Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, December 16, 1862

Near Oxford. Pleasant and sunny. Health never better. Lost my needle book, very sorry. Received three days' mail; had two papers and a letter from home.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 19

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, December 17, 1862

Near Oxford. The day was spent in the common routine of camp duties; drill in the afternoon by infantry and artillery, presenting a lively scene. Received a [Madison] State Journal from T. L. Jones.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 19

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, December 18, 1862

Near Oxford. Warm and pleasant. Health excellent. Dr. Miller returned from Wisconsin in the afternoon, much to the satisfaction of all. After roll call in the evening, he appeared before the Company and made a speech, after which three cheers were given to him. Seventy-five loads of cotton brought into headquarters.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 19

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, December 19, 1862

Near Oxford. Bright and sunny. The delightful weather succeeded in enticing most of the boys from their well worn decks and cribbage boards, bringing them out in ball playing, pitching quoits, etc. Tallied for an interesting game of base ball.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 19-20

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, December 20, 1862

Near Oxford. Weather still warm. Several of the boys went to Oxford in the afternoon with Captain. Returned with eight new horses, also with the report that the Rebs were in possession of Holly Springs, with 5,000 cavalry. Had taken several prisoners, one of whom was Colonel Murphy, 8th Wisconsin; fears also were entertained that the paymasters had been captured with their capital.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 20

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, December 21, 1862

Oxford. Reveille earlier than usual; orders to hold in readiness to march, such orders being anticipated. 7 A. M. the whole Division took up the line of march back toward Oxford. Hitched up. The caisson fell in the train, but the pieces with the 59th Indiana, Colonel Alexander, were left for a rear guard. The Division passed by 9 A. M. but as the train could not take all of the commissary stores and cotton at headquarters, we had to lay there all day hitched up, waiting for the trains to return from Oxford. They arrived at 4 P. M., loaded, and started back as soon as possible. We were ordered to hitch up, as we could hear the drums beat for roll call on the right of us; supposed to be Logan's Division. We fell in rear of 59th about 8 P. M., leaving the place all quiet, the Rebs making slight demonstrations upon the infantry during the day notwithstanding. Pushed silently along towards Oxford, proceeded toward our old camping ground. Brought into line by Lieutenant Clark on the right of the road in the flat. Captain Dillon went up to the old camp. The caisson drivers being already on the start, after pitching their tents and again striking, we passed up the hill again, on the top of which, countermanded again, unhitched and left the horses at the bottom. Laid down at 1 Α. Μ.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 20

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, December 22, 1862

Oxford.  Awakened by Sergeant Hamilton, while the stars were yet bright, with orders to feed. I, unsatisfied with the short sleep, again laid down till daylight, until the orders to water aroused me. Hitched up, drank a cup of coffee, ate hard bread. The blankets were ordered off the guns and put in the wagon. Expectations of a fight somewhere, but I know not where.

The troops were moving out all night.

Evening. At 9 A. M. the troops that had been called out in the night returned to their old camp with the intelligence that it was a false alarm of the enemy advancing upon Oxford. 12 M. we unhitched, unharnessed and pitched our tents.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 20-1

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, December 23, 1862

Enroute.  Struck our tents and took up the line of march northwards at 8 A. M. Followed the same road as that which we came in on, passed through Abbeville at noon, recrossed the Tallahatchie at night, coming into camp on the same ground as on the 2nd inst. To-day we passed the 23rd Wisconsin Regiment, many of the boys met old acquaintances; reported occupation of Jackson, Tenn., by the enemy.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 21

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, December 24, 1862

Lumpkin's Mill.  A day of fasting to Quinby's Division, the rations having run out yesterday and none having arrived. I ate parched corn and drank coffee. Marched to Lumpkin's Mill, went into camp 1 P. M. Drew rations in the evening. A heifer found.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 21

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, December 25, 1862

Lumpkin's Mill.  Christmas! Christmas! resounded through the camp this morning; everyone turning the gay reminiscence of the past in their minds and hoping again to enjoy. Laid quiet during the day. Ate a Christmas dinner of dumplings and unleavened bread. The howitzers ordered to prepare to march, going in charge of a provision train to Memphis. Troubled with bad cold.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 21

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, December 26, 1862

Tallaloosa, Miss.  Aroused early to prepare to march. High wind, appearance of a storm. We were hitched up with the rest of the Battery by 7 A. M., when it began to rain heavy. The howitzers, under charge of Lieutenant Clark, with two Parrott guns of the Regulars, two howitzers of the 11th Ohio, started out with four teams on the guns, two on the limbers of the caissons, the hind wheels having been sent to Holly Springs the night before. We passed on towards Memphis with the infantry of Quinby's Division paddling on the best they could; marched on through very rough country till 4 P. M. Came into park at Tallaloosa, a God and man forsaken place. Rained nearly all day. Supped on confiscated chickens, geese and fresh pork.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 21-2

