April 3, 1863, American Citizen (Canton, Mississippi)

 The Columbus (Miss.) Republic, in commenting on the rascalities perpetrated by the speculators, and the frauds participated in by the railroad men, gives the following:

 A little incident came to our knowledge of a certain party who had purchased a large amount of wool and a trifle over one thousand dollars worth of sugar. The wool was especially valuable and the sugar was also to be gotten through. After some maneuver on the part of the owner, he got a car and loaded it up, paying handsomely for the same, putting the sugar in sacks. When the car came to be switched on the track, the switchman demanded his part, and received, we believe, $40. Soon after the engineer came along and declared that he never would take that wool and sugar through without half the sugar. It was given him. Soon after the conductor came along, and stated that the wool could go, but he must have the other half of the sugar. There was no appeal, and the other half followed the first. The wool came through. The owner had also paid freight in advance for both wool and sugar. So we go. Our people may suffer for the necessaries of life–our soldiers are put on half rations for the want of supplies, and speculators and railroad men may make fortunes.

April 3, 1863, The New York Herald

The official despatches from General Gillmore relative to the battle near Somerset, Kentucky, on the 30th ult., have been forwarded by General Burnside to the War Department. The action lasted five hours. The rebels were driven from their first position, which was defended by six cannon, and the second position was finally stormed and carried. The rebels, commanded by Pegram and numbering over two thousand six hundred men, were driven in confusion to and over the Cumberland river, with a loss that will not fall far short of five hundred men. Between three and four hundred cattle were taken, and Scott’s famous rebel regiment was cut off from the rest and scattered. General Gillmore is the officer who commanded at the reduction of Fort Pulaski last April.

A cavalry skirmish took place near Broad run, Va., on the 1st instant, between the rebels, under Captain Mosby, and a portion of the Vermont cavalry. The rebels appear to have maintained their position, although full particulars have not yet been received.

A portion of the Illinois cavalry, belonging to General Hooker’s army, on Tuesday captured ten rebels in the woods near Dumfries, Va., the neighborhood of which place is infested with guerillas.

A rebel mail has been captured below Fredericksburg, and is said to be valuable.

A preliminary report of General McClellan’s military operations, from the evacuation of Harrison’s Landing to the close of the campaign in Maryland, has been published in Washington, having been furnished by the government for that purpose. It is merely a simple outline of the brilliant operations, owing to the absence of full reports from corps commanders. He says: – “The easy and disgraceful surrender of Harper’s Ferry deprived his operations of results which would have formed a brilliant sequel to a substantial and gratifying success.” He alludes to skulkers on the field in severe terms, and says that “Death on the spot must hereafter be the fate of all such cowards.” [continue reading…]

April 3, 1863, The New York Herald

All the evidences that crowd upon us from all quarters clearly indicate that we are about to enter upon the most important stage of the struggle in which the energies and hopes of the nation are engaged. No one who has watched the preparations on the Union side can doubt that the effort that is to be made during the ensuing spring months is to be the final and crowning one, and that before midsummer the authority of the government ought to be restored over all the revolted States. The rebels, if not impressed with the same conviction, are nevertheless preparing for the campaign as if they were equally alive to its importance. They are concentrating their armies and strengthening themselves by every means that engineering skill can devise, at Fredericksburg, Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, Port Hudson, Vicksburg, Tullahoma, Chattanooga and the Bayou Teche. These are the strong points of their lines of defence, and if they are taken they know that the rebellion will be practically at an end. All their best generals have accordingly been despatched to these points – Joe Johnston to the line of the Duck river; Kirby Smith to Bayou Teche; Beauregard to Charleston and Savannah; Buckner, with Buchanan as naval commander, to Mobile; Loring to the Tallahatchie; D. H. Hill to North Carolina; Price to Arkansas; Longstreet to East Tennessee, whilst Lee is retained in Virginia. Thus it will be seen that whatever of military talent and experience is possessed by the rebels is so distributed as to make the most effective resistance possible to the advance of the overwhelming force with which we are preparing to crush them. Whilst on the rebel side they are beginning to suffer from insufficient supplies of food and the impossibility of forcing fresh conscripts into the field to defend the numerous points threatened, the accounts of the commanding generals and of our correspondents go to show that our armies in Virginia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee are in splendid fighting condition, not only as regards physique, but morale, and that all that is now needed to insure the full success of the campaign is for our generals to be left to carry out the plans of operations that have been agreed upon without any further interference or dictation from inexperienced Secretaries or meddling politicians.

