomac is asleep. We think how near we have been to victory, how shattered must be the regiments of Lee’s little army (we know that it is not large), and wonder that we are idle. The arms, ammunition and equipments lost at Chancellorsville have been replaced; and our soldiers are anxious to atone for recent blunders by achievements like those of former days. There is no depression, no discouragement, no lack of confidence in ultimate success, and an order to march to-morrow would be hailed with satisfaction.

OUR CAMP.

We thought our winter camps could not be excelled in beauty and variety, but spring gave us brighter materials wherewith to rear our cities, and royal arches of cedar boughs, festooned with flowers and wreathed with the glistening leaves of oak and maple, adorn the entrances to shady bowers and rural retreats beneath the verdant palaces of our soldiers. Headquarters is delightful, a model of rustic elegance, wonderfully suggestive of [continue reading…]

June 6, 1863, Menphis Daily Appeal (Atlanta, Ga)

                      The Appeal printing material was principally saved by removal.  Our regular issue was made, as usual, on the morning of the day the Federals entered the city, but through the energy of our attaches and the aid of a number of friends, everything essential to the publication of the paper was brought off.  We flatter ourselves our “evacuation” was a masterly one–as it was accomplished without loss, notwithstanding a number of shots were fired across Pearl river at our rear guard by the disappointed Yankees.

June 6, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The Richmond Whig remarks that the expulsion from the lines of the enemy of citizens suspected of loyalty to the States in which they live, pursued on so large a scale by BANKS in Louisiana, and in less degree in other States by minor myrmidons of the Despotism at Washington, reveals a systematic purpose of the enemy to change the population of whatever portion of our territory they may occupy, by the deportation of all whose principles are inflexible, and the overawing and subsidizing of the remainder. The vacancies left by those who are removed are to be filled by, and their property distributed among, Yankee squatters. In this way, it is expected that voters enough can be obtained to elect State officers and Federal representatives of their own, and to decide in favor of adherence to the United States. They may not hope by this mode to subdue the South, or even, perhaps, to recover any of the States, but they expect to make Free Cities, after the German plan, of New Orleans and other principal commercial towns, and thereby secure advantages of trade to themselves, while, by the same means, they would hamper and embarrass us. They may hope, too, in this policy, to have the countenance and cooperation of European Powers. The scheme is ingenious and characteristic. It brings into play the dominant attribute and faculty of the Yankee nature – craftiness. It reinforces the inadequacy of their arms with the powerful aid of their cunning.

The attempt to carry out this plan is in itself scandalously cruel and barbarous. It subjects its victims to sufferings never inflicted in civilized warfare upon non-combatants – the innocent and helpless– whose condition would not appeal in vain to any other than the merciless heart of the Yankee. But, where cunning is, there is always cowardice; and [continue reading…]