re: 150 years ago this day...

Thursday, 17 December 1863

War can be a cruel and evil thing, all scholars and most assuredly all participants generally agree. While it has elements of excitement and pageantry, such as inspired General Robert E. Lee to observe at Fredericksburg: "It is good that war is so terrible, lest we grow too fond of it..." most efforts over the centuries have been to impose rules and restraints on the worst of the cruelties and unnecessary destruction. Still, acts of gratuitous wickedness were not unknown, and one such occurred today. Lieutenant Commander Fitch, in charge of the USS Moose, sent landing parties ashore from his gunboat on Seven Mile Island and Palmyra, on the Tennessee River. There, acting on information from local informants, they sought out and destroyed a facility producing materiel which gave notable aid and comfort to Confederate guerilla and partisan bands operating in the area. Such is war, but it was nonetheless cruel that, nine days before Christmas, this treatment was given to their whiskey distilleries.

From his headquarters at Memphis, Tennessee, General Stephen A. Hurlbut issued the following general order: "The recent affair at Moscow, Tenn., has demonstrated the fact that colored troops, properly disciplined and commanded, can and will fight well, and the General commanding deems it to be due to the officers and men of the Second regiment West Tennessee infantry of African descent, thus publicly to return his personal thanks for their gallant and successful defense of the important position to which they had been assigned, and for the manner in which they have vindicated the wisdom of the Government in elevating the rank and file of these regiments to the position of freemen and soldiers."

The Richmond Enquirer, in an article on the exchange of prisoners, held the following language: "The Yankees are not going to send their negro troops in the field: they know as well as we do that no reliance can be placed upon them; but as depot-guards, prison-guards, etc., they will relieve their white troops. This is the use that will be made of them. Should they be sent to the field, and be put in battle, none will be taken prisoners-our troops understand what to do in such cases."

President Abraham Lincoln sent a message to the Congress of the United States, communicating a letter addressed to him from a committee of gentlemen, representing the Freedmen's Aid Societies of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, in relation to the freedmen under the proclamation of emancipation.

The United States bark Roebuck, under Acting Master John Sherrill, captured off the mouth of Indian River, Florida, the British schooner Ringdove, twenty-three tons burden, of and from Nassau, with a crew of five men. Her cargo consisted of one hundred and ninety bales of salt, three bags of coffee, two half chests of tea, and three barrels of whisky. When first discovered, she attempted to escape, but on being fired at, ran aground on the bar.

For several days past the detectives at Richmond, Virginia, have been on the hunt for parties who are either suspected of stealing the clothing sent by the Yankee Government for the prisoners now in our hands, or receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. Several soldiers, wearing the Confederate uniform, have lately been seen with blankets branded "U. S.," and in some cases, shoes, with the Yankee mark on them, have been sold to citizens at uncommonly low figures by some of the guards of the prisons. Several individuals have been arrested on the above charge.

Colonel Carter, of the First Confederate Virginia cavalry, with six other persons, was captured at Upperville, Virginia, by a detachment of the Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry.

An entire company, belonging to the Third North-Carolina Confederate cavalry, was captured near Washington, North Carolina, by a party of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Captain Blakely. Yesterday, at sunset, the Federals left Washington, and after a march of twenty-four miles, came upon the enemy's camp. The night was dark and rainy, rendering it possible for the troops to come upon the Rebels unheard, and a complete surprise was consequently effected, the enemy being taken in their tents asleep, without the firing of a gun. The number taken was thirty-four, with their horses, equipment, and arms. The surprising party was led by Mr. Henn, who acted as guide, and who previously had been of great use upon cavalry expeditions. On this occasion he entered the rebel camp alone in advance of the attack, and reconnoitered the enemy's position.

Confederate General Stand Watie, one of only two Native Americans on either side of the Civil War to rise to a brigadier general's rank (the other being Ely S. Parker, a Seneca who fought on the Union side), with a portion of his partisan Cherokee force, made an attack upon the outposts of Fort Gibson, Arkansas, but was repulsed, and eventually compelled to retreat across the Arkansas River.

A small body of General J.E.B. Stuart's cavalry made a descent at eight o'clock this night upon company I, of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth New York regiment, stationed at Sangster's, three miles west of Fairfax Station, Virginia, slightly wounding one man, capturing four, and burning the tents belonging to the company. The attack was unexpected, but, nevertheless, the guard made a gallant defense. On being charged upon by the enemy, they withdrew behind their encampment, pouring in repeated volleys upon the Rebels, and finally compelling them to retire.