Marching Toward Memphis, June 2 1862

Sgt. Will Newlon's Civil War journal continues:

June 2^nd, 1862

Army of the Tennessee

In camp near Corinth, Mississippi &c &c

I was Sergeant of the Guard till 1 o’clock A.M. this morning, consequently did not sleep much last night and in the meanwhile, wrote a letter to sister Mattie. This morning is cool and pleasant.

Twelve o’clock midnight, preparing to move camp to the rear, 4 miles close to Brig. General Jacob G. Lauman’s Headquarters.[1]

     One o’clock P.M., we have orders to be ready to march at a moment’s warning. Where to go; I am not informed.

     Two o’clock P.M., orders to cook rations as fast as possible. Troops are rapidly marching out south and west.

Two ½ o’clock P.M., orders are to form and march out immediately; we comply not having time to get rations or anything except arms and accouterments.

The sky is darkened. The rain begins to fall ere we get to Corinth. We overtake General Sherman’s division close to Corinth going out also. The rain is falling fast. Come to Corinth; pass through without stopping. Cross the Mobile & Ohio R.R.; continue in a southwest direction two miles. Here night overtakes us; we camp for the night by spreading blankets on the ground. The rain continues to fall &c.&c.

Eight o’clock P.M., 79 prisoners pass by us guarded by cavalry going to General Halleck’s headquarters.[2] The most of them are in citizen’s dress and I presume are citizens; were taken 15 miles on the M&C [Memphis & Charleston] R.R.[3] Rumors that Memphis’ Forts Pillow and Randolph are in our possession.[4]

June the 3^rd, 1862

Two miles southwest of Corinth

Mississippi

The morning call arouses me from my slumbers. I rested pretty well last night, but feel rather rusty this morning. It rained a little during the night.

     Six o’clock A.M., take up a line of march; cross the Memphis & Charleston R. R. The first Steam Engine I ever saw in the south I saw this morning going west.

     Seven o’clock A.M., we have arrived at the enemy’s entrenchments prior to the evacuation of Corinth. Have to cut a road through the earthworks and fallen timber, in order to pass our artillery and trains. Seven o’clock A.M., I am sitting on a high stump one rod from the enemy’s fortifications. I can see some distance along the line both right and left. The line of works are on one elevated piece of ground, commanding the county for some distance in front, and would be hard to take either by storm or bombardment had they been possessed by Patriots instead of Traitors. But the labor and toil of many days is lost to them and now the Yankees [are] sitting beneath the shade trees around the great and notable Corinth. Looking at the works of their hands, can laugh at their calamities and mock when their fear cometh, for they (the Philistines) have fled before the mighty men of Israel, who have taken their possessions.

     Nine A.M., the road is open and we continue to march; cross a little creek. Here I find some of the finest timber I have ever seen.

The lofty Oakland poplar with a trunk from 50 to 90 feet without a limb, and the smooth bark beech spreading its green branches far and wide shading the undergrowth. Mulberry, black berries, and dew berries, each covered with delicious berries reminds me of times that are past and gone. Passing through this pleasant grove of timber, we come to a farm on the M & C R.R. where there is a large field of ripe wheat and is being cut by white men and slaves. This is the first plantation that I have seen in Mississippi or Tennessee where the inhabitants were attending to their own business. Passing this farm, we cross the Memphis and Charleston R.R.

The beautiful forests of timber, fine roads and pleasant weather, through which we are passing, is certainly encouraging to the way-worn soldier as he tunes “Yankee Doodle” or some other good old tune.

We pass on the south side of the R.R. two miles west, where we come to a halt; rest and take dinner as one of our teams brought us some provisions. Send teams back to camp after more of that which keeps soul and body together.                      

June the 4^th, 1862

Seven miles west of Corinth on M&C R.R.

     This morning finds us just where we stopped yesterday at noon. It rained a little last night, giving us a good wetting as we lay stretched on the ground under trees and every other place.

     I, with three others, lay under a large oak tree. Sometime during the night a large limb broke and fell from the tree, close to our feet. Why it did not fall on us I cannot tell. If it had, it certainly would have given us many broken bones.

