October 29, 1861

A Chronological History of the Civil War in America¹

• The great naval and military expedition, destined to operate off the Southern coast, sailed from Hampton Roads at 6 A.M.—naval under Com. Dupont and military under Gen. T. W. Sherman.The expedition was composed of the following vessels: three war steamers, six sail war-vessels, 26 steam gun-boats, four steam ferry-boats, 30 steam transports, and six sail transports. About 27,000 troops accompanied the expedition.
• Rebels routed at Woodbury, Ky., with a loss of 50 killed and a large number wounded.

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

Monday, October 28. — Commenced to build a stable for horses, three hundred feet long. Captain Bess, our chief of artillery. Our battery remained at Muddy Branch up to the twenty-seventh of November. Little is to be said of this period. Drill as usual. Received the news of the taking of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the capture of Slidell and Mason. Captain Reynolds visited the battery for the last time, having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Rhode Island artillery, and transferred to another department.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1861.

I was at the Pat office today. Visited the War office and the Head Quarters of Genl McClellan, corner of the Ave & 19th St. His privat Rooms are at the corner of H & 16th Sts. His “rooms” are not very “private” as they are always crowded with officers. I was at Home most of the day. Doct Barnes called and took dinner with us. Rcd a letter from Bro C.R. Mailed letters to various friends north. Chas & Sallie spent most of the evening with us. No particular news.

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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.

OCTOBER 28th.—The most gigantic naval preparations have been made by the enemy; and they must strike many blows on the coast this fall and winter. They are building great numbers of gun-boats, some of them iron-clad, both for the coast and for the Western rivers. If they get possession of the Mississippi River, it will be a sad day for the Confederacy. And what are we doing? We have many difficulties to contend against; and there is a deficiency in artisans and material. Nevertheless, the government is constructing a monster at Norfolk, and several similar floating batteries in the West. But we neglect to construct casemated batteries! Our fortifications, without them, must fall before the iron ships of the enemy. The battle of Manassas has given us a long exemption from the fatigues and horrors of war; but this calm will be succeeded by a storm.

Springfield, October 28th. Few of those who endured the labor of yesterday will forget the march into Springfield. At midnight of Saturday, the Sharp-shooters were sent on in wagons, and at two in the morning the Benton Cadets started, with orders to march that day to Springfield, thirty miles. Their departure broke the repose of the camp. To add to the confusion, a report was spread that the General intended to start at daybreak, and that we must have breakfast at four o’clock and be ready for the saddle at six. This programme was carried out. Long before day our servants called us; fires were lighted, and breakfast eaten by starlight. Before dawn the wagons were packed and horses saddled. But the General had no intention of going so early; the report had its origin in the uneasy brain of some officer who probably thought the General ought to leave at daybreak. Some of the old heads paid no attention to the report, or did not hear it, and they were deep in the pleasures of the morning nap while we poor fellows were shivering over our breakfast.

Colonel Wyman reported himself at Bolivar, having marched from Rolla and beaten the Rebels in three engagements. The General set out at nine o’clock for our thirty-mile ride. The black horse fell into his usual scrambling gait, and we pounded along uneasily after him. As we passed through Bolivar, the inhabitants came into the streets and greeted us with cheers and the waving of handkerchiefs, –a degree of interest which is not often exhibited. Fording a small stream, we came into Wyman’s camp, and thence upon a long, rolling prairie. An hour’s ride brought us to the place where the Guard encamped the night before. The troops had left, but the wounded officers were still in a neighboring house, waiting for our ambulances. Those who were able to walk came out to see the General. He received them with marked kindness. At times like this, he has a simple grace and poetry of expression and a tenderness of manner which are very winning. He spoke a few words to each of the brave fellows, which brought smiles to their faces and tears into their eyes. Next came our turn, and we were soon listening to the incidents of the fearful fray. None of them are severely wounded, except Kennedy, and he will probably lose an arm. We saw them all placed in the ambulances, and then fell in behind the black pacer.

A short distance farther on, a very amusing scene occurred. The road in front was nearly filled by a middle-aged woman, fat enough to have been the original of some of the pictures which are displayed over the booths at a county fair.

