diff options
Diffstat (limited to '31319-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 31319-8.txt | 1176 |
1 files changed, 1176 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/31319-8.txt b/31319-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..520b2fd --- /dev/null +++ b/31319-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1176 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ball's Bluff, by Charles Lawrence Peirson + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ball's Bluff + An Episode and its Consequences to some of us + +Author: Charles Lawrence Peirson + +Release Date: February 18, 2010 [EBook #31319] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BALL'S BLUFF *** + + + + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +[Illustration: + +SURGEON HENRY BRYANT · LIEUTENANT COLONEL FRANCIS W. PALFREY · +QUARTERMASTER CHARLES W. FOLSOM · MAJOR PAUL J. REVERE · ADJUTANT +CHARLES L. PEIRSON · COLONEL WILLIAM RAYMOND LEE · ASSISTANT SURGEON +NATHAN HAYWARD + +FIELD AND STAFF OF TWENTIETH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY 1861.] + + + + +_A Monograph._ + + +BALL'S BLUFF + +AN EPISODE AND ITS +CONSEQUENCES TO +SOME OF US. + + +_A paper written for the +Military Historical Society of Massachusetts_ + + + +BY CHARLES LAWRENCE PEIRSON + +_Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General._ + + + +Privately printed by The Salem Press Company +with permission from the +Military Historical Society of Massachusetts +for the information later on of +Charles Lawrence Peirson, of New York, and +Charles Peirson Lyman, of Massachusetts + + + +THE SALEM PRESS COMPANY +SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS + +MDCCCCXIII + + + + +THE EPISODE OF BALL'S BLUFF: AND ITS CONSEQUENCES TO SOME OF US. + + +This subject, like many of the periods of the Civil War, has been often +described, and is familiar to the passing generation, but has, I +believe, never before been placed upon your records, nor by an eye +witness. Therefore, I venture to present it here. + +The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, in which I +had the honor to be a First Lieutenant and Adjutant, left Boston in the +Autumn of 1861, for active service with the army. It was commanded by +William Raymond Lee, as Colonel,--a West Point graduate. Paul J. Revere +was the Major. It had been, before the date of the Ball's Bluff +engagement, but a few weeks in the service, and was stationed first at +Washington, where I remember calling with Colonel Lee, who knew them, +upon General Scott, then commanding the Armies of the United States, +and upon General McClellan, then Commander of the Army of the Potomac. + +The men of the Regiment, like all of the troops in the East at that +time, were untrained by battle, never having heard the sound of a +hostile bullet, and were of no more value as soldiers than were the +Militia Regiments. Soldiers are not soldiers until they have been long +enough together to have acquaintance with and respect for their +officers, and have learned obedience with a belief in discipline, with +a willingness to abide by it. The earlier Battle of Bull Run, which +became a rout for want of discipline, proved nothing and taught nothing +except the after-thought of the necessity of discipline. + +Up to this time (1861), the important arms of Cavalry and Artillery had +been almost entirely neglected, most of the Cavalry not yet being armed +or equipped. + +General McClellan, who was in command when we joined the Army of the +Potomac, was a thoroughly educated soldier. Soon after his graduation +from West Point, he was employed in the construction of the first +Pacific Railway. Later he was selected as one of a Commission to study +the Art of War in Europe. For a time he was with the Allied Armies in +the Crimean War, with every possibility of instructing himself in siege +operations, construction of military bridges and use of pontoons, and +the accepted order of battle for the different arms of the service. +Always occupied with matters of large importance, and with all these +military experiences, he became the best equipped man for the command +of the Union Army. General McClellan was the most popular Commander +that the Army ever had. The men thoroughly believed in him. Certainly +the country owed much to him for the thorough organization of the Army, +which enabled less qualified Commanders, (before the time of Meade and +Grant), to accomplish something with it. + +The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was attached to General Stone's +Corps of Observation, and was encamped