MAY 14th.—Warm, with alternate sunshine and showers. With the dawn recommenced the heavy boom of cannon down the river. It was rumored this morning that our right wing at Drewry’s Bluff had been flanked, but no official information has been received of the progress of the fight. I saw a long line of ambulances going [...]
MAY 13th.—Cloudy and showery all day. Last night my youngest son Thomas came in, furloughed (unsolicited) by his officers, who perceived his exhaustion. The enemy disappeared in the night. We suffered most in the several engagements with him near the city. I suppose some sympathizer had furnished him with a copy of our photograph map [...]
MAY 12th.—Thunder, lightning, and rain all day. The report of Gen. Lee’s victory was premature, and Butler has not gone, nor the raiders vanished. On the contrary, the latter were engaged in battle with Stuart’s division late in the afternoon, and recommenced it this morning at 3 o’clock, the enemy remaining on the ground, and [...]
MAY 11th.—Bright and pleasant–breezy. This has been a day of excitement. At midnight the Departmental Battalion were marched from the south side of the river back to the city, and rested the remainder of the night at CampLee. But at 9 A.M. they were marched hurriedly to MeadowBridge. They came past our house. Custis and [...]
MAY 10th.—Bright, but windy and dusty. There is an excitement at last; but it is sullen rather than despairing. No one seems to doubt our final success, although the enemy have now some 200,000 in Virginia, and we but little over half that number. We have nothing from Lee to-day, but it is believed he [...]
MAY 19th.(sic)—Bright and sultry. A dispatch from Gen. Lee says the enemy is moving down toward Fredericksburg, and yesterday the advance of our army encountered his right wing at Spottsylvania Court House, and repulsed it “with great slaughter.” Strong language for Lee. A dispatch received this morning said the enemy was advancing on the railroad. [...]
MAY 8th.—Bright and hot. The tocsin sounded again this morning. I learned upon inquiry that it was merely for the militia again (they were dismissed yesterday after being called together), perhaps to relieve the local battalions near the city. The Secretary of War received a dispatch to-day from Gen. Lee, stating that there was no [...]
MAY 7th.—Bright and warm. The following is Gen. Lee’s dispatch, received yesterday morning—the italics not his. “HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA, “May 5th, 1864. —————“HON, SECRETARY OF WAR. —————“The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely’s and Germania fords. Two corps of this army moved to oppose him—Ewell by the old turnpike, and Hill by the plank-road. [...]
APRIL 6th.(sic)—Bright, warm, beautiful. We have a sensation to-day, but really no excitement. A dispatch from Gen. Lee (dated last night) says the enemy opened the battle yesterday, and the conflict continued until night put an end to the carnage. He says we have many prisoners, captured four guns, etc., losing two generals killed, one, [...]
MAY 5th.—We have many rumors to-day, and nothing authentic, except that some of the enemy’s transports are in the James River, and landing some troops, a puerile demonstration, perhaps. The number landed at West Point, it seems, was insignificant. It may be the armies of the United States are demoralized, and if so, if Grant [...]
MAY 4th.—Bright, beautiful, and warmer; but fire in the morning. The following dispatch from Gen. Lee was received by Gen. Bragg to-day and sent to the Secretary. “ORANGE C. H., May 4th, 1864. —————“Reports from our lookouts seem to indicate that the enemy is in motion. The present direction of his column is to our [...]
MAY 3d.—A cold, windy day, with sunshine and clouds. It is rumored that Grant’s army is in motion, and the great battle is eagerly looked for. The collision of mighty armies, upon the issue of which the fate of empire depends, is now imminent. The following dispatch was received to-day from Gen. Johnston: “DALTON, May [...]
MAY 2d.—A cool day, sunshine and showers. To-day Congress assembled, and the President’s message was delivered, although he buried his youngest son yesterday, who lost his life by an accidental fall from the porch on Saturday. We have abundance of good news to-day. First, the Florida has captured one, and destroyed another of the enemy’s [...]
