CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 1119- 1122 CIVIL WAR - Military Engagements & Campaigns (Cont'd) Dennison. Next day we started for Lexington. There, we heard of We have finished a retreat of 100 miles under very trying circumstances, forming to meet the enemy, skirmishing, but no general engagements. Ten thousand, all raw troops, comprised the retreating force. 1119 L Sept. 16:1/1 The city was greatly excited this morning by reports received at the telegraph office that General McClellan had achieved a great victory over Stonewall Jackson, capturing that celebrated general with 10,000 of his men. However, the official dispatch of McClellan says nothing of the capture of Jackson, and it is doubtless mere rumor with no foundation in fact. 1120 L Sept. 16:2/3 In a letter to the editor, "D." of the 103rd regiment says: "On the ninth I wrote you from our picket outpost, on the Lexington pike." That evening we learned that the advance guard of the rebel army under Gen. Kirby Smith was encamped within seven and a half miles of us. We spent the night in watching but saw no enemy. On the following morning, a civilian arrived and reported the enemy advancing. We immediately joined the regiment in the trenches before Fort Michel, which position we still occupy. A heavy rain yesterday has made much mud in the trenches and the men are soaked to their skin. This morning we were called at 3:15 o'clock to prepare for an expected attack, but no enemy has yet appeared. 1121 - L Sept. 20; ed: 2/1 - The surrender of Mumfordsville, Ky., to the Rebels on Sept. 17 has transferred the theater of war from central Kentucky. "It begins to be apparent now that the demonstrations against Cincinnati were, in the main, feints to cover the combination which the rebels are trying to effect below." (9) (3) (9) (5) 1122 L Sept. 20; ed: 2/2 - "The evidence presented in these facts, given in the New York TRIBUNE correspondence about the capture of Harper's Ferry by the Rebels, clearly points to the most blundering generalship and incapacity as the cause of the surrender of the position which was of vital importance to us." (2) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 1123 - 1127 Military Engagements & Campaigns (Cont'd) CIVIL WAR 1123 L Sept. 22; ed: 2/1 - The surrender at Harper's Ferry is one of the disgraceful events of the war. We yielded 12,000 men, who were eager to fight, and ample supplies to an enemy that only slightly outnumbered us and who had to contend with an almost impregnable position. "There ought to be something done with officers who through incompetence, cowardice, or treachery fail in their duty. Rank and influence should not protect them.' " 1124 L Sept. 22:2/2 - In a letter to the editor dated Sept. 14, "Ed. T. P.," of Konkle's battery, Lebanonville, Ky., says: The federals are well fortified and ready for attack. Lieutenant Rease was taken prisoner by guerrillas. The railroad between Bowling Green and Nashville is more or less destroyed and fighting has been going on all day at Mumfordsville. The troops are under orders to move, and that probably means going to Mumfordsville. 1125 L Sept. 24:1/1 - Konkle's battery left Lebanon Junction for Mumfordsville on Sept. 15. There they fought all day on Sept. 16, and Phillip H. Young was the only one wounded. surrendered in the evening. Captain Konkle and Lieut. H. C. Lloyd were the only officers captured. The officers and men were paroled. (9) (6) After the surrender General Dumont ordered Lieutenant Pritchard and the 29 men who had been left at Lebanon in charge of the camp to take their supplies to Louisville. Near Louisville, a broken axle caused a car to spill out the battery and wagons. Fifteen of the 29 men were injured. An army of 1126 L Sept. 25:23 In a letter to the editor, R. C. S. of St. General Schofield, and his staff left the city yesterday, Sept. 19, for the southwest. General Totten at Springfield is building fortifications. General Schofield may meet the enemy at Wilson Creek, where General Lyon was killed. General Lyon's army did not exceed 5,000, and was overwhelmed by an army of 20,000. He had asked for reinforcements repeatedly. Ürged by General Sweeney, General Lyon attacked the rebels at Wilson Creek as