McClellan Help reading McClellan correspondence

[shootseven]

I've recently transcribed a number of reports to General McClellan from Allan Pinkerton, about the observations of Pinkerton's operatives in the South, from 1861 and '62, and have run into a few words I'm stuck on. If anyone here can help it'd be much appreciated. (Some of the images show less text than I've included below because the passage was at the top/bottom of a page).

#1. that he saw an intilegent [sic] acquantance [sic], formerly from Baltimore, named John Kane who was a private in Col Smith's Regiment who was a fighting man "on his own [illegible]"
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton1.jpg

#2. that their arms are Percussion Muskets, Flint Lock Muskets, Shot Guns, Colts Revolvers, old [illegible] Cavalry Pistols, Long Richmond Bowie Knives http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton2a.jpg and continues on http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton2b.jpg

#3. that on the way they met an acquaintance of Mr. Campbell—Lieutenant L. H. [illegible]—who belonged to a Regiment, stationed at Winchester
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton3.jpg

#4. and that notwithstanding the [illegible] of General Johnson, upon General Evans, for his course at Leesburg, yet the whole of the troops, under command of the latter, were well pleased with the plan adopted and its glorious result
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton4.jpg

#5. That on Thursday, Nov 7th, my operative was engaged, all day, in calling on [illegible] persons
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton5.jpg

#6. That my operative further reports that since he left Gloucester Point, on this same trip, the Confederates had commenced a heavy Earth-Work on an elevation, 50 yards back from the water, and 30 to 35 feet above the water level, and two hundred yards lower down the [illegible], than the first batteries spoken of at Gloucester Point
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton6.jpg

#7.Beef¬—Fresh, at Retail, in market, 8c to 15c/[illegible]
Bacon Sides 25c per [illegible]
Hams 30 " "
Salt Pork none in market
Salt $15.00 per Sack
Shoe Thread $4.00 per [illegible]
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton7.jpg

#8. but that if he could not, on hearing from him again, see his way clear to go South, he would return to California and [illegible] his place
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton8.jpg

#9. One Company of Infantry was stationed at Mouse Creek, Tenn., for the sole purpose of guarding the railroad & keeping union men in [illegible]
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton9.jpg

#10. My operative was kept from visiting the Head Quarters of Genl Holmes at Brook Station, and also, the rebel camps at Evansport & Dumfries, and all their works on the Lower Potomac, by his being out of health, the rainy weather, the impassable state of the roads, the impossibility of conveyance [illegible] [illegible] at Fredericksburg and the fact of meeting Genl Holmes at Fredericksburg
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton10.jpg

Thank you.

 

[AndyHall]

1. "fighting man on his own hook." That generally means acting independently of others or of higher authority.

4. "and that notwithstanding the concerns [?] of General Johnson"

6. "two hundred yards lower down the river,"

8. "he would return to California and still retain [?] his place"

10. "the impossibility of conveyance being hired at Fredericksburg"

 

[James B White]

Here are my thoughts. No idea whatsoever on the lieutenant's name or on #9. The rest I'm pretty confident about except the ones I've marked as guesses.

#1. that he saw an intilegent [sic] acquantance [sic], formerly from Baltimore, named John Kane who was a private in Col Smith's Regiment who was a fighting man "on his own [illegible]"
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton1.jpg

"on his own hook." Knowing it's a common slang expression helps.

#2. that their arms are Percussion Muskets, Flint Lock Muskets, Shot Guns, Colts Revolvers, old [illegible] Cavalry Pistols, Long Richmond Bowie Knives http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton2a.jpg and continues on http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton2b.jpg

old style Cavalry Pistols

#4. and that notwithstanding the [illegible] of General Johnson, upon General Evans, for his course at Leesburg, yet the whole of the troops, under command of the latter, were well pleased with the plan adopted and its glorious result
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton4.jpg

just a guess: censure? (Edited to add: I didn't see Andy Hall's post when I posted, but I like his answer of "concerns.")

