I wrote off six copies of the work of board of survey. Kunze, of Company H of Eighth Minnesota, was frozen very badly. Was placed in the hospital. He was riding facing the wind, escorting the mail. A letter received from Red Lake warning us to beware of Sioux. William Beatty, (Lock's Mills) buried.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 12
The Arago did call for our mail and the body of Lieutenant Sterling was put on board to go to his family in Poughkeepsie. We gave the old ship three cheers, and then some one sang out three cheers for the lice you gave us. John Van Hoovenburg died last night. We made a box for him out of such boards as we could find. Though we did our best, his bare feet showed through the cracks. But that made no difference to poor Johnnie. The chaplain was with him to the end, says he was happy and ready to go. This is how we spend our New Year's day. We wish each other a happy New Year though just as if we were home and had a good prospect of one. After the funeral Walter Loucks and I went up the river quite a distance, so far it seemed as if our legs would not carry us back. Negro huts are scattered along. I suppose white people cannot live here and so the darkeys have it all. Some cultivate patches of ground and in one garden we saw peas in bloom. We bought a loaf of bread and a bottle of molasses of an old woman, and though the bread was not what it might have been, it tasted good. There are some orange trees, but no oranges. The darkies say they will blossom in about a month. A man in Company E, a sort of poet, who was always writing songs for the boys to sing, was cutting wood to-day and the axe flew off the handle and cut the whole four fingers from the right hand. There were no witnesses and some there are who say he did it so as to get a discharge. The doctor has dressed the hand and he is going about in great pain just now.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 78
Two more men died last night, but not from Company B. We sent off another mail to-day. I wish we might get some letters. We ought to have a lot of them when they do come.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 79
A. M. Go to
Commissary at Ft. Morgan to buy provision for Mess. get to ride most of way to
& from. Ship load of troops at the pier near the Ft. papers from New
Orleans of the 6th nothing new. Gen Field order no. 1. from Genl Canby Capt
Prince detailed to take charge of Pioneer Corps. Some Regts rec large mail,
Henry Shull arrives. Reports Dan Wiser dead Raining from 2. P. M. Evening
stormy
SOURCE: “Diary of
John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa,
Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 577
I was detailed on
fatigue this morning. The detail from our regiment worked on the big break in
the levee. We did a good day's work, and slightly checked the current. The
Mississippi continues to rise. Uncle Ben, Scott and Patterson returned from
their three days' scout. They had been up the river after beef and had secured
fifty head. Mail came in last night, Frank received a letter from Rosalie,
dated Jan. 4. Just to think, they have had no snow yet in the north. Generals
U. S. Grant and Ross have arrived.
SOURCE: Seth James
Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells,
Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 35
Moscow. Mail arrived
to-day. Received two letters; weather rather cold. Went foraging in the
morning; returned with fresh pork, beans, corn and fodder in plenty.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 13
Moscow. Laid in tent
all day. Mail arrived in the afternoon. Received two very welcome letters from
home and Thomas L.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
I am disappointed
to-night, and feel sadly. I had almost no letters from home lately. None
yesterday, to-day none. To-morrow I hope I
shall hear from home, and get news of the returning health of my family, and
then feel better. It is very hard to be shut up here, hundreds of miles from
those we love most dearly, and during their sickness, can have no hope of getting
to see them. I suppose the "necessities of war" demands the
sacrifice, and we must submit.
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. 65
To-day I have
received the expected letter; but it relieves no part of my sadness. My dear
child at home is no better. I may never meet her again. This in another of the
trials of this unholy war; but I am selfish. How many have so much more reason
to complain than I?
Boxes of luxuries
and comforts for the sick received from home to-day. Many of the days which we
have spent in this army have been days of gloom and darkness; and, oh! how
these stars of kindness do sparkle in the gloom and lighten the darkness around
us! The luxuries contained in the boxes are a comfort to the sick, but these
are not THE comforts which we derive from them. They come from friends at home.
They tell of the interest felt by them in the cause for which we suffer, of
their interest in us as the defenders of that cause, and that we are not
forgotten! Names of many of those who are engaged in this work of kindness are
known to us, and whenever heard will call up a thrill of grateful affection so
long as memory holds a place among us.
