Our Reg got our
coats pants shirts & socks & caps & they needed them verry much 9
Oc I was at love feast in the African church then visited our boys in the
hospital. then helped to receive & distribute the uniform 4 Oc we were on
dress perade evening Emma & Mrs & Miss Kelly visited the hospitals
& attended preaching at exchange church
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 93
I worked in office as usual. Made a pair of mittens of buffalo hide.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 8
Drew Clothing, and issued same. nothing unusual transpires.
SOURCE: “Diary of
John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April
1923, p. 571
The battery was
inspected in the forenoon, and began to drill for the first time since we
crossed the river. Mrs. J. C. Johnson of Boston sent the battery a case of knit
jackets, one for each man,—one hundred and fifty in all. These jackets cost two
dollars apiece in Boston.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 271
Having but a limited
supply of underclothing with me at this camp, I doffed my garments and turned
washerman for the nonce, intending to seat myself on the sunny side of the mill
pond and wait patiently until my clothes were sundried thoroughly. Only one
shirt, one pair of drawers and one pair of socks. As a washist, I never have
been a success, but clear water and a good will accomplishes much,—when all at
once the drum beats to "fall in"—on went my wet clothes and away we
marched to Yorktown, reaching that place thoroughly chilled through and
through.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 107
Guard duty is the
order of the day. Companies A and F taking turn about. We had a very heavy snow
storm last night and today it is still snowing. Oldest inhabitants say they
have never seen such cold weather and so much snow. Thermometer 4 degrees below
zero. We have only our tents and they are not much protection in such cold
weather. We have to go on duty without fires and walk up and down in the snow
in low shoes when it is a foot deep, no gloves and very scant clothing, so we
can form some idea what our Revolutionary Sires went through.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
Madison. I had
to pass through the regular scramble-game for my rations, and drew the bounty
in the afternoon, went around town and bought my outfit, ready to leave.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 2
Columbia, Ky., April 30th, 1863.
At the date of my
last entry—the 26th inst.—I had seen no indication of a move. We retired that
night at the usual hour, and just as I was dropping off to sleep the order
came: "Be ready to march tomorrow morning at five o'clock with two days'
rations." It came like a "clap of thunder from a cloudless sky,"
surprising both officers and men. Our officers had formed numerous and pleasant
associations with Kentucky's fair daughters, and it was with many regrets they
were compelled to leave their agreeable society for the stern duties of the
field. But military orders are inexorable as fate, and at precisely a quarter
to five the bugle sounded "fall in," and at five we were on the move,
bound for Columbia, forty miles away.
The weather is warm
and pleasant now, but the burning heat of a Southern summer is close upon us. A
forced march was before us, with no teams to carry our luggage. We could not
carry all our winter clothing, therefore hundreds of good blankets and
overcoats were thrown away. When we had marched three or four miles many of the
men found they still had too much load, and then the work of lightening up
began in earnest. For miles the road was strewn with blankets, dress coats,
blouses, pants, drawers and shirts. In fact enough clothing was thrown away for
Rebels to pick up to supply a whole brigade. No wonder so many Rebel regiments
are dressed in our uniforms. As for myself, I was determined to stay by my
goods, if I could not carry them. As a matter of fact I carried load enough
that day to down a mule, and feel none the worse for it. We marched to
Campbellville, twenty miles, and camped for the night. We were expected to
cover the entire distance in two days, but fully one-half of the brigade were
so utterly used up it was found to be impossible. We only made nine miles the
second day, and camped at Green River. Here the Eighth Michigan and Seventy-ninth
New York were ordered to remain; the Seventeenth was ordered to Columbia and
the Twentieth to the Cumberland, forty miles beyond.
