Rienzi, Miss. We went out in the morning to drill on the
field but did not see much into the wild scampering way. I wrote to Sp[ring]
Gr[een]. Had no time to write home before mail went out. Was drilled on foot by
Corporal Sweet in the evening.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 3
Rienzi. Woke by the bugle at 3:30 A. M.; went out to
roll call and drill. The weather fine. Washed shirt and stockings for first
time. Wrote home. Drilled by Syl. Sweet in the evening on the gun. The enemy
skirmished our pickets, wounded three; our horses were harnessed ready. I felt
a little flushed.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 3
Rienzi. Acted
as No. 6 on drill to-day. Made a galloping time of it. Did my first sweeping.
Saw the first nigger dance; watered horses in the evening; fell in with clothes
on.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 3
Rienzi. Went out as No. 6. Was a little unwell.
Infantry preparing to move. Bad news from the Potomac.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 3
Rienzi. Went through the usual routine of drill and
camp life. Received my first mail since my arrival, consisting of two letters
and a [Milwaukee] Sentinel. Changed mess. The 2nd Missouri Infantry left. Wagons
moving, fires burning all night.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
Rienzi. Arose to the sound of the bugle at 3 A. M.
Prepared for a general inspection, but Captain, apprehending a move, did not
call us out. Drew good bunks from the old camp of 2nd Missouri. After roll call
at 9 P. M. I went to bed hoping to have a good night's rest, but I was doomed
to disappointment, for ere two hours had elapsed, we were awakened by Corporal
Dixon telling us to pack up all our clothing and be in readiness to march. We
of course obeyed and waited for further orders, when about midnight,
"Strike your tents" was given. This done, the mules began driving in,
loading was commenced, the horses harnessed, and by one o'clock all was ready
to march. That which could not be taken was piled up ready for the march, but
the order did not come, so we were obliged to pick our place and lay down for a
short and uneasy sleep.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
Rienzi. To-day was spent in anxious waiting. I stood
guard for the first time while we were momentarily expecting orders to leave;
slept in the open air.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
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. I answered the summons of the reveille, but I
did not feel very well; had an attack of the ague but got over it by dinner.
Nothing to break the monotony of camp life. Reinforced by one regiment of
infantry.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4-5
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
Rienzi. The 3rd Section, Lieutenant Hood, went out in
front and the first fell back to its old grounds. Foraging party brought in two
loads of corn, three neat cattle, one sheep, twelve geese, seven hens, two or
three bushels of sweet potatoes.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 5
Rienzi. Was begun with another of the "strategic
moves". We were told to hitch up with the greatest speed—all our baggage,
knapsacks, etc. were put in a wagon, nothing was left to encumber us from a rapid
and a desperate fight [in] which we were expected to share. The 3d Section, two
regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, started at 3 A. M. But all rumors of the
enemy's presence proved false, and after lying in the shade, horses hitched,
for an hour, we returned, unharnessed and lay quiet all day. The 3rd Section
returned at 4 P. M. without seeing any enemy.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 5
Rienzi. To-day we began business in the old way. We
had to sweep up for the first time in a week. I stood guard for the second
time.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 5
Spring Green, Wis. I enlisted under Lieutenant Fancher for the 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 1
Madison, Wis. I bade
good-bye to friends, relatives and companions most dear, and at 8 o'clock
embarked for Madison to begin my soldier's life. Arrived at camp at 12 M. and
slept my first night on the lap of mother earth with Uncle Sam's blanket for a
coverlid and a few rough boards raised about four feet in the center for a
roof. I laid down; my eyelids were heavy and demanded sleep but the mind
wandered and the stars shone bright and it was long ere sleep threw her curtain
over the scene.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 1
Madison. I got
partially rested by my short sleep, but I was awake long ere the rising of the
sun. I awoke to a different scene to which had hitherto been my lot. Instead of
the lowing of cattle and the bleating of sheep, was the rattle of the drum and
the "hooray" of the volunteers.
To-day we were examined
by the surgeon and went up-town for the purpose of drawing our bounty money,
but the press of business was too large, and we were put off till the next day.
In the evening I had to bid good-bye to my brother John, who had accompanied me
to camp. It was a difficult task—my constant companion in labor, my adviser and
counsel in everything. I had to part. It seemed as if I was like a ship on sea
without a compass, without other safeguard than my own firmness and weight.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 1-2
Madison. I had
to pass through the regular scramble-game for my rations, and drew the bounty
in the afternoon, went around town and bought my outfit, ready to leave.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 2
Enroute. To-day we
were informed that we were to be sent on in the evening. I wrote my first
letter home and in the evening we started for "Dixie" at 10 P. M. It
was dark and we could not see anything to attract our attention so our minds
had free scope to wander home to loved ones, and it was a saddening thought
that we were to leave all of these, to meet at best a very uncertain fate. We
passed on to Milton where our car was uncoupled and taken up by the Janesville
R. R., and off we rocked for another four or five hours' ride, half asleep, and
by this time somewhat fatigued. At Janesville we changed cars for Chicago, it
being about 1 A. M.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 2
Enroute. The day
dawned just in time to see the suburbs (Chicago). We being about five miles
from town received a magnificent view of the Western metropolis. The immense
clouds of smoke issuing from the massive stacks of manufacture, and the
countless rigging of the vessels lying at the dock were great sights to my
country eyes. We arrived at the end of the line at 6:30 A. M. We were
immediately formed in line, and forward march to the depot of the I[llinois] C[entral]
R. R. about a mile distant. We were no sooner there than the shrill whistle
told us we were again on a ride of three hundred and sixty-five miles to Cairo,
without intermission. We crossed an arm of Lake Michigan having a fine view of
the lake. Of our travel across the almost boundless prairies of Illinois I will
not try to describe, but suffice it to say, we arrived at Cairo at 4 A. M.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 2-3
