June » 2011 » Today in the Civil War

June 11, 1861: P.G.T. Beauregard to Samuel Cooper

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a Louisiana-born general of the Confederate States Army. He had graduated second in his class from West Point in 1838 and was an admirer of Napoleon. He achieved fame early in the Civil War for commanding the Fort Sumter bombardment and as the victor of the first battle of Manassas. He later served in the Western Theater (including Shiloh and Corinth), Charleston, and the defense of Richmond, but his career was hampered by friction with Jefferson Davis and other generals.

Transcript:

Head Qrts. Dept. of Alexa. Va.

Manassas Junction. June 11^th 1861

General

The Bearer Col. Chisolm, volunteer aid, is in charge of four prisoners taken in Fairfax Country from the enemy, & a certain Dr. John Richards of Washington, who arrived here this morning on the plea of meeting here with his son, at school in Charlotteville- but more probably for the purpose of obtaining all the information he could relative to our position & force, to communicate to his friend Mr. Lincoln, whose family physician I am informed he is- I would respectfully advise that he should be kept a prisoner until after the war- for by the enclosed papers, it will be seen that his sympathies appear to be entirely with our enemies-

I remain Sir Very Resp’y

Your Obs.

G. T. Beauregard

Brig. Genl Comdg

Citation:G. T. (Gustave Toutant) Beauregard (1818-1893), autograph letter signed to Samuel Cooper. Manassas Junction, Va. 11 June 1861. AMs 356/3

June 10, 1861: Mary Randolph Custis Lee to James B. Fry

Mrs Lee is writing to writing to a Union officer on the military staff occupying her old home, Arlington.

Transcript:

June 10^th 1861

My dear sir

This is probably the last note I shall address you as I leave this part of the country to await in all the torture of suspense the uncertain future—I wish too to inform Genl McDowell & yourself what I am sure you are ignorant of that the statement of Lieut Tompkins & his servant relating to the skirmish at Fairfax C.H. is entirely false as a lady I will not use a harsher term, tho’ it would be well deserved—They came up at 3 o clock a back road led by a spy. Surprised the pack guards & entered the village when the troops aroused from their sleep were hastily arming, the Cavalry thro’ misapprehension & panic retreated to Centreville without exchanging a shot with the U.S. horses who dashed thro’ the town wantonly firing into the houses as they rode along. They rode down the hill watered their horses at a stream & then returned to the charge, the Rifles consisting of about 45 were by this time drawn up over a fence by Col Ewell—tho’ indifferently armed they received the shock of the U.S. Cavalry with such a steady fire that they retreated, part of them [illeg.] it was believed to carry off their dead & wounded, & the remainder were only rallied by the most fearful oaths of Lieut T. & after a feeble charge retreated in such hot haste that pursuit was impossible—There was not a single man killed but Capt Man & that was before the action commenced. 2 wounded, one only slightly, the other recovering—The 5 prisoners that they triumphantly carried to Arlington were a detached party they surrounded on the way back. The Rifles took 3 prisoners, & I believe 2 horses & a number of arms were found scattered in the flight among others the Lieuts saber. I have only today received an old star containing the account & have been excited to write this as I had my information from an eyewitness—I think Justice ought to be dealt even to an enemy. I will not trouble you with all the particulars, these few facts will suffice to show you, how you have been deceived. I have seen too, today Mrs Hunter who has given me a sad account of the situation of my good neighbour with whom we have always been on the most friendly terms—

My heart bleeds to hear of the outrages committed on them, their inoffensive & amiable families & their property. I can scarcely enjoy the kind protection which I hear has been afforded to mine when I think of their suffering. Genl Scott cannot know of these things the truth can never reach his ears. They must commence a way of extermination if they are going to deal thus with every secessionist in Va. For all those who have loved the Union & many of whom would willingly have died to save it are now arrayed against it & all the forced & oaths administered can never change their hearts. I feel as if I ought to be at Arlington to do what I can for my poor neighbors & yet my friends will not allow it. May I recommend them, tho’ perhaps now in your immediate care, to your kind officers Roach, Johnson, Addison, & Hunter at Abingdon the home of my grandfather John Parker Curtis. have I hear suffered most cruelly—Can such things be suffered in this age among brethren? I respect it has been caused by the infamous spies who infest all this country you must bear with me as this is to be the last time I shall trouble you I must especially recommend to your protection our manager Mr McQuinn. If he should be forced to leave I know not how I could supply his place. The servants are much gratified with the protection you have afforded them & I hope will be comfortable but I fear the poor all thro’ the country around will be stripped of all means of support by the depredations of the soldiers. They have acted most wantonly tearing up ladies clothes, house linen & other things merely for the sake of destruction. Should I take a horse for the purpose of having my children all around me I shall have to send to Arlington for some articles which I presume can be send me horse curier &c—I will not send unless I need it—My respects to Genl McD & believe me notwithstanding the terrible circumstances which surround us

Truly your friend

MCL

Will you be kind enough to have the letters I send mailed It is my only chance of communication

Citation: Mary Randolph Custis Lee (1808-1873), autograph letter signed to James B. Fry.10 June 1861. AMs 776/12

June 8, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

John Henry Brown was a painter of portrait miniatures, living and working in Philadelphia. He had met Lincoln in August of 1860 when he was commissioned to paint Lincoln’s portrait for a supporter, but although Brown liked Lincoln personally, he did not agree with Republican policies.

