Diary of Gideon Welles: Friday, January 1, 1864

A bright day ushers in the year. Yesterday's northeast storm has disappeared, and the clouds fell to the earth in heavy rain last night.

Went with my family to the Executive Mansion at 11 A.M. to pay our respects to the President. Foreign ministers and attachés were there. Navy and Army officers came in at half past eleven. The house was full when we left, a little before twelve.

Received at house until 4 P.M. Had official and friendly calls from Navy and Army officers, judges, foreign ministers, etc., etc., with such old friends of my own State as were in Washington, and not a few comparative strangers, who expressed warm personal and official regard.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 501

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: January 1, 1864

1st. Happy New Year! Gay and festive. Frozen and just starving. Re-enlistment question presented to the boys. Three from the 2nd Ohio. Took dinner at hdqrs., at white house. Cabbage and beef and mutton. Had a chat with the people. All have suffered badly. Even underclothes taken during the late fights by rebs, also wheat and corn. First-rate visit with Col. Garrard and Allen. Review of campaign. Hard bread, flour and pork for the boys. Makes me happy. Don't ask more satisfaction than to get plenty of rations. Have been half crazy with anxiety for days.

First command in line east of Mossy Creek. Rained last night. Turned cold about 12 P. M. and blew a hurricane. Awful tedious day. Boys must suffer very much. Col. and staff up and around fires early.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 104

Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes to Lucy Webb Hayes, January 4, 1863

Camp Reynolds, January 4, 1863

Dearest: — The same old camp, but “Reynolds,” after our gallant Sergeant-Major Eugene M., [L. Reynolds] who was killed at South Mountain.

I am glad you are all well and happy with the uncles and “all the boys.” Yes, I confess I did forget the 30th.¹ Strange, too. I had thought of it a few days before. I did not neglect to think of you. That I do daily; but nothing occurred to call to mind the happy day. A white day in my calendar — the precursor of the ten happiest years. On the 30th we were all agog with the order and movements connected with General Ewing's departure with four of our regiments. This may have caused the lapse.

We had none of your bad weather. This [the] morning opened rainy, windy, and turbulent, but by 2 P. M. it was warm, bright, and serene. At our evening parade I made a little address on the New Year and the past. I'll send you it to be put in the archives.

It is Sunday evening and our cook, Frank Halpin (the best tenor going), with three or four Company A comrades are singing in the kitchen. “Magnif!”

In the very worst of the rain-storm this morning, an ambulance passed with Mrs. Brown, her son, and Ed Cook. Ed is sick, decidedly, not as yet dangerously. He refuses to go home because he has been home sick already. Plucky. Perhaps it's as well, although I rather urged his going. He will go to Cannelton, where the regiment is now stationed, and will be well cared for. Mrs. Brown takes the captain home. I suspect Ike [Nelson]² will soon be captain of the company. Brown is not able to stand service, I think. Ike now commands the company.

Send me Rud's picture, and another installment of mine, for distribution.

If not costing more than about a couple of dollars, I wish Joe would bring me Adam Smith's “Wealth of Nations,” also “Lucile.” The first large print. At Gallipolis or somewhere he better get three or four split-bottomed or other cheap chairs — none but cheap— [and] a cheap square looking-glass.

I am still busy trying to conquer the mud. We are very comfortable but a sprinkling of snow or rain makes us ankle-deep where the sand is not put on. This and our little town gives me plenty to do. The lieutenant-colonel and major are both absent.

I shall be very glad to have you here. My only fear is possible ill health for the boys. There is less sickness than last year and by keeping carefully housed if the weather is bad, you will be safe. — Darling, much love for you and the dear ones at home.

Affectionately,

R.

Mrs. Hayes.

_______________

¹ The tenth anniversary of his marriage.

² Cook and Nelson, cousins of Mrs. Hayes.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 383-4

3rd Sergeant Charles Wright Wills: January 2, 1862

January 2, 1862.