Impartial observers of the events of the present war would probably be more amazed at the controlling influences of [continue reading…]

April 3, 1863, The New York Herald

Our New Orleans Correspondence.

NEW ORLEANS, March 25, 1863.

The destruction of the steamship Bio Bio on Sunday morning last, of which you have had a partial account, was in all respects complete. She burned until two P.M., then filled and sank in very deep water, with all her cargo and a great part of the passengers’ baggage. The passengers have great cause to congratulate themselves that she was destroyed alongside the levee instead of at sea; for it is well established that her being on fire was a very usual occurrence. On her passage from New York to New Orleans, in November last, the light wood work around the smokestack and cook galley was on fire constantly, so often that the hose was led along from the forward deck pump and hands stationed by it constantly in order to prevent the fire from extending beyond that locality. It is folly for any one, owners or agents, to deny this assertion. The fact was well known to every one on board, and, as your correspondent formed one of the numerous passengers at that time, he speaks not from hearsay but from having seen for himself all that he asserts.

Since the sailing of the steamers New Brunswick and McClellan on Sunday last, we have had nothing of interest to occur in this department. The rebels have the means, as will be perceived at a glance, of concentrating in a few hours any number of men they need, and it would be folly, when these circumstances are considered, to venture upon an assault of their strong intrenchments without their equal in numbers to attack, and having a strong reserve. You will have heard through rebel channels, long before it would have been in my power to communicate it, their account of the attempted passage of the fleet on the night of the 14th inst. They claim to have sustained but small loss. It is the opinion of many naval officers with whom I have conversed, and who were present on the occasion, that, had the Admiral carried out the [continue reading…]

April 2nd. We are still lying quietly at our anchorage at the mouth of Red River; weather quite warm.

2nd. After issuing bread, got out Rowena and tried her at jumping. Did first rate. Charlie came over and read me Delos’ Journal. Enjoyed it well. In the evening attended class and played three games of chess. Was beaten once and beat twice.

Thursday, 2d–Weather warm and pleasant. No news.

April 2d.—We were shocked when the gentlemen returned, to hear of the riot which occurred in Richmond today. A mob, principally, of women, appeared in the streets, attacking the stores. Their object seemed to be to get any thing they could; dry-goods, shoes, brooms, meat, glassware, jewelry, were caught up by them. The military was called out—the Governor dispersed them from one part of the town, telling them that unless they disappeared in five minutes, the soldiers should fire among them. This he said, holding his watch in his hand. Mr. Munford, the President of the Young Men’s Christian Association, quieted them on another street by inviting them to come to the rooms of the Association, and their wants should be supplied; many followed him—I suppose those who were really in want. Others there were, of the very worst class of women, and a great many who were not in want at all, which they proved by only supplying themselves with jewelry and other finery. The President was out speaking to them, and trying to secure order. The Mayor made them a speech, and seemed to influence them, but I dare say that the bayonets of the soldiers produced the most decided effect. It is the first time that such a thing has ever darkened the annals of Richmond. God grant it may be the last. I fear that the poor suffer very much; meal was selling to-day at $16 per bushel. It has been bought up by speculators. Oh that these hard-hearted creatures could be made to suffer! Strange that men with human hearts can, in these dreadful times, thus grind the poor.

