Mar 29 1863 (Sunday)

General Curtis advises that the "Red Legs," Kansans named after the color of their stockings, be kept clear of the Missouri border. "Put only very reliable troops on border counties. Missourians fear the 'Red Legs' will have too much license....That band of rascals must be checked." With the coming of warmer spring weather, guerrilla activity heats up in the Midwest. Colonel Weer reports, "The boldness with which the guerrillas hang around my camp...and the behavior of the secession inhabitants...convince me that we had better prepare for another invasion....Vegetation here is very forward; animals can live now upon the grass."

HEADQUARTERS CENTRAL DISTRICT OF MISSOURI, Jefferson City, March 29, 1863. - Maj. Gen. SAMUEL R. CURTIS, Commanding, &c., Saint Louis, Mo.: - GENERAL: There can no longer be any question but that the contest for the supremacy in this State must be made a war of extermination....The guerrillas and the rebel sympathizers are waging a relentless, cruel, and bloody war upon our unarmed and defenseless citizens....I feel some hesitancy in resorting to any stringent policy without first having your sanction....If you will be kind enough to indicate what steps in the premises would be judicious, and will fix the limits in which I may act, I will feel much obliged. It may be proper to add that the guerrillas are becoming quite active in every part of the district....They are much more active and numerous than they were this time last year. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, BEN. LOAN, Brigadier-General, Missouri State Militia.

U.S. Grant has long suspected that he would need to get his army below Vicksburg "as a first step" to cracking the defenses of the river fortress. Accordingly, he orders General McClernand's corps to advance along the western shore of the Mississippi River. "I am about occupying New Carthage with troops, and opening the bayous from here to that place sufficiently for the passage of flats....With this passage open, I can...land troops...either at Grand Gulf or Warrenton, whichever seems most promising." To succeed, Grant needs the cooperation of Admiral Porter's river squadron. "It looks to me, admiral, as a matter of vast importance that one or two vessels should be put below Vicksburg...to insure a landing on the east bank for our forces, if wanted. Will you be good enough, admiral, to give this your early consideration, and let me know your determination? Without the aid of gunboats it will hardly be worth while to send troops to New Carthage."

UNITED STATES MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, Yazoo River, March 29, 1863. - Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT, Comdg. Department of the Tennessee: - GENERAL: I am ready to co-operate with you in the matter of landing troops on the other side, but you must recollect that, when these gunboats once go below, we give up all hopes of ever getting them up again. If it is your intention to occupy Grand Gulf in force, it will be necessary to have vessels there to protect the troops or quiet the fortifications now there. If I do send vessels below, it will be the best vessels I have, and there will be nothing left to attack Haynes' Bluff....It will require some little preparation to send these vessels below....Very truly, yours, DAVID D. PORTER.

Twenty miles east of Memphis, a passenger train is attacked by a small group of guerrillas. General Hurlbut reports, "The...train was attacked...by 12 guerrillas, although it had on board 25 soldiers, armed, and 3 or 5 officers, who yet made no attempt to defend themselves and the public property....The passengers were robbed, and the officers and soldiers carried off north." Hurlbut immediately announces that he will retaliate for the "outrage," and he sends out Colonel Grierson's cavalry to track down the Rebel train robbers. "The expedition...overtook and skirmished with them, killing and capturing a number." However, that night, the tables are turned on Grierson's men. "[They] were attacked while in bivouac...and although...surprised and a number killed in beds, yet they rallied and drove the enemy from the field, and remained in full possession....The engagement...did not last over ten minutes, the desperation of the conflict can be imagined."

SPECIAL ORDERS, No. 52. - HDQRS. SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, Tenn., March 29, 1863. A cowardly and murderous attack has been made by guerrillas on a passenger train near Moscow, containing women, children, and citizens, resulting in the capture of part of the passengers and the robbery of all. Notice was distinctly published...that such an outrage would be retaliated by the means therein described. It is therefore ordered that Col. D.C. Anthony...select, from the secessionists or rebel sympathizers within this city, ten families of the greatest wealth and highest social position, and cause them to be sent south of the lines of the United States forces, not to return....By order of Maj. Gen. S. A. Hurlbut: HENRY BINMORE, Assistant Adjutant-General.

