There is also a Colored Sabbath school. I will go to and learn these poor little negroes all I can #cw150

Be of good cheer I overcame the world saith one who is mighty

 

Camp near NewbernN.C.

103rd Reg’t, Co., A. U.S.A.,

Friday, April 3^rd 1863

 

Dear Father And Mother,

With pleasure I write to let you know that I still am on the land of the living, And still occupy our barrack at Old Newbern.  We have been laying almost inactive since returning from our Hyde Co. Expedition.  If I were to tell you the reason we lay here inactive was on account of the drifting sand you would think it strange, for I suppose the mud covers the surface of the ground around my old native home, this time in the year.  But here the soil is a fine sand and if it rains the water soaks through and the wind from the rivers and plains soon dries off and begins to drift like our snow used to do in old Penn^a

When writing my last letter I neglected or rather forgot to till you of the Rebels comeing here to Newbern while we were on our march to Hyde Co.  On the morning of the 14^th of March our boys tell  us the Rebel Gen. Petigrew came here or near with a force and demanded a surrender.  Gen Foster “would’ent” The rebels got their Canon in range and threw shot Shell and Grape at the 92^nd N.Y.V. entrenchments. (92^nd is posted on the other side of the river from us, their fort, or entrenchments are between two swamps Consequently there is only one road for that enemy to come in) the 92^nd was the only Reg’t that was on that side of the river they lay close behind their breast works and the showers of Iron hail did not much damage, the Gunboats getting [rang] the enimy thought It prudent to retire.  I suppose they had an Idea that they could come in and take possesion after our forces having possesion for one year.  that morning one year ago, Gen Burnside took possesion of this City.

We have had the most pleasent time soldiering since coming here in the first place we have had good barracks, and what makes it far pleasenter for me, I can go to Newbern to preaching.  on last sabbath I was to a sabbath school.  It looked quite natural.  I almost fancied myself seated in old Kuhns-School House.  here were Southern Children in place of our little Pennsylvanians.  There is also a Colored Sabbath school.  The superintendent of the white sabbath (which was a major of one of our Regts here) remarked at the close of the school that there were teachers wanted for this negro sabbath school.  If I live and keep my health and were permitted to stay here, I will go to this sabbath school and learn these poor little negroes all I can, and think it an honerable position in the army of my Lord and Savior.  I would attend this black school regular, but the time of school comes at the time of an inspection (9 Oclock)

As I am writing I hear the boom of the Canon at little Washington about 40 miles from here by land. the Rebels are trying to take it. they will hardly succeed for our Gunboats from here went to lend a helping hand.

A soldier almost feels like yielding to discouragements betimes, But when I begin to fell discouraged, take the good old book, and I see I am carried on flowy beds of ease to what some poor Christians were before me.  when I read and see what Gods people have come through, I fell to say.

“Let Cares like a wild deluge come.

“And storms of sorrow fall.

“So I but safely reach my home

“My God, my heaven, my all.”

If I never should meet you on this side of the grave, weep not for me I’ll meet You in Heaven.

Your son Jno. T.E. [V.D.?] Rupert

 

Written in folds:

Give my Respect to all my brothers, and sisters and tell them to be good little folks.

Give my Respect to James Kline and family.

 

Source: Union soldier, Johnathan Rupert, letter  to his parents.  Tryon Palace Collections, New Bern, NC. Accession # 2008.006.002.

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it is hard living at best & everything is so high that their purses cannot accomplish many dainties #cw150

March 26, 1863

 First Swallow came! They are a little later than usual, but this is a backward Spring. We had snow & sleet on the 20th & 21st in Va the heaviest fall of snow of the season. Hooker’s Army is at a stand-still in consequence. We have another freshet in the River & the Lowgrounds again full of water; no getting to father’s but by canoe. Patrick has gone out to attend to the repacking of the cotton at Hascosea, a Legacy of trouble & anxiety left us by the Christian Burnside & the foolish orders issued to move it last Feb a year ago. Well, I hope this is the last of it, and the ownership will I trust soon be upon the broad shoulders of the Government who can bear it better than we can. Am busy getting three boxes ready to send to our nephews in Charleston. We have not much to send, but poor fellows, anything will be welcome to them, for it is hard living at best & everything is so high that their purses cannot accomplish many dainties.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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God be with our poor soldiers exposed many of them without tents to the pittiless blast! #cw150