“Are you Gin’ral Freemount ?” she shouted, her loud voice husky with rage.

“Yes,” replied the General in a low tone, somewhat abashed at the formidable obstruction in his path, and occupied in restraining the black pacer, who was as much frightened at the huge woman as he could have been at a park of artillery. [continue reading…]

Monday, 28th–Nothing of importance today. All the boys of the company like to drill under Compton, our first lieutenant, for he can give the correct commands in the manual of arms, and he makes us toe the chalk line. He is not at all overbearing, as some of the officers are, but is kind to the men, especially to those who try to execute the commands.

October 28th.– Telegraphed to my friend at Baltimore that I was ready for the ducks. The Legation going to Mr. Kortwright’s marriage at Philadelphia. Started with Lamy at 6 o’clock for Baltimore; to Gilmore House; thence to club. Every person present said that in my letter on Maryland I had understated the question, as far as Southern sentiments were concerned. In the club, for example, there are not six Union men at the outside. General Dix has fortified Federal Hill very efficiently, and the heights over Fort McHenry are bristling with cannons, and display formidable earthworks; it seems to be admitted that, but for the action of the Washington Government the Legislature would pass an ordinance of Secession. Gilmore House–old-fashioned, good bed-rooms. Scarcely had I arrived in the passage, than a man ran off with a paragraph to the papers that Dr. Russell had come for the purpose of duck-shooting; and, hearing that I was going with Taylor, put in that I was going to Taylor’s Ducking Shore. It appears that there are considerable numbers of these duck clubs in the neighbourhood of Baltimore. The canvas-back ducks have come in, but they will not be in perfection until the 10th of November; their peculiar flavour is derived from a water-plant called wild celery. This lies at the depth of several feet, sometimes nine or ten, and the birds dive for it.

Oct. 28, 1861.—When I dropped in at Uncle Ralph’s last evening to welcome them back, the whole family were busy at a great center-table copying sequestration acts for the Confederate Government. The property of all Northerners and Unionists is to be sequestrated, and Uncle Ralph can hardly get the work done fast enough. My aunt apologized for the rooms looking chilly; she feared to put the carpets down, as the city might be taken and burned by the Federals. “We are living as much packed up as possible. A signal has been agreed upon, and the instant the army approaches we shall be off to the country again.”

Great preparations are being made for defense. At several other places where I called the women were almost hysterical. They seemed to look forward to being blown up with shot and shell, finished with cold steel, or whisked off to some Northern prison. When I got home Edith and Mr. D. had just returned also.

“Alex,” said Edith, “I was up at your orange-lots to-day and the sour oranges are dropping to the ground, while they cannot get lemons for our sick soldiers.”

“That’s my kind, considerate wife,” replied Mr. D. “Why didn’t I think of that before? Jim shall fill some barrels to-morrow and take them to the hospitals as a present from you.

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.)

October 28.–On the night of the 25th, the boats of the U. S. gunboat Louisiana made a reconnaissance of the Virginia shore for a number of miles, and discovered in Chincoteague Inlet, about two miles from its mouth, a number of rebel vessels undergoing repairs; and this night an expedition, under command of Lieutenant Alfred Hopkins, consisting of three boats, with twenty-five men, well armed, proceeded to the inlet with the intent to cut out or destroy the aforesaid rebel vessels. Proceeding cautiously up the narrow inlet, on the banks of which the rebel sentries could be heard, the boats at last reached the rebel fleet; but, finding the channel so intricate and so well guarded, they were unable to bring any of the vessels out. Preparations were, therefore, made to fire them, and at a given signal the match was applied to three large vessels, and as the flames broke forth in the darkness of the night, brilliantly illuminating the skies with lurid glare, the men sprang to their boats, while the enemy, in confusion at the suddenness of the attack, were quite dumbfounded, and unable to offer any resistance or fire a single shot at the brave fellows who made so gallant a dash into their very midst. As the boats shot out of the inlet the troops sent up rockets to announce to their comrades on board the steamer the complete success of the expedition. At daylight the boats arrived alongside the Louisiana without having lost a man. The only casualty was received by Lieutenant Hopkins, who had his right hand severely burned while applying a torch.–Philadelphia Press, Nov. 14.