a preliminary to retreat. This plan was successful, and the little army retreated, not knowing that it had really beaten the enemy. Wilson Creek was the bloodiest battle fought in Missouri so far. A convention has been held in this city to arrange for the political organization of emancipation in this county, and to proceed for the nomination of an emancipation ticket for the coming election. (6) (18) 1127 L Sept. 26; ed: 1/1 - The advance of General Bragg has thrown Louisville, Ky., into a furore of excitement. General Nelson has ordered the women and children to be ready to leave the city on short notice. Also, he has ordered the Jeffersonville ferry reserved for military use only. How and in what direction are the women and children to escape? CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN 1. TO DEC. 31, 1862 CIVIL WAR - Military Engagements & Campaigns (Cont'd) It is customary, when a city is to be attacked, to allow sufficient time for the evacuation of the women and children. Members of Bragg's army have families in Louisville. The Rebel force in Kentucky is estimated as follows: Bragg's army, 35,000; Kirby Smith's, 20,000; Humphrey Marshall's, 4,000 or a total force of 59,000 men. The Cincinnati GAZETTE says that General Bragg's plan may be to force a concentration of troops at Louisville and then make a surprise attack on Cincinnati. The telegraph says that Buell has reached Louisville. 1128 L Sept. 26; ed: 4/1 - The Rebels have been driven from Maryland and the famous Rebel song that inspired them on their march of invasion, "Maryland, My Maryland," has a fresh interest. 1129 - L Sept. 30; ed: 2/1 The English press regards the defeat of General Pope's army below Washington as ruinous to the national cause. We shall, however, display a vitality and power that will be anything but agreable to our enemies, "secesh" or British. The British journalist pronounced the raising of a new army of 300,000 men to be impossible. But it is a thing done. The whole North swarms with new troops and the tide has been turned against the Rebels. The Rebels have been beaten in their efforts to invade the North, and all the ground they have gained since the retreat of our army before Richmond will be speedily recovered. This time we shall go forward into the heart of the gulf states. The people in this country have lost their feeling of deference to English opinions and care very little whether the southern Confederacy is or is not recognized abroad. 1130 L Oct. 1:2/2 In a letter to the editor, a soldier of the 23rd Ohio regiment, Middletown, Md., Sept. 22, says: Since I last wrote to you, our regiment, with four other Ohio regiments, has seen some rough times. We left western Virginia on Aug. 14, reached Washington on Aug. 25, proceeded immediately to Alexandria, and from there to Seplon's hill, where we remained during the late battles at Manassas. (9) (2) Our reverses there did not discourage our men. All they desired was to be led forward to meet the enemy, whose invasion of Maryland had caused us to retrace our steps to Washington, through which we marched and joined General Burnside's division, which was enroute toward Frederick City, Md. We reached Frederick on Sept. 12. We had a skirmish with the enemy's rear guard, composed of artillery and cavalry. We took the city. On entering, our troops were cheered. Next day we marched to the town and encamped for the night in sight of the enemy's camp three miles from here. Next day the contest started. Our division was in advance on the left. For three or four hours the struggle was severe. The 12th and 30th were in line with us on the right. The order rang along the line "Charge." (8) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 1131 - 1134 CIVIL WAR - Military Engagements & Campaigns (Cont'd) There There is a young boy from Cleveland whom I observed with great coolness in the battle on Sept. 27. His name is Edward Brooks, son of Dr. Brooks of the west side. A ball had grazed his wrist and he had lost sight of his company at the time we were about to charge. He begged to be allowed to fall in along with our boys. The last I saw him he was fighting his way manfully amid the thickest of the ranks. I believe he is well and uninjured. 