February 1863

Thank God! I can begin my new book with a signal & glorious success to our arms! Thank God! For “He giveth not the race to the swift nor the battle to the strong.”  On the morning of Sat the 31st of Jan the Gunboats Palmetto State & Chicora, accompanied by three small River Steamers, the Clinch, Etiwan, & Chesterfield, all under the command of Com Ingram went out from the harbour of Charleston and boldly made an attack on the Blockading Squadron, succeeding in sinking two & crippling a third, besides putting the whole fleet, thirteen sail in all, (amongst them two first class Frigates, the Susquehanna and the Canandaigua) to an ignominious flight. The Palmetto State opened fire upon the Mercedita, 11 guns 158 men, which she soon sunk in five fathoms water. The officers & men were paroled, but it is feared that most of them were lost, as the Palmetto had no boats & besides was fighting and could not sucor them, & her own consorts all fled.

Captain Tucker of the Chicora, the official dispatch says, “thinks he sunk one vessel & set another on fire when she struck her flag.” The published accounts say that this was the Quaker City who tho she had one wheel torn off & had struck her flag to us managed afterwards to escape. By all the laws of War she is clearly ours & I suppose owes her escape only to the fact of her surrender & our consequent inattention to her and the early dawn which favoured her ignominious and dishonorable conduct. We lost not a man nor did a single shot strike one of our boats! General Beauregard, the General Comdg, & Com Ingram, Flag Officer, issued a joint Proclamation “whereby” they “formally declare the Blockade by the U S of the said city of Charleston to be raised by a superior force of the Confederate States from & after this 31st day of Jan 1863.”  General B put a Steamer at the disposal of the Foreign Consuls to see for themselves that no blockade existed. The French and Spanish consuls accepted the invitation, the British Consul, having previously gone on board the war Steamer Petrel five miles beyond the usual anchorage of the Squadron & reported that with a powerful glass not a vessel could be seen. The foreign Consuls then had a meeting & declared unanimously that in “their opinion the blockade had been legally raised.” So now we shall see whether this boasted neutrality is to be exercised in our behalf or not, for by all the laws of Nations the U S cannot resume it without giving the world 30 days notice.

On the same day was brought into Charleston Harbour the Gunboat John P Smith, captured with her whole crew the day before in Stono River. She mounts one Parrot gun, ten 8 inch guns, & one 34 pounder, & she was almost entirely uninjured, will soon be ready for sea.

My nephew Frank Jones is Ass Engineer on board the Chicora, and was I suppose in the action. As we escaped without the loss of a man, we have an additional & personal reason for thankfulness.

Rumours reach us via Richmond that the Legislature of Kentucky has seceeded from the U S & that her hitherto Union Governor has called for 60,000 men to resist Mr Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. They want confirmation, however, and we must not be too sanguin of a fire in Rosencranz’s rear. Immense preparations are being made for a third Bombardment of Vicksburg, a point which the Abolitionists announce their determination to take. May disappointment be their portion! A second bombardment has taken place at Fort McAllister below Savannah without damage to the works.  The only loss is that of the Commander Major Gallec who was struck by a fragment of a shell on the head & instantly killed. In Tennessee Wheeler’s Cavalry continue to harrass Rosencrans by cutting off his supplies & destroying both transports and R R cars. On Friday the 30th he destroyed 25 transports on the Cumberland & on his retreat on Sat cut off a Locomotive & five cars, taking the guard & passengers prisoners. On Sat the 31st Gen Prior — in command of our outposts on the Blackwater was attacked about seven miles from Suffolk by the Abolitionists 15,000 strong. After an obstinate engagement of three hours he repulsed them, holding the entire battle field, our loss not considerable being less than fifty, the enemy’s supposed much greater.