near Edward's Ferry on the +Potomac River, some three miles from Ball's Bluff. General Stone was an +accomplished soldier and we all respected him as such. + +We were part of the Brigade of General F. W. Lander. I had known him +well in Salem, where our families resided. He had had a most +adventurous life as an explorer, having once crossed the continent from +San Francisco to the East, alone, his companion having died on the +journey. His courage was unquestioned, and he had military ability. + +General Evans, who was the Confederate Commander of the enemy's forces +near Leesburg, expected General Stone to attack him from Edward's +Ferry, and was slow in moving troops to the vicinity of Ball's Bluff in +consequence. On October 20th, General McClellan received information +that the enemy had withdrawn from their advanced post at Leesburg, and +so advised General Stone, suggesting a demonstration to confirm this +fact, or to accomplish it. + +General Stone ordered a reconnaissance by a few men from the force on +Harrison's Island, which was opposite the high bluff of Ball's Bluff. +They crossed in the moonlight, advanced a short distance, and retired, +reporting to General Stone that they had discovered a Rebel camp, which +afterwards proved to be merely openings in an orchard, which looked to +their excited eyes like tents. However, the camp was taken for granted, +and five Companies of the 15th, with two companies of the 20th +Massachusetts--about 450 men--were sent to capture it. They formed at +the top of the Bluff, afterwards moving forward on the right, where +they encountered the picket reserve of the enemy, who retreated after a +hot skirmish, and the Union force fell back to the Bluff. The companies +mentioned had crossed the swiftly moving river in three small boats, +whose carrying capacity was 28 persons per trip or 100 or more per +hour, from Harrison's Island. The transportation proved utterly +insufficient for moving the troops with any reasonable degree of +rapidity. There were no pontoons or bridge material, or engineers +capable of using them, provided or even thought of, and had not the +quick intelligence and resourcefulness of Major Paul Revere discovered +a scow, which was afterwards taken out of the canal and into the river, +the movement could not have proceeded, especially as there were two +howitzers to be taken across. + +Colonel Baker, who commanded a Brigade in Landers Command (71st +Pennsylvania or so-called California Regiment, and the 42nd New York, +or Tammany Regiment), brought battalions of these regiments to +reinforce our line, and under direct orders from General Stone, assumed +command of the movement. Colonel Baker had some political reputation, +and was a brave man, but he had no military experience or knowledge. He +was shortly killed by a sharp-shooter from a tree between the +combatants. The sharp-shooter immediately met with an accident and fell +from the tree. A rush was made forward to bring back General Baker's +body, in which I joined, having for the moment no duties to prevent me. + +By this time there were many dead and wounded, and we used the boats to +send them over to the Island. The cannons were useless,--since the +ammunition was exhausted, and the cannoneers killed or wounded. We had +seen but little of the enemy during the day, as they were in the woods +while our line was in the open, but they had, nevertheless, very +seriously made known their presence to us. We were too ignorant to +attempt any sort of cover. Later in the war the men learned to cover +themselves, while prone on the ground, by piling knapsacks, fence +rails, or any handy thing, throwing soil, or stones dug up with the +hands or in tin dippers, against the barrier. The strength of the +forces engaged was about 1600 Federals, against 3200 Confederates. Had +there been proper transportation, this difference could have been +remedied, but as it was, we felt our deficiency more particularly when +it was decided by Colonel Cogswell of the 42nd New York, who assumed +command by seniority after the death of General Baker, to try to force +our way through on the left. + +He concluded to move to the left of Edward's Ferry, some three miles +down the river, where there was a chance of reinforcement, and gave +orders to that effect. He formed a column with the 42nd New York and +the 71st. Pennsylvania at its head, and moved in that direction, but +they were unable to make much progress, owing to the overwhelming fire +of the enemy, who threw their whole force against us, and we were +forced to fall back. + +At this time I could not help observing the