In a daring raid, a small Confederate force commanded by Colonel W.B. Tabb attempts to capture Williamsburg's Fort Magruder. Union commander Colonel Lewis reports, "At about 5 a.m. this day a body of infantry; 100 strong, drove in our pickets near Lipscomb's farm and advanced into Williamsburg while a large force of cavalry, estimated at 1,000 in number, advanced on the Richmond road." Although they succeed in taking the town, Tabb's men fail to capture the fort and fall back. "I have to report the failure of my attempt to capture Fort Magruder....Partly through the blunders of guides...and partly through straggling among the men....Captain Wallace's detachment was two hours going not quite 4 miles. They reached Capitol Landing road after daybreak and came in full view of the enemy's pickets. All thought of capturing the post by surprise had now to be abandoned, and an open assault would have involved a sacrifice altogether disproportionate to the advantage to be gained."

FOURTH ARMY CORPS. - Yorktown, Va., March 29, 1863. - COMMANDING OFFICER, Williamsburg, Va.: The attack of the enemy on our lines at Williamsburg this (Sabbath) morning was accompanied by circumstances of so aggravated a character as to call for prompt and severe punishment to those most implicated. Conclusive evidence has been furnished...that the attack was aided...by citizens of Williamsburg...; that upon their occupation of the city they were assisted by the citizens in their attack upon our forces, who were fired upon from the houses lining the streets, the dead bodies of the murdered being despoiled and stripped, their boots pulled off their feet; that the stores of their sympathizers within the city were thrown open to their advantage and their horses loaded with packs prepared for their arrival.....Brigadier-General Busteed, commanding post: C. C. SUYDAM, Assistant Adjutant-General.



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Mar 30 1863 (Monday)

William Rosecrans welcomes Ambrose Burnside to his new command. "Old Rosy" is quick to ask Burnside, who's army guards Rosecrans' left flank, if he has any plans to enter East Tennessee. "Hearty greeting and welcome....What can and will you do to enter East Tennessee?" Meanwhile, Braxton Bragg's Tennessee army is still awash in turmoil. Thwarted in his attempts to remove Bragg, or even to call him to Richmond for a consultation, Jefferson Davis has sent one of his military aides, Colonel W.P. Johnston, the son of Albert Sidney Johnston, to investigate conditions in the army. Leonidas Polk takes advantage of the opportunity to continue his unrelenting campaign against the unpopular Bragg.

PRIVATE. - HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS, Shelbyville, March 30, 1863. - His Excellency President Davis, Richmond, Va.: - Colonel [W. P.] Johnston has been with me since Saturday. He has made known the objects of his coming, and I have discussed the points submitted with him freely....My idea is--my conviction rather--that if the presence and offices of General B. [Bragg] were entirely acceptable to this army, the highest interests--military interests--of the Confederacy would be consulted by transferring him to another field, where his peculiar talent---that of organization and discipline---could find a more ample scope....My opinion is that the general could be of service to all the armies of the Confederacy, if placed in the proper position....This done, the way is clear for assigning General Johnston to the command of this army, a measure which would give universal satisfaction to officers and men....I know that General J. [Johnston] thinks himself but half employed, and that he would be much better satisfied commanding an army in the field than doing the duties of administering a department....I remain, dear sir, faithfully, your friend, L. POLK.

In the waters off Savannah a Rebel blockade runner is boarded and captured. Colonel Barton reports, "Early this morning a schooner was reported to me off Daufuskie Island....I immediately went on board steamer Mattano..., and directed Captain Blakeman...to proceed at once toward her. As the schooner...showed no colors, I caused a shot from a 6-pounder to be fired across her, immediately upon which she hoisted the English flag....I directed Captain Coan to board her and ascertain her name and character. She proved to be the schooner Expeditious, Captain Edgecomb, with a cargo of 310 sacks of salt from Nassau....The captain and mate on being closely questioned admitted that their destination was Savannah, but that the night being dark they had lost their way." Despite these exploits, swift moving blockade runners continue to enjoy success and are bringing in much needed revenue and supplies to the Confederacy. Notwithstanding the attention it has received from the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, the port of Charleston continues to prosper as indicated by the quarterly report of Collector W.F. Colcock .