APRIL 2d.—This morning early a few hundred women and boys met as by concert in the Capitol Square, saying they were hungry, and must have food. The number continued to swell until there were more than a thousand. But few men were among them, and these were mostly foreign residents, with exemptions in their pockets. About nine A.M. the mob emerged from the western gates of the square, and proceeded down Ninth Street, passing the War Department, and crossing Main Street, increasing in magnitude at every step, but preserving silence and (so far) good order. Not knowing the meaning of such a procession, I asked a pale boy where they were going. A young woman, seemingly emaciated, but yet with a smile, answered that they were going to find something to eat, I could not, for the life of me, refrain from expressing the hope that they might be successful; and I remarked they were going in the right direction to find plenty in the hands of the extortioners. I did not follow, to see what they did; but I learned an hour after that they marched through Cary Street, and entered diverse stores of the speculators, which they proceeded to empty of their contents. They impressed all the carts and drays in the street, which were speedily laden with meal, flour, shoes, etc. I did not learn whither these were driven; but probably they were rescued from those in charge of them. Nevertheless, an immense amount of provisions, and other articles, were borne by the mob, which continued to increase in numbers. An eye-witness says he saw a boy come out of a store with a hat full of money (notes); and I learned that when the mob turned up into Main Street, when all the shops were by this time closed, they broke in the plate-glass windows, demanding silks, jewelry, etc. Here they were incited to pillage valuables, not necessary for subsistence, by the class of residents (aliens) exempted from military duty by Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, in contravention of Judge Meredith’s decision. Thus the work of spoliation went on, until the military appeared upon the scene, summoned by Gov. Letcher, whose term of service is near its close. He had the Riot Act read (by the mayor), and then threatened to fire on the mob. He gave them five minutes’ time to disperse in, threatening to use military force (the city battalion being present) if they did not comply with the demand. The timid women fell back, and a pause was put to the devastation, though but few believed he would venture to put his threat in execution. If he had done so, he would have been hung, no doubt.

About this time the President appeared, and ascending a dray, spoke to the people. He urged them to return to their homes, so that the bayonets there menacing them might be sent against the common enemy. He told them that such acts would bring famine upon them in the only form which could not be provided against, as it would deter people from bringing food to the city. He said he was willing to share his last loaf with the suffering people (his best horse had been stolen the night before), and he trusted we would all bear our privations with fortitude, and continue united against the Northern invaders, who were the authors of all our sufferings. He seemed deeply moved; and indeed it was a frightful spectacle, and perhaps an ominous one, if the government does not remove some of the quartermasters who have contributed very much to bring about the evil of scarcity. I mean those who have allowed transportation to forestallers and extortioners.

Gen. Elzey and Gen. Winder waited upon the Secretary of War in the morning, asking permission to call the troops from the camps near the city, to suppress the women and children by a summary process. But Mr. Seddon hesitated, and then declined authorizing any such absurdity. He said it was a municipal or State duty, and therefore he would not take the responsibility of interfering in the matter. Even in the moment of aspen consternation, he was still the politician.

I have not heard of any injuries sustained by the women and children. Nor have I heard how many stores the mob visited; and it must have been many.

All is quiet now (three P.m.); and I understand the government is issuing rice to the people.

April 2, 1863, The New York Herald

The Sunflower expedition has returned to the Mississippi river. The rebels had so obstructed the channel that no progress could be made through it. An attempt was made by the enemy to hem in the fleet by obstruction front and rear, but the infantry succeeded in releasing the vessels after some skirmishing.

The rebel account of the naval battery fight at Port Hudson has been received. It is interesting, but at the same time contains several false statements. The sneering allusion to the Richmond is proved to be entirely false by our own correspondent’s account, published on Tuesday, he being on that vessel during the whole engagement. There was no offer of […..] made by any officer on board the Richmond, nor did they […..] to the batteries to cease firing.” Due allowance must therefore be given to the whole statement as regards its veracity.

General Gilmore attacked the rebels near Somerset, Ky., and drove them before him after a sharp fight of about six hours. The union loss was about thirty.

The rebel General Bragg has forwarded a despatch to headquarters at Richmond relative to the capture of Union troops at Brentwood, Tenn. Brentwood is a station on the Nashville and Decatur Railroad, ten miles from Nashville and nine from Franklin.

Captain A.C. Webster, who had been tried as a Union spy and ultimately condemned to death for breach of parole, nearly succeeded in making his escape from Castle Thunder, Richmond, on the 27th ult. He was, however, retaken.

General Halleck has officially complimented Colonel Connor, of the Third California Volunteers, for the gallant and heroic conduct of his command at Bear river.