courage and gallant bearing +of Captain (afterwards Colonel) John Markoe, of the 71st Pennsylvania, +and when I met him that night, a fellow prisoner at the Headquarters of +Colonel Evans, I claimed his acquaintance. Captain Markoe formed one of +our mess at Libby Prison, and thus originated the friendship which +lasted through his life. + +Meanwhile the wounded men were being slowly carried across the river. +Later the enemy threw forward their line, and ours gave way, falling +back at the Bluff at about 6 P.M., where we managed to hold on a while +longer with our line still intact, and finally under orders continued +the movement to the river bank. The men were permitted to save +themselves by swimming, if they could, and many attempted this feat. It +was not so very difficult for a strong man to cross in this way. + +The Confederates could not come down to the Bluff without breaking up +their organization, being unable to see, owing to the trees and +darkness, what was in their front, and the firing by our men retarded +them for some hours. They kept up, however, a continued firing, +especially on the boats and the many swimmers. The scow, which had +already carried over many wounded, now started on her last trip, but +when starting, a number of uninjured men rushed forward, disturbing the +trim of the boat, so that half way across the river she rolled over, +and all were thrown out. Only one man is known to have escaped +drowning. The scow floated down the stream and was lost. The small +boats were riddled by bullets and disappeared, and all those who had +not escaped were taken prisoners during the night. + +Colonel Lee of the Twentieth Regiment was a man over middle age, +therefore much beyond the rest of us in years, and could not swim the +river. He was urged to go in one of the boats, but refused to do so +while a single wounded man remained on the Virginia shore. Therefore, +some of us whose duty, as we saw it, lay in that direction, accompanied +him up the river, hoping if unmolested to reach some Union forces in +that quarter. Finding after a while a boat, for which we gave a colored +man our only ten dollar gold piece, we endeavored to use it, but a hole +in the bottom of it seemed, in the presence of hostile bullets, to make +it undesirable, so we proceeded along the bank to a more secure +position, where we made a raft of fence rails bound together with our +sword belts. It was successfully launched, but before we could use it +we were dismayed to see it slowly disappear to rest on the bottom of +the river. + +Proceeding again, our party at this time being Major Revere, Doctor +Revere and Lieutenant Perry, besides Colonel Lee and myself, we came to +what we thought might be an outpost. While endeavoring to avoid it, we +found ourselves on the top of a farmer's gate, and at that moment we +were hailed with the remark, "Who goes there?" from a company of +Cavalry, whose carbines were pointed at us, and unpleasantly near our +faces. Replying that we would explain if the fire was delayed for a +moment, we completed our movement and surrendered to the inevitable. + +Our captors politely accepted our pistols and swords, I being obliged +to give up the sword of Lieutenant William Putnam of the 20th Regiment, +a young Harvard student, from whom I had taken it as he lay mortally +wounded on the battle field. This sword, which I had in mistaken +kindness taken, was accidentally discovered in Philadelphia some years +since, and it being marked with the name, was returned to his mother, +who received it almost as a message from Heaven. + +We were taken on foot to the Headquarters of the General in Command of +their forces in the Town of Leesburg, Virginia, where were gathered +other prisoners. By this time night had succeeded day. We were nearly +exhausted, and were not cheered by the thought that we were prisoners +of war about to begin our captivity. + +At this date there was no Cartel of Exchange. Our imagination recalled +prisons of all sorts, among them Dartmoor, about which we had heard in +our childhood. The future seemed dim, but when the General in command +offered to restore us to our friends upon our agreement not to serve +again against the Confederacy, no one was found willing to accept the +offer. Indeed we were somewhat abusive in chiding him for offering such +terms to gentlemen, and suggested that he was hardly worthy of the +appellation. His patience was exhausted by the conversation that +followed and we were hurriedly started towards Richmond, without +waiting for rations. + +We passed through the Battlefield of Bull Run, and halting there