Late arrivals from the North bring us Burnside’s farewell address to the Army of the Potomac — a weaker tamer, humbler document it would be difficult to find in the annals of Military Literature! He tells them that the short time he has commanded them “has not been fruitful of Victory … but it has again demonstrated an amount of courage, patience, & endurance which under more favorable circumstances would have accomplished great results.” He then exhorts them to a continuance of “those virtues,” bespeaks for their new General their “full & cordial support,” and winds up with the assurance that they will “deserve success.” Not, my Grand Army, that you will get it, simply you will “deserve” it. The rebels under Lee may be so ungenerous as to snatch your well earned “success” from your hands. But be comforted. You have deserved it & the fault be theirs if you do not gain it! Such, my most Christian Burnside, is your exit from the scene of Military fame. You marked your entrance upon it by an assurance to the people of N C, over whom you came to trample, that it was a “Christian” foot which was to be placed upon their necks and you now take your farewell in a manner truly Pecksniffian. Hooker, the Californian black-leg & gambler who denominates himself as “Fighting Joe,” succeeds him. General Lee will scarcly need to take his gloves off to him, “Card shuffler” tho’ he is. Summer and Franklin comdg each an Army corps both retire with the Christian Burnside, whether voluntarily or not does not certainly appear. Summer is said to be the ablest of their Generals, but not being an Abolitionist, the Government is blind to his merits.

Fitz John Porter, Court-martialed upon charges preferred by Pope the braggert & whose trial was postponed by McClellan as he was necessary to the service of the U S, has at length been brought to the bar & not fitting the Procrustian bed of Abolitionism has been “dishonorably dismissed from the service.” The city of New York registers its condemnation of the sentence & offers him the Governor’s Room in the City Hall “in which to hold a Levee.” Such are the beauties of Republicanism!

Mary & Sue came down yesterday and dined with us. I still far from well, confined in fact to the sofa with an obstinate billious attack. The day was mild, pleasant, & promising, so this morning we were doubly surprised to find on awakening that there had been a heavy fall of snow during the night. The high wind accompanying it caused it to drift as it rarely does with us & today the wind is keen & bitter & the driving blasts carrying the light snow before it makes it difficult to keep either warm or dry out of doors. God be with our poor soldiers exposed many of them without tents to the pittiless blast!

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Father’s birthday – sixty nine today.Grant him many happy birthdays, O Lord, each more peaceful & calm than this #cw150

December 17, 1862

Father’s birthday – sixty nine today. Grant him many happy birthdays, O Lord, each more peaceful & calm than this, tho I was enabled to carry him good news as a birthday offering. We had no mail again last night, but this morning just after breakfast came Mr Price, a government agent who is buying supplies for the Army, for Patrick’s Hay, & he told us that Capt Lucius Johnson of the 17^th Regt now stationed at Rainbow Banks came down on the train yesterday and says that there is no doubt that Lee has gained a victory on the Rappahannock, that Burnside advanced four times & was four times repulsed, & on the fourth driven back across the Rappahannock, and that Lee was in pursuit, Burnside killed & his body with us, but that must be a mistake, that Beauregard had telegraphed from Charleston that Banks expedition had said North from Port royal supposed to be destined for a port in NC, that if they wanted 5,000 men he would send them on, that the advance upon Kinston was in force. Prisoners taken say they have 30,000 men. On our side we have 16,000. Gen Gustavus Smith in command, French, Pettigrew, Robinson, & Evans all under him. The prisoners above mentioned say that Foster thinks from the attack we made on Plymouth last week that we have a large force which he fears will out flank him if he marches on to rapidly, falling on his flank & rear from Washington, whilst he pushes on to Kinston. Blessed delusion!

I carried this good news, which after all is but rumour, up to father as a birthday offering & we waited in the most intense suspense for the mail to confirm it. Again to our infinite disappointment no mail came but a letter from Mr. McMahon containing what he was enabled to pick up from passengers on the train. They confirm the news of our victory – say that Burnside has been driven across the river and his troops entirely demoralized, for which O God we thank Thee! May our lives show forth Thy praise. Mr. M also says that since Monday troops have been whirled by as fast as steam could carry them to Kinston, thirteen long trains heavily loaded having passed since then, that at one time the enemy had advanced to White Hall bridge within eight miles of Goldsboro on the Wilmington & Weldon RR, but that our troops being reinforced drove them back beyond Kinston which we retook & held, that it was believed our force was sufficient to repulse and to defeat them in that quarter. Again have we cause for thankfulness to God in thus bringing the plans of our enemies to confusion & rescuing us from a peril which seemed overwhelming. No mail again, Government having seized all the cars & the mail agents are willing I suppose to take a holiday. We must wait for details another day. One thing we may be sure, that Lee ust have greatly gained the better of Burnside or they would never send so many troops from Richmond & Petersburg. Daniel’s Brigade from Drury’s Bluff went down this morning, James I suppose with it.

