only last night we discarded our close and found out that the Hospittle
was full of Body lice. they had got on most of us. I hear every Hospittle in
town are full of them. how they got here God only knows. I don’t
SOURCE: Vinson Holman Diary Exerpts, Pea Ridge National Military Park: https://www.nps.gov/peri/learn/historyculture/vinsonholman.htm
accessed November 9, 2026
Lenoir, Tenn. As the men are
confined to camp, they busy themselves by cleaning up the accumulated rubbish. Our
camp begins to put on airs. The men must get some clothing before they can do
so. I see no prospect of it yet. The day has been most delightful-warm, bright
and mellow. The weather here, as with us at this season of the year, is subject
to sudden changes. Today it may be warm as summer; tomorrow the wind may change
to the north and be cold as winter. Wood is abundant and of good quality mostly
white oak and hickory. But should we stay here all winter, there will not be a
tree left within five miles of here. We have already cleared about fifty acres.
Spite of appearances, I cannot think we will remain here until spring. I
cannot see—perhaps I have no right to try to see where our supplies are to come
from, or, rather, how they are to come. We have only six weeks quarter rations
on hand, and the roads over the mountains are nearly impassable. There is some
wheat and corn in the valley, which is being gathered in for the use of the
army, but this cannot last long. Such an army, like the locusts of Egypt, will
soon "devour every green thing." Even now hundreds of citizens are
leaving for the North to escape the impending famine. In view of these facts, which
are fully understood by every man in the regiment, one would expect them to be
down-hearted and discouraged. Such is not the fact. The few men who are left
are resolute, determined men, ready to suffer privation, to endure hardship,
anything to advance the cause for which they are contending. An order is given
to prepare for inspection. The Assistant Secretary of War is here to inspect
the Ninth Corps. This may be an exception, but, as a rule, inspection means
move.
I happened to get hold of a copy of the Detroit Free Press dated October
25th. From it I learn conscription has been postponed in Michigan until the 5th
of November. By that time they hope to fill the quota by volunteers. I would
like to see the North exhibit the energy and ability displayed by the South,
but one-half seems to be asleep, the other half-mad.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a
Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 119-20
Lenoir, Tenn. We have been under
orders for several days to be ready to fall in at a minute's notice. That order
was repeated at 3 o'clock this morning. We had become so accustomed to it, we
began to think it only form, and meant nothing. At sunrise, however, we were
startled by the order, "Pack everything and be ready to march immediately,
bag and baggage." Officers' baggage was put on wagons, the sick in
ambulances, supplies of food and clothing—a fresh supply had but just arrived
were reloaded, and the whole train headed toward Knoxville.
Our consternation can better be imagined than described. Every movement
spoke of evacuation; of hasty, inglorious retreat. About 10 o'clock the cars
came screaming in from Knoxville, bringing General Burnside. The wagon train
was nearly formed, and, in half an hour, everything would have been ready for a
general stampede. At 10 o'clock the bugle sounded fall in, and off we started
toward Loudon. It soon leaked out the Rebels are crossing six miles below
Loudon, and Burnside's arrival had changed the program. So away we went,
through rain and mud, fourteen miles without stopping to rest, rejoicing it was
not, after all, an ignominous retreat. We halted a little after dark in a thick
wood, with orders to light no fires, but remain beside our arms, ready to fall
in when called on. It had been very warm during the day, raining at times, and
those not wet with rain were wet with sweat. Toward night the wind had changed,
and it was bitter cold. And there we sat, two hours or more, cold and hungry,
having eaten nothing since morning. The men began to grow impatient. The First
Brigade were on our left, and fires burned brightly all along their line. Why
could not we have fires? Tom Epley, of our company, thought we could, and away
he goes for a coal of fire, while others gather wood and kindlings. But our
lynx-eyed Adjutant discovers it, and down he comes. "Who built that
fire?" says he. "I did, sir," says Tom. "Didn't you know
'twas against orders?" "No, sir; I thought the order was one fire to
a company, sir." "You must put it out."
Then how the h--l are we to cook? Do you think we can march all day in
rain and mud and eat flour and raw beef?" "It's tough, boys,"
says the Adjutant, "but that's the order." Tom did not put out the
fire, but built it larger, and soon the order came, "One fire to a
company."
