Diary of 1st Lieutenant Joseph Stockton, October 15, 1862

Yesterday we had a very large fire here. About 9 o'clock a fire broke out on the commissary boat "Admiral." I was "officer of the day" and was just about to be relieved by Captain Prior. I hastened to the boat but found her so enveloped in smoke that it would be useless to attempt to save her. The fire soon communicated to the store ship "Philadelphia" which had on board a large lot of loaded shell and cartridges. They soon commenced to explode. General Dodge, Post Commander, soon came along and ordered all hands to commence moving boxes of shells and cartridges that were on shore. Soon the shells on the boat commenced to burst and fly all about; several of the men were knocked down. The danger was very great but most of the men stood it well. Both boats were a total loss. The other day when I was "officer of the day" I had charge of the prison in which were a number of rebel prisoners. No one had a right to enter without a permit from the Provost Marshal, the commanding officer of the post or myself. A sickly looking woman with a baby in her arms, a little girl about five years old beside her, came to me and said she had walked thirty miles to see her husband who had been confined two months on charge of being a guerilla. Her wan and dejected appearance confirmed her story and I escorted her to the sick ward where her husband was lying. The moment she saw him she rushed to his cot, threw her arms around him, the little thing climbed up on his bed, and such tears and exclamations of affection I have never heard before. At the same time another prisoner who was confined for the same offence and who was lying directly opposite, died. His friends crowded around his cot and they gave way to their tears and sobs. I could not but turn away and feel the hot tears trickling down my own cheek; there was not a dry eye in that room. I was the only Union soldier present and the wife turned on her knees toward me and begged that I would let her husband go home with her, that he was dying then, as he certainly was. He, too, begged me for his life, but I, of course, was powerless to act in the matter. The friends of the dead man crowded around and begged that they might be permitted to send his body home, which was granted. I was only too glad to get away from such a scene. I have more than my share of such duty as there are only four captains able for duty, all the rest being sick. Making the grand rounds at night, with an orderly for a companion, is not so pleasant when you have to ride through a dense wood for ten or twelve miles. It would be an easy thing for the Rebs to pick me off and I wonder they don't do it. I had a present from home of a box containing cake, preserves, etc., from several of my young lady friends. It was most acceptable.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 3

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday, October 25, 1863*

Gen. Sherman's command for the last week has been thronging Corinth, and moving on towards Iuka. Marching orders is now the cry in camp. Four o'clock P. M. we are in the saddle with three days' rations. General Dodge's entire command is now in motion. Our regiment moves on the road leading through Jacinto, Mississippi, to Iuka. Nine o'clock in the evening we go into camp at Jacinto.

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* Possibly Sunday, October 25th. This is an undated paragraph at the beginning of a new chapter, previous to this was the entry for Saturday, October 24th, and the next entry is for Monday, October 26th. So this is either a continuation of the entry for the 24th, a new entry for the 26th, or a remembrance placed at the head of the chapter to keep the reader up to day of the movements of the 7th Illinois Infantry. — Your Blog Editor

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 200

Silas A. Hudson to Brigadier-General Grenville M. Dodge, July 11, 1863

Memphis Tennessee, July 11th, 186[3]*,

General Dodge:

I have just arrived here from Headquarters and am on my way home with Master Fred, the General's son, who will remain some time north for the benefit of his health.

Before leaving, I had a confidential interview with the General and it gives me pleasure to be able to inform you authoritively that your name will head the list to be sent forward by him for promotion to Major Generalship.  I am also authorized to say to you that his recent success gives him more real pleasure and gratification because it enable him to advance the interest of meritorious officers in his command who have nobly stood by him, and have so largely contributed to his present fame and position, than from any other consideration.  And although he has known you but little except in an official capacity, you have his full confidence, and he approves your management of the duty [assigned] you fully and completely.

We have taken 31,277 prisoners, one Lieut. Gen. and 14 Majors and Brig. Gen. and about 60 Cols. Etc.

So far as we are able to obtain record by actual count, we have 66,000 stands of arms, 173 Field and large guns, 660  bbls flour[,] corn in quantities, five million dollars in clothing—their invoice, 250,00 lbs. of sugar, large amou[n]ts of bacon, &c. &c. and ammunition sufficient for years, and of the best quality as are their arms, 30,000 of which have never been used, and which we will exchange our[s] for, and so make the caliber used by us uniform.

SOURCES: Grenville M. Dodge, Biography of Major General Grenville M. Dodge from 1831 to 1871: written and compiled by himself at different times and completed in 1914, p. 111 accessed on archive.org January 17, 2022. *General Dodge in this, his typewritten manuscript, misdates this letter as July 11, 1862.  John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 145 places this letter in 1863.

