Rebel Deterrent along the Potomac at Aquia
From The New-York Times August 6, 1861:
THE GREAT REBELLION.; IMPORTANT NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. …
WASHINGTON, Monday, Aug. 5. …
DANGERS OF NAVIGATION.
The city is now with the mercury at 95°, nearly out of ice — the scarcity being occasioned by the non-arrival of the usual supplies from Boston. On account of the reported batteries at Aquia Creek and Potomac Point, private shippers of all kinds of freight are fearful of forwarding vessels to ascend the Potomac. Lumber now arrives by railroad, instead of by water, thus increasing the freight to treble the usual rates.
Another possible deterrent: Infernal machines discovered in the Potomac near Aquia Creek (LOC - LC-DIG-ppmsca-21002)
BRITISH GOLD IN RICHMOND.
A Northern gentleman, who arrived two days since from Richmond, announces that at the date of his departure, and for some time previously, there was a great abundance of British coin circulated in the city, being for the most part sovereigns. It was currently reported that large amounts of gold had been advanced by British capitalists upon the new crop.
COMING HOME.
Col. WARD, of the Thirty-eighth, goes to New-York in the morning. The rigid discipline now enforced has forced several of the officers of the regiments to resign, owing to their manifest incapacity. Col. WARD goes to New-York for the purpose of obtaining suitable officers to take the places of those who have resigned.
INCREASE OF SOLDIERS’ PAY.
The House to-day passed the bill providing that privates shall hereafter be paid fifteen dollars per month, instead of eleven dollars, as at present. The House also passed the bill providing that volunteers and militia shall be paid from the date of their enlistment, instead of from the day of their being sworn into service, as at present. This will give the volunteers and militia from New-York pay for about a month more than they have heretofore received.
ARRIVAL OF ICE FOR THE HOSPITALS.
Fifty tons of ice arrived from New-York, to-day, for the use of the sick and wounded, and was sent to the hospitals. …
***Talk about unintended consequences! Not only has the limber price tripled, but think of all the global warming of using trains. Oh, that’s right – there’s a war on.
Map licensed by Creative Commons
***08-06/2011: Talk about unintended consequences of being rash! Not all ships by 1860 used wind power. There were “steamers”, see below:
Quartermasters Tugboat Sykes, carrying mail off Mobile (ca1860-5; LOC - LC-DIG-ppmsca-20858)