Transcript:

At Mrs Shippens picture.

War, war, war is the only subject now occupying the public mind or the columns of our papers. As yet I have seen nothing to change my mind on this subject. I do not believe that the trouble can be settled by the sword, not by armed bands, not the march of Warriors, not by shouts of battle, not by many garments rolled in blood.

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1

June 7, 1861: Philadelphia Inquirer

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper Half

Baltimore, June 6, 1861.

From Our Own Correspondent.

Matters in Baltimore.

The paper here called The South says that Marshal Bonifant now has all the powers of Saul when he came from Damascus, hailing men and women and committing them to prison. The Marshal certainly shows great zeal and activity in ferreting out the whereabouts of warlike munitions. He seized yesterday seventy-five thousand pounds of gunpowder, stored in the warehouses of Messrs. Webb & Foley, and to-day had it taken to Fort McHenry and deposited in the magazine there. He also seized all the breech-loading rifles at the factory of Merrill, Thomas & Co., discharged fifty-three of their workmen, shut up their shop, and put the key in his pocket. He said he had orders from the Secretary of War to do this. Most of the arms, however, which he expected to seize are missing, and cannot be found. Some have been taken to Harper’s Ferry, others to Richmond, and others are secreted.

Citation: Philadelphia Inquirer. 7 June 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .P5546

June 5, 1861: Philadelphia Inquirer

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper and Lower Halves

The Seat of War — Manassas Gap Junction and Fairfax Court House.

Showing the position of the Rebel Troops and Their Batteries.

We this morning give to the readers of The Inquirer a diagram showing the relative positions of the United States and Confederate forces in the vicinity of Fairfax Court House and the Manassas Junction.

The first battle will, it is confidently asserted, be fought at one of these two points, as both armies are rapidly concentrating in that section.

The small settlement known on the maps as “Manassas Junction,” is located immediately at the junction of the Manassas Gap Railway with the Alexandria and Orange Railroad. It is twenty-seven miles southwest of Alexandria, sixty-one miles northeast of Gordonsville, one hundred and forty-three northeast of Lynchburg, and one hundred thirty-four miles north of Richmond. The Manassas Gap Railroad is an uncompleted line of railway, entering into Mount Jackson, a village in the Shenandoah county, one hundred and twelve miles from the Junction.

It is supposed that there are at least four thousand Confederate troops, under General Lee, at the Junction, comprising regiments from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama. A regiment of Kentucky Riflemen are also stationed there. Heavy pieces of artillery guard the railroad and turnpike leading to Alexandria, and on the surrounding hills extensive batteries have been erected. On the eminence to the south of the Junction, Colonel Magruder, late of the United States army, has erected a fortification, surmounted by heavy guns.

Citation: Philadelphia Inquirer. 5 June 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .P5546

June 4, 1861: Philadelphia Inquirer

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper Half

Special Correspondence of the Inquirer

Chambersburg, June 2, 1861.

A messenger arrived here last night from Capt. Kennedy, at Williamsport. His dispatches state that hostilities have commenced between the Union company at that point and the insurgent pickets on the Virginia shore. About 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, the insurgents fired upon the ferry boat from Williamsport, and the fire was returned. After exchanging several shots, Capt. Kennedy sent out a flag of truce, asking a cessation of hostilities, which was granted, and he immediately dispatched the messenger to General Williams, at this point, for reinforcement. It is also states that Lieut. Anderson, of Capt. Kennedy’s company, shot one of the Virginians on the other side of the river.

Citation. Philadelphia Inquirer. 4 June 1861. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab. AN .P5546

June 4, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

Transcript:

At Mrs Shippens picture. Yesterday two thousand Confederate troops were surprised & driven from their Camp at Phillippe Va: with a loss of 15 killed.

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1

June 3, 1861: John Henry Brown’s Journal

Transcript:

At work at Mrs Shippens picture.

A skirmish in Virginia between the Federal & Confederate troops, to our advantage, at least so our papers say. Senator Douglass, died this morning at Chicago. Ill:

Citation: John Henry Brown, autograph journal/account book. Philadelphia, 1844-1890. AMs 574/14.1