Statement of the commerce of the port of Charleston with foreign countries from the 1st of July, 1861, to 30th of March, 1863.

A Vessels entered. B Vessels cleared. C Revenue received.

Period.                                A        B        C

From July 1 to Sept. 30, 1861    2     5      $6,543.71
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, 1861     3   11     11,439.06
From Jan.1 to Mar. 30, 1862       6   28       37,916.98
From Apr.1 to June 30, 1862     10   41      39,844.66
From July1 to Sept. 30, 1862    15   7    83,703.80
From Oct.1 to Dec. 31, 1862      7   13    57,549.27
From Jan.1 to Mar. 30, 1863      19   25    173,014.64
Total                                               62   130   410,011.12
W. F. COLCOCK, Collector.




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Mar 31 1863 (Tuesday)

The efficiency of the railroads of the Confederacy, overburdened by heavy traffic and hampered by the lack of materiel to properly maintain them, continues to decline. Particularly devastating is the lack of iron, and Lewis Harvie, president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, is forced to turn to the Confederate government for help in procuring "at least 5 miles of iron." In a letter to James Seddon, Harvie relates, "There are between 4 and 5 miles of road at Amelia Court-House that is unsafe and cannot be rendered safe without...new rail....We have had various and frequent accidents, caused by the condition of that part of the road....Without the use of this road I do not see how the necessary transportation for the army can be done." The effects of the compromised railway system are exacerbated by the melting snows of last week's freak snowstorm which has turned all the roads near Richmond into seas of mud.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Richmond, Va., March 31, 1863. - General R. E. LEE, Commanding, &c.: - GENERAL: The great difficulty...is not...so much in the want of supplies as of the impediments to their ready transportation and distribution. Our roads have almost defied wagon transportation, and our railroads are daily growing less efficient and serviceable....I have...urged the agent of the Department in charge of railroad transportation to visit the lines of greatest detention and arrange for more punctuality and promptitude....I am likewise invoking the aid of Congress to enable me to enforce the adoption of more regular schedules, and the employment of more trains in freight transportation....With high esteem, very respectfully, yours, J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War.

Protected by a chain of earthworks, Washington D.C. is the most heavily fortified city in the world. The city itself is undergoing a population explosion and has quadrupled its ante-bellum population to 240,000 people. Nathaniel Hawthorne, on a visit to the city, describes the experience. "You exchange nods with governors of sovereign states; you elbow illustrious men, and tread on the toes of generals....You are mixed up with office-seekers, wire pullers, inventors, artists, poets, editors, army correspondents..., until your own identity is lost among them." Throughout the war, Abraham Lincoln and Edwin Stanton have insisted that the nation's capital be well protected and General Barnard reports on the current status of the city's defenses.

WASHINGTON, March 31, 1863. - Maj. Gen. S. P. HEINTZELMAN, Commanding Department of Washington: - GENERAL: It will be seen that the total of full garrisons for all the forts is 26,725 men, of which 10,305 consists of artillerymen and 16,420 of infantry....It may be stated...that besides the full garrisons at the Chain Bridge, there should be...an additional infantry force there of about 2,000 men, making, say, 3,600 in all. With this force, the rifle-pits can be sufficiently manned to resist a strong attack....The rifle pits south of the Potomac require but a very short period of good working days to be completed, with the force now detailed for that purpose. At the Chain Bridge they are completed; at Fort Lyon, nearly so. From the Potomac to Eastern Branch the line has been run through, but it is proposed ultimately to enlarge the part from Rock Creek to the Eastern Branch....I understand...that there are on hand in the forts 100 rounds of ammunition per gun, and sometimes more, except for the 100-pounders, for which ammunition is now being supplied....J. G. BARNARD, Brigadier-General, &c.