We kept our fires brightly burning all night, expecting each moment the
coming order. At 4 o'clock it came. Fall in, boys, very quietly, and quick as
possible. Then, "about face," and off we went in the darkness, taking
precisely the route we came. What was the meaning of this backward move? Our
officers agreed it was to draw them out from the river that we might cut off their
retreat and "bag them," as is our custom. We marched slowly and
reached Lenoir about 2 p. m., when we formed in line of battle. At dark the
Eighth Michigan was thrown out as skirmishers, or outpost pickets. They
advanced about four miles on the Jamestown road, and as they formed their last
post were fired on by Rebel pickets. The Rebels then rallied their skirmishers
and charged the Eighth, which fell back to within a mile of our line of battle.
They then faced about, charged the advancing Rebels, drove them a short
distance, and held them until relieved. I now began to see how matters stood.
The enemy had pursued us promptly and with energy; we were in line of battle
awaiting an attack. Would they attack us before daylight? Probably not, as we
held a good position. Will we await an attack or retire during the night? Of
the latter I was confident, judging by what I saw and heard. Fires were
kept up along the whole line, and some of the boys, worn out with fasting and
marching, wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down and slept. But
there was no sleep for me, and there I sat, listening to every sound, watching
every move. Two trains of cars, heavily loaded with supplies, crept slowly away
toward Knoxville, the very engines seeming to hold their breath fearful of
exciting suspicion. The distant rattle of wheels told me the wagon train was
falling into line, and the bright glare of fire at the depot spoke of
government property being sacrificed because there was no time to remove it. At
2 o'clock I heard the artillery on the hill near us, and which we were
supporting, move away and join the train. A few minutes later we followed the
artillery, silent as an army of spectres. Our regimental Surgeon and his staff
occupied a tent a few rods in the rear of the regiment. Before we had proceeded
a dozen yards I missed them and asked our Captain if they had gone on ahead. He
seemed puzzled, as their place was in the rear. Perhaps, he said, they were not
notified—had been overlooked in the confusion—if so, they will be captured. I
asked permission to go back and warn them of their danger. I found them soundly
sleeping in their tent, aroused them, and in a few hurried whispers explained
the situation—then struck across the fields for the Knoxville road. About two
miles distant we came across a body of troops resting beside stacked arms. Near
by we found our regiment, and all was well.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a
Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 120-4
Knoxville. I still remain at the
hospital—can all winter if I choose. The sick and wounded are doing fairly
well. Most of them will soon be well enough to go home on furlough. They are to
be sent fast as it may be safe for them. One squad starts tomorrow. The men are
eager to get away from here somewhere—anywhere.
This is called a United States General Hospital. It partakes of the
nature of such an institution only so far as patients and shoulder-strapped
doctors go toward making it one. And patients are becoming scarce, thank God.
It is not a desirable place for convalescents, and, as soon as they are able,
they gladly leave for their regiments. The wounded are all to have furloughs so
says the Surgeon—and they are very impatient. They would run any risk to
escape this den of filth, privation and starvation.
Think of a hospital where the patients have no bedding but the blankets
they brought with them; no clothing but the dirty rags they wore from the
field; no dishes but their tin cups and butcher knives; where there is no
"bed pan," and only two night vessels for one hundred forty sick men;
where washing is put off, week after week, for want of soap, there being not so
much as one piece to wash hands with. I went to every store, grocery and
sutler's shop in the city this morning, seeking soap and finding none. Where
wounded soldiers are fed on coarse bread and beef or vegetable soup twice a
day, and not half enough of this to satisfy.