were +shown into a stone structure which had been the target for many cannon +balls from both sides during the battle. Here was given about midnight +a meal, the first for 24 hours, which we managed to slightly cook by +making fires upon the floor with laths wrenched from the ceiling. +Somewhat refreshed we took passage in open freight cars for Richmond +and Libby Prison. + +Our march was over and we began, as prisoners of war, the long, weary +months in Libby Prison. + +I have termed the affair of Ball's Bluff an Episode. It certainly +formed no part of a movement by other troops. It was only casually +directed by General McClellan, and only informally by General Stone. +The results astonished both of these gentlemen. + +The action arose from a misunderstanding caused by a quartermaster's +excited imagination. The details of transportation were not thought out +beforehand by anyone, nor time given to their perfection. + +General McCall, who had a force not far off, which was not called into +action, expresses himself as "unable to account for Stone's +movement,"--thought it injudicious. It proved afterwards that Stone had +not the means to cross the river. He could not have crossed in the face +of the "enemy." + +General Lander says, "Stone was tripped up by circumstances. If we had +orders to cross that stream, we would have had them a week beforehand." + +General McClellan says to the Committee on the Conduct of the War, who +(judged by the questions which they put), seemed to consider themselves +educated soldiers, competent to give orders in actual battle,--"Telegraphed +Stone after Baker fell. Intrench yourselves on the Virginia side and +await reinforcements if necessary. Telegraphed Banks to support him +with three brigades. On the 22nd inst. I went personally to the scene +of operation (probably to Edward's Ferry), and after ascertaining that +the enemy were strengthening themselves at Leesburg, and that the means +of crossing or recrossing were very insufficient, I withdrew our forces +to the Virginia side." + +General Meade in his published letters, (he then commanded a Brigade in +McCall's Division), writes October 24th, "Regarding Ball's Bluff, as +far as I can gather, the whole affair was a bungle from beginning to +end. The worst part of the business is that at the very time our people +were contending against such odds, the advance of McCall's division was +only 10 miles off and had we been ordered forward instead of back, we +could have captured the whole of them." + +Such is contemporary judgment and criticism. + +The following stanzas were written by Brigadier General F. W. Lander on +hearing that the Confederate Troops said,--"Fewer of the Massachusetts +officers would have been killed, had they not been too proud to +surrender." + + Aye, deem us proud, for we are more + Than proud of all our mighty dead; + Proud of the bleak and rock-bound shore + A crowned oppressor cannot tread. + + Proud of each rock, and wood and glen, + Of every river, lake and plain; + Proud of the calm and earnest men, + Who claim the right and will to reign. + + Proud of the men who gave us birth, + Who battled with the stormy wave, + To sweep the Red Man from the Earth, + And build their homes upon his grave. + + Proud of the holy summer morn + They traced in blood upon its sod; + The rights of freeman yet unborn; + Proud of their language and their God. + + Proud that beneath our proudest dome, + And round the cottage cradled hearth, + There is a welcome and a home + For every stricken race on earth. + + Proud that yon slowly sinking sun + Saw drowning lips grow white in prayer, + O'er such brief acts of duty done, + As honor gathers from despair. + + _Pride_--'tis our watchword, "Clear the boats," + "Holmes, Putnam, Bartlett, Peirson--Here" + And while this crazy wherry floats, + "Let's save our wounded," cries Revere. + + Old State,--some souls are rudely sped-- + This record for thy Twentieth Corps,-- + Imprisoned, wounded, dying, dead, + It only asks,--"Has Sparta more?" + + +The tobacco warehouse which we occupied, is on the main street of +Richmond. It was similar to several other buildings and they were all +used as Military Prisons, and all called Libby Prison. It is a large, +three-story building and built as it was, in a most substantial manner, +was well adapted for a Military Prison. The first floor was allotted to +the officers captured, some 70 in number, and the other stories filled +with the men, perhaps 250 of them. In the centre of the lower or +officers' floor is placed the heavy machinery for pressing and +preparing the tobacco, thus dividing the