March 17, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

PANOLA, MISS., Match 14. – A gentleman direct from Coldwater says that the enemy’s force in the Yazoo consists of two formidable gunboats, the Chillicothe and De Kalb, two rams, with cotton defences, three gunboats not deemed formidable, three batteries, three hundred cavalry, and 10,000 infantry. Some boats not loaded accompany the expedition, it is thought for the purpose of stealing cotton. They left Panola with one day’s rations and plenty of meat, bread and other supplies. They rely upon the country for meat, which they are everywhere stealing.

A gentleman who witnessed the fight at Fort Pemberton says that our troops waded to their waists to get a chance at the enemy. The attacking fleet consists of six gunboats and rams, and an infantry force of from five to eighteen thousand. The enemy’s movements indicated a landing higher up the river, on the opposite bank. Our officers were preparing to frustrate the enemy at all points.

March 16th. This morning at five thirty got under way, and steamed up the river in charge of the pilot. At seven A. M. two men came on board, and reported themselves as belonging to the original crew of the Queen of the West, having escaped from her after her capture by the rebels, since which time they have been concealed in the woods. At nine A. M. weighed and started on up, weather having cleared up so as to be able to see our way. At eleven thirty A. M. brought ship to anchor off the mouth of Red River. It is quite evident that there are a number of the enemy’s gunboats up this river. This afternoon the ship’s company have been engaged at target practice.

Monday, 16th–The Eleventh Iowa turned their old Sibley tents over to the quartermaster and drew wedge tents in their stead. They finished cutting the levee today and let the water through from the river to the lake. The roar of the water rushing through the canal can be heard a mile.

16th. Theodore was over awhile after the morning work. Good visit, letter from home. After class in the evening played two games of chess with Chester. One draw game and beat him once.

MARCH 16th.—Gen. Hill is moving toward Newbern, N. C., and may attack the enemy there.

The weather continues dreadful—sleeting; and movements of armies must perforce be stayed. But the season of slaughter is approaching.

There was an ominous scantiness of supply in the market this morning, and the prices beyond most persons—mine among the rest.

Col. Lay got turkeys to-day from Raleigh; on Saturday partridges, by the Express Company. Fortunate man!

March 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

IMPORTANT FROM NORTH CAROLINA – ‘BETHEL’ HILL ADVANCING ON NEWBERN.

RALEIGH, March 15. – The Kinston correspondent of the State Journal says that Gen. D. H. HILL came upon the enemy outposts at Deep Gully, on the Trent Road, eight miles below and this side of Newbern, yesterday morning. The enemy’s force was four companies of infantry and one light battery. These became panic-stricken and fled across the stream, destroying the bridge. Gen. HILL had it quickly repaired and pushed on after the enemy. The General’s horse was twice struck with a minie ball.

A Yankee and a […..],’ who were captured, have reached Kinston. They report the enemy at Newbern 12,000 strong.

Gen. Hill is moving on Newbern.

FIGHTING ON THE TALLAHATCHIE RIVER.

JACKSON, March 14. – The following official despatch has been received from Gen. LORING:

‘FORT PEMBERTON, March 13 – 1 p.m.

‘There has been a terrific fire by the enemy, uninterrupted for four hours, from ten to sixteen heavy calibre gunboats, two heavy guns on land and one mortar. All their guns from the boats except one have now ceased firing, and the gunboats have retired round the bend, eight hundred yards distant, showing only one gun. The enemy’s gunboats and batteries were constantly hit, and large quantities of burning cotton struck from them. We have lost some valuable gunners and a few others. Thank God, our loss is small, so far. The enemy loss must be very great.

‘Later. – MARCH 13, 7, p.m. – Just as I sent off my last despatch to you, the enemy opened upon us again with guns of one gunboat, the land battery and their 13-inch mortar. The fire was kept up with great spirit until after sunset. The ammunition for our heavy guns has, just now, arrived.’

Fort Pemberton is situated at the mouth of the Tallahatchie.

MOVEMENTS IN ARKANSAS.