General Burnside continues to coordinate the pursuit of Pegram's cavalrymen. "It is very desirable that [Major Cutting] should co-operate with General Gillmore, with his cavalry at least, and cut off or capture the herd of cattle." Pegram's column, slowed by their "large drove of cattle," is finally cornered while attempting to cross the Cumberland River near Somerset, Kentucky. General Gillmore reports, "I attacked...near this town, fought him for five hours, driving him from one position to another, and finally stormed his position, and drove him in confusion toward the river." Pegram blames Colonel Scott for the defeat. "Seeing...that the enemy was turning all of his force against that position, I ordered up Colonel Scott with his command....He suggested I should allow him to move around the enemy's right flank and to charge his rear....After he left, I held the position for more than an hour. His movements should have occupied ten minutes, and yet he never obeyed the orders given him.....My men stood until the enemy were within 30 yards, and then gave way from right to left." Burnside is elated with the results. "The entire rebel force has been driven out of Central Kentucky, and much of their plunder has been recaptured."

Brigadier-General PEGRAM Commanding Cavalry. - SIR: I moved...to attack the enemy in flank and rear. After advancing about 1,000 yards, and reaching the head of a ravine..., I came in contact with a regiment moving in column, dismounted, bearing guns with fixed bayonets. I ordered my men to front into line for a charge, but soon discovered that I had but 30 men with me. On inquiry as to what had become of my command, I was informed...that it had been cut off..., ordered to countermarch, and resume the position which I had left....I marched back in the direction of where my command had been ordered....I found that my movements were discovered by the enemy, and he had made such preparation as rendered it impossible to attack him....This is the first time that the First Louisiana Cavalry has ever turned their backs on an enemy, and I assure you I feel as much mortified as any soldier could who thinks he has done his duty.....Very respectfully, J. S. SCOTT, Colonel First Louisiana Cavalry.

With the repairs to the steam ram Lancaster complete, Admiral Farragut prepares his small fleet for a run past the Rebel batteries at Grand Gulf. Pemberton sends an alert to all of his units stationed near the river, "The Hartford, Albatross, and injured boat have gone down the river." Despite the warning, the gunners are caught unprepared and the Union vessels pass down the river to assume blockading positions at the mouth of the Red River. General Bowen reports, "Owing to neglect of signalmen over the river, I had no time to heat shot. We fired in all about 60 shots."

HDQRS. 1ST BRIGADE, 2D DIVISION, ARMY OF MISSISSIPPI, Grand Gulf, Miss. - Maj. R. W. MEMMINGER, Assistant Adjutant-General. - MAJOR: The enemy's boats...passed down the river...at 8.15....Owing to the negligence of the signal corps stationed over the river at Hard Times..., no warning was given..., and...no rocket was sent up to apprise us of their approach.....About twenty shots were fired from the heavy guns, twenty-one from the field pieces, and twenty-one from the Parrotts of Wade's battery....Seven heavy shells were seen to take effect, one raking the Hartford from stem to stern....I have no means of discovering what damage was inflicted on the ships, but the steam ram which passed the Vicksburg batteries was struck once amidships, swung round broadside to the current, and floated down thus, firing a lee gun, which could only have been a signal of distress....Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. S. BOWEN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.


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Apr 01 1863 (Wednesday)

The original catalyst for the transfer of Longstreet and his two divisions to Petersburg was the Federal transfer of the Ninth Corps to Newport News. Now, it appears that Burnside's Corps has been shifted again. Longstreet reports the news to General Lee, "The troops have left Newport News...; supposed to have gone to North Carolina." However, General Elezy in Richmond has different information. "Burnside, with his corps (the Ninth), passed through Baltimore a few days since to re-enforce Rosecrans." Although puzzled by these conflicting accounts, "Old Pete" does not alter his plans to send D.H. Hill's men against Washington, North Carolina. Marching quickly, Hill's men encircle the city and send in a flag of truce. General Foster, trapped in the city, reports, "The enemy sent in a flag of truce to open communication with the commanding officer. I refused to receive any flag of truce....This morning the gunboat Commodore Hull was opened upon by a battery at Rodman's Point and from one a little above which had been thrown up during the night. The Hull got aground opposite the battery, but maintained a gallant fight during the day, though with no result."