space into two equal sections, +and occupying one-half of the floor space, which was 65 x 45 feet. + +The windows on the street floor are well protected by iron bars, while +those opposite are unprovided with bars, and open upon the yard, but +guarded by sentinels stationed there, with orders to shoot any +prisoners in either story who lean out of the windows. Seven men were +shot by these guardsmen while I was confined there. Those dying in the +nearby hospital were taken to this yard for shipment elsewhere in +wagons. + +We had no inducement to peer inquisitively from the windows. The +windows on the street, however, afforded us some more interesting +views. Some of the towns-people were almost always outside-lookers-in, +and occasionally someone would, when unnoticed by the guard at the +entrance, show a sign of sympathy. We frequently saw Jeff Davis riding +by, and we always took pains to regale him with pertinent remarks +befitting his high rank, or with some applicable song. One song was +called the Prison Song, to the tune of,--"John Brown's Body lies +a-Slumbering in the Ground." The words, descriptive of our situation, I +do not remember, but the refrain ran,--"Roll on Sweet Moments, Roll on, +and let the poor prisoners go home, go home." + +There were ten mess tables made of rough boards, and benches or stools. +The fare was meagre; the floor hard for sleeping, though later we +procured some cots; the covering insufficient, and the vermin +ineffaceable pests. We had almost no books, nothing to help pass the +time. We took daily walks by reliefs, up and down one side of our +scanty quarters. There was a daily roll call, when chaffing the Officer +of the Day gave slight amusement. At one time three or four of our +companions escaped from prison, passing the guard by a show of +authority. The wearing of Federal uniforms secured on the field of +battle was so common in the streets, that the guards could hardly tell +friends from foe. + +At that time the whole Rebel Army was encamped near Richmond, and in +consequence it availed nothing to be outside the walls of the prison. +The escaped prisoners were in a day or two brought back and put in +irons. While they were gone we had with some success answered for their +names at Roll Call from a distant part of the room. We devised a way of +unlocking the irons, and by putting a detail of our men to give warning +of the approach of officials, were able to give some relief to the +sufferers. + +The Commander of the Prison was the notorious Wirtz, afterwards hung +for cruelty to prisoners by the United States Government. One of his +juniors was a Lieutenant Todd, said to be a brother of Mrs. Abraham +Lincoln. He was always abusing Lincoln, and was especially strict and +disagreeable, even more so than his superior, Wirtz. + +We formed a society, and held meetings, at which speeches were made and +stories told, more or less accurate. When any new officers, taken on +the various battlefields, came, we initiated them, and, in the openness +of their confidence, got from them the story of their early lives and +loves, which afforded us amusement, until they discovered a way to be +brief in their statements. + +The privates, who were mostly intelligent volunteers, had similar +difficulty in passing time. They had, however, one successful thing +which interested them for a time. The money then in circulation in +Richmond consisted entirely of paper money, in the form of Corporation +notes, and those of business firms, plank roads, or private bankers, +etc. + +Our men discovered in their quarters a half barrel of such material, +needing only to be signed and issued. This was readily accomplished, +and as they took care to have the issue in fractional amounts, it was +never questioned, and served its purpose of increasing the Currency of +the Realm. Through the kindness of one of the guards, this served to +supply them with tea and tobacco purchased for them in the city. + +One day General Winder, a former member of the U.S.A., now commanding +the District of Richmond, came with the staff in full uniform to make +an official visit to the prison. He read an order of the Confederate +War Department, directing him to select Officers bearing the highest +rank, to be held as hostage for the lives of as many Privateer men who +were held in Federal Prisons under the charge of piracy on the High +Seas. The order required the hostages to be confined in the cells +reserved for prisoners accused of infamous crimes. The hostages +selected, seven in number, were under this order, taken to Henrico +County Jail, a stone building in Richmond, with high windows looking +out upon a stone wall not ten feet off, of equal height with the jail. + +Colonel Lee and Major Revere were among the chosen seven who were taken +to the jail, where their hardships were more than ours were, who +remained in Libby Prison. Colonel Lee writes to the Adjutant, dated +Cell No.