Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 2, 1863

Supernumerary and detailed to clean off the parade-ground. Clear all day until in the evening; looks for rain. Nothing new occurred in camp to-day.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 33

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 3, 1863

Washed my clothes before guard-mounting. Guard at 9 o'clock in the morning of this same day, in the same Camp Drake, Murfreesboro'.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 33

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 4, 1863

On guard in this same camp to-day, and a nice clear day; our Colonel, H. A. Hambright, having been absent from his command on a visit home, returns back to camp again from Lancaster, Penn., this same day.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 33

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 5, 1863

Came off guard, having been relieved for forty-eight hours. Looks wet and is raining at 9 o'clock of this day. Got two miniatures sent to me from Wesley Richey and wife, from the State of Indiana.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 33

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 6, 1863

Lying all day in this same camp. All quiet, wet and very cold. Col. Hambright drilled the regiment on dress-parade in the morning, and gave us the Lancaster compliments sent to us by the patriotic sons and daughters of Lancaster county and city, assuring us, that we did not know the name we bore in the above city and county, nor could he express their feelings toward us for our good behavior, and inquiring after us. He said he would just state to us, that he could have brought us ten thousand dollars with him from that county and city for our welfare and comfort, if he would have done it, but he reminded those kind friends and inhabitants that we had been paid off by our old Uncle, and had plenty to make us comfortable and happy. Farewell.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 33

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 7, 1863

Wet and cold. Had to lay in bed all day to keep warm; rained hard all night.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 8, 1863

In the morning cloudy and cold; looks for rain; I am out on picket with the regiment on the Bradysville pike, station No. 1; reserve two miles off; a march of 2 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 9, 1863

Returned from picket, having been relieved. Two miles of a march back to camp, all safe and sound, and had dress-parade this same day in camp; a march of 2 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 10, 1863

Sunday, and a nice warm day; nothing new in camp; had brigade dress-parade in the evening ; all quiet in camp on this day,

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 11, 1863

In Camp Drake. Washed my clothes. Richmond reported taken, but in the evening found out not to be so; had dress-parade in the evening of the same day; all quiet in camp, nothing new of importance having occurred.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 12, 1863

In Camp Drake; a fine, clear, warm morning; regimental drill in the morning; detailed in the evening to carry water for our company cooks, as it was mine and Thomas Jester's day by rotation.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 13, 1863

A fine clear day and very warm; drilled in the morning and was reviewed in the evening. David Johnston and Cornelius Clifford, from Indiana, paid me a visit; nothing new occurred in camp.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 14, 1863

A very wet morning. Our Lieut. Col. Miles got his leg broken below the knee, by his horse stumbling and falling; he had visited the 77th Penna. regiment, and it was on his return to our camp that he met with this accident. I carried coffee out to No. 3 station and No. 1 post in the evening, making a march there and back again of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 34-5

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 15, 1863

A fine warm morning ; took coffee out to No. 3 station and No. 1 post, making a march out and back again of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 16, 1863

A fine mornings drilled until breakfast time, and then reported to the Adjutant, fully armed and equipped, to go outside the picket line to cut cedar brush to make summer shades for our officers; regimental drill in the evening; making a march outside of our picket line of 6 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 17, 1863

On camp guard this morning; a very pleasant day, cold at night, and nothing of importance occurring in camp on this day.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 18, 1863

Came off camp guard, having been relieved; a fine warm morning ; sent our dress and overcoats to Nashville.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 19, 1863

A fine warm day; went on a visit to see David Johnston and Cornelius Clifford and others of the 42d Ind. regiment; all quiet in camp this day; making a march of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 20, 1863

A nice warm day, and am on water committee for cooking and detailed to help clean streets ; orders came to be ready to march at a moment's warning; took tea out to our men on picket on the Bradysville pike, making a march there and back again of 5 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 21, 1863

A warm, nice day; took coffee out to our men on picket on the Bradysville pike to No. 2 station: our videttes were fired on by the rebels in the night, who then skedaddled; all quiet in the morning ; so I returned again to camp, going and coming making a march of 5 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 35-6