–Gen. John B. Henderson, of the Missouri State Militia, made a compromise with the rebels at Dyer’s Mills, near Concord, Missouri, by which he agreed that the United States would not make any arrests if the rebels would lay down their arms and return to their homes. Gen. Prentiss acquiesced in the compromise. The rebels were four hundred strong, and Gen. Henderson’s force numbered one thousand five hundred. The proposition for compromise came from the rebels.– National Intelligencer, Nov. 1.

–General Kelley issued a proclamation from Romney to the people of Hampshire County and the Upper Potomac, in which he assured them of protection to their persons and property.–(Doc. 112.)

–Asa T. Pratt, of Braintree, Mass., who expressed strong secession sentiments at a Democratic Convention at Dedham, was ridden on a rail by several of his town’s people.–In accordance with orders received from the War Department, Gov. Curtin, of Pennsylvania, issued marching orders to eight regiments in addition to these already at the seat of War.–Gov. Andrew, of Massachusetts, has written a letter in reply to an inquiry from Hon Geo. S. Boutwell, whether the Fifteenth regiment, which behaved so gallantly in the action at Leesburg, was sent into the field with inferior arms. He says that rifled muskets have been given all the regiments to which it was possible to supply them. Some of the commanders, however, have preferred smooth-bore muskets as decidedly preferable for close action, and these Col. Devens’ men had.–N. Y. Times, Oct. 30.

–By direction of the President of the United States, a Commission was appointed, consisting of David Davis, of Illinois; Joseph Holt, of Kentucky, and Hugh Campbell, of St. Louis, to examine and report upon all unsettled claims against the Military Department of the West, which might have originated prior to the appointment of General Fremont, at which time the order was issued that all money must be disbursed by the regularly appointed agents of the Government.– N. Y. Times, Oct. 28.

–The Fifth New Hampshire regiment, Col. Edward E. Cross, left its camp, near Concord, for Washington. It numbers one thousand and thirty-three men, and is armed with the Enfield rifle.–N. Y. Commercial, Oct. 30.

October 28, 1861

A Chronological History of the Civil War in America¹

• A rebel transportation train captured by Gen. Lane near Butler, Mo.
• Battle at Cromwell, Ky.; rebels lost two killed and five wounded.
  Battle at Saratoga, Ky.: Union loss three wounded; rebel loss 13 killed, 17 wounded, and 44 prisoners.

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

OCTOBER 27th.—Still the Jews are going out of the country and returning at pleasure. They deplete the Confederacy of coin, and sell their goods at 500 per cent profit. They pay no duty; and Mr. Memminger has lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in this way.

The press everywhere is thundering against the insane policy of permitting all who avow themselves enemies to return to the North; and I think Mr. B. is beginning to wince under it. I tremble when I reflect that those who made the present government, and the one to succeed it, did not represent one-third of the people composing the inhabitants of the Confederate States.

Hampton Roads, Oct. 27th.

We still loiter here in a seeming imbecile way, waiting now for weather and now for nobody knows what. Meanwhile patience and strength are ebbing in twelve thousand men. The condition of some of the regiments on shipboard is said to be very bad. Ours is fortunate in its ship, and they say is in better order than any other. A villain of a division-commissary, supplied fifteen days’ rations of pork and no beef, for the entire expedition! Finding this out just as we were leaving Annapolis, I felt that we could never stand it, and we have behaved so cantankerously about it, that we have secured beef enough, fresh and salt, to greatly mitigate the Sahara of pork, for this regiment. God help the others! Oh to have a Division-commissary’s head in a lemon-squeezer!

Bird’s Point, October 27, 1861.

