As Dan Rice used to say in the circus ring: “Here we are
again.” Sleep so sound that all the battles in America could not wake me up.
Are just going for that fresh pork to-day. Have three kinds of meat — fried
pig, roast pork and broiled hog. Good any way you can fix it. Won't last us
three days at this rate, and if we stay long enough will eat up all the hogs in
these woods. Pretty hoggish on our part, and Dave says for gracious sake not to
write down how much we eat, but as this diary is to be a record of what
takes place, down it goes how much we eat. Tell him that inasmuch as we have a
preacher along with us, we ought to have a sermon occasionally. Says he will
preach if I will sing, and I agree to that if Eli will take up a collection.
One objection Eli and I have to his prayers is the fact that he wants the
rebels saved with the rest, yet don't tell him so. Mutually agree that his
prayers are that much too long. Asked him if he thought it stealing to get
those potatoes as I did, and he says no, and that he will go next time. We
begin to expect the Yankees along. It's about time. Don't know what I shall do
when I again see Union soldiers with guns in their hands, and behold the Stars
and Stripes. Probably go crazy, or daft, or something. This is a cloudy, chilly
day, and we putter around gathering up pine knots for the fire, wash our duds
and otherwise busy ourselves. Have saved the hog skin to make moccasins of, if
the Union army is whipped and we have to stay here eight or ten years. The hair
on our heads is getting long again, and we begin to look like wild men of the
woods. One pocket comb does for the entire party; two jack knives and a butcher
knife. I have four keys jingling away in my pocket to remind me of olden times.
Eli has a testament and Dave has a bible, and the writer hereof has not. Still,
I get scripture quoted at all hours, which will, perhaps, make up in a measure.
Am at liberty to use either one of their boons, and I do read more or less.
Considerable travel on the highways, and going both ways as near at we can
judge. Dave wants to go out to the road again but we discourage him in it, and
he gives it up for today at least. Are afraid he will get caught, and then our
main stay will be gone. Pitch pine knots make a great smoke which rises among
the trees and we are a little afraid of the consequences; still, rebels have
plenty to do now without looking us up. Many boats go up and down the river and
can hear them talk perhaps fifty rods away. Rebel paper that Dave got spoke of
Savannah being the point aimed at by Sherman, also of his repulses; still I
notice that he keeps coming right along. Also quoted part of a speech by
Jefferson Davis, and he is criticised unmercifully. Says nothing about any
exchange of prisoners, and our old comrades are no doubt languishing in some
prison. Later. — Considerable
firing up in vicinity of the bridge. Can hear volleys of musketry, and an
occasional boom of cannon. Hurrah! It is now four o'clock by the sun and the
battle is certainly taking place. Later.
— Go it Billy Sherman, we are listening and wishing you the best of success.
Come right along and we will be with you. Give 'em another — that was a good
one. We couldn't be more excited if we were right in the midst of it. Hurrah!
It is now warm for the Johnnies. If we had guns would go out and fight in their
rear; surround them, as it were. Troops going by to the front, and are cavalry,
should think, also artillery. Can hear teamsters swearing away as they always
do. Later. — It is now long after
dark and we have a good fire. Fighting has partially subsided up the river, but
of course we don't know whether Yankee troops have crossed the river or not.
Great deal of travel on the road, but can hardly tell which way they are going.
occasional firing. No sleep for us to-night. In the morning shall go out to the
road and see how things look. Every little while when the battle raged the
loudest, all of us three would hurrah as if mad, but we ain't mad a bit; are
tickled most to death.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
152-3
