Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, January 15, 1863

At midnight last night it commenced to sleet & continued for about 12 hours then commenced snowing in earnest & continued to snow hard untill near the middle of the afternoon it abated with snow from 6 to 8 inches deep & the ground in a perfect slush of mud & watter under the snow, & it continued snowing moderately the ballance of the afternoon & night untill now 8½ Oc & yet snowing with a fair prospect of continuing through the night I am suffering with a severe pane in the small of my back but not to prevent me from duty

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 105

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John Beatty, November 30, 1861

The Third is encamped five miles south of Louisville, on the Seventh-street plank road.

As we marched through the city my attention was directed to a sign bearing the inscription, in large black letters,

"NEGROES BOUGHT AND SOLD."

We have known, to be sure, that negroes were bought and sold, like cattle and tobacco, but it, nevertheless, awakened new, and not by any means agreeable, sensations to see the humiliating fact announced on the broad side of a commercial house. These signs must come down.

The climate of Kentucky is variable, freezing nights and thawing in the day. The soil in this locality is rich, and, where trodden, extremely muddy. We shall miss the clear water of the mountain streams. A large number of troops are concentrating here.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 84

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John Beatty, December 27, 1861

No orders to advance. Armies travel slowly indeed. Within fifteen miles of the enemy and idly rotting in the mud.

Acting Brigadier-General Marrow when informed that Dumont would assume command of the brigade, became suddenly and violently ill, asked for and obtained a thirty-day leave.

I would give much to be home with the children during this holiday time; but unfortunately my health is too good, and will continue so in spite of me. The Major, poor man, is troubled in the same way.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 89

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, January 17, 1863

On account of my cough, which is worse when I lie down, I have walked about evenings or sat and chatted with others about the camp fire until tired enough to sleep, and last night crawled in near midnight where my two bedfellows were asleep. Soon after I got into a drowse from which I was awakened by a coughing spell and saw Walt standing by the help of the tent pole and groaning in agony. Soon I heard him say "I'll end it all right now," and with that he pitched over towards his knapsack and by the noise I thought he was after his revolver. I jumped across Jim, who lay asleep in the middle, and snatched the gun out of his hand before he had it out of the case. Out in the company street I threw the three revolvers and then grabbed for a sheath knife which I knew was there, getting hold of the handle just as he grabbed the sheath. By this time Story was in the game and we both had our hands full getting him down and quiet. I went for Dr. Andrus, who after lighting a candle and looking in Walt's eyes, told us to take him over to the hospital. The struggle had put him in agony and it was pitiful to see how he suffered. We staid with him the rest of the night and by morning he was helpless. Every joint seemed as stiff as if no joint was there. For the next five days I did little but watch him and help in any way I could to make him more comfortable. Then he and others were taken to the general hospital in the city, where they will at least be warm. We have had a cold rain and the camp is a bed of mud. The wind sifts through the cracks in this old shed and although a stove was kept running, it was too cold for comfort. I have slept but little in the last five nights, but the doctor has kept dosing me and I feel better than when this time with Walter began. Letters from home have made the world seem brighter and the men in it better.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 82-3

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Monday, April 7, 1862

Rain last night and mud this morning. In the office as usual. A fire broke out this morning on the corner of the Av^e & 7^th Street, it has been burning most of the day. Six stores and one Hotel were destroyed before three o'clock. Willie came down to the office before three to go home with me. I took him down to see the fire, he was some frightened at the noise and confusion. It has snowed most of the day and no wind so the fire did not burn very rapidly. All the engines were there, but the efficiency of the fire department was not much. Went down to the “National” to meet some gentlemen with S Seely of NY to examine Models & Drawings in reference to Iron covering for Ships of War. Staid till ½ past 10. We had the corrigated Iron in question. We think that there must be “something up” down the River as since 9 o'clock two messengers have called at our door with Dispatches for Comodore Smith from the War Department, perhaps the “Merrimac” is out again.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 17, 1862

Saturday morning rained like the mischief last night, Our camp flooded with water. The 10th Ills. have no tents and they are in an awful fix. Our men have not a full ration this morning—a little grumbling consequently—traveling is awful—roads are very mudy     Branches are high and it rains almost continually     The coat tail of the writer get very mudy and is consequently very heavy. WE travel to within one mile of Blanville and encamp for the night. The boys have one dram of whisky to night issued by the Qr. Master     Lieut Allen has been with the teams to day not able to walk, He caught up with us at Lovelaceville.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 234

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 7, 1863

Reveille at two A.M.; started at four; marched by Emmettsburg and through Utica, Md., and went into camp at five P.M. Roads very muddy. Twenty-seven miles.

