Thursday 27th Feb 1862

A great movement of troops over the river and from here over, has taken place. The Trains from the City going East have been stopped and no one is allowed to leave the City without a passport. All Telegraph lines as well as Railroads are in the hands of the Govt. Various reports are afloat in reference to the fighting over the River but nothing seems to be known. But there is little dou[b]t that the “Army of the Potomac” is on the move after its long season of inactivity. We shall hear of stirring news soon.

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.

FEBRUARY 27th.—Columbus is to be evacuated. Beauregard sees that it is untenable with Forts Henry and Donelson in possession of the enemy. He will not be caught in such a trap as that. But he is erecting a battery at Island No. 10 that will give the Yankees trouble. I hope it may stay the catalogue of disasters.

Thursday, 27th–There are no hopes of leaving this place. We cleaned up for inspection and muster tomorrow. The five companies of the Eleventh which went to Fulton, Missouri, last December, are still at that place.

February 27th. Practiced the ship’s company at target-firing with the battery; thirty to forty rounds were fired, at some fifteen hundred yards, and some splendid shots were made. The marines were also drilled with muskets at a target.

27th.—Nothing new or important in our army. We were relieved to hear that the number who surrendered at Donelson was not so great as at first reported; the true number is 7,000, which is too many for us to lose! I trust they may be kindly treated. I know that we have friends at the North, but will they dare to be friendly openly? Oh, I hope they may have mercy on our prisoners! We have had some hope of recognition by France and England, but they still look on with folded arms.

27th Feb.

       All the boys except W. are now out again, B & A joined the Marion Artillery and Lewis the 1[?] Regiment Infantry as Assist Surgeon quite distinguished with his uniform &c. William still unfixed. Lotty and Ella & Harry have had the Measles are now better. Things are very dark just now & for ourselves ruin seems pretty certain. The whole Country seems to be abandoned to the enemy and the troops are to be concentrated in Charleston & Savannah. The Episcopal Churches are open for prayer and we have had in succession two fast days last Friday and this. Thy will be done is the prayer and when we really feel so there is some comfort. John is in Savannah in command of 5 guns living in a Flat and highly delighted with his situation.

       The Militia of the City was disbanded and is still in an unorganized state. William has applied for a regular Commission, and is still uncertain of getting it. Berkley & Arthur joined the Marion Artillery as the most agreeable Company being composed of gentlemen.—

       I dare not think of the consequences or this war, our ruin and the loss of my brave boys but we are sadly in earnest, and I pray we may succeed.—

27th.–Three days ago we received orders again to be ready to move at a moment’s warning. But here we are yet. I was in Washington to-day. Went intending to. spend two days and witness the “doings of Congress.” But, on my arrival got intelligence that Gen. Banks had crossed the Potomac at Edward’s Ferry; that the Government had seized the Railroads here, and was sending off troops to his aid, and not doubting that this would start us also, I immediately returned to my post.

Feb. 27, 1862.—The people here have hardly felt the war yet. There are but two classes. The planters and the professional men form one; the very poor villagers the other. There is no middle class. Ducks and partridges, squirrels and fish, are to be had. H. has bought me a nice pony, and cantering along the shore of the lake in the sunset is a panacea for mental worry.

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.)

Wednesday 26th

Cloudy morning and rain before noon again. The roads were getting quite passable yesterday. There was a stir among the Military. Genl Banks crossed the River (above) it is said, and some Regts & Batteries were sent over from here. Julia was at Genl McClellans. Mrs M told her that the Genl had gone to parts unknown over the River. There is a good deal of excitement in the City in consequence of the reported Advance. There has been some skirmishing among the Pickets today. Mr David of N.H. with his son, Edward from Dubuque, called on me at the office today with a letter from the Dr, of introduction. He left this afternoon for home. I was at the National tonight to see E, he has a brother in the Army who is now here.

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.

Wednesday, 26th–Nothing of importance. We are in a regular tented camp here, and it seems more like being in the army than it did at Lookout Station.

