Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 1, 1862

Camp Cairo Ills. Wednesday morning clear and pleasant. Routine of the morning as usual. No drilling to day. The Col. for the diversion of his Officers obtained the use of one of the Steam Tugs which are daily running to & fro in the harbor—for a pleasure excursion    A portion of the command for the morning voyage—another portion for the evening. Capt. Parke & Lieut. Williams were among the passengers in the forenoon Lieut Allen remained in camp intending to go in the afternoon but did not We had a very pleasant trip of it first visiting Birds Point paying our compliments to Gen Paine—the new commander The performances of the day ended with Dress Parade.

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

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 2, 1862

Thursday morning     Cloudy air heavy and damp. Drill by Cos. in the forenoon Set in raining in the afternoon—preventing Battalion Drill. Raining ceased towards evening Dress Parade—finis—

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

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 3, 1862

Friday morning cloudy & misting rain. Weather prohibiting the usual duties. Our pleasant weather which has continued ever since the first of September has now taken its final leave we all think    Dress Parade again this evening—Notwithstanding the mud

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 4, 1862

Saturday morning     Cold & gloomy as usual misting rain Co. on police Duty to day the inclemency of the weather prohibits Drilling     Dress Parade as usual.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 5, 1862

Sunday morning Still cloudy & cool Inspection of Barracks at 9 O'clock, Call for church at 11 am where the men are permitted to go to which church they please Lieut. Allen Officer of the Guard. No Dress Parade this evening but Roll Call or Co. Report

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 6, 1862

Camp Cairo, Illinois. Monday morning cool. Lt. Williams with 7 men were ordered in to the Fort to Drill on the artillery. Battalion Drill at 3 O'clock P. M. Very short Dress Parade. The Col. & lady gave a party to a few selected friends this evening

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 7, 1862

Tuesday morning cloudy & misting rain, too mudy to drill nothing doing to day.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 8, 1862

Wednesday morning cloudy and damp Raining the most of the day. Rec'd marching orders this evening Have orders to march on board the Boat at 12 O'clock to-morrow No Dress Parade this evening on a/c of the inclemency of the Weather, The Col. gave a dinner to the Officers to day

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 9, 1862

Thursday morning cloudy     Preparations making early this morning for our march Marched to the landing at 2 O'clock. The Brigade is all ready for embarkation but there is such a fog on the river that the expedition is postponed until the fog clears away The troops are marched back to their quarters with the expectation of leaving to-morrow morning any how. Too muddy for Dress Parade this evening.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 10, 1862

Friday morning still cloudy But the fog has cleared off somewhat, and we have marching Orders for Ten O'clock,—At 10 O'clock we marched aboard the Memphis to gether with the 18th Regt. at about One O'clock we pushed out into the stream. The boat headed towards Secessia. After 3 hours ride we landed at Camp Jefferson Six miles below this place & there went into camp By night Seven Regts of Infantry—about 10 Cos. of Cavalry and Two Batteries of artillery had landed and encamped The embarkation and debarkation was accomplished without much¹ difficulty

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¹ Report of General J. A. McClernand, Jan. 24, 1862. War Records, Series I., vol. VII., p. 68.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 11, 1862

Camp Cairo, Ills. Saturday morning cloudy. From present appearances one would think our stay here would be for several days—as there is no stir in camp, probably waiting for the other forces to come up before we take up our line of march Our present camp is near the ruins of Fort Jefferson. A Fort erected in Jeffersons time—during the Indian war upon the frontier & was at one time a stronghold of Daniel Boone     Dress Parade this evening. 

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 12, 1862

Sunday morning pleasant but cloudy, George W. Clarks 24th Birth Day he is Corporal of the Guard to day. Lt. Allen has gone up to Cairo to day for Provisions. About 2 O'clock our Regt. moved from our original position to the foot of the hill for better protection from the cold north wind Allen returned late this evening Provisions for the Regt. for Five days.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 13, 1862

Monday morning. It snowed a little during last night, tis very cold this morning Lt Williams Officer of the Guard, nothing has occurred since our arrival to disturb the quiet of our camp.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 234

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 14, 1862

Weather still very cold, marching orders have been issued and at 10 O'clock we leave this place for a different locality. The 10th & 18th Regts. and one Battery of artillery in front—our Regt. next the 29th 30th 31st & 48th the train of wagons &c. Bal of artillery & cavalry bringing up the rear     Near sundown we encamped near a place called Blamville having marched a distance of 9 miles for the first day.