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS, New Berne, April 1, 1863. - Brigadier-General PRINCE, New Berne, N.C.: - GENERAL: Information is just received from General Foster from Washington, N.C., that that place is about to be attacked by the enemy in force. The re-enforcements under General Spinola have not been able to get to Washington, as the rebels have established a battery at Hill's Point, near the blockade below that city....The gunboats from here are ordered to proceed immediately to that point and they will be under way in an hour or two....The gunboats from Plymouth have also been sent for, and they will be down as soon as possible....General, very respectfully, your obedient servant, I. N. PALMER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

After receiving information "that Mosby, with about 65 men, was near Dranesville," 150 cavalrymen from the First Vermont are sent, under Captain Flint, to "rout and capture Mosby and his force." Flint's men catch Mosby by surprise in a farmhouse marked "J. Mesed." Mosby reports, "One of my men...came dashing in, and announced the rapid approach of the enemy. But he had scarcely given us the information when the enemy appeared a few hundred yards off, coming up at a gallop." Despite his surprise, Mosby orders a countercharge and quickly routs the Union cavalry. General Lee's report states, "He promptly repulsed them, leaving on the field 25 killed and wounded, including 3 officers, and brought off 82 prisoners." Mosby is quick to take responsibility for the incident. "I confess that...I had not taken sufficient precautions to guard against surprise....We had ridden through snow and mud upward of 40 miles, and both men and horses were nearly broken down." General Julius Stahel blames the late Captain Flint for the missed opportunity to capture the elusive Mosby.

HEADQUARTERS STAHEL'S CAVALRY DIVISION, Fairfax Court House, Va. - Maj. Gen. S. P. HEINTZELMAN, Commanding, &c. - GENERAL: Had a proper disposition been made of our troops, Mosby could not by any possible means have escaped....Captain Flint took his men through the gate, and...fired a volley at Mosby and his men, who were assembled about the house, doing but slight damage to them. He then ordered a saber charge, which was also ineffectual....Mosby waited until the men were checked..., and then opened his fire upon them, killing and wounding several. The men here became panic-stricken, and fled precipitately toward this gate, through which to make their escape. The opening was small, and they got wedged together, and a fearful state of confusion followed, while Mosby's men followed them up and poured into the crowd a severe fire. Here, while endeavoring to rally his men, Captain Flint was killed....Mosby's men followed in pursuit and sabered several of our men on the road....In comparison to the number engaged, our loss was very heavy....I have the honor to remain, your obedient servant, JUL. STAHEL, Major-General.

Edwin Stanton finally relents to the growing pressure to resume the exchange of captured officers. Colonel Ludlow reports, "By the direction of the Secretary of War exchanges of officers will now be resumed." Also, according to Ludlow, "There are many naval officers now in confinement in the South....[The Confederates] ask that the rule of reciprocity be carried out in captures on the sea as on the land." The officer exchange is enlarged to include captured naval officers as Gideon Welles' Assistant Secretary issues the necessary orders. "I am directed by the Secretary of the Navy to inform you that the release of certain persons held by the Navy will be immediately proceeded with by turning them over to the proper officers for exchange."

HEADQUARTERS PAROLED PRISONERS, Near Annapolis, Md. - Col. W. HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. - SIR: I received 11 officers and 815 men from Richmond..., and on Saturday 600 men will arrive....I...inclose a requisition for clothing so as to be prepared for arrivals....I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. SANGSTER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Paroled Prisoners.


