Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

November 22, 1861 – The Capture of Our Ministers to France and England

The San Jacinto Stopping the Treat. Shows a warship firing a warning shot across the bow of a sidewheel steamer.

We are still without full details of this capture of our Ministers, Messrs. Mason and Slidell, but are able to supply a few additional particulars:

The vessel from which they were taken, is the British mail steamer Trent. This steamer when only one day out from Havana, on her voyage to England, was arrested by the U. S. Screw Frigate, San Jacinto. The particular circumstances of the removal of Messrs. Mason and Slidell from her decks, we do not know, save that it was by exhibition of force against protest. These gentlemen and their attaches were then brought to Fortress Monroe, which place they reached on the 16th.—The next day they were started to New York, which city they probably reached on Monday last.

Posted inMaritime & Naval History US Civil War

November 21, 1861 – A Springfield Boy at Port Royal

From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican.

The following letter from John L. Barnes [Editor’s Note: actually John Sanford Barnes, not L.], an officer on the flag ship Wabash of the great naval expedition, to his friends in this city, will be read with interest by his numerous friends at home:

United States Ship Wabash,
Port Royal, Monday, Nov. 11.

You have already heard of our glorious success here and the complete discomfiture of the chivalry of the state which has mainly brought about our present difficulties. The expedition was swarming with reporters, and their accounts will give you full particulars. It is as you may well imagine, nothing but work—work from early morning until late at night, and sometimes all night. I have hardly time to write you more than that I am well, and thankful for the protection of Almighty God, thrown around us during the battle.

Posted inUS Civil War

November 20, 1861 – Camp Correspondence from the 1st WI

Camp Sherman, near Jeffersonville, Ind., November 14, 1861.

Friend Lute :—I hasten to inform you that the “Bloody First” has, within the last half hour, received marching orders. We are ordered to strike out tents at 8 o’clock, A. M.; to march at nine.—Our destination is doubtless some point below, as we are to go on board a steamer. The alarm drum beat fifteen minutes before twelve, and in less than five minutes the regiment was in line. You may calculate that the boys “scadadled” out of their nests in a hurry.—Each man is to receive 30 rounds of cartriges and two day’s rations; so we are to move some distance.

Posted inUS Civil War

November 19, 1861 – Opinions of the Press of Col. Singletary’s Late Expedition

The Charlotte Bulletin of the 11th in copying our remarks made some days ago headed “Render Unto Caezar,” &c., makes the remark which follow :

Col. Singletary.—We truly regret to learn that the brave, humane and dashing officer, whose name heads this notice, has been arrested by order of Gen. Hill, for having gone on an expedition without orders, but which has resulted in a way a thousand times more important than would have been the recapture of Hatteras, the Federal soldiers there, and the total destruction of the fort.

Posted inUS Civil War

November 18, 1861 – Scott’s Regiment

The regiment of mounted volunteers under command of Col. Scott, five companies of which will leave Baton Rouge for the seat of war in Kentucky on Saturday, is a corps of which the State may justly feel proud. It is composed of the substantial young men of Louisiana—gentlemen in their social standing, sons of our worthiest citizens healthy, temperate, athletic—good marksmen and excellent horsemen. They have volunteered for the whole war from an ardent patriotism, leaving behind them the comforts of home, and in every instance all the luxuries that wealth can procure. A nobler regiment of cavalry never formed into line on this continent than the one about to part from us—brave and worthy men, commanded by chivalric and intelligent officers.