September 23, 1861

• Guerrillas under James H. Lane drove off a small Southern force at Osceola, Missouri, and then looted and burned the town.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1861.

Went to ch. this morning with wife and the three boys. Wife & Julia went in the afternoon. Edd Dickerson called in the evening and took tea. Chas & Sallie also called about the same time. Went down to the camp to hear the music of the Regimental Band. It performs every night from 1/2 past 8 till 9 o’clock, a large crowd usualy attends. Everything remains quiet over the River and nothing but the long wagon trains today would indicate anything unusual going on in or near the City.

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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.

Sunday, September 22.—Squads of cavalry and infantry visible on the Virginia shore. Great changes took place during this period. Orderly J. H. Newton being promoted to Lieutenant, took command of the left section. Sergeants Owen and Randolph, after having been promoted to Lieutenants, left the battery, and were transferred to other Rhode Island batteries. The State having organized a regiment of light artillery, on the thirteenth of August, we were no longer called the Second Battery, but Battery A.

SEPTEMBER 22d.—Harris and Magraw, who were taken on the field of Manassas, looking for the remains of Col. Cameron, have been liberated by Gen. Winder, on the order of the acting Secretary of War. This is startling; for Mr. Benjamin was the most decided man, at the time of their capture, against their liberation. Per contra, a Mr. G., a rich New York merchant, and Mr. R., a wealthy railroad contractor, whom I feared would break through the meshes of the law, with the large sums realized by them here, have been arrested by the Secretary’s order, on the ground that they have no right to transfer the sinews of war to the North, to be used against us.

Sept. 11th, 1861.

Where do you think I am writing? In the Patent Office, where we heard the other day that a large number of sick men had been brought from the 19th Indiana regiment. We found them in a dirty and forlorn condition and have come to do what we can. The whole regiment, nearly, is down with sickness from great exposure when they first arrived, they say. The assistant-surgeon of the regiment and the matron are here all the time, and a number of Washington women come in to help every day.

“One of the first extemporized hospitals of the war was in the top story of the Patent Office, where the 19th Indiana regiment was brought, nearly every man of them. The great, unfinished lumber room was set aside for their use, and rough tables–I can’t call them beds–were knocked together from pieces of the scaffolding. These beds were so high that it was impossible to reach them, and we had to make them up with brooms, sweeping off the mattresses, and jerking the sheets as smooth as we could. About six men could be accommodated on one table. These ran the whole length of the long room, while on the stacks of marble slabs, which were some day to be the floor, we spread mattresses, and put the sickest men. As the number increased, camp-beds were set up between the glass cases in the outer room, and we alternated –typhoid fever, cog-wheels and patent churns –typhoid fever, balloons and mouse-traps (how many ways of catching mice there are!)–typhoid fever, locomotives, water-wheels, clocks,–and a general nightmare of machinery.

Here, for weeks, went on a sort of hospital picnic. We scrambled through with what we had to do. The floors were covered with lime dust, shavings, nails, and carpenters’ scraps. We had the rubbish taken up with shovels, and stacked in barrels at one end of the ward. The men were crowded in upon us; the whole regiment soaked with a malignant, malarial fever, from exposure, night after night, to drenching rains, without tents. There was so much of this murderous, blundering want of prevision and provision, in the first few months of the war–and is now, for that matter.

Gradually, out of the confusion came some system and order. Climbing up to the top of the Patent Office with each loaf of bread was found not to be an amusing occupation, and an arrangement of pulleys was made out of one of the windows, and any time through the day, barrels of water, baskets of vegetables and great pieces of army beef, might be seen crawling slowly up the marble face of the building.

Here, for weeks, we worked among these men, cooking for them, feeding them, washing them, sliding them along on their tables, while we climbed up on something and made up their beds with brooms, putting the same powders down their throats with the same spoon, all up and down what seemed half a mile of uneven floor;–coaxing back to life some of the most unpromising,–watching the youngest and best die.

I remember rushing about from apothecary to apothecary, in the lower part of the city, one Sunday afternoon, to get, in a great hurry, mustard, to help bring life into a poor Irishman, who called me Betty in his delirium, and, to our surprise, got well, went home, and at once married the Betty we had saved him for.

