Thursday, August 25, 2011

August 25 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

25, Life on an occupied Madison County farm
Putting up fences, turning stock out of corn, has been the work of the negroes today. One field, right hand road, had a number of cavalry horses in it. The negroes were threatened if they turned them out they would be shot. I don't know whether they will leave me enough corn to get along with. One fellow this morning was very calmly leading off Sam's mule. I made him turn him loose. He said he only wanted to borrow [sic] him, said I was not disposed to accommodate a soldier [sic].
Robert H. Cartmell Diary, August 25, 1862.

 

25, Cerification of Loyalty to the United States for one Giles County resident
State of Tennessee
Executive Department
Nashville Augt. 25th 1862 [sic]
The bearor [sic] of this Mr. T.T. Burgess of Cornersville Giles County Tenn is a Loyal Citizen and it is therefore hoped that all Federal troops passing in that Vicinity will avoid Committing depredations on his property and that he will be protected against the Same[.]
Andrew Johnson, Military Governor
Papers of Andrew Johnson, Vol. 5, p. 632.

 

25, "Chatanooga [sic] Before the Evacuation. From the Chattanooga Rebel of Aug. 25."
A friend just down from Athens, Tenn., reports a rumor current at that place of a fight at Washington, Tenn., a small village on the river, on Saturday last (22nd) between General Forrest's command and a large force of the enemy, in which the latter were repulsed and driven back seven miles. Loss on both sides heavy. Subsequently another fight occurred at Poor Hook, and the Yankees were again repulsed. No particulars received yet.
The reported advance of Burnside on Knoxville is confirmed. Operations for the moment are enveloped in obscurity.
Chattanooga, so long a hospital and baggage room, is now a camp. Almost every vestige of what is technically known as the rear is gone; all sighs of domesticity have faded away. It is true, the ***** still crows the coming dawn from many a yard and roost, but the households, beneath whose glimmering roof-trees they were wont to make their matins, are removed. The place has been literally cleared for action, and nothing may not be seen in the streets but the rude paraphernalia of war. It is well.
These initials to vigorous and bloody operations have transpired without confusion or alarm. The warning which awoke the army and the town on Friday (21st) was not neglected for a moment. All men seemed to understand, by that tacit intuition which sometimes moves large masses of people as in single impulse that a battle was impending, and citizen and soldier at once began to prepare for it. By dusk on Sunday evening, private families had retired beyond the range of danger, in the event either of a direct assault upon the city, or other perils incident to active operations in its vicinity. The military hastened heavy baggage to the rear, and the several commands received orders, which suddenly electrified them from the torpor of camp life to the animation of the field.
The sights that now fill they eyes are very different from the careless pictures of a few days ago. There is little pomp or circumstance, for the gilt and the tassel are faded from the military coat of arms: but there is that which passes show - deep earnestness and desperate activity. The crowded thoroughfares, with ladies strolling hither and thither, with market wagons vending fruit and fish, and ambulances, drays, and private vehicles coming and going, with officers and soldiers quite listless to everything but ease and idleness, with Jews and Gentiles, unbleached domestics, dogs and cats, all jostled in one rolling current of humanity, have passed from view like the magic castle of Aladdin [sic] of old. In their stead, officers are riding in every direction, squads of cavalry gallop through the streets, and ordnance trains lumber along from post to post.
Now and then, as we look out upon the scene, a[n artillery] battery rolls by in a cloud of dust, its brass pieces shining mysteriously through the sandy mist, and the wheels and gear muttering and growling for the foe. At all time the distant ring of the rifle or rattle of musketry, or deeper bass of the cannonade, rolls up to the quite skies, where the summer clouds play like one mass of fleece around the craigs [sic] at Lookout Peak.
And here we sit, quite as rebellious as ever, dropping our ink-drops in the car of our foeman, as he drops his shells into, we were almost about to say, our own. Howbeit, we shall stand our ground as best we may; therefore, as the man said in the play "have at ye all." Rack on and do your worst, Rosecrans and gang, mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound. The mountains are on fire! There are freemen in the crags. There are rifles among the pines. Come on, therefore, thou canine epitome
"And we will cudgel the
Like to a jelly that cats refuse to lick."
The Rebel, at this writing, is about the only public institution left in the almost deserted and once proud martial-city of Chattanooga. Every other is on the wing, and probably still fancy that the shells are still hot after them. We are left alone in our glory. Alone with our types that "silent myriad army, whose true metal ne'er flinched nor blenched before the despot wrong." The indulgent reader will excuse our scantiness of costume and material, and will, of course, applaud our temerity in flaunting a few more rebel sheets in the very face of the foe. Like the mouse in the fable, we shall continue to sport our diminutive proportions in the lair of the Abolition lion, and tickle his ears with a few of our opinions about himself and his master, Lincoln, generally.
Nashville Daily Press, September 18, 1863.