It is no valid excuse that hospital stores cannot be procured here. They
might have been sent from Kentucky before this time. Our troops the Ninth Corps
in the field are in no better condition. They are encamped eighteen miles from
here, unfit for duty for want of clothing; all are ragged; many have not a shoe
to their feet or rags enough to cover them. Washington's army at Valley Forge
is the only parallel in the history of this Nation. We have drawn very little
clothing since we started for Mississippi in June last. I saw our Quartermaster
Sergeant yesterday, Mr. Woodin; he assures me there is no prospect of our
receiving supplies in the near future. What I have said applies to the Ninth
Corps only; the Twenty-third and other corps are well supplied. The reason
given is we are out of our department, and there is no regular channel of
supply. I have just drawn two months' pay. I intended to send every dollar of
it to my wife, who needs it, but will be compelled to use some of it or go
naked. I have only one shirt, and that is nearly worn out. Army shirts-no
better than those issued to us—cost six dollars at the sutler's. My shoes are
nearly off my feet, and army shoes cost four dollars. I am destitute of socks,
and socks cost one dollar. I do not wish to find fault, but the thought will
arise, if sutlers can get their goods over the mountains, why cannot the
Government? Again, there is, and has been, a heavy stock of clothing at the
Gap. Why don't they send it on?
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a
Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 132-4
Heavy firing last night down the river, and about midnight an immense
amount of cheering. We were all called out, but found the cheering was on our
side. THE "ESCORT" (an unarmed steamer), HAD
RUN THE BLOCKADE AT RODMAN'S POINT, BRINGING UP THE 5TH RHODE ISLAND, COLONEL
SISSON, which practically ends the siege, as we can probably send or bring
vessels through the blockade any time. Robbins, Pierce, and myself have been
detailed in the fort to-day, building a bomb-proof for Gen. Foster, but the
fire from "Widow Blunt" was so lively we could do but little. We
received a mail in the mêlée, bringing about $25 to our mess, being the first
for several weeks it seems to us months. I immediately left my watch with a
jeweller in the 27th, who was in the fort, and who repaired it while under
fire. I now had the money to pay him, thanks to home folks. We have been so
hard up that a day or two since I tried for the first time to borrow a dollar
or two, asking even Capt. Richardson. When he showed me that his pocket-book
held only about two dollars, I gave it up. To-day I offered him some, when he
showed me a bill which came by the same mail as ours. I think the full
appreciation of the value of money will cling to us all, officers as well as
men, in all future time. Our change of clothes came to-day, but in an awful
condition.
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. 49
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
I am happy to have
an opportunity to answer your letter. I received one from you, Mary &
Mother, in one envelope, but intend to answer them sepperate, so to have you
all write to me again one at a time I wrote a short letter to the girls day
before yesterday I was standing on guard then, I had a fine old time of it, as
it continued to rain all night, and I had four hours to stand in the middle of
the night. A fellow attempted to run my station but I heard him and demanded
him to halt he did so, I then demanded the counter sign, he could not give it
He said his horse had crossed the line and he wanted to get him I told him to
go to Head quarters and get the counter sign, or to travel, he left and was
heard of no more
I came off Guard at
ten o'clock I got a pass to go down town I run about town all day I see Isaac
leave with his company there was four companies left, all took the boat, the
horses were put on flat boats, you would have seen a great sight had you been
here when they started Isaac did not have time to send his box by express so I
sent it for him I sent your over coat home and my linen coat and shirt I
give you, I have a long tailed Blue You would laugh to see me with it on, but
it is very comfortable It makes a great difference in the appearance of a
company of soldiers when they have their uniform on. There was four more
companies left for St. Louis this morning I wished my self along with them but
we will have to stay here yet three or four days to get the remainder of our
horses and saddles It looks rather war like to see so many men all mounted, and
then to have them to give three cheers and fire off a canon it makes a person
feel like fighting I tell you Parkes I would advise you not to go to war. I
think you are not strong enough and most to easy excited, for camp life is
almost a continual drudge To day I
have to cook I expect to morrow to stand on guard and evry day brings work By
the way how is your onion crop, how does the sugar cane turn out. I would like
to have some of the Molasses We only draw Molasses once a week and then only a
little. What are you doing this fall, tell me what you with all the rest are
about I should like to hear from Charlie20 & Richard21
also tell Peters folks to write I suppose you will have charge of affairs when
father and mother goes to Wis. do it up well. Tell father I have seen the
company Blacksmiths shoe horses all day out in the rain it looked rather hard
but it was just before they started for St. Louis and there is no stop of any
thing in war As soon as I get to St. Louis I will write to mother & father
You had better wait untill I write to them before you answer this, then it will
come direct to St. Louis Tell Woody to write me a letter and I will answer it
as soon as I can he said he would write to me. You must write all about my
friends and about affairs at home as it is most time to get supper I will have
to close
19 "Dear Brother" was Parkes Gulick,
who remained at home. William's letters contain frequent admonitions to his
brother not to enlist, as he did not believe him strong enough to stand army
service.
