Saturday, January 31, 1863

Lucy spent the day here.  Kate went ~ afternoon to see Mrs. Greenwood.  She also called on Mrs. A. S. Bailey.  Lucy went to town on the evening train with Jemmie Means.

Friday, January 30, 1863

Gen. Burnside has been relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac and Gen. Jos. Hooker takes his place.  I like Burnside -- he is a good man.  Perhaps Hooker has in his character the elements of Success.  God grant to prosper the right.

Peggy's comments:
Julia's brother, William P. Cutler wrote in his journal on January 26:

To-day it is said that Burnside has been relieved at his own request, and Hooker put in his place.  Our Potomac army is so far a failure, and seems to be demoralized by the political influences that have been brought to bear upon it.  All is confusion and doubt.  The President is tripped up by his generals, who seem to have no heart in their work.  God alone can guide us through this terrible time of doubt, uncertainty, treachery, imbecility and infidelity.  Thaddeus Stevens jokingly remarked that he thought there was a God when he was as young as Kellogg of Michigan, (who said we must remember him) but he had given it up lately.

Thursday, January 29, 1863

Kate returned this evening.  She has a very nice set of teeth.  Miss Mary Ann Harvey of Barlow came & spent the night & went to singing school with the girls.  Kate took tea at the Harts.  The Dr. has just received a letter from the Hills of the Lunatic Asylum.  He thinks Julia Greenwood will recover.

Peggy's comments:

Julia's niece Kate Dawes was 33 years old when she needed this very nice set of teeth.

Wednesday, January 28, 1863

Snow on the ground, an unpleasant day.  Kate went to Marietta.  Gen. Crooks’ command, the 11^th 12^th 36^th & 92^nd regiments O. V. I. have been ordered from the Kanawha to Tennessee.  The 36^th  is said to be in a state of insubordination disgraceful to themselves & officers.

Tuesday, January 27, 1863

The President approves & confirms the finding and sentences of the Court martial in the case of Fitz-John Porter, Major General of Volunteers.  He is cashiered & dismissed from Service of the United States.  Gen. Butler, who has been for several months in New Orleans, is now at the North having been relieved by Gen Banks.  Butler is an emancipationist.

Peggy's comments:

Colonel Fitz-John Porter was courtmartialed due to his failure to follow orders in the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas).  Difficulties in communication often contributed to misunderstandings in command, however Fitz-John Porter disobeyed a direct order from General Pope to move his troops.  Among other reasons, Porter claimed it was too dark, the troops were too tired, and he was sure there were too many opposing troops.  This from the National Park Service.  Porter spent the next twenty years attempting to clear his name.  

Rufus Dawes, Julia's nephew, made a long, impassioned speech in the House of Representatives in March 5, 1883, objecting to a bill introduced for the relief of FitzJohn Porter.  Here is his concluding paragraph:

I have spoken not for General Pope.  History must attend to his case; it is not here for trial.  I have no concern as to the plots or machinations of General Irvin McDowell.  I know nothing of his personal schemes, plans, or purposes in that campaign.  I have spoken only as a soldier in the line of an army that obeyed cheerfully, toiled faithfully, and asked only to be led to battle to place their lives freely in peril for their cause and for their country.  I respect General Porter for his valor on other fields, but for his failure on this field I condemn him.  I hold, indeed, the general condition of jealousy, intrigue, and disaffection more responsible than Porter personally.  That he is the one victim in no sense abates the justice of the decree against him.  I remember that Benedict Arnold could not be restrained from leading the line in face of flaming death over the intrenchments of Saratoga and winning the finest victory of the Revolution.  But in a moment of chagrin and disappointment he cast away every jewel of honor, faith, and patriotism, and history brands him with eternal condemnation.  I draw no comparisons, and would make no harsh judgments; but the cold calculation of General Porter, to put it mildly, so contrasts with the earnest, unselfish enthusiasm of the friends and comrades of my young manhood who died in battle at Bull Run, the second, that I dedicate this protest against Senate bill 1844, for the relief of Fitz-John Porter, to their memory.

Monday, January 26, 1863

Lucy came down on the evening train.  She brought a letter from Gov. Dennison to William which says Gov. Tod authorized him to say that a commission for Major of the 53” O. V. I. would be forwarded to Ephraim.  We are glad -- for we know he deserves the promotion.

Ephraim Cutler Dawes

Sunday, January 25, 1863

I was too unwell to go to Sabbath school or meeting to-day -- sore throat.

The 39^th &  63^d in which there are a good many Washington Co. Boys, are at Corinth Miss.  They distinguished themselves in the late battle with the rebel Forrest.