Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: April 1, 1864

This is an April Fool sure. Saw a fellow to-day from our regiment, named Casey. Says I was reported dead at the regiment, which is cheerful. Perhaps it is just as well though, for them to anticipate the event a few months. It is said that Wirtz shot someone this morning. Often hear the guards shoot and hear of men being killed. Am not ambitious to go near them. Have completely lost my desire to be on the outside working for extra rations. Prefer to stick it out where I am than to have anything to do with them. They are an ungodly crew, and should have the warmest corner in that place we sometimes hear mentioned

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 45

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Tuesday, April 1, 1862

Cloudy and threatening this morning. . . . All Fools' day. Soldiers sent companies to get pay out of time; bogus dispatches and the like.

I hear that Dr. Joe is in his trouble by consent of Scammon. Was he induced to ask for his examination? If so, how foolish! I can hardly be angry, and yet [I am] vexed outrageously. He [Scammon] has been operated on, used. Surely he wouldn't do such a thing if he was wide-awake.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 221

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: April 1, 1863

All quiet on the Rappahannock to-night, and we are almost as still as in days gone by. The girls got up a little merriment this morning by their “April fools.” The remainder of the day passed in our usual way.

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 202

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: April 1, 1862

The “Long Roll” was sounded at the Ninth Wisconsin headquarters for an April Fool. Another dark rainy day. Read "Ivanhoe" and issued rations.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 10