This Week in Georgia Civil War History
Oct. 19, 1862: A Georgia soldier stationed in Atlanta wrote to his sister, telling her of the escape of some Union prisoners (see October 16).
"...Thursday evening a little after sunset, fourteen of the Yankee prisoners got out of jail, and twelve of them made their escape. One was caught before he got over the palings, and one fell from the top of them and broke his leg. Another one was taken up Friday night, which leaves eleven out yet. We have had a great time hunting for them. ..."
Source: Mills Lane (ed.), "Dear Mother: Don't grieve about me. If I get killed, I'll only be dead.": Letters from Georgia Soldiers in the Civil War (Savannah: Beehive Press, 1990), p. 193.
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General Braxton Bragg began moving his Confederate army through the Cumberland Gap, leaving Kentucky and returning to Tennessee.
Oct. 20, 1862: In an oddity, a black soldier enlisted on this day for the Confederacy; he would only serve for one month.
Oct. 21, 1862: It is generally acknowledged that the South had better military leadership early in the Civil War. But this did not mean all Southern officers excelled, or were even competent, as evidenced by a message from Confederate President Jefferson Davis reprinted in The Southern Recorder of Milledgeville.
Two editorials in the Confederate Union of Milledgeville admit that a long, bloody war is still ahead; and that the South must stand on its own, no help will come from outside sources.
Oct. 22, 1862: There were several items of interest in the Southern Banner of Athens on this day. One was a plea for donations of clothing for soldiers.
An Appeal for the Soldiers.
Friends of the Soldiers:--Our hearts are moved with deepest sympathy by the sad and disheartening testimony which correspondents from the battle-fields have borne to the stern fact that the Army, whose heroic courage and enduring fortitude have repelled and conquered our country's foe, is suffering for shoes, blankets, and other necessaries to its comfort. Shall we be selfishly indolent, with this cry of coming distress borne to us by the blasts which herald the approach of winter? . . . The Society, long involuntarily inactive, waits with willing hands and cheerful hearts to aid; requiring only material to give substantial evidence of its earnest sympathy. We appeal to you for contributions of blankets, shoes, socks, cloth or money; and pledge ourselves that the material shall be promptly made, and forwarded to the companies of Clark county.
P. Thomas,
Secy' Ladies' Vol. Association,
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Another was an alternate way of preserving pork, in the absence of salt.
From the Countryman.
Salt.
Mr. John H. Traylor, in a communication dated Whitesville, Harris County, Ga., Sept. 27, 1862, addressed 'To The Countryman," through the Columbus Daily Enquirer of 3d inst., says:--"Having noticed your communication inquiring for Mr. Stubbs, and supposing you wished to know something further about his recipe for saving pork by an economical process, I have concluded to give a safe and economical one which has been tried in my neighborhood, with very satisfactory results:
To 5 gallons of water, add 7 pounds slat 1 pint syrup, and 1 teaspoonful of pounded saltpetre. After the pork is cooled in the usual way, pack in barrels, and cover with the above mixture. Let it remain 4 or 5 weeks, and hang and smoke in the usual manner.
This plan was tried last winter by Judge Alex B. Huey, of Harris County, Ga., in saving his entire crop of pork, with perfect success he having saved 4,500 pounds of pork with only 85 pounds of salt. I have eaten of the bacon, and have no hesitation in saying it is as well salted as any I ever saw."
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There was a discharge for disability in the Georgia 46th Regiment on this day.
Oct. 23, 1862: A Georgia soldier in Virginia wrote to his wife at home, mentioning the Second Battle of Manassas ("Pope got whipped") and the disagreements in the North about a possible draft.
"...I will send you a song I gave 20 cts for it. it was wrote after old Pope got whipped. My Dear you all say there that Peace will soon be made but here you hear but Little talk of peace yet we hope for pease soon. some think we will soon have peace because the yankeys is split up in the north they are fighting each other old Lincoln wants to draft them an they wont be drafted they say let us alone. They will not fight us they say if they have to fight they will fight at home. ..."
Source: Katherine S. Holland (ed.), Keep All My Letters: The Civil War Letters of Richard Henry Brooks, 51st Georgia Infantry (Macon: Mercer University Press, 2003), p. 51.
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Another Georgia soldier in Virginia also wrote home to his wife; he had just returned to service after being home on furlough, where he met one of Georgia's leading statesmen.
"...I went to call upon Gen. Tooms at his residence. He was not at home. Leaving a card and a message that I would bear any letter from him to the army if sent by the following morning to Mr. Cleveland's, I returned to take tea...
I had been there but a little while when Gen. Toombs called to see me. He spent the evening with us. And a pleasant evening it was, too. I have never yet met any man whom I had rather listen to in conversation than Gen. Toombs. He has the drollest way of saying funny things and the finest way of saying great things imaginable. ...
My visit home was very pleasant. You were very kind, and I love you more than ever before. ... You seem ever so much nearer to me than when I saw you last. I please myself with the fancy that you rested more contentedly in my arms, as if you thought them strong enough and tender enough to shelter you from the storms of life. May it be so. May they never disappoint your generous trust. ..."
Source: Anita B. Sams (ed.), With Unabated Trust: Major Henry McDaniel's Love Letters from Confederate Battlefields as Treasured in Hester McDaniel's Bonnet Box (The Historical Society of Walton County, Inc., 1977), pp. 108-109.
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The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on a tragedy for a Georgia soldier at home.
Oct. 24, 1862: While one newspaper had reported on problem officers earlier in the week (see October 21), on this day the Georgia Weekly Telegraph Macon reported that not enlisted men were adhering to their duty either.
The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on a small encounter off the Georgia coast.
The commander of the Union army in Kentucky was relieved of duty for his failure to pursue Braxton Bragg following the Battle of Perryville (see October 8). He was replaced by William Rosecrans. Now both commanders were in place who would lead their respective armies in the first major battle to be fought on Georgia soil in September of 1863.
President Abraham Lincoln remained frustrated with another Union General - George McClellan - for his inactivity following the Battle of Antietam. McClellan had argued that his horses were fatigued, on this day Lincoln responded with a sarcastic note (read here) wondering what the horses had done to get so tired.
Oct. 25, 1862: This week's edition of Harper's Weekly printed a note from General Robert E. Lee to his men, praising them for their valor and successes.
Image Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library / University of Georgia Libraries
Harper's Weekly also printed a graphic image of the Antietam Battlefield.
Image Courtesy of Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library / University of Georgia Libraries
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