Thank Heaven, we can soon move out of the city, having received orders to go into camp near division headquarters, Weather very bad, rain and snow mixed. Roads on the way to camp in a terrible condition.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8
We have a splendid camping ground, plenty of wood and water, Made ourselves very comfortable. I feel so much better here where we can have batallion drills and dress parade.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8
Left camp on the 16th on a scout to hunt up Blythe's forces. Orders came upon us suddenly to prepare two days rations and go in light marching order. Men strapped a rubber and one common blanket across their shoulders and were soon ready, all glad of the change as camp life had become very monotonous. Our force consisted of some 500 cavalry, 800 infantry (our regiment and part of the 11th) and two pieces of artillery. It had been raining for some time and the roads were horrible. Marched about twenty-one miles the first day. The rebels had burned all the bridges and we had to cut down trees to cross over the streams. Rained the first day. About 6 o'clock in the evening we went into camp, without any tents. Sleep was almost impossible. Reached Blythe's camp on the morning of the 17th, but the bird had flown. Company A were thrown out as skirmishers and moving forward in that way came upon Blythe's camp. They had been forced to retreat so fast that they had left all their camp utensils and provisions covered up with leaves and hid under branches of trees cut down. We destroyed everything we could find and commenced our march homeward, Co. A as rear guard. We kept skirmishing with the Rebs who would come just near enough to get a shot at us. Raining hard all the time. Marching terrible through a swamp when it was so dark you could not distinguish the men in front, we waded through water for an hour; when we came to Horn Lake river it was so swollen and deep from the rain that we could not ford it and as all the bridges have been burned down we cut down two large trees which fell across the stream and by the light of a single lamp crossed on these. We went into camp about four miles from the river but sleep was impossible owing to the rain. I sat on a log most of the night and tumbled off once in the mud from being asleep. I was a tough looking picture. Next morning we reached camp and all glad to get back. It was on this march that an incident occurred which was very amusing. We had halted and stacked arms at noon near a farm house where the men went for chickens, geese, pigs and everything eatable they could get, when all at once a lot of the men came rushing out of the yard yelling what was thought to be "Rebs." Men rushed for their arms-officers mounted, when it was discovered instead of Rebs it was bees. A lot of men in search of provisions had come upon a number of bee-hives and in trying to get the honey upset the hives and the whole swarm of bees set upon them. They were routed and fled, the bees attacked the horses and men so vigorously that we had to move the regiment.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8
Received two months' pay on the 22nd. I may repeat here a little incident that occurred which was very pleasant to me. Through some accident for which I was not responsible, the first enlistment roll was lost and in making out a duplicate I had to guess at the time the men were enlisted (this was for my company.) As they got pay from the date of enlistment it made a difference of a few days with a number of men, so I refunded out of my own money all that they lost taking their own word for it. Last night I was surprised by having it all returned with the following note:
Captain Stockton,
Sir:—As a slight expression of our esteem, and a debt of gratitude we hereby acknowledge for the fatherly care you have extended us since the organization of the company, caring for our interests individually and collectively, and for this last act of generosity arising from that innate sense of justice dwelling in the human heart, sacrificing self for the good of others and believing in the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have that they should do unto you, we tender you the enclosed by the hand of our representative, Oliver Rice, Orderly Sergeant, and ask your acceptance of the same.
