Diary of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Stockton, December 31, 1863

Regiment still at Vicksburg. During the past two months there has been nothing of particular interest occurring. I have been on daily duty on the court martial and have tried deserters, cotton stealers, officers of all grades for almost for every conceivable offense and have had to vote at times where duty overbalanced mercy. The weather has been lovely. We have had one daily dress parade and guard mounting, which I have tried to make as interesting as possible by having the brigade band play for us (in addition to the regiment's drum corps), the men always looking neat and clean and their interest kept up by the crowds that would attend the show. This kind of duty does not suit me and I have made several applications for duty at the front, but I was not permitted to leave the regiment.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 22

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, August 4, 1862

I will here relate a little incident that occurred while we were picketing at Marietta. Captain McKnight was informed (August 4th) that a man who had belonged to the Confederate army, but had deserted and visited the Federals, was at home fixing to move his family inside the Federal lines. This man lived about ten miles north. Determined to make an effort to capture him, Captain McKnight, I and a few others left our schoolhouse a little after dark, and awhile before day we surrounded his house. We called at the door, as though we were some of his neighbors. His wife answered. We told her that we wanted to see her husband, calling him by name, as though we were well acquainted with him. She said he was not at home, but had gone to his father's. On being asked to open the door, she said she would as soon as she could get a light. We believed he was at home, because she was so much excited and so long getting a light. After so long a time she opened the door, and Captain McKnight searched the house while I guarded the door. We noticed three ladies lying on one bed, but did not find our man. searched other houses, and finally went to his father's, but still failed to find him. Our trip, however, was not altogether in vain, for one Mr. Malone gave us a splendid breakfast, his daughters made some sweet music for us, besides we had as many melons and peaches as we could eat. Who but a soldier, though, could appreciate such a treat as that! While at Mr. Malone's we learned, to our surprise and chagrin, that the object of our search was, at the time we were searching his house, between the straw and feather beds under those three ladies. After taking a real hearty laugh over the affair, we mounted and returned to our picket base.

While McKnight's Company was picketing at Marietta our camps were moved from Fulton to within two miles of Guntown. The latter place is on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, some thirteen miles south-west from Marietta. The Federals were kind enough not to visit Marietta while we were there, though they came within about five miles, taking cotton, negroes, horses, etc.

I will here relate another little incident, which, I am sure, some of McKnight's Company will remember. A good lady who lived near Marietta had any amount of fine peaches, but neither she nor we had any flour. So we told her to use corn meal in making the crust, as we were bent on having a "peach cobbler." Novel as the idea was, she made the "cobbler." And right heartily did we eat of it. Well, it was a great deal better than no pie. We remained at Marietta until [August 14, 1862.]

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 204-5

Diary of Private Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Tuesday, June 2, 1863

Came in to Camp, find that my name has been sent on with others to be published as a deserter.

SOURCE: Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 18

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, April 18, 1865

Rec orders to be ready for the road at 12. m. with 4 days rations officers & men. at noon rec orders to be ready at 6. a. m. tomorrow. It is reported that a fort on the Tombigbee has surrendered to Smith on same conditions Grant gave Lee. Flag of truce in from Genl Dick Taylor, Business not known. Lt Loughridge & I take a walk after supper. call on Lt Hook we talk with a deserter just arrived who says the Rebel reports are that Lee left Richmond in 3 columns commanded by Genls Lee, Bushrod Johnston & Ewell. Lees column was captured. The others escaped & joining Jo Jonston make a combined attack on Sherman capturing 18,000 prisoners. That all the forces in this Dept. are concentrated at Meridian under Taylor. That Thomas captured Montgomery. That Kirby Smith has 80.000 men in Texas & intends to take them to Missouri.

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. 592-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Wednesday, April 19, 1865

Revelie at 4. a. m. Div on the road at 6. Lt Cooper tells us our destination is the mouth of the Tombigbee distant about 30 miles. We leave the R. R. at Whistler. Find the marching hard although the Regt was in the advance. We travel about 11. miles & camp near a large & deep creek. Lt Loughridge & I go down to fish but after 3 hours faithful fishing returned to camp with nothing, just after dark hear one report of a cannon. See today the best looking rebel I ever, saw. he was a deserter & was marched by our Regt while we rested. a large close built & splendid looking man. Reported that 8 miles from this camp is a Reb force of 8000. & 12 miles is a U. S. Arsenal at Mt Vernon. The clk of Div Com. says that yesterday a fleet of Gun boats & Transports went up to the mouth of the Tombigby carrying 400.000 rations It is the talk that we will establish a base there & move next to Lt. Stephens, has been a very warm day.