It is reported from Yorktown that a rebel force, said to be 20,000 strong, are in front of Williamsburg, Va., threatening an attack. General Keyes at once left for the scene of action on receipt of the intelligence.

April 2, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi)

We are indebted to the courtesy of Judge Tucker for the use of the following clever letter which was intended for his paper:

En Route to Arkansas,
March 23d, 1863.

 Dear Judge: We are now on board the good steamer “Twilight,” shoving our way through the water, wind and rain up the Ouachita river. It seems several weeks ago since the officer, soldiers, wagons, horses, mules and deadheads belonging to General Price’s headquarters left Jackson, on their way to the trans-Mississippi department. Many of us (the soldiers I mean, not the mules or deadheads,) left with feelings of much regret, for during our stay in Jackson our lines had fallen to us in pleasant places; kind friends had shown unto us those hospitalities which are appreciated by none so highly as the soldier, and associations of the most pleasant nature had been formed–and these had to be severed. But the command was given, we were compelled to leave, and there was no help for it. Just before leaving some five or six of us went down the street to procure something stronger than water in which to toast the health and happiness of our fair acquaintances in and around Jackson, but the “shebang” being closed we failed in our endeavors. We knew not what to do, when just then a contraband came along with pies for sale. The relief so opportunely offered was accepted, and instead of drinking a toast we each ate a whole pie to the happiness of the fair ones aforesaid. This was the best would could do, and it showed at least a will if not a way.

 And O, what roads we had on that road from Jackson to Natchez! Some correspondents would attempt to tell you what sort of a country we came through; I remember nothing about it except that it was mud all the way until within twenty-five or thirty miles of Natchez, and the reason the mud failed then was that there was not enough dirt in those sand hills, for ten miles along, to make a respectable mud hole, no matter how well mixed.

 Our first day out from your city was principally spent in trying to find the road, which for several days back had been lost in the mud. We found several roads, but each of them ran either up a tree, or into a swamp impenetrable to anything but bullfrogs and water moccasins, or over the bank of a creek ten feet high (the bank, I mean.) At last we sent out scouts on horses and deployed the infantry (pars magna fui) on stilts to find a road, and at last the road was found. After much fussing and cussing the teams were all put into it, and just as we had got fairly started and were congratulating ourselves at finding any road at all in such a country, we were brought to a full stop by finding that a bridge across some big creek had most unmercifully smashed all to pieces by a big tree falling across it. Well, we didn’t exactly contract for such work, but we did the only thing plausible in the dilemma, which was to set to work and make a new one. So Hinds county can put herself down as debtor to us for one new bridge, which I am very certain did not last long enough to get old. While we were at work on this concern, a friend of mine was the perpetrator, of a most horrible conundrum. “L,” said he, “what’s the difference between this road and the McAdamized roads of St. Louis county?” L. immediately commenced enumerating a good many very perceptible contrasts between the two roads. “The peculiar difference,” said he, “is, that in the one case you rode over a bridge, while here you bridge over a road!!!” The uncertainty of justice these war times was all that saved him from instant arrest.

 But at last, in spite of mud, and sand, and broken-down wagons, and lame mules, and sore back horses, and dead heads (worst and most intolerable evil of all) we arrived before sun up one Saturday morning, at the beautiful and hospitable city of Natchez. Hospitable I say, for so it most truly appeared to us. We remained there, many of us, until the next Sunday afternoon, and during that time all that the kindness and attention of the soldier’s best earthly friend, the ladies, could do to make the time pass pleasantly, was most cheerfully done; and though we came there as strangers, yet we found many friends, and every house whose portals we entered proved a home to us.