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, December 27, 1862

Byhalia, Miss.  Rained nearly all day. Hitched up in the morning. The other sections took the road, but as we were to be the rear guard, and the roads were so bad that teams could not all come on for some time, we again unharnessed, laid in a good supply of disloyal pork and beef and a few rebel chickens. 3 P. M. again hitched up and fell in the rear of the train. It had cleared up and the roads considerably improved. We were enabled to travel at very good time. Travelled till 10 P. M. Came into camp at Byhalia, Marshall County, Miss., having travelled about ten miles on a most beautiful evening. A woman drew a pistol on one of our boys, driving him from the yard.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 22

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, December 28, 1862

Near Memphis, Tenn.  Slept out-doors. Awoke at 5 A. M. A beautiful morning. Byhalia, unlike Tallaloosa, was a bright and lively little village, with a large school house, church, lodge room, with a scientific laboratory, out of which the boys jay-hawked numerous books, writing utensils, etc. etc. Picked up two horses and two mules. The owner of the horses came and pleaded hard, but could receive no other satisfaction than a receipt from Lieutenant Clark. He was reported to be a rank Secesh, as well as everybody else.

We started with the 1st Brigade in rear of the train at 9 A. M. Twenty-eight miles from Memphis, passed a house where a woman stood in the yard, bravely holding the Stars and Stripes in her hand (to protect her chickens I suppose). Marched along quietly; nothing of importance save the appropriation of considerable molasses along the road until half an hour of sundown when a small party of guerrillas dashed up in our rear, discharging some fifteen or twenty pieces, then legging it before their fire could be returned. We halted, the cannoneers sprang to their posts, got their equipments, when the 48th Indiana formed their line. But it was all over with. They were gone, and we started on.

Two of the balls took effect, wounding two boys of the 48th Indiana in the arms. An assistant adjutant general and surgeon [who] had wandered a little from the train, were taken also by a few of Jackson's cavalry, divested of their accoutrements and horses, then paroled.

7 P. M. Drew up three-fourths of an hour to feed our horses, then started on, travelled till 10 P. M. Came into camp seven miles from Memphis.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 22-3

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, December 29, 1862

Memphis.  We passed into Memphis as fast as the necessary detentions would permit, through a very beautiful country and handsome buildings. Passed through the town at about sundown, came into park alongside of the other sections on the south of the town. Watered our horses at the wharves about one and one half miles north, passing through the town. Memphis presented a more lively appearance than I expected under the present circumstances.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 23

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, December 30, 1862

Memphis.  Awakened by the morning gun at the fort; fell in for roll call, Sergeant Hamilton acting orderly. Saw a Memphis Bulletin of the 30th, the first newspaper since that bearing the date of the 12th. Watered my horses, then rode into the fort with Colburn. Met Milton Campbell of the 23rd Wisconsin Regiment. The Regiment had gone down the river, leaving twenty-nine convalescents behind. The boys were furnished with a pass to go to town, others taking leg bail, by night. Several heavy heads. Drew six days' rations.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 23

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, December 31, 1862

Germantown, Tenn.  The train took up the line of march back. Our Section being in the center started at 9 A. M., passing through town up Main Street. It was an amusing sight, nearly two-thirds of the soldiers were drunk, having run Memphis as they pleased almost for the last twenty-four hours. We followed the Memphis and Charleston R. R. Came into park at Germantown at dark, having travelled fifteen miles. Partook of a soldier's supper, made our bed neath the starry canopy of heaven, and laid down, ending the year as we began it, by sleeping. Thus endeth the year 1862.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 23-4

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, December 1, 1862

Lumpkin's Mill. Awoke to find it a muddy morning, it having rained very hard in the night, blowing the fifth tent to the ground. Our tent leaked considerably. Laid quiet all day. No firing heard. Evie went foraging, gone nearly all day. In the evening ordered to have two days' rations ready to march at sunrise.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 16

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, December 2, 1862

Enroute. Advanced about five miles, starting at about 8 o'clock, marched south, leaving Waterford on our left. Halted some three hours on the road, it raining continually. We were passed by General Hamilton and staff, also General Grant and suite. Came into camp at 4 P. M. some three miles from the Tallahatchie in open field near large mansion used as Quinby's headquarters. Stretched our tarpaulin and slept sound.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 16-7

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, December 3, 1862

Enroute. A sunny and bright day, dried up the mud and made things cheerful. Hitched up at 8 A. M., stayed harnessed until 3 P. M. We then moved out to the river and went to camp in sight of the rebels' fortifications. Some of the boys crossed the river while watering [horses]. Pitched our tents.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 17

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, December 4, 1862

Enroute. We remained quiet all day. Rained in the evening. Pitched Quartermaster's tent. Felt symptoms of the ague, felt rather bad.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 17