Spring Green, Wis. I enlisted under Lieutenant Fancher for the 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 1
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
Cairo, Ill. We were
astir early to catch the first sight of the far-famed city of Cairo (Ill.), and
certainly an unhappy surprise we found it; the combined medley of filth and
disorder, the streets rough, the sidewalks torn' and tattered, rendering it
dangerous to travel, lest they should throw one headlong to the ditch.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 3