Other News For February, 1863

The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) was not unlike other newspapers in that its pages were filled with news of the present conflict. On this evening of February 3, 1863, they could have no inkling that the town it served would become the headline. Here is what the paper brought its readers in Other News:

Locusts Coming This Year

Joseph Harris writes to the St. Clairsville (Ohio)Chronicle that the locust will be on hand this year, it being the 17^th since their last appearance. He says:

The Pharaoh locust made their first appearance on the wing May 19, 1846; on the 23^rd commenced singing;on the 31^st commenced boring the trees and laying eggs. June 6, commenced dying; the males first. On the 25^th all dead. (Taken from notes taken at the above dates.)
This year there will be locusts in abundance. Prepare your small trees by tying them up with straw for 25 days and you are safe, if you do it right.[1]

The Sentinel also reported of an interesting, yet disgraceful episode that occurred in the United States Senate. Under discussion was a bill pertaining to political arrests and the suspension of the writ of habeus corpus. This short article is a followup to the main disturbance and bears no headline:

In the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, Mr. Clark of Rhode Island, introduced a preamble and resolution,stating that Senator Saulsbury had behaved in a turbulent and disorderly manner when called to order by the Vice President, and had drawn a pistol and threatened to shoot the Sergeant at Arms, and that such conduct being disgraceful to the Senate, and destructive of all order and decorum, that said Senator be expelled from the Senate. The resolution was laid over.

On Thursday,Senator Saulsbury, having apparently returned to a sound state of mind, apologized for his conduct in the Senate on Tuesday last. It is probable that the resolution for his expulsion will not now be called up.

The account of the tumult is related across the page, and the tirade is full of anti- Lincoln venom. Statements from Saulsbury include:

(Saulsbury) stated that Mr. Lincoln was the weakest man ever placed in high office. He said he had been in conversation with him, and knew he was an imbecile.

(Saulsbury) if he wanted to paint a despot,he would paint the hideous form of Abraham Lincoln.[2]

The entire scene seems to have played out over several hours with the disgruntled Saulsbury being escorted from, then returning to the chamber several times. He was finally removed once and for all. Willard Saulsbury Sr. was a Democrat from Delaware. The resolution to expel him in fact was never taken up and he remained in office until 1871.

Willard Saulsbury Sr.

Pittsburgh Gazette Reports some mischief on February 26:

Snowballers Arrested

Two boys named Edward Fennity and – Howard were yesterday arrested for throwing snowballs at a man who was driving through the streets of Allegheny. The man declined to prosecute, and the boys were let off on paying the costs.

The paper also warns of a scam that the authorities feel may be in its early stages:

A few days since a rather good looking girl was engaged as a domestic at the residence of a gentleman on Penn Street, and worked well until the evening of the second day, when she suddenly disappeared, carrying away a set of fine furs, some dresses and some other clothing belonging to the lady of the house – together with her jewelry box,containing a valuable gold watch, three sets of jewelry, and other articles , worth probably $250. It is now believed that the whole affair was a well arranged scheme of robbery – that the girl had a confederate in the business, and that she will endeavor to play the same game upon others.[3]

 

George B. McClellan was seen in Boston, Massachusetts and the Boston Evening Transcript of February 6 reported two instances:

 

General McClellan visited the Everette School today, and was of course enthusiastically received by the little folks, to whom he was introduced by the teacher as “the savior of his country.” Mac being Mac. [4]

Another sighting found him at 11 o'clock on a special train bound for Salem.

At Lynn a large concourse of people were gathered to see him and a salute of 13 guns was fired. On his arrival at Salem a salute was also fired, and the pressure of the crowd at the railroad station made a passage through it very difficult. He was driven at once to the Essex House, and was there introduced to a large number of the prominent citizens. Col. Goodrich of Gen. Burnside's staff, and other soldiers who had seen service, were also present. Gen. McClellan was afterward entertained at the house of Geo. Peabody, Esq., and returned to this city [Boston] during the afternoon.

Last evening Gen. McClellan was presented with a very handsome sword, with a richly chased hilt containing a diamond. The sword was purchased at a cost of several hundred dollars by some of his friends in this city, and was presented by the Citizens Committee. No speeches were made, but a letter from the Committee requesting his acceptance of the weapon was read by one of their number. The General afterward attended a soiree at a private residence.[5]

McClellan at his finest no doubt. He may have been cultivating prominent citizens in an effort to return to command of the Amy of the Potomac or to the army in some other capacity. It surely appears that way.