 In the afternoon “Hickman’s Missouri Cornet Band” discussed some of their soul stirring music to a “large and appreciative audience” assembled at the promenade on the bluff. Such an assemblage of beauty was there as your correspondent has not before seen since entering upon his career as a rebel. And there were so many of them, the whole city seemed to have sent forth its fair ones. Imagine my surprise, then, when I was told by a very charming young lady, after having bestowed compliments upon the performance of the band, which would have made the ears of Capt. Hickman tingle, had he heard them, that she regretted very much that there were “so few ladies out; had it only have been generally known that Gen. Price’s band had been going to play at that time, quite a number of ladies would have been present!” Natchez must be rich in regard to ladies (and what greater treasure can a Southern city have?) as are the heavens above us of the starry jewels of the night. How we regretted it when the time came for us to leave! I can only wonder that we got away at all! Many a poor fellow amongst us has left his heart back there; he didn’t intend to, but, in truth, he couldn’t help himself. “Yours ever” in all probability, would have been in the same fix, had he not been in the condition of the Irishman who was asked if he had not lost his hat–”the devil a one had I to loose.”

 Natchez! we will ever remember thee. Refreshing oasis in the weary desert of our solider life, even now our brief stay among thy hospitable people seems but the ideal pleasure of a dream. Thy sunny smiles, and beauty, and music, and sweet flowers are embalmed in memory; and when it is our good fortune to return to our homes, we shall tell among the pleasant incidents of our soldier life the times we spent in Natchez. Many blessings and much prosperity be upon thy good people! And now, good bye to the ladies, and all the pleasures attendant upon their society. War is ahead of us, with all of its stern realities; and its concomitants, long marches, short rations and weary days and sleepless nights, and sore feet and tired and aching bones, and hills where there are nine rocks to one dirt, and heavy streams, like White river, to ford sixteen times in one day, and Arkansas. That last word is significant enough to one who was there with us one year ago.

 We camped for some time on the banks of the Tensas river, about twenty five miles north west of Natchez, waiting to see if a boat wouldn’t come along and take us before the high water would. Fortunately the boat got to us just in time to save us from the river. While in camp we had a fine time riding in boats, fishing, bathing, trying to catch musquotoes, and killing alligators. The last named were plentiful in the bayous around us, and all one had to do to kill them was to hit them in the right place; a thing which, like putting salt on a bird’s tail, was quite easily done.

 Speaking of musquitoes reminds me that they are “purrty tol’ble thick” down on the Tensas, even at this time of the year. I was sitting one evening about dark in front of my tent, making propellers of my arms in my efforts to protect myself from the attacks of the blood thirsty insects of the tent, when an aged contraband came along, and I questioned him thus: “Uncle, musquitoes are awful plenty down here with you, aint they?” With a look of intelligence which was indicative of a full knowledge of the subject under discussion, he replied–”Well, massa, dey aint many ov ’em ’round here ‘jis now, but wait about a month or two and den we’ll show you what skeeters is!” It is necessary for me to say that I hadn’t time to wait, and that I was willing to take his word for it!

 I never hear of the extortion practiced upon the unoffending public by these steamboat captains. Why is this? Is any one so simple as to think they are not guilty. Let me tell an incident or two, which I “do know.” The steamer Dr. Batey, lying at Trinity, and doing nothing except receiving pay from the government, asked the Captain of Gen. Price’s escort six hundred dollars to take his company twenty miles up the river to Hansborough; and passengers on the boat are paying twenty-five dollars to go to Monroe, a distance of one hundred and seventy-five miles, and this, too, with the poorest of fare, and no bars to keep the musquitoes (I suppose they call them so, but they are nearer the size of a sand-hill crane) from eating you up. We were in Mississippi for nearly a year, and heard and knew much of extortion while there, but I think one’s knowledge on the subject is incomplete until he shall have traveled on one of these Southwestern steamboats. But I must say that we have found the officers of the “Twilight” to be clever and accommodating gentlemen.

 Do you wish to have the news from this side of the river? Well, Judge, I wish from my heart I could tell it to you. But just now we are as destitute of news as a Mississippi Jew of that commodity yclept conscience. All we know is that Gen. Price has gone on ahead of us to Little Rock. Gen. Hindman is said to have been on a boat which we met to-day, going down the river.

 All accounts which we have of our army in Arkansas represent it in a bad condition. There has been sad mismanagement somewhere, and it will require all the popularity, energy and military talent of Gen. Price to bring order out of the existing confusion. All with whom I have conversed seem to believe that he is the man for the task before him. It will take some time to reorganize the army, and then look out, for somebody will be sure to get hurt! We’ll be in for anything from a fight to a foot-race.

