I went out piruting
again to-day. Wagons got in to-day. I was put on Camp Guard; roots for being
out. Soon after dark a detail was called for to go to Lewisburg; 'twas raining;
I was detailed. Doak in command. Got there about 11 o'clock, could find nobody,
went into Court House and slept in the Bar.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 8
Moved Camp out near
Beech Grove. I and Polk Kyle sent on forage, bought a stack of hay. Staid all
night with Mr. Carlisle.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 9
Rienzi. Another day dawned without any orders. Some of
the boys pitched their tents. I went out foraging in the afternoon.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
Rienzi. This was another day of idle waiting; most of
the boys slept in tents last night, and it was supposed we would have to stay
here. I went out foraging in the morning.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
Rienzi. Spent the morning as usual in suspense of
leaving, but finally the orders came to send all the baggage train to Clear
Creek, a distance of ten miles to the west, and that we were to be stationed as
an out-post. Detailed to go a-foraging, brought in two loads of corn from the
south. The 1st Section were ordered out to the front. Had the first rain storm
in the evening, and ere the morning I had a regular old shake of the ague.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 5
*A something
whispers to me that if this should ever be read by housekeeper, it may call up
unpleasant reminiscences of "ironing days." I hope not.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 37
Last night the company forager, Russell, nearly lost his life. Having stolen or appropriated a mule, he spent most of his time, while on the march, scouring the neighboring chicken-roosts, and, as usual, came in last evening loaded down, a hoop-skirt pannier on each side of his animal, being distended to its uttermost capacity with good things, from eggs to a side of bacon. The picket where he came on the line happened to be a Dutchman, who understood very little English, and nothing of his duty (not of our regiment), and the mule, caparisoned as he was with the white skirts, stealing upon him with little noise, frightened the poor fellow so that he fired at the forager, and then challenged him, but after a deal of talk, our man got by and rendered a good account of himself.
We started about seven this morning, and after marching about nine miles heard firing ahead, and were ordered to halt, and "right and left" was the word. Lying down, we rested while our artillery went through the line. We waited a long time. Then we moved forward, and, entering a large field on the left, were drawn up in line of battle. We were on an elevation, where we could see all that was going on, or thought we could, which served the purpose, as we all found out sooner or later. The men knew little or nothing, and anyone asking an officer, he always replied, "I'm sure I cannot tell you”—a most unsatisfactory way of explaining matters.
About four o'clock we stacked our arms, with orders not to leave the ranks; and supposing the enemy to be in our immediate vicinity, we kept quiet for an hour;then, as there did not appear to be any special movement, we were allowed to get something to eat; and soon found we were to stay here all night, but were not allowed to remove our accoutrements.
From our position we have a beautiful view of our camp-ground. We are situated on a knoll, with General Stevenson's head-quarters in our immediate vicinity, with the different regiments scattered in all directions; while down in the woods, directly in front of our line, we can just see the cavalry picket. We are wondering if all our fighting is to be done on Sundays. Our first fight was on Sunday, and it is now Saturday night; and we are so close to the enemy that we have orders to sleep with our rifles in our hands. Probably no baked beans or brown bread for us to-morrow.
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. 24-5
Came back to Camp. I
went on forage.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby
Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 4
This morning Company H is detailed for foragers. The Fifteenth corps is
thrown into confusion to-day. The Third and Fourth Division get all mixed up,
General Corse with the Second Brigade takes the wrong road and gets lost in the
Pineries, taking some time to extricate himself and get on the right road.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 281
The details are now
very heavy patroling, foraging, scouting, &c.—but we live sumptuously upon
what little fat of the land yet remains.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 230
We are still in camp
at Florence; no steamers have yet come up; don't look for any now; the river is
low. Our rations have run out, and we are compelled to forage from the
citizens, who are almost destitute themselves. Our pickets at the river keep up
a continual firing with the rebel pickets on the opposite shore.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 227
Rested to-day.
William Eagle and myself went up the Blue Ridge to gather berries, and were
lost in the woods for one hour.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 43
Still in camp. Hugh
Sample and myself were out on a forage and milked a cow in his hat, the only
thing we had.
SOURCE: Louis
Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 43
This morning a foraging expedition is sent out under the command of Captain Yager, of Company G. Nothing discovered, nothing obtained a fruitless expedition.
Again rumors are verified. Pursuant to order, the regiment moves from Pulaski this morning with three days' rations. It is said we are bound for Corinth, Mississippi, to look after the camp and garrison equipage belonging to the Second Division. After travelling thirty miles, we go into camp at Lexington, Alabama. As usual the regiment forages, and chickens still continue to fall victims to the Seventh. We have a good supper to-night; such as soldiers enjoy.