--, County Jail. "Dear C.,--We are all well. This is indeed a +prison. We have two meals a day. I will not dwell upon our situation. +Seven persons in one cell, 11 x 17 feet, in which all the duties of +life are met. Iron grated door and two high grated windows. Does the +sun shine? Is it pleasant to look on the sky? A County Jail is not a +fit place for men charged with constructive crimes. No despondent +thoughts cross our manhood. Come what may, that shall stand a rich +legacy to the dear ones who cluster about our home altars." + +Moved by this recital, seven officers of those remaining in Libby +Prison petitioned General Winder for leave to take the place of the +hostages, but it was refused. In February the hostages were returned to +the warehouse, their former prison, and afterwards exchanged. In due +time, after much exertion on the part of the Union Officers, the +Privateers were released as pirates and turned over to the Navy +Department. Finally we were all exchanged for officers of equal rank +held in Northern prisons, and were able after a short vacation, of +which we stood in need, to return to our Regiments, then serving with +the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula. We had lost so much weight +that our clothes were all a misfit and we needed a new supply. + +When we exchanged in 1862, I was sent to Norfolk on my way to Fortress +Monroe. The Confederate steamer which carried us met the Federal +steamer half way. When we saw again the Stars and Stripes we were +overpowered with emotion, and fell with streaming eyes upon our knees +on the deck, raising our arms to Heaven and offering thanks to God for +all his mercies. + + + + +SUPPLEMENTARY + + + + +MILITARY RECORD OF WRITER. + + +Lieutenant and Adjutant, July 1, 1861 + +Lieutenant-Colonel, Aug. 30, 1862 + +Colonel, July 13, 1864 + +Colonel by Brevet for conduct in the battles of the Wilderness and +Spottsylvania, Virginia + +Brigadier-General by Brevet for conduct in the battles on the Weldon, +Richmond Virginia + + + + +BATTLES IN WHICH THE WRITER PARTICIPATED. + + +_Names of battles as authorized by the War Department to be borne on +the Battle Flags of the regiments engaged._ + + Ball's Bluff + Yorktown + West Point + Seven Pines + Fair Oaks + Peach Orchard + Savages Station + White Oak Swamp + Glendale + Malvern Hill + Mine Run + Wilderness + Spottsylvania + Petersburg + Weldon Railroad + + + + +SERVICE. + + +Twentieth Massachusetts Vol. Infantry + +Thirty-ninth Mass. Volunteer Infantry + +Second Corps, Second Division + +First Corps, Second Division + +Fifth Corps, Third Division + +Army of the Potomac + +Served on staff of Brigadier General N. J. T. Dana + +Served on staff of Major General John Sedgwick + + + + +EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS OF THE TIME. + + +_In the Field, October 24, 1861_ + +General F. W. Lander writes to my mother: "It is with regret that I am +compelled to inform you that Charles is taken prisoner by the +Confederate Troops. Proper means of transportation not having been +provided our troops outnumbered five to one could not be reinforced. +Colonel Lee, 20th Massachusetts Regiment, refused to retreat until his +wounded were on board the boats. Your son, Major Revere, and Surgeon +Revere as gallant officers necessarily remained with their Colonel. Out +of the 480 men of the 20th Massachusetts in that action we have lost in +killed and missing 156 men aside from which brought off 45 wounded." + + +_Boston, October 25, 1861_ + +The Governor of Massachusetts writes to my mother: "I grieve to inform +you that your son, Adjutant Charles L. Peirson, was taken prisoner with +Colonel Lee, Major Revere, Doctor Revere and Lieut. Perry. The +newspapers say that these officers became prisoners through their +gallantry having given up their boat to the wounded soldiers. This act +of disinterestedness is exactly what I should have expected from these +brave and generous officers. I hope that an early exchange may restore +your son to the service." + +Signed, + +JOHN A. ANDREW, _Governor_. + + +_Richmond, November 11, 1861_ + +To my brother: "I avail myself of an offered opportunity of sending to +inform you of my continued health. Yesterday the Commander of the +Prison, General Winder, appeared with an imposing array of Colonels