 

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

 

 

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Confederate advance on Washington NC and sinking of USS Pickett #cw150

The Affair at Washington

The facts which come to us from undoubted sources, if the late attack upon the town of Washington, we are glad to say, enable us to correct some unfortunate rumors which have gone out.

The entire command of the expedition was committed in charge of that cool and intrepid officer, Capt. Stephen D. Pool, who at the defence of Fort Macon and in the recent attack upon Washington showed himself to be and able officer.

It is not true that the enemy was advised both at Newbern and Washington of the intended attack.  The enemy was ready for it, but was not expecting it.  We learn that the enemy had determined upon a raid upon Williamson and Hamilton, and that the force at Washington had been reinforced from Newbern the day before, and was to leave Washington that morning for the intended raid.

The expedition against Washington was made with no view or expectation of holding that place, we are informed, but for the purpose of destroying or capturing the “contrabands” in his possession, and if possible to make Washington so hot as to drive the enemy from the place.  Brig. Gen. Martin committed the entire expedition to the direction of Capt. Pool, having previously, in consultation, ordered the plan of attack and the general scheme of its conduct.  About 800 men composed the expedition, consisting of infantry, cavalry and artillery.  Gen. Martin, it was understood, would remain in the neighborhood to render support or succor which might be needed.

The attack was made on Saturday morning last at day break.  Our force approached quietly until they encountered the pickets at the west end of town, who immediately demanded them to halt.  Lt. Davis, who led the advance, demanded a surrender, when the pickets fired into our ranks.  Our advance had been peremptorily ordered not to fire upon the pickets, but to charge vigorously upon them, but unfortunately, when they fired upon our men, their fire was returned by a number of pieces.  This aroused of course the entire town.  At once a portion of our cavalry charged into the town down Market street, while a portion of the infantry charged down Second street.  As soon as our infantry arrived at the Academy, they were fired upon by the enemy from the building.  Here our men captured four pieces of artillery, with ammunition, which were afterwards served by Capt. Manney and his men.  At this time, Capt. Boothe, who gallantly led the cavalry, was dangerously wounded, upon which a panic seized most of the Cavalry, excepting a portion of Capt. Tucker’s company, who, under his command, gallantly demeaned themselves throughout the whole affair.  A panic had also seized many of the infantry, who ingloriously fled.  The enemy took to the houses at once, and fired upon our troops from the windows, etc.  Our men were forbidden to fire upon the houses, lest they might injure some of the families and children.

The gun boats Louisiana and Picket commenced throwing shells and other missiles upon the town damaging the houses, but fortunately did not set them on fire.  During the fight the steamer Picket was blown up by the ignition of her magazine, killing all on board but 12 persons—the loss was about 60 on board of the vessel.**

Capt. Pool held the town about four hours and then retired, his men slowly dragging out the four pieces of cannon captured.  The enemy’s loss, including the destruction on board of the Picket, was 160, in killed, wounded and missing.  Our loss was 10 killed, 41 wounded and 30 missing, most of whom have since come in.

The conduct of Capt. Pool during the whole affair is highly spoken of.  Capts. McRae and Cobb, of the 8th N. C. Regiment, Capt. Norman, of the 16th N. C., Capt. Manney, of the artillery and Captains Boothe and Tucker of the Cavalry, and others whose names we have forgotten, all distinguished themselves.  Capts. Boothe, Mull and Norman were dangerously, and Lieuts. Grimes and Sinton severely wounded.  Other names among the killed and wounded we have not obtained.