PANOLA, MISS., March 12. – Tolerably authentic advices received here say that Helena, Ark., was attacked in the rear on Monday. Parties from that direction say that heavy firing was heard yesterday. The information comes from deserters, who say there are but 5,000 troops left at Helena. A gentleman from Memphis reports that there are 2,500 sick Yankees in the hospitals of that city.

LATEST FROM TENNESSEE.

CHATTANOOGA, March 14. – All quiet along the front today. It is believed here that a battle is imminent in the neighborhood of Tullahoma. There was light skirmishing yesterday between our cavalry and Yankee foragers on the Murfreesboro road, at Old Forestville.

Fifteen Yankee deserters, who gave themselves up on the Mississippi, arrived this morning by the Huntsville train, having walked from Okalona to Huntsville. They are all Kentuckians.

VAN DORN’S MOVEMENTS.

COLUMBIA, TENN., March 12. – Four brigades of the enemy, under Generals GRANGE, ROSECRANS, DAVIS and SHINDER, endeavored to hem VAN DORN in yesterday, just across Duck river, knowing that he had no means of crossing. Our artillery was kept in position until yesterday morning, and relied to the Yankee fire. The river was there crossed by a ferry. The outposts were held as usual. The whole command then withdrew, passed the enemy’s left flank, and escaped by the way of White Bridge, twenty-six miles above which they crossed successfully. The Federals are not yet aware of our whereabouts, and are looking for VAN DORN in their rear. The successful escape from so perfect a net is regarded as unusually skillful and fortunate.

Later. – The enemy are greatly surprised and exasperated at VAN DORN’S escape. They returned to Franklin to protect their rear, and committed many depredations, burning the houses which VAN DORN had occupied as his headquarters.

Nashville papers state that the enemy’s loss at Spring Hill was only three hundred, and that the Confederates had three negro regiments engaged, who fought bravely. The four brigades sent in pursuit of VAN DORN have returned. – Savannah Republican.

March 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

The march of events during the last thirty days has done much to dispel the hopes of early peace, so generally entertained at the opening of the year. Since the bloody affair at Murfreesboro, the hostile forces in Tennessee, as well as those upon the Rappahannock and the Mississippi, appear to have been at a dead lock. But though the military status is, in the main unchanged, our enemies have not been idle. Never have their preparations to crush us been so active and energetic as during the present lull in the tempest of the war. In the desperate resolve to rob us of our rights, they have madly thrown away their own. With a bankrupt Treasury, with a Constitution trampled in the dust, with an army which has invariably been beaten in every pitched battle by troops inferior in number and equipments, and with a Government derided abroad and despised at home, the Yankees have deemed all that was left to them – the shadow of a free and constitutional Government – not worth preserving, and they have deliberately cast the lives and the liberties of their whole people in the scale against the hitherto invincible sword of the South. The Northern States have welded together all that remains to them of strength and wealth, to form an efficient weapon, in the hands of the vulgar despot at Washington, for our destruction. They have learned already to applaud the tyrannies of their master, and they salute him DICTATOR. There are some amongst us who hope that the spirit of republican government will yet assert itself at the North and that the people of the Northwest, at least, will ere long rise up to wrest their independence from the grasp of the new Autocrat. But in vain do we look for any material indication of this counter revolution. The whole Yankee nation, from Cape Cod to the prairies of the far West, is this day substantially a unit in the determination to subjugate these Confederate States, if their subjugation be possible.

Meantime, the dreams of foreign intervention that have so long deluded our people are passing away. England was never so resolute in her policy of non-interference as now; France stirs not in our behalf without the co-operation of her jealous rival. Thus, to our cost, we have learned the wholesome lesson that upon the blows yet to be struck by our own right arms rests the only hope of peace and independence. Henceforth let our Government bend all its energies to strengthen our armies in the field; and let our planters everywhere, as they desire the salvation of our cause, as they prize the success of our living defenders and the cherished memory of our glorious dead, see to it that the soil is tilled with the single view of feeding the armies, whose breasts are the barriers that protects that soil from the tide of desolation.