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. 593

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Thursday, April 20, 1865

Revelie at 3. Genl. at 4. column moves at 5. 33d in the rear. co. G. in the wagon train. very warm roads tolerably good. At 2½ P. M. leave the road & turn to the left to strike Cedar creek at a point above narrow enough to bridge easily as the bridge on the main road was burned & the stream too wide to be bridged easily. reach the creek at 3. & are ordered to make coffee while the Pioneer Corps build a bridge. a small scout of cavalry ride to the river about 3 miles from the road & bring in 5 deserters & report that our gunboat captured a transport & barge loaded with cotton The deserters say all the Rebes have gone to Meridian The bridge is completed just at dark & the column begins to move over, is 8:30 when the 33d crossed & 10. before we are ready to lie down. The prospect for rain made it necessary to cross the creek as a hard rain would render it impassible. It is reported that Thomas has whipped Dick Taylor

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. 593

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, August 29, 1863

The whole corps was ordered out to witness the shooting of five deserters belonging to the One Hundred and Eighteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers. Each man followed his coffin, supported by two soldiers, with the chaplain following. They marched through the corps, which was drawn up beside a hill, passed down to an intervale, where the graves were dug. Each man sat on the foot of his coffin, with his eyes bandaged. A provost-guard of thirty-two men fired a volley—the men fell back in their coffins, dead. It was a sad sight.

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, pp. 279-80

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, September 18, 1863

In position near Culpepper. Twelve men were shot in the Eleventh, and one in the Fifth Corps, for desertion.

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

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, March 12, 1863

Bright and pleasant. About one hundred and twenty-five Nigs were set to work this morning to open the old levee and let the water in. We were ordered out of our house this morning. Had dress parade at 4 o'clock. The sentences of F, Co. A and W, Co. C, were read. The charges were attempted desertion. The sentence was the forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and to be confined in the military prison at Alton, Ill., with a ball attached to the leg by a chain four feet long, to serve out the remainder of the time of their enlistment, and at the end of the three years to have "D" branded on their right hips, their heads shaved, and to be drummed out of service. Some letters were read from the parents of the boys, counselling them to desert.

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. 44

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, Thursday, March 19, 1863

Cloudy, looks like rain. Cleaning up and ditching our camp was the order of the day. I was on the detail to dig a ditch on each side of the camp. The banks of the ditch are slowly washing back. It is now about one hundred and fifty feet at the first levee, and two hundred at the second. Water is slowly rising in both the ditch and the lake. The President has given deserters until April to report at a certain depot. Co. K expects about four back.

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. 46

Diary of Private Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Sunday, May 31, 1863

Met up with Parker as Lieut. Brown. I got a horse for Mason Rector. Came on to Granville, found Company D there, and that we were published as deserters. Came out near Cookville to-night.

SOURCE: Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 18

Diary of Musician David Lane, October 1, 1863

We have pitched our tents in rear of our guns and still occupy the same position. Our trap was set for a band of guerillas who have been operating a few miles south of us. Our cavalry—sent out to drive them in—encountered them yesterday, killed several, took a few prisoners, and are in pursuit of the remainder. We busy ourselves by arresting everything and everybody that comes our way. Citizens are all taken before Acting Brigadier General Leisure, who asks them all sorts of questions, gathering, in this way, much valuable information—administers the Oath of Allegiance, grants protection papers, etc. Deserters are constantly coming in, mostly from Bragg's army. I saw two North Carolinians last evening.

They say Beauregard and Longstreet are at Chattanooga—also that the Rebels burned Charleston and evacuated. We are kept very close, no man-not even officers' cooks-being allowed to cross over to the city. From the best information I can get, I conclude Bragg has sent a force to operate on Rosa's rear, threatening this place in their course. Nine bushwhackers were brought in last night and were taken to headquarters.