20 "Charlie" was Charles Jones of Low
Moor, who married William's sister Cynthia. After the conscription act was
passed he was summoned to service; but he succeeded in hiring a substitute,
which was not only a very common practice, but specifically legalized by the
draft law.
21 Richard Wagner, before mentioned, a
brother-in-law of William Gulick's.
22 Henry Gulick, an older brother at home.
SOURCE: Benjamin F.
Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28
(1930), pp. 208-10.
I received your long
looked for letter last night and I set my self about answering it as soon as I
had read it, but had hardly commenced when the word came (to arms) or rather to
go and get our new Sabers. I had to go. I have a very good one indeed. There
was so much nois and clamor that I could not think of writing more last night.
This Sunday morning we had to pack up evrything that is caried on horse back
and appear on grand review or inspection after forming in line of Battle we
marched around Brig. Gen. Curtis'27 quarters, He (with his Body
Guard close by) was to inspect our Battalion as we marched by. I had a fine
opportunity of seeing him he is a fine looking old man, and quite gray hair,
all the soldiers had to salute him with the Saber. It was dinner time when I
came in quarters, and as soon as I could take care of my horse and put away my
things it was two oclock, and now as I want to write this letter (not knowing
when I may have another opportunity) I will have to give up going to meeting,
which is at four oclock We have orders to leave here between this and
Wednesday. I know not where, but unless the order is countermanded we will go.
I expect we will have to be put through drilling while we stay here, we drill
mostly on a trot and a gallop, and when chargeing, on a dead
run. I am geting used to riding, I beleive I shall make a good horseman a
number of the boys have been thrown from their horses and some been run away with
I believe that not any of them have been hurt. I am proud of my horse he is
such a steady good one, When I get my accouterments all on and drilling I tell
you I feel animated and like fighting. I beleive I shall do good exicution when
I get a chance at those Missouri Ruffians. I think my chance is good for one
stroke at least soon too, Day before yesterday our Lt. Crissy28 came
back from Lyons with recruits among them were Blacksmith-Clark J. Kilmer,
Thoms. Else,29 Although they are nearly strangers to me, they
seem like old friends. It came my turn to stand on stable guard that night from
twelve untill six in the morning. I had so many long stories to exchange with
the Camanche boys that I did not go to bed to get any sleep that night. Aaron
Reccord & Lucian Beely30 also came down at the same time in
pesuit of their Regt. I suppose you knew that they had been in the Hospital at
Camp McClellan, and home on a furlough They are here yet and as Aaron is quite
lame (from the affects of over walking when too week) I think he will stay here
untill he is better, while Beely will start tomorrow morning, to over take his
Co. that I think is near Warsaw.31 I got a pass to go to the
Hospital but they would not admit me I enquired for John Dam and was told that
he was not There, I suppose that he went with his Co, The last I heard of Isaac
and Co R. they were at Jeferson City. Tell Aunt Rebecca32 Isaacs
letters will be forwarded from Head Quarters and I will not see them You said
you was glad to hear of any delay of our Co. for my personal safety I do not
want you to feel so, I came to fight, and the sooner we get at it
the sooner it it [sic] will be ended I can not give you any information
concerning the war I do not get the news regular and there is so many rumors in
camp that a person can not beleive any of them, and a soldier never knows where
he is going or what he is going to do I beleive our Regt is as good as any them
is, or at least Col. says so, & Brig. Gen. Cortis [Curtis] says it has cost
as much as any two Regt. organized.