We've waited patiently until after New Year for the box of provisions, and nary box yet. Have given it up for a goner. We're just as much obliged to you as though we had received it. We haven't yet eaten all the tomatoes, etc., that came with the quilts. Partly because we are too lazy to cook them, but mostly because we don't hanker arter them. Beans, bacon and potatoes are our special hobbies or favorites rather, and we are never dissatisfied on our inner man's account when we have them in abundance and of good quality. Company H of the 17th, Captain Boyd, was down here on the 30th. All the boys save Chancy Black and Billy Stockdale were along. We had a grand time, Nelson's, Boyd's and our boys being together for the first time in the war. Yesterday, New Year, the camp enjoyed a general frolic. A hundred or two cavalry boys dressed themselves to represent Thompson's men and went galloping around camp scattering the footmen and making noise enough to be heard in Columbus. The officers of the 11th Infantry were out making New Year calls in an army wagon with 30 horses to it, preceded by a splendid band. The “boys” got a burlesque on the “ossifers.” They hitched 20 mules to a wagon and filled it with a tin pan and stovepipe band, and then followed it in 60-mule wagon around the camp and serenaded all the headquarters.

General Paine said to-day that our regiment and the 11th would move in a week, but I don't believe it.

SOURCE: Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 50-1

Diary of 1st Sergeant John L. Ransom: January 1, 1864

A great time this morning wishing one another a Happy New Year. Robinson bought on the outside a dozen apples and gave us all a treat. Nothing but corn bread to eat and very poor quality. Dr. F. L. Lewis, Vet. Surg. 9th Mich, cavalry, came in to day; was captured at Dandridge, East Tennessee, where our regiment had a severe engagement. Tells me all the news. Col, Acker wounded, etc., etc. Thinks it a queer New Year trip, but also thinks we will be exchanged before many weeks.

SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p. 23

Diary of Dolly Lunt Burge: January 1, 1864

A new year is ushered in, but peace comes not with it. Scarcely a family but has given some of its members to the bloody war that is still decimating our nation. Oh, that its ravages may soon be stopped! Will another year find us among carnage and bloodshed? Shall we be a nation or shall we be annihilated? . . . The prices of everything are very high. Corn seven dollars a bushel, calico ten dollars a yard, salt sixty dollars a hundred, cotton from sixty to eighty cents a pound, everything in like ratio.

SOURCE: Dolly Lunt Burge, A Woman's Wartime Journal, p. 3

Diary of Judith Brockenbrough McGuire: January 1, 1865

At St. James's Church this morning. Our children came over from Union Hill yesterday, to take their dinner from the contents of the captured box, and were detained by snow and rain. We were too much pleased to have them with us not to make it convenient to accommodate them, which we did with the assistance of our kind friend Mrs. P. To-morrow F. and myself will return to our offices, after a good rest, for which we are very thankful.

SOURCE: Judith W. McGuire, Diary of a Southern Refugee, During the War, p. 327

Diary of Sarah Morgan: Thursday, January 1, 1863

1863! Why I have hardly become accustomed to writing '62 yet! Where has this year gone? With all its troubles and anxieties, it is the shortest I ever spent! '61 and '62 together would hardly seem three hundred and sixty-five days to me. Well, let time fly. Every hour brings us nearer our freedom, and we are two years nearer peace now than we were when South Carolina seceded. That is one consolation. ... I learn, to my unspeakable grief, that the State House is burned down.

SOURCE: Sarah Morgan Dawson, A Confederate Girl's Diary, p. 307-8

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, January 1, 1865

This is New Year's Day and my fourth in the army.¹ We did not have to work on the fortifications today, and as the weather was cloudy and cool we remained close to our “ranches.” At 4 p. m. we had company inspection. We are still on two-thirds rations.