 We hope to see, once in a while, the familiar face of the “Crisis” when we are on our way to Missouri. Au revoir.

Lon.

April 2, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi)

 The Eagle Mills of Columbus, Ga., last week, donated 500 yards sheeting and 400 yards cassimere, to the Soldier’s Relief Society of Ringgold. Estimating the sheeting at 80 cents per yard, and the cassimere at $4 50, (a fair valuation) the amount donated is $2,200. The people of Columbus never do anything by halves.

April 2, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi)

We hear of this, that and the other place, Mr. Editor, where the cannon roars and reverberates, and small arms flash defiance in the faces of the gory savages who seek, like natural blood-hounds, to slake their thirst by lapping the red current of life that rises higher and higher as the murderers go deeper in to the heart of our youthful but already glorious Confederacy. It is my pleasing duty to speak of a place where a federal foe has never yet polluted the soil, except as a prisoner of war. It is Union Point. It stands, nearly equi-distant from Augusta and Atlanta, on the Georgia Railroad, about 85 miles from either. It is an humble place, and has but one sign, I think, in it, (i. e.) “Wayside house for our sick and wounded soldiers.” Since the war commenced, the dear daughters of the South, clothed in humility and actuated by the spirit that burnt in the bosom of a persecuted Gallilean nearly two thousand years ago, have bound up the wounds and bent over the prostrate forms of “our sick and wounded soldiers.”

The iron limbs of the locomotive may tire, but the hearts and minds of these Georgia women shall never fail. They do more than the sign signifies,–they feed all who pass that way, and only ask you to register your name. Wine, cordial and cold water carried to those who cannot go to the table; and nourishing and good food placed before the hungry soldiery, who are urged to “eat and welcome.” They often send out limping and sick soldiers to encourage “the boys” to “come in and eat” for fear they may feel backward about it. For my part, Mr. Editor, I must acknowledge to a little weakness. I can bear a load of darkness that would crush a Chineese grampus, I can face a field full of good Southern [continue reading…]

April 2, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi)

 We learn from the Raleigh Progress that another female riot took place in Salisbury, N. C. on the 18^th ult. The women concerned in it compelled the merchants to share with them their stock of flour, and also robbed several families of the stock laid up for home use. Salt, snuff and molasses were also taken by the mob.

April 2, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

CHARLES FOX observed that ‘civil wars were the most bloody of all revolutions.’ The reasons are obvious. Restoration implies infraction. A government rent in twain, the people, once living under it together, become enemies. Nothing but some great cause – some violent oppression or abuse – can produce such a state of things. Every people are opposed to change. They will long tolerate abuses, and strive long to rectify them, before they will resort to resistance and revolution. It is the last remedy of desperation, putting up life and property […..] the hazard of the die.’ And when such an issue is made up between those who have long been friends, united under the same government – when the consciousness of wrong is quickened by a cutting sense of perfidy – when, instead of justice, we find injustice – instead of forbearance, aggression – instead of protection, persecution – instead of love, hate – and hate, armed with the implements of war for subjugation or destruction – human nature rises up and demands wrong for wrong – blood for blood.

The war between the United States and the Confederate States is a war for restoration on the part of the United States. They are fighting us to force us into a restoration of the Union with them. It is true, the Constitution, under which that Union existed, is abolished. The object of that Constitution, and of our Union with them, is also abolished. Liberty, free government, no longer exist under the military despotism they have erected over themselves; and, if the Confederate [continue reading…]

April 2, 1863, New Orleans Bee

 The Brownsville Flag has a long editorial with regard to the recent capture of Col. Davis and other officers on Mexican soil. It states that Captain Montgomery was hanged. The Flag says:

 The extraordinary transactions of which we give the details in another column, will excite people to be animated in its discussion, but the people of Mexico, the United States and Europe will also be called upon to canvass its merits as an act of policy and of international offense. The abduction of the renegades from Mexican soil will be condemned at large, not only by our own Government, but by foreign States, not only as an outrage upon friendly soil, but as a political blunder committed against our own interests. The public will barely take into consideration the fact that the act was committed without authority, and that it was promptly disavowed by the commanding officer on the frontier, nor will the mass reflect how great has been the temptation to the deed. Mexico, as a State, has been decidedly inimical to us from the beginning, and by various measures emanating from the capital, has shown a disposition to thwart our interests and injure our resources. But for Gov. Vidaurri and the good offices o the citizens of Matamoras, we should long since have been compelled by our own self-respect, to assume a hostile attitude toward the people west of the Rio Grand.

