Another Forlorn Hope
From the Editor: As 1861 draws to a close, morale in the Northern states is at its “lowest ebb” (1) since the defeat at Bull Run. George McClellan’s Army of the Potomac has gone into winter quarters having accomplished little except protect Washington, and the generals commanding in the West (Henry Halleck and Don Carlos Buell) have made no effort to breach the Confederate defensive line in Tennessee and Kentucky. The one bright spot has been the performance of the U.S. Navy, which has, in addition to tightening the naval blockade on the Confederacy, conducted successful operations on Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, Port Royal, South Carolina, and Ship Island, Mississippi. In addition, the Navy has acquired a “reputation of invincibility” (2) that has led Robert E. Lee to regard his job of supervising the Atlantic coastal defenses as “another forlorn hope expedition.” (3) Now, Ambrose Burnside is preparing another expedition; this time to Roanoke Island, which controls the passage between Pamlico Sound and Albemarle Sound. Burnside has spent the months since Bull Run in Annapolis, Maryland, recruiting and organizing a division “accustomed to working around water and boats,” (4) and Confederate spies are already reporting that his expedition will soon get underway. Former Virginia Governor Henry Wise, who performed poorly during the Western Virginia campaign, has been given the unenviable task of commanding the Confederate defenses on Roanoke Island. Although he has yet to reach his new command, Wise has already learned that “the defensive works” on the island, and the “supply of ammunition” are “altogether insufficient.” What is clear is that Wise will have precious little time to get his new command in order before he faces Burnside’s men and the onslaught of the (so far) unbeatable ships of the U.S. Navy.
December 29, 1861 (Sunday)
Mansfield Lovell, commanding in New Orleans, reports that the “Hobart & Foster's powder-mill, in the old Marine Hospital” exploded last night: “One charge of powder (4,000 pounds) was in the drying-room, and another of the same amount was in the cylinders, all of which was lost.” The mill was turning out 4,000 pounds of gunpowder daily, and Hobart & Foster are planning to “immediately” rebuild the mill and hope to have it back in operation in six weeks. Lovell continues: “The mill that I brought over from Handsborough will be put up in twenty days, and this, together with the city mill, will enable us to turn out 2,500 or 3,000 pounds daily.”
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT NO. 1, C.S.A., New Orleans, La., December 29, 1861.
Hon. [Judah] P. BENJAMIN, Secretary of War: The enemy has now at Ship Island twenty-two vessels, large and small, and is landing troops in large numbers. They have been sounding and staking out the channels leading towards the Rigolets and Chef Menteur Pass, but I think this is only a blind to draw our attention from Mobile, which I think is their object of attack. They cannot take New Orleans by a land attack with any force they can bring to bear. I should much like to have for an inspector-general an officer of knowledge and experience. I am almost entirely deficient in the way of officers.... [No] other department is so deficient, and certainly none is more important. Respectfully, your obedient servant,
M. LOVELL, Major-General, Commanding.
General-in-Chief George McClellan writes to Don Carlos Buell, Department of the Ohio, explaining that influential Tennessee politicians like former Governor Andrew Johnson and Congressman Horace Maynard “are again becoming frantic, and have President Lincoln's sympathy excited.” McClellan continues: “Political considerations would make it advisable to get the arms and troops into Eastern Tennessee at a, very early day.” McClellan asks, “Can you tell me about when and in what force you will be in Eastern Tennessee?” Buell replies, “I intend a column of 12,000 men, with three batteries, for East Tennessee; but...it is impossible to fix a time for it to be there, so much depends on the circumstances which may arise in the meantime.”
LOUISVILLE, KY., December 29, 1861.
Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding U.S. Army: It startles me to think how much time has elapsed since my arrival and to find myself still in Louisville.... It has taken time to get necessary supplies, but transportation is the great trouble I have to deal with.... My unavoidable advance to Green River has thoroughly startled the enemy and he is strengthening himself in men and positions rapidly.... At all events there are doubtless 30,000 men now at Bowling Green; and, unless checked by strong demonstrations and attacks on Columbus and the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, the number can easily be increased to 50,000 or even 60,000 before I can get there.... It is my conviction that all the force that can possibly be collected should be brought to bear on that front of which Columbus and Bowling Green may be said to be the flanks. The center, that is, the Cumberland and Tennessee where the railroad crosses them, is now the most vulnerable point. I regard it as the most important strategical point in the whole field of operations. The possession of it secures their force and gives access through the two rivers to the very center of their power.... The movement on East Tennessee attacks their rear, and, if properly supported, promises great results.... Truly, yours,
D.C. BUELL.
Other Union activity reported on this date:
1. D.C. Buell instructs G.H. Thomas to advance towards Beech Creek (KY). He writes, “Move against his [Zollicoffer’s] left and endeavor to cut him off.”
