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According to Robinson (p.5):
Most Americans, no doubt, imagine the prewar South as a region so thickly dotted with immense plantations on which most of the black and white populations worked and lived. But, on the contrary, while slaves made up 40% of the total population of the South, only 25 percent of free families, most of them white, owned any slaves at all, and fully one-half of this minority (12.5%) held fewer than five slaves. Only an owner of twenty or more slaves, and of substantial land, could qualify as a planter, and fewer than 10 percent of slave-holding families qualified. The plantation elite of the antebellum South made up less than 3 percent of the free population in the region and less than 2 percent of the total free and slave populations combined.
Bitter Fruits of Bondage: The demise of slavery and the collapse of the Confederacy, 1861-1865. Armisted L. Robinson. Univ of Virgina Press, 2005.
Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign ,March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign . He was awarded a 17th Corps Medal of Honor for the Battle of Atlanta when he was conspicuous in Rallying his men, advancing to the front, encouraging his men,firing muskets rapidly at the enemy, and by his service and gallant example materially assisting in bringing his regiment again into action.
Lt. D.W.Poak
30th Illinois Infantry
HdQrs 1st Brig 3rd Div 17th A.C.
Pocotaligo,S.C.
Jan. 29th, 1865
Sister Sadie,
Yours of the 15th inst. is received . You will doubtless be somewhat surprised when I tell you that instead of being ready to start home I am ready to start on another campaign. It appears as though our Regiment would never get anymore officers . It is now over forty days since the last commissions were sent for and nothing heard from them yet. When, after numerous delays they finally make their appearance. So many of the officers who are now present will be absent in some way that there will not be enough then. If I get through the present campaign all right I am going to make application to Corps and Department Head Quarters to be mustered out . We are expecting to march tomorrow morning . In what direction is not known. I presume however that we will start toward Charleston even should it be Gen. Sherman’s intention to move on Branchville. Some of Gen. Fosters troops marched in today to take our place. The rebs are strongly fortified three miles and a half from here . So we will not have to go far for a fight unless they prove to be of such a progressive nature that they get out of our way. Gen. Sherman’s HeadQuarters are within a few rods of ours . We see the old gentleman quite frequently. Gen. Force made me a present a few days since of a very nice pair of Staff Shoulder Straps . The weather is delightful. Hope we may have a good time and be successful . I have not time to write anymore . Our last mail has gone. I send this by courier.
Give my respects to any enquiring friend,
Your brother,
D. W.Poak
Harper’s Weekly
February 4, 1864
[From the Evening Post of January 26.]
EAST TENNESSEE.
Longstreet, it is reported, has been reinforced by as many as 20,000 troops from Lee’s army, and is preparing to move on Knoxville. The rebel army at Dalton, Georgia, is estimated at 30,000. The communication between Chattanooga and Knoxville is threatened by guerrillas, probably under Morgan. Re-enlisting regiments are continually leaving on furlough, their places being promptly taken by new recruits.
The President’s Amnesty Proclamation, in East Tennessee, as in all other portions of the Confederacy, seems to have its designed effect upon the rebel soldiers. We have now the most indubitable assurance that this is the case, as General Longstreet himself has lately, in an official correspondence with General Foster, bitterly complained of the conduct of the latter in circulating this document among the Confederate soldiers, causing desertion and disaffection, and suggested that the proclamation should have circulated through himself or not at all. Foster replied by sending Longstreet twenty copies for circulation, agreeing with him that the proclamation exactly meant the return of the disaffected to their allegiance, and the restoration of peace.
January 24, 1861
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“As an American citizen, I take great pride in my country, her prosperity annd institutions, and would defend any State if her rights were invaded. But I can anticipiate no greater calamity for the country than a dissolution of the Union. It would be an accumulation of all the evils we complain of, and I am willing to sacrifice everything but honor for its preservation.”Robert E. Lee, January 23, 1861 (in a letter to his son Custis)
When Lee wrote this, six southern States had already seceded.
