Fort Baker, D. C., Aug. 31st, 1862.
I have already
learned that—finding much leisure time upon his hands, after all soldierly
duties have been performed the private soldier naturally craves something to
divert his mind, or, as he puts it, something to pass away the time. Το many
men, so situated, a game of cards is peculiarly fascinating. Others spend all
their leisure time in fun and mischief; telling outlandish stories, singing
vile songs, or playing practical jokes upon their fellows.
Having neither taste
or talent in either of these directions, I have deliberately resolved to keep a
diary or memorandum of current events, and will transcribe, from day to day,
the facts that interest me and the thoughts they may engender. I enlisted
August 12th, 1862, was mustered into the service of the United States on the
18th, and was assigned to Company G, of the Seventeenth regiment of Michigan
Volunteer Infantry, then in barracks at Detroit, Michigan. Of the ninety-three
enlisted men enrolled in Company G, sixty-five were farmers, ten laborers, five
carpenters, six shoemakers, three clerks, one baker, one miller, one tinner,
and one professional soldier. They range in age from the smooth-faced boy of
sixteen years to the fully-developed man of thirty-eight. I judge about the
same ratio will apply to the other companies of the regiment, with the
exception of Company E, which is composed largely of students from the State
Normal School at Ypsilanti. The regiment is largely made up of men verging on
middle life, who have left business, wife, and children, dearer to them than
life, sternly resolved to meet death on the field of battle, rather than suffer
rebellion to triumph and the Nation be torn asunder. We left the barracks at
ten o'clock in the forenoon of August 27th, marched three miles to the wharf,
where we left our baggage; then escorted General Wilcox around the city until
five o'clock p. m., when we marched on board the steamer Cleveland, bound for
the City of Cleveland.
The weather was
fine, and we reached Cleveland at five o'clock the next morning, and
immediately took cars for Washington, D. C., by way of Pittsburg and Baltimore.
We arrived at Pittsburg at 7 p. m. of August 28th, and were most
enthusiastically received, the whole population, seemingly, escorting us, with
shouts, flags, and banners of various devices, to the City Hall, where a
bountiful supper was spread for us. The hall was finely decorated. Among other
mottoes was: "Pittsburg Welcomes Her Country's Defenders."
We left Pittsburg at
nine o'clock in the evening and reached Harrisburg the next day at 10 a. m.,
where we took breakfast; then, "All aboard for Baltimore." We crossed
the Alleghenies in the night, but when morning dawned I went out on the platform
and could still see them in the distance, rearing their blue heads in solemn
grandeur, forming a most charming back ground to the beautiful picture spread
out before us. We were then running with lightning speed down the beautiful
Juniata Valley, about sixty miles above Harrisburg, and a more picturesque spot
I never beheld.
Hemmed in by long
ranges of high hills, some running at right angles to the stream, others
parallel with it, now rising in perpendicular bluffs with hardly room for the
cars to pass, then receding, formed lovely valleys, dotted here and there with
pleasant villages. We reached Baltimore about seven o'clock Friday evening, and
were warmly greeted by the loyal citizens. After partaking of a hearty supper,
we took cars for Washington at ten o'clock.
We had expected a
row in Baltimore, and were prepared for it, but nothing transpired of a more
serious nature than a few personal encounters. One hot-headed fellow jumped on
board the officers' car and demanded to see their colors, cursing Unionists and
swearing vengeance. Lieutenant Somers, stirred by righteous indignation, struck
him a heavy blow in the face and knocked him headlong from the car. A crowd
gathered, swords and pistols flashed in the gaslight, epithets were exchanged,
and there the matter ended.
We reached
Washington Saturday morning, and were assigned to Fort Baker, six miles south
of the city.
Fort Baker is
pleasantly situated on a high hill that overlooks the surrounding country for
many miles. Fifty thousand troops are encamped in sight of us.
SOURCE: David Lane, A
Soldier's Diary: The Story of a
Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 5-7
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