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. 66
Did ever husband and
father need the comforting aid of the help-meets of home as I need them this
evening? See my table. Six full foolscap sheets of letters
from home—read, re-read, studied, spelled, and now to be answered.
I wonder if any body ever imagines the value of a letter to a soldier. His
power of estimating must be large indeed, if he can appreciate it. Were it not
for this value I should never have the courage to attempt answering all this
pile. But then, I have no room to arrange all these with a
view to replies, for my whole tent is as crowded as my table, full of evidences
of the kindness—I will dare to say, of the affection of so many of my kind
lady-friends. The dictates of kindness and benevolence may crowd upon you
articles of comfort and utility, but it requires the affections to indicate the
numerous little tokens which peep from the packages of useful things now piled
around my tent. They strengthen and they cheer me. I shall endeavor, right
here, to make myself worthy of all this confidence. What a field this is for
the exercise of the "unseen heroism" of life!
But how in the name of Legerdemain do our friends contrive to get so many things into a little box? Why, my 10x10 tent is absolutely full. It is well, too, that the box was opened just to-day, for things in it were getting considerably "mixed." Two or three preserve and jelly jars, and a bottle of pickles had been broken. The contents had escaped, and to make amends for their long confinement, like colts let loose, they ran considerably. The pickles had "pitched into" the sugar. The jelly had made a dash at the tea. The nutmegs were luxuriating in a mixture of preserves and coffee. There seemed to be an inclination amongst these belligerents to get into "a muss" generally; but I "offered mediation." After two or three hours of back-ache work, I got the conglomerates restored to their original elements, and gave the men a look at them. They were gratified and thankful. I do not think one man looked on one of these evidences of home rememberance but felt strengthened in his resolves to perform manfully the duties which he had undertaken.
Yesterday we had the
first fight worthy the name, since we joined the army. General McCall sent out
a Brigade (about 4,000 men) to reconnoitre. They came upon an equal number of
the enemy, and after taking a good look at each other, concluded to "go
in." In this fight we gained a decided victory. No mistake this time. We
fought and won.
We lost a few men—about
ten killed and some thirty wounded. Amongst the latter is Lieutenant Colonel
Kane of the Pennsylvania "Buck Tails." He is a brother of the late
Doctor Kane, of the Arctic Expedition.*
* Battle of Dranesville.
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. 66-9
The Fair Ground, on
which we are encamped, is simply a clearing in the wood, without buildings, fence
or shade. But it is a pleasant place, near a spring of good water, and
bordering on the Holston River. I have just returned from the city, where I
have spent most of the day. These are glorious days for the people of
Knoxville. They tell me the day of their deliverance has come at last. The
story of their sufferings has been but feebly told. Even a Brownlow cannot do
it justice. Hundreds of citizens followed us to their homes, from which they
had been driven a year or more ago. They are flocking in by fifties and by
hundreds and are organizing for their own defense. We have given them the
oportunity, and they are eager to embrace it. One lady told me it was with
difficulty she could repress a shout of joy as she saw our blue coats filing
down the streets. Loyalty here is pure and unalloyed, as proven by the
sacrifices they have made.
We are objects of
much curiosity. An old gentle man, a preacher, walked six miles to see us. We
were the first Northern men he ever saw. He said he could not express his gratitude
to us for their timely deliverance.
Parson Brownlow is
expected here soon. I saw his son today. He is a noble-looking fellow, about 21
years of age; is Lieutenant Colonel of a regiment that has been raised since
Burnside came here. Burnside is the hero of the hour in East Tennessee.
It is twenty days
since I received my last mail. During all that time I have not seen a
newspaper, therefore am totally ignorant of what is taking place in other parts
of the world.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of
a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 95-6
Capt Fee &
Orderly Spooner spent the day in the Citty we had a general cleaning up in the
barracks, afternoon I took 3 of the boys & went out & got a fine lot of
Sasafrass & we had some pistol target shooting I stood No one. 4 Oc we ware
on dress perade I received a letter stating Amandus is verry sick
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 97
Received letter from Rev. Loomis, Lewisburg, Penn., and one from Brother Moses Paxson, Newton, Penn.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 10
1 John Sherman was then, at the age of fourteen, junior rodman in an engineer corps, engaged in the improvement of the Muskingham River, Ohio. Particulars of his life will follow in introducing his letters.
