Posted inRailroads US Civil War

October 3, 1862 – From The Eighth VT Regiment

Capt. Clark, of Co. K, writing to the Caledonian from Aligers, La., on the 7th inst., says :

On the morning of the 3d ,I went to Boutte upon the train going to Algiers, to confiscate negros, cattle and mules from Gen. Taylor’s, Capt. Ranson’s, (both active rebel officers) and other adjoining plantations, and to learn if possible whether this rebel force was designing our capture. I was there full five hours, conversed with white men and negroes from the river, and found that no advance had been made for three days.

The next morning, Sept. 4, I was ordered to detail 20 men from each of the three companies, 10 men from the battery and 1 gun, and proceed to the Boutte to look after the safety of the coming train, to learn what I could respecting the rebels, and to gather in and send off the balance of confiscated property there. My train consisted of two platform cars forward of the engine and one open cattle car behind it. The gun and 45 men were upon the forward cars, 5 upon the tender and 10 upon the rear car. I got upon the engine that I might direct its movements, and ordered the men to load their rifles, keep a vigilant lookout, and to signal to me should anything wrong or unusual appear.

Posted inUS Civil War

April 29, 1862 – Capt. Farragut’s Letter to the Mayor

The following is the letter sent to the Mayor by Capt. Farragut yesterday:

U. S. Flagship Hartford
At Anchor off the city of New Orleans, April 28, 1862

To his Honor the Mayor and the City Council of the city of New Orleans:

Your communication of the 26th inst. has been received, together with that of the City Council:

I deeply regret to see, both by their contents, and the continued display of the flag of Louisiana on the Courthouse, a determination on the part of the city authorities not to haul it down. Moreover when my officers and men were sent on shore to communicate with the authorities, and to hoist the United States flag on the Customhouse, with the strictest order not to use their arms unless assaulted, they were insulted in the grossest manner, and the flag which hd been hoisted by my orders on the Mint, was pulled down and dragged through the streets.

Posted inUS Civil War

April 21, 1862 – Battlefield Trophies

We have received several trophies from the battle-field of Shiloh, which are alike Interesting and significant. Mr. Wm. R. Elliott, of the Crescent Blues, Crescent Regiment, who fought bravely through the battles of the 6th and 7th, and who was wounded in the leg near the close of the last day’s fight, has presented us a Yankee private’s coat, which he captured and appropriated. The coat is composed of good blue cloth, well made, and is certainly an excellent article of wearing apparel. Were it not for the brass fixings on the shoulder straps and “old Abe’s” buttons, it would be as genteel a coat as one would wish to wear in cold, or moderately cold weather. The garment shows in what style the soldiers of our enemy is are fitted out.

Posted inUS Civil War

January 11, 1862 – Terrible Explosion—Powder Mill Blown Up

At twelve o’clock last night one of the state powder mills, that at the old United States Marine Hospital at Gretna, blew up with a report that shook the whole city to its foundation stones. A pillar of flame shot up to the sky, for an instant illuminating the whole heavens, and then came the noise and shock—too great, too sudden, too overpowering to be mistaken for anything than what it really was.