_______________

¹ The common belief among the men was that this would be the last New Year's Day spent In the army. Everything pointed to an early end of the war. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 243

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes: Wednesday, January 1, 1862

Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia, Wednesday, New Year's Day, 1862. — Sun shone brightly an hour or two; mild winter weather, then windy and threatening. Rode with Colonel Scammon four or five miles southwest of town. Wind blew all day as if a storm were by brewing, but no rain or snow. I set it down as a pleasant day. Number 1 for January 1862.

At dinner, speaking of naming my boy, I said: “The name was all ready if I had heard that a daughter was born.” “Fanny Lucy" or “Lucy Fanny” — linking together the names of the two dear ones, wife and sister. Dear Fanny! what an angel she was, and, may I hope, now is.

Heard from home. Sergeant [John] McKinley, with letter and watch — tight, drunk, the old heathen, and insisting on seeing the madame! I didn't dream of that. He must be a nuisance, a dangerous one too, when drunk. A neat, disciplined, well-drilled soldier under rule, but what a savage when in liquor! Must be careful whom I send home.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 173

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: January 1, 1864

New Year's Day, 1864: How times flies! though his wings are heavy. Had hardly gotten used to '63, when here is '64 upon me. A bright beautiful day, after ten days' rain and snow.  . . . Roads and streets terribly muddy; scarcely attempt going out. Most of the servants back again. Excessively cold.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 176

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: January 1, 1864

In Winter Quarters,

Near Brandy Station, Va.,

Friday, Jan. 1, 1864.

Although attached to Company B, Tenth Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry, (Capt. Edwin Dillingham's of Waterbury, Vt), Lieut. Ezra Stetson commanding, I am Second Lieutenant of Company D (Capt. Samuel Darrah's of Burlington, Vt.) of the same regiment, having been promoted from First Sergeant of Company B last spring.

All are wishing me a “Happy New Year”! God grant that I may have one. I was awakened long before daylight by the band serenading the birth of the New Year. Lieut. G. W. Burnell took his departure early this morning for Washington, D. C.; he has been promoted Captain of U. S. Colored Troops and is about to take up other duties in Baltimore, Md. It was quite pleasant early in the day but it is very muddy under foot; had a grand New Year's dinner. There has been a very cold wind this afternoon. This evening it is clear and intensely cold. Will Clark has made me a short call; am feeling very well but studying hard.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 1-2

Diary of Margaret Junkin Preston: December 31, 1862

Last night of the year! Servants away all day on their holiday, and I have been doing much of their work.  . . . God grant us a happier year in the one to come than the last has been!

SOURCE: Elizabeth Preston Allan, The Life and Letters of Margaret Junkin Preston, p. 158

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: January 1, 1862

Wrote, rode and read some. In the morning went over to Company I's quarters. Wrote to Ella Clark. Made some resolutions for the future.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 5

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Friday, January 1, 1864

This is a cold New Year's Day, but things are quite lively in camp, the boys being in fine spirits. I got a pass to go down town this afternoon and found the stores all closed for the day. This is the beginning of the year 1864, and this cruel war still continues to rage in the land. I pray to God that it may come to a close before this year does; but, if not, may all things be done to the glory and praise of God, for He is a God of battles. May this war come to a close and our nation be at peace once more, and may slavery be wiped out so that there shall be no more slaves in America.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 160

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: January 1, 1864

New Year. Last night on second relief, going on post at eleven o'clock. Remained until one o'clock. Saw the old year out and the new in. This morning before daylight the outposts were attacked. A sharp, hot firing. All the forces around town were ordered out, double-quick time. All under arms. Later it was learned there was a large force of rebel cavalry near North Mountain, about five miles out. Reported to be under Generals Imboden and McCausland. The rebel scouts and our pickets caused the sudden firing. The cold rain turned to snow, and was bitter cold, causing much suffering while waiting in line of battle. According to reports from prisoners, they suffered worse than we did. Standing in line all day, ready for action. The boys are anxious to give the enemy a hot welcome. Double picket line ordered.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 34-5