     One of my companions remarked, that he believed that it was a special act of Providence in letting a branch of such immense magnitude fall so close without hurting us, that we might know that He was with us and would preserve our lives while in the most eminent danger. I endorsed his opinion as I thought it a good one.  

W.C. Newlon

Confiscation Act

     This morning is cool and pleasant. Two deserters from the Rebel Army near Grand Junction, with arms and accouterments on, were brought into camp. They confirm what others have said about the demoralized condition of the Rebel Army and that many would be glad to get away.

     Lt. Colonel Scott heard their story, then sent them to General Lauman after which he gave us his mind with regard the Rebel leaders and the Confiscation Act,[5] denouncing it as one of the most inhumane acts ever imposed upon a civilized nation when the founders of the rebellion knew that the life and existence of the whole thing depended upon its popularity.

     An act to force men into rebellion is a sin of the deepest dye and is only practiced by men of the most treasonable character and them alone. We have had an opportunity to converse with citizens here. They rejoice at the approach of Federals, as they are tired of despotism and tyranny.

     They state that provisions are very scarce and that if the north does not send relief soon that they will suffer coffee $1.50 per pound, bacon 95.00 Dollars, salt $22.00 per sack and other things in proportion.[6]

June the 5^th, 1862

Seven miles west of Corinth on M&C R.R.

     All right this morning, morning cool, health good, and ready for anything. Rumors this morning of a battle at Richmond.[7] Day is very hot and unpleasant, ticks, spiders and lizards by the thousands. How detestable they are.

June the 6^th, 1862

Seven miles west of Corinth

Mississippi on M&C R.R.

I am not in military time this morning. Was out [as] a scout last night after thirty armed rebel deserters, who were seen some two miles from our lines. But trying to avoid us, which they successfully did, as we spent half the night after them without accomplishing our object.

     Twelve midnight, our train, camp and baggage arrive. We cross to the north side of the R.R.; go into camp. Our campground is a beautiful one on an elevated piece of timbered land close to the Tennessee line.

June the 7^th 1862, Saturday

Seven miles west of Corinth

Mississippi on M&C R.R.

           Had a big time sleeping last night as I had a tent to sleep in, some brush for a feather bed, my Cartridge Box for a pillow.[8]

     The first thing this morning was to remove the rubbish and sweep the streets, a very hot day, almost scorching hot. Health good, and not married. &c &c.

     Five ½ P.M., Dress Parade for the first time since the evacuation of Corinth. We were honored by the presence of two Mississippi Ladies; such never before witnessed a parade by the 3^rd Iowa. They were rather good looking, more so than intelligent.

     Papers of the (just received) [sic] give an account of the Battle before Richmond, pretty good news. Although I looked for better.[9]

Uncle Sam is getting the Steam Engines running pretty brisk on the different roads; not many cars attached to them. Not so hot as it was. In the middle of the day nothing of importance.

W.C. Newlon

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[1] Jacob Gartner Lauman, “born in Taneytown, Maryland, 20 January 1813; died in Burlington, Iowa, in February 1867. His early days were spent in York County, Pennsylvania, and he was educated at the academy there. In 1844 he removed to Burlington, Iowa, where he engaged in commerce. He was commissioned colonel of the 7th Iowa regiment in July 1861, served under General Grant in Missouri, and was severely wounded at Belmont, 7 November 1861. At Fort Donelson, where he commanded a brigade, he was one of the first to storm and enter the enemy's works. For his services on this occasion he was made brigadier-general of volunteers on 21 March 1862. General Lauman commanded a brigade in General Hurlbut's division at the battle of Shiloh, 6 and 7 April 1862, and a division at the siege of Vicksburg. He was relieved by General William T. Sherman after the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, 16 July 1863, and returned to Iowa.” Available at http://www.famousamericans.net/jacobgartnerlauman/ Edited Appletons Encyclopedia©2001 Virtualology^TM

[2] Major General Henry Wager Halleck (1815-1872) “...was a United States Army officer, scholar, and lawyer. A noted expert in military studies, he was known by a nickname that became derogatory, "Old Brains." He was an important participant in the admission of California as a state and became a successful lawyer and land developer.      Early in the American Civil War, he was a senior Union Army commander in the Western Theater and then served for almost two years as general-in-chief of all U.S. armies. He was "kicked upstairs" to be chief of staff of the Army when Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Halleck's former subordinate in the West, whose battlefield victories did much to advance Halleck's career, replaced him in 1864 as general-in-chief for the remainder of the war.