to +assist him and read an order of the Confederate War Department about +Hostages for the privateers held as pirates in New York with threatened +hanging. Of course we cannot comment upon such a proceeding but you can +be assured that the present privations that we all are subjected to are +borne uncomplainingly and that all future ones will be also. We will +never give them the satisfaction of seeing us flinch. It affords me no +pleasure to write when I know that my letter is to be read half a dozen +times in its passage." + + + + +EXTRACTS FROM A DIARY WRITTEN IN LIBBY PRISON + + +_Boston, April 13, 1861_ + +War began--Fort Sumter fired upon. + + +_Richmond, November 5, 1861_ + +Received letter from Wm. G. Saltonstall very kindly offering to send me +anything. + + +_Richmond, November 14, 1861_ + +Dr. Gibson, C.S. Army, sent for us and we met him in the office next +door. He stated that he had received a letter from Dr. J. Mason Warren +of Boston asking his assistance on my behalf and also that of my fellow +prisoners. Dr. Gibson offered in a general way to do anything in his +power--and I told him that when I was in want I should take the liberty +of calling upon him. There were many things that he might have offered +to do, but which I would not ask for. + + +_Richmond, December 21, 1861_ + +Received letter from W. G. Saltonstall informing me about his accident +on board the "Minnesota." + + +_Richmond, December 31, 1861_ + +The last of the year--1861--Probably the most momentous one since we +were a people. God grant the next may bring peace to our unhappy land. + +The more I see of this terrible war, the more I deplore it and the more +I see the necessity of continuing it. Our cause is even more desperate +than theirs--we are fighting for liberty and against ignorance. These +people are being taught to hate with a bitter hate three quarters of +the people on this Continent. + +The Southern Press teems with scurrilous editorials against the +Yankees, ridiculous to us who read them here, but I believe they are +believed by the common people of the South. Years will not dispel this +feeling, even if we come together again, which I fear will never be the +case. God grant that our rulers will act with reason and justice, that +the people may be brought to see that Slavery is not the object of this +War and should have no part in it whatever, that we may bring back our +Government to a firm basis of truth, justice and eternal right and that +Good Will toward men shall be our watch-word. These are my old year +prayers; may they be heard in Heaven. + + +_Richmond, January 1, 1862_ + +The year opens up on me yet a prisoner in Richmond. Well, I have much +to be grateful for. I hear from my friends at home who are well and do +not forget me. My own health remains, though not unimpaired, yet +comparatively good, nor am I suffering for want of food and clothing. + +We are conscious of the fact that being here deprives us of experience, +rank and opportunity which those who were more fortunate enjoy, but we +are in strong hope that another month or two will end this imprisonment +and this useless aimless life. + + +_Richmond, January 7, 1862_ + +One day passes so much like another that there are but a few incidents +to take note of. In the morning we read the papers, talk about the +contents and walk about the apartment for exercise. In the evening we +often play at cards but oftener read or write. There is not one +redeeming quality about this life. The mind cannot be brought down to +study and is hardly interested in Dickens or Scott or in the one volume +of Shakespeare which we had before he went to Jail. Very many of our +associates are men of vulgar tastes or habits, so that their society is +anything but agreeable. Noise and confusion reign most of the time with +a constant jarring of one's sensibilities. + + +_Richmond, January 14, 1862_ + +Saw General Winder at his office at 4 P.M. and rode there on horseback +in company with Lieutenant Hartstone. The exercise was delightful--distance +1-1/2 miles. + +General Winder received me with politeness and told me that his +Government refused to exchange me for a citizen. I then expressed to +him my belief that I could through the influence of my friends effect a +change in the treatment of the Privateers could I be sent with the +assurance of a willingness to reciprocate. By his advice I made the +application in writing through him to the Confederate Secretary of War. +I expect to hear the result of my application in a day or two. He also +gave me a pass to the Jail where the Hostages are confined, the first +time that