It was signed by all I had paid the money to and was a most agreeable and happy surprise to myself. Colonel Starring said it was the best thing he had seen in the service.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8-9
Was elected major of the regiment in place of Chester resigned. It was hard for me to give up my company, but I should not decline promotion, as my promotion will give it to others—I trust I may always be able to do my duty.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 9
Gave a supper to the officers of the regiment. We were honored by the presence of Mrs. and Miss Sanger and Miss VanArman of Chicago. My cook managed to borrow dishes from a neighboring house and everything passed off pleasantly. Thanks to my cook, Joe Wheeler, who understands his business throughly, we had as nice a table and as good a supper as any one would want to set down to. All seemed to enjoy themselves and the presence of the ladies did more than anything else to make it pleasant. It was so refreshing to us all to be in the society of women again. It was a late hour before we broke up and a number of us escorted the ladies home in an ambulance. My brother officers were kind to me in their expressions of confidence, etc.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 9
Encamped at
Germantown, Tennessee, last night. Weather is grand and as I marched along at
the head of my company I could not but think of the last New Year when visiting
my friends and paying the compliments of the season, how different it was from
today, yet I truly confess that I feel happier here in doing whatever duty
assigned us, going wherever orders send us. As yet we have not had a real
battle. I know the men long for the first big fight but I am contented to take
it as it comes—it will come and from all appearances soon, and I fear those who
most hanker after it will not relish it so much.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Encanmped at
Lafayette last night and in the morning started back with the supply train. The
march was as hard a one as I ever took. I have never seen the men so played out
and such general straggling—but few companies came to a halt with a quarter of
their men. Quimby gave us a tough one and the "compliments" paid him
by the men would scarcely please his ears. I was out on picket with my company
and did not get relieved until the whole force had started and then had to
rejoin the regiment. I reached it about dusk.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
We encamped in a
corn field last night, completely exhausted; in the middle of the night it
commenced to rain but I slept through it until I woke up and found myself in
two inches of water. I tried the top of a furrow but that was not much better,
so gave up sleep as a bad job. We started about 10 o'clock on our march for a
camp ground. The roads were the worst I have yet marched on; snow, mud, water,
everything that makes marching disagreeable except dust. Marched a few miles
and then filed off into some beautiful woods where I understand we are to camp
for a while—good water, plenty of wood and a good chance for rations and mail
to reach us, what more can a soldier want?
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Companies A and F
received orders to move their camp about half a mile and throw up works to
protect a railroad bridge from being burned. They built a respectable stockade
and named it Fort Stockton. It will hold 500 men.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Guard duty is the
order of the day. Companies A and F taking turn about. We had a very heavy snow
storm last night and today it is still snowing. Oldest inhabitants say they
have never seen such cold weather and so much snow. Thermometer 4 degrees below
zero. We have only our tents and they are not much protection in such cold
weather. We have to go on duty without fires and walk up and down in the snow
in low shoes when it is a foot deep, no gloves and very scant clothing, so we
can form some idea what our Revolutionary Sires went through.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Evacuated Fort
Stockton today. Marched into Memphis through mud nearly knee deep. Slept in an
old building near the railroad depot. Heard today of Adjutant Bacon's death. He
was one of the best soldiers ever met. Our regiment has met with a serious
loss, one that cannot well be replaced. "Peace to his ashes."
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Went into quarters
in the navy yard at Memphis. Quarters very good. Men under shelter. The machine
shop is used as barracks for the regiment. Officers use the offices around the
yard. Weather very cold and hard work to keep warm. I use a carpenter's bench
as my dining table and bed at night. Sheets are a luxury not to be thought of.
Regiment goes on provost duty. Mail communications, my regular letters and
papers are not following us around as on the march. We have not had any pay for
a long time and all are very hard up. I got a draft for $75 cashed and divided
it among my men. They were all very grateful for it. Memphis is at present a
hard place, filled with soldiers. I regret to say many drunken officers are to
be seen, while with the men it is almost too common to be mentioned. Orders
came to destroy liquor wherever found and our regiment has destroyed a great
many barrels. You might as well try to dam the Mississippi river as to keep the
men from getting liquor.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7-8
Went to Calvary
Church today. Heard a good sermon on confirmation. First time I have been to
church since I have been in the army.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 8
Guard duty is the
order of the day. Private Wright of my company died the past week, the first of
Co. A that was with the company. Give me marching and field duty at all times
in preference to this kind of duty.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 8
Broke camp today. Left for Oxford on our retreat to where, I don't know, as the rebel General Van Dorn, through the treachery of Colonel Murphy, captured and destroyed all our supplies at Holly Springs and cut the railroad tracks. Reached Oxford in the afternoon and on alarm that the rebels were coming our brigade was called up and the 72d sent out as grand guard. I kept awake all night but fortunately the alarm was caused by the moving of some of our own troops that our scouts had taken for Rebs.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
Remained in camp all day.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
Started on our march; crossed the Tallahatchie and camped on our old camping ground. On guard again at night.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
Marched to Lumpkins Mills; weather very warm. Christmas eve I retired to my bed on the bare ground completely worn out with the day's march and the duty of the night before. I slept so soundly, did not dream of St. Nicholas and no vision of Christmas gifts disturbed my sleep. I was only too happy to get a soft place to lie down.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
LUMPKINS MILLS, MISS.
Passed the day in camp as Ross's division were passing on their way to Holly Springs. Weather beautiful. It made the day pleasant for our men. I had a pole greased and tied some tobacco and a dollar bill on top and the man who climbed it was to have it. It afforded a great deal of amusement and helped to make the day pass away agreeably to all.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