   Halleck was a cautious general who believed strongly in thorough preparations for battle and in the value of defensive fortifications over quick, aggressive action. He was a master of administration, logistics, and the politics necessary at the top of the military hierarchy, but exerted little effective control over field operations from his post in Washington, D.C. President Abraham Lincoln once described him as ‘little more than a first rate clerk.” Wikipedia Encyclopedia. Available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_W._Halleck.

[3] “The Memphis and Charleston (M&C) Railroad was the last link in a chain of early railroads connecting the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi River. Its route from Memphis to Chattanooga across Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama is still an important rail line as part of the Norfolk Southern system....
   The M&C was strategically important to the Confederacy. The railroad was the scene of heavy fighting early in the Civil War; the April 1862 battle of Shiloh was fought near it, and it was inevitable that the line would be a target for destruction. The war completely demolished much of the railroad....”
   The online edition of the Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, a definitive and comprehensive reference work on the Volunteer State co-sponsored by the University of Tennessee Press and the Tennessee Historical Society. Available at http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/imagegallery.php?EntryID=

[4] “...Fort Pillow was located eight miles above Memphis, and Foote's Flotilla of ironclads began shelling it on 14 April. Despite attempts by a fleet of Confederate ramming ships, Foote captured Fort Pillow on 4 May, followed by Fort Randolph, a little further down on the river. He was able to defeat these rams, which were essentially swift steamboats mounted with a few guns due to the aid of a similar group of eight Union ramming vessels with no guns and some iron plating under the command of Colonel Charles Ellet Jr. These ramming vessels were designed to outmaneuver slower gunboats and ram into them. The swifter Union rams combined with fire from ‘Foote's Flotilla’ was able to sink the rebel rams...” C. Ron Virts, “History of Civil War Ironclads and Gunboats”, 2000. Available at http://www.civilwarships.com/history.html.

[5] The CSA Confiscation Act of 16 April 1862: …”The act…obligated all white males between eighteen and thirty-five to three years’ service or less, should the war end sooner;…”, Emory M. Thomas, The Confederate Nation: 1861-1865. (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), 152-3.

[6]  “1862 – bacon, 75¢ per pound; beef, 12.5¢ per pound;  butter, 75¢ to $2 per pound; coffee, $1.50  to $4 per pound;  cornmeal, $3.50 per bushel; flour, $16 to $40 per barrel; tea, $10 to $20 per pound”, Michael J. Varhola, Every Day life During The Civil War. (Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books, 1999), 88.

[7]  Perhaps early “Phase 1 of the Seven Days’ Battles”. James M. McPherson, ed., The Atlas of the Civil War. (New York: MacMillan, 1994), 70.

[8]  A leather cartridge box, approximately 5”x8”, with a shoulder strap. Issued at the beginning of the Civil War, the box had a stamped “US” brass plate and an Eagle brass breast plate on the strap. Toward the end of the war the boxes were issued without the metal plates as a cost cutting measure. The letters “U.S.” were embossed on the leather flap instead. Inside two tins held 20 paper cartridges, each with a .58 caliber Minié ball. An inside pouch stored gun tools. Photo available at www.espd.com/oxhill/Artifacts/cartridgebox/cartridgebox.htm

[9]  On 30 May CSA General Stonewall Jackson with a force of 15,000 learned that he was about to be cut by a pincer movement in the Strasburg-Front Royal area, forty miles to his rear. US General John Frémont, coming from western Virginia, was only twenty miles from the westerly town of Strasburg and General James Shields occupied Front Royal. Their combined forces numbered 25,000 and were thirty miles apart. For the next week or two there were several skirmishes between various units and commands. See Sword Over Richmond for a fuller account. Richard Wheeler, Sword Over Richmond. (New York: The Fairfax Press, 1986), 245-265.