When Lee wrote this, six southern States had already seceded.
Letter from KIA Sergeant Clifford Woods of the 62nd New York Infantry, Company E, or Anderson Zouaves
Harpers Ferry Va
Jan 23rd, 1864
A few months before Woods was killed in action at the Wilderness.
Since I wrote the enemy have moved down in front of us some eleven thousand strong and are composed of Cavalry and mounted Infantry with some Artillery. Our Artillery was playing upon them (to use a military phrase) all day yesterday. We have been having some very cold weather here…still I never enjoyed better health in my life. I feel very grateful to you and Uncle for your kindness in offering to give me the charge of the farm this coming Summer and yet I hardly know how to answer you for I do want to study as much as I can after my term of service expires which will be on the 30th of June However, I can study through the winter and should be very much pleased to do the best I can for you on the farm until that time. Aunt Melissa, this is the holy Sabbath and how I wish I were with you away from these scenes of profanity, vulgarity, and bloodshed. ‘Our Heavenly Father give me grace and strength to resist temptations and do my whole duty in a right manner is my daily prayer‘ but oh, it is hard to do this and resist evils.
Source: eBay, June 2007
Soldier’s identity:
Residence was not listed; 18 years old.
Enlisted on 5/1/1861 at New York City, NY as a Private.
On 7/3/1861 he mustered into “C” Co. NY 62nd Infantry
He was Killed on 5/6/1864 at Wilderness, VA
Promotions:
* Corpl 12/1/1861
* Sergt 1/8/1864
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 8/15/1861 from company C to company E (Estimated Day)
Letter from KIA Sergeant Clifford Woods of the 62nd New York Infantry, Company E, or Anderson Zouaves Harpers Ferry Va
Jan 23rd, 1864
A few months before Woods was killed in action at the Wilderness.
Since I wrote the enemy have moved down in front of us some eleven thousand strong and are composed of Cavalry and mounted Infantry with some Artillery. Our Artillery was playing upon them (to use a military phrase) all day yesterday. We have been having some very cold weather here…still I never enjoyed better health in my life. I feel very grateful to you and Uncle for your kindness in offering to give me the charge of the farm this coming Summer and yet I hardly know how to answer you for I do want to study as much as I can after my term of service expires which will be on the 30th of June However, I can study through the winter and should be very much pleased to do the best I can for you on the farm until that time. Aunt Melissa, this is the holy Sabbath and how I wish I were with you away from these scenes of profanity, vulgarity, and bloodshed. ‘Our Heavenly Father give me grace and strength to resist temptations and do my whole duty in a right manner is my daily prayer‘ but oh, it is hard to do this and resist evils.
Notes:
Late in 1863, the 62nd New York Infantry fought in the Mine Run campaign before heading into winter quarters. During Woods’ three years’ service, the regiment also engaged at Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, the Seven Days Battles and Gettysburg. Woods mustered into service on 3 July 1861. He was killed at the Wilderness on 6 May 1864.
Source: eBay, June 2007
Soldier’s identity:
Residence was not listed; 18 years old.
Enlisted on 5/1/1861 at New York City, NY as a Private.
On 7/3/1861 he mustered into “C” Co. NY 62nd Infantry
He was Killed on 5/6/1864 at Wilderness, VA
Promotions:
* Corpl 12/1/1861
* Sergt 1/8/1864
Intra Regimental Company Transfers:
* 8/15/1861 from company C to company E (Estimated Day)
Camp McClernand
Jan.22/62
Dear Sister,
It is sometime since I last wrote to you and I now take my pen to write you a few lines. The last time I wrote to you I was at Fort Jefferson Kentucky . I don’t know whether you ever recd’ it or not as there was an order issued that no letters should leave Cairo but I started it anyhow. I expect you would like to hear something about our march so I will tell you a few things that I seen while gone .The letter I wrote to you before was written on Sunday .
