Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 1, 1863

Encamped at Germantown, Tennessee, last night. Weather is grand and as I marched along at the head of my company I could not but think of the last New Year when visiting my friends and paying the compliments of the season, how different it was from today, yet I truly confess that I feel happier here in doing whatever duty assigned us, going wherever orders send us. As yet we have not had a real battle. I know the men long for the first big fight but I am contented to take it as it comes—it will come and from all appearances soon, and I fear those who most hanker after it will not relish it so much.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 2, 1863

Encanmped at Lafayette last night and in the morning started back with the supply train. The march was as hard a one as I ever took. I have never seen the men so played out and such general straggling—but few companies came to a halt with a quarter of their men. Quimby gave us a tough one and the "compliments" paid him by the men would scarcely please his ears. I was out on picket with my company and did not get relieved until the whole force had started and then had to rejoin the regiment. I reached it about dusk.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 3, 1863

We encamped in a corn field last night, completely exhausted; in the middle of the night it commenced to rain but I slept through it until I woke up and found myself in two inches of water. I tried the top of a furrow but that was not much better, so gave up sleep as a bad job. We started about 10 o'clock on our march for a camp ground. The roads were the worst I have yet marched on; snow, mud, water, everything that makes marching disagreeable except dust. Marched a few miles and then filed off into some beautiful woods where I understand we are to camp for a while—good water, plenty of wood and a good chance for rations and mail to reach us, what more can a soldier want?

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 5, 1863

Companies A and F received orders to move their camp about half a mile and throw up works to protect a railroad bridge from being burned. They built a respectable stockade and named it Fort Stockton. It will hold 500 men.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 14, 1863

Guard duty is the order of the day. Companies A and F taking turn about. We had a very heavy snow storm last night and today it is still snowing. Oldest inhabitants say they have never seen such cold weather and so much snow. Thermometer 4 degrees below zero. We have only our tents and they are not much protection in such cold weather. We have to go on duty without fires and walk up and down in the snow in low shoes when it is a foot deep, no gloves and very scant clothing, so we can form some idea what our Revolutionary Sires went through.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 17, 1863

Evacuated Fort Stockton today. Marched into Memphis through mud nearly knee deep. Slept in an old building near the railroad depot. Heard today of Adjutant Bacon's death. He was one of the best soldiers ever met. Our regiment has met with a serious loss, one that cannot well be replaced. "Peace to his ashes."

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 18, 1863

Went into quarters in the navy yard at Memphis. Quarters very good. Men under shelter. The machine shop is used as barracks for the regiment. Officers use the offices around the yard. Weather very cold and hard work to keep warm. I use a carpenter's bench as my dining table and bed at night. Sheets are a luxury not to be thought of. Regiment goes on provost duty. Mail communications, my regular letters and papers are not following us around as on the march. We have not had any pay for a long time and all are very hard up. I got a draft for $75 cashed and divided it among my men. They were all very grateful for it. Memphis is at present a hard place, filled with soldiers. I regret to say many drunken officers are to be seen, while with the men it is almost too common to be mentioned. Orders came to destroy liquor wherever found and our regiment has destroyed a great many barrels. You might as well try to dam the Mississippi river as to keep the men from getting liquor.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7-8

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 25, 1863

Went to Calvary Church today. Heard a good sermon on confirmation. First time I have been to church since I have been in the army.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, January 30, 1863

Guard duty is the order of the day. Private Wright of my company died the past week, the first of Co. A that was with the company. Give me marching and field duty at all times in preference to this kind of duty.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 21, 1862

Broke camp today. Left for Oxford on our retreat to where, I don't know, as the rebel General Van Dorn, through the treachery of Colonel Murphy, captured and destroyed all our supplies at Holly Springs and cut the railroad tracks. Reached Oxford in the afternoon and on alarm that the rebels were coming our brigade was called up and the 72d sent out as grand guard. I kept awake all night but fortunately the alarm was caused by the moving of some of our own troops that our scouts had taken for Rebs.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 22, 1862

Remained in camp all day.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 23, 1862

Started on our march; crossed the Tallahatchie and camped on our old camping ground. On guard again at night.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 24, 1862

Marched to Lumpkins Mills; weather very warm. Christmas eve I retired to my bed on the bare ground completely worn out with the day's march and the duty of the night before. I slept so soundly, did not dream of St. Nicholas and no vision of Christmas gifts disturbed my sleep. I was only too happy to get a soft place to lie down.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 25, 1862

LUMPKINS MILLS, MISS.

Passed the day in camp as Ross's division were passing on their way to Holly Springs. Weather beautiful. It made the day pleasant for our men. I had a pole greased and tied some tobacco and a dollar bill on top and the man who climbed it was to have it. It afforded a great deal of amusement and helped to make the day pass away agreeably to all.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 26, 1862

Started on our march to Memphis. Quimby's [sic] division are to guard a train of 600 empty wagons. The day's march was a terrible one. Raining and roads muddy, and cut by the wagon trains many of which were filled with sick soldiers taken from the hospitals at Oxford and Holly Springs. Several poor fellows died and were buried alongside the road, their winding sheet a blanket and no ceremony but the digging of the grave, the body put in, filled up and the burial party hurrying away to get to their position. Poor fellows, they died for their country as much as if they were killed in battle.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 27, 1862

Marched at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Weather beautiful; roads better.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 28, 1862

Marched twenty-three miles today. For the first time since I have been in the South have I seen the Stars and Stripes waved from a house. An old woman stood in her doorway and waved the glorious banner, whether from loyalty or to save her chickens I do not know. The rebel cavalry are on our flanks and pick up all stragglers. There has been some skirmishing today but nobody hurt.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6-7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 29, 1862

Marched into Memphis, encamped in the southern part of the city near Fort Pickering—one of the meanest places we ever encamped in, no water or wood near. Glad to get a chance to lie down as our tramp has been a hard one. A snow flurry during the night.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 31, 1862

Struck tents early in the morning. Orders came in the night for Sanborn's brigade to move out on the Memphis & Charleston Road to escort a large train of wagons in. Weather beautiful and roads good.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, December 1, 1862

First day of winter; rained in torrents all night; we were without shelter and had to take the soaking. I kept one side of myself dry at a time by standing in front of large log fire-when my back was dry I would turn around and dry the front of my body. Part of the time I slept sitting against a tree with my rubber blanket over my head, while my legs got soaked. About 2 o'clock we saw a large light to the south of us which proved to be a bridge which the rebels had set on fire as our troops got up to it. This morning I had a daylight view of the different camps; the sun was shining, making the scene a beautiful one.

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