any of us have had permission to enter. + +Colonel Lee and Major Revere were delighted to see me but my heart sank +within me when I saw the hole that they were in. No prison in New +England is so miserable and uncomfortable. I believe that no seven +imprisoned men in the North are so illy cared for as these. + + +_Richmond, January 19, 1862_ + +Letter to Gen. J. H. Winder: "General:--The undersigned Commissioned +officers of the United States Army respectfully ask your attention to +the following proposition: + +"Learning that there are at Fortress Monroe and at Norfolk officers of +the Confederate States Army including Col. Pegram and other field +officers part of whom are placed upon their parole and all seeking an +exchange--We propose that they be exchanged rank for rank with Col. Lee +and other officers now confined in Henrico County Jail and that we be +permitted to take their places to be held as hostages for the men +confined in New York. Our reasons for this application are the ill +health of the officers referred to, arising from the unwholesome place +in which they are confined. The fact that they have since their +confinement been treated more rigorously than the Privateers in New +York (in proof of which we refer you to the Hon. M. Faulkner of the +Confederacy), contrary as we believe to your own expressed intentions, +and because our own rank is sufficiently above that of the Privateers +to make the accomplishment of your object equally safe and more humane. +We ask your consideration of the fact that had you not held field +officers as prisoners of war we should have in all probability occupied +their places and that you would have considered the safety of the +privateers sufficiently guaranteed. Also if the officers lost their +characters as prisoners of war, when they were forced to assume that of +Hostages, should they not receive equal treatment with their +substitutes, and is rank a matter of moment? On the other hand if they +are still to be considered as Prisoners of War ought they not to be +treated as such, and do you not gain as much as ourselves in exchanging +them for officers of equal rank? + +"Very respectfully your Obedient Servants, + +"CHARLES L. PEIRSON, Adjutant 20th Mass. Regt. for Col. Lee +GEORGE B. PERRY, Lieut. 20th Mass. Regt. for Major Revere. +W. E. MERRILL, United States Engineers for Col. Cogswell. +J. E. GREEN, Lieut. 15th Mass. Regt. for Col. Wood. +J. H. HOOPER, Lieut. 15th Mass. Regt. for Capt. Bowman. +JOHN MARKOE, Capt. 71 Penn. Regt. +C. M. HOOPER, Lieut. 71 Penn. Regt." + + +_Richmond, January 19, 1862_ + +Visited the Jail and spent the morning there; my last day in prison. +Tomorrow I shall be again under the Stars and Stripes. So many pleasant +hopes and memories mingle with the plans for the release of my friends +that my mind is too full for definite thought or writing. I have +received a passport which reads thus:--"permission is granted C. L. P. +to visit Norfolk upon honor not to communicate in writing or verbally +for publication any fact ascertained which if known to the enemy might +be injurious to the Confederate States of America." I have also signed +a parole to take no part in the existing hostilities until released or +exchanged. Had an interview with General Winder who stated to me +officially for his Government that if the Privateers are placed as +prisoners of war the Hostages shall secure the same treatment. Hurrah +for the Stars and Stripes! + + +_Washington, January 30, 1862_ + +Waited before breakfast from 10 A.M. (at which time I had the day +before arranged an interview) until 4 P.M. to see General McClellan. +Saw Secretary Stanton and met General Stone at General McClellan's +office. Saw also Hon. H. M. Rice of Minnesota and Hon. A. H. Rice of +Massachusetts. + + +_January 31_ + +Waited all the morning at General McClellan's office. Wrote to Governor +Andrew, called on Hon. Charles Sumner--met Mr. John M. Forbes of Boston +who gave me much help in seeing influential people. Captains W. P. +Mason, R. B. Irwin, McMahon, Arthur McClellan (brother of the General), +Aides de Camp to the General were very polite to me. Secretary Stanton +gave me a copy of the order transferring the Privateers to the War +Department. This secures the release of my friends. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Ball's Bluff, by Charles Lawrence Peirson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BALL'S BLUFF *** + +***** This file should be named 31319-8.txt or 31319-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/3/1/31319/ + +Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |