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December 12, 1861 – A Daring Exploit

Among the many instances where the bravery of our officers and men have shown conspicuous, the one we copy from the Boston Gazette is almost unequalled

Captain Spencer, aid to General Wool received information from two ladies, who went from Norfolk to Fortress Monroe with a flag of truce, that near midnight a six-oared boat was to leave Norfolk for Richmond with money for the payment of the rebel soldiers. He requested permission of Major General Wool to attempt their capture, and was told not to place too much confidence in the information received. Nevertheless, permission was given, and selecting two oarsmen on whom he could rely, with their oars muffled, he started at dark and awaited the coming of the enemy’s boat he had preciously given directions to his men to pull directly for the boat, and on the moment of striking to “back water” instantly.

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December 10, 1861 – From the 3d Regiment. N. H. V.

Correspondence of the American

Hilton Head, Port Royal
South Carolina, Nov. 28

Dear American : Although we had an order more than a week ago to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a moment’s notice, we have not “budged an inch” since. The story in camp is that we have been ordered to leave to-morrow, but l am not certain about it. We are not allowed to know where we are going, but it is said to be not over one day’s sail. I hope it will not be far, for I am heartily sick of “steaming it o’er the main.”

I have nothing very particular to write you for news. Everything seems to be moving on to the completion of the defence of this island. Hundreds of men are continually throwing up entrenchments and fortifications. It is said that “Jeff.” says “he will have this island in his hands again, if it takes every man he can raise.” It will take every man he can raise, and then “he will not be able to re-take it. Gen. Sherman says: “Give me two weeks more, and I will defy all he can bring against me.” We have no idea that an effort will be made to regain what they have lost here. Yesterday, our gunboats “let loose their dogs of war,”” on a small place, about six miles from here, where a number of rebels had made their appearance. I understand they scattered in “double quick” time. We distinctly heard the booming of the cannon here. It is of no use for them to come prying into our affairs, to get information in regard to our proceedings, in order to report to their rebel chief, because “argus eyes’’ are upon them—our pickets are stationed at every corner and loophole, ready and most willing to give the alarm on the instant any appearance of their “ugly phizes,” becomes manifest.

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December 9, 1861 – Morning in Alexandria

The weather of the past few days has been quite pleasant. Seldom is such moderate weather experienced so late in the season. Even at dawn this morning the atmosphere was quite balmy, and the weather, but little hazy, altogether suitable for a morning jaunt. Light had dawned upon a city of stillness. The streets were without an echo, save when the sentry’s musket struck the pavement, or the lumbering of a distant wagon made a heavy murmur up in the air. The beautiful river slept without a wave beneath the early light, and shone in the thin mist like burnished steel.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

December 8, 1861 – The Fight With the Rebel Steamer Patrick Henry

CSS Patrick Henry, showing a sidewheel steamer under steam through the water.

(From the Norfolk Day Book, Dec. 3.)

For some days past two or three of the federal gunboats have been in the habit of running up James river five or six miles above Newport News each evening, and remaining there all night. What the object of this is unknown, unless it may have been to keep a watch on the movements of the Confederate steamer Patrick Henry. These gunboats on Sunday evening repelled this same manouvre, and on yesterday morning the Patrick Henry got under way from her position further up James river and came down. On seeing her the gunboats left immediately and put out down the river towards the blockading ships. The Patrick Henry continued her chase after them, and they ran in under the protection of the guns of the frigates Cumberland and Congress and the fort at Newport News.

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December 7, 1861 – The Mountain Empire

The Philadelphia Press calls attention to an article by Rev Dr Breckinridge, the loyal uncle of the great Kentucky traitor, published in the Danville Review, and entitled The “Civil War; its Nature and End.” A very striking portion of it describes the Union feeling existing in the mountain regions of Western Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, which Dr Breckinridge aptly terms “the mountain empire.”

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December 6, 1861 – Uniforms of the Army

The uniforms of the United States army was reduced to the plainest possible standard by Jeff. Davis, when Secretary of War, and there is but a trifling difference between the costumes of dragoons, artillerymen, infantry, or engineers, all of whom wear clothing of the same color and cut, different trimmings alone distinguishing each arm of the service. This is economical, but it fails to inspire the men with a soldier-like pride by fostering a commendable rivalry between different corps.

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December 4, 1861 – The Camp Kettle, Port Royal

The Camp Kettle is the name of an enterprising publication established by the “mudsills” at Hilton Head, S. C. The following is the title and imprint of the paper:—

THE CAMP KETTLE.
WE KNOW ONLY OUR COUNTRY.
Vol. 1. Nov. 21, 1861. No. 6.

The Camp Kettle is published every opportunity by the Field and Staff of the Roundhead Regiment, Col. Lesure commanding.

It is printed on board the steamer Ocean Queen, of which it speaks as follows :

The Chief engineer has given us a fine room right in among the machinery, partly over the immense cylinder which confines the spirit that rules the wave, for a printing office, where we, queerly enough, are printing our Kettle. Beneath us groans and hisses the pent demon, that shrieks to break his narrow cell. Beside us on one hand rises and sinks the huge piston rod, on the other the connecting rod that wearilessly drives around the crank to give motion to the great monster of the deep, freighted with some sixteen hundred souls, and stores of munitions of war, and instruments of death intended tor the benefit of traitors. We could philosophise here, but prefer to say what we intended to say in the beginning—that Capt. Seabury and his crew are men to be remembered, and if we should never meet again, may God bless them for their kindness to us.

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December 3, 1861 – The Contrabands

A Port Royal correspondent of the Times writes:

One of the most remarkable features of the new life in South Carolina is afforded by the negroes. Black servants have been hired by many of the officers as waiters, and washermen and women. Black gangs have worked on the shore, or been used as oarsmen ; blacks have served as scouts and guides in the reconneissances. Crowds of the women and children may be seen in various parts of the camps, but especially near head-quarters, where they inhabit their own huts still. There they receive their rations, there they build fires to cook their food or to do their washing, and cluster into odd-looking groups, picturesque for all their squalor. The men and boys join them at night, and always, after supper, in a dilapidated out-house, is held a, prayer-meeting. I listened outside, last night, and heard ardent ejaculations or thanksgiving for the favorable chance God had given to “my colored bruddren.” The jargon was absurd, but It was earnest; the singing was out of tune and time, but it was fervent. In some quarters the blacks are less religious, and held a ball to celebrate the coming of the Yankees. I have talked with nearly half of those I have seen; have asked them which they preferred, the new or the old order of things, and though some here and there spoke kindly of their masters, there was no mistaking the genuineness of their gratitude for the change.