NEWS FROM WASHINGTON; No Further Developments in the Trent Affair; The Proposed Inquiry into the Conduct of the War (12/25/1861)

New York Times archives – Times Machine ^ | 12/25/1861

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Dec. 24.

Extensive preparations have been made in nearly all the camps for the celebration of Christmas. Dinners, fetes, balls, and games are to be the order of the day and night. Many officers have obtained three days' furlough to visit their homes. Gen. SICKLES left for New-York to-night.

Arrangements had been made by Lord LYONS to have a Christmas dinner with diplomats to-morrow, but it is probable that it will not take place, on account of the news of the death of the Prince Consort.

The President and members of the Cabinet will proceed down the Potomac to-morrow, in the steamer Pensacola, as far as Indian Head. The Presidential party will visit Gens. HOOKER's and SICKLES' Divisions, returning in the evening.

Senator WILSON's bill affecting sutlerships empowers the commissioned officers of each regiment to elect a sutler, without regard to the claims of present incumbents. It prescribes that the articles to be sold by the sutler shall be determined by a Board consisting of the Quartermaster, Commissary and Inspector-Generals of the army, and that none others shall be allowed to be sold; that the Quartermaster and Commissary of the regiment shall in concert with other commissioned officers, decide weekly the prices to be charged, and that the list of prices shall be sent to the Division General for his approval, who shall send it to the Inspector-General for his approval. It prescribes that any sutler charging higher than the approved rates, or who shall give false weight, or in any other way cheat the soldiers, shall upon proof of the fact before the Colonel, Quartermaster and Commissary of the regiment, be fined fifty dollars, one-half of the fine accruing to the informer,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4024013/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

News from Washington: No Further Developments in the Trent Affair – 2-3
Affairs at Fortress Monroe: The Skirmish Near Newmarket Bridge – 3
From West Point: Improvements in Artillery – 3-4
Christmas Eve and Christmas – 4-5
Editorial: Our English Relations – 5
Editorial: Gen. Sherman and the Reporters (no not W.T., the other Gen. Sherman, T.W.-HJS) – 5-6
Editorial: Christmas, 1861 – 6
Editorial: The Hospital at Port Royal – 6
The Provincial Tempest – 6

[Conan the Librarian]

I found the section on the hospital in Port Royal interesting for two reasons.

1. If the site for the hospital is the same place as the current Naval Hospital in Port Royal (the Military never lets go of anything) there is a GREAT anchorage in the river right by it. We’ve anchored there several times and will probably do so again.

2. Contrary to the climate report given by the Times, it does get cold enough to kill sometimes in the South Carolina/Georgia border area. I remember 80 deg Christmases and 4 deg Christmases. In 1989, it snowed enough just before Christmas that there was snow on the ground for a week.

One of the few times the “Survivor Man” failed to beat a challenge was in the swamps of the Altamaha River (about 60 miles south of Savannah), where he couldn’t get a fire lit and it was in the 40s. He was afraid of hypothermia and alligators.

[sauropod]

bkmk