SOURCE: John Lord Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 277

Diary of Private John C. West, Monday, June 8, 1863

On the morning of the 6th, Saturday, we were ordered to be prepared to march at 12 o'clock. We started about 1 o'clock towards the Rappahanock. It rained in the afternoon, and I was soaked to the skin, and the road very muddy. We dragged along until 10 o'clock at night and were then ordered to camp without fires. We slept on the wet ground in a perfect heap; 10,000 or 12,000 men lying promiscuously on the side of a public road, like so many tired hounds, was a novel sight, or rather sound, to me. I slept soundly, except when waked up by the rain falling in my face. At daylight on Sunday morning we were ordered to form and were marched back over the same road to our camp near Culpepper, a distance of sixteen miles. We remained there until morning, when we moved to this place, about half a mile farther from Culpepper. This marching and countermarching is what the military authorities call making a demonstration. It is a tiresome and monotonous business, but if it accomplishes the purpose for which I left home I will be satisfied.

SOURCE: John Camden West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, pp. 58-9

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, January 20, 1863

Left Nashville on foot to join my company and regiment again. Came twenty-three miles through rain, and the roads being very muddy, we encamped for the night in a cedar house, used by our videttes or dispatch carriers; a march of 23 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 26-7

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Benjamin F. Pearson, December 14, 1862

4 Oc we ware on dress parade in the mud & rain 2½ Oc Brother Oiler Chaplain of the 21st Mo Inft preached to us text 1st psalm Capt Morton exorted he is of the Mo Inft night H D Morrison preached text take the whole armour Hare exorted & we had a speaking & it was a glorious time.

SOURCE: Edgar R. Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2, October 1925, p. 98

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John Beatty, October 7, 1861

Left Logan's mill before the sun was up. The rain continues, and the mud is deep. At eleven o'clock we reached what is known as Marshall's store, near which, until recently, the enemy had a pretty large camp. Halted at the place half an hour, and then moved four miles further on, where we found the roads impassable for our artillery and transportation.

Learning that the enemy had abandoned Big Springs and fallen back to Huntersville, the soldiers were permitted to break ranks, while Colonel Marrow and Major Keifer, with a company of cavalry, rode forward to the Springs. Colonel Nick Anderson, Adjutant Mitchell and I followed. We found on the road evidence of the recent presence of a very large force. Quite a number of wagons had been left behind. Many tents had been ripped, cut to pieces, or burned, so as to render them worthless. A large number of beef hides were strung along the road. One wagon, loaded with muskets, had been destroyed. All of which showed, simply, that before the rebels abandoned the place the roads had become so bad that they could not carry off their baggage.

The object of the expedition being now accomplished, we started back at three o'clock in the afternoon, and encamped for the night at Marshall's store.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 77