Lieutenant Colonel
Luce is Provost Marshal of this district, and we are detailed to do provost
duty. Colonel Luce's orders are: "Protect government property, keep good
order in the town, arrest all disloyal citizens and report to headquarters
every day." This part of the state has been much infested by guerillas,
and we expect lively times.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 41-3
The guard was relieved early, and at seven A.M. we fell into line with the regiment, marching across the town to Fort Totten, where we joined our brigade. We made little progress till nearly noon, when, as we thought, we started, but there were continued hitches somewhere, and we had many chances to stretch ourselves on the ground. We were loaded down this time, carrying blankets and knapsacks, and most of us a change of clothes. About four o'clock we passed the pickets on the Trent road, apparently about a regiment, having a prettily situated entrenched camp, on a small elevation; their posts being about an eighth of a mile farther up the road. Soon after leaving them we encountered the first “obstacle" of the expedition. We kept halting, and then starting a little, and soon found we would probably have to sleep in wet clothes. We had to cross quite a long and deep run of water, but, for a change, were allowed to struggle with the plank at the side of the road; but those who succeeded in keeping their feet on the narrow, slippery timber, were few, but dry, and consequently happy. We saw lights ahead, and supposed we were close to camp, but had to march three miles or so before we turned into a cornfield on the left of the road, having marched about fourteen miles. A self-imposed detail of two went back to get water for the mess, and what wood we could find; then made our fire, had supper, and turned in. No good bunks now, but plenty of soft dirt to be tucked up in.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 23-4
Owing to wet
clothing and a chill I could not sleep. Before day I was watching the country.
At sunrise we were alongside the Little Roanoke River near its confluence with
the Staunton. On the bridge over the Staunton several guns were planted, one so
near the track that the engine swept it off. This was in expectation of a
cavalry raid. We were 46 miles from Danville. Here they retain their slaves and
agriculture is in its usual state. As we approach the Dan River the country is
admirable, rolling land, rich valleys. The road runs near the river several
miles north of Danville, then sight is lost of it. At this point I judge it is
larger than the James at Lynchburg. It was after 3 p. m. when we got off the
train at Danville and marched through the place, and an hour later when we get
into quarters in a large brick building formerly a tobacco warehouse. In
passing through we tried to buy bread of women who offered, but guards would
not allow. Several buildings were filled with prisoners. As we got near the
building we were to enter I saw a man taken at the battle of Chickamauga eight
months before, who attempted to talk but was driven away. He was on parole
building a high fence back of our prison. We were crowded so thickly into the
building that there is scarce room to lie down. While waiting for rations a man
passed through with tobacco at $1 in greenbacks and $3 in "Confed" a
plug. At length rations came, corn bread and bacon warm. This was new, men had
a great relish for it. It was the third day's ration drawn during the nine days
we had been prisoners. Danville is four miles from the North Carolina line on
the Dan, a branch of the Roanoke River. It has water power for manufacturing,
but not developed; lies in a fertile country; the river is boatable to the
falls in the Roanoke 40 miles east to Clarkville. Population, 1,900. Close
confinement, not being allowed to get faces to windows, although they are
heavily barred with strips of oak plank, the nature of our rations and
conditions in general, began to work perceptibly on men. Water is insufficient
and bad, taken from the Dan, muddy in consequence of rain. Diarrhoea is
becoming universal. Bread is coarse, no seasoning.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 46
The smallpox is
frightful. There is not a day that at least twenty men are taken out dead. Cold
is no name for the weather now. They have given most of us Yankee overcoats,
but have cut the skirts off. The reason of this is that the skirts are long and
if they left them on we might pass out as Yankee soldiers.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 69
CAMP MILLINGTON,
BALTIMORE. On account of the heat we were not taken out for drill to-day. We
have cleaned up our quarters, for since getting our new and comfortable tents
we are quite particular about appearances. There is a friendly rivalry as to
which of the ten companies shall have the neatest quarters. All being exactly
alike to start with, it depends upon us to keep them neat and shipshape. The
cooks have tents as well as we, and altogether we are quite another sort from
what we were a week ago. It has been a regular clean up day with us. The brook
below us has carried off dirt enough from our clothing and bodies to make a
garden. While we were there close beside the railroad, a train loaded with
soldiers halted, and while we were joking with the men, someone fired a pistol
from another passing train, and a sergeant on the standing train was killed—whether
it was by accident or purposely done, no one knows; or whether the guilty one
will be found out and punished, no one of us can tell. But I wonder so few
accidents do happen. There are hundreds of revolvers in camp and many of them
in the hands of those who know no better how to use them than a child.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 40-1
I and Jeff Burleson
went out and got a good dinner and my clothes. Came back and found the Company
in Camp. To-night I, Eslinger and Jessy Johnson went out cross the hills to preaching.