The Daily Journal at Wilmington North Carolina got wind of the story and offered this in the February 7 issue, via the Richmond Whig. It questions McClellan motives:

Yankee Generals

The two dismissed Yankee heroes, McClellan and Burnside, are having a pleasant time down East. McClellan is in Bosting, hob-nobbing with the cod-fish aristocracy of the ancient Burg. He has been honored with a series of grand receptions,by Ed. H. Elridge,(Eldredge) Esq., Wm. Gray, Esq., Mr. Wolcott and Mr. Lawrence – 800 invited guests, refreshments. He had visited Cambridge, attended by that prince of flunkies, the Honorable Edward Everett, and was promised a grand demonstration in Faneuil Hall. “Those who have had the good fortune to meet the General (says Jenkins) are uniform in their commendations of the man. Though not a brilliant conversationalist, he is unmistakably a sensible man – which is much better.”

The motive of this visit to the Puritans is yet a secret. These are the people that had McClellan dismissed, and have persecuted all connected with him. Does he seek to humiliate them by extorting ovations, or is he seeking a restoration to the command of the Army, by a public acknowledgment of the supremacy of the genuine Yankee?[6]

 

This was only half of the short article reporting on the trip, and it was no more flattering to Burnside in the other half.

The Boston trip was made at the invitation of conservative Republicans there. Perhaps the article in the Daily Journal was correct in its assumption that McClellan was gaining a measure of satisfaction at the Boston elites, and the Republican Party's, expense. The Republicans may have found themselves with their collective heads in a noose. If they could cozy up to McClellan, the soldiers might tend to vote for their party. Affection for Mac was still high in the Army of the Potomac. After the Battle of Fredericksburg, Francis Blair Sr. wrote a letter to Abraham Lincoln dated the December 18 urging him to give McClellan a high command, preferably the Army of the Potomac:

“We must look to the army as a great political as well as war machine. The soldiers are to give us success in the field and at the polls. McClellan is dear to them. He will bring them to the support of the country & you.” [7] The Republicans needed Mac.

 

Democratic Presidential Campaign - 1864

McClellan may have began nursing his political aspirations during the Winter of 1862 – 63, and the trip to Boston was a way for him to gain some traction. It is interesting that McClellan was living in New York City (Manhattan) and was often seen in company of several prominent conservative Democrats, including John Jacob Astor who had been a volunteer on his staff during the Peninsular Campaign as well as other friends, old and new, who were influential Democrats. It would not be uncommon to continue long standing relations with those men. Still, it may have given the Republicans pause. New York City newspapers followed his movements as did numerous other papers around the country.

And there was :

The War

The Scientific American of February 21 brings news of a new implement of devastation:

Crozier's Patent Automatic Battery

All that is necessary, then, in this battery, is to work the handle up and down,and the battery vomits forth a discharge of bullets which is truly terrible to contemplate in its destructive power. [8]

 

 

Although the Seventh Indiana (119^th Regiment of Volunteers) did not muster in until October 1863, news of the Enrollment Act was being spread in the Northern press in February. The act was signed by Lincoln March 3, and posters like this would blossom across the country during the late Winter and Spring of 1863.

 

 

The Picket

Sources

1-The Adams Sentinel, February 3, 1863 (image 2) from Google news

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=SDNreWq1RjYC&dat=18630203&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

2-ibid

3- The Daily Pittsburgh Gazette, February 26, 1863, images 2 and 3 at Google news, http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=TNEldfgDb5MC&dat=18630226&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

4-Boston Evening Transcript, February 6, 1863, image 2 from Google news.google.com http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=sArNgO4T4MoC&dat=18630206&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

5- Ibid, image 4

6- Daily Journal, Wilmington North Carolina, February 7, 1863 image 2 from Google news.google.com http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Cew3JUE5alsC&dat=18630207&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

7- Sears, Stephen W., George B. McClellan The Young Napoleon, 1988, page 351

8- The Scientific American, February 21, 1863, page 1 and 2 from Internet Archives, http://archive.org/stream/scientific-american-1863-02-21/scientific-american-v08-n08-1863-02-21#page/n0/mode/2up

Broadside from Indiana Historical Society, Civil War Materials collection, http://images.indianahistory.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/dc008&CISOPTR=202&CISOBOX=1&REC=9

McClellan and Saulsbury from the Library of Congress

The Soldier of Indiana- The Teeple Boys

Indiana sent over 200,000 soldiers to war between 1861 and 1865. They served in all arms, including the Indiana Legion and the United States Navy. Many of these men would have there photographs taken to send to the folks back home. Striking warlike poses, these images are frozen in time and quite often in eternal youth. Some would be the last, perhaps the only visual reference to the individual. Such may be the case with the following soldier.