Monday we did nothing but stay about our camp.Tuesday morning early we were ordered to strike tents and be ready to march . So by 7 oclk everything was in readyness to start but there being a very large hill to go up right at the edge of the camp it was nearly 11 oclk before we got all the teams up and got started. We marched about ten miles that day to a town called Blandenville. Here we stopped and built up fires so that we could get supper when the teams came. It was after dark before the wagons came up . We got our tents and pitched them and after eating supper (which consisted of coffee and hard bread) lay down and slept sweetly till morning.
The next morning we started again on the road leading to Columbus and marched about 12 miles. It snowed nearly all forenoon that day rendering it very disagreeable .That night we encamped in a cornfield where the ridges about the rows were about two feet high . But as good luck would have it there were several straw and hay stacks not far off and we got lots of hay to lie on .
We were now within about ten miles of Columbus. Gen. Grant accompanied by some cavalry made a reconnoisance to within 5 miles of Columbus and some of the cavalry went so near as to drive in their pickets.
Thursday morning we started out on the Mayfield road and marched on that way till about two oclock when we turned back and took the Paducah road. We marched on toward Paducah until about 8 oclock that night when we halted and found that the other regiments had encamped a mile or two back, and go to them . This was the second time we had countermarched that day and the boys were all very tired but it was soon done when we commenced it and we were soon in camp with good fires and feeling much better than we did shortly before.
Friday we did not go but about 9 miles to a place by the name of Lovesseville , formerly known as PinHook. It rained very hard that night and most of the tents being in low ground they became untenable and the men had to get up and sit by the fire .
Saturday it rained nearly all day and the mud and water was nearly knee deep . Our blankets had got wet the night before and the rain that day made our clothes wet, so that we had quite a load to carry. To add to this about every mile we wouild have to cross a run which had become so swollen with the late rains that they were about 2 feet deep . That night we got back to within 2 miles of Bladenville but on a different road . That night we were all mighty tired . We got into camp a little before dark and when we commenced looking about for our wagons word came that they had stopped for the night about 3 miles from where we started in the morning . So here we were without any tents and hardly anything to eat . The latter was remedied by killing some hogs and cattle and roasting the meat over the fire. We built a big fire and lay down on the ground and slept till morning.We stayed there till Monday morning when we came back to Cairo .
On Monday we burned a large grist and saw mill where the rebels at Columbus had been getting flour and lumber and took all the property the man had. Every person let on to be Union men wherever we went. I recd’ those shirts you sent me by Mr. Clarke but did not see or hear anything of him . I will write to you soon again and give you more particulars.
Nothing more at present but remain your affectionate brother, D.W.Poak
Lt.D.W.Poak 30th Illinois Infantry
Adjutant and Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was at Forts Henry and Donaldson, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta Campaign, March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign.
Camp of the 30th Ill.Infty Memphis
Jan 21st / 63
Dear Sisters,
Your very kind and welcome letter of the 11th inst came to hand yesterday evening and I now take my seat to pen a few lines in reply . Since my last to you which was on the 8th of the present month we have again been on the move. Early on the morning of the 9th we recd orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moments warning and about 11 oclock A.M. recd’ orders to move.
Our stay at Davis ‘ Mill was not of as long duration, as most of us supposed it would be when we stopped there. However I guess all were satisfied to leave. We passed through La Grange that day about 2 oclock . From there we took the Memphis & Charleston Railroad toward Memphis. Shortly after leaving La Grange it commenced raining and continued until long after night when we had travelled about five miles along the railroad .
We stopped in an open field as we thought to camp for the night-but which we soon found out was merely to get supper. The Boys as soon as we stopped busied themselves in getting up rails for our fires and in gathering grass to sleep on so that when the order came for us to start very few had had anything to eat . It was now getting near night , the rain was falling fast and we were still full seven miles from where we were ordered to go that night.Happily for us however about dark the weather became so very bad that Col. Leggett Comdg our Brigade thought he would take the responsibility upon himself to stop for the night and march in in the morning.