I haven’t written for a full week because I really had nothing to write and in fact I have not now. Although soldiering is a hugely lazy life, yet these short days we seem to have but little spare time. We are up nearly an hour before sun up, have breakfast about sunrise, drill (company) from about 8 to 10. Cards until dinner time, 12; lounge or read until 2; battalion drill untill 4:30 or 5, supper, and then dress parade at 4:45; from candle lighting untill bedtime (taps), 10, we have cards mixed with singing or some awful noises from Sam Nutt and Fred Norcott. Those two boys can make more noise than three threshing machines. Our boys are all in excellent health and prime spirits. Fred and Sam and Sid are fatter than the Canton folk ever saw them. There are but four regiments at the Point now, so we have to work on the entrenchments every fourth day two hours or cut down trees the same length of time. We are clearing away the timber within 500 yards of the earthworks. It is mostly Cottonwood and very heavy. They stand so thick that if we notch a dozen or so pretty deep and then fell one it will knock three or four down. Lin Coldwell and I are going to get a set of chess to-morrow. That gunboat, “New Era,” that the papers blow so much about is of no account as a gunboat. She is laid up at Mound City for a battery. The men on her have told me that she wouldn’t half stand before a land battery that amounted to anything. We are beginning to have some frost here, but I don’t believe we’d suffer a bit lying in these tents all winter. The sickly season is over now and the health is improving very much. We had 18 on the sick list in our company three weeks ago and now we have but three, and they are only diarrhoea or the like. I tell you I feel as strong as two mules and am improving. I haven’t been the least unwell yet. Our boys are perfectly sick for a fight so they can be even with the 17th. We are sure that the 17th doesn’t deserve to be named the same day with us for drill or discipline, with all their bragging. They are an awful set of blowhards. Sid., Theo., Ben Rockhold and John Wallace are on picket out of our mess to-night. The picket was fired on last night where they are posted to-night.

SUNDAY 27

This has been rather a still Sunday. I have not been to church, I have rather too much of a cough left. I have written a number of letters, one to E P Taft, to Doct J Taft, and one to Lieut Swan. Almeron Field called this evening. He belongs to the Co F 8th Regt of Regulars. Long rows of Army wagons continue to rumble through the streets to remind us that a terrible war is raging.

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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, October 27.—Established our camp.

Camp Leslie, Hall’s Hill,

Fairfax County, Va., Oct. 27, 1861.

Dear Sister L.:—

It is a beautiful Sabbath morning and I am on guard. I suppose you are now at church, but have you thought of me this morning and wondered where I was and what I was doing, whether I was well or sick, and how long since I heard from you, and when you meant to write to me again?

Have you thought that I have been gone from home just two months, and, in that time, I have had just one letter from you? Have those two months seemed long or short to you? Have you missed my society at all in that time? Have you known how close I am to the rebel rifles, and how many times I have been ordered to be ready to go at a moment’s notice, and how many nights I have slept on my gun with my equipments buckled on, to be ready to fall in instantly? Have you thought of my standing guard at night in the rain when my clothes were soaked and my shoes full of water, and so tired I dare not stop walking lest I should fall asleep, which would be certain death? That is the way I live, and do you think I would like to hear from you often? You used to write when I was in Camp Wright, but lately I get no more letters. I don’t know why. Can it be that you have to write so many letters to C. that you have no time to write to me? I am not jealous, but it seems to me that there might be room enough in your heart for a little love for me, if you do love him very much. There, I won’t write in that strain any more. I know you will write, and often, too. And you want to hear from me, but what shall I write?

We are right here in the same camp that we have occupied for the last month nearly. We have received marching orders every three or four days, but they are always countermanded before we start. We are drilling very severely almost all the time. Two hours every morning with our knapsacks on, which is very hard work, and the rest of the day is mostly spent in battalion and brigade drill. Every time we go out we have some twenty or twenty-five pounds weight to carry, and carrying it so long is no boy’s play. [continue reading…]

Sunday, 27th–We had regular preaching today, both morning and afternoon, by the chaplain. There was a large attendance from outside the camp at the meetings. The mornings are becoming quite frosty.

October 27th.–After church, I took a long walk round by the commissariat waggons, where there is, I think, as much dirt, bad language, cruelty to animals, and waste of public money, as can be conceived. Let me at once declare my opinion that the Americans, generally, are exceedingly kind to their cattle; but there is a hybrid race of ruffianly waggoners here, subject to no law or discipline, and the barbarous treatment inflicted on the transport animals is too bad even for the most unruly of mules. I mentioned the circumstance to General McDowell, who told me that by the laws of the United States there was no power to enlist a man for commissariat or transport duty.