Parson Bunting officiated. I went down with Eslinger and the girls to Mr.
Page's, got some good apples, set till bed time and came to Camp.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby
Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 4
While I cannot sign
the bills as rapidly as Nannie Giles can, today I finished up four packages of
the denomination of fifty dollars. Mr. Tellifiere says I am a treasury girl
worth having, and that I did a big day's work, and a good day's work. Took my vocal
lesson and paid Signor Torriani for my last quarter. He is gloriously handsome
in the Italian way, which is a very striking way. I also sent check to the
milliner for the $200 due on my new bonnet, and paid $80 for the old lilac
barege bought from Mary L——. Miss P—— does not yet agree to let me have the
congress gaiters for $75, and unless she does she may keep them herself, to the
end of time! ’Tis a pretty come to pass when $75 of Confederate currency is not
the equivalent of an ordinary pair of Massachusetts made shoes! J. C. called
this evening. He is pleasant, but stops right there, and that isn't the place
to stop. A man must know how to be disagreeable to be dangerously attractive, I
think.
SOURCE: South
Carolina State Committee United Daughters of the Confederacy, South Carolina Women in the Confederacy,
Vol. 1, “A Confederate Girl's Diary,” p. 272-3
Our first morning in camp. We were rudely awakened and dragged from our bunks at six o’clock, very few being used to such early hours, except perhaps on 4th of July, and were expected to be on the parade ground before our eyes were fairly open.
My advice is if you ever enlist again, start with buckle or congress boots, or none at all, don’t wear laced ones. Why Thereby hangs a tale. One man who wore laced boots was late, consequently had to fall in at the foot of the column. In a minute or two, around came the adjutant and some other officer, who wanted a man for guard. The man who was late at roll-call, was detailed of course. He went without a word was posted on the edge of a pond his orders being “Keep this water from being defiled, allow no privates to bathe here, let only the officers bathe and the cooks draw water to cook with.” The orders were fulfilled, but the poor guard was forgotten, and paced up and mostly down (as it was a pleasant grassy sward,) till eleven o clock. That was his first experience of guard duty, and he always owed a grudge to the sergeant of that guard and his laced boots.
Meanwhile, the company, left standing in the street, with their towels, combs, &c., proceeded to the water, where the pride of many a family got down on his knees, and went through the farce of a toilet, and then back to breakfast.
To-day we have been busy cleaning up and getting ready for our friends from home. It has been as novel a day as last night was new, it is a great change, but we will conquer this, and probably worse.
Our friends began to arrive about three o clock, and by supper-time the barracks were well filled, many remaining to supper so shawls and blankets were spread upon the ground, and we gave them a sample of our food. The coffee was good but so hot, and having no saucer with which to cool the beverage, we had to leave it till the last course. Our plates were plated with tin, but very shallow, and as bean soup was our principal course we had some little trouble in engineering it from the cook s quarters to our tables. We must not forget the bread, it was made by the State, and by the looks, had been owned by the State since the Mexican war. We had never seen the like, and begged to be excused from enduring much of it at a time. (We afterwards found no occasion to grumble at our food, for as you may remember, we were looked after well during our whole service. We had as good rations as any one could wish, but here, within ten miles of home, we felt that this was rough on the boys.)
For a week, little was done but feed and drill us, to toughen us for the dim future, and the furloughs were granted very freely. We were soon astonished to find that we had for a surgeon, a man who meant business. Among other things, he thought government clothes were all that we needed, so spring and fall overcoats and fancy dry goods had to be bundled up and sent home. All our good things were cleaned out, everything was contraband excepting what the government
allowed. We had always thought it a free country, but this broke in on our individual ideas of personal freedom, and we began to think we were fast losing all trace of civil rights, and becoming soldiers pure and simple. Nothing could be brought into camp by our friends unless we could eat it before the next morning but goodies would come, and as we had to eat them, of course we were sick.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 6-7
We received our
socks, pants, drawers and shoes. Did not get our guns. We encamped in tents,
ate our supper just at dark.