It is understood that the Cavalry companies of Capts. Walker and Lawrence were not in the fight, having “skedaddled” at an early period.  On the fall of Capt. Boothe, his company, it is said, became panic stricken, and got out of danger.  Capt. Tucker, Lt. Utley, and other officers and men of his company behaved with the utmost courage, charging the enemy in all directions and damaging him seriously.  We regret to learn that Corporal Smedes, and privates R. Burns, J. Ling, Winborne, Bridges and perhaps others are missing, some of those it is feared were killed, and others taken prisoner.

The enemy’s force, including those on the gunboats, amounted to about 1,000.  Only about 450 of our men participated in the fight, some of whom, both officers and men, are said to have behaved badly.  It must be considered, however, that the most of them were raw troops, had not smelt powder before, and were engaged in a most hazardous undertaking.  To assault a fortified town, guarded by a vigilant ____, should be undertaken by veteran and daring troops.

Strange to say no negroes were apprehended in this attack.  At the Academy, one large, impudent fellow came out and assailed one of our men, asking “What have you damned rebels come here for?”  The soldier replied with his bayonet, running it through him, killing him instantly.  As soon as they found the Confederates were in town, they all rushed for the boats and got out of the way.

After our forces left, we learn that the Yankees immediately commenced arresting all the citizens who were supposed to sympathize with the Confederates.  During the fight, we learn a most worthy lady received a flesh wound in one of her limbs.

A friend who was in the expedition, writing from Kinston says: “Capt. Tucker won for himself a name for valor and coolness of which any man might be proud.”

From the Raleigh Standard

** More on the role of the Pickett can be found here

 

Source: The Greensborough Patriot, September 18, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

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Yesterday Vinyard’s child was born…if the child lives I intend to bring him up as a table servant #civilwar150

August 26, 1862

Yesterday Vinyard’s child was born, a boy.  I was very uneasy for a time as there was no nurse here, but by God’s blessing she did very well; if the child lives I intend to bring him up as a table servant, have him in by the time he can talk & walk & never let him be rusty—some time to look forward to, but I have a stout heart & am hopeful.

Last night came Frank Jones in search of a horse & a Cavalry outfit, as he thinks of joining the Partisan Rangers.  Father gave him a horse, but Patrick has no Sabre to spare & he wants also a military saddle, which Mr E has not.

This morning Patrick left again for Petersburg to see Gen French about giving him the appointment of Col or filling up his Battalion—he cares not which.  Employment in his country’s service is what he wishes.  I am going on with the Cotton, a tedious job, & one which demands great care & circumspection.  Ah Burnside you little wot of the legacy you left us.  How you would exult if you knew it!

Pope’s army is in full retreat, but for what purpose we know not, so we fear to rejoice.  It may be draw us on in hot pursuit with the hope of turning suddenly, whilst we are in the disorder of a hasty advance; it may be to join McClellan who has gone to Fredericksburg; others again think that he wishes to draw us on & leave McClellan to fall in our rear by a hasty march & thus annihilate us between two armies; whilst some opine that he cannot trust his own men, so demoralized are they by the license to plunder he has given them that he fears to bring them in face of an enemy.  Whatever it is, I hope our Generals will be wary & in place of being entrapped, entrap him.  Certain it is, we have captured two hundred men & a train of cars & two engines left behind to burn the bridge over the Rappahanock, but we were too quick for them, seized them before they had materially injured the bridge.  All our troops have been pressed on to Lee & Jackson.  There is hardly a Corporal’s guard at Richmond.