SOURCE: Rachel Sherman Thorndike, Editor, The Sherman Letters: Correspondence Between General and Senator Sherman from 1837 to 1891, pp. 2-3
Inspection of arms
to-day and a sermon by the chaplain. We are thinking and talking of the letters
we will get when we have a mail. Uncle Sam keeps track of us someway and sooner
or later finds us. We have a regimental postmaster, who is expected every day
from the city with a bag full. We have enough to fill him up on his return
trip. The Arago is unloading all our belongings, which looks as if we were to
stay here. Good-bye, Arago! I wish there was a kettle big enough to boil you
and your bugs in before you take on another load. So many are sick the well
ones are worked the harder for it. I still rank amoung the well ones and am
busy at something all the time. Just now I have been put in place of fifth
sergenat, who among other duties sees that the company has its fair share of
rations, and anything else that is going. I also attend sick call every morning,
which amounts to this. The sick call sounds and the sick of Company B fall in
line and I march them to the doctor's office, where they are examined. Some get
a dose of whiskey and quinine, some are ordered to the hospital and some are
told to report for duty again. Dr. Andrus and I play checkers every chance we
get. We neither play a scientific game, but are well matched and make some
games last a long time. He is helping my throat and my cough is not so bad
lately. Our quarters were turned into a smoke house to-day. An old stove
without a pipe is going and some stinking stuff is burning that nothing short
of a grayback can stand. It is expected to help our condition, and there is
lots of chance for it.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 75-6
We have had a rain
and the hard ground made the softest kind of mud. It sticks to our feet and
clothes, and everybody is cross and crabbed. The sun came out, however, and our
spirits began to rise as the mud dried up. There was preaching and prayer
meeting both to-day.
Our chaplain's
courage is something wonderful and many of us attend the services out of
respect to him when we had much rather lie and rest our aching bones. The
captain of the Arago sent word he will be along to-night on his way to New York
and would stop for letters. He will find some, judging from the writing that
has been going on.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 77
Very little mail Belle Ve Dere starts A. М. at 2 P. M. our Regt on board the Izetta to cross to depot. drop 4 miles below, & return to depot. unload at 4 P. M. raining hard. move up to depot. an Irish girl brings out hot coffee for some of the boys. at 7. load on the cars & have a 20 minutes run to Lake city, on Lake Pontchastran where at 8. P. M. cos B. G. & K embark on board steam ship Alabama. find it full of mules & about 300 men of some 7 regts. 35 Wis, 7th Vermont, 27 & 28th Wis 1st La. &c. at 10 weigh anchor and are off.
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 575
Fine day. hunt shells on the beach, see the porpoises, &c camp on banks of white sand covered with scrub oaks plenty of fresh water by digging in the sand. boys wade in the bay & gather oysters Plenty of them. troops landing nearly all the time, can send no mail
SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 575-6
Davis Mills. Heard from home. Received two letters, from John and Thomas, which eased my anxiety. Listened to the first sermon [in camp].
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 12
Cincinnati, Ohio. We
arrived here at 9:30 this morning. My day's work is, at last, completed, at 9
p. m. This has been a busy day. In fact, I have not been idle or had much rest,
by day or night, since July fourth, and yet I am fresh and vigorous as in days
of old. The sick and wounded all removed the worst cases to the General
Hospital in this city, the convalescents to Camp Denison, eighteen miles out,
while a few return to their regiments.
The Seventeenth
passed through here today, and is now in camp near Covington, on the opposite
bank of the river.
I expect to join
them in the morning, and look for a handful of letters.
People call the
weather here very hot, but it is not Mississippi heat, and I enjoy it. The
mornings and evenings are delightfully cool, while there it is constant,
relentless heat both day and night. Here a coat is comfortable in the morning—there
one needs no cover day or night.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 76-7