By-and-by the regiment got through with the fever, improvements came into the long ward, cots took the place of the tables, and matting covered the little hills of the floor. The hospital for the 19th Indiana became the “U. S. General Hospital at the Patent Office,” and the “volunteers for emergencies” took up their saucepans and retired.”

Reconnoissance in Force by General Grant toward Columbus, Ky.–General Grant’s Bodyguard Passing Over Mayfield Creek Bridge.

The scenery of the “Bottoms” is the most interesting in this part of Kentucky. During freshets they are from two to twelve feet under water. The soil is exceedingly rich and heavily timbered, and numberless creeks and bayous intersect the country in every direction. The few farms in this section of the State occupy the ridges, while the low ground is a primitive forest, unfit for cultivation on account of frequent overflows. The largest of the many streams which drain this swamp is Mayfield Creek.

(from Frank Leslie’s Illustrated History of the Civil War…, edited by Louis Shepheard Moat, Published by Mrs. Frank Leslie, New York, 1895)

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Report of Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI,
Cairo, September 22, 1861.

GENERAL: Yesterday I directed a reconnaissance in force to discover the position of the enemy. The main part of the troops from Norfolk {p.200} and Fort Jefferson were landed below Island No. 1, and marched from there down the beach road, supported by the gunboats Tyler and Lexington. The result proved the Confederates to be in and around Columbus. No outposts are occupied by them nearer to us. Mayfield has been deserted by the rebels.

Colonel Waagner, chief of ordnance, left here this evening, in pursuance of orders telegraphed to him. His energy and ability have been of great service to me, particularly in directing reconnaissances, and his loss from this post will be felt.

To-day the advanced sentinels of one of our pickets fired into a scouting party of about 100 rebels, killing 1 horse and unhorsing 5 or 6 men. This took place about 1 mile from Elliott’s Mills, on the Columbus road.

The general health of this command is improving, but the number of sick is still very large.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Maj. Gen. J. C. FRÉMONT, Comdg. Western Dep’t, Saint Louis, Mo.

Cross Lanes, Virginia, Sunday,
September 22, 1861.

Dear Mother : – … We are waiting for good weather to go in pursuit of the enemy. Unless some calamity occurs to us at Washington, so as to enable the Rebels to reinforce Wise and Floyd, I do not think they will fight us again. We shall probably not pursue more than forty miles to Lewisburg or White Sulphur Springs, and then our campaign closes for the season. You see, probably, that I am appointed judge-advocate for the department of the Ohio. This includes the State of Ohio, and, should I continue to hold the place, I shall probably be required to go to Columbus and Cincinnati in the course of my duties. But I shall get out of it, I hope, in a month or so. It will separate me from my regiment a good deal, and the increase of pay, about forty or fifty dollars per month, and increase of honor, perhaps, is no compensation for this separation. I have acted in all the cases which have arisen in General Rosecrans’ army. I shall be with my regiment soon again, I hope. While the general is in the same army with them, we are together, of course. I am constantly interrupted. I am today in command of the regiment, Colonel Matthews being unwell, so I am perpetually interrupted. Good-bye.

Affectionately,

R. B. Hayes.

Mrs. Sophia Hayes.

Cross Lanes, Virginia, September 22, [1861].
Sunday morning, before breakfast.

Dearest: – It is a cold, drizzly, suicidal morning. The equinoctial seems to be a severe storm. Part of our force has crossed [the] Gauley to operate in conjunction with General Cox who is near us. The enemy have retreated in a broken and disheartened condition twenty or thirty miles to near Lewisburg. Unless largely reinforced, they will hardly make another stand. The first fair day our regiment will cross [the] Gauley and the rest will follow as weather permits. We have such a long line of transportation and as the wet fall months are at hand, I suspect we shall not attempt to go further than Lewisburg, possibly to the White Sulphur Springs, before we go into winter quarters.

You know I am ordered to be attached to headquarters. As soon as my regiment moves they will leave me. This is hard, very. I shall feel badly enough when they march off without me. There are some things pleasant about it, however. In the first place, I shall probably not be kept away more than a month or two before I shall be relieved. Then, I shall be in much more immediate communication with you. I can at any time, if need be, dispatch you; so you are within an hour of me. I shall travel a good deal and may possibly go to Ohio. I began my new duties by trying to do a good thing. I have sent for Channing Richards to be my clerk. He is a private in the Guthries. Enough said. If he comes as he is ordered to by the general, and as no doubt he will, I can easily see how his education, brought to notice as it will be, will get him into the way of promotion. I have also a soldier of the Twenty-third, who has been a sailor, an ostler, and a cook, and will be able to look after me in his several capacities. . . .