Frank gives me a terrible account of the Yankees in the Northern Counties stealing negroes & property of every description.  They have a Steamboat the ____ which is not under Military rule, in fact a private speculation, a band of pirates which they allow to cruise through the waters of the Albemarle & help themselves to whatever they desire.  Unmolested by any military authority whatever, they rob, plunder, and arrest by the wholesale.  He tells me that the people are true & this company of Union men which they boast so of raising in Chowan & Gates is composed of the offscouring of the people & foreigners, people who can neither read or write & who never had a decent suit of clothes until they gave it to them, poor ignorant wretches who cannot resist a fine uniform and the choice of the horses in the country & liberty to help themselves without check to their rich neighbors belongings.  We should judge them leniently, but justice to ourselves demands that we shoot them down like wolves on sight.  The Messrs Nixon have lost all their men.  His cousin Miss Gordon, his Aunt Mrs Gordon, Tom’s lady love Miss Skinner, & scores of others have been equally unfortunate.  Poor people, when will it end!  Your fate may soon be ours.  God avert it!  But to go from modern to ancient wars, am amusing myself greatly with the History of King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table, the Mort d Arthur, the delights of Lords and Ladies in the olden time when Gestes and Chansons were sung by Troubadour’s and Trouvaries in Ladies bower & Lordly Hall.  The world of Literature has improved greatly since then, greatly in decency, the actual world in comfort, in all that goes to make life desirable, & yet the glow of Romance thrown by these old Chevaliers upon their age, the Knightly Courtesy, the mixture of the impossible, the incomprehensible, with the daily life is very attractive & fascinating & we exclaim with Bulwer as we read it,

 

“If the old beauty from our paths has fled

“Is it that Truth of that Belief is dead?”

 

Ah! for “Excalibur,” sword of magic power, for Lieut Col Edmondston to charge home upon our enemies with!  Ah! for the woundrous scabbard which prevented the flowing of its wearers blood to gird him withal!  Arm him, O Lord with Thy Spirit!  Go Thou forth with him.  Be Thou his shield and buckler!

 

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Master’s eye & voice are more potent than Mistress’s. #civilwar150

August 21, 1862

I stopped writing yesterday morning to look after Mr Edmondston’s cotton and was all day closely attending to it.  They finished hauling it up in the afternoon & then I had all the force out here engaged in sorting it.  It is pitiable to see it, and the want of room to store it will be a sore drawback soon.  They opened & assorted eleven bales.  The dairy and wash kitchen are filled with it & what to do with it when the Crib loft is also full I know not.  What is wet & stained is spread out on the grass, a sorrowful sight indeed!  It needs the closest attention.  I find if I leave them a half hour they neglect it and either throw quantities of prime cotton with the wet or mix the stained with the good.  I wish Mr E was at home.  Master’s eye & voice are more potent than Mistress’s.  I am looking for him home today, but I fear he will not be able to stay—but God’s will be done!

Harry and Mr Eaton Powel’s carpenter, whom Mr E sent here the day he went away, have been engaged shingling the new stable in order to store the Cotton in it, but this morning Mr P’s man left saying it was his Master’s orders.  Fortunately among the hands I ordered from the plantation was old Aaron who knows something about the work, so I sent him to Harry and quickened them all I could.  The work seems fearful, 103 bales all to be sorted out by hand and then repacked and stored—a legacy left by Burnside.  It was moved from the plantation in the wettest kind of weather, piled in the woods, to keep our authorities from burning it, & to hide it from the Yankees should the occupy the country.  Mr E was away & Mr Shaw, a careless, negligent overseer, did not shelter it properly.  Hence when these two last severe rains came it got wet & rotted the bagging and some of the ropes.  Our loss will be a heavy one as cotton is now twenty cts a pound, but with the care we will save much of it yet and that care, please God, I will give it.  How thankful I am that we sold some of it in the winter.  I wish it had been more.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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To my great dismay I find that my hams & bacon are spoiling #civilwar150

  August 13, 1862

            Yesterday to my great surprise as I was standing in the Store Room a finely dressed Military looking old gentleman, tho in citizen’s clothes, with beard & moustache as white as snow, came walking across the back yard having driven in to the back gate in a most familiar style, who on coming near enough for my blind eyes to recognize proved to be Charles!  Great was my surprise at first to see him and next at his altered appearance.  His hair & beard have become grey since we last saw him & it gives him really a venerable aspect.  He is in the Medical Purveyor’s office in Savannah, & being in Richmond on business stopped for a day to see us.  He is in fine health, has his family in Laurens safe from the Yankees.  He is getting a good salary.  Passing through Petersburg last night he heard the roll of musketry & the roar of canon distinctly & was told by the Conductor that it was on the River five or six miles below, but whether we attacked or the enemy is making an advance no one could learn.

