Civil War Blog

May 26, 1863

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Headquarters Eleventh Corps, near Brooke’s Station.

Dearest: I received a letter from you Sunday afternoon, and felt sorry indeed that seeing your friends had proved so bad for you, but I hope after a little quiet you and yourself again.  I am not so sure that my coming might not excite you even though I belong there.  I do not think I can go home now.  I will tell you my reasons.  My Corps did not do very well at Chancellorsville.  Now everybody who is to blame tries to shift the responsibility upon somebody’s elses shoulders.  The Germans and the Americans are many of them against me.  It was my first trial with them.  Now I must drill & discipline my command & get it in hand.  I must work to get good officers in the command of Brigade and regiments.  I must be here to head off wire-pullers.  I want the command to learn me and I wish to learn it.  Again I rather apprehend an attack here, after the affair at Vicksburg which is so disastrous to the rebels.  They will try some game to retrieve their hopes.  Most probably will accumulate a very large force against Rosencrantz.  In that case we should not be attacked, but perhaps now something desperate will be attempted and Lee will cross above us & attack us hoping to crush this army now that we have lost so many two years & nine month regiments. … I am under a little cloud, tenderly excused but yet unsuccessful, and I have not been accustomed to succumb under difficulties. …

Oliver Otis Howard to his wife, Ann Waite [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]

May 25, 1863

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24Monday.  Turned out at 4 o’clock & got breakfast—the orders being for our Reg. to take the advance & start at 5.  Only four passes to be given to a Company to ride on the teams.  We marched through Franklin without stopping there, & halted at one o’clock under some wide-spreading oaks 3 miles below Franklin.  The forenoon was very hot, & the road dusty.  Have had but 3 rests in the 15 miles.  Many men fell out & I for one did not wonder at it.  I was tired myself, & gladly heard the word “halt.”  Started again at 3 & marched through Centreville, & to a fine smooth field a mile beyond (3 miles from last halting place) where we halted for the night.  Having two hours of daylight, many of the officers & men took a good wash in the bayou.  Had fresh beef & pork for supper, which was cooked & eaten in good season.  We are camping 6 miles from Franklin, & about 22 from Brashear, which place we expect to reach by Wednesday noon.  As I write this (7 o’clock) the 41st have just dashed by towards Centreville, & the report is that the train has been fired on this side of Franklin, & several of our men killed.  [Read more…] about May 25, 1863

May 24, 1863

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West Point

Dear Father,

Your Sunday letter was received on 21st. inst. There is nothing new. Examination commences week from tomorrow. There are two Maine men on the Board of Visitors, Rufus Dwind of Bangor and Hon. J.H. Goodnow of Alfred. He tried to get the appointment for his son. I suppose you know. How long is Catharine going to stay at Malden?

The Lieut. Colonel of 8th. Regiment has resigned. Do you think there is any chance for William to be made Major? I hope so.

Your Aff. Son, Malcolm McArthur

P.S.-The Standing for April has been made out. I came out in Math 54, in French 45, in Drawing 11; have 13 demerits for month.

Malcolm McArthur to his father, Arthur McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]

May 23, 1863

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Headquarter’s Eleventh Corps. Near Brooke’s Station, Va.

Dearest,

I told you in yesterday’s letter that Miss Lizzie came from Washington with us. Yesterday Charles took her to Falmouth to see Fredericksburg and the troops on the way thither. She thinks she had a fine time notwithstanding the roughness of the roads and of the carriage. Last night we gave her a tea party, inviting all the ladies and a few gentlemen. […]

Oliver Otis Howard to his wife, Elizabeth Ann Waite [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]

May 22, 1863

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21Friday.

Started at 6 a.m. & after marching a mile were ordered to put two men with each wagon, & having thus “deployed” our Company, Lt. J., Capt. Wood, & myself got on a baggage wagon, & “took it easy.”

The plantation where we camped is the largest we have seen, having immense fields of corn & cane growing, all of which is growing well, the negroes having remained till now on the place; but this morning, they are joining in the “Exodous,” leaving home for they know not where.  There are said to be more than 200 teams loaded with negroes in our train, & nearly 100 Army wagons.  Many of the negroes, male & female, are on foot, & there are constant acquisitions, making to the train.

