Reveille sounded at
half-past two A.M. Started from Hartwood Church at nine o'clock, and marched to
Weaverville. Went into camp at seven P.M., after a march of twenty-three miles.
The day was very pleasant, and the roads good.
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. 275
Reveille sounded at
two A.M. Left camp at five o'clock, and marched to Manassas Junction, where we
went into position on the left of the railroad, at three р.м. Marched nineteen
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. 275
Reveille was sounded
at one A.M. Marched till half-past four, to Centreville, where we saw the Ninth
Massachusetts Battery. Went into camp at three P.M., at a place called Gum
Springs. The day was very hot, and the roads dusty, and several of the men were
sun-struck. Eighteen 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, pp. 275-6
Reveille sounded at
one A.M. Left camp at three A.M., to go on reconnoissance with the cavalry.
Fell in with them and the flying-artillery, and marched to Middleburg, and went
into position on the outskirts of the town. Our cavalry fought the rebel
cavalry all day, and drove them to Ashby's Gap. Marched six 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. 276
To-day begins the
Pennsylvania campaign. Reveille sounded at four A.M. Left camp at six o'clock.
Marched through Leesburg, and crossed the Potomac on a pontoon-bridge at
Edwards's Ferry. Went into camp on the Maryland side at eight P.M. There was a
fine rain almost all day, and the roads were very bad; but marched twenty-two
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. 276
Bright and clear,
warm and pleasant. How well do I remember two short years ago today when we
took a sleigh ride and made a regular family visit at Uncle Tim's. Since then I
have traveled over four thousand miles, five hundred and eighty of which I
marched with gun on my shoulder; have seen more vice and drunkenness than I
ever supposed existed, yet I hope I am morally no worse than when surrounded by
kind relatives and friends. An orderly call beat immediately after reveille
this morning at which time we received orders to cook our rations and be ready
by half past seven. We cooked our fresh pork and by the appointed time had it
in our haversacks, and our knapsacks strapped on our backs, ready for the
march. We went eight miles and camped close to a small town called Lafayette,
situated on the Memphis and Charleston R. R. As soon as we had pitched our
tents, Chas. Berry and myself went out one mile from camp and killed a hog. We
are now the first regiment of the first brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General
McArthur, of Gen. Hamilton's corps, of the left wing of Gen. Grant's army. We
were put in the rear of the brigade today as a special guard to keep up the stragglers.
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, pp. 24-5
Revelie at 3 A. M.
Raining Regt moves out of camp at 6:30 a. m. & are on the cars at 8, a. m.
cars were crowded, 1/3 of men on top, at Duvalls Bluff at 1. P. M. on board
steamer Paragon at 4 P. M. 50th Ind on board Rowena we tie up 30 mile below.
Duvalls Bluffs a perfect mudhole. Left mail at the Rock, which was not
destributed. Rained almost incessantly all day.
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. 574
Reveille sounded
this morning a little after 2 o'clock. We filled our haversacks, got our breakfasts,
and by daylight were ready for the march. We fell into ranks, the regiment was
formed, and then we witnessed an unexpected ceremony which is disgusting to
every true soldier—the drumming out of a fellow soldier for disobedience and
disgraceful conduct. I should prefer death to being marched between two lines
of a regiment by a guard, at a charged bayonet, with an escort, the band
playing the Rogues March, and the remainder of the regiment standing at charged
bayonets; but it was soon over, the ranks were closed, and the regiment started
on the march. We crossed Wolf Creek, a fine stream one mile from LaGrange. We
passed over a fine country somewhat broken. The army has surely left its mark
here. Miles of fences and scores of houses have been burnt. From one place we
could count seven or eight ruins. The destruction of property is not
countenanced by a good soldier, but every regiment has its straggling, order
breaking reprobates that are a disgrace to the flag they fight under. We
reached Coldwater toward night and camped. I was on guard. I came across an old
cove who helped build dam No. 4, in Maryland, and knew all the citizens who
live there now.
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.
16-7
It is said the
pickets of the Fourteenth Indiana and the enemy's cavalry came in collision
to-day, and that three of the latter were killed.
It is now 9 P. M.
Sergeants are calling the roll for the last time to-night. In half an hour taps
will be sounded and the lights extinguished in every private's tent. The first
call in the morning, reveille, is at five; breakfast call, six; surgeon's call,
seven; drill, eight; recall, eleven; dinner, twelve; drill again at four;
recall, five; guard-mounting, half-past five; first call for dress-parade, six;
second call, half-past six; tattoo at nine, and taps at half-past. So the day
goes round.
Hardee for a month
or more was a book of impenetrable mysteries. The words conveyed no idea to my
mind, and the movements described were utterly beyond my comprehension; but now
the whole thing comes almost without study.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 41
Major Wood, Fifteenth Indiana, thought he heard chopping last night, and imagined that the enemy was engaged in cutting a road to our rear.
Lieutenant Driscoll and party returned to-day. They slept on the mountains last night; were inside the enemy's picket lines; heard reveille sounded this morning, but could not obtain a view of the camp.
Have just returned from a sixteen-mile ride, visiting picket posts. The latter half of the ride was after nightfall. Found officers and men vigilant and ready to meet an attack.
Obtained some fine huckleberries and blackberries on the mountain to-day. Had a blackberry pie and pudding for dinner. Rather too much happiness for one day; but then the crust of the pudding was tolerably tough. The grass is a foot high in parts of my tent, where it has not been trodden down, and the gentle grasshopper makes music all the day, and likewise all the night.
