Camp Cairo, Illinois.
Storm has abated. The troops that were
enbarking yesterday will all leave to day. One soldier was drowned yesterday
evening by being shoved overboard Gens. McClernand & Grant & Staffs
respectively leave to day. Col. Buford is in command until noon to day. Gen. Paine
will then assume command of the Three Posts with Head Quarters here. To
inclement for Dress Parade.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 235
Weather moderate. snow which had fallen to the depth of 2
Inches is fast disappearing mud mud everlasting oh how awful
mudy it is. Very dull to day. No news of any consequence. We are all hopeful
however that the expedition which left here will be successful. Roll Call now
at the usual hour of Dress Parade.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 235
I have determined to
write you another letter, although I cannot do so with the satisfaction it
usually affords me, for I feel so uncertain whether you will ever read what I
write.
In this I shall
attempt a hurried sketch of the past ten days, unless I am interrupted by an
order to leave before I get through. Already, since I have commenced this, we
have received notice to be ready to march at the sound of the bugle, which may
mean in ten minutes, or ten hours, so you see under what difficulties I write
to my sweetheart. On yesterday week we left our camp on the Rapidan, from which
I last wrote you, and took a hot and dusty march of sixteen miles towards
Fredericksburg, and on the next morning were ordered to retrace our steps and
took the same wearisome march and camped near our old ground, where we remained
until Thursday morning at daylight, and then proceeded to this place, making
another hot and toilsome march of sixteen miles. We remained here until
Saturday at 12 o'clock m., when we started and marched towards the Rappahannock
until 10 o'clock at night. This was a severe march. It rained for two hours in
the afternoon and I was completely soaked. It kept drizzling on until daylight.
About 10 o'clock at night we were ordered to halt and camp, "without
fires," as the Yanks were not far off. It was a novel sight to me to see
or rather to hear 20,000 or 30,000 men rushing into the woods on the side of
the road to (here comes orders to march at 12 o'clock) secure a place to lie
down. We all laid down on "the cold ground" like tired hounds after a
chase.
Jim Manahan, Tom
Selman and myself laid down together. I was very wet, but very weary. I spent a
few minutes listening to the hum of 10,000 tongues cursing the Yankees, talking
of home and thinking of how pleasant it would be to take a bath and a toddy,
and how sad my wife would feel if she knew all that I was undergoing. I was
glad that she did not know it for I did not suffer when I called to mind that
these hardships were for the good of my country and the cause of liberty. Amid
all this I could not suppress a laugh to hear the expressions of some wayworn
chap as a straggler would creep into the bushes and grope about for a place to
spread his blanket. I could hear, "get off my hand," "now you
are on my foot," "for heaven's sake," (or something worse),
"keep your feet out of my face," "Oh, my back, you are right on
top of me," "you weigh six hundred pounds," etc., etc.
In the course of an
hour all was quiet save the riding back and forth of couriers, which I could
hear all night as our "bed" was not more than a foot from the ruts in
the road. I could put my hand out in the mud three or four inches deep, but I
slept pretty well, and waked at daylight well and heard the order to retrace
our steps to our camp near Culpepper. We formed and started back. It was my
turn to stand guard, so I was put as part of the rear guard for our regiment,
and marched back to this place, which we reached about 2 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. I remained on guard until 8 o'clock this morning. I got by the fire
a while last night and looked at your daguerreotype by the light of it,
and felt happy in the thought of once more meeting you and talking over the
dangers which I am now passing through. I feel sure that we shall meet the
Yanks in the course of three weeks, but cannot tell when.
All of our movements
are inexplicable to me. We never know anything. Even a colonel cannot tell until
he starts from camp in which direction he is going, whether North or South.
