"Yankees' principal spite to South Carolina—fifteen war steamers have sailed, or steamed out against us. Hot work cut out for us whenever they elect to land.
They hate us, but they fear us, too. They do not move now until the force is immense—'overwhelming' is their word. Enormous preparations, cautious approach are the lessons we taught them at Manassas, Bethel, &c&c. McClellan is to come against us, front and rear.
And now we have many little wars beside the great one.
The Judge raging in tantrums. He speaks to me, but he has ceased to look at me. It is months since I have caught his eye. That means mischief!
The president writes, asking for particulars of that interview 13th July. There were present Col. John S. Preston, General Lee, General Cooper, Mr Chesnut, and the president. General Beauregard says he sent the president by his aide, Colonel Chesnut, a plan of battle which the president rejected.
Are we going to be like the Jews when Titus was thundering against their gates? Quarreling amongst ourselves makes me faint with fear."
Showing posts with label P. G. T. Beauregard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label P. G. T. Beauregard. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Saturday, August 29, 2015
27 August 1861,
Rose O'Neal Greenhow
"A jury of matrons, so to speak, sat here on Mrs Greenhow.* They say Mrs Phillips and Mrs Gwin have been arrested also.
No doubt Mrs Greenhow furnished Beauregard with the latest news of the Federal movements—and so made the Manassas fiasco a possibility. She sent us the enemy's plans. Everything she said proved true, numbers, route, &c&c."
*Rose O'Neal Greenhow led the Washington spy ring that passed Union secrets to the Confederates before Bull Run. On 23 August 1861, Pinkerton agents searched Mrs Greenhow's Washington home, placed her under house arrest, and detained several of her associates, including Eugenia Levy Phillips. The news of Mary Bell Gwin's arrest was false.
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| Rose O'Neal Greenhow (c. 1815-1864), pictured with her daughter |
No doubt Mrs Greenhow furnished Beauregard with the latest news of the Federal movements—and so made the Manassas fiasco a possibility. She sent us the enemy's plans. Everything she said proved true, numbers, route, &c&c."
*Rose O'Neal Greenhow led the Washington spy ring that passed Union secrets to the Confederates before Bull Run. On 23 August 1861, Pinkerton agents searched Mrs Greenhow's Washington home, placed her under house arrest, and detained several of her associates, including Eugenia Levy Phillips. The news of Mary Bell Gwin's arrest was false.
Monday, August 24, 2015
24 July 1861, Richmond
"Here Mr Chesnut opened my door—and walked in. Of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaketh. I had to ask no questions. He gave me an account of the battle as he saw it.... Told what regiments he was sent to bring up.
He took orders to Colonel Jackson—whose regiment stood so stock-still under fire they were called a stone wall.* Also, they called Beauregard 'Engine' and Johnston 'Marlboro' (s'en va—en guerre.) Mr C rode with Lay's cavalry after the retreating enemy, in the pursuit, they following them until midnight. There then came such a rain—rain such as only known in semitropical lands."
*For this stand, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, a former West Pointer and instructor at Virginia Military Institute, received a promotion to brigadier general as well as his enduring nickname: "Stonewall."
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| Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson (1824-1863) |
He took orders to Colonel Jackson—whose regiment stood so stock-still under fire they were called a stone wall.* Also, they called Beauregard 'Engine' and Johnston 'Marlboro' (s'en va—en guerre.) Mr C rode with Lay's cavalry after the retreating enemy, in the pursuit, they following them until midnight. There then came such a rain—rain such as only known in semitropical lands."
*For this stand, Thomas Jonathan Jackson, a former West Pointer and instructor at Virginia Military Institute, received a promotion to brigadier general as well as his enduring nickname: "Stonewall."
Sunday, August 23, 2015
22 July 1861,
First Bull Run
"Mrs Davis came in so softly that I did not know she was here until she leaned over me and said–
'A great battle has been fought–Jeff Davis lead the center,* Joe Johnston the right wing, Beauregard the left wing of the army. Your husband is all right. Wade Hampton is wounded. Colonel Johnson of the Legion is killed–so are Colonel Bee and Colonel Bartow. Kirby Smith is wounded or killed.'
I had no heart to speak. She went on in that desperate calm way to which people betake themselves when under greatest excitement. 'Bartow was rallying his men, leading them into the hottest of the fight–died gallantly, at the head of his regiment.
'The president telegraphs me only that "it is a great victory." General Cooper has all the other telegrams.' Still I said nothing. I was stunned. Then I was so grateful those nearest and dearest to me were safe still.
Then she began in the same concentrated voice to read from a paper she held in her hand.
'Dead and dying cover the field. Sherman's battery taken, Lynchburg regiment cut to pieces. Three hundred of the Legion wounded.'
They got me up. Times were too wild with excitement to stay in bed."
*On 24 July 1861 Mary Chesnut noted, regarding First Bull Run:
"The president took all the credit to himself for the victory—said the wounded roused and shouted for Jeff Davis and the men rallied at the sight of him and rushed on and routed the enemy. The truth is, Jeff Davis was not two miles from the battlefield, but he is greedy for military fame."
'A great battle has been fought–Jeff Davis lead the center,* Joe Johnston the right wing, Beauregard the left wing of the army. Your husband is all right. Wade Hampton is wounded. Colonel Johnson of the Legion is killed–so are Colonel Bee and Colonel Bartow. Kirby Smith is wounded or killed.'
I had no heart to speak. She went on in that desperate calm way to which people betake themselves when under greatest excitement. 'Bartow was rallying his men, leading them into the hottest of the fight–died gallantly, at the head of his regiment.
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| The Battle of First Bull Run, fought near Manassas, Virginia, 21 July 1861, the first major battle of the American Civil War |
'The president telegraphs me only that "it is a great victory." General Cooper has all the other telegrams.' Still I said nothing. I was stunned. Then I was so grateful those nearest and dearest to me were safe still.
Then she began in the same concentrated voice to read from a paper she held in her hand.
'Dead and dying cover the field. Sherman's battery taken, Lynchburg regiment cut to pieces. Three hundred of the Legion wounded.'
They got me up. Times were too wild with excitement to stay in bed."
*On 24 July 1861 Mary Chesnut noted, regarding First Bull Run:
"The president took all the credit to himself for the victory—said the wounded roused and shouted for Jeff Davis and the men rallied at the sight of him and rushed on and routed the enemy. The truth is, Jeff Davis was not two miles from the battlefield, but he is greedy for military fame."
16 July 1861, Richmond
"As far as I can make out, Beauregard sent Mr Chestnut to the president to gain permission for the forces of Johnston and Beauregard to join and, united, to push the enemy if possible over the Potomac.
Now every day we grow weaker and they stronger, so we had better give a telling blow at once."
Now every day we grow weaker and they stronger, so we had better give a telling blow at once."
Thursday, August 20, 2015
27 May 1861
"They look for a fight in Norfolk. Beauregard is there. I think if I were a man I'd be there, too.
Also, Harper's Ferry is to be attacked."
Also, Harper's Ferry is to be attacked."
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