May 23d. Commences with pleasant weather. Two steamers came down the river about two o’clock this A. M., at three o’clock this morning, the mortar schooners below, opened a heavy fire on the batteries at Port Hudson. Between the hours of four and eight A. M. a steamer loaded with cavalry went alongside of the [...]
May SATURDAY 23, 1863 Poor [George] Dashiell1 was taken prisoner first thing this morning—two Regts of Yanks in front of the gate, before we knew anything of it. My uneasiness about Geo is now solved, they took also, three Negros Elam, Lee, and Ben, horses for cash. Captain George Dashiell, chief paymaster to Nathan Bedford [...]
MAY 23d.—The reports from Mississippi have not been confirmed by official dispatches, and it is understood that the President remarked yesterday, at dinner, that he was satisfied with the condition of affairs in that State. If this be so, Vicksburg must not only be still in our possession, but likely to be held by us [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 23D.–Our regiment lay in the rifle pits to-day, watching the enemy. For hours we were unable to see the motion of a man or beast on their side, all was so exceedingly quiet throughout the day. After dark we were relieved, and as we returned to the [...]
May 23, 1863, The Charleston Mercury We were of those who opposed the breaking up of the South Carolina College, and the encouragement given to boys abandoning education and going into the field. But the boys were encouraged and permitted to leave College and go into the army, the College exercises were discontinued, and the [...]
May 23, 1863, Savannah Republican (Georgia) We are happy to record the arrival at this place of Mrs. Mary Samuel, her two daughters and son, who have recently been released from confinement in the bastille of the North, where they were subjected to treatment of the most brutal and outrageous character. Mrs. Samuel [...]
Friday, 22d.—12 M. Federals charged S. D. Lee’s Alabama brigade. Being on reserve, we were sent through a perfect shower of shot and shell to re-inforce. Heavy fighting; Feds driven back; captured three or four stands of colors and several prisoners. General Lee’s aid killed by shell, within twenty feet of us. D. Brown wounded. [...]
May 22d. We bid farewell to Fort Marshall and Baltimore. Marched across the city to the Camden Street railway station, Baltimore and Ohio R. R. After a long wait a train of box cars ready to receive us, into which we were packed and started on our journey. A slow tiresome ride in the old [...]
Friday, 22d – This morning we moved out a short distance from our bivouac and formed a line of battle. The rebels commenced throwing shells at us, and continued it all day; but as their guns were aimed too high, our greatest danger was from the falling limbs of trees hit by their shells. Four [...]
22nd. After breakfast sleeked up. Charlie blacked my boots. Bill shaved me. Played two games of chess with Capt. N. Even games. Wrote to Sarah. Received two papers. Very warm day– uncomfortable. Major Purington’s horse died. Seems to have very bad luck.
May FRIDAY 22, 1863 I returned home this morn. My friend Mrs Clay Taylor and friend Mrs Patton arrived from Dixie. No late news.
MAY 22d.—A letter from Gen. Howell Cobb, declining the offer of the Secretary of War, of the position of Quartermaster-General, was received to-day. His wife is ill, and he prefers to remain with her; besides, he doubts his qualifications—he, who was Secretary of the Treasury of the United States! He says, moreover, referring to the [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd MAY 22ND. –Last night mortar-shells, fired from the boats on the river in front of the city across Point Louisiana, fell thick over all parts of Vicksburg, and at three o’clock this morning every cannon along our line belched its shot at the enemy. Nothing could be heard [...]
May 22, 1863, The Charleston Mercury The Richmond Sentinel learns that arrangements are on foot to procure at once a full size bronze statue of Gen. JACKSON, with the design to place it, when completed, on the plateau in front of the south portico of the Capitol. There are ample materials from which a perfect [...]
May 22, 1863, The New York Herald Sailing Exercises on Board the Sloop Marion. Our Naval Academy Correspondence. NEWPORT, R.I., May 20, 1863. The day dawned upon us calm and beautiful; but the clouds bespoke for us a breeze early in the day, while the atmosphere here promised us a fine day for the exercise [...]
May 22, 1863, The New York Herald In looking over the general field of the war there appears to be very little going on in the way of active operations except in the State of Mississippi. From that quarter we are momentarily expecting the news of General Grant’s occupation of Vicksburg. The latest accounts of [...]
May 22, 1863, The New York Herald The news from the Southwest is most important. It is known that General Grant’s forces abandoned Jackson on Friday and Saturday last, having other work to attend to. General Joe Johnston telegraphs to Adjutant General Cooper, from the rebel camp between Livingston and Brownsville, that General Pemberton had [...]
Warning The following article contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. This, unfortunately, includes the title. However, the article is provided unedited for its historical content and context. It is important to note that this article reflecting Civil War era attitiudes about blacks is from a Northern newspaper. Nigger Regiments. [...]
May 22, 1863, Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Houston, Texas) We are informed there is a party of deserters in the Big Thicket, who are living in the woods and marauding. It is reported that they are also freebooting on the highway. It behooves the military to find out if it is so, and have these runaways [...]
Thursday, 21st.—Sharp-shooters pegging away. W. F. White slightly wounded in head by Minnie ball; heavy cannonading all day. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Thursday, 21st – Early this morning, at 6 o’clock, we moved up the river and entering the Yazoo river we reached Haines’s Bluff, where we landed and stacked arms. Here we remained several hours awaiting orders. General Sherman has just taken Haines’s Bluff and now is uniting with General Grant’s forces in surrounding Vicksburg. At [...]
21st. Played some chess with Thede. Beat Chester two games. Thede and I one apiece. In the afternoon issued rations of sugar and coffee. Pork, bread and beef in the evening. In the evening two papers came, Independent. Commenced letter to Sarah.
Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn., May 21, 1863. I am still sitting on this Court Martial. We may finish up this week. Everything is quiet here. To-day three or four regiments have gone out with seven days’ rations. All mounted. Rumors reach us daily that Grant is in a critical situation; but I can’t [...]
May 21st. Firing was heard before daylight, down the river; at nine A. M. the steamer Gen. Sterling Price got under way and went up the Mississippi river; at nine A. M. as usual, inspected the crew at quarters. Commodore James S. Palmer went up Red river in steam gunboat Sachem; at two P. M., [...]
MAY 21st.—There was a rumor on the street last night that Gen. Johnston had telegraphed the President that it would be necessary to evacuate Vicksburg. This has not been confirmed to-day, and I do not believe it. It would be irremediably disastrous. Mr. N. S. Walker writes from Bermuda, May 11th, 1863, that seventeen additional [...]