We have another suit
of evry day clothes in the Col.['s] charge so we shall not get out this winter
Besides we have a dress suit for a fancy rig but the Col. will not give it us
yet I do not want it to mus now since I wrote you last we have received fatigue
caps and partly enough overalls, expect the rest soon they are a good
institution If I have time before I go from this place I will send you my
likeness with my arms I shall expect to receive yours soon (I mean all the
folks) Emma wondered if I was standing on guard the night she wrote I beleive I
was or the night before I am not positive which You told me about Parkes how
hard he had to work I am sorry he has to work so hard I believe it is easier to
soldier, but since we have been at Benton Barracks my whole time has been
occupied though it is not hard work, We have so much cleaning to do by the way
I will tell you something I have to do We have to keep our Buttons Bright (we
use chalk and a brush) all our clothes brushed clean, our Boots Blacked There
is a great deal of Brass about our saddles, spurs Bridles and all have to be
kept Bright and clean We have Brass shoulder Plates or Appauletts our Arms
&c all have to be kept Bright. We also have to keep our Quarters clean and
take care of horse. We Drill five hours evry day and have Dress Parade at five
oclock it takes about half or three fourth hours I have to cook every ten days
and stand on guard once in from three to six days, we all have to get up at six
oclock or Reveille, (The sound of the Bugle) and cannot go to bed untill after
Roll call or Tattoo (sound of the Bugle) which is at nine oclock P. M. If we do
not answer at Roll Call we get a black mark, and about three markes makes extra
guard duty (I never got a black mark yet) I was sorry to learn that Father and
mother did not go to Wis. I think they would have enjoyed the visit by the way
there is some boys here from McGregor, Iowa. Some are acquainted in Grant Co, Wis.
they say they are acquainted with some Kaslers but not our friends relatives as
I can learn. There is some here from Adair Co. Mo. They Have been at Shibleys
Point33 but not acquainted there I have not written to Uncle Jacobs
yet. I will the first spare time I have, for I know they would be glad to hear
from me, But I want to write a good & a long letter when I write. I hope I
may have an opportunity to visit them, though I think the prospects of geting a
furlough is rather dubious, several have applied but to no effect I almost
forgot to tell you of my visit to the Arsinal Yesterday I got a pass to go down
town I went on horse back and rode nearly all day through the city The Arsinal
is about three miles below the city and on the river Bank It is surounded by a
high stone wall and includes about ten acres There is many large stone and
Brick buildings where all kinds of arms are manufactured I see 1.25 large
cannon about half were six and eight inch bore and Riffled Cannon the rest were
light and ten inch and one did weigh 12,051 lbs I see a number of morters and
Bom shells a number of Brass cannon In one building they were makeing
cartridges and five hundred boys would make two hundred Thousand a day it would
seam enough to shoot all the rebbles in existence It was interesting to see the
process of cartriges makeing and others makeing impliments of war, I have no
time for explanations.
27 Samuel R. Curtis was at this time a
brigadier general; shortly afterwards he was promoted to major general, and in
March, 1862, was in chief command of the Union army at the decisive victory of
Pea Ridge, which gave an opening wedge for later Union invasions of Arkansas.
On September 24, 1862, he was assigned to command of the Department of Missouri
and Kansas. He kept the Confederates in this field on a defensive and guerrilla
basis of warfare throughout his period of command; but his policy of
maintaining as many troops as possible in Missouri to dragoon southern
sympathizers into submission instead of furnishing contingents to other fields
when asked for them set him at odds with the authorities at Washington. On
March 10, 1863, President Lincoln ordered Gen. E. V. Sumner to relieve him.
Sumner died on the way to St. Louis, so the President on May 13th ordered
General Schofield to relieve Curtis. Curtis afterwards commanded the Department
of Kansas and Indian Territory. - Battles and Leaders of the
Civil War (New York. The Century Co., 1888), Vol. III, pp.
446, 454, Vol. IV, pp. 376, 377.
28 James Crissy, 1st lieutenant in Company M.
29 "Blacksmith-Clark" was James
Clark; "J. Kilmer", Jeremiah Kilmer; "Thoms. Else", Thomas
C. Elce. All three were evidently from Lyons and all enlisted after
muster. They re-enlisted in 1864 and apparently served out the war.—Lothrop's A History of
the First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers, pp. 396, 403.
