Diary of Sergeant David L. Day: September 2, 1864

 I REJOIN MY REGIMENT.

About a week ago my brigade, Gen. Stannard commanding, left the trenches and was ordered into camp at Cobb's Hill; all the convalescents belonging to it were ordered to rejoin it. When I was about leaving, all my darkies gathered around me to give me their blessing and say their goodb-yes. They were earnest in their thanks for the kind treatment they had received and expressed their regrets at my leaving them. I told them to be good boys and do their duty, and they would surely receive their reward. It is possible the poor devils will miss me, as I have been to them not only ward-master, but doctor, nurse and attendant. I think I have been very successful with them in the little time I have had charge of them, having lost by death only three and I think there is small chance of any more of them dying at present, unless they should happen to be struck by lightning

Our brigade musters scarcely 1000 men for duty, and in a few weeks will be still further reduced by the expiration of the terms of service of those not re-enlisting. I learn that in a few days we go to Newbern, N. C., to relieve a full brigade which is ordered up here. Our old lines here are now nothing more than skirmish lines on either side, with a few pickets between. There is no firing from either side, and all is still and quiet as Sunday. The pickets keep up a truce between themselves, and although against orders, trading and communicating are carried on between them. I called on my old friend Lieut. McCarter of company B. He is now on Gen. Stannard's staff, and is serving as brigade commissary, which gives him a fine opportunity to entertain his friends. It has been several months since I saw Mac, but he is the same genial, good-natured fellow as ever.

Of course greetings were cordial. He says the job is more to his liking than dodging shell at Cold Harbor, and the only disagreeable thing about it is in lugging water to make his accounts balance.

SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 147-8

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, September 17, 1864

CAMP NEAR SUMMIT Point, VIRGINIA, September 17, 1864.

DEAREST: - Did Carrington leave a revolver (pistol) with you when he left [the] little sorrel? I have forgotten about it.

General McClellan has written a pretty good Union and war letter, which I see is bringing the Democratic party over to our side on the war question. If he should be elected, — an event not now seeming probable, - I have no doubt that the war will go right on. The chief difference between us is on slavery, and I have no doubt that when the burden and responsibility of the war is on the Democracy, they will rapidly "get religion," as Sam Cary would say, "on that subject."

General Grant is now here in consultation with General Sheridan. The recruits and convalescents will soon fill up his ranks and I look for an active fall campaign.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 507

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: November 3, 1864

About a hundred convalescents were taken outside today to be sent away to our lines the officials told us. At a later hour the commander came inside and said he wanted twelve men to fall into line and they did so, myself being one of the twelve; he proceeded to glance us over and on looking' at me said: “Step back out of the ranks, I want only able bodied men.” I stepped down and out considerably chagrinned, as the general impression was that they were to go to our lines with the convalescents who had been taken outside before. He marched off the twelve men and it then leaked out that they were to be sent to some prison to be held as hostages until the end of the war. Then I felt better. It is said all the sick will be taken outside as soon as they get quarters fixed up to accommodate them. Think that I shall resign my position as nurse. Would rather stay with the “boys.” Land is no longer with the sick but has been turned into the rank and file, also Dakin. Bakin, Rowe and Land are all together, and if the sick are taken outside I shall join my old comrades and mess with them. But few die now; quite a number died from the removal, but now all seem to be on the mend. I am called, contrary to my expectations, a good nurse; certainly have pity for the poor unfortunates, but lack the strength to take care of them. It needs good strong men to act as nurses.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 111

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: July 3, 1863

My son Custis stayed out all night, sleeping on his arms in the farthest intrenchments. A little beyond, there was a skirmish with the enemy. We lost eight in killed and wounded. What the enemy suffered is not known, but he fell back, and ran toward the White House.

This morning, Mr. Ould, agent for exchange of prisoners, reported that “not a Yankee could be found on the face of the earth.” And this induced a general belief that the enemy had retired, finally, being perhaps ordered to Washington, where they may be much needed.