Firing has been heard all this afternoon in the direction of Columbus One or Two of our Gun Boats have dropped down and are answering them by throwing a few shot and shell into their intrenchments

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 234

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 15, 1862

Camp Cairo, January 15th still cloudy but warmer. We march at 8 O'clock our route is in the direction of Columbus, at 3 O'clock we come to a halt and prepare for encamping for the night, on the farm of an old secessionist, to night we hear that forces from Birds Point & Fort Holt have encamped on our old Ground Camp Jefferson.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 234

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Friday Morning, November 1, 1861

Comp. Drill from 9, to 11, weather does not seem to moderate much     A Slight drizzling rain commenced falling about Two O'clock prevented Drilling in the afternoon undress Parade. Capt R. S. More ordered under arrest by Col. Buford,¹ published on Dress Parade

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¹ Napoleon B. Buford was a graduate of West Point, law student, assistant professor at West Point, 1833 to 1835, civil engineer, Illinois merchant, banker and railroad builder. At the outbreak of the Civil War, his banking business was ruined due to large investments in Southern State bonds. He gave up all his property to satisfy his obligations and was commissioned Colonel of the 27th Illinois Volunteers by Governor Yates. For his gallant conduct at the battles of Belmont, Island No. 10, and Union City he was commissioned Brigadier-General by the President. When he left the service, he held the commission of Major-General. Eddy, Patriotism of Illinois, [Vol.] II., pp. 56-57.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Saturday, November 2, 1861

Camp Cairo, Illinois. . . . colder than ever morning Drill as usual. Our Co. is on Police Duty to day L. F. Williams Captain of the Guard to day by order of H. A. Rust

Capt. Parke Capt. Merrill & Liut Stout are to day placed under arrest—by order of that Benevolent Old Creature, Col. Buford. The nature of the charges to be preferred against them is still a mystery to all. but some of the more knowing ones are slyly hinting around that a petition has been gotten up here in camp, setting forth the objections to Col. Buford as a Col. & respectfully soliciting him to resign his Office, & that said petition has been signed by said Officers for which offense his majesty has seen fit to place them under arrest: how true this is remains to be seen.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Sunday Morning, November 3, 1861

Inspection of arms and quarters at 9 O'clock. Religious services at the regular hour, by the Chaplain Rev. McMasters It has claered [sic] off and the day is quite pleasant. During this afternoon Those Officers who were placed under arrest have affected a compromise the full particulars of which I am not now able to state but the substance of which is that the Petition shall be destroyed by them and he withdraws all charges. Lieut. Allen returned from home to day The 18th Regt. and the 29th Col. Reardon have both been ordered away this afternoon Destination not known yet Dress Parade this evening as usual.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, pp. 230

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, November 4, 1861

. . . comfort ably cool Routine of Duties as usual. Capt. Parke Officer of the day at camp Cairo Every thing quiet in camp Weather very pleasant Battalion Drill this afternoon General Paine from Paducah and Ajt. Gen. M. Breyman of this place present. We drew 36 Overcoats to day for our Co. and the full complment of Haversacks.

8 men detailed from our Regt. as Extra Duty men to work on Fortifications. Joel Knip detailed from our Comp. for Ten Days commencing tomorrow Dress Parade at the usual hour.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 231

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Tuesday Morning, November 5, 1861

. . . quite pleasant. Usual Duties performed. Lt. Allen Officer of the Guard Joseph Lisenbee who now is at liberty is ordered by the Col. to clean up and keep in order everything about the Co. Quarters Lieut Allen Officer of the Guard to day Battalion Drill as usual this afternoon. Ordered for dispensing with all Drill before 10 O'clock A. M. as recommended by the Medical Board was read this afternoon on Dress Parade.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 231