#5. That on Thursday, Nov 7th, my operative was engaged, all day, in calling on [illegible] persons
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton5.jpg

sundry persons

#6. That my operative further reports that since he left Gloucester Point, on this same trip, the Confederates had commenced a heavy Earth-Work on an elevation, 50 yards back from the water, and 30 to 35 feet above the water level, and two hundred yards lower down the [illegible], than the first batteries spoken of at Gloucester Point
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton6.jpg

"lower down the river"

#7.Beef¬—Fresh, at Retail, in market, 8c to 15c/[illegible]
Bacon Sides 25c per [illegible]
Hams 30 " "
Salt Pork none in market
Salt $15.00 per Sack
Shoe Thread $4.00 per [illegible]
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton7.jpg

"8c to 15c pr lb" written the period way with a line across the "lb"
I think that's the symbol in all of them, though it has a fancy little flourish on the bacon line. Scroll down to the first image here: http://www.shadycharacters.co.uk/2011/05/the-octothorpe-part-1-of-2/

#8. but that if he could not, on hearing from him again, see his way clear to go South, he would return to California and [illegible] his place
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton8.jpg

just a guess: "still retain his place"? Note how far ahead the crosses of his t's are, which makes "still" look like "slitl." I'm less certain about "retain" but compare the first three letters to the "return" earlier in the line, with the free-floating crossbar of the t.

#10. My operative was kept from visiting the Head Quarters of Genl Holmes at Brook Station, and also, the rebel camps at Evansport & Dumfries, and all their works on the Lower Potomac, by his being out of health, the rainy weather, the impassable state of the roads, the impossibility of conveyance [illegible] [illegible] at Fredericksburg and the fact of meeting Genl Holmes at Fredericksburg
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton10.jpg

'being hir[e]d at Fredericksburg"

 

[shootseven]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've been looking at these papers so long I need fresh eyes. I have never heard the "on his own hook" expression; and have no idea what that lieutenant's name is either. Some of the other ones I had an idea but wanted a fresh set of eyes before committing to it. Would hate to figure out I'm incorrect after it's published.

Thank you so much.

 

[AndyHall]

This might help:

FIGHTING UPON HIS OWN HOOK*. – A Kentuckian, who disdained the restraints of a soldier's life, with his name on the muster-roll, preferred "going it alone," fighting upon his own hook. While the battle was raging fiercest, and the shot flying thick as hail, carrying death wherever they fell, Kentuck might have been stationed under a tall maple, loading and firing his rifle, as perfectly unconcerned as though he was "picking deer." Every time he brought his rifle to his shoulder one of the enemy bit the dust. A general officer, supposing he had become separated from his company, rode up to bring him behind the redoubts, as he was in a position which exposed his person to the fire of the enemy. "Hallo, my man! What regiment do you belong to?" said the general. "Regiment!" answered Kentuck. "Hold 'em, yonder's another of 'em." And bringing his shooting-iron to his shoulder, he ran his eye along the barrel – a flash followed, and another of the enemy came tumbling to the ground. "Whose company do you belong to?" again inquired the general. "Company be banged!" was the reply of Kentuck, as he busied himself re-loading. "See that ar fellow with the gold fixins on his coat and hoss**. Jist watch me perforate him." The general gazed in the direction indicated by the rifle, and observed an officer riding up and down the advancing columns of the foe. Kentuck pulled the trigger, and another officer followed his companions that Kentuck had laid low in the death that day. "Hurrah for Kentuck!" shouted the free fighter, as his victim came toppling from his horse; then turning to the general, he continued, "I'm fighting on my own hook, stranger," and leisurely proceeded to reload. ​

​

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

Sometimes I come across something that's perfectly legible when I'm transcribing. But most of the time I'm wishing to have a time machine available in order to send back a good manual typewriter.

 

[NedBaldwin]

#9. One Company of Infantry was stationed at Mouse Creek, Tenn., for the sole purpose of guarding the railroad & keeping union men in [illegible]
http://www.coreyrecko.com/Pinkerton9.jpg

My guess: awe