Accordingly we stopped in a nice piece of timber , built good rail fires , set up our tents and were soon quite comfortable. Was up next morning about half past four oclock and by half past six were on our way to Moscow, a small village on the R.R. which for the present was to be our stopping place.
Arrived at the town about 8 A.M. and after waiting a short time for the officers to select a camp gropund , marched about 1/2 mile west of town and pitched our tents on the ground formerly occupied by the 18th Wisconsin Regt. Lt. David and Sergt. McCreight returned to the company as we were passing through La Grange .
I must confess I feel a heavy weight taken off me since he assumed command of the company.When I was in command of the company I did not have any peace of mind at all.Not that the company was hard to govern or that they did not obey me promptly, but there was so much responsibility resting upon me that I could not but think of it.
The commander of a company occupies the same position toward the company that a teacher does toward his scholers only that he is often placed in much more embarrassing circumstances . Lt. David has been appointed Capt., I 1st Lieut. and Samuel McCreight 2nd Lieut., I am well satisfied with the appointment except 2nd Lt.. I think another man was entitled to the position .However it dont matter to me . I think I have the nicest position in the company or at least the one that suits me best.
Since they have returned I have been taking things decidedly easy as far as any company duty is concerned and I intend to continue in the same way for sometime to come . But enough of this for the present more anon. We remained at Moscow until the Morning of the 12th when we again took up our line of march. That day we marched to LaFayette,a distance of ten miles arriving about 2 oclock P.M.
During our stay at this place we were the recipients of one of the largest snow storms that had been known in that country since March 1843. Nearly 20 years. It rained nearly 24 hours before the snow commenced falling, so that a large amount of it melted as it fell. But it remained to the depth of 8 inches in level places notwithstanding the melting. I happened to be one of the poor unfortunates who was compelled to be out in this storm.
I will not pretend to give you anything near a perfect description of my situation for that would require a much abler pen than mine, however I will give you a few extracts from my diary of that date which may not prove uninteresting to you.
By the way let me ask you first how you like my extracts and whether they prove interesting or not?
Jan.14th 1863 Commenced raining last night about 11 oclk and is raining still this morning , without any cessation whatever . Had breakfast about 8 a,m, and had just finished eating dinner about 3 P.M. when in came a detail for picket with my name on it. This was by no means good news but it had to be did, so I got ready as soon as possible.
Reported at Brigade Hd.Qrts. about 4 p.m. and was started in charge of 40 men to a post abpout a mile off on the R.R. Arrived at the Post at 5 oclk P.M. after crossing numerous streams ,getting our feet and legs wet, as well as the upper man. Found Capt. Martin of our Regt. in charge of the place and a sorry place it was. They were on the R.R. Track and were surrounded on all sides by water differing in depth from six inches to six feet.
After placing the guards I found a small Island that I thought was large enough for us to stay on so we moved our quarters . The guards were placed on like camp guard (ground?) and the men going out to relieve the others had to wade through mud and water knee deep. To add to the pleasure of the place , the rain which I have spoken of before has continued unceaseingly all day and to night there is no prospect of it ceasing. I am standing by a fire taking the rain as best I can an thinking that I have at least one advantage that is I cannot get any wetter.
About nine oclock I lay down under a few rails the boys had lain up for shelter covered with my blankets and tried to sleep , but no sleep would come to my eyes . I spent the night in this place getting up frequently and warming myself. The rain changed into snow about 11 oclock that night . I let it snow on top of my blankets which closed up the crevices and made me quite a warm covering.
Next morning when I lifted my blankets preparatory to getting up ,the first thing I was introduced to was a flake of snow about 6 inches square,and it right in my face .I thought this pretty hard but on making an effort to turn over I found the snow closing in on all sides and I was compelled to get up double quick or be buried in snow. This day passed off very roughly. It snowed all day.