SOURCE: Lewis C.
Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson:
Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 3
Cloudy and cold, but
wind southeast.
The sullen sound of
cannon heard this morning as usual down the river. I hear of no active
operations there, although the ground is sufficiently frozen to bear horses and
artillery.
Rumors of successes
on the part of Sherman near Savannah are still in circulation.
The rich men are
generally indignant at the President and Gov. Smith for proposing to bring a
portion of the negroes into the army. They have not yet awakened to a
consciousness that there is danger of losing all, and of their being made to
fight against us. They do not even remove them beyond the reach of the enemy,
and hundreds are daily lost, but still they slumber on. They abuse the
government for its impressments, and yet repose in fancied security, holding
the President responsible for the defense of the country, without sufficient
men and adequate means.
The following
dispatch from Gen. Bragg was received to-day at 10 P.M.:
"AUGUSTA,
Dec. 12th. "The telegraph having been cut, we get nothing from Savannah. A
dispatch from Wheeler gives a copy of enemy's order for the line of investment
around Savannah. It is about eight miles from the city, and was to have been
reached on the 9th.
"B. BRAGG."
I have at length
succeeded in getting a suit of clothes; it was made at the government shop for
$50, the trimmings having been found (in the house) by my wife. The suit, if
bought of a merchant and made by the city tailors, would cost some $1000. A
Yankee prisoner (deserter) made the coat at a low price. The government means
to employ them, if they desire it, in this manner. I am very thankful for my
good fortune.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 353-4
Bright and warm.
It is said there is
a movement of the enemy menacing our works on the north side of the river.
There was shelling down the river yesterday and day before, officially
announced by Gen. Lee—two of the enemy's monitors retired.
Gen. Longstreet says
“over 100 of Gen. Pickett's men are in the guard-house for desertion, and that
the cause of it may be attributed to the numerous reprieves, no one being
executed for two months.” Gen. Lee indorses on the paper: "Desertion is
increasing in the army, notwithstanding all my efforts to stop it. I think a
rigid execution of the law is mercy in the end. The great want in our army is
firm discipline." The Secretary of War sent it to the President "for
his information." The President sent it back with the following biting
indorsement:
"When deserters are arrested they should be tried, and if the
sentences are reviewed and remitted, that is not a proper subject for the
criticism of a military commander.—JEFF. DAVIS. November 29th, 1864."
Another dispatch
from Gen. Bragg:
AUGUSTA,
November 30th, 1864.—Following just received from Major Gen. Wheeler: “Four
Miles West Buckhead Church, November 29th, 9 P.M.—We fought Gen. Kilpatrick all
night and all day, charging him at every opportunity. Enemy fought stubbornly,
and left a considerable number of their killed. He stampeded, and came near
capturing Kilpatrick twice; but having a fleet horse, he escaped, bareheaded,
leaving his hat in our hands. Our own loss about 70, including the gallant Gen.
Robertson, severely wounded. Our troops all acted handsomely.”
Gen.
Robertson has arrived here. His left arm is badly broken at the elbow, but he
is doing well.—B. B.
Another dispatch of the same date:
To
establish our communications west, I have ordered the immediate repair of the
Georgia Railroad to Atlanta. With the exception of bridges, the damage is
reported as slight. We should also have a line of telegraph on that route.—B.
B.
I succeeded to-day
in buying of Government Quartermaster (Major Ferguson) four yards of dark-gray
cloth, at $12 per yard, for a full suit. The merchants ask $125 per yard—a
saving of $450. I hope to have it cut and made by one of the government
tailors, for about $50, trimmings included. A citizen tailor asks $350!
The Senate passed a
bill, yesterday, increasing my salary and Custis's $500, which we don't thank
them for unless we can buy rations, etc. at schedule prices. The money is
worthless when we go into the open market.