Our fortifications are progressing slowly. If the enemy intends to attack at all, he will probably do so before they are complete; and if he does not, the fortifications will be of no use to us. But this is the philosophy of a lazy man, and very similar to that of the Irishman who did not put roof on his cabin: when it rained he could not, and in fair weather he did not need it.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 47-8
Begins to rain soon
after revelie, turns to snow about 8. A. M. snows till 12 M, P. M. clear. At
the theater, night.
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. 570
Rienzi. Arose to the sound of the bugle at 3 A. M.
Prepared for a general inspection, but Captain, apprehending a move, did not
call us out. Drew good bunks from the old camp of 2nd Missouri. After roll call
at 9 P. M. I went to bed hoping to have a good night's rest, but I was doomed
to disappointment, for ere two hours had elapsed, we were awakened by Corporal
Dixon telling us to pack up all our clothing and be in readiness to march. We
of course obeyed and waited for further orders, when about midnight,
"Strike your tents" was given. This done, the mules began driving in,
loading was commenced, the horses harnessed, and by one o'clock all was ready
to march. That which could not be taken was piled up ready for the march, but
the order did not come, so we were obliged to pick our place and lay down for a
short and uneasy sleep.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4
Rienzi. I answered the summons of the reveille, but I
did not feel very well; had an attack of the ague but got over it by dinner.
Nothing to break the monotony of camp life. Reinforced by one regiment of
infantry.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 4-5
Christmas. A fine
day, and, being my birthday, I was allowed a furlough, for chum and self, from
reveille till tattoo.
We started as early
as possible for New Berne, and, among other things, had a first-class turkey
dinner, with all the fixings, silverware, cut glass, white tablecloth, and some
one to wait on table. But for us, as for all, the day came to a close, and at
the usual time we were back, no better than about eighty others, excepting the
memory of home-life which the associations of the day had called up.
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
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
Newport News is a
military post, and is of no importance in any other sense. There were no
villages or cities here previous to the war. Now there are quite a number of
temporary buildings, and barracks to accommodate 60,000 men. It is an ideal
camping ground, lying on the north bank of Hampton Roads and inclining gently
to the northeast. The soil is light sand, which absorbs the rain as fast as it
falls and is never muddy. The Ninth Corps, composed of forty-eight regiments,
is extended in a direct line along the beach, covering about two miles in
length. Stringent rules have been adopted, which, if carried out, will greatly
enhance the efficiency of the men in field operations. We are to have revielle
at six, when every man must turn out to roll call; breakfast call at seven,
when we fall in line, march to the cook's quarters and receive our allowance of
"grub.” Immediately after breakfast we are marched to the creek, where
every man is required to wash hands, face and neck. From eight to half-past,
police duty, or cleaning up in front of tents; from eight-thirty to ten-thirty,
company drill; from this time until noon, clean guns, brasses and do any little
jobs we may have on hand; dinner at twelve; from one-thirty to two thirty,
skirmish drill; from three to four, battalion drill, after which is dress
parade; at eight-thirty, tattoo, or go to bed; at nine, taps, or lights out.
Saturday is set
apart for washing and cleaning up generally. Sunday morning at eight o'clock is
inspection of arms, and at two o'clock divine service.
Some of the boys
think the regular routine is reversed in our case—fighting first and drill
afterward. Poor fellows; I expect they will see fighting enough yet. I have not
seen a newspaper since our arrival, and know as little of what is going on in
the world as did Cruso on his desert island.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 34-5
Reveille early this
morning preparations for leaving Camp McClernand, Tents struck at a few minutes
after 10 A. M. Baggage packed & loaded by ½ past 11 A. M. Companies on
parade ¼ past 12 M. Marched into Jacksonville at 1 O'clock P. M. in court yard
till 4 O'clock P. M. Marched to the cars, nothing but open cars for the men,
Large crowd at the depot to witness our departure. Had some trouble while at
the depot with private Sullivan, he was drunk had to tie him for refusing to be
still, Left Springfield at 10 minutes past 5 P. M. amid the firing of cannon
and immense cheering of the citisens 1st Sergent Browning left behind to
recruit his health, to follow up as soon as that will permit. Arrived at
Decatur without anything of moment transpiring. At 1 O'clock on the morning of
the 30th issued some rations of hard crackers & cheese to the men Changed
cars; better accommodations from there, to Cairo, in passenger coaches but
nothing better to eat. Arrived at Cairo at 4 O'clock P. M. marched to quarters on
the open plain above the city.
SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State
Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 224
This morning the
boys remain in their bunks unmindful of reveille, showing a determination to
obtain some sleep and rest after the two days, trip to the mills. No news came
with this evening's mail and everything seems quiet and dull in and around
Corinth. During the latter part of this month, (February) nothing of note
occurs, and also during the month of March a dull monotnoy prevails in the camp
of the Seventh, Colonel Babcock having been for some time president of the
Military Commission in session at Corinth, for reasons best known to himself
resigns his colonelcy of the Serenth regiment and leaves the service; and we
all regret to see him leave for he has been to us a good, brave and faithful
officer. The following testimonial from his companions in arms will speak for
itself.
Whereas, Colonel Andrew J. Babcock has resigned his
commission as Colonel of the Seventh regiment of Illinois Infantry Volunteers,
and we the officers and men of the Seventh having been long under his command,
both appreciate his worth and deeply regret his separation from us, therefore
be it
Resolved, That in Colonel A. J. Babcock the state of
Illinois and the army of the United States have lost a brave, competent and
meritorious officer.
Resolved, That we, who have for nearly two years been
associated with him in his duties, in the garrison and in the field, through
many toilsome marches and in the hard fought battles of Donelson and Corinth,
bear witness that he has proved himself a most daring, discreet and loyal
leader; and that in the execution of his office, as well as his personal
bearing, he has won not only the confidