Week ending date Saturday, March 28, 1863
Correspondence from the 40th Georgia Regiment stationed at Vicksburg, Miss. described the actions of the federal troops. “They are, evidently, concentrating a heavy force opposite the city. ” “Whatever course the enemy may adopt, he will meet an invincible opposition…” Nil desperandum ,never despair, had become the motto of the Vicksburg defenders. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 24 1863 tues.pdf
The conditions of the 8th Ga. Regiment at Richmond was described with great optimism. “All have got protection of some kind from the weather.” “..we are getting a better variety of rations…besides flour…bacon and dried beef, we now get full rations of sugar and rice.” “There is now a greater interest manifested upon the subject of religion….Some forty-five or fifty have professed conversions in the last two months.” The correspondent also described the punishment given to two deserters. They were ordered to give each other twenty lashes on their bare backs with a hickory stick which they did. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 24 1863 tues.pdf
Roman citizens were asked to save their rags as the price of paper has gone up enormously. “The Marietta Mills are paying 10cts per pound.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 26 1863 thur.pdf
Week ending date Saturday, March 21, 1863
M. Dwinell wrote describing his return to camp from his recent furlough trip to Rome. He described the crowded conditions aboard the train which had the beneficial side effect of creating gallantry to the ladies. It seems they rode in a separate, much less crowded car where men were not permitted unless they were accompanying a lady. So the challenge was to help an unescorted lady with her luggage and gain access to that car and it’s comforts as the lady’s escort. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 17 1863 tues.pdf
Two reports from Smith’s Legion stationed near Loudon, Tennessee were published describing their forced march in a snow storm toward Cumberland Gap and their capture of two groups of federal Home Guard Soldiers.. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 17 1863 tues.pdf In the second letter they described capturing “a chap…beneath the [railroad] bridge with a box of matches and kindlings of the most combustible materials….The sentinels discovered the scoundrel before he executed his nefarious design and ‘took him out of the weather.’” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 21 1863 sat.pdf
Week ending date Saturday, March 14, 1863
The badly damaged Cherokee returned to Rome and the owners were getting a ships carpenter from Savannah to make repairs. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 10 1863 tues.pdf She finally sank at her wharf and was thought to be a total loss. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 14 1863 sat.pdf
Mr. John O’Neal, formerly of Murfreesboro, Tenn., is building a Bucket Factory for the Government in Rome. “It will be located one mile above Town, near the Rome Railroad.“ http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 12 1863 thur.pdf
Notices warned the citizens to watch our for their saddles as someone in need of leather was cutting off saddle skirts. Citizens were also asked to “Save you Powder and Lead, and don’t waste it shooting at birds. The day may come when you will need it for larger game.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 12 1863 thur.pdf
Heavy rains caused the rivers to rise “within a few feet of broad Street, in Maiden Lane.” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 14 1863 sat.pdf
Week ending date Saturday, March 7, 1863
A report from Capt. L.T. Mitchell, Co. C of the 40th Ga. Volunteers stationed at Vicksburg, described the federal troop movements and the shelling they were experiencing from the vessels on the Mississippi River. “The enemy shell us nearly every day. Our batteries made some splendid shots…if they [the Yankees] had remained 30 minutes longer, our batteries would have lifted them clean out of the river…” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 3 1863 tues.pdf
The steamer Cherokee was on her return trip from Greensport when she ran aground and broke a hole in her bow. The steamer Laura Moore was sent to bring up her passengers and freight as the Alfarata was not is running condition. http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 7 1863 sat.pdf
President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation the March 27 be set aside as a “day of fasting, humiliation and prayer…[and] to repair on that day to their usual places of public worship , and to join in prayer to Almighty God that He will continue His merciful protection over our cause…” http://home.comcast.net/~rometwcourier/1863/1 Jan-Mar/mar 7 1863 sat.pdf
Click here to read 150 years ago in February 1863: The Civil War Years.
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