Wednesday, and our
duties have commenced again: regular camp routine,—drill, guard, and police,
the same as before the last march.
We are forgetting
the sore feet, and gaining flesh every day, and an occasional run down town to
Blagg's tends to rub off the rough edge of being cooped behind sentries.
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. 30
Police Duty as
usual, respective Companies fixing up their camp ground. Nothing of importance to
day except the arrival of a Comp. of 50 men from Crittenden County Ky. for camp Butler. also
Col. Jurchins (Turchin) 19th Ills. Regt.
came up the river from their camp on the KB. Side opposite Norfolk their
destination is not yet known. The court martial of Capt. Hitts man for
insubordination set to day, tis known what the sentence is
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 226
Our Comp. is on
Police Duty again to day—Battalion Drill this afternoon without arms the comp.
all went through the drill very for the first time
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 227
Camp McClernand,
Cairo, Ills. Ten men on Police Duty again to day Nighswonger refused to act
having been detailed—in consequence was put in the Guard House on Bread &
water time indefinite. Private in the Guard House Also for drunkeness.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 227
We have enjoyed three days of furlough, with no drill or duty to speak of, and most of the company are in good trim again. It has rained much lately, which shuts us in-doors, most of our time being occupied in writing and sleeping. We have just received our blankets, which we left at Washington, never expecting to see them again. They are very acceptable, as the nights are not of the mildest.
Our camp is very pleasantly located, a few rods nearer the Neuse than our first one. The barracks are formed in two wings, with cook-house in rear of each company, and quartermaster's department to be built in the square behind; the line officers in barracks by themselves on each flank, and staff in front of the right wing; the guard line being just outside of all, giving us a convenient parade ground. About six men are drawn from the company each day for camp guard and two for police, making that duty comparatively light; but other work comes in regular order, so we don't have much leisure time. Our routine is about as follows: Reveille at half-past six A.M. and roll-call; then basins to the front, and we go to the water, although we often find some running back to the barracks to get a little more sleep; breakfast, seven; surgeon's call, half-past seven; about this time the first sergeant makes his morning report; guard mounting at eight; then squad drilling from half-past eight till ten, unless the officers get tired of it; company drill, eleven to twelve; then one hour for dinner; company drill from one to two; battalion drill, three to four; company parade and roll-call at half-past four; dress parade, five; supper, six; tattoo and roll-call, half-past seven; taps, half-past eight. No rest for the weary, for between whiles Sergt. Thayer wants three men to get rations, or Sergt. Parsons wants one to sweep barracks, or perhaps the captain wants one to carry a loaded knapsack in front of his quarters for an hour or so for discipline. We wish the paymaster would come; we have been borrowing and lending to each other just to be able to remember the looks of a dollar. There is about three months' pay due us, which would alleviate our misery much just now, especially as Thanksgiving is near at hand.
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. 21
Cloudy drissling
rain, very unpleasant underfoot—quite a No. not out at Roll Call—placed on
Extra Duty in consequence. Our Co. placed on Police Duty to day-by order of the
Col.
Camp McClernand Cairo Ills.
it is therefore
exempt from drill to day no news of consequences. has rained at intervals all
day The Two Gun Boats have returned, reported to have had a brush with a Gun
Boat of the Enemy's—called Yankee—near a place called Hickman in which the
latter was worsted Also bombarded the place. News of Jefferson Davis' death
this evening generally not credited
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 225
Duties of the
morning gone through with as usual Our Company on Police Duty to day cleaning
up the Parade ground & digging sinks. nothing of importance transpired to
day. Dress Parade this evening as usual.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 226
Duties as usual this
morning. The Regt on Police duty today, cleaning up the regimental Parade
ground. News encouraging from the seat of war to day. reported fight going on
down the river near Norfolk on the Mo. side this evening.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 226
I did police duty.
SOURCE: Lewis C.
Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson:
Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 3
