Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, January 1, 1863

La Fayette, Tenn.  New Year's morning truly, but hard to realize. There was no cordial face of a sister or blooming face of a brother to greet me with a "Happy New Year," no stocking ransacked for a Santa Claus present. But I was soon aroused from my reverie by the blunt order from Lieutenant Clark "Feed your horses and rub them off well." So I returned to a soldier's duties. Took up the line of march early, passed through Collierville 1 P. M. 4 P. M. met Captain Dillon and Lieutenant Hood, who told us the Battery was waiting for us at LaFayette, two miles ahead. We joined them by 5 P. M. leaving the train of hard-tack to take care of itself. The train coming up to the station, we watered our horses in the Wolf River.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 24

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, January 2, 1863

To-day we expected to rest at least and made arrangements accordingly, but as the Company were on their horses to go to water, the orders came to march at 10 A. M., so we were obliged to water our horses double quick, and hitched up in all haste. Retraced our track the day before, arrived at Germantown by sundown, but pushed on six leaving the train of hard-tack to take care of itself. The train Went to bed 11 P. M.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 24

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, January 3, 1863

Buntyn Station, Tenn.   Awoke to find ourselves snugly lying in from two to three inches of water, it having rained very hard, the water coming in under the tent while most of the others lay out doors completely soaked.

Hitched and took to the road with the hope that we were to go to Memphis, nine miles distant. As Quinby's Division was detailed to guard the railroad, the troops were strung all along. We went to within five miles of town, then taking a position on the track with the 48th Indiana at a station called Buntyn Station, Colonel Alexander as acting brigadier general. Received stringent orders not to molest anything, rails included. Put up harness, racks, etc. preparatory for a stay.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 24-5

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, January 4, 1863

Buntyn Station.  A busy day for the boys of the 6th Battery, as they were in expectation of staying in the place for some time. Harness racks, feed troughs, shebangs, tables, etc. were put up from lumber carried some forty rods, where it had been stored with the intention of building. The tents were floored mostly. S. E. Sweet, Sampson Beaver, E. W. Evans and myself built a house 6 by 8, 2 ft. high lower end, with a fireplace in the side. Stood guard. Very pleasant evening.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 25

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, January 5, 1863

Buntyn Station. Sabres were brightened for inspection at 2 P. M. Order read from General Hamilton stating that Van Dorn was concentrating at Pontotoc for another raid on this railroad, and ordered that stockades be built along the road, and that we be on the alert. No parole to be taken from any cavalry force. The raid to be resisted while there was a musket and cartridge left. 4 P. M. mail came in, a sack full, the first for nearly 20 days. Oh! the welcome it received. Heard from father, brother and four sisters. Welcome! welcome! indeed. 1st piece planted on the track pointing south.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 25

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, January 6, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Rained in the night. Rec'd some more mail. Horses inspected by Lieutenants Clark, Hood and Simpson. Weather fine. Health not quite as good. Troubled with dumb ague.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 25

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, January 7, 1863

Buntyn Station.  A pleasant day but cold. All of our sabres were turned over, Lieutenant Simpson taking them to Memphis, also all the worthless horses. Our former orderly, J. G. S. Hayward, bade us good-bye in the morning; left for the North with G. W. Giles and John Campbell, all of which had been discharged. Infantry building breast-works. Van Dorn reported to be at Byhalia. Pickets doubled. Anticipation of an attack. Slept with our clothes on. E. P. Dixon, T. J. Hungerford and Mikolay Dziewanowski sent out as scouts in the night.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 25-6

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, January 8, 1863

Buntyn Station.  News reached us of a glorious victory at Murfreesboro by General Rosecrans. Rec'd hay for horses. E. Morrill formerly of Sauk City, now of 23rd Wisconsin Regiment stayed with us.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 26

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, January 9, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Rather damp and cold. Infantry still felling trees and fortifying. Paymaster on the line paying off the troops, giving them two months' wages. Scouts sent out several times a day. Weather damp. Health impaired somewhat. Troubled with diarrhea. No news from Vicksburg.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 26

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, January 10, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Warm and pleasant. Orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's warning. Went out with Evans to forage. Got some sweet potatoes from a citizen. Drew soft bread at the quartermaster's taken from Memphis. Sad news from Vicksburg. Sherman's forces withdrawn to Napoleon. Health better. Drilled on the piece.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 26

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, January 11, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Warm and rainy. Received a letter from home dated the 2nd. Went out to exercise the horses in the morning. Went on the once famous Memphis race course, passed twice around and returned. Several races. Those who were present at the August muster, signed the payroll to be paid to-morrow, two months' wages.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 26

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, January 12, 1863

Buntyn Station.  The scouts Sunday were driven back, or rather, hearing the noise of advancing troopers, they withdrew, and this morning, 3:30 A. M. sixteen men were mounted and sent out under charge of Sergeant Hauxhurst. They scoured the country for nine miles south and returned without seeing any armed person, but reported that they had been seen. They returned at about 11 A. M. Men were detailed to fell trees on the right to protect our flank. Rec'd four papers from home.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 26-7