March 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

We take pleasure in recording the particulars of what is considered one of the boldest and most successful feats of the war. We allude to the brilliant foray of Captain JOHN H. MICKLER, and a detachment of his Company (11th Regiment, S. C. V.), on last Thursday night, which resulted in surprising and capturing a detachment of pickets and signal corps men, at the Spanish Wells Observatory, on Hilton Head Island, a few hundred yards from a regiment of infantry, and within sound of the long roll at General HUNTER’S headquarters. By examining a map of the locality, it will be observed that Hilton Head Island is separated from the main land by wide water courses, navigable for gunboats of all classes, which renders all approach to it difficult, if not dangerous, except to men who can pull an oar lustily as well as handle the rifle with deadly precision. Washed by the Atlantic ocean on the front, and the rear so guarded naturally, Hilton Head was in every respect what might have been thought a safe place for ‘Department Headquarters;’ but it seems that our salt water boys have found a way to get there.

On Thursday evening, all proper arrangements having been previously made, the […..] started in their canoes, and followed May River down to its junction with Mackay’s Creek, where the union of the two streams forms Calibogue Sound. Learning from close observation the picket stations, they effected a safe landing. The night was dark, and the wind high enough to send the tide to the shore with a heavy murmur. After making all necessary dispositions to ensure success, the scouts moved cautiously to the high ground, and thence towards the house, which is used as a picket and signal station. Their plan was to approach the place in the rear, and, if possible, capture or bayonet every one there without firing a gun; but they found that a sentinel guarded the approach from this quarter, and another was posted on the front. Under these circumstances, there was no alternative but to shoot down the sentinel at the back door, and then do their work with dispatch. Bang went a musket, and, as target practice is not certain in the dark, away scampered the sentinel, followed by the attacking party, who rushed close upon his heels into the house. Before the sleeping guards could throw off their blankets, they found themselves in the grasp of a band of stern rebels. Rather than take the twenty odd [continue reading…]

March 16, 1863, The New York Herald

The intelligence from the Southwest today is full of interest. General Tuttle received a despatch at Cairo yesterday from Fort Donelson, stating that our cavalry […..] twenty-eight miles of the fort. The country people for miles around were coming in with various reports. The rebels are reported to be well armed. Our forces are ready for any emergency.

The capture of a portion of the rebel Colonel Richardson guerillas near Covington, Tenn., is confirmed. It is also stated that Colonel Lee surprised the Camp of General Looney at Wesley, and took himself, a number of his officers and a large portion of his men prisoners.

Great apprehensions exist in Louisville among military circles that a formidable invasion of Kentucky, with a view to the permanent occupancy of that State by the rebels, is imminent.

General Wright has prohibited the sale of arms and ammunition, except in Cincinnati, upon special permit. Any violation will be followed by confiscation of goods and seizure of the stock of the vender.

The destruction of the gunboat Indianola by the rebels after her capture appears to be confirmed. Admiral Porter telegraphs to Mr. Welles that the appearance of his bogus […..] monster” in the vicinity of the Indianola caused the enemy to blow her up, lest she should be captured by the […..]” coal barge. The Vicksburg Whig tells the same story, admitting that, although orders had been sent countermanding the previous one to destroy the Indianola when the character of Porter’s dummy was discovered, they arrived too late, and the vessel was blown to atoms, without even saving a gun.

The river at Vicksburg is very high. The back water has broken the levee, filling the canal and arresting the work upon it. At Memphis the river was within fourteen inches of high water mark and continues rising. [continue reading…]

Sunday morning, March 16th (15^th), two o’clock. The fighting is still going on with our ships below, and the mortars are still contesting with the enemy. In our action we lost one man killed, and two slightly wounded. Three o’clock A. M., one hour later; the firing below has ceased, enemy still in possession of their batteries. All hands were called to “splice the main brace.” It will be remembered that we had some five or six of the enemy’s steamers to contend with after passing their batteries, but we soon made them skedaddle, unable to close in with them on account of their superior speed. Nine A. M.—We nailed a placard on the remains of our launch, dated five miles above Port Hudson, stating our safe arrival, and sent it drifting down the river, with the expectation of our friends below intercepting it, as our communications with them were all cut off.

