February 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury (CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.) RICHMOND, Thursday, February 12. Some queer things are said to be occurring in our army at Fredericksburg, with respect to absent officers. For example, when a Brigadier leaves for home on urgent business, his command is distributed to other brigades, so that on his return [...]

February 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury The laws of nations can not be really laws, until nations join in enforcing them. As things now are, the strong observe or break them, according to their volition or interest, and the weak are their victims. But the other day, in 1856, the great nations of Europe, in [...]

February 16, 1863, The New York Herald Our Special Correspondence. PADUCAH, Ky., Feb. 8, 1863. From some reason or other best known to themselves the professional correspondents – with a score of which the army of General Grant is now blessed – were none of them present at the late battle at Fort Donelson. They [...]

February 16, 1863, The New York Herald The Order Permitting Volunteers to Enlist in the Regular Service Rescinded – Subsistence Stores to Be Sold to Citizens in Actual Want – The Destruction of the Philips House, &c., &c. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Feb. 15, 1863. EXTRACTS FROM GENERAL ORDERS NO. 10. The General commanding [...]

Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Jackson, Tenn., February 15, 1863. It’s 11 o’clock now, so I haven’t much time to write. We’ve been having some trouble in the regiment this week. The colonel appointed Lieutenant Mattison, captain of Company “I,” vice Medley, resigned, and Lieutenant Dorrance, captain of Company K, to fill the vacancy occasioned by [...]

Washington Sunday Feb’y 15 1863. Went to the Senate Chamber this morning at 11. and heard G B Cheever the celebrated radical Abolitionist preach, or rather declaim against Slavery. I never heard the man before and had some curiosity to hear what he would say. The Senate Chamber was crowded. I did not leave the [...]

15th. Thought some of going to camp, but concluded not to. Made some taffy and read some in “Ravenshoe.” Called at Captain’s quarters and had a good visit. Seems lonely without Thede after being with him so constantly for a week or two. How hard it is for mother to be entirely alone. God bless [...]

Sunday, 15th–We had another all night rain, which again stopped work on the canal. We moved our tents a little distance, to get out of the mud, going onto higher ground, closer to the lake. We are still in the plantation lawn, however, which comprises about twenty acres and has a great variety of shrubbery [...]

FEBRUARY 15th.—Already, as if quite certain that the great Northwest would speedily withdraw from the Eastern United States, our people are discussing the eventualities of such a momentous occurrence. The most vehement opposition to the admission of any of the non-slaveholding States, whose people have invaded our country and shed the blood of our people, [...]

February 15, 1863, The New York Herald The above map clearly points out the position of the blockading fleet at the time when the rebel rams made the dash upon them on the 31st of January last. It will be seen that the Mercedita was stationed off the bar of Charleston harbor in the line [...]

February 15, 1863, The New York Herald The Army of the Rappahannock is still immovable. The state of the weather and the condition of the roads, no doubt, preclude the possibility of any military movements. Yesterday General Hooker visited General Sigel, and was accompanied on his return by that officer and General Stahel. Our special [...]

February 15, 1863, The New York Herald Our Special Mississippi Correspondence. ON BOARD THE RAM QUEEN OF THE WEST, MISSISSIPPI RIVER, BELOW VICKSBURG, Feb. 5, 1863. The Union ram Queen of the West, which ran the blockade of the rebel batteries at Vicksburg on Monday morning last, and then ran further down the river, has [...]

February 15, 1863, The New York Herald When the startling news reached the community of the rottenness and unseaworthy character of the transport vessels of the Banks expedition, some of which had foundered, while others had been rescued with difficulty and towed ashore in a sinking condition, public indignation was excited throughout the whole country [...]

February 14th.—About midnight several cannons fired; the alarm was given; but we did not get to trenches till all was quiet. It is thought gunboat passed. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Washington Saturday Feb 14th 1863. Another fine day but a little cooler than yesterday. Mrs Schram of Pok’eepsie called on me today at the office and as Mr Newton is a quaker, she “thee” and “thoud” him out of all the seeds, bulbs, and Plants she desired. Lieut Bemis also called on me. I was [...]

Saturday, 14th. Was kept quite busy in the forenoon, issuing bread and beef for two days. Thede got a pass from Capt. L. and left for a visit of a week at home. I wish I could be there with him. Home is dearer to me now than ever. Will God ever bring us all [...]

Saturday, 14th–A heavy rain all night stopped our digging for a time, and the fatigue party did not begin work on the canal until 1 o’clock in the afternoon. It is terribly muddy and the water hinders our digging; we wheeled out more water than mud. The following strange epitaph I noticed on a tombstone [...]

“KNOXVILLE, Tenn., “Feb. 14th, 1863. “My dear Wigfall:          “I have several times taken the liberty of asking you by telegraph to try to get R. A. Howard made Brig. Genl., Schleicher made a Capt. of Engineers and the McLean, of Bull Run, in whom you and Mr. Clay were so much interested, put into the [...]

FEBRUARY 14th.—A beautiful day. Yet Gen. Lee is giving furloughs, two to each company. If the weather should be dry, perhaps Hooker will advance: a thing desired by our people, being confident of his destruction. The papers issued extras to-day with news from the Northwest, based upon the account of a “reliable gentleman,” who has [...]

February 14, 1863, The New York Herald It is evident from the tone of the French Official and semi-official organs that the Emperor Napoleon perseveres in his determination of offering to this government his mediation. We are inclined to believe that he will use his every effort to induce other European Powers to join him [...]

February 14, 1863, The New York Herald Despatches from Cairo state that the levees on the Mississippi side of the river, twelve miles below Helena, at Yazoo Pass, have been cut by our forces. They have also been cut at Greenville and on the Louisiana side, opposite Lake Providence. A barge loaded with coal is [...]

Friday, 13th.—Orders to be ready to go into entrenchments at a moment’s notice. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

13th. When Chester came over we talked about going to Mr. Rice’s in the evening and concluded we wouldn’t go, so went over to Capt. N.’s and got him to give our regrets, etc. Saw the other boys before dark and none of them was going. I prefer staying in camp, a soldier’s home.

Friday, 13th–The mail today brought me a letter from Jason Sparks and the monotony of camp duties was broken with good news from home. The weather is quite warm and we no longer need fires in our tents. Things are growing very fast and the farmers in this locality are planting their corn.