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Apr 02 1863 (Thursday)

Naval Secretary Gideon Welles has tried promises of promotion and the lure of a "ribboned star" to induce Samuel DuPont to unleash his monitor fleet against the Charleston defenses. According to Welles and his staff, the monitors can "steam into southern harbors, flatten the defenses, and emerge unscathed." DuPont remains unmoved until Welles threatens to transfer his monitors to New Orleans. Assistant Naval Secretary Gustavus Fox explains the reasoning to DuPont. "Matters are at a stand-still on the Mississippi River, and the President was with difficulty restrained from sending off...all the iron-clads directly to New Orleans....It is, however, arranged...that you are to send all the iron-clads that survive the attack upon Charleston immediately to New Orleans, reserving for your squadron only two."

NAVY DEPARTMENT, April 2, 1863. - Rear-Admiral S. F. DUPONT, Comdg. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Port Royal, S.C.: - SIR: The exigencies of the public service are so pressing in the Gulf that the Department directs you to send all the iron-clads that are in a fit condition to move, after your present attack upon Charleston, directly to New Orleans, reserving to yourself only two. Very respectfully, GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy.

Ulysses Grant begins the preparations for his bold plan to strike down the west bank of the Mississippi River and turn the left flank of the Vicksburg defenses. To provide a diversion, General Steele is directed to land his brigade at Greenville. "If no enemy be to your north, move down Deer Creek two or three days' easy marches....If the planters abandon their plantations you may infer they are hostile, and can take their cattle, hogs, corn, or anything you need." In addition, another messenger is sent to General Quimby "directing him to come down as rapidly as possible." Grant explains to Henry Halleck how he plans to keep his supply line open during the move. "There is a system of bayous running from Milliken's Bend..., that are navigable for barges and small steamers...to New Carthage....With these it would be easy to carry supplies to New Carthage, and for any point south of that....I will keep my army together, and see to it that I am not cut off from my supplies, or beaten in any other way than in fair fight." Grant is made aware, by Halleck, that the President "seems to be rather impatient about matters on the Mississippi." Halleck warns, "I hope you will push matters with all possible dispatch." In a final precaution, Grant, "Cump" Sherman, and Admiral Porter personally reconnoiter the Confederate defenses at Haynes' Bluff to see if there is any possibly launching a successful attack there. Grant concludes that there is not, "With present high water the extent of ground upon which troops could land at Haynes' Bluff is so limited that the place is impregnable."

BEFORE VICKSBURG, April 2, 1863. - Admiral DAVID D. PORTER, Commanding Mississippi Squadron: After the reconnaissance of yesterday, I am satisfied that an attack upon Haynes' Bluff would be attended with immense sacrifice of life, if not with defeat. This, then, closes out the last hope of turning the enemy by the right. I have sent troops through from Milliken's Bend to New Carthage, to garrison and hold the whole route and make the wagon road good....I have sent to Saint Louis and Chicago for barges and tugs, and ordered all empty barges here to be fitted up for the transportation of troops and artillery. With these appliances, I intend to be able to move 20,000 men at one time....Having, then, fully determined upon operating from New Carthage either by the way of Grand Gulf or Warrenton, I am of the same opinion as when I addressed you a few days since....I would, admiral, therefore renew my request to prepare for running the blockade at as early a day as possible....U.S. GRANT.

The food riots that have sprung up in a dozen small towns and cities in the Confederacy are symptoms of the growing problem the South is having feeding itself. Prices in Richmond have reached famine level and many of the wives of the men working at the Tredegar Iron Works decide to meet at the Oregon Hill Baptist church to protest. Led my Mary Jackson and Minerva Meredith, the women march to the city's business district shouting "Bread! Bread!" The women ignore the efforts of Governor Letcher to dissuade them and begin to break into shops to get at the food and other goods. Eventually, Letcher calls out the militia to quell the uprising and President Davis makes an appearance. He tells the crowd, "We do not desire to injure anyone, but this lawlessness must stop. I will give you five minutes to disperse." Much to Davis' relief, within the allotted five minutes, the crowd disperses. Davis also makes a special appeal to the Richmond press to ignore the incident, but the story breaks in the Richmond Enquirer. The rioters, exclaims the Enquirer, were, "a handful of prostitutes, professional thieves, Irish and Yankee hags, gallows birds from all lands but our own."