30 Reccord and Beely were evidently friends and
neighbors at home. Nothing further is known about them.
31 Warsaw is the county seat of Benton County,
Missouri; it lies about 60 miles southwest of Jefferson City.
32 William's Aunt Rebecca Gulick, wife of
Abraham Gulick, a brother of William's father.
33 Shibley's Point is a small inland town about
15 miles northwest of Kirksville, in Adair County, Missouri.
34 Dr. Ankeny was a brother of Captain William
H. Ankeny who was in command of Company M at this time.
35 "Uncle Abe" was Abraham Gulick,
William's father's brother.
SOURCE: Benjamin F.
Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28
(1930), pp. 213-20.
Spent the forenoon at the river assisting somewhat in getting our transportation over. It is a rainy day, and I got wet to the skin and thoroughly chilled. After dinner I went to bed while William, my servant, put a few necessary stitches in my apparel, and dried my underclothing and boots. I am badly off for clothing; my coat is out at the elbows, and my pantaloons are in a revolutionary condition, the seat having seceded.
The Cincinnati Gazette of the 14th instant reports that I have been promoted. Thanks.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 108
Had bad cold & did not rest any too well last night did not get up until called to breakfast. sky has the appearance of rain. I go to the camp of our teams in the rear to draw clothing for the co, send it over by Bowman & go on to the Commissary to get some grub for our mess see a train starting to Steele who is said to have taken Blakely destroying with his artillery every house but one, he can not hold his army in the town on account of the Reb iron clads shelling him out. A sergent from Steeles comd. says the Mobile paper states their loss the 1st day we came in here at 400 killed & wounded, estimates our loss at double that when in fact it was not over 100 begins to rain while I am at the com. I stop at camp of teams to talk to Capt & wait for the rain to cease Capt is getting along finely & expects to be for duty within a week, he tells me of one of the 35th Wis who had his leg blown off by the explosion of a torpedo in the road not far from his camp, ceases raining & I retire to camp at 11 o clock, after dinner issue the clothing & then work on our bomb-proofs except about an hour from 1.30 to 2.30 while it was raining, heavy detail for picket from our regt. co I is out tonight for a reserve & a detail of 2 com. off & 60 men in front with orders to advance the line. Each man takes a spade. At, 11. P. M. heavy fining on the Right of Smiths corp small arms used much there are a great many reports flying about camp, of which the following are some, & I cant say they are true or false. Faragut has arrived & taken comd of the fleet. a chain of 78 torpedos was taken up. a mine is nearly completed under the forts.
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, pp. 585
In position near Culpepper. The day was very cold for that time of the year. Paid for two months, and settled up the clothing account for two years. The battery was inspected by Capt. Martin.
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. 280
Have been to Hospital, No. 1, at the request of a mother whose young son had died there. She is in great anxiety to learn something of his last words, and whether he died a Christian. I have just written her the facts, that there was no outward evidence of the same, but that she must trust the Good Father that it was "well with him."
All the patients whom I have mentioned in my journal, are better. Even the one with ulcers is improving. As for William he has applied for a furlough, and expects soon to go home.
Day before yesterday a girl came to school who had just the look and complexion of a snuff-dipping refugee. She, also, like them, wore a dress of the same color, derived from some kind of bark. Her manner was as listless and her expression as vacant. Wishing much to know whether she could claim our superior race as her own, or whether a few drops of the black blood in her veins had procured perhaps from her father and master the fiat— "only a niggar!" I made known my curiosity to one of the teachers, with my perplexity as to how I should obtain the coveted information, without wounding her feelings.
"Oh! you need not fear that," was the reply, "they're used to it, and expect to be asked whether they're niggars or not." I could not do it, however, without considerable circumlocution; and commenced by asking if she could buy herself a book, whom she lived with, &c. After some time the questions eliminated the fact that though she didn't know whether she was free, or a “refugee," her own second name, or the age, she did know that she had lived most of her life in Texas, where she had always worked out of doors, had hoed corn, and ploughed that she lived with the same people now—that her father she had never heard anything of—that her mother was black, "though not real black," and finally that she herself was a "niggar," which nobody else could have told by her features or complexion.