At ten thirty A. M. got under way again, in company of Albatross, and proceeded on up the river in search of the enemy. The day was very stormy and foggy, still we kept on our course, our pilot being one of the very best that ever traveled this river. Four P. M., brought ship to anchor for the night; the storm is still raging severely. Nine o’clock P. M. A light is reported from the masthead, coming down the river; the rattle is sprung, calling all hands to quarters; soon ascertained, however, that it was a light on shore. The night was one of the very worst that I ever experienced—dark, stormy, and we were expecting every moment to be attacked by the enemy’s boats; the night passed over with great anxiety on the part of all hands.

Sunday, 15th–We had an all day rain. I was relieved from guard at 9 o’clock a. m. We see very little of our chaplain at this camp, for he is seldom here and we have no one to occupy the regimental pulpit. Two brigades of General Quimby’s Division boarded the transports and left today for Vicksburg.

Sunday, March 15th.

To my unspeakable surprise, I waked up this morning and found myself alive. Once satisfied of that, and assuring myself of intense silence in the place of the great guns which rocked me to sleep about half-past two this morning, I began to doubt that I had heard any disturbance in the night, and to believe I had written a dream within a dream, and that no bombardment had occurred; but all corroborate my statement, so it must be true, and this portentous silence is only the calm before the storm. I am half afraid the land force won’t attack.

We can beat them if they do; but suppose they lay siege to Port Hudson and starve us out? That is the only way they can conquer.

We hear nothing still that is reliable.

Just before daylight there was a terrific explosion which electrified every one save myself. I was sleeping so soundly that I did not hear anything of it, though Mrs. Badger says that when she sprang up and called me, I talked very rationally about it, and asked what it could possibly be. Thought that I had ceased talking in my sleep. Miriam was quite eloquent in her dreams before the attack, crying aloud, “See! See! What do I behold?” as though she were witnessing a rehearsal of the scene to follow.

Later. Dr. Kennedy has just passed through, and was within the fortifications last night; brings news which is perhaps reliable, as it was obtained from Gardiner. It was, as we presumed, the batteries and gunboats. One we sunk; another, the Mississippi, we disabled so that the Yankees had to abandon and set fire to her, thirty-nine prisoners falling into our hands. It was her magazine that exploded this morning. Two other boats succeeded in passing, though badly crippled. Our batteries fired gallantly. Hurrah! for Colonel Steadman! I know his was by no means the least efficient!

Clinton, they say, will inevitably be sacked. Alas, for mother and Lilly! What can we do? The whole country is at the mercy of the Yankees as long as Gardiner keeps within the fortifications. Six miles below here they entered Mr. Newport’s, pulled the pillow-cases from the beds, stuffed them with his clothes, and helped themselves generally. What can we expect here? To tell the truth, I should be disappointed if they did not even look in at us, on their marauding expedition.

15th. After the morning work was done, bathed all over. Thede and Lu Emmons came in and stayed some time. Wrote a line to Major Purington and a letter to Cousin Augusta Austin. Read an excellent sermon in the Independent on the differences between the good and bad. Day passed very quietly.

Washington Sunday March 15^th 1863.

I saw today what has of late become quite common here, a Company of thirty or forty Prisoners and refugees from Virginia march through the City under guard to the Provost Marshalls office. The most of them were refugees from Richmond, foreigners, some of them with their families. Some of the party were Virginians fleeing from the Rebel conscription and eight or ten were prisoners taken up as Spies near Fairfax Court House, residents of that neighborhood accused of being Spies or giving information to the Enemy. The refugees from Richmond said it was nearly impossible of laborers to live there, provisions were so dear. The Hotels chg^d $6.00 pr day and coffee and butter were rarely seen on their tables. It was quite pleasant till about noon when it began to hail, and it hails still (10 o’clock) this afternoon. We had for an hour very sharp lightning and very heavy thunder with hail instead of rain. Tonight the ground is covered. I presume it will turn to water and mud tomorrow. I was at Charleys during the thunderstorm. “Sallie” was much frightened. Spent an hour at Maj William^s this evening. No further news from Vicksburgh or the South. Everything looks favorable now for the Union cause. I shall be disappointed much if we do not soon hear of important successes, and that is what we must have.