Camp Tompkins, October 27, 1861.

Dearest : – I have had a week’s work trying twenty cases before a court-martial held in one of the fine parlors of Colonel Tompkins’ country-seat. I have profaned the sacred mansion, and I trust that soon it will be converted into a hospital for our sick. My pertinacity has accomplished something towards that end. My week’s work has had painful things, but many pleasant ones. I trust no life will be lost, but I fear it. Still I have done my duty kindly and humanely.

The weather generally has been good. The paymasters are here and general joy prevails. I expect to remain at this camp about a week or ten days. Whether I shall return to my regiment or go around to Grafton is not yet certain, probably the latter.

I see that the Sixth Street ladies are at work for the Tenth. All right. Clothing, but blankets and bedding comforts, etc., still more, will be needed this winter. Army blankets are small and are getting thin and worn-out. As cold weather comes on the well, even, will need all they can get. As yet, in this region, nobody but sick men have any business to complain.

Dr. Joe has an order from General Rosecrans to Jim to come out and assist him. If he comes let him bring a good blanket or comfort for me. If I am away it [continue reading…]

Sunday morning before breakfast,
Tompkins’ Farm, Three Miles from Gauley Bridge,
October 27, 1861.

Dear Uncle: – It is a bright October morning. Ever since the great storms a month ago, we have had weather almost exactly such as we have at the same season in Ohio – occasional rainy days, but much very fine weather. We are still waiting events. Our winter’s work or destination yet unknown. Decided events near Washington will determine our course. We shall wait those events several weeks yet before going into winter quarters. If things remain there without any events, we shall about half, I conjecture, build huts here and hereabouts, and the rest go to Ohio, and stay there, or go to Kentucky or Missouri as required. I hope and expect to be of the half that leaves here. But great events near Washington are expected by the powers that be, and it looks, as you see, some like it.

I have been occupied the whole week trying cases before a court-martial. Some painful things, but on the whole, an agreeable time. While the regiment is in camp doing nothing, this business is not bad for a change.

The paymasters are here at last, making the men very happy with their pretty government notes and gold. The larger part is taken (seven-eighths) in paper on account of the bother in carrying six months’ pay in gold. Each regiment will send home a very large proportion of their pay – one-half to three-fifths.

The death of Colonel Baker is a national calamity, but on the whole, the war wears a favorable look. Lucy says you are getting ready to shelter us when driven from Cincinnati. All right, but if we are forced to leave Cincinnati, I think we can’t stop short of the Canada line. There is no danger. These Rebels will go under sooner or later. I [continue reading…]

October 27.–Brigadier-General Wm. H. T. Walker, of the Confederate States Army, resigned his position this day, because, despite all his claims as a soldier who has seen service, and as among the first to offer themselves to the South, he finds that he is continually “overslaughed” by new appointments.–Richmond Whig.

–A fight took place at Plattsburgh, Clinton County, Mo., fifteen miles south of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. A force of seven hundred Union men attacked and captured a camp of rebels, killing eight of them, capturing twelve prisoners, one cannon, and a lot of small arms.–Leavenworth Conservative.

Saturday, October 26.—General Williams’ brigade and our battery marched off to Muddy Branch in the morning. Arrived there, in camp of the Twenty-eighth New York, in the afternoon.

SATURDAY 26

A dark cloudy day but no rain. Was down to the post office. Called at the office of Fenwick & Lawrence Pat Agts. Have spent most of the day at home reading the news &c. Wood being $8.00 pr cord I cannot afford to hire it sawed so I saw it myself. The boys carry it in & split the kindlings. There is no war news afloat today. Heavy firing has been heard nearly all day, practicing at the Camps, I presume. Julia saw Sec’y Smith at the Presidents today, introduced by Maj Watt.

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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.

OCTOBER 26th.—Immense amounts of patriotic contributions, in clothing and provisions, are daily registered.