A lady who stopped over night, on her way home from Bridgeport, where she has been stationed with her husband in charge of sanitary stores, relates the following:
She said that sitting a few days since in the rooms where were the stores of the Christian Commission, she saw a woman, when half a mile distant, who had a long stick in her hand. She supposed that being weary perhaps, with a long walk, she had picked it up to serve the office of a cane. But after entering, and engaging for some time in jovial conversation and laughter with some neighbors, she found there, she made known her errand. She wanted to beg a shirt, pair of stockings and a coffin for her husband, and the stick was the measure of his body. My informant asked the age of the deceased husband, and she replied:
"Well, now, I never rightly axed him how old he was. but I reckon he mought be nigh on to thirty or forty!"
SOURCE: Elvira J. Powers, Hospital Pencillings: Being a Diary While in Jefferson General Hospital, Jeffersonville, Ind., and Others at Nashville, Tennessee, as Matron and Visitor, pp. 72-4
We had company inspection at 12 o'clock and dress parade at 5 o'clock. We then drew clothing, which was needed very much. I drew three pair of socks and one pair of trousers.
SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 42
We had a lively time last night. A storm of rain and wind began about 10 o'clock in the evening and kept up until about 12, when the wind increased and the rain ceased. Out tent bent and reeled like a willow. I got up to dress before she went over, but had just got my legs into my trousers when down she came full tilt. I finally extricated myself, seized my knapsack and started for dry ground, got into the commissary and spread down, when to cap the climax the levee broke through and the water came rushing in upon us. The drums beat, the boys fell in, and we had a general move up the levee. Most all of the tents blew down and some of them were whipped nearly to pieces. In the meantime Captain Bush had his Negro brigade out, filled them up with whisky, and ordered them into the water waist deep. By dint of perseverance and hard work they succeeded in stopping the break. I took up some boards and passed the remainder of the night beside the cotton pile. This morning the effects of the storm were everywhere present. One of the boats was blown up on the beach, the smoke stacks of two others were blown away, and shanties everywhere were blown down and torn to pieces. It continued cold and windy all day. Charlie Berry came back last night. This afternoon Gen. Smith's (John E.) division came down and anchored here for the night. In the afternoon some of the boys of the 14th made a break on the sutler's stock. It was no more than done when the 17th and 95th Ill., 1st Kan., and 16th Wis. came rolling over the levee. Canned fruit, boxes of boots, shoes, oysters, oranges, lemons, bales of shirts, pants, socks, drawers, barrels of soda crackers and sugar, boxes of raisins, and in fact everything which the large stock could contain. He had just got in a new assignment, valued at somewhere near $10,000. The poor old fellow ran around wringing his hands and wishing he had staid in "Chicago." The guard arrived just as they had him completely cleaned out. I can say that my hands are clear of such wholesale robbery. At 9 o'clock roll call the companies had orders to deliver up the contraband articles in their possession.
SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, pp. 49-50
Fine day; lay in
camp all day quite a no of the men out to forage. see some Rebs. Capt sent back
with detail for rations. Men pull the wagons. Evening Genls Granger & Veach
have Hd Qtrs in our camp. Heavy artillery heard all day supposed by some to be
Steele fighting Genls. Canby Smith & Osterhaus are at Fish river Foragers
sees the ruins of a large turpentine factory. destroyed by fire about 2 weeks
ago, which accounts for the big smokes we had noticed & find 100 prs good
new drawers & 200 prs negro's cotton pants
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. 579
I write you a few
lines by an Irishman who has just gotten a discharge from our regiment. I
merely write to take the chance of letting you know that I am well and well
satisfied. I am afraid that the Irishman will get drunk and lose this, so I
have no heart to write you as fully as I would wish, besides I have only a few
moments to write in.