March 15th.—Weather dark and cloudy. We had a good congregation in our little church. Mr.–– read the service. The Bishop preached on “Repentance.” Richmond was greatly shocked on Friday, by the blowing up of the Laboratory, in which women, girls, and boys were employed making cartridges; ten women and girls were killed on the spot, and many more will probably die from their wounds. May God have mercy upon them! Our dear friend Mrs. S. has just heard of the burning of her house, at beautiful Chantilly. The Yankee officers had occupied it as head-quarters, and on leaving it, set fire to every house on the land, except the overseer’s house and one of the servants’ quarters. Such ruthless Vandalism do they commit wherever they go! I expressed my surprise to Mrs. S. that she was enabled to bear it so well. She calmly replied, “God has spared my sons through so many battles, that I should be ungrateful indeed to complain of any thing else.” This lovely spot has been her home from her marriage, and the native place of her many children, and when I remember it as I saw it two years ago, I feel that it is too hard for her to be thus deprived of it. An officer (Federal) quartered there last winter, describing it in a letter to the New York Herald, says the furniture had been “removed,” except a large old-fashioned sideboard; he had been indulging his curiosity by reading the many private letters which he found scattered about the house; some of which, he says, were written by General Washington, “with whom the family seems to have been connected.” In this last surmise he was right, and he must have read letters from which he derived the idea, or he may have gotten it from the servants, who are always proud of the aristocracy of their owners; but not a letter written by General Washington did he see, for Mrs. S. was always careful of them, and brought them away with her; they are now in this house. The officer took occasion to sneer at the pride and aristocracy of Virginia, and winds up by asserting that “this establishment belongs to the mother of General J. E. B. Stuart,” to whom she is not at all related.

MARCH 15th.—Another cold, disagreeable day. March so far has been as cold and terrible as a winter month.

Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Lagrange, Tenn.,
March 15, 1863.

I have just returned from a walk to and inspection of the cemetery belonging to this nice little town. There, as everywhere, the marks of the “Vandal Yankees” are visible. The fence which formerly enclosed the whole grounds has long since vanished in thin air, after fulfilling its mission, boiling Yankee coffee, and frying Yankee bacon. Many of the enclosures of family grounds have also suffered the same fate, and others are broken down and destroyed. The cemeteries here are full of evergreens, hollies, cedars, and dwarf pines, and rosebushes and flowers of all kinds are arranged in most excellent taste. They pride themselves more on the homes of their dead than on the habitations of the living. I can’t help thinking that their dead are the most deserving of our respect, though our soldiers don’t waste much respect on either the living or dead chivalries. Many of the graves have ocean shells scattered over them, and on a number were vases in which the friends deposit boquets in the flower season. The vases have suffered some at the hands of the Yankees, and the names of Yanks anxious for notoriety are penciled thickly on the backs of marble grave stones. Quite a variety of flowers can now be found here in bloom. I have on my table some peach blossoms and one apple blossom, the first of the latter I have seen. Some of the early rosebushes are leaved out, and the grass is up enough to make the hillsides look quite springlike. For three or four days we have needed no fire, and my coat now hangs on the forked stick which answers for a hatrack in my tent. We left Jackson the morning of the 11th, all pleased beyond expression, to get away. We were from 8 a.m. until 11 o’clock p.m. coming here, only 55 miles. The engine stalled as many as ten times on up grades, and we would either have to run back to get a fresh start, or wait until a train came along whose engine could help us out. We lay loosely around the depot until daylight and then moved out to our present camp, which is one of the best I have ever seen, a nice, high ridge covered with fine old forest trees. This town has been most shamefully abused since we left here with the Grand Army last December. There are only about three houses which have a vestige of a fence left around them. All the once beautiful evergreens look as though three or four tornadoes had visited them and many of the finest houses have been compelled to pay as tribute to the camp fires, piazzas and weatherboarding. Not a chicken is left to crow or cackle, not a pig to squeal, and only such milch cows as were composed entirely of bone and cuticle. The 7th Cavalry is here, and also the 6th Illinois and 2d Iowa. There is only one other regiment of Infantry, the 46th Ohio. [continue reading…]

March 15, 1863, The New York Herald

Our Port Royal Correspondence.