The regiment is to-day divided into detachments and ordered to move on different roads on both flanks of the army. About noon the detachment which we accompany arrives at Baily Springs, one of chivalry's fashionable resorts. But we find none of her devotees pacing the building's dim corridors. War's stern voice has called them away. The springs are beautiful, sparkling with nature's purest liquid-dashing in playful sprays from granite rock. The weary soldiers love so well to linger here-love to kneel at the healing fountain. After feeding we move on our way. Before entering the main road three men from the detachment stop to do some foraging, but the chickens are difficult to capture, making strenuous efforts when pursued by a yankee. The lady of the house comes to the door and smiling sweetly says: “Soldiers, there's my little dog, he can catch them for you." "Thank you, madam, we don't want your chickens,” replied Sergeant Hackney, of Company H, and the soldiers make their exit. How well did that woman know where man was weak. The column is now moving on the old “military road.” The main body of the Seventh is now on the left flank. Striking out through the woods and brush we come up with the regiment about 4 P. M. We go into camp at 8 P. M.
This morning Colonel Hatch, with his cavalry brigade, arrives in Lexington. At eight o'clock A. M., the bugles are blown, and the commands move from Lexington, Colonel Hatch moving on the road towards Huntington, Colonel Rowett on the road by the way of Spring Creek, Companies H and A, under the command of Captain Ring, are detailed to guard the train, which is to follow Colonel Hatch's command. Companies and squads of soldiers are now scouring the country for horses and mules. The citizens plead their cases well, but war and the warriors are stern; they will not relent. Rowett and Hatch are now sweeping the country; innocence pleads for the avenging hand to be stayed; its tears fall at the warriors' feet, but the stern and legitimate work goes on. We know that
"The South has fallen from her former glory,
Bowed in slavery, crime and shame;
And that God from his storehouse is sending
This tempest of steel and flame."
The command goes into camp to-night near Huntington, on a large plantation, i. e. that part that is with Colonel Hatch. Mules and soldiers live high to-night.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 182-3
After traveling briskly all morning we arrive at Trenton on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. We notice that here too war's scourge has been felt. We press on through and take the road leading to Jackson; about three miles from Jackson we pass Hatch's command. We halt at Gibson, feed, and eat our dinner; we will remain here all day. Hatch is now moving on towards Humboldt. To-day the regiment forages extensively; horses and mules are eagerly sought after by the Seventh, and the consequence is that the regiment is becoming well mounted. Companies and squads are being sent out all day. It is impossible for us to narrate the experience of all these scouting parties, as we could only accompany one. We follow a detail of ten men this evening, traveling about six miles, and succeed in capturing two fine mules; one from a negro who was, by the direction of his master, making his way to the brush. Cuffee, “smiling approvingly," says “De massa Yankee who ride dat mule will be well fixed.” It is now near sun-down and we are six miles from camp; but some forage, chickens, &c., we must have. Stopping at a plantation, we make a draw and get a sack full of pullets, a few hams, &c. It is now dark and we must hasten; but going a short distance a sable friend informs us where we can get another mule. Two men are sent to obtain the mule, and the remainder push on towards camp. We are now on a strange road; the night is dark, but on we go, and after traveling about four miles through the dense woods, we strike the Jackson road at Gibson. “Halt! who comes ere?” breaks upon our ears. “Who challenges?” we reply. "Be it known that we are the invincibles, representatives from the Kansas Jayhawkers. Give us your character?” “We are raiders from Rowett's command.” “Roddy's command!” Click, click in quick succession the triggers go. “D--n you, not Roddy's, but Rowett's command," cried one of our men. “All right, brother crampers, pass on.” We soon arrive in camp. The boys now make preparations to skin some chickens; all anticipate a good supper, but when we come to look for the pullets they are not to be found. The truth soon flashes upon us that R. J. ——became frightened in the dense woods and threw them away. Dear reader, imagine our disappointment. It is useless to say that R. J. —— didn't rest much that night.
Nothing to eat yet.
Wortheim, W. Eagle and myself went out foraging, to buy something to eat. We
got to one house and there was no one at home, but in the yard there were two
chickens, which we captured, for we were afraid they would bite us.
We went to the next
house and ate our breakfast. One of the ladies asked us where we got those
chickens. I told her that we bought them at the house before we got there. She
told us she lived there and that there was nobody at home. I then told her the
truth, paid her for them and left. The next house we got to we bought a ham, a
peck of meal, a peck of sweet potatoes and some turnips. We took dinner in this
house. We then returned to camp. We had a good reception from our mess, as they
had still nothing to eat.
Reinforcements still continue to come, and we still remain quiet. Why we do not move we cannot tell. Perhaps the General is waiting for all expected reinforcements to arrive. Captain Smith with Company E is sent on a foraging expedition to Dickenson's plantation, coming back in the evening well supplied. This evening the Seventh seem in a gleeful mood. Around every camp fire they are now singing “Bonnie blue flag,” — “Rally round the flag, boys,” making the mountain gorges re-echo with patriotic songs. No discord here; no discontent manifest-all seem united in the great work of saving the Union.
