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Journal of John Reuben Thompson, Accession 3400-e , Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
This item, originally on loan in April, 1950, was given to the University of Virginia Library on June 6, 1977, by D. Tennant Bryan, Richmond, Virginia.
John Reuben Thompson (1823-1873) was an editor, poet and journalist who was born in Richmond, Va., October 23, 1823, the son of John and Sarah (Dyckman) Thompson. He attended the University of Virginia, 1840- 1842 and received an LL.B. there in 1845. He was the owner of Literary Messenger , 1847-1853, editor, 1853-60, which published works of leading Southern writers. He was editor of the weekly publication Southern Field and Fireside , 1860-1861; Assistant Secretary of the Commonwealth of Virginia, 1861-1864, and helped edit the Richmond Record and Illustrated News .
In 1864-1865, he was the chief writer for the Index , (organ of Confederate opinion in England). He prepared Memoirs of the Confederate War for Independence . for Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine , 1855-1856. He returned to the U.S. in 1866 as American correspondent for The London Standard . Thompson was appointed by William Cullen Bryant to the literary editorship of the New York Evening Post , 1867-1873. He died in New York City, April 30, 1873, and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.
The journal of John R. Thompson begins on February 29, 1864. Excerpts of his journal which he kept during the year 1864 were written while he was in Richmond (March through June), and traveling in England, Ireland, Scotland and France (July through December).
On March 1, he notes that there has been a cavalry raid by the enemy within three miles of Richmond, with vandals shelling the dwelling house of James Lyons on the Brooke Turnpike and "committing the most wanton rages wherever they went." He writes about several skirmishes around the city and some prisoners brought into town. The regiments of Colonel Danforth and Colonel Evans of the second class militia were called out by the Governor.
On March 2, he says, 300 horses and eighty-nine prisoners taken by General Wade Hampton were brought into town. March 3, he describes great excitement in Richmond with the reported advance of the enemy under General Benjamin Franklin Butler up the Peninsula. Alarm bells, he said, rang from two until five o'clock, with all furloughed officers and privates of the Confederate forces in town called to duty. March 4, Thompson cites "deep indignation" in Richmond over orders (commonly referred to as the Dahlgren Papers) captured on Colonel Ulric Dahlgren at [Turnstall's Station] revealing the purpose of Yankees in the recent raid to sack and burn Richmond, and put to death the Confederate Cabinet. He adds that ninety prisoners, thirty-five Negroes and 150 horses taken at the Station have been brought into the city.
On March 13, Thompson attends services at St. Paul's where Generals Robert E. Lee, James Longstreet, Braxton Bragg, John Hood, Lafayette McLaws, William Henry Chase Whiting and others are present. The next day, March 14, he notes that the generals were in Richmond to discuss the future conduct of the campaign and that the proclamation of President Davis making April 8 a fast day has appeared in the papers. March 15, 655 Confederate soldiers, including Gen. W.H. F. Lee, Col. J. [Lucins] Davis and Hampden Chamberlayne among the officers have arrived in town from Point Lookout under new agreement for the exchange of prisoners. On March 20, Thompson writes that 1,100 prisoners have arrived from Point Lookout, with about 10,000 persons on Capitol Square to greet them. March 23, they experienced a seventeen inch snowfall in Richmond.
On April 30, Thompson reports that Jefferson Davis's small son has died from injuries received in a fall from the portico of his home. Rumors prevail concerning an attack on New Bern, North Carolina.
May 1, Thompson writes that "young Davis's funeral" has been held. On May 5 there is news from the army on the Rapidan River that a general engagement is about to begin. Yankee gunboats reportedly are ascending the James River, and Thompson continues that the Battle of the Wilderness between the armies of Ulysses Grant and Robert E.Lee has commenced. May 6--intense excitement prevails in Richmond as "the great battle continues." May 8--Second class militia ordered out midst "flying rumors about town." On May 9, Thompson writes that all business has been suspended in the city, with no one allowed to leave and no training permitted. May 10- much marching and countermarching of the militia. Rumors of every kind--good and bad--in circulation.