RICHMOND, April 2, 1863. - To the Richmond Press: GENTLEMEN: The unfortunate disturbance which occurred to-day in this city is so liable to misconstruction and misrepresentation abroad that I am desired by the Secretary of War to make a special appeal to the editors and reporters of the press at Richmond, and earnestly to request them to avoid all reference directly or indirectly to the affair. The reasons for this are so obvious that it is unnecessary to state them, and the Secretary indulges the hope that his own views in this connection will be approved of by the press generally. Any other course must tend to embarrass our cause, and to encourage our enemies in their inhuman policy. Very respectfully, &c. JNO. WITHERS, Assistant Adjutant-General.


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Apr 03 1863 (Friday)

General Garnett reports his position, in front of Washington, North Carolina, to his commander, D.H. Hill. "My forces are in front of and below the town. I deemed these the best positions to threaten the enemy and prevent his escape....I am satisfied that without long-range artillery to silence the enemy's batteries I cannot assail the town without great sacrifice of men, with doubtful hope of success." However, Garnett has been able to force the Yankees back into their entrenchments, thus opening the countryside for his foragers. General Longstreet informs Lee of his timetable. "General H. [Hill] asks for two weeks; in addition to these two weeks it will require two [more weeks] to move out to Suffolk and draw the supplies from there. Can we afford to consume this time and reach you before the enemy can move?" Longstreet renews his request for more men and artillery to speed his operation, "If you can spare me two more brigades and artillery I can operate at once," but is again rebuffed by Lee who is now convinced that Burnside's corps has been transferred to Kentucky. "You are...relieved of half the force that has been opposed to you. You will therefore be strong enough to make any movement that you may consider advisable."

HEADQUARTERS, April 3, 1863. - General R. E. LEE, Commanding: - GENERAL: I started down for the Blackwater for the purpose of making arrangements for crossing a force for foraging in the counties east of the Chowan....I hope to be able to cross...and to forage all the counties east of the Chowan....I believe...that a sudden vigorous attack upon Suffolk would give me that place, but I see no chance of getting the garrison unless I can get assistance from the Navy....I shall move...across the Blackwater as soon as I can get substantial crossings, and at least make a forced reconnaissance while I endeavor to draw off subsistence and quartermasters' stores. If more can be done without great sacrifice I shall do it....I remain, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, JAMES LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

In order to take a break from his grueling daily schedule, President Lincoln plans a five-day Easter vacation. Arrangements are made for Lincoln to travel to Falmouth and visit Joe Hooker and the Army of the Potomac. "Our plan is to pass Saturday night on the boat; go over from Aquia Creek to your camp Sunday morning; [and] remain with you till Tuesday morning." Of the reason for the trip, says Lincoln, "Now there is Joe Hooker. He can fight. I think that is pretty well established, but whether he can 'keep tavern' for a large army is not so sure."

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, April 3, 1863. - To His Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am rejoiced to learn that you have appointed a time to visit this army, and only regret that your party is not as large as our hospitality....I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding.


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Apr 04 1863 (Saturday)

Pierre G.T. Beauregard makes arrangements with the local railroads to insure that he will be able to rush troops into areas threatened by Union forces. "The commanding general...is obliged to require the several railroads to hold...enough cars and locomotives for the rapid transportation...of at least 6,000 men by the Northeastern Railroad, and, say, 10,000 by the Savannah and Charleston Railroad." Beauregard is alerted that the long awaited assault is imminent by reports that "seven monitors" have been sighted near Edisto Island, approximately twenty miles from the entrance to Charleston harbor. Samuel DuPont is finally ready to launch his attack and he orders his ships to be cleared for action. The exposed armor of the decks and turrets are covered with slippery untanned hides and the bulwarks are slopped with grease. DuPont hopes that this will lessen the "bite" of enemy shells, but it is now unclear if the Rebels will first be able to see or smell the fleet when they make their final approach upon Charleston.