PORT ROYAL, S.C., March 7, 1863.

The gunboat Conemaugh, Lieutenant Commander Eastman, accomplished a very clever thing last week while on her post off Georgetown, S.C. A steamer was discovered one morning making her way towards the entrance of the North Santee, which lies to the north of the Georgetown shoals, with the intention of running into that river, which has not recently been covered by a blockade, in consequence of the almost utter impossibility of any vessel, save small flat bottomed ones, of crossing the bar, which has but a few feet of water on it and is always dangerous. It would seem that the Conemaugh was discovered by the stranger about the time she was made out by the latter, and the former, fearing chase and capture, from which she was not likely to escape, was headed for the shore and run on it at full speed. The captain, officers and crew immediately took to their boats and landed, after having set fire to the after part of the vessel. Lieutenant Commander Eastman immediately sent boats to her, which reached her after the fire was nearly extinguished. They found her totally deserted and, after having entirely extinguished the flames, began an examination of the ship and her cargo. She was found to be a new style of Clyde built iron steamer, named the Queen of the Wave, and loaded with a valuable cargo of merchandise and powder. The former, being in the after hold, was partially destroyed, but the powder, stowed forward, was in uninjured and in good condition. Fortunately for the ship the fire had not extended forward, or she would have been blown to atoms. The Queen of the Wave was evidently built for a blockade runner and to ply to ports where vessels of only the lightest draught could enter. She is of five or six hundred tons burden and draws only five feet when loaded. She is the lightest draught steamer that has yet attempted to run the blockade, and shows conclusively that the neutral English and the rebels have determined to introduce that style in preference to those of ordinary draught, which can only enter ports now closely blockaded.

It is doubtful whether her hull will be saved, but the Wissahickon has been sent up to endeavor to save her engine – a [continue reading…]

March 15, 1863, The New York Herald

A telegram was received in Washington yesterday from General Rosecrans, stating that information had reached him of the evacuation of Vicksburg by the rebels. It was known that they have been for some time past moving their stores into the interior, but it was thought at Washington that they had no time to abandon the place so soon, and that therefore General Rosecrans’ information is premature. That such a movement is contemplated all the indications render probable.

A despatch from Memphis says that Admiral Porter received intelligence that Yazoo City was captured and the rebel fleet destroyed by the Yazoo expedition. It is probable that General Quinby’s division, on its return from Young’s Point, has gone to reinforce the expedition on the Yazoo. Our latest reports last night from Memphis prepare us for some great results at Vicksburg, eventuating from the possession of Yazoo City. The capitulation or abandonment of the great rebel stronghold at any moment seems a matter of certainty.

General Hunter’s army at Port Royal is about to move on some important expedition, if we can judge from the order just issued by the Commanding General to his soldiers, in which he says that after long and weary delays, due to causes over which no one in his department had control, they have at length the cheering prospect of active and very important service.

There is nothing later from General Hooker’s army.

The British steamship Australasian, from Liverpool, brought on freight 508 bales of cotton.

March 15, 1863, The New York Herald

Interesting Marriage Ceremony in General Hooker’s Army.

The Altar Formed of All the Regimental Drums, &c., &c., &c.

Our Falmouth Correspondence.

IN CAMP, NEAR FALMOUTH, March 13, 1863.