 * * * * *

 Gen. Bee has officially denied any responsibility for, or complicity in the abduction of Davis, and the act therefore becomes an individual offense, for which the Confederate States is in no way responsible. It was not directed against Mexicans, but against renegade Texans. It was an interchange of hostilities between citizens of Texas, without official character, (for they acted as individuals, doing what they did against orders and in violation of law,) and runaway men, who took advantage of their position to insult our people. It was a personal affair, and the parties engaged in it have been sought after, and when found will be tried for the offense which they committed against our own and against all law. Gen. Bee is seeking to make every honorable atonement possible to be made for a seemingly military, but which was as purely personal and individual as any as could be that involved an equal number of men.

April 2, 1863, Daily Mississippian (Jackson, Mississippi)

We are offering to pay the heavy price of eight cents a pound for white rags, delivered at this office, as will be seen by reference to a special notice in another column. If every housekeeper would keep a rag bag wherein to preserve the “scraps,” an immense benefit would secure to the country. The rag bag should become an institution in every household. Paper, for Government printing, business and private purposes, is not only in great demand, but bears an exorbitant price. Nothing would tend more to increase its quantity and cheapen its price than the general institution of the rag bag. Let every scrap of cloth, rope and thread, refuse cotton, and all waste material of which either cotton, flax, or hemp forms the fibre, be diligently saved, so that the material may be sold to the paper mills, and paper will become abundant and be furnished at reduced rates. Let the rag bag, then, be the order or the day.

April 2, 1863, The New York Herald

Gold went up yesterday in Wall street to fifty-eight per cent premium. The fact may be embarrassing to Mr. Chase; but it hardly needs an explanation. The […..] expectations” of the country some weeks ago of substantial victories close at hand over the armed forces of the rebellion have come to nothing. The operations against Vicksburg and Port Hudson thus far have resulted only in failures, losses and disappointments. Our land and naval forces assigned to the work of reducing Charleston and Savannah appear to be waiting for […..] to turn up” in their favor in some other quarter, and General Hooker still remains fast in the mud on the Rappahannock.

East and West our fleets and armies remain stationary, or are baffled in all their aggressive movements. We are supposed to have an army of seven hundred thousand men in the field, and from four to five hundred vessels of war of all sorts. How are these tremendous forces bestowed? For, while it appears that the army of Gen. Banks may be too weak to make a deliberate assault upon the rear of Port Hudson, and while General Grant, in the absence of an overwhelming pressure of troops, is compelled to resort to all sorts of tedious experiments of strategy against Vicksburg, it also appears that General Rosecrans, so far from being able to advance, is really in some danger from the possibility of an attack by a rebel army vastly superior in numbers to his own. We infer that President Lincoln is satisfied that in the aggregate he has soldiers enough, from the fact that he has not taken a single step to strengthen his armies through the Conscription act; but still the unsatisfactory reports from the South of the last few days are beginning to create the impression in the public mind that the campaign of this spring and summer will fall lamentably short of the promises of the government and the late reasonable expectations of the country.