We are five miles
from the rest of the brigade on picket duty at Raccoon Ford. All of our company
are doing well except Allen Killingsworth, who is sick at a private house about
five miles off. He is getting better. I have written you a great many letters,
and trust that this may reach you safely. Your daguerreotype is a great
consolation to me; I look at it every day and remember the 49th Chapter and
11th verse of Jeremiah and feel satisfied, although a letter from home would be
a great pleasure to me. I have nothing with me but the clothes on my back and a
change of underclothing. I trust that our affairs may so result at Vicksburg as
to leave the way open for you to make a visit to Columbia. I have laid out the
plan for you in three or four letters. The principal features are for you not
to go more than $500.00 in debt, and to leave the servants at home; to get a
good escort to Jackson, and as much farther as you can, and then trust to
conductors and your own good sense the rest of the way. You need not make or
send anything to me as I am unable to march with it, and will have to throw it
away. Mother gave me a nice pair of pants; they were cut out and made for
$1.50. Lamar was taken prisoner and Gillespie Thornwell killed about three
weeks ago. Lamar has been exchanged and is now with his command. Kiss the
little darlings for me. I missed the pleasure of seeing Mac in Columbia; she
had gone to Charleston. Tell the servants howdy for me, and tell them I say,
obey you. Don't forget Stark's lessons.
SOURCE: John Camden
West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a
Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, pp. 68-9
Crab Orchard, Ky. Again has the note of preparation sounded in
our camp, and all hands are busy getting ready for another campaign. In all
probability we will soon be on our winding way among the Cumberland Mountains,
en route for East Tennessee to assist in driving treason from that unhappy
State. Orders have not been issued, but our artillery and ambulances have come,
clothing has been issued, knapsacks, haversacks, canteens and tents have been
distributed, and, more ominous still, forty rounds of cartridges have been
dealt out to every man—in fact, we are ready to take the field at a minute's
notice, and only await the order.
"Be ready to
march tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock," is the order that greets me as I
write. It is one hundred forty miles to Knoxville, our objective point, and
will take us fourteen days if unopposed.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of
a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 90
Having a day's leave granted me I saddled my horse and wended my way
towards the devastated fields of old Hanover; passed through Mechanicsville and
viewed with sorrowing eye the destruction caused by the late bloody battles.
Houses, churches, and buildings of every description torn to pieces by
artillery, and every vestige of grain trodden under foot by the tramp of
soldiery. A wealthy old farmer by the name of Hogan made me a present of a ten
dollar note to be invested in a new pair of pants: and I was not too proud to
take it.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I
Saw of It, p. 125
I spent yesterday
morning writing to my precious wife. I wrote two letters; one to take the
chances and uncertainties of the mails; the other reserved until I can find
some one going across the Mississippi River. I called on Mrs. Bachman and there
met Mrs. Carroll and her daughter. Mrs. Bachman spoke of Mary as of a sister;
she is a sweet, good woman and was anxious to do something for my comfort. She
gave me a letter to Captain Bachman and also one for some of her cousins in
Virginia; wanted me to leave all my extra clothing with Miss Nannie Norton in
Richmond; said that Wat Taylor had left his things there. Mrs. Bachman's
paintings are enchanting to me. What a useful and delightful accomplishment
painting is. By it we can leave such precious and enduring mementoes of
ourselves, when all other memories have faded in the oblivion of a shadowy
past. I spent the afternoon with mother only, and began to feel like I had
somebody to love me this side of the Mississippi. For all that I hold dearest
is west of the river. Mother (Mrs. Stark) has treated me as her own son. She
has furnished me with clothing, which I needed; has given me $40.00 and appears
anxious to do more for me. I went out to auntie's, at Stark Hill, late in the
afternoon and bade them good bye; talked as if they were parting with one
who had a right to their affections; all this nerves me very much and added to
the approval of my own conscience makes me more willing and ready to suffer
whatever may be in store for me and let my trials be what they may. May God
save my wife and children from affliction. Let all the evil which may perchance
be in store for them be meted out to me. After supper last night mother went up
stairs with me and we concluded that it would be best to carry only a change of
clothing and leave the rest in Columbia with her, to be sent as I needed them.
She packed my things and spoke so kindly and affectionately to me that I love
her next to Mary. It is now. 6 o'clock on Wednesday morning. I am waiting for
Decca to get ready to go to the depot with me; she is going as far as Winsboro
to pay a visit to Jennie Preston Means.
SOURCE: John Camden
West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a
Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, pp. 47-8
