War Diaries (June 3) (nonfiction)

War Diary entries for June 3.

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Diaries

Charles A. Wickliffe: June 3, 1845

Dear Sir

I refer you to my note to Mr Buchanan of the 30th Inst. in reference to the return of Mr Elliot and the preliminaries of a treaty or basis of negotiation with this Republic proposed by Mexico. Upon his arrival at this place on Friday evening, a gentleman of this place with whom Mr Elliot is very intimate spent some time with him and learned the particulars &c which I have condensed in the letter to Mr Buchanan. 1 Com. Stockton and myself started down the coast as intimated in my former letter in company with the gentleman upon whom I relied to obtain information from the Rio Grande. 2 We encountered very heavy head winds, and this man and myself became so extremely sick that my own safety in the opinion of Com. Stockton required that I should be landed, and return.

We arranged with the captain of the Texas Revenue cutter to proceed and take Mr Jones a member of congress 3 who undertook to obtain all the information he could from the Brassos Santiago and Rio Grande, to see Col. Kinney4 and request that he would return in the cutter to Galveston when and where we expect to hear through Genl Sherman 5 the views and wishes of President Jones. Col Kinney has not yet arrived, neither have we heard from Genl Sherman.

Fortunately Col Donalson 6 arrived on Saturday evening, and we will be governed in this matter by his advice. It is my opinion, however that Prest Jones will discountenance the movement, under the impression that the United States will have the right, and will be bound to remove the Mexican military from east of the Rio Grande after annexation takes place. Would not this be an act of War upon Mexico by the United States?

Will you allow me to submit a remark or two which may be of service, as to the points to be occupied by the United States troops in Texas, whenever it is deemed advisable to remove the troops across the line, and the mode or route of their march.

Corpus Christi at the mouth of the Nueces is the most westwardly point now occupied by the Texan troops. This point is on the west side of that river. The Brassos Santiago is the only point near the mouth of the Rio Grande on the east side which can be occupied near the Gulf: and this, as I have before said, is in possession of the Mexicans, at which place they have a custom house, and about 150 soldiers as reported about 60 days ago. When the United States assumes the defence of this country, one or both of these points must be occupied. Not more than 500 soldiers with a suitable proportion of artillery are necessary, unless the Mexicans are in greater numbers than is believed here. Dragoons in this part of the country I think would not be required, particularly if Capt Hays ' Rangers, of the Texas government, be retained as I think they should be by all means.

The Infantry and Artillery companies can not reach these points overland at this season of the year under three months, if at all, owing to the nature of the country the want of water, and the extent of prairie over which they would have to march. It would at this season of the year kill over half the men.

The troops I understand, are stationed at Fort Jessup, between the Red River and the Sabine. 7 These troops can not, now, owing to the stage of water in Red river, and the raft be brought in boats to New Orleans. Upon enquiry, I am satisfied that whatever of Infantry you order to the points I have designated, as well as Artillery, should be marched by land from Fort Jessup to the mouth of the Sabine and there take shipping for the point to be occupied. If they are compelled to march, the beachs on the gulf from the Sabine to this place, and from this place to Corpus Christi is the only road over which they can march. It is a fine hard sand beach only obstructed by the mouths of rivers at which there are ferries. Along this beach waggons and artillery could be conveyed and beef driven for their supply. This route would require some thirty or forty days march, whereas vessels would perform the trip in 6 or 7 days. It will not do to attempt to march these troops through the country crossing the Sabine at Gaines' ferry. This route would upon the map to a person not acquainted with the country seem to be the proper one, but rest assured, I am well advised when I say to you, it will not be one at this warm season of the year over which troops on foot can be marched.

What route the cavalry should take I am at a loss to advise. It would seem to me that their destination or location should be on the north of Texas, and west from Fort Towson. In no part of Texas can corn or oats be had for horses now. That which is used for bread commands one dollar per bushel and very scarce at that. The only subsistence for horses in the whole republic now is the wild grass, and if the Dragoons are stationed on the north in the counties of Red River or Nacogdoches the horses might be sustained on grass and if wanting in western Texas they could by moderate marches be transported across the country towards San Antonio.

I am of opinion that 200 or 300 Rangers mounted under the command of Capt. Hays on the horses of their country would be more effective as a defence than the whole corps of cavalry mounted on horses unused to living on grass alone.

It would be well, I think, to give orders to march a portion of the troops now at Fort Jessup to the Sabine, where they could be as well and as cheaply rationed, if not more so, than at Fort Jessup. Maj Donalson will no doubt give you full information in reference to his interview with Capt Elliot.

I shall leave here on Wednesday for Austin. My object is to see Capt Hays who commands the Rangers to see if I can get him to clear the country west of the Nueces of the Mexican military.

C A WICKLIFFE

[P.S.] By the rout I propose the whole distance is about 400 miles; by the rout crossing the Sabine at Gaines Ferry] it is at least 600 miles and on a rout for troops on foot almost impossible at this season of the year. Wff.

—Charles A. Wickliffe, U.S. Representative from Kentucky who supported the annexation of Texas (letter to President James K. Polk)

• Fort Jessup

• https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=utk_polk
• Fort Jessup

Isaac Lyman Taylor: June 3, 1863

Fine day. Co. & Bat'ion drill as usual Gen. David Hunter's letter to Jeff Davis threatening retaliation in case Negro soldiersof "Department of the South" ar[e] executed, is quite a spicy affair.

—Isaac Lyman Taylor, Company E, First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry

Taylor kept a diary of his experiences while serving with Company E of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry.

• http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/25/v25i04p342-361.pdf (PDF)

Van Buren Oldham: June 3, 1864

Martin Van Buren Oldham.

A change of surg[eon] this morning in our ward. The surg[eon] made a very close examination of my lungs but did not express an opinion. He prescribed quinine and something else. The food here at the convalescent table is very bad so that I have eat but little until today when the surg[eon] placed me on the sick list and gave me something better to eat. Quite a number of men were sent off to their [commands] this morning. Some went who came with me. In my room is a man with syphilis, 2 wounded, one sick. We are very comfortably situated. More sick and wounded arrived during the evening. Nothing of interest from the front.

—Martin Van Buren Oldham, Company G, 9th Tennessee Infantry ("The Hickory Blues") (diary)

• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_1864.php
• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_indx.php

George Beck: June 3, 1941

Our rations have been cut down again and we get no breakfast all this week. Potato shortage also bread. What a state Germany is in wish something would happen to end this war.

—George Beck,1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, prisoner of war (diary)

• http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck.htm

George Beck: June 3, 1943

No news whatsoever to put down except to say I received a cigarette parcel from the wife. Weather lovely. Roll on a long time.

—George Beck,1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, prisoner of war (diary)

• http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck.htm

Fiction cross-reference

• Gnomon algorithm
• Gnomon Chronicles

Nonfiction cross-reference

• George Beck (nonfiction)
• Isaac L. Taylor (nonfiction)
• Martin Van Buren Oldham (nonfiction)
• War (nonfiction)
• War Diaries (nonfiction)

External links

• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_1864.php
• https://www.utm.edu/departments/special_collections/E579.5%20Oldham/text/vboldham_indx.php
• http://collections.mnhs.org/MNHistoryMagazine/articles/25/v25i04p342-361.pdf (PDF)
• http://www.pegasusarchive.org/pow/george_beck.htm