Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: September 14, 1862

Our army has entered the City of Lexington, and the population hail our brave soldiers as deliverers. Three regiments were organized there in twenty-four hours, and thirty thousand recruits, it is thought, will flock to our standard in Kentucky.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 153

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: September 9, 1864

Camp near Summit Point, our old battlefield, June 15th, 1863. Company drill this morning. Very strange to us. No other regiment out, in the face of the enemy. Battalion drill this P. M. The boys are all mad over it. The men need the rest. It is thought Captain Tiffany wished to make a show, because we are well drilled. Dress parade at 5 P. M. A number of new recruits joined our regiment today, coming from Connecticut. They were assigned to our company, C, we having the least number of any company in the regiment, owing to losses during the severe campaign for the past eight months. Wrote a few letters. Draw four days' rations. The day closes clear and pleasant. All is quiet along the lines.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 123

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Thursday, January 28, 1864

A fine morning. Most of the companies have been fixing their streets; have been at work all day on Lieut. Ezra Stetson's ordnance returns, and have not got them done yet; will try and finish them in the morning. The regiment got no mail to-night. Corporal C. B. Lee's remains were sent home Tuesday; had a dress parade to-night in which the recruits took part. Those of Company B never had a gun in their hands till this morning.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 12-3

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, March 25, 1865

We remained in camp all day. Large foraging parties were sent out to get feed for the mules and horses. Our train loaded with supplies returned from Kingston, down on the river. A construction train came in from Kingston, repairing the railroad. The Twenty-third Corps from Schofield's army has been moved to Kingston. All the troops are in camp in and around Goldsboro, and it will be but a short time until all our supplies will be brought in from the coast by the railroad. The Thirteenth Iowa received three hundred recruits today.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 264

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, December 15, 1864

The weather is fine — days warm and pleasant and nights cool. The Thirty-second Illinois arrived in camp at 11 o'clock with sweet potatoes, fresh pork and corn for our brigade. We are still lying in camp without rations. We had company inspection and drill for the recruits. The First Division of the Fifteenth Corps advanced their skirmish line this morning toward the rebels' post south of Savannah. There was quite an artillery duel and some sharp skirmishing, but our men succeeded in gaining their position.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 237-8

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw Lowell, October 12, 1864

Cedar Creek, Oct. 12, 1864.

It's raining again this afternoon, and I am interrupted in the midst of my airing and drying operations. I have a drill going on, however, about 100 yards in front of our tents, — the first drill since we left Vienna, I believe! — and I stop every now and then to look out and see the recruits. You wouldn't enjoy it much, for it's dismounted only. I like to have you write a little sometimes about the war and about politics, — they're the best views I get now, or ever get indeed, — and you need only make the letters a little longer, you know. A’n’t I exorbitant? I always was, — I believe the first word I learned to say was “more.” It was with reference to crackers, I think after eating several dozen.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 358

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Thursday, January 28, 1864

A fine morning. Most of the companies have been fixing their streets; have been at work all day on Lieut. Ezra Stetson's ordnance returns, and have not got them done yet; will try and finish them in the morning. The regiment got no mail to-night. Corporal C. B. Lee's remains were sent home Tuesday; had a dress parade to-night in which the recruits took part. Those of Company B never had a gun in their hands till this morning.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 12-3

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Sunday, January 10, 1864

A beautiful morning. Dan Bancroft came in to see me this forenoon, a private in the Vermont Cavalry; had inspection at 11 a. m. and dress parade this evening. Quite a number of recruits came this evening, but only one for Company B. Col. A. B. Jewett and Lieut.-Colonel W. W. Henry also returned from Vermont to-night. The band has been serenading Colonel Jewett. It is cold and frosty with a little snow still on the ground.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 5-6