The Secretary of War, believing the same thing, intimated to Gen. Elzey (who for some cause is unable to ride, and therefore remains in the city) a desire to send several regiments away to some menaced point at a distance. In response, Elzey writes that none can be spared with safety; that the enemy had apparently divided his force into two bodies, one for Hanover, and the other for the Chickahominy, and both strong; and he advised against weakening the forces here He said he had not yet completed the manning of the batteries, the delay being in arming the men — and he hoped “Hill could hold out.”

We have 3400 convalescents at Camp Lee, and as many more may be relied on for the defense of the city; so we shall have not less than 22,000 men for the defense of Richmond. The enemy have perhaps 35,000; but it would require 75,000 to storm our batteries. Let this be remembered hereafter, if the 35,000 sent here on a fool's errand might have saved Washington or Baltimore, or have served to protect Pennsylvania — and then let the press of the North bag the administration at Washington! Gen. Lee's course is "right onward," and cannot be affected by events here.

My friend Jacques (clerk) marched out yesterday with the Department Guard; but he had the diarrhoea, and was excused from marching as far as the company. He also got permission to come to town this morning, having slept pretty well, he said, apart from the company. No doubt he did good service in the city today, having his rifle fixed (the ball, I believe, had got down before the powder), and procuring a basket of edibles and a canteen o. strong tea, which he promised to share with the mess. He said he saw Custis this morning, looking well, after sleeping on the ground the first time in his life, and without a blanket.

We have nothing further from the North or the West.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 368-9

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: April 12, 1863

Left Donaldsonville. Eighteen of us went to New Orleans where Lieutenant Jones turned over to me the convalescent squad, consisting of eighteen men and three women. He and Corporal Olmstead remained in the city. We crossed the river and took the cars at Algiers for Brashear City, where we arrived at dark. The road passes through what I should say was a salt marsh, being low swampy land covered with cotton-wood trees or a long coarse grass through which crawled slimy snakes and aligators. An ugly looking bird like a crane also inhabits these dismal abodes.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 44

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, October 21, 1863

Last night heavy rains Continued raining until 10. A. M. Order on parade to report all convalescents in the co's for the Invalid corps. Weather cold health better—

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 499

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: April 9, 1863

Much better. Lieutenant Jones came back for convalescents and baggage.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 43

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Sabbath, September 13, 1863

Verry sick. 5th Kan. squad went on to Little Rock train of 28 wagons in from Little Rock to take convalescents to their regiments.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 497

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, September 9, 1863

Much better. Worked for the regt — Ambulance train come in from the head of column for convalescents, report Rebs strong two miles below I.—R—

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 497

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, August 19, 1863

Lieut Col Mackey reccommended for Col. Capt Loughland for Lieut Col Most of the convolescents came up on Rose Hamilton, Hamrich and Fidler Corporals in place of Verstieg & Ulsh. No mail yet.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 496

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, August 18, 1863

Lieut Col Mackey reccommended for Col. Capt Loughland for Lieut Col Most of the convolescents came up on Rose Hamilton, Hamrich and Fidler Corporals in place of Verstieg & Ulsh. No mail yet.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 496

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: September 30, 1862

At sunrise we were on the march for Camp Kearney. After we had marched about a mile Col Holcomb ordered me back to look after the convalescents or those who were unable to carry their guns and knapsacks. These were all put in army wagon and the men got in line. There was about one hundred of them. We started about one o'clock and arrived in Camp Kearney at dark. This place was drier ground and being near the river was much healthier than Camp Williams but the men had imbibed so much malaria at the latter place that there was not much improvement in the health of the men until the middle of October.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 29

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: September 29, 1862

Received marching orders, and at sunrise next morning we were on the march for Camp Kearney. After we had marched about a mile Col Holcomb ordered me back to look after the convalescents or those who were unable to carry their guns and knapsacks. These were all put in army wagon and the men got in line. There was about one hundred of them. We started about one o'clock and arrived in Camp Kearney at dark. This place was drier ground and being near the river was much healthier than Camp Williams but the men had imbibed so much malaria at the latter place that there was not much improvement in the health of the men until the middle of October.

SOURCE: George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 29