The wounded are all doing well. The number now in the hospital is small. The doctor has been getting discharges or furloughs for our sick. The rest are getting hardened to this life and I hope we shall continue healthy. Colonel Matthews has been slightly, or even worse, sick, not so as to confine him to his quarters except one morning. His health generally has been excellent. The “poor blind soldier,” as Birtie called him, is perfectly well again. . . . [continue reading…]

September 22. Sunday. – Cold, raw, and damp – probably will rain. I must get two flannel or thick shirts with collars, also one or two pairs of thick gloves.

22nd. In the morning Lt. Nettleton and I went over to the Cathedral. In the afternoon visited at Uncle’s. Returned to camp and found thousands of visitors. Such a Sunday. Prayer meeting in the evening.

Sunday, 22d–I remained in Tipton all day, going to preaching this morning and to Sunday school in the afternoon.

“Mountain View,” September 22.—Came down here with Mr. _____, a few days ago. Spent this day not quite so profitably as I desired. The ride to the “old chapel,” where we had service, is so long, that we spent a great deal of time upon the road. Bishop Meade delivered a most interesting address. He mentioned with great feeling the death of Mr. John A. Washington, of Mount Vernon, who fell at “Cheat Mountain” a few days ago, while, with some other officers, he was observing the movements of Rosecranz. It is heart-rending to hear of the number of valuable lives which are lost in this cruel war.

Camp near Fairfax C. H., September 22, 1861.

I am indebted to you for much pleasure afforded by your sweet letter of 16th inst. I know, Love, my presence is sadly missed at home, but not more than in my lonely tent I miss my dear wife and her fond caress. I am sure, too, you are not more eager in your wish for my return, than I am to be with you. But I feel sure you would not have me abandon my post and desert our flag when it needs every arm now in its service for its defence. To return home, all I have to do is to resign my office, a privilege which a man in the ranks does not enjoy. Then your wish and mine is easily fulfilled, but in thus accomplishing it I would go to you dishonored by an exhibition of the want of those qualities which alike grace the citizen and the soldier. An imputation of such deficiency of manly virtues I should in times past have resented as an insult. Would you have me merit it now? I think not. My love for you, if no other tie bound me to life, is such that I would not wantonly throw my life away. But my duty must be met, whatever the expense, and I must cling to our cause until the struggle ends in our success or ruin, if my life lasts so long. I trust I have that obstinacy of resolution which will make my future conform to such sentiments of my duty. Mrs. Jackson took leave of us some days since, as the General was not able to get quarters for her in a house near our present encampment. I rode, between sunset and breakfast next morning, some thirty miles to secure the services of a gentleman to meet her at Manassas and escort her home. In return for this hard night’s ride she sent me by the General her thanks in the message that she “hoped I might soon see my wife.” You hope so too, don’t you, Monkey? I was well paid for my trouble in the consciousness of having merited her gratitude.

I stopped at Mr. Newman’s camp the other day to see him, but learned from Deacon that he was at home, and that little Mary was dead. I sympathized deeply with them in the sad bereavement. I learned from the Rev. Dr. Brown, who reached here from Richmond this morning, that he saw Matthew at Gordonsville, on his way here. I suppose he will come to see me when he arrives.

Yesterday I was down the road some ten miles, and, from a hill in the possession of our troops, had a good view of the dome of the Capitol, some five or six miles distant. The city was not visible in consequence of the intervening woods. We were very near, but it will cost us many gallant lives to open the way that short distance. I have no means of knowing, but do not think it probable the effort will be made very soon, if at all. I saw the sentinel of the enemy in the field below me, and about half a mile off, and not far on this side our own sentinels. They occasionally fire at each other. Mrs. Stuart, wife of the Colonel who has charge of our outpost, stays here with him. Whilst there looking at the Capitol I saw two of his little children playing as carelessly as if they were at home. A dangerous place, you will think, for women and children. Remember me to Fitzgerald and his wife, and say that I am very grateful for what they have done for me. And now, Love, I will bid you good-bye again. Kiss little Matthew and Galla for me.