Elias Teeple Company C, 11th Indiana Cavalry, likely 1864

Elias Teeple, Company “C”, Eleventh (126 Regiment) Indiana Volunteer Cavalry was perhaps 18 years old at the time of this photograph. He was enrolled as a recruit in April of 1864.

The Eleventh began mustering in September 1863 but would not be filled until March 1, 1864 at which time the regiment was mustered into Federal service. Their first movement outside of the state began May 1, when they were transferred by rail to Nashville, Tennessee, with the majority of the regiment without mounts. They would remain at Nashville, in camp of instruction until June 1, when they marched to North Alabama for duty along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. In mid October the 11^th marched back to Nashville and finally received their mounts. They were to be employed as scouts, couriers, and chasing guerillas. On November 21 they were officially attached to the Fifth Cavalry Division, (Brigadier general Edward Hatch). At some point in the ensuing weeks, young Teeple was wounded, and he would succumb January 5, 1865. It is unknown where he received his wounds as official records are largely silent on the actions of the regiment during its time of service, and no regimental history is available. The Adjutant General of Indiana states that the regiment was involved during the Nashville- Franklin campaign(the time frame Teeple was wounded) and participated in the pursuit of Hood's retreating army. The Eleventh would again be dismounted and placed on duty near Gravely Springs, Alabama, in January 1865 and remain there until February 7. At that time it removed to Eastport, Mississippi and remained there(presumably still afoot) until mid May. At that time they transferred to the Trans- Mississippi, and were remounted for duty in Missouri and Kansas. The men were mustered out of Federal service at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, on September 19, 1865. Their final muster out, receipt of payment due, and discharge was at Indianapolis on September 28, 1865. The boys were home again but they left behind them 174 comrades, 13 killed or died of wounds. The remainder, including Henry B. Teeple, who died at Indianapolis, April 2, 1864, (before the Eleventh left Indiana) and Samuel Teeple, who died March 6, 1865 at New Albany, Indiana died of disease or other causes. They may have been near cousins to Elias. The 1850 census lists them in different households and they are quite a few years older than Elias who was 5 years old in 1850. A fourth man, James B. Teeple, almost assuredly the brother of Henry and Samuel, survived the war. All four soldiers were offered up by the town of Pleasant Mills, Adams county. They are listed by the 1850 census as being either farmers or laborers ranging in age at that time from 5 (Elias) to 24 years (Samuel).



James B. Teeple (left) and Samuel Teeple Company C, 11th Indiana Cavalry

This is the beginning of a side project to be known as The Soldier of Indiana (catchy, huh?)which will be accompanied by two others. They will be The Soldier of Illinois and the Soldier of Kentucky, CSA/USA. There are several goals for the projects. First is to bring the individuals to light as a way to honor them and the regiment they served with. The Eleventh had not been around long enough to garner everlasting fame outside of their own communities. They are being lost to history. That is the case with many regiments from all states North and South.

Another goal is to gather as many of the photos to one place as possible, so as to save time chasing around different sites. In that way I hope to aid genealogists in finding photos of their relatives. I also hope to help other researchers in finding photos of the men from these states.

Finally I hope to make some of these regiments more interesting than Fred Dyer offered in his Compendium. The photos are the basis for this. Of course information is limited in many instances. I hope to find something to enhance the history of the “lost” regiments however.

They are lofty goals, but hopefully in time they will be achieved. Your help would be greatly appreciated. Any repository with digital collections will be a great asset to the project, so pass along any links. If you have a photo in your collection you can scan, that would be great too!

And I am always looking for diaries and letters!

The Picket

Elias photo from The Library of Congress, Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2010648765/

James and Samuel photo from Find A Grave

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=17695579&PIpi=5126138

Regiment sources include:

Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana, Volumes 3 and 7 at Google books

Dyers Compendium (1908) from Hathi Trust http://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/000451327

Census information from the USGenWeb Free Census Project/ Indiana Adams County at http://usgwcensus.org/cenfiles/in.htm

Appearing On Another Blogroll! And Thank You!

I would like to thank Steve Light, the author of the “Battlefield Back Stories” blog for adding The Picket to his blogroll. I am honored to be listed on such a fine site!

I actually found “Battlefield Back Stories” about six weeks ago and immediately placed it on my blogroll. It usually takes me a while to “size up” a blog but this one took no time at all!