This secrecy is the secret of the success of this army. I forgot to say above,
that, as a matter of amusement, and to keep us from getting stiff, we were
marched on last Friday six miles off to witness a review of Stuart's cavalry;
it was a grand display; 10,000 or 12,000 mounted men is more than I expected to
see at one sight. I saw Wat Taylor, but Lamar Stark was off on duty across the
river. We returned to camp at night, making twelve miles "for fun"
and left the next day at 1 o'clock, as I stated above, so you will see that we
have been on the wing for nearly ten days. This marching and countermarching is
what they call "Demonstrations," and if they accomplish the objects
for which I left my friends I am perfectly satisfied. The marching is no great
trouble to me, but twenty or thirty pounds of baggage gets heavy before night,
especially in wet weather, on a slippery hillside—when one is so much fatigued
that to sneeze or blow his nose jostles him from one side of the road to the
other. I saw a great many poor fellows barefooted in the marches of which I
have written, but we got some shoes this morning, and I hope we will get
on better. Don't forget Stark's lessons and Mary's letters. Kiss them for me
and tell the servants howdy. I must stop now and get ready to leave. I hope to
hear from you some of these days. I have not received a line yet.
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. 69-73
Played ball this
forenoon and in the afternoon were detailed to extinguish a fire which
destroyed the best part of town. The Post Office, one of the best buildings,
was burned. We had dress parade at 4 o'clock. Gen. Logan's address to his
troops was read to us. Grant and McPherson were both here today. It is rumored
that the "Star of the West" has been captured.
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. 41
Our division was
inspected today by Major Strong, Inspector-General. Ours was the first regiment
inspected. We had a thunder shower in the afternoon and an awful one last night
and this morning. Our tent leaked like a sieve. The river is rising very fast.
The bank is being leveled to keep the water out of the canal. We had dress
parade this evening.
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. 41
A little incident
occurred yesterday, which is very gratifying to some of the boys, showing the
confidence our captain places in their word, and what a narrow chance others of
us had. Saturday is generally cleaning up day, and we understood there was to
be no battalion drill. At noon Sergt. White notified us that there would be a
drill at half-past one o'clock P.M. Three or four of us happened to be close to
the cook-house door, and of course cleared out. Robbins was outside and out of
hearing; we asked him to go with us, and he, being innocent of the order just
promulgated, fell in. We put in no appearance till dress parade, but nothing
was said till tattoo roll-call, when those who were absent were questioned.
Robbins was the first victim, being nearer the right of the line than any of
us. The question was, "Did you hear the order given by Sergt. White?"—"
No, sir."—"Where were you?"—" Outside the building,
sir." Which answers were satisfactory. When the captain came a little
short of the centre of the company and found another victim, the brilliant idea
struck the culprit to say, "I was with Robbins, sir." (So he was,
afterwards.) Robbins corroborated this, and the captain, not happening to ask
if the order was heard, passed; and one more was saved. It was a narrow escape,
and perhaps the white part of the fib saved the guard-house a temporary
boarder.
SOURCE: John Jasper
Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass.
Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 41
Night verry high
wind with incessant heavy rain, our canvas tents shelter us well from the storm
but the storm of wind gave us some uneasiness, we feared our stakes might draw
& our tents capsize About 2 Oc a Rebble boat Bracele came up with a flag of
truce & anchored opposite town to exchange the crew of our boat Blue Wing
which they captured a fiew days since. Mr. Oldfield who knows the Capt of the
Blue Wing told me that he David Hugle was at heart a traitor & he believed
that the taking of his boat with government stores was as Hugle wished it to
be, & Oldfield shook hands & talked with Harry Nolen of Cincinatti who
was one that came on shore to see about an exchange & his wife is in
Cincinatti sewing to Support herself & family & the citty helps to keep
her. At 4 Oc we ware on dress perade
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 102
1 Cyrus Bussey, a merchant of Bloomfield;
state senator, 1860; colonel Third Iowa Cavalry, 1861; brigadier-general,
1864-65.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, pp. 102-3
We was out this
morning by request of our Col & had a tryal at target shooting with him the
commissioned officers of us, pistol shooting. Capt Hale made the best shooting.