26th. Went down and saw Brownell and the other wounded boys. All getting along well. Guarded against Quantrell. The boys, about two hundred, saddled and went out to meet the wagons. Met them and escorted them in. Quantrell captured two horses. Another night alarm.

FEBRUARY 26th.—Congress, in secret session, has authorized the declaration of martial law in this city, and at some few other places. This might be well under other circumstances; but it will not be well if the old general in command should be clothed with powers which he has no qualifications to wield advantageously. The facile old man will do anything the Secretary advises.

Our army is to fall back from Manassas! The Rappahannock is not to be our line of defense. Of course the enemy will soon strike at Richmond from some direction. I have given great offense to some of our people by saying the policy of permitting men to go North at will, will bring the enemy to the gates of the city in ninety days. Several have told me that the prediction has been marked in the Secretary’s tablets, and that I am marked for destruction if it be not verified. I reply that I would rather be destroyed than that it should be fulfilled.

Wednesday, February 26.

Encouraged by several windy days, which were likely to dry the roads, we ventured out to Joe’s camp for the first time since early in January, to show it to Mother and Hatty. The roads were unexpectedly good, the only really bad places being near the camp. J. had dined, but gave us a nice and hearty after-lunch, and Mother enjoyed the experience very much. While we were there the general order arrived placing the army in readiness to march at very short notice. Four wagons are allowed to each regiment, and quartermasters are to see that they are not heavily loaded: the men to carry knapsacks and blankets and the little shelter-tents large enough for three or four men to creep under. The order cast a gloom over our little visit, but the effect on the troops was very different. As we sat in J’s tent we could hear the cheers ringing through the camps as the order was read–three times three and a tiger.

Just before this J. H. had mailed a little box of trailing arbutus “from camp” to J. S. W. and this acknowledgment came back.

Arbutus from Camp, near Alexandria.
Sent by Capt. J. H., 1862.

“ Thank God for Spring!” I said;
While no one watches, through the gloomy hours
She walks the weary earth with noiseless tread
And fills the graves with flowers.

And, holding in my hand
My Soldier’s message, in its leaves I read
Through winter-sorrows of a weeping land
A dawn of Spring indeed!

Dull, sodden leaves o’er-strown,
Then, tears of rain, and then, these flowers for me.
The wild war horses tread the blossoms down
And set the sweetness free.

So get me flowers again
Dear Soldier;–not alone of Hope and Spring,
Flowers of full Summer, through the crimson rain
And battle thunder of the stormy plain,
Close on their blossoming!

Red roses, flushed and bold,
Red victor-roses,–sea-blue bells wide blown
That ring for joy the river-edges down,
And white Peace-lilies with the spike of gold
That clasp the perfect crown.

J. S. W.

26th.–A pleasant little interlude to-day, to the troubles and hard work through which I have had to pass: At about twelve o’clock, a soldier stepped to the door of my quarters, and said that some friends wished to see me at the door. I stepped out and found my whole corps of hospital attendants, and the patients of the hospital who were able to be up, in a circle. The head nurse stepped forward, and in a very neat little speech, presented me, in the name of himself and the others, a very pretty regulation dress sword and belt. I replied to it as well and as appropriately as I could; the ceremony closed by a vociferous testimonial of kind feelings, and we parted. I confess that I have been highly gratified. The compliment was appreciated by the fact that it came directly from those who most intimately know me, both personally and officially.

Commerce, Mo., February 25, 1862.

We start to-morrow morning for ______ with from 25,000 to 40,000 men, who are all piled up here in all kinds of shifts. Our regiment takes the advance. At a venture I’ll bet we get whaled, by vastly superior forces. Goodnight.

Hunting for Relics (Roanoke Island).