CHARLESTON, April 4, 1863. - General S. COOPER: Vessels in Stone are twelve to-day, consisting of gunboats, transports, and schooners altogether. There are also about 1,000 men reported landed on Cole's Island, mouth of Stone; none yet on James Island. Seven monitors are in North Edisto and Port Royal, with gunboats, transports, &c., in both. G. T. BEAUREGARD.

Although John McClernand is Grant's least dependable corps commander, the fact that McClernand's men are already stationed at Milliken's Bend makes him the logical choice to lead the march to New Carthage. Happy with the opportunity, McClernand personally reconnoiters the routes of advance and energetically leads his men. "I am forwarding the regiments of the Ninth Division to Richmond as fast as they can be crossed over Roundaway Bayou in small crafts. By to-morrow evening I expect to have a floating bridge completed, which will hasten the passage of the troops to that place, and hope, by nightfall..., to have pushed forward two regiments of infantry and a strong detachment of cavalry 4 miles on the road toward New Carthage." The terrain is boggy and "strewn with the wrecks of wagons...and half buried guns," but McClernand continues to push ahead. "I am now repairing the roads and bridges between here and Richmond...including a floating bridge of 200 feet in length, and will soon commence repairing the road from that place to Carthage." The Confederate cavalry units in the area are severely outnumbered and can only hope to slow the Federal advance. General Bowen reports, "Major Harrison is seriously pressed by...the enemy. I have waited for a boat to send over re-enforcements since yesterday. None has arrived."

HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Milliken's Bend, La., April 4, 1863. - Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT, Comdg. Department of the Tennessee: - GENERAL: I have occupied Richmond, approached within 2 miles of New Carthage, and pursued the enemy down Bayou Vidal...He is understood to have sought refuge on Saint Joseph Lake. The enemy referred to is a portion of Harrison's cavalry troop, which in all is represented to consist of about seven companies. Meantime I have built an excellent floating bridge, 200 feet long, across Roundaway Bayou at Richmond....I found an old skiff, and made a reconnaissance from Smith's plantation, toward Carthage. A levee had extended along Bayou Vidal, from its junction with Roundaway, 2 miles to Carthage. This levee is broken in three places. I crossed all the crevasses except the last two, which brought me within a few hundred yards of Carthage, and in full view of that place and the Mississippi River. When I had approached so near the town, the enemy's pickets fired upon me and came very near hitting me....I have two regiments at Richmond, one at Holmes' plantation..., and two regiments of infantry and...at Smith's plantation....Respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN A. McCLERNAND.

The withdrawal of the Black troops from Jacksonville draws a strong reaction from General Beauregard. "They burned most of the town before leaving....I call specially the attention...to the wanton destruction of private property in Jacksonville." However, President Lincoln is pleased with the performance of the Black soldiers. In a message to General Hunter, Lincoln relates, "I am glad to see the accounts of your colored force at Jacksonville, Fla....It is important to the enemy that such a force shall not take shape and grow and thrive in the South, and in precisely the same proportion it is important to us that it shall. Hence the utmost caution and vigilance is necessary on our part. The enemy will make extra efforts to destroy them, and we should do the same to preserve and increase them."

BEAUFORT, S.C., April 4, 1863. - Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War: - SIR: The expedition was in every way successful, and had it not been withdrawn would in a short time have cleared the State of Florida of the rebel troops and secured large amounts of cotton and other valuables to the Government....As might be expected, the moral effect of the presence of these colored soldiers under arms was very great, and caused a perfect panic among the rebels throughout the State. The colored soldiers behaved bravely in all their various actions with the enemy, and in no case did they display any inferiority in point of courage to other soldiers. I am glad to report that the hostility which at one time existed among the white troops in this department against the employment of colored troops has passed away, and they are now perfectly willing to go into action with them....I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, R. SAXTON, Brigadier-General.

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