            Jackson has attacked & beaten the advance of Pope’s army ,driving them back with heavy loss & capturing 300 prisoners, amongst whom is one Brigadier, Gen Prince & twenty seven commissioned officer.  Much to their apparent surprise they learned that they were not to be treated as prisoners of War, in accordance with Mr Davis’ expressed determination to retaliate upon them the outrages and oppressions to which Pope’s command have subjected the people of the Valley of Va, a determination which he expressed to their President some ten days since.  I hardly think he would be so cruel as to leave them ignorant of it, but they profess to be so & demand to be treated as the other officers taken by us have heretofore been; but for answer they have been placed in solitary confinement & notified that they are to be answerable for the future oppressions of Pope & Steinweyhr.

            Our returned prisoners give a terrible account of the sufferings they have undergone.  One of them brought home a ration as it was issued to them.  The meat weighed one ounce, the bread 3/12 ounces, & this was all they were allowed per diem.  Some of them were manacled before their wounds were healed.  Gen Pettigrew was taken from his relatives house in Baltimore where he was on parole under the care of Dr Buckler & confined in solitary confinement without even a servant to attend on him, at a time when he could not walk from a wound in the thigh from a Minie ball nor use his arms well from one on the shoulder and chest from a piece of shell, & fed on soldier’s diet, salt pork & bread, altho his physician protested against it–& all because the ladies of Baltimore sympathized with & showed him every care and attention in their power.  It is infamous!

            To my great dismay I find that my hams & bacon are spoiling, owing I suppose to the barrels of Pork whch Burnside forced us to store in the Smoke House.  I have been overhauling both the shoulders & the sides & to my horror find skippers in them!  I had Dolly & Vinyard scalding & picking them yesterday, Harry in the Store Room heading up this years supply of flour, & Angeline boiling down the old Pickle to save the salt & finding it tiresome waiting on them, & my bodily presence being needed when so many valuables as I have there were exposed, I sat down in the store room and sent for my book, “Literature du Midi,” & when Charles came upon me I had a hearty laugh at myself and the situation in which he caught me: Harry pounding the flour into the Barrels with a heavy pestle, Dolly & Vinyard with a pot of boiling water & all the sides spread out on the grass, peeping into, scalding & examining them, whilst further on Angeline with a cauldron like the witches in Macbeth, which with “double double, toil & trouble” she was making “boil & bubble,” whilst Mistress sat composedly on the step, deep in the Chansons & Tensons of Troubadours & Trouvareres, occasionally lending an eye or an admonition to each.  Such is life, such is Southern Life.  What would an English lady have thought of my situation & occupation?  Would the ridiculous or the sympathetic have predominated as she looked at me?  And yet I was in happy unconsciousness of exciting either.  The occupation was not distasteful to me, for it was a necessary & ordinary duty, & I enjoyed my book none the less for my surroundings.

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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Burnside is arming & drilling the negroes #cw150

June 12, 1862

Mr. Edmondston left for Wilmington tho scarcely able to travel, but he is so much interested in his Battalion that he will leave no stone unturned to get into Service.  His knee still very painful.

In the afternoon came brother.  Being a volunteer aid without pay, he can leave when he pleases & so came home to see what was best to be done after the freshet.  He feels gloomy about Richmond & in fact about the cause generally, as he has seen so much of the inefficiency of our officers.  Huger, he tells us, has been suspended for not bringing up his reserve on Sunday & cutting the enemy off.  Had he done so, the loss of life would have been much less & the whole of the Yankees on the South side of the Chickahominy would have fallen into our hands!  “Thy sin shall find thee out” comes true with nations as well as men, for had they superceeded him as they ought to have done, after the finding of the Court of Inquiry after the Roanoke Island disaster, this would never have happened now & indeed the Va might have been still spared to us.

Stanley the renegade, the traitor Governor, appointed by Mr Lincoln to rule his native State, finds the way of the transgressor hard.  He has stopped the negro schools as being contrary to the Statute Law of N C, by which he has offended his Northern masters, but with a strange inconsistency he ignores the fact (of which Mr Badger has reminded him however) that his being here, as Gov, is as much an infringement of our rights, for the Laws of N C provide for an election of the Gov by the people.  He said that if there was one man in N C whom he regarded more than another, one man whom he loved, the man was Richard S Donnel, & yet the first sight which greeted him on stepping ashore at New Berne was the coffin of Mr Donnell’s mother with her name & the date of her birth & death cut on it waiting shipment to N Y, her remains having been thrown out to give place to the body of a Yankee officer!  Such is our foe.