My landlord, Mr.
King, has gone into the grocery business; and, although he did not raise the
rent for the present year, still asked more upon my offer to pay the amount of
the first quarter to-day—$500, six months ago, were really worth more than
$1000 to-day. At that time I acknowledged the house would bring more than $500.
To-day it would rent for more than $1000. He left it to me to do what was
right. I think it right to pay $800 or $1000, and will do so.
This evening our
servant stepped into the yard just in time to save some clothes drying on the
line. A thief was in the act of stealing them, and made his escape, springing
over the fence into the alley.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 343-5
Clear, and warm as summer almost.
Another dispatch from Bragg:
"AUGUSTA, November 28th, 1864.—On the 26th instant, the enemy started a heavy cavalry force in this direction, from his main body near Sandersville; Gen. Wheeler promptly following, leaving a portion of his force to confront Sherman. Kilpatrick reached vicinity of Waynesborough yesterday, where Wheeler overtook and attacked him. A running fight has continued to this time; the advantage with us. We are driving them toward Millen. Young's command has just arrived, and will go forward to Wheeler, who will, I hope, be able to mount most of them from his captures. Devastation marks the enemy's route. Hear nothing from the movements of the enemy's infantry, since Wheeler left their front. I fear they may cross the Savannah, and make for Beaufort. It is perfectly practicable."
The number of deserters, under General Order 65, received here and sent to Abingdon, Va., is 1224 men.
Senator Waldo P. Johnson, Missouri, told me he would move, to-day, to allow the civil officers, etc. to buy rations and clothes of government, at schedule prices. This would be better than an increase of salary.
No movements below, to-day, that I hear of.
Gen. Jos. E. Johnston was at the department to-day, and was warmly greeted by his friends. If Sherman's campaign should be a success, Johnston will be a hero; if the reverse, he will sink to rise no more. A sad condition, for one's greatness to depend upon calamity to his country!
I have a bright fire this morning. There is a nice chimney to my tent, which makes it almost as comfortable as a house. The regiment is on the extreme right of our lines, but is several miles from the field infirmary where I am stationed. The brigades are frequently shifted about, but I trust ours will remain where it is, because there is plenty of wood near by.
Everything is very quiet on the lines. I suppose you have heard of the defeat of General Early again in the Valley. He has not yet gained a single victory worth mentioning, and it is time we had a new commander there. We have a great many good fighters, but so few good generals. I am anxious to hear something from General Hood, for if he can whip Sherman at Atlanta the situation may be entirely changed.
The health of all the men appears to be about as good as if they were at home under shelter and with suitable diet. Our troops seem as happy and lively as men could be, although they get nothing to eat now but bread and meat. We have eaten nearly all the beef Hampton captured recently in rear of Grant's army, but we have received some from North Carolina which is very nice and tender.
Your brother Edwin is to be appointed a lieutenant in the Fourteenth Regiment. I took dinner with him yesterday. Lieutenant Petty, with whom he messes, had just received a box from home, and I fared sumptuously. My box has not yet arrived. Boxes now take about two weeks to reach here. Your brother had received his new suit from home. Billie is well and hearty, but he needs a new coat. These government coats are too thin for exposed duty.
I have a nice little Yankee axe, which is so light that it can be carried in a knapsack, but it just suits a soldier for use in putting up his little shelter tent or for making a fire. All the Yankees have these little axes, and many of our men have supplied themselves with them, as they have with almost everything else the Yankees possess.
Are you making preparations to come out here this winter? Colonel Hunt will have his wife to come out again, and a great many other officers are arranging for their wives to come on soon. Some of them are here already, but I think it best for you to wait until winter puts a stop to military operations. When we left the Rappahannock River last fall some of the officers carried their wives along by having them wrap up well and putting them in the ambulance; and if you were here and we had to move I could easily take you along that way. I want you to come just as soon as circumstances will permit, but this war has taught me to bear with patience those things which cannot be avoided and not to be upset when my wishes cannot be gratified.