Feb. 25. This being a warm, sunny day, a small party of us thought we would take a stroll up to the head of the island, a mile or two, and perhaps we might find some traces or relics of Raleigh’s expedition. Arriving at our destination, we discovered a large, weather-beaten two-storied house, built at some remote period, and surrounded by large live oak trees. We had not the slightest doubt but that this was the house built by Lane and his party. Seeing a man standing outside, whom we supposed was the gentlemanly proprietor of the ranche, we approached, and saluting him very respectfully, inquired if he was in receipt of any recent advices from Raleigh’s expedition. He looked at us in utter astonishment and said he knew nothing about it and reckoned there had been “no sich expedition yere.” He said, “Burnside’s expedition was yere,” and “reckoned that was about enough;” he couldn’t see the use of any more coming. We bade the gentleman good day and left. In looking around for relics, Whipple picked up an old shoe heel. Here was a prize surely, a veritable relic of Raleigh’s party. Whipple put it in his pocket, intending, as he said, to send it to the antiquarian society at Worcester, and indulging in the hope that for presenting such a priceless relic, they would at least vote him an honorary member of the society. Relics being scarce, we went up to the shore where we could look up the Albemarle. The wind was blowing gently down the sound, and the little rollers were breaking on the beach at our feet. It was pretty warm; the water looked clear and really refreshing. Some one proposed taking a dip. No sooner said than off came our clothes and in we plunged. Egad! [continue reading…]

Tuesday Feb 25th 1862

Nothing in particular has occured today. But it has been a clear dry day with a bright sun. Yesterday the wind did much damage blowing off roofs and ruining the Baptist church on 13th Street. Went over with the boys after dinner to see it today. Called on our return at Franklin Square to see the Dress Parade of the “Regulars,” parts of the 3rd & 10th Regts, 11 Companies. Called down to the “National” this evening, got NY papers.

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.

FEBRUARY 25th.—And Nashville must fall—although no one seems to anticipate such calamity. We must run the career of disasters allotted us, and await the turning of the tide.

Tuesday, 25th–No news of any importance. There is some talk of our having to stay at this place all summer. We have company drill twice a day and with the other four companies of our regiment here now, have dress parade at 5 p. m.

February 25th. Had quite a scare through the bursting of one of our boilers, which made a loud report and a large amount of confusion, but did slight damage.

25th. On duty around in the wet.

February 25th.—They have taken at Nashville ¹ more men than we had at Manassas; there was bad handling of troops, we poor women think, or this would not be. Mr. Venable added bitterly, “Giving up our soldiers to the enemy means giving up the cause. We can not replace them.” The up-country men were Union men generally, and the low-country seceders. The former growl; they never liked those aristocratic boroughs and parishes, they had themselves a good and prosperous country, a good constitution, and were satisfied. But they had to go–to leave all and fight for the others who brought on all the trouble, and who do not show too much disposition to fight for themselves.

That is the extreme up-country view. The extreme lowcountry says Jeff Davis is not enough out of the Union yet. His inaugural address reads as one of his speeches did four years ago in the United States Senate.

A letter in a morning paper accused Mr. Chesnut of staying too long in Charleston. The editor was asked for the writer’s name. He gave it as Little Moses, the Governor’s secretary. When Little Moses was spoken to, in a great trepidation he said that Mrs. Pickens wrote it, and got him to publish it; so it was dropped, for Little Moses is such an arrant liar no one can believe him. Besides, if that sort of thing amuses Mrs. Pickens, let her amuse herself.

______

¹ Nashville was evacuated by the Confederates under Albert Sidney Johnston, in February, 1862.

Benton County, Arkansas
Camp Hallek (sic)
17th Regiment of Missouri Volunteers,
Company C
25 February, 1862

Your letter of November was sent on to me by my wife.¹ I am of course happy to know that everything goes well with my brothers and sisters back in Germany. Is Brother William a pastor or a professor? Since I am almost out of touch with my closest friends in this country, I can get no news from any of you over there if I do not hear directly from you. Just think, if you will, that I sit here in my tent, only thirty-six miles away from Hermannsburg, not more than a day’s ride, and yet I can not give you one bit of news about any of our folks. An army that is three times as large as ours stands between me and home. In December I had word that the two Hermann families were all right….

