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A blog of Nineteenth Century history, focusing, but not exclusively, on the American Civil War seen through the prism of personal accounts, newspaper stories, administrative records and global history.
A thousand tales. A miscellany. A maze of historical tangents.

A Capitol View

A Capitol View
Images of 1861 juxtaposed- Union Square, New York vs. Capitol Square, Richmond

Monday, March 3, 2014

Escaping Down the Peninsula 1864- Swimming the Chickahominy


                                     FEBRUARY 15, 1864.
Col. J. W. SHAFFER, Chief of Staff:
Cavalry returned to Williamsburg with 9 more escaped officers. A fresh detachment has gone out.
                                      I.J. WISTAR,
                                        Brigadier-General.







                                     FEBRUARY 15, 1864.
Col. J. W. SHAFFER, Chief of Staff:
I should have explained that refugees and escaped prisoners, knowing of the pickets at all the upper fords and bridges, almost invariably come down parallel with Charles City road, in hopes of finding boats on lower Chickahominy. After crossing it they are pretty safe, but boats are purposely removed by the enemy and only to be had at few points. The refugees and negroes generally cross by swimming. Seventeen leave here by boat to-morrow, including 6 field officers.

                                       I.J. WISTAR,
                                         Brigadier-General.


- The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies.; Series 1 Volume 33

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