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Tuesday, January 12, 1864

Retired at 2 a. m. last night; learned by heart before retiring fifty pages in tactics; got up at 9 a. m. and went at it again; have conquered fifty pages more to-day and recited them to Lieut. Farr: had them fairly well learned before; only review; weather warm and comfortable; had a dress parade at 5 p. m. This evening twenty recruits armed and equipped arrived from Vermont for Company B; got some newspapers from cousin Abby Burnham to-night.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 6

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Sunday, January 3, 1864

Quite a comfortable day; no snow yet, but it looks likely to storm in a day or two; wrote to Pert*, and had our usual inspection this forenoon. Since dinner,

I have read “Washington's Farewell Address”, and the “Declaration of Independence”. This evening quite a number of recruits arrived for the regiment, but none for Company B. Capt. J. A. Salisbury has been in to call on Lieut. Stetson, and broken my camp chair. This is still more provoking than not to get a letter from home for chairs are not plentiful here. He is a big man.

_______________

* Miss P. A. Thomson, a cousin and many years a teacher in Goddard Seminary, Barre, Vt

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 2-3

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to John M. Forbes, July 27, 1863

Centreville, July 27, '63.

My experience is that, for cavalry, raw recruits sent to a regiment in large numbers are worse than useless; they are of no account themselves and they spoil the old men, — they should be drilled at least four months before they join their regiment. Now has not Governor Andrew the power — I mean can he not get it — to establish a camp of instruction and Reserve Depot for his two cavalry regiments at Readville? There is a good drill-ground there, good water and good stabling for 400 horses, all that are ever likely to be there at one time. I should have the horses, arms, and equipments a permanency, — with raw recruits, trained horses are of immense importance — 150 trained horses are enough, however. If some such arrangement could be made, Harry put in charge of both regiments and all new officers and men sent there to learn their A B C's, I think the Massachusetts regiments would be started on a footing that would keep them more effective than I see a chance of any regiments being under the present system.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 287-8

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: March 24, 1862

New recruits came, so I moved over to the Major's quarters. Played chess with Nettleton.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 10

Lieutenant-Colonel Theodore Lyman to Elizabeth Russell Lyman, November 14, 1864

November 14, 1864

If doctors and quartermasters had not quarrelled, I should not have come unto sorrow; thus, a hospital was placed nigh to a place on the railroad where the quartermasters would fain have a platform. “Move your tents,” said the quartermasters. “We won't,” said the doctors. “You shall,” retorted the quartermasters. “We shan't,” reiterated the M.D's. The strife waxed hot. Inspectors were called: they inspected much and shook their heads; that being a negative conclusion, the Major-General Commanding the Army of the Potomac was appealed to, and he rode out to enter a fiat. In riding out he took me, and I took a chill. So confusion to all doctors and quartermasters! But the former shall be forced to cure me and the latter to make me comfortable in mine house. There came over, for a visit, the Colonel Russell, of the funny turn, who commands now a brigade of negro troops. He has always something funny to relate of their manners and customs. It would appear that his nigs were once relieved by troops of the 2d Corps, and, as both parties had just been paid off, the ivory and the ebony sat down to play poker, wherein the ebony was rapidly getting the better of their opponents. The enemy meanwhile began to fire shells over the woods, but the players were too interested to leave off. At last one cute Yankee, who, despite his cuteness, had been entirely cleaned out, wandered off and found an empty shell, which he carefully filled with damp gunpowder, adding a paper fuse. Approaching the group that seemed to have most money on the board, he lighted the innocent combustible, screamed “Look out!” and threw it into the midst of them, following up himself, to secure the greenbacks left by the fugitives. Russell said when the recruits first come down they get into all sorts of snarls. As, for example, two of them found what they call “one er dese ere mortisses,” by which they would say mortar shell. “Hullo, dar's er mortiss: s'pose dat ar’ll ’splode?” “Splode! ‘corse it'll ’splode.” “No, it wun't; how's gwine to 'splode, when's been shot out uv er cannon?” “Bet yer five dollars '11 'splode.” “Bet yer it wun't!” The next thing the Colonel knew was a tremendous report, and two or three bits of iron flying through his tent. He rushed forth and collared a handful of the darks, and demanded immediate explanation. Whereunto one replied, with the utmost simplicity: “Didn't mean nuphin, Kernul; all fault er dat ar stupid nigger — said er mortiss wouldn't 'splode!” This day was further remarkable by the erection of a stately flagstaff, which seemed to imply that General Williams thought we should stay some time; but I think it will doubtless make us move at once; just as building log huts has a similar effect.

SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness to Appomattox, p. 269-70

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, May 3, 1864

We remained in bivouac all day. The transports did not return today as expected. The recruits of the Eleventh Iowa were formed into a battalion and drilled twice a day, by Captain Kelly of Company D. We had our first dress parade this evening, since returning from furlough, and the regiment looked well in their new uniforms, but it was very awkward in the manual of arms because of the new recruits. An order was read on dress parade making some promotions of noncommissioned officers in Companies A and H, since they went in as veterans. Paducah is a nice town and contained about seven thousand inhabitants just before the rebellion broke out.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 185

Diary of Gideon Welles: Friday, August 22, 1862

The President tells me he has a list of the number of new recruits which have reached Washington under the late call. Over 18,000 have arrived in just one week. There is wonderful and increasing enthusiasm and determination to put down this Rebellion and sustain the integrity of the Union. It is confined to no class or party or description: rich and poor, the educated and ignorant, the gentle and refined as well as the stout, coarse, and athletic, the Democrats generally as well as the Republicans, are offering themselves to the country.

Governor Dennison and Judge Swayne¹ of Ohio, with others, are urging in person the establishment of a line of armed and armored steamers on the Ohio River. The plan has been elaborated with much care, and has been before presented and pressed with some zeal. Distrust, no doubt, in regard to army management leads these men to seek naval protection. The Blairs are quoted to me as favoring the movement, and Fox has given them encouragement. It has not found favor with me at any time. It is now brought to my attention in such a way that I am compelled to take it up. I find that great names and entire communities in Ohio and Indiana, led on by the authorities of those States, are engaged in it. I told the principal agent, who, with Governor D., had a long interview with me, that my judgment and convictions were against it, for: First: I had no faith that light-draft gunboats would be a safe and reliable means of frontier river-defense. They might be auxiliary and essential aids to the army, but they cannot carry heavy armament, are frail, and in low stages of the water, with high banks which overlook the river, would not be effective and could hardly take care of themselves, though in certain cases, and especially in high water, they might greatly aid the army. Secondly: As a matter of policy it would be injudicious and positively harmful to establish a frontier line between Ohio and Kentucky, making the river the military boundary, — it would be conceding too much. If a line of boats could assist in protecting the northern banks of the Ohio they could afford little security to the southern banks, where, as in Ohio, there is, except in localities, a majority for the Union. I added that I should be opposed to any plan which proposed to establish frontier lines, therein differing from some of our best army officers; that I thought neither Ohio nor Indiana could, on deliberate consideration, wish the line of separation from hostile forces should be the northern boundary of Kentucky. It appeared to me the true course was to make their interest in this war identical with that of Kentucky, and if there were to be a line of demarcation it should be as far south as the southern boundary of Tennessee, and not the banks of the Ohio. The gentlemen seemed to be impressed with these general views.

_______________

¹ Noah H. Swayne, of the United States Supreme Court.

SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 1: 1861 – March 30, 1864, p. 87-9

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, April 23, 1864

Company E reported for duty this morning, and in addition ten recruits. Our regiment has more than one hundred recruits. We signed the pay rolls this forenoon, and were expecting to receive our pay, one month's, but as Company B has not yet arrived in camp, the paymaster withheld the pay. I swapped watches with Henry Clark, trading my cylinder escapement watch for his American lever watch, and gave $10.00 to boot. The boys still keep straggling into camp, and all who have reported are in high spirits and glad to return after their thirty-day furlough.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 182

Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, April 19, 1864

I attended a party last night at Mr. Ray's and did not get home till daylight this morning. William Green and Jeremiah Argo came home with me for breakfast and left for Camp McClellan. Green is one of the veterans of Company E and Argo is a recruit for the same. The weather is getting warm, the ground is in fine condition for putting in the crops and the farmers are all quite busy seeding. I sowed some barley today for the first time. This evening I went over to Mr. Sparks's to see Jason, who is getting along well with the measles, and in a few days will be able to leave for the army.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 180

Captain Charles Russell Lowell to Anna Jackson Lowell, July 15, 1861

Franklin, Pennsylvania, July 15, '61.

I am just in from a ride of thirty-four miles — have averaged over twenty-five for the last eight days. Whether you fancy my soldiering or not, you would be glad to see how hard I am getting in this mountain air with thumping about on a country horse. We have about twenty recruits secured — a very good beginning: now that a nucleus is formed, I think they will collect rapidly.

I shall start on Wednesday for Warren, Trumbull County, Ohio: this is the Western Reserve, and I believe is settled by Yankees. I must say I shall be glad to escape from the Democratic atmosphere of Pennsylvania; party lines are as strong as ever they were in Franklin — it is said there are nearly one hundred subscribers to the “Day Book” here. As I am now a “National” man and forbidden to talk politics, I listen in silence — but it is not pleasant.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 214

James Russell Lowell to James T. Fields, August 2, 1862

Elmwood, Saturday, Aug. 2, 1862.

My dear Fields, — I have an idea—nay, I honestly believe even two ideas (which is perhaps more than in fairness falls to a single person); but I can't persuade the words to marry either of them — such matches are made in heaven. Did you ever (when you were a boy) play “Bat, bat, come into my hat”? I have since I was I won't say how old, and under the most benign conditions — fine evening, smooth lawn, lovely woman to inspire, and, more than all, a new hat. The bat that can resist all these inducements must be little better than a brick-bat, and yet who ever knew one of those wayward, noctivagant creatures to condescend even to such terms? They will stoop towards the soaring Castor, they will look into that mysterious hollow which some angry divinity has doomed us to wear, which is the Yankee's portmanteau and travelling-safe; but they will not venture where we venture the most precious (or most worthless) part of our person twenty times a day. Yet an owl will trap you one in a minute and make no bones of it. Well, I have been pestering my two ideas (one for a fable by Mr. Wilbur, the other a dialogue with a recruiting-drum by Mr. Biglow — with such a burthen to it!) just in that way, but I might as well talk to Egg Rock. If I were an owl (don't you see?) I should have no trouble. I shouldn't consult the wishes of my bat, but just gobble him up and done with it.

Truth is, my dear Fields, I am amazed to think how I ever kept my word about the six already caught. I look back and wonder how in great H. I ever did it. But Sunday is always a prosperous day with me; so pray wait till Monday, and then I shall either have done my job or shall know it can't be done.

But what shall one say? Who feels like asking more recruits to go down into McClellan's beautiful trap, from which seventy thousand men can't get away? Hasn't he pinned his army there like a bug in a cabinet? — only you don't have to feed your bug! I feel “blue as the blue forget-me-not,” and don't see how we are to be saved but by a miracle, and miracles aren't wrought for folks without heads, at least since the time of St. Denys.

I am much obliged to you for introducing me to Dr. Brown's book, which I like very much. There is a soul in it somehow that one does not find in many books, and he seems to me a remarkably good critic, where his Scoticism doesn't come in his way.

Give me a victory and I will give you a poem; but I am now clear down in the bottom of the well, where I see the Truth too near to make verses of.

Truly yours,

J. R. L.

SOURCE: Charles Eliot Norton, Editor, Letters of James Russell Lowell, Volume 1, p. 359-61

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: Friday, January 8, 1864

Twenty new recruits arrived from old Connecticut. Welcomed as fresh fish. They were assigned to the different companies which are being filled up for the coming campaign.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 36