I sympathize deeply with the Donnells & hope that poor Fanny was buried in Raleigh where she died & that her remains are not exposed to the insult that her Mother’s & Grandfather’s have been—for it is said that the skull of Gov Richard Dobbs Speight was stuck upon a pole & that Stanley was forced to look at it as he landed!  Meet & right it is that his father’s foe should rise from his grave to exult over Stanley’s infamy, for know that Gov Speight was killed in a duel by Stanley’s father now fifty years ago at least.  I fear me the “false Stanley” as he is still called in England is “false” still, even tho’ represented now by Lord Derby, false to his master at Bosworth field.  Now this one of the same name, tho I doubt not the same blood, is false to his country, to his name, & to his fame.  Let him go down to the “vile dust” “unwept” & “unhonoured.”

The Yankees have in and about New Berne more than 6,000 negroes who work when they please & if they do not please they draw their rations from the Q Master.  This cannot last.  No government can stand it.  The end must soon come.  Burnside is arming & drilling the negroes & expects when the fate of Richmond is decided to commence active operations.  God be with us & vain will be the rage of men.

 

Source: Edmondston, Catherine Ann Devereux, 1823-1875, Journal of a Secesh Lady: The Diary of Catherine Ann Devereux Edmondston 1860-1866. Crabtree, Beth G and Patton, James W., (Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Division of Archives and History, 1979). http://nc-historical-publications.stores.yahoo.net/478.html

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we hope he may meet the fate which all traitors deserve-one end of a rope around his neck #cw150

The Raleigh Register of yesterday contains the following letter from Gen. Burnside to the notorious traitor Charles Henry Foster.  The Register copies this letter from a stray number of the Newbern Progress of the 21st of April, a paper, it will be remembered which is published by the Yankees in Newbern.  This letter leaves no doubt on our mind that Edward Stanly has been offered byLincolnthe appointment of Provisional Governor of North Carolina.

Should he accept the appointment, we hope he may meet the fate which all traitors to the land of their birth deserve.—that is, one end of a rope around his neck, with the other tied to a swinging limb.

It will be seen that Gen. Burnside takes Foster “smooth of above the knees.”

 

Headquarters, Department of N.C. }

Newbern, April 21, 1862 }

CHAS. HENRY FOSTER, ESQ.,

Sir, – I see by the “Newbern Progress,” of Saturday morning, that you propose to speak in a political assemblage in this place on Wednesday next, which I think would be very unwise in you to do, and decidedly unwise in me to allow.

You occupy no official political position in the State, as was evinced by the refusal of the House of Representatives to grant you a seat in that body.

The President of the United States has very wisely appointed a Provisional Governor for this State, who is a native thereof, and was at one time, one of its most prominent and influential citizens, and represents at this moment the views and feelings of a majority of the people of the State of NorthCarolina.

The Government will doubtless indicate its civil policy to Gov. Stanly and I cannot consent in the meantime to embarrass either him or the Government by initiating myself or allowing any one else to initiate any civil policy.  From my own inexperience in matters of this kind, I am sufficiently embarrasses already in taking note of civil ____ that absolutely require immediate attention.  The occupation ofNorthCarolinathus far, is entirely military.

Another very serious objection to the assembling of such a meeting as you propose is that I have never been informed by any one that it was in contemplation.  None of the citizens have represented to me that they desire a meeting of this kind and officers and soldiers of the army have no right to originate or organize political assemblages.

Then to say that I do not question the honesty or disinterestedness of your intention, but the wisdom of you course is to me clearly open to criticism, and the meeting cannot be allowed to assemble.

 

Very Respectfully,

A.     E. BURNSIDE,

Maj. Gen., CommandingDept.N.C.

 

Source: Greensborough Patriot, May 22, 1862 as found in Confederate Newspaper Project

 

 

 

 

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