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne: December 28, 1862

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

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Saturday, March 22, 1862

We have been listening all day to the booming of Cannon and beating of Drums. Troops are constantly embarking at the Arsenal and marching through and about the City. But the tents on the hills back of the City do not seem to diminish in number, but most of the Reg^ts are under marching orders to be ready in a few minutes when called upon to go. I[t] rained nearly all last night and rains tonight and the mud is almost as bad as ever in the streets, and the boys are again levying toll upon passengers at the crossings. — Doct David called this morning with another Surgeon. I think the D^r is a little homesick (very little). Comodore Foot is still throwing shells among the rebels at Island No 10. Yesterday the land forces were to arrive and act in concert with him. Went down to the Av^e after dinner. Visited the “Ariated Bread” Bakery foot of 10^th st. Went into some Machine Shops. Penn Av^e was crowded to excess, Carriages, Hacks, Gov^t Wagons, stubborn mules refusing to go, drivers swearing, Soldiers marching, Drums beating, Bands playing, Dragoons and “orderlies” rushing through at great speed. Officers and Privates, Citizens & Congressmen, Negros & Newsboys, all hurrying to and fro on the broad Side walk without any order or regularity as regards turning “to the right.” All put together made a lively time of it, and I was not sorry to get away from the uproar and confusion of the Av^e to a more quiet part of the City. The two elder boys have been up to the camp of the 98^th today. They have gone to bed tired. Julia is reading her Spanish lesson. Wife has prepared a cup of tea & some ariated Bread & buter, and placed it invitingly near me on the table. We rarely get a regular “Tea” at night, dining past 4 renders it hardly necessary. It is usualy done in a sort of fugitive way about 8 or 9 o'clock, sometimes later. We cannot contrive to get to bed before about 11 o'clock, that is, myself and wife. Julia goes before 10 usualy, and the boys about 8.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Thursday, March 27, 1862

The weather continues delightful and the mud has nearly dried up in our streets. There is no particular news afloat today. The Battle near Winchester on Sunday last proves to have been a very severe fight, and a total route to the rebels. The boys have all been up to the camps on the Hill today. No troops are leaving from there yet. Lieut David (James) called here today. Mrs Bassett was here at the time. She is an immense talker and withall rather a vain woman. She amused the Lieut very much. I have been to the Av^e this evening, an immense throng there. The City seems to be entirely full. A great many foreighners, particularly Englishmen, are here looking on and “taking Notes.” All nationalities almost are to be met with and almost all languages are heard on the Av^e of an evening. German predominates but French and Spanish are very common. Julia is studying French and Spanish and I am paying those languages some attention myself. Think that I will soon be able to read Spanish.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 3, 1862

Friday morning cloudy & misting rain. Weather prohibiting the usual duties. Our pleasant weather which has continued ever since the first of September has now taken its final leave we all think    Dress Parade again this evening—Notwithstanding the mud

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 7, 1862

Tuesday morning cloudy & misting rain, too mudy to drill nothing doing to day.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, January 9, 1862

Thursday morning cloudy     Preparations making early this morning for our march Marched to the landing at 2 O'clock. The Brigade is all ready for embarkation but there is such a fog on the river that the expedition is postponed until the fog clears away The troops are marched back to their quarters with the expectation of leaving to-morrow morning any how. Too muddy for Dress Parade this evening.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 233

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, June 27, 1863

Started at five A.M.; marched through Buckeyetown, Md. We passed a great many fields of wheat and corn. The roads were muddy. Crossed the Monocacy River. Marched fifteen miles. A year ago to-day was the battle of Gaines's Mills.

SOURCE: John Lord Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 276

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones: Wednesday, November 12, 1862

Grand Junction, Tenn. It having rained during the night, the dust was converted to mud. Ate a breakfast of cold beef and bread, filled our canteens with water, when we scrambled on top the freight cars in order to procure transportation. It was raining, and when the train was in motion the smoke and cinders were torturing. Arrived at Jackson at 1 P. M. Waited an hour for dinner, then took Mississippi Central R. R. for Grand Junction. Remained at Medon Station till 6 P. M. when G. M. Spencer and I spread our blankets and laid down; awoke at Grand Junction at 3 Α. Μ.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 12

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Monday, March 3, 1862

It has rained all day. Snow all gone and mud again much to the disappointment of all. We heard this morning of the death of the gallant Genl Lander. He was one of the bravest of the Brave and we could have spared almost any of our Brigadiers better than him. He died of wounds rc^d at the fight at “Edwards Ferry,” up the river, last fall. The Evacuation of Collumbus K.Y. is officialy anounced. It was the last rebel Strong Hold in K.Y. The papers say nothing about army movements, they are not allowed to. I have been at home all the evening and the boys have staid in the house all day studying their lessons some and amusing themselves drawing &c. “Bud” shows quite a talent for drawing & painting in water colors, but his practice is confined to Houses, Steamboats, Soldiers &c.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.