Yesterday was a gala day in the camp of one of the brigades stationed here, or, as one of the officers present pronounced it, a […..] a day.” The occasion was the marriage of Captain Daniel Hart, Company E, Seventh regiment New Jersey Volunteers, to Miss Helen A. Lammond, of Washington, D. C. Captain H., is one of the most popular officers of the brigade, and his friends were determined that nothing should be wanting to make the day one of unalloyed happiness. The camp, in anticipation of the event, had been beautifully decorated with evergreens and every preparation made to give a lot to the affair. At precisely noon the regiment was drawn up, forming three sides of a hollow square, fronting the canopy under which the ceremony was to take place, when, the band playing “Hail to the Chief,” General Hooker, with his stuff, followed by a large number of general officers, among whom were Generals Sickles, Berry, Birney, Mott, Carr, Revere, Bartlett, Ward and others, proceeded to occupy a position on the left of an altar extemporized for the occasion, and formed of drums placed one upon another.

Everything being in readiness, with Colonel Francine and Lieutenant Colonel Price as groomsmen, and Miss Ida Lammond (a sister of the bride) and Miss Mollie Lewis, of Philadelphia, escorted by a guard of honor (twelve officers of the regiment), advanced to the canopy, where the worthy captain of the regiment, the Rev. Dr. Rose, performed the marriage ceremony in the impressive Episcopal form. As the party advanced to their position they were received by the [continue reading…]

Camp Winder, March 15,1863.

I will devote a part of this quiet Sunday evening to a letter home. Our camp looks to-day like it was Sunday. We stop our usual work when Sunday comes, and, like Christian people, devote it to rest. To-day I attended our church and listened to a very earnest and impressive sermon from one of our chaplains. He is one of the best men and best chaplains I ever knew. He devotes his whole time to his duties, and remains all the time with his regiment, sharing their wants and privations. I am sorry to say we have few such in the army. Many of them are frequently away, whilst others stay at houses in the neighborhood of the camp, coming occasionally to their regiments.

To-day I had a visit from the father and mother of a poor fellow who has been tried by a court martial for cowardice. She was in great distress, and said it would be bad enough to have her boy shot by the enemy, but she did not think she could survive his being shot by our own men. I gave her what comfort I could, telling her his sentence had not been published and there was no means of knowing that he was sentenced to be shot; that if it turned out to be so when the sentence was published, she could petition the President for his pardon; that he was a good man and would pardon her son if it was not an aggravated case. I pitied her, she seemed so much distressed. I heartily wish this sad part of my duties were over. I have about twenty of my men in close confinement, whose sentences have not been published, many of whom are condemned to death. It is for Gen’l Lee to determine what shall be done with them.

Whilst I write the sleet and hail are falling fast, accompanied by frequent claps of thunder, cold and chilly withal. Winter, it seems, will never end. Last week it was all the while a severe wind and freezing cold. I really don’t care much now how long it lasts. I do not wish to move from here until spring is fairly opened. My men are comfortably fixed here, and when we move the huts must be left behind, and, besides this, most of the blankets sent off, as we have no wagons to haul them. My men, I fear, when we move will have to get along with such clothing and blankets as they can carry. Many of our horses have died this winter for want of forage, and those that remain are much reduced in flesh and strength.

I have received your miniature, reminding me of times when you and I were young; of happy hours spent, a long time ago, when I used to frequent your parlor in the hope that you might be what you now are, my darling wife. Then the present was overflowing with happiness, the future bright and beautiful. We have seen much of each other, much of life, its joys and sorrows, since then. By the grave of our first child we have known together the deep sorrow of parting with those we love forever. In this long absence of two years, we have felt the sadness of a separation with such chance of its being forever as we did not dream of when we began life together. May God in his mercy soon bring us together in our dear home, never to separate again, to spend what of life is left to us in peace and happiness. Good-bye.

March 14th. This morning at five thirty, called all hands to up anchor, signalized the fleet to get under way, started ahead, ran some distance further up the river, came in sight of the batteries at Port Hudson; at seven thirty A. M., brought ship to anchor; the whole fleet came to anchor at the same time. Here we are able to command a view of the enemy’s batteries; we are lying within four miles of them, just out of range of their guns. The mortar schooners are lying about one mile ahead of our ships, under cover of a point of land; in this position they will bombard the enemy; it is quite probable that an attack will be made to-night. This afternoon an officer came on board with dispatches from Gen. Banks. The mortars have opened fire upon the batteries, simply to get range. Another rebel steamer came down the river this afternoon, making five in all; they lay under cover of the batteries.