1131 L Oct. 10; ed: 2/1 We have nothing to indicate that the promises of "bagging" General Bragg have been carried out. "On the contrary, the rebels are making a safe retreat from Kentucky." 1132 L Oct. 14; ed: 2/3,4 - From the Cincinnati GAZETTE of Oct. 10, regarding the battle of Perrysville on Oct. 8, we gather the following: An immense force of Bragg's army rushed forward with demoniac yells. Our soldiers fought with courage. At length our troops were forced to retreat about a quarter mile, only, however, after General Jackson and General Terril had been killed, and Colonel Webster mortally wounded. At last the sun went down just as a last despairing and fruitless assault was made by the baffled foe. The great battle, with the Rebels outnumbering the Federals two to one, resulted in a great loss on both sides. But it was a day of glorious deeds and of Federal victory. Our army achieved a victory - not a brilliant triumph, not a complete success, but a victory, and one which, if it had been followed up, might have been final so far as Bragg's army is concerned. 1133 L Oct. 15; ed: 2/1 - When Stuart first destroyed an immense amount of government stores in the rear of McClellan's army, our officers said it could not be done again. When he repeated it once behind Pope and in the latest raid at Chambersburg, our dare to "try that again" was carried out. "We hope if Stuart keeps on doing this...the 'bragging' so often prophesied, will begin." 1134 L Oct. 16; ed: 2/1 A correspondent of the New York TIMES says that a forward movement has been determined upon, and that in a few days our troops will be marching down to Dixie. That was the object of the President's visit to the upper Potomac. "We hope the assurance and prediction are correct. (14) (4) (25) (10) (3) CLEVELAND NEWSPAPER DIGEST JAN. 1 TO DEC. 31, 1862 Abstracts 1135 - 1142 CIVIL WAR Military Engagements & Campaigns (Cont'd) 1135 L Oct. 17; ed: 2/2 The military commission reveals that not a single Rebel was killed or wounded in capturing Harper's Ferry. "This is a startling evidence of the treachery that abounded in that surrender." 1136 L Oct. 18; ed: 1/2 An exchange concludes that the oftrepeated declaration that "Washington is safe" and the later edition that "Pennsylvania is safe" means safe for confederate travel. "Not a bad guess. ་་ 1137 L Oct. 20; ed: 2/1 - The draft has caused considerable excitement in Bucyrus, Crawford county. On Oct. 18 the traitors swore that blood would flow if any more arrests were made against those who resist the draft. "May their own blood be shed if they refuse to obey the laws of the land." 1138 L Oct. 20:2/4 - A Harrisburgh correspondent of the Philadelphia PRESS says that the Rebels were piloted safely through Pennsylvania by the Breckinridge Democrats, Pennsylvanians, and other notorious rascals. These men were familiar with every region they used to lead the Rebels safely through. 1139 - L Oct. 22; ed: 2/3 - It is now announced that General McClellan (1) (1) (7) (2) (2) 1140 L Oct. 25; ed: 1/1 The dispatches of this morning assign the low water of the Potomac as the reason for the army not moving. "But does not the same state of water allow McClellan's army to cross to go to Virginia? Why are we compelled to wage a defensive war?... If this was the first excuse, we would accept it, but as the alleged want of shoes has been found to be groundless, so this may be. But a few weeks remain for active service this year. Shall they be passed in idleness?" 1141 L Oct. 25:2/2 In a letter to the editor, John T. Carroll, 5th U. S. artillery, Crab Orchard, Ky., says: Small parties of Rebels are between us and Louisville. I am well. I saw 12 of our cavalry with cut heads and broken arms. They had had a skirmish two miles from town. We reached the battle ground of Perryville on Oct. 18, two days after the fight. The dead lay pretty thick, but there were not half as many as at Shiloh. 1142 L Oct. 27; ed: 1/1 It is General Lee's intention to keep his army in northern Virginia only long enough to secure the produce; then he will move to Richmond. The worst feature is that the federal army is really. guarding these immense crops for the Rebels. "The idea of suffering all these crops to go quietly to Richmond, (4) (7) |