We were relieved about 5 oclock on the evening of the 15th , made our way to camp , found supper waiting on me. After eating a hearty supper and getting right warm I went to bed , and was soon contemplating in dreams the scenes of the past day. We remained at LaFayette until the morning of the 18th when we took up our line of march for the long talked of (by us) Memphis , where we arrived on the evening of the 19th about 2 oclock.
The night of the 18th it raiined and melted off a good deal of snow which made it very muddy.Just the day before we left La Fayette I got a pair of new boots and starting to march before they got set to my feet they hurt them and the march got me down worse than anyone since I have been in the service. I expect a more tired boy never came into Memphis than I was the day we got here. We marched 31 miles in a day and a half.
I have not been down in the city yet but those that have say business of all kinds is very brisk. What I have seen of the place is very nice and the country adjoining it is beautiful. Gen. McArthers Division left here yesterday for down the river. It is reported that the troops that go down are all landing at Napolean.
I have no idea how long we will remain here . I think our course will be down the river . I expect we will be paid off tommorrow or next day for the months of July and August. We have now over six months pay due us but are only going to get two months . I dont care much still . I would like to have it sent home. I am going to keep a good supply for myself this time for fear we dont get anymore for another six months.
You appear to have some fears about us going to Vicksburg and indeed prospects look very favorable for us being there should there be another battle at that place but I dont think Gen.Grant will fight them there. I think he will make some move that will force them to evacuate it or will draw them out some place else to fight. This is merely my opinion. But I am not dreading Vicksburg very much. If they do have a battle there and call on us, all I want is to be able to do our duty as well as we have in times past .
In yours of January 4th which was recd’ a few days since , you wished me to answer an inquiry which you made in a previous letter concerning my relations with a certain person. When I read your letter I never took a second thought about that. I had heard so much on that subject and from so many sources that I had quit paying any attention to it whatever but being as you desire some information on a subject that has attracted the attention of so many and will not be put off without an answer .
I suppose I will have to give you the required information. There are no relations existing between the person you alluded to and myself other than there are between any two common friends. Are you satisfied? We drew soft bread again this evening .This is the first time since we left LaGrange going south nearly two months. In your last you said Mr. Haus wanted a good contraband. You can tell him good contrabands here (for cooking ) are like good girls in Lawrence Co. Skace (scarce?) . I have one I think would suit him but I cannot spare him while I am in the Army.
Things are pretty high in these quarters. I sent one of the boys down to town yesterday to get me some eatables . He had to pay 45 cents a piece for chickens ,30 cents per day for eggs,and other things in accordance . The weather has been quite cool for the last ten days. Well I believe I have written enough for the present.Give my respects to any enquireing friend.
Your brother,David W.Poak
P.S. I noticed by the journal that Lawyer Johnston has been appointed Day Master and Ben Cunningham is assistant. Bully for Ben….
Adjutant and Lt. David W. Poak of the 30th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was at Forts Henry and Donaldson,Corinth,Vicksburg,Atlanta Campaign ,March to the Sea, and the Carolina Campaign.
William Savage (to his parents in Greenwich, CT)
10th CT Infantry
10th CT Infantry
21-23 January, 1863
Excerpt:
This is a lovely evening, the moon is nearly full and shines brightly. I do not think I ever saw the moon as bright as it is down here. We did have a communion service last Sabbath afternoon. I came forward and made public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ and received of the Sacrement with us. One man who had never before spoken in meeting, by the grace of God he was going to live differently and requested the prayers of Gods people that he might be enabled to live as he ought.
The next evening there was a prayer meeting in St. Augustine, too. Savage went on picket and after returning the next morning, washed and dressed and went down to Church.
We had the Rev. Mr. Taylor to preach for us. He is the president of the Christian Commission for this department. I felt so miserably tired and sleepy that I could not give much attention.
Source: Nate Sanders, July 2007