Sept. 22.–This evening, eight pickets of the Iowa Seventh regiment, out at the Cross Roads, a mile and a half from Eliott’s Mills, eight miles above Columbus, Ky., were suddenly approached by fifty or sixty rebel cavalry. The pickets fired, when the rebels turned and fled. Two or three of their number were seen to fall, but were carried off on their horses. One of their horses was killed. The accoutrements and pistols fell into the hands of the Iowa boys, and a riderless horse from among them also fell into their hands. Their wounded and dead were carried away. The rebels returned the fire before fleeing, but did no damage.

–A skirmish took place near Hunter, Mo., four miles below Norfolk. Three of the National troops and four horses were lost–N. Y. Tribune, Sept, 24.

–General A. S. Johnston, of the Confederate Army, having assumed command at Memphis, Tenn., issued a proclamation relative to the armed occupation of Kentucky.–(Doc. 57.)

September 22, 1861

A Chronological History of the Civil War in America¹

• Skirmish at Ellicott’s Mills, Ky.

1. A Chronological History of the Civil War in America by Richard Swainson Fisher, New York, Johnson and Ward, 1863

SEPTEMBER 21st.—The Secretary has authorized me to sign passports “for the Secretary of War.” My son attends to his letters. I have now an opportunity of seeing more. I have authority to order transportation for the parents of soldiers, and for goods and provisions taken to the camps.

SATURDAY 21

Nothing new has occured recently although we are surrounded on all sides with elements which may be put in motion any how carrying destruction and death to thousands. Heavy cannonading over the River almost every day is heard from the Forts, practicing and getting the range of their guns. Have been at home most of the day fixing up things and preparing to sell out. Was on the Ave in the morning with Julia.

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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.

Camp of Instruction
Benton Barracks Sept 21. 1861

Dr Major

I find the skeleton Regiment in camp requires much time and attention. Men come and stay a few days without being mustered in, and slip away from camp cheating the Government out of subsistance and causing insubordination. I have therefore detailed an officer (Lieut Freeman of the Regular Army) to muster them in as fast as they come, so that in case they leave they may be regarded as deserters. They generally comply without much complaint. Col Burge has a small squad of men who he calls Rifles or Sharp Shooters. They are about 150 in number and claimed by about a Doz quasi Captains but none of them either officers or privates mustered into the service. I ordered the Colonel to have this floating population mustered into the service. He seems to dread it, and holds back unless it can be done on conditions &c &c I have insisted and told him I would not approve provision rations for his men unless they are mustered. In the mean time he has gone to Head Quarters and I report the facts to prevent misunderstandings. I have told him we will let him have riffles if they can be got; but soldiers must be soldiers and I could see no need of keeping these men and officers for weeks in an unorganized condition Good order of camp and economy of service requires this.

Very Respectfully yours
Saml. R. Curtis
Brigr Geni Com. Camp

Daily Times [Leavenworth, Ks],
September 21, 1861

For months the Conservative has been the accredited organ of a system of pillage and plunder known and recognized among bandits as the highest state of civilization. Not content with occupying a superficially equivocal position between law and lawlessness it openly sets all laws and authorities at defiance in yesterday’s issue in the following language:

“Jayhawking was got up in Kansas. It’s one of our things. It works well; we believe in it, we are going to have it. It don’t make any difference whether the authorities, civil or military, believe in it or not. Kansas don’t care much for authorities; never did, never will.”

This is anarchy, riot, a reign of terror glazed over with the specious plea of loyalty to the Union; just as if a man could be loyal to the Union without being loyal to the laws and constituted authorities. Loyalty to the union implies loyalty to the government. There can be no loyalty to the government without respect and obedience to its laws and constituted authorities. Whoever sets at nought one or the other, or both, no matter on which side he proclaims himself to be, is an enemy of the Union and the government, equally with Jeff. Davis and his co-conspirators. There may be sedition among pretended Union men–this war is waged against all sedition, including Jayhawking–and there never can be peace, there never will be order, until rebellion and jayhawking are put down.