 

25, Skirmish near Fort Donelson
No. 1.
Report of Col. William W. Lowe, Fifth Iowa Cavalry.
FORT DONELSON, August 25, 1862-10 p. m. (Via Fort Henry, August 26, 1862.)
This post was attacked to-day by a force under Col. Woodward. They were repulsed by the command at this post at one by the remnant of the Seventy-first Ohio, under Maj. Hart. A flag of truce was sent in before the attack, demanding the surrender a la Clarksville. This was promptly refused by Maj. Hart. Soon after, they made the attack. I started for this point as soon as the news of the attack reached me with all the force I could bring, but the affair was ended before my command got in--about sundown. We are now fixed for them, and I start at daylight in pursuit of them. None of the re-enforcements have arrived.
I had an interview with Col. Woodward. No one hurt on our side. Ten or a dozen of the rebels killed and wounded.
W. W. LOWE, Col., Comdg.
No. 2.
Report of Maj. James H. Hart, Seventy-first Ohio Infantry.
HDQRS. U.S. FORCE AT FORT DONELSON, TENN. August 26, 1862.
COL.: I have the honor to report that on Monday, the 25th instant, the forces under my command at this post, consisting of parts of Companies A, B, G, and H, of the Seventy-first Regt. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, were attacked by the rebel forces, under command of Col. Woodward, at about 1. 30 p. m. Before an attack was made a flag of truce was sent in to us, demanding a surrender of the post. I demanded time to consider the proposition, and thirty minutes were given me. I immediately called my commissioned officers into council, submitted the proposition of Col. Woodward, and put the question: "Shall we fight?" The unanimous vote was, "Fight them," and this vote of the officers was but the reflected sentiment, purpose, and determination of the entire command. After negotiations had ended between Col. Woodward [who bore himself as a gentleman] and myself they made a charge with their cavalry. We repulsed and drove them off, with a loss to them of 5 to 10 men, killed and wounded, and 4 horses killed. On our part we met with no loss in killed or wounded. After about half an hour's fighting the enemy retreated in confusion, and were no more seen during the day or night.
I cannot close this brief and hasty report without expressing to you, colonel, and through you to the commanding general, the warmest and most earnest approval of the conduct of all officers and men engaged in the battle. Each and every one of them did his duty and did it well.
I have the honor further to report that when I found a battle inevitable I directed several buildings to be set on fire, to prevent the enemy's taking cover behind them or in them. Of the prudence of this course I have no doubt. It in my judgment contributed greatly to the confusion of the enemy's cavalry, which was represented to be 335 strong, supported by 450 infantry and one 6-pounder. Neither infantry nor cannon were brought into action.
I am, colonel, with sentiments of regard, yours,
JAS. H. HART, Maj., Comdg.
[Indorsement.]
Respectfully forwarded.
The attacking force at Donelson, it should be remembered, was the same (increased) [sic] to which Clarksville was surrendered. In justice to Maj. Hart and his command I respectfully suggest that his report be made public. The remnant of the Seventy-first Ohio and its gallant commander deserves, under all the circumstances, more than a passing notice.
W. W. LOWE, Col. Fifth Iowa Cavalry, Comdg.
OR, Ser. I. Vol. 17. pt. I, p. 38.

 

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