Showing posts with label Mud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mud. Show all posts

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Diary of Dr. Alfred L. Castleman, August 27, 1861

On my arrival here, I found our tents pitched on ploughed ground, in a swale. The bottoms of the tents were very damp, and the mud in the streets over shoe-top. I at once set to work to correct this. I had the streets all ditched on either side, the dirt thrown into the middle, and already, instead of the mud and water streets and tents, we have them so firm, smooth and dry that they are swept every day. I hope by this, and by constant care in ventilating the tents, to arrest the rapidly increasing sickness.

Having finished the above note for the day, I have, on the point of retiring, just received an order from Gen. King to be ready to move at a minute's notice. The enemy is probably again threatening Washington. I must prepare.

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. 19

Monday, March 11, 2024

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, February 14, 1862

Left Camp Woodsonville, Ky., on our first march or counter-march, for two months all but two days remaining in this camp. Getting marching orders to our whole Western Army to right-about or counter-march to West Point, 20 miles down the Ohio river, below Louisville, going a march of 14 miles through mud and snow six inches deep, and encamp the night, not having our tents with us, on account of the roads being so bad that our baggage-wagons could not reach us; so we had to make ourselves as comfortable as possible by building square pens of rails, and sleeping on the tops of these pens, to keep us out of the snow and from the frosts of winter.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 10

Monday, February 26, 2024

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday, November 20, 1864

Before daylight this morning we cross the Ocmulgee River, all the rest of the army having crossed last night. Our division is now in the rear guarding Kilpatrick's train; the roads are very muddy; only succeed in getting ten miles to-day, when we go into camp near Monticello. A cold rain is now falling; the chilling winds, how fierce they blow! The Seventh suffers to-night.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 279

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday, November 21, 1864

At seven o'clock we move. Oh! how terrible the mud; teams sticking all along the road, and in consequence we move slow. We go into camp about ten o'clock upon an open field. It is now raining. The regiment is upon half rations; the men are standing, shivering around the camp fires; it is a terrible night; the fierce, wild winds sweep through the Seventh's camp. Nothing to shelter the men from the howling storm, but this matters not. "Let the world wag as it will, we'll be gay and happy still," breaks forth from the soldiers as it were in harmony with the elements. There is manhood here; there is fidelity around these camp fires, and how sad the fact that there are men in America who would be loath to acknowledge it.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 279-80

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: Tuesday, November 22, 1864

We move at seven o'clock this morning; weather very cool. Mud, mud everywhere; this evening the trains all swamp; night comes on dark and dreary, and being unable to extricate the teams, we go into camp two miles from Clinton.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 280

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Diary of Private Louis Leon: May 13, 1864

Left here this morning and passed through Fredericksburg. Crossed the Rappahannock on pontoon bridges, and got to Belle Plain on the Potomac at 3 o'clock-nineteen miles to-day. It rained all day, and it is very muddy.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 62

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Diary of Private Bartlett Yancey Malone, January 11, 1862

was a very pritty day over head but powerfull muddy under foot. And nothing happend to day worth a naming.

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 12

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Diary of Private W. J. Davidson, December 28, 1862—8 a.m.

Left our bivouac in Vicksburg this morning at 2 o'clock, and moved in darkness through mud and over hills; just before day, halted at our present camping-ground, which is on the top of one of the thousand and one hills which surround Vicksburg. While I write, the booming of artillery and the rattle of musketry are waking the echoes far and wide, and grate harshly on the ear this spring-like Sabbath morning The fight has commenced in earnest on our left wing, and we are expecting every moment to be ordered to the scene of conflict, although we are pretty well worn out already, for the want of sleep and nourishment. But here comes a courier, and, I have no doubt, he has orders for us to double quick to the battle-field. Just as I expected, I hear "fall in!" Heaven protect us to-day!

SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 16

Diary of Private W. J. Davidson, January 4, 1863

At 4 o'clock yesterday we were moved from our old position to a bridge. We had stood out in the rain since the evening before, and were completely soaked with wet, and had to climb the steepest and slickest hills a man ever lives to stand upon. Half of the time we were down in the mud, and the balance in water up to our waist, while the darkness was so thick that we couldn't see our file-leaders; but I never heard a single murmur from the cold, wet and hungry men. Lieutenant-Colonel Tillman, who has command of the regiment, led the way on foot, and was as deep in the mud as we were in the mire; and, after we arrived at the bridge which we were sent to guard, the officers "stood and took it" as cheerfully as though they were basking in the sunshine of an April morning. One of the boys, who was up to his knees in mud, and over whose face the rain was streaming from a narrow brim cap, said to Major Miller, who was leaning against the side of a house and under the drip, "I say, Major, you look like a man trying to hide behind a ladder." The Major took the joke quite good humoredly, and did not appear more discomposed by the loud laugh which greeted the sally, than he was a few days before, when the Yankee sharp-shooters were making the minnie bullets sing around his ears. At 10 o'clock, the enemy having failed to come to time, we were allowed to drag our weary limbs out to our camps. There being only one tent to the company, we had to stand out in the wet all day and part of the night, when, to our great relief, the wind changed to the north, and the rain, which had been falling for forty-eight hours, ceased.

SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 17-8

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 13, 1863

News came to us to-day that Vicksburg had fallen on the 4th. Heavy skirmishing, fighting all day. Our brigade again acted as the rear of our corps, our regiment being its rear. We started our retreat at dark and marched to Williamsport, six miles, through mud and slush ankle-deep, and raining very hard. We marched one mile to the right of and crossed the Potomac at midnight, after wading through the canal, which we destroyed. The river was up to my chin, and very swift. We crossed in fours, for protection, as otherwise we could not have crossed. Our cartridge boxes we carried around our necks to keep the powder dry. On the south bank tar was poured so that we would not slip back in the river, as the mud was very slick. J. Engle, of our company, was stuck in until some of the boys pulled. him out. We went six miles further, and I honestly believe more of us were asleep on our night's march than awake. But, still, all kept up, for the rear was prison. We then halted, made fire to dry ourselves, just as day was breaking on the morning of the 14th.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 40

Diary of Private Louis Leon: July 14, 1863

The roads are so bad that it is hard work to trudge along. I stuck in the mud several times, and lost one shoe in a mud hole, but of course took it out again. One consolation we have got, it is raining so hard that the mud is washed off our clothing, therefore they were not soiled too bad. But the devil of it is there is no blacking to shine our shoes with. Marched sixteen miles and halted. We are now, thank God, on Confederate soil, but oh, how many of our dear comrades have we left behind. We can never forget this campaign. We had hard marching, hard fighting, suffered hunger and privation, but our general officers were always with us, to help the weary soldier carry his gun, or let him ride. In a fight they were with us to encourage. Many a general have I seen walk and a poor sick private riding his horse, and our father, Lee, was scarcely ever out of sight when there was danger. We could not feel gloomy when we saw his old gray head uncovered as he would pass us on the march, or be with us in a fight. I care not how weary or hungry we were, when we saw him we gave that Rebel yell, and hunger and wounds would be forgotten.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 40-1

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Friday, November 27, 1863

To-day the Second Division's camp and garrison equipage is loaded on board the steamer Nashville, to be sent around to Nashville. Still it rains. The camp seems to be floating in mud and water. Clothes wet, blankets drenched, and a cold piercing north wind blowing. Night comes on cold and gloomy. The men are now shivering around the camp fires, with no place to lay their weary heads. Gloomy picture!

"Out alone to-night we're sitting,
Watching shadows that are passing
To and fro upon the canvas,
In our spirit's penetralia.
Go, ye idle, cursed complainers,
Who complain at home of trouble;
Think upon the soldiers' sorrow,
Weary, weak and wakeful soldiers;
Guarding you from foul oppression,
Keeping you a home of pleasure.
If your coward heart will let you,
Then refuse him aid and shelter."

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 210

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Saturday, November 28, 1863

This morning three companies are detailed to escort back to Corinth the teams that hauled the Division's camp and garrison equipage to the river. All quiet this evening, and it is still muddy and wet.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 210

Sunday, August 28, 2022

Diary of Private Louis Leon: May 8, 1863

We left here at 8 A.M., to return to Kinston, and got there at 3 P.M.—ten miles—awful road. Waded through mud, water and sand the whole way. My feet are cut up pretty badly.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 27

Monday, August 1, 2022

Diary of Private Richard R. Hancock: Monday, October 7, 1861

Our tents, which had been left behind for some cause unknown to me, arrived. glad to see them, for it had been raining almost constantly for the last two days, and as our battalion was camping in a low, flat place, we had mud and water in abundance.

B. A. Hancock (Company E) was appointed assistant commissary in McNairy's Battalion.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 54

Monday, July 25, 2022

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Thursday, October 1, 1863

It is still raining this morning and in lieu of dust we have mud. We are now fifty miles from Corinth, whither the advance is headed. We arrive at Purdy at 2 P. M., where we find Captain Clark with Company “D” barricaded in the old court house, where they had been sent yesterday with an ambulance and some sick soldiers. Captain Clark informs us that he was attacked by the guerrillas, but by determined resistance stood the ground against twice his number. Being well protected no casualties occurred. We halt in the outskirts of the town and feed, after which we proceed on our way towards Corinth. Arrive in camp 10 P. M., very much worn by the hard day's ride.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 197

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Diary of Private Louis Leon: March 16, 1863

A picket came in this morning and reported the enemy advancing. We were put in line of battle to receive them, and after marching one mile up the road to get to our brigade we were put at the extreme left of our line, and made breastworks out of rotten logs. Stayed here one hour, when another picket came and reported them ten miles away. So we resumed our march for camp and got there at 7 o'clock — twenty-one miles to-day. Tom Notter, Aaron Katz and myself pressed into service to-day a donkey and a cart with a negro, who took us to Kinston. Each of us drove at times, and I was fortunate enough to stall in a mudhole. We had to get out and lift the cart and donkey to dry ground again. Thus ends the march and fight at Deep Gully.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 19

Diary of Private Louis Leon: April 15, 1863

Raining very hard. We have a blanket spread over poles to keep us dry. We got orders to march this evening. Went five miles through mud and water, and it raining like fury. I shall long remember this march, as well as a few others of my company. We fell in the mud several times, and were certainly beautiful objects to look at with our suits of mud, for we were completely covered with it.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 23

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Diary of Brigadier-General Rutherford B. Hayes: Monday, March 6, 1865

Sheridan last Monday with a large cavalry force went towards Staunton, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg to destroy stores and connections with Richmond. Mud and water his chief enemies.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 565

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday, April [27], 1863

This morning we move from South Florence, having been ordered to join the main column at Leighton, ten miles from Tuscumbia on the road leading towards Decatur. The roads are very muddy, but we march briskly and strike the road in advance of the column, when we halt to await its advance. Coming up we take position in the brigade and move forward through mud and rain. About four o'clock we come up with the rebels and commence a brisk skirmish. The rebels falling back across Town Creek, we go into camp for the night about one mile from the creek. The soldiers, weary and warm, fall down upon the damp ground and are soon sleeping.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 151-2