By what authority is Jayhawking carried on? Does the Government authorize it? No. Then they authorize themselves–they are a law unto themselves. If Cleveland may Jayhawk and be tolerated, Joe Tuttle or any other desperado or marauder may do the same. If one band may Jayhawk to-day, two bands may do likewise to-morrow, and so on ad infinitum. This is the naked logic of the principle. Jayhawking strikes at the very root of, and destroys American government, to wit: — the law-abiding spirit of our people. It professes to draw the sword for the Union, but acting without authority–without responsibility, it sets at defiance the laws of the Union. What use is there in drawing the sword for the Government, if by that self-same sword the laws of the Government are to be overturned? If this thing is to go on–if society is to be totally disorganized, let every man begin now, take for himself, Jayhawk in the name of the Union, the Constitution and the laws, and the utter destruction of every principle of good government, however wise and beneficent, and the security of all property or rights will be speedy and final.

The course of the Conservative is fanatical, reckless, lawless and whatever else tends to anarchy and confusion, to the overthrowing of well ordered society and wise and wholesome laws. It has not only the heart of mischief, but the audacity to flout its crimes boastingly and defiantly before our eyes. The Jayhawkers rob with an understanding that they have a journal to applaud their felonies. Its Jayhawking doctrines are infamous, uncivilized, unchristian and anti-American, and coming as they do from a public journal, are calculated to do great harm, and should be frowned down by every true patriot.

Austin State Gazette, September 21, 1861

Within the last week, we think not less than one hundred wagons have passed through our city, engaged in the Flour and Salt trade. The flour is hauled from the upper counties to points on the coast which produced such immense quantities of salt, and exchanged for the latter article, which is said to be of excellent quality. Heretofore, the coast people have eaten Illinois flour, and the wheat growers used Liverpool salt. Hurrah for the blockade! “Nobody hurt.”

September 21, 1861. – Equinoctial storm today. Our regiment does not move. I am getting ready for my new quarters and duties. Just got ready for bed; a dark, dismal, rainy night. Visited the hospital tonight. Saw several of Colonel Tyler’s men who were wounded and taken prisoners in his surprise a month ago and were retaken by us after the fight at Carnifax Ferry. Intelligent men from Oberlin, one Orton; one from Cleveland. They have suffered much but are in good spirits. The enemy boasted that they would soon drive us out and would winter in Cincinnati.

21st. Commenced to learn my duties. Drilled with the noncommissioned officers by the Adjutant.

Saturday, 21st–We had company drill this morning. In the afternoon we had a big loyal mass-meeting in town, and we had speaking by Captain Stearns. He talked of our duty to sustain the Government. Quite a number enlisted as a result of the meeting, and it is hoped that the company may be completed so as to leave for Davenport in about eight days.

Headquarters 79th Regiment,
Camp Advance, Va. Co. K.
September 21st, 1861.

Dear Cousin Lou:

Let me see – it is a long time since I wrote you, but I am not forgetful. I must thank you many times for your kindness in writing me away off here. Perhaps you think it not very far, only four miles off from Washington; yet it is so, for we are quite shut off from all communication with the outer world. My goodness, how I did cheer Mrs. Gen. Smith the other day on passing her carriage as the Regiment was returning from the field where its colors had been restored!

I am not quite certain that Mrs. Brigadier-Gen. Smith was beautiful, yet I thought her so, for she had little hands, white teeth, and was not shouldering a musket. If you will visit camp, Cousin Lou, I’ll crown you Queen of Beauty and vote you lovelier than a thousand Mrs. Brigadier-Gen. Smiths. Tell Cousin Henry and Dr. Grant that their visit to me, while on Kalorama Heights, first taught me that there was still remaining communication with the world. The result of the lesson was, that I bought a looking-glass and combed the snarls out of my hair.

It is raining to-night, so I am shut in my tent. Field life agrees with me excellently, so that as yet I have hardly had an ill day. Our Regiment has been unusually healthy, there having been no deaths from sickness in it since it first left New-York. A captain of the 19th Indiana Regiment was telling me that they had lost 25 of their number from disease already, although they have not been out here so long as we by two months. This I suppose is partly owing to the fact that the city soldiers endure change of climate better than country ones; and something I believe is due to our surgeon Dr. McDonald. The Doctor says that you are one of the few women for whom he has an unbounded admiration. [continue reading…]