These wretches are being hunted from their hiding places in the mountains with untiring zeal by the Home Guards.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 99-100

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, June 20, 1863

Drawn up in line of battle at 4 o'clock this morning. Heavy cannonading along our whole line of works. I presume if there had been any chance for a charge we could have had it. Firing continued about an hour. A rebel deserter was brought into our lines yesterday and gave some information which may have caused the firing.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 18

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Tuesday, March 7, 1865

Day rather cool to be agreeable drilled the co. P. M. 1 hour, rained at 3 P. M. News is that a Rebel Ram French built has appeared in the Gulf, monitor moves up to Flag ship. Reb flag of truce report that news in Mobile is Beauregard has defeated Sherman, & that Lee was evacuating Richmond. The Rebel force at Mobile is augmenting. Deserters report one division of Hoods army 10000 strong to have arrived there.

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. 577

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 26, 1862

I am the officer of the Guard & have to be on duty all night. I have charge of the Military prison & prisoners in this Fort Pickering there is one rebble who claims to be a deserter from their army and wishes to take the oath & be sent north. I have charge of one 2nd Lieut of Co A 130 Ill Inft charged of being absent without leave

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 101

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Saturday, February 25, 1865

Slept well, rained all night. At 10. a. m. start through pass. aground at 11. Brown with 4 co of our Regt passes us here. Men runing short of rations & begin to complain at 2 P. M. Small steamer Mustang comes to our relief. transfer men and baggage. Ship floats fast an hour again right in the pass abreast of Ft Powell, when she gets off Mustang runs alongside and transfers back. 3 reb deserters from Mobile come to us on Mustang. about 5.30 Ship touches at Ft. Gaines. thence to 4 mile above Ft. Morgan, at 7. P. M. disembark, march through sand ¾ of mile to camp. on the beach of Gulf. sleep within 200 yds of Gulf. breakers Ligh & night clear. a Grand sight. 30 000 men here now.

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. 575

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, February 3, 1863

Last night was a holiday time. We had dancing on the vessel, and "the band played." This morning was ushered in with a slight change. The ground was covered with snow, and everything had a decidedly Northern outlook, some of the companies came ashore to-day, and are quartered in a granary owned by one J. C. Johnston. We were somewhat crowded on the vessel, but would gladly sacrifice the room for the heat, as it is very cold here. Our company is in the second story, and most all are in their blankets trying to keep warm, as there is no chance to have fires in the building. Athough the town is provost guarded, most anyone can roam round by dodging the officers and sentries. About all our rations, so far, have been obtained away from company quarters, many preferring a change. We find quite a number of natives here; one, for instance, John Fenno, a unionist, was drafted into the rebel service, deserted, ran to our lines, and joined the native cavalry regiment (Buffaloes), and consequently is in a bad predicament. He will have to fight to the death; for if he is taken the rebels will hang him. He is now with his family; but when the town is deserted by the troops, he is liable, with the rest, to another raid such as they had a few weeks ago.

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. 36

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, February 4, 1863

We are having an easy time so far, excepting for the cold weather. We have no guard or drill as yet; a part of the 27th M. V. do provost duty. There are rumors of a regimental guard, around our quarters; so all who could cleared out early and stayed all day. A party of us visited the courthouse, prison, and graveyard. All but the last, with a church close by, show marks of being used as targets. After picking ivy from the graveyard wall, to send home, we started out of town on a private scout. About a mile's walk brought us to a picket; who thought our visit farther had better be indefinitely postponed; so, after a pleasant chat with them, whom we found to be natives, deserters from the rebel army, and, of course, unionists, we took the "right about" and tramped towards camp arriving just in time for inspection and dress parade at half-past four P.M.

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. 36

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, November 23, 1861

Morris deserted to day has not been heard from since very early this morning.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 232 

Diary of Corporal John Worrell Northrop: Friday, June 17, 1864

The night of the 11th a well caved in; two men asleep slid in; one was killed. Soon after coming in, we learned that one of the dealers, or "raiders" bore the name of Cary. He was at Belle Isle and is charged with being the cause of several deaths. Today he was pointed out to us and we recognized Sullivan of our company (76th N. Y.) who deserted October 10, 1863, near the Rapidan River south of Mitchell, Va. He was a substitute from Buffalo, a "gambling, fighting, bad tempered fellow, feared in the company. He thinks we suspect him, and tonight sends word by Mooney, who knew him in Canada, that if we do not expose him, Company F shall never be disturbed by raiders.

SOURCE: John Worrell Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 76