MAY 1st.—Cloudy and showery, but warm, and fine for vegetation. My lettuce, cabbage, beans, etc. are growing finely. But the Yankee corn and lima beans, imported by Col. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, have rotted in the ground. No war news. Yesterday a paper was sent to the President by Gen. Pickett, recommending Gen. Roger A. [...]
APRIL 30th.—Federal papers now admit that Gen. Banks has been disastrously beaten in Louisiana. They also admit their calamity at Plymouth, N. C. Thus in Louisiana, Florida, West Tennessee, and North Carolina the enemy have sustained severe defeats: their losses amounting to some 20,000 men, 100 guns, half a dozen war steamers, etc. etc. Gen. [...]
APRIL 29th.—A letter from Major-Gen. Hoke, dated Plymouth, April 25th, and asking the appointment of Lieut.-Col. Dearing to a brigadiership, says his promotion is desired to lead a brigade in the expedition against Newbern. The President directs the Secretary to appoint him temporarily “for the expedition.” Soon we shall know the result. By flag of [...]
APRIL 28th.—After a slight shower last night, a cool, clear morning. The ominous silence or pause between the armies continues. Lieut.-Gen. Longstreet, it is said, is “hidden.” I suppose he is working his way around the enemy’s right flank. If so, we shall soon hear thunder. It is also supposed that Lee meditates an incursion [...]
APRIL 27th.—Another bright and beautiful day; and vegetation is springing with great rapidity. But nearly all my potatoes, corn, egg-plants, and tomatoes seem to have been killed by the frosts of March. I am replanting corn, lima beans, etc. The other vegetables are growing well. One of my fig-bushes was killed—that is, nearly all the [...]
APRIL 26th.—Another truly fine spring day. The ominous silence on the Rapidan and Rappahannock continues still. The two armies seem to be measuring each other’s strength before the awful conflict begins. It is said the enemy are landing large bodies of troops at Yorktown. Major-Gen. Ransom has been assigned to the command of this department; [...]
APRIL 25th.—A bright and beautiful day; southern breezes. No reliable war news; but there are rumors that our victory at Shreveport was a great one. Nothing additional from North Carolina, though something further must soon occur there. It is said the enemy’s killed and wounded at Plymouth amounted to only 100: ours 300; but we [...]
APRIL 24th.—Cloudy and windy, but warm. We have none of the details yet of the storming of Plymouth, except the brief dispatches in the newspapers; nor any reliable accounts of subsequent movements. But a letter from Gen. Whiting indicates that all his troops had been taken northward, and we may expect something further of interest. [...]
APRIL 23d.—A bright day, with southern breezes. It is rumored and believed that Gen. Lee’s army is in motion. If this be so, we shall soon hear of a “fight, or a foot race.” And how can Grant run away, when Mr. Chase, the Federal Secretary of the Treasury, openly proclaims ruin to the finances [...]
APRIL 22d.—A bright day and warmer. Cherry-trees in blossom. We have the following war news: “PLYMOUTH, N. C., April 20th. “To GEN. BRAGG. ………“I have stormed and captured this place, capturing 1 brigadier, 1600 men, stores, and 25 pieces of artillery. ………………………………………………………“R. F. HOKE, Brig.-General.” The President has changed his mind since the reception of [...]
APRIL 21st.—Bright sunshine all day, but cool. Gen. Bragg received a dispatch to day from Gen. Hoke, of Plymouth, N. C., stating that he had (yesterday) stormed Plymouth, taking 1600 prisoners, 25 cannon, stores, etc. etc. This put the city in as good spirits as possible. But the excitement from Hoke’s victory was supplanted by [...]
APRIL 20th.—A clear morning, but a cold, cloudy day. The following dispatch from Gen. Forrest shows that the bloody work has commenced in earnest : “DEMOPOLIS, ALA., April 19th. “To GEN. S. COOPER. ………..“The following dispatch has just been received from Gen. Forrest, dated Jackson, Tenn., April 15th. “L. POLK, Lieut.-General. ………..“I attacked Fort Pillow [...]