Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 6, 1864

Bright, and very warm.

The President returned this morning, hastened hither by the perils environing the capital.

An order is published this morning revoking all details for the army of persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years

If this be rigidly enforced, it will add many thousands to the army. It is said there are 8000 details in the military bureaus of this State.

A dispatch from Gen. Hood, near Lost Mountain (in Georgia, Sherman's rear), dated yesterday, says Sherman is marching out of Atlanta to attack him. He says Gen. Stewart's corps struck the railroad at Big Shanty, capturing 350 prisoners, and destroying ten miles of the road. Gen. Forrest is marching against Altoona. We shall soon have stirring news.

All is quiet near Petersburg and Richmond to-day. Eight of the local companies (clerks) have been ordered to guard the prisoners to Salisbury, N. C.

I saw a New York Tribune to-day, of the 17th inst., and find the Peterson's are advertising new editions of several of my books.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 300-1

Captain Charles Wright Wills: June 17, 1864

Near Big Shanty, Ga., June 17, 1864.

Has rained steadily all day, wetting everybody, but “drying up” all shooting. A very disagreeable day. I saw 83 Rebels come in to-day, about one-half of whom were deserters and the rest figured to get captured.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 263

Obituary: Lieut. John T. Grimes, Co. F, 6th Iowa Infantry

John T. Grimes, 1st Lieut., Co. F, Sixth Iowa Infantry, was killed in the battle near Big Shanty, Georgia, on the 15th of June, 1864.

He was a good and brave officer, beloved by all who knew him. He was one of the many, who at the beginning of the war, had laid aside all party prejudices, and gave the Government that aid and support it so much needed.

He had been, for a long time, Inspector General on Gen. Corse’s staff, which place he filled with credit to himself. At the time of his death he was acting Adjt. of the Reg., our Adjt. having been killed a few days before, at the battle of Dallas Ga.

He has left a large circle of warm friends in the army, and we tender, to his bereaved relatives, our heart felt sympathies.

E. F. A.

{Cincinnati papers please copy.}

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, July 9, 1864