Diary of Sergeant David L. Day: April 3, 1864

GETTY'S STATION.

This is a station on the Seaboard and Roanoke railroad; the campground lies between the station and the Nansemond river. The camp is named Camp Wellington in honor of a gentleman of that name in the city of Worcester, Mass., but I reckon if he could see this camp, he would not feel very highly honored. It is the worst ground we have ever camped on, being little else than a mud hole. I have slept out in the woods ever since we came here, but we are getting it drained and the tents stockaded, but by the time we get it habitable we shall have to leave it.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 133-4

Diary of Corporal David L. Day: December 18, 1861

A LOOK THROUGH THE CAMPS.

I have been looking through the camp around here and am astonished at the amount of offal and swill that is buried up and lost instead of being turned to a valuable account. An enterprising farmer could collect from these camps, manure and swill to the value of $100 a day, costing nothing but simply carting it off, thus enriching his land and fattening hundreds of hogs and cattle; but this lack of energy and enterprise prevents these people from turning anything to account. They content themselves with sitting down and finding fault with the government and their more enterprising and energetic neighbors of the north.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 15

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Friday, September 9, 1864

Moved camp, beautiful place on left and rear of infantry. Busy. Regiment not to be consolidated.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 130

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Sardis Birchard, April 22, 1863

Camp White, April 22, 1863.

Dear Uncle: — We have a pleasant camp, just enough for men to do to keep them out of mischief. About as easy soldiering as we ever had. You can stay on the opposite side of the river at a fair hotel for seven dollars per week, or on this side in a comfortable tent, better grub, for nothing. If you can do better at home, we can make up the difference in novelty. So come soon. We shall have a superior foe driving us out or worrying us badly in a month or two, and at your time of life that might be uncomfortable. I think we shall be let alone now until after the first of June. General Jenkins learned that a small force had no fun coming in here and a large force can't live here until the first of June or after.

I hope we shall soon see the drafting begin. It ought not to be delayed a day now.

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S. BirCHARD.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 406-7

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, December 20, 1864

Goudy and windy this morning. Heavy cannonading with some skirmishing was kept up all day. Our batteries silenced the rebels' batteries at every point. Four companies from our regiment went out last night to reinforce the details on building fortifications. The walls of the forts are to be twenty feet thick. We have a miserable camping ground right on the edge of the swamp, but we cleaned up a camp and at 4 o'clock this afternoon had company inspection. We have very poor water to use, having to get it from the swamp. But we are now drawing full rations, for which we are very thankful. All is quiet in the rear.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 239