May 11, Thompson notes that no mail has been distributed at the post office since the previous Friday, and that "Richmond is bare of male inhabitants as all have marched off to meet the enemy." He mentions a sharp engagement at Ashland that morning between Stuart's cavalry under Colonel Thomas T. Munford and a heavy force of the Yankees, in which the Yankees were repulsed. Severe fighting in the afternoon between the same forces, with General Stuart dangerously wounded. A bad storm in the evening did severe damage to Richmond structures, including the steeple of St. John's church. May 12--the storm continues. There also is heavy and continuous cannonading from 3 A.M. to 11 A.M., and heavy firing in the afternoon in the direction of Petersburg. Thompson notes that General J.E.B. Stuart died at 8 P.M. at the house of Dr. Brewer on Grace St. May 13--firing still heard below town amidst great anxiety.
Thompson describes General Stuart's funeral at 5 P.M. in the St. James Church as one of "universal mourning." Stuart's widow, he writes, requested no military funeral escort, although many of Stuart's companions in arms served as pallbearers, including Major Von Borcke. "There was no pomp therefore in the Obsequies--the coffin covered with flowers was carried to Hollywood."
May 14--very heavy cannonade below the city in Chesterfield, with smoke visible from Thompson's library window. He writes of a midnight assault by the enemy on Drewry's Bluff from the land side, which was repulsed. May 15--heavy showers in the morning--two heavy attacks made upon Drewrys Bluff at 9 A.M. and 2 P.M., with enemy repulsed--sun in the afternoon. May 21--attack on Confederate lines at midnight by General Benjamin Franklin Butler, which was repulsed. May 22--Johnson continues with a report of a large movement of troops from Southside to General Lee near Hanover Junction.
May 23, the enemy crosses the North Anna. May 24,Virginia Military Institute cadets reviewed on Capitol Square by Jefferson Davis. May 27 there was a presentation of the flag of Virginia on Capitol Square to the Virginia Military Institute cadets.
In June, Thompson's entries are brief as he is suffering from ill health and plans to go to England. June 2--he notes heavy cannonading occurring in the direction of Mechanicsville. June 3--reports on heavy fighting near Gaines's Mill. June 7-wrote to James Alexander Seddon, Confederate Secretary of War, for permission to go to England. June 9--Yankees under General August Valentine Kautz advance from Fort Powhatan and enter outer entrenchments of Petersburg. June 16--Yankees attack and carry outer entrenchments of Petersburg, capturing Sturdivant's Battery. June 22--Thompson leaves home at 7 A.M. by the Danville Railroad for Wilmington, North Carolina via Greensboro, N.C. June 24--reaches Wilmington after "hot, tedious, dusty trip."
July 5, Thompson leaves for England on the Edith from Fort Fisher near Wilmington. July 6, he writes of being chased for nine hours by a Yankee steamer (supposed to be the Connecticut ) before it gave up the chase. July 8--landed in Bermuda, changed ships to Alpha to sail for Halifax. July 23--sails from Halifax on the Asia . July 30--arrives at Mizen Head, south of Ireland. July 31--arrives in Liverpool.
During August, Thompson settles himself in London, visits friends, goes shopping and makes several side excursions. August 1--on to London and the Exeter House Hotel. August 3--moves to 17 Savile Row. August 7- -attends morning services at Westminster Abbey. August 8-- takes the train to Manchester. August 9--on to Glasgow, Scotland. August 12, from Glasgow to the Highlands; August 15, a friend has received a telegram talking of a great victory over General Grant in front of Petersburg. August 22--27--leaves Kingussie for Inverness, takes on boat trip to Fort William and afterwards by coach through the heart of Loch Lomond and Glencoe Pass. He then takes a steamer and train on to Glasgow and Edinburgh. August 27-August 31--returns to Glasgow, then travels by steamer to Belfast and by train to Dublin. From there he travels to Knocklofty, seat of the Earl of Donoughmore, near the town of Clonmel, Ireland, where he remains until September 10th when he leaves to visit Dublin.
On September 12, Thompson returns to London where he describes his visits and activities in great detail, including a visit to hear Charles Spurgeon speak at his Tabernacle on September 18, a visit to the Crystal Palace on September 19 (also on November 5), and a visit to Thomas Carlyle on October 14, noting their subjects of conversation and summarizing some of Carlyle's comments, including some about the Civil War (4 pages). October 17 through 22, Thompson was at Liverpool. Activities continue in London from October 23 through December 21, mentioning another visit to Carlyle (November 19), a visit with Alfred Lord Tennyson (November 24), meeting Mr. Babbage, the inventor of the calculating machine (December 9), visit with the General and Mrs. Randolph (December 10-22) who he accompanied to Paris, France via Dover (December 22-29). The journal ends on December 29, 1864, with an account of his activities in France.