It is now decided to make an attack to-night. We took the small gunboat Albatross in tow; she was made fast to our port quarter. The Richmond and Monongahela had, each of them, a gunboat made fast to them also. This was done after dark, so that the enemy could not see our movements; at nine P. M., everything being in readiness, signals were made for the whole fleet to get under way, and follow us up; we beat to quarters, and waited for the fleet to form in line of battle. A very few minutes elapsed before we were all in motion, each vessel taking its respective station; at ten P. M., the tugboat Reliance came up with despatches for the Admiral; spoke, and sent her back to hasten the rear ships; at ten thirty Richmond reported rear ships moving up to station; we moved along very slowly and very cautiously; the night being so very dark, we endeavored to approach the enemy as near as possible without being seen. As soon as we were discovered, the enemy opened their batteries upon us. It was some time before we could get any of our guns to bear; as a matter of course, we were obliged to stand and take it; however, we kept on our course with but one object in view, “conquer or die.” After being under fire of the enemy’s guns for some time, we succeeded in getting our guns to bear, then the firing became general and fearful in the extreme; our ships were all in full blast. In the meantime, the mortar vessels, six in number, let drive their missiles of death. By this time, our ships had got right under the batteries, and in the thickest of the firing. Unfortunately we ran aground; it was not long, however, before we were afloat again, as full steam was applied, and we succeeded in backing off; the enemy, in the meantime, did their utmost to destroy our noble ship.

We were under fire of the enemy’s guns one hour and ten minutes; our ship sustained more damage in this battle than any other we have been in yet. After we had passed by the batteries, our first duty was to ascertain the fate of our fleet; as it was so intensely dark, it was impossible to see the length of the ship from us; not many minutes elapsed before we were informed that the Hartford, and the gunboat which we had in tow, were the only vessels out of the whole fleet that had succeeded in passing by the batteries. We passed on out of range of their guns, and brought ship to anchor. What had become of the balance of our fleet, was now a mystery to us. It was very evident that our ships had met with a serious fate, or else some of them would have passed by. We could see from our anchorage a large fire raging below the batteries, supposed to be the side-wheel steamer Mississippi, from which a frequent number of explosions were heard.

Saturday, 14th–I was on guard at Colonel Crocker’s headquarters in the old Sparrow house and had a fine room to stay in over night. The Sixteenth Iowa got two months’ pay today. Major Wilson of the Thirteenth Iowa left today for his home in Iowa on a thirty-day furlough, and I sent $35.00 home by him. The weather is quite warm.

Saturday, March 14th.
5 o’clock, P.M.

They are coming! The Yankees are coming at last! For four or five hours the sound of their cannon has assailed our ears. There! – that one shook my bed! Oh, they are coming! God grant us the victory! They are now within four miles of us, on the big road to Baton Rouge. On the road from town to Clinton, we have been fighting since daylight at Readbridge, and have been repulsed. Fifteen gunboats have passed Vicksburg, they say. It will be an awful fight. No matter! With God’s help we’ll conquer yet! Again! – the report comes nearer. Oh, they are coming! Coming to defeat, I pray God.

Only we seven women remain in the house. The General left this morning, to our unspeakable relief. They would hang him, we fear, if they should find him here. Mass’ Gene has gone to his company; we are left alone here to meet them. If they will burn the house, they will have to burn me in it. For I cannot walk, and I know they shall not carry me. I ‘m resigned. If I should burn, I have friends and brothers enough to avenge me. Create such a consternation! Better than being thrown from a buggy – only I’d not survive to hear of it!

Letter from Lilly to-day has distressed me beyond measure. Starvation which threatened them seems actually at their door. With more money than they could use in ordinary times, they can find nothing to purchase. Not a scrap of meat in the house for a week. No pork, no potatoes, fresh meat obtained once as a favor, and poultry and flour articles unheard of. Besides that, [continue reading…]