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Wednesday, April 29, 1863

This morning the order is to take the backward track to Corinth. As our supplies are running short the command is now on half rations. The Seventh Illinois and Second Iowa cross Town Creek and join the Division and soon we are moving. The weather is now very warm, and the roads being rocky and rough, the marching is severe, and we are compelled to denominate our regiment “the foot sore Seventh." A great many of the men's shoes are about worn out; some are barefooted, and in consequence many are limping; and as the continental army could have been tracked by the blood at Valley Forge, so can this army be tracked by the blood that makes crimson the rocks on the road leading down the Tuscumbia Valley; but on they move and no murmur is heard. How sad it is to know that modern democracy would to-day smile to see these untiring and devoted men fall and perish by the way; and how they would love to dishonor their names and rejoice to see those silken folds trailed ruthlessly in the dust. We discover to-day that General Dodge's object in remaining so long in the valley was to engage the attention of the enemy until Colonel Straight could get started on his great raid into Georgia. He is now far on his way, and we hope he may succeed in carrying the Union's battle flag far into the south-land. War is now making a most terrible sweep down the valley to the right and left; the direful element of fire is doing its devouring work, innocent ones are suffering, suffering because their brothers leaped from the cradle of freedom and struck the mother that gave them birth. Mad, mad men! would to God that they could have been stayed in their wrath, and this desolating scourge averted that is laying low many a once happy southern home. This evening we pass through Tuscumbia and go into camp three miles beyond. The regiment is very tired to night and they soon sink down to rest.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 155-6

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: April 7, 1863

In compliance with orders from headquarters the 3d brigade commanded by Colonel Bane, is marched and put into position in front of Division Headquarters, where a large flag-staff has been erected and preparation made for speaking, &c. One o'clock P. M. all the infantry regiments, battalions of cavalry and artillery are on the ground, and after they are arranged and in position, General Dodge gives the command, attention! and reads in a loud and clear voice the order of the day: 1st music, 2d raising of the flag, 3d salute, 4th music. After the salute and the martial notes had died away, General Dodge said, “Fellow officers and soldiers of the 2d division, we have assembled here to celebrate an eventful day-the day on which Shiloh's great battle closed. Brave men, you remember it well, and I am glad in my heart that you were there and performed so well your part. But I cannot talk to you, my heart is too full, and for your further entertainment I will introduce (though he needs no introduction,) the gallant Colonel M. M. Bane, the popular commander of the 3d brigade, whose empty sleeve will tell you quickly that he has a right to speak.” Colonel Bane takes the stand and delivers a good speech, full of enthusiasm and soul, which is often interrupted by loud bursts of applause. After Colonel Bane closes, the division is formed and marched in review, and then the regiments are conducted to their respective camps, long to remember their first anniversary of the battle of Shiloh.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 144-5

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: April 14, 1863

Remaining in camp at Corinth without anything of note occurring until the evening of the 14th, we receive marching orders. The guerrilla Roddy, having been hovering around Glendale and Iuka, committing unwarranted depredations for some time, the rumors this evening, confirmed by general indications are, that General Dodge is about to start on an expedition against him, and the camps seem in a bustle all around Corinth this evening.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 146

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Wednesday, April 15, 1863

Reveille is beat early this morning and soon the Seventh is on its feet. At sunrise we report to brigade headquarters. It falls to the third brigade to take the rear, and in consequence we are slow in leaving Corinth. A heavy force under the command of General Dodge is now on the tramp, headed towards the Tuscumbia valley. We travel slowly all day, save at times when we are compelled to make brisk steps owing to the tardiness of the teams. We go into camp to-night at Burnsville, fifteen miles from Corinth. The boys are in fine spirits, eager to push forward. It is intimated that the expedition will be directed towards Decatur, Alabama. It seems evident that some bold movement is contemplated.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 146-7

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday, December 22, 1862

This morning General Dodge discovers that the enemy has evaded him by withdrawing hastily from Jackson and his advance. The command being nearly all foot-sore from hard marching, the General finding it impossible to pursue the enemy any farther, takes the head of the column, and leads towards Henderson, Tennessee, a station on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad, twenty-five miles distant. We make a hard day's march, and go into camp for the night, five miles from Henderson. Notwithstanding the soldiers are weary and foot-sore, they will forage—will trespass upon plantations—will enter smoke-houses—make raids upon hen-roosts, and demonstrations in barn-yards, much to the discomfiture of the presumingly innocent natives, whose maledictions are no doubt falling fast upon the heads of the “invaders.” From the superabundance of chickens and geese heads strewn around in the Seventh's camp, we are forced to conclude that they have a just cause for giving vent to their aggravated feelings.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 124

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: December 18, 1862—10 p.m.

To-day, 10 o'clock P. M., move from Corinth in the direction of Purdy, Tennessee. The whole available force from the garrison under the command of General G. M. Dodge, is on the move.

We march briskly. It seems to be a forced march. The night is dark; no moon shoots forth its arrows of light. The Seventh soon becomes sleepy and tired, and many of the men fall by the way perfectly exhausted. Three o'clock in the morning we come to a halt. Those who are not too much exhausted build camp fires and prepare their breakfast, but the majority of the men being

so weary, drop down upon the ground and are soon slumbering. At the early dawn of day all are aroused and the Seventh's weary men are compelled to move forward without any breakfast. We arrive at Purdy, Tennessee, by noon, where we halt, eat our dinners, and steal a few hours for sleep. This is a beautiful inland town, situated in West Tennessee, thirty miles northwest from Corinth, and four miles from the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. The drums now beat, and again the regiment is formed in line. Rumors are now rife that there is a fight on hand somewhere in West Tennessee. We move forward twelve miles, but finding no enemy, we go into camp for the night. The soldier is weary this evening, foot-sore and hungry.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 122-3