For those of you who have not found it yet, I encourage you to click his link in my blogroll, especially if you enjoy reading and studying the Battle of Gettysburg. Mr. Light focuses on the battle, and as the name implies, the Back Stories of the men who fought there. It tells their story in relation to the larger scheme of the battle, and they are the focal point of the story. It is quite a refreshing change to see the individual brought to the fore, and the generals, strategies, and statistics are pushed to the background. That does not mean it will be of little interest to the hard core aficionado or scholar. The stories are always set in context which enables the reader to follow the battle in the larger sense if they so desire. Mr. Light also gives news of events that are happening today, but this is a secondary concern. I would also like to say that it is not a “morning coffee” blog. It does get involved at times, so with this one you should allow yourself some time to enjoy it. Lunch, perhaps?

Since I found this blog too late for inclusion on my last Blogroll Update post, I hereby give official notice and review of this fine blog. Longtime readers will know that this is not a “trade” just because I was added to the Battlefield Back Stories list. I

regularly call attention to the blogs on my roll and this is nothing unusual. It will be a while before the next update though so to thank him I bumped it up a few months.

 

Here at The Picket, plans are in the works for quite a major undertaking. I am going to try and highlight some of the Indiana regiments service, infantry and cavalry, during the Civil War. If anyone knows of good sources for the artillery, please let me know. I would like to include them as well. I have been working on the Third Cavalry, Sixth and Twenty- fifth infantry. There is a lot of work finding sources so this project may never see the light of day. You never know. I am also going to focus in on the Carolina's for a post or two especially late '62 early '63. And the usual stuff will continue. Monthly installments of Other News, poetry, and interesting individuals will still make an appearance. And Adam Rankin Johnson is about due for another post!

Writing for school tends to take time away from the blog, and I work for a living, so the frequency of posts is slipping somewhat. I am still here though, so bear with me and stay tuned!

Check out Battlefield Back Stories!

The Picket

A Word From The Picket

This is a bit off topic but I wanted to pass it on to you , loyal reader.

I added, with some hesitancy, The Picket to Networked Blogs. I am glad I did for the following reason: I found that this is a great resource for finding ACW blogs!

Many of the well known blogs are listed but a lot of lesser known blogs are represented as well. A few from my blog roll are on the list. There are literally hundreds of blogs to dig through, but be forewarned, some of the blogs are no longer active or are seldom posted to. That does not mean they are useless places to check out though. By way of example, The Picket comes in at #52 through a search for “American Civil War”. Blogs above that are generally active and those below were inactive, at least those I looked at were. So I guess I am at the bottom of the barrel!

The thing I like most about it is the search function. Just type in “American Civil War” or “Civil War” and there you have a long list of blogs and some websites dedicated to the war or a peripheral aspect such as genealogy or living history. I am sure you will find something worth bookmarking! You do not have to stay on Networked Blogs to read them, links directly to the blog are provided.

I also like the ranking system, if it can be called that. Blogs with more followers list higher for more exposure. If one does not have a lot of time to browse, the high placement shows what other people like and you can read them during lunch or before you head to work. Bear in mind that there are lots of blogs on the list that do not rank high up but are still fine places to stop and read. Civil War Saga and My Civil War Obsession spring quickly to mind. Another good thing is that activity plays a part in placement on the list. There are some good blogs that have numerous followers, but due to inactivity they have slipped down the list, even below me! The combination of the two points of reference give a fair exposure to lesser known blogs that are active. One does not have to wade through a bunch of blogs that have many followers but have not been posted to in months or even years to find the unknowns. It helps them tremendously.

There are drawbacks with the list. Sometimes a “stray” will creep in. I found one blog dealing with gardening through a “Civil War” search. With that same search I also found blogs dealing with modern civil wars like in Syria. The more specific the search the better result.

Other drawbacks are the fact that it is linked to Facebook (I thought long and hard about adding The Picket to the list simply for that fact) and you have to join Networked Blogs.

After seeing that several of the blogs I read are using it I decided to give it a try. I was surprised that once I signed in using Facebook I was not really on Facebook (I don't think) so I did not mind so much. I do wish they had another way in though. You do not have to author a blog to join. I would imagine most of the people there are just followers, much like Google Friend Connect.

I do admit that I joined with the hope of increasing my number of loyal readers. Even if that does not happen I at least found a decent list of blogs about the Civil War.The added bonus of so many blogs was a pleasant surprise! The five minutes it took to join was worth that. And that makes it worth sharing with you. I hope this is not “old news” to you all.

I would say it is the “Mother of All Blog Rolls”! Try it out!



Ambrose Burnside reading the blog of the 19th century.

The Picket
Photo:

Ambrose E. Burnside and Matthew Brady (near tree) June 11 or 12, 1864 from

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/cwp/item/cwp2003000159/PP/