Stopped at noon in a beautiful oak grove on the border of the Teche, & cooked dinner.  Here for the first time a party was detailed to drive in cattle to be slaughtered for rations, a thing that ought to have been done all along.  The Col. being unable to ride on horseback on account of a fall yesterday, gave up his horse to me for the afternoon, Lt. J. starting with his little mare.  The Quartermaster states that there are now 400 wagons in the train, which must be near 4 miles long.  The ride across the prairie this afternoon was a delightful one, & I was even better pleased with the Country than with that on the march up.  Halted about 5 o’clock, & the fresh meat—beef & mutton—coming in early, the men had ample time to cook a good supper.   Slept finely on the ground.  Heard heavy guns in the night in what we supposed to be the direction of Port Hudson.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 20, 1863

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19Wednesday.

Got up this morning & went down to the bayou to wash, & came back pretty well tired.  Ate a light breakfast, & spent the forenoon in the house.   Feel pretty well, but quite weak.  At noon, orders were given to be ready to march at 4 o’clock.  At some roast pig at dinner, with good relish.

Shall put my pack on the team, & try to march with the Company, but expect to get pretty tired, as I feel quite weak.  Had a vomiting spell after dinner, & being offered a horse, concluded to ride.  We left camp at 3 ½ o’clock, and reached Barre’s landing at 8.  The men made coffee by the fires of the 26th Me. that had been encamped there two days.  I camped down without eating or drinking anything.  Walked the last two miles, letting Capt. Gilman ride.  We are to march to Brashear City, & expect to be about 8 days on the route.  Are ordered to start as early as six every morning, & march about 15 miles a day, stopping ten minutes each hour, & two hours in the middle of the day.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 19, 1863

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18Tuesday.  Got up before roll call this morning, & feeling much better than I did last night.  Took my third blue pill & went out & took my morning wash, ate only gruel for breakfast.  Took a dose of salts by the Dr’s advice, & kept [to] my room most

Of the forenoon.  Still feeling pretty well.  Wrote a letter to Mother, finished Nellie’s, & put in a short acc’t. of Edwin Young for Pamelia, inclosed all in the same envelope, addressed to Nellie.  Mailed Holbrook & Staples final statements to Adj. Genl, Washington.  We expect to leave this place for Brashear City tomorrow.  George went out this morning & brought in a fine roasting pig, which he soon dressed, & Betsy the Col’s Cook roasted nicely.  My appetite for roast pig is strong, but shall not indulge it to any great extent, as my diarrhea still continues

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 18, 1863

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18Monday.  Ate a very light breakfast & only flour gruel for dinner & supper.  My diarrhea continues, & have felt sick at the stomach this afternoon.  Took a couple of opium pills, & just before supper a small blue pill, the first I ever took I think.  Commenced a letter to Nellie but felt hardly well to finish it.  Took another blue pill about dark, & went to bed & slept soundly.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

May 17, 1863

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Headquarters Eleventh Corps

My dear Mother,

It has been a warm pleasant day. We have had services at out Hd. qrs., as usual. The Band of the 33d Mass which plays so beautifully was in attendance. Rev. Mr. Warren of the Christian Commission officiated who has been laboring in the hospitals many of which – in fact all the General Hospitals of the Army – are located in this vicinity. The General Hospitals have all the worst cases of sick and all the wounded except such as have been conveyed to Washington – farther North. They consist of a large encampment (like a brigade) for a Corps. The Hospital tents are some 20 by 12 feet or perhaps larger.
These in this vicinity look very neat & comfortable. Otis intends visiting our Corps hospital this P.M.

We had the great rarity of two ladies at services and at dinner today. Mrs. Genl. Barlow and Mrs Parker wife of Lieut. Parker of the Regular Army. Mrs. Parker was an acquaintance of Mrs. Barlow – and stays with Mrs B in a house not far from here although Lt. Parker belongs to another Divn. & another Corps. He gets Leave to visit his wife often now that we are doing but little. I think you will remember Gen. Barlow who now commands one of our Brigades and was formerly Colonel of my Regiment, 61st N.Y. –
was with us at Fair Oaks. He is a brave & good officer. Mrs. B. is a very smart woman. She reached the Antietam battle field, the next day after the fight and was in time to take care of her husband who was wounded very severely. […]

Charles Henry Howard to his mother, Eliza Gilmore [Charles Henry Howard Collection]