We were amused for some time with the idea that the rebels were about to evacuate Vicksburg; but that conjecture is at length set at rest. Next we are told that it is the opinion of General Dix, at Fortress Monroe, that the rebels at Richmond are actually engaged in the preliminary business which indicates their evacuation of their confederate capital. Deserters from the rebel army are reported as bringing some positive intelligence to this effect. General Hooker, however, it is said, [continue reading…]

April 2, 1863, Southern Confederacy (Atlanta, Georgia)

 The Baltimore Clipper says Antonia J. Ford was the principal spy and guide for Capt. Mosby in his recent raid on Fairfax Court House, and aided in planning the arrest of Gen. Slaughter, Wyndham and others. She was arrested and brought to the Old Capitol Prison, on Sunday last, with $1,000 Confederate money on her person. The following is a copy of her commission:

 To all whom it may concern: Know ye that, reposing special confidence in the patriotism, fidelity and ability of Antonia J. Ford, I, J. E. B. Stuart, by virtue of power vested in me as Brigadier General, Provisional Army Confederate States, hereby appoint and commission her my Honorable Aid de Camp, to rank as such from this date. She will be obeyed, respected and admired by all lovers of a noble nature.

 Given under my hand and seal, Headquarters Cavalry Brigade, at Camp Beverly, 7th October, 1861, and first year of our Independence.

J. E. B. Stuart.

 By the General:
  L. T. Bryan, A.A.G.

April 2d, 1863.—We have had to move, and have thus lost our cave. The owner of the house suddenly returned and notified us that he intended to bring his family back; didn’t think there’d be any siege. The cost of the cave could go for the rent. That means he has got tired of the Confederacy and means to stay here and thus get out of it. This house was the only one to be had. It was built by ex-Senator G., and is so large our tiny household is lost in it. We only use the lower floor. The bell is often rung by persons who take it for a hotel and come beseeching food at any price. To-day one came who would not be denied. “We do not keep a hotel, but would willingly feed hungry soldiers if we had the food.” “I have been traveling all night and am starving; will pay any price for just bread.” I went to the dining-room and found some biscuits, and set out two, with a large piece of corn-bread, a small piece of bacon, some nice sirup, and a pitcher of water. I locked the door of the safe and left him to enjoy his lunch. After he left I found he had broken open the safe and taken the remaining biscuits.

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.)

April 1st. This morning at five o’clock, William Jones, seaman, who was wounded during the action at Grand Gulf last night, departed this life. At six A. M. weighed and started on down the river; at eleven-fifteen A. M. passed Natchez; at two-thirty P. M. came in sight of Ellis’s Cliffs, beat to general quarters; it was expected we would meet with some opposition, but nothing of a hostile nature occurred; at five P. M. came in sight of Port Adams, beat to quarters as usual, but met with no opposition; both of the above places are most excellent situations for batteries; at six-thirty P. M. arrived at the mouth of Red River; here we brought our fleet to anchor for the night. It will be remembered that our fleet at present consists of three vessels, namely: the Hartford, gunboat Albatross, and ram Switzerland: whereas at one time we could muster about thirty-seven or eight, including the mortar vessels. The contrast is quite impressive to those who are personally interested in the welfare of things on the Mississippi.

April 1st.—Had fine sport to-day, gigging fish. Whole farms are submerged around Warrenton, three to four feet deep; before they were flooded, they had grown up very thickly in weeds, which now reached above the water. We made two rafts, fastened our bayonets to the large end of long canes. Pushing the rafts through the weeds, when a fish moved it would shake the weeds, and then was our chance to gig him. Our squad got two very fine ones, when the river and wind rose so high we had to quit.

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

1st. After breakfast and morning work, issued rations. Then cleaned up nicely. Practiced my horse some at jumping. Is learning nicely. Read some in Gail Hamilton and “Les Miserables.” In the evening attended class at Co. H and wrote to Fred Allen.

Wednesday, 1st–It continues warm and pleasant. All is quiet. I went up town to the division quartermaster to buy provisions for the officers, the captain giving me the money with the order to purchase ten days’ provisions. When I returned the captain noticed among the items of the bill “20 lbs. codfish,” and exclaimed, “Why, Alexander, what in thunder are you going to do with salty codfish? You have enough to do the whole company, and there are but three of us!”[1]

[1] There was some suspicion that the codfish deal was some April Fool business, but I declare that it was all done in dead earnest. But I began to figure that it was a pretty large ration of codfish for ten days and the matter having been noised about, I was not very careful to lock the codfish in the mess chest. The boys soon found out where they could find codfish after night, and at the end of a week it had all disappeared. I was thankful.—A. G. D