forenoon we had company drill & at 4 Oc we ware on dress perade. night I
continued my letter to my children. I recd a verry interesting letter from
Ellis Burch of Ia.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 103
Our Major was grand
officer of the day which makes him for this 24 hours next highest in Command to
Genl Gorman who is commander of the post TM Fee is officer of the day for the
Reg. I drilled the Company fore & afternoon & took them on Dress
perade. at 11 Oc last night the long roll beat & some 2 Reg of Inft & 2
or 3 parts of Regments, Cavelry went out in anticipation of an attack on the
pickets, but there was no attack.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 103
We drilled a short
time after our scirmish drill & was on dress perade I received a letter
from Emma with the good noose that Amandus is better
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 103
Forenoon we drilled
some in skirmish. 4 Oc we ware on dress perade I was in town a short time
afternoon & priced some things Flour is $4.00 per hundred lbs corn meal
2.50 per hundred Dried peaches 50 cents per lb Dried Apples 40 ct per lb cheese
30 to 40c per lb Butter 30 to 35c per lb Honey 40c per lb Chickens 50 cts each
potatoes $2.00 per bu Onions 2.00 per bu Green apples 5.00 per barrel or 2
apples for 5 cts
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 103
Forenoon I rambled
down the bottom & through a cotton plantation & to a burning cotton gin
& back to camp afternoon MH Hare our Chaplain & I rode out some 2½ or 3
miles was to see the Kansas 5th Cavelry we viewed some fine plantations went to
a cotton gin & I got a sack of seed to send to Iowa, we returned & I
was on Dress perade. the afternoon & night is echoing with the clatter of
buisey men preparing & moving by Companies & Regiments, Cavalry &
Infantry & Artillery & going on board of the fleet of steamers here,
the tramp of man & beasts the ratling of wagons the hollowing of teamsters
men & officers, the musick of the buglers, the fifes & drums, & the
hoarse cough of the steamers with their keen shrill whistle makes
the atmosphere in this valley tremble with the mingled sounds &
reverberate along the hills
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, pp. 103-4
General Buell is here, and a grand review took place to-day.
Since we left Elkwater there has been a steadily increasing element of insubordination manifested in many ways, but notably in an unwillingness to drill, in stealing from camp and remaining away for days. This, if tolerated much longer, will demoralize even the best of men and render the regiment worthless.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 90
A. M. to Ft. Morgan.
at 12 M. Steamer Tamanlapas crosses. to Ft Gaines, I succeed in being mustered
to date from Feb 21st 1865. Judge Ft Gaines not so good a fort as Ft. Morgan.
Return to camp at 5 P. M. Regt just from Parade listening to speech from Agent
of Orphan Asylum, Regt Subscribed about $5000. a brig loaded with lumber &
hay was wrecked on sand Island yesterday during the fog. Meet an old friend
Joel Deweese of 23d Iowa
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. 576
On yesterday we
marched six miles to a large open field beyond Culpepper to witness a review of
General Stuart's cavalary [sic].
There were 8,000 or 10,000 horsemen covering an immense area. The infantry were
permitted to rest and gaze at will, from the railroad embankment, on their
manouvers. Except the difference in the numbers present there was nothing to
note which may not be seen at the review of a regiment. The great numbers
inspired a feeling of awe and created an impression of strength and security.
We returned to camp
about sunset, having made a march of twelve miles for recreation, entertainment
and inspiration. Just as I was writing the last line we received orders to be
ready to march at 12 o'clock; it is now nearly 11. I asked yesterday for Lamar
Stark, but I learned from Wat Taylor that he was across the river; so I cannot
tell when I shall see him.
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, p. 58
7 Oc Amandus Mullen
& I took the cars for St. Louis arived 8 we then went to the arsenal &
to[ok] a view of all the preparations there for war then took the cars &
went to Corondelet took a view of the gun Boats building & the big guns.
took dinner with Anthony Lobsinger then took the cars for the citty then took
the Street Cars & came to Benton Barracks I was on Dress perade A Mullen
staid with us the night
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 97
Forenoon we had a
fine battalion drill afternoon the orderly & I drilled the company we ware
on Dress perade Evening the Chaplain preached in barracks of Co C text prayer
is as an anchor to the soul &c. after preaching we had an excellent
speaking meeting.
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 97
Forenoon we had
battalion drill afternoon Capt & Orderly went out to try their pistols I
visited the hospitals & the Seargents drilled the Co. 4 Oc we ware on dress
perade evening Capt Fee & I spent at head quarters of post with Leroy Mayne
& Adgatent Horine
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 98
Forenoon we had a
good battallion drill afternoon I Drilled the Co 4 Oc we was on Dress perade
evening I was at meeting a short time in Co D at 7½ Oc I met with the
commissioned officers at head quarters we held an election for Sutler & a
Mr Wolf of Albia, Monroe Co Iowa was elected
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 98