2. Col. G.W. Deitzler, 1st Kansas, leads an expedition from Otterville to Kansas City to break up “secession camps” and “disarm all persons who cannot give undoubted proof of loyalty.”
3. Col. E.P. Scammon, 23rd Ohio, occupies Beckley (VA), “a key point, where the route from Lewisburg to Kentucky crosses the turnpike from Great Falls to Wytheville.”
4. Captain W. Rowand, 1st Virginia Cavalry, is attacked by “rebel guerrillas” and forced to retreat from Suttonville (VA).
5. Major J.Q. Owsley, 5th Kentucky Cavalry, skirmishes with “a large party of the enemy” at Jamestown (KY).
Other Confederate activity reported on this date:
1. R.E. Lee asks if “serviceable” 24-pounders are available at Wilmington (NC). He writes: “I am much in need of guns of that character.”
2. J.L. Alcorn, commanding at Camp Beauregard in Feliciana (KY), reports “the enemy are advancing on this post.” He writes: “We are in feeble condition.”
3. M. Jeff. Thompson leads 27 men to Commerce (MO) and reports, “the town was completely surprised, and I soon had all the male inhabitants assembled and guarded.”
4. Major G.H. Hill, 17th N.C. Militia, commanding Fort Bartow on Roanoke Island reports his field of fire is so “limited” he can provide little “protection to the defense of the sound.”
December 30, 1861 (Monday)
Thomas W. Sherman, commanding the Expeditionary Corps in Port Royal, South Carolina, reports Isaac I. Stevens’s Second Brigade is going to “cross a force over the Coosaw River” tomorrow morning. Sherman hopes to cross “from 1,500 to 2,000 men,” protected by “gunboats and gun-launches,” commanded by Captain Christopher R.P. Rodgers, U.S.N. The object of the joint expedition is to “seize and destroy the enemy's batteries on the main opposite Port Royal Island, bring away the guns and other property, but not to engage the enemy except in the accomplishment of this object, and not to advance into the interior.”
HEADQUARTERS EXPEDITIONARY CORPS, Port Royal, S.C., December 30, 1861.
Brigadier-General STEVENS, Commanding at Beaufort, S.C: When the fort is fully in possession of our men, and not till then, a signal agreed upon beforehand should make the fact unmistakably known to all the gunboats, when those boats I would recommend, if possible, should speedily close in towards the fort and effectually cover it whilst our men are removing or destroying the guns and other property.... It must be understood...that the object of this dash is simply the destruction of the enemy's batteries, and no advance must be made beyond what is necessary to effect that object. It is unnecessary to assure you that a deviation from this injunction would at the present time harm us more than the advantage of destroying their batteries. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T.W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Joseph E. Johnston, Department of Northern Virginia, is upset about military information published in an article in the Richmond Dispatch. He writes to Secretary of War Benjamin: “The information it contains would be very valuable to the enemy, such as he would pay for liberally.... The author's name is Shepardson or Shepherdson… I respectfully suggest his arrest.” According to Johnston: “He is now in Richmond. I ascertained this fact by attempting yesterday to have him found, on account of a previous letter in the same paper.” He concludes, “Could not the editor of the paper be included in the accusation?
HDQRS. DEPT. OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, December 30, 1861.
The troops are reminded that the Fifty-seventh Article of War makes punishable with death the giving intelligence to the enemy, directly or indirectly. Any letter intended for publication, or even not guarded against publication, falls within the law, if it contains the sort of information that the enemy would purchase with money or by armed reconnaissance.... Professional correspondents of newspapers will be absolutely excluded from our camps, as it is notorious that the enemy have been habitually arriving at valuable information through their indiscretions. By command of General Johnston:
[Major Thomas] G. RHETT, Assistant Adjutant-General.
Other Union activity reported on this date:
1. Congress (U.S.) publishes a resolution recognizing the “gallant and patriotic serves” of the late Nat. Lyon, for his actions at Wilson’s Creek (MO).
2. Col. H. Anisansel, 1st Virginia Cavalry, leads an expedition to “the Glades” in Webster County (VA), killing 22 “marauders” and burning 26 houses.
Other Confederate activity reported on this date:
1. British Consul Lord Lyons writes to Commander W.N.W. Hewett, H.M.S. Rinaldo, requesting he take aboard newly released C.S. Commissioners Mason and Slidell. He writes, “It is desirable that the transfer of them...shall be effected unostentatiously.”
2. Former Governor Jackson gives “hearty approval” to the “matter of transferring the Missouri troops to the C.S. Government” and urges “the transfer [be] made at the earliest moment.”
3. A.S. Johnston, Western Dept., reports the citizens of Nashville believe their city “is in danger from incendiaries sent in by the Federalists.”
4. From Mobile (AL), B. Bragg reports “the enemy's vessels [are] landing supplies and large bodies of troops on Ship Island (MS).”
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