On July 11, 1861, I went into the service of the United States Reserves as a captain. The period of that enlistment was three months. At the expiration of that enlistment period (although I had done nothing but guard bridges and railroad tracks) I reenlisted with my original rank; this time for a period of three years. I am now in the “Western Turner Rifle Regiment of the 17th Missouri Regiment.”

For six days we pursued the enemy forces as they retreated from Missouri into Arkansas, here and there killing some of them, taking others prisoners. Almost daily our advance guard fired upon the rear guard of the enemy, but we could never engage them in regular battle for they continued to retreat toward the organized Arkansas army of Confederates. Now we are idle in this camp awaiting reinforcements as well as our baggage trains, which could not keep up with us. For a fortnight the men of my Company have not had tents. In fact, they have had no cover at all. It is doubtful that one can say we are provided with sufficient necessities. We sleep on the ground with the sky as our cover; in the evenings we lie around camp fires and roast our beefsteaks on forked sticks. In daytime we have marched chilled to the bone, often over frozen ground, for twenty-five or thirty miles a day, all the time prepared for and even expecting a fight. Although we officers have perquisites not generally enjoyed by the men—comfortable tents, horses, flunkeys, etc.—I take the hardships along with my men to set an example. I have at times ordered some of the men to walk or ride behind me.

Right now we have provisions and it is not necessary to forage on the country as we have done at earlier times. Most of the horses ridden by infantry and cavalry officers were captured, not stolen.

We have sought to avoid the horrors of this fratricidal war, but there are things that we have been unable to escape. In Bentonville, a thriving little town located about three miles from where I write, a soldier who belonged to one of our patrols was fired upon from a house. A second member of a patrol was stoned to death. Our soldiers, angered by those events, set fire to the town and about twenty houses were burned to the ground. Poisoning has played a part as well; day before yesterday one of our cavalry officers died from the effect of poison. I certainly do not accuse our regularly organized enemies of perpetrating such deeds. It is the fanatical, malicious marauders who are guilty. General Price and his raiders, gangs against which we are ashamed to be forced to fight, have been driven out of Missouri. Now I hope we will have an opportunity to engage a regular Confederate army in battle. Right at this time a Confederate army is bivouacked in the neighborhood of Hermannsburg; or more accurately, about seven miles this side of the settlement. If I could get over there, I would find some way to protect my family. I have already spoken to General Sigel about that possibility. Of course I hope the enemy will be driven back to Fort Smith. I doubt that they will be willing to engage us in battle once our reinforcements have arrived.

You may know that in other states our armies have been victorious. I hope the Southern forces will soon surrender. I want to return to civil life, but only with honor. The motive of patriotism, together with disgust because of the indifference and indecisiveness of our government caused me to leave civil life and enlist in this time of emergency.

If men like Fremont and Sigel had been put into places of important field commands, patriotism would not have degenerated into rheumatism, and the war would have ended before this. To quit now would place one under suspicion. I have decided to fight to the end, doing all I can in good conscience (taking into consideration my family). If I should be killed while in the service, my wife would receive a pension of thirty dollars a month the rest of her life. With respect to finances Uncle Sam is quite generous. Even for my present enforced idleness he pays me $131 1/3 a month.

1. This selection is taken from a letter written by Franz Wilheltni and sent to his sister in Germany.

“Memoirs, Letters, and Diary Entries of German Settlers in Northwest Arkansas, 1853-1863”.  Selected and Translated By Clarence Evans, Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Arkansas Historical Quarterly Vol. VI Fall, 1947 No. 3

Monday Feb 24th 1862

The public offices have been closed again today in consequence of the funeral of Willie Lincoln. A great many hundreds went to the house, but a small number were admited, as the friends of the family only were invited to attend. Myself and Wife were admited and rode to the Cemetery at Georgetown “Oakhill.” The other Boy is quite low. I fear he will not recover. Today we rcd the Bll of fruit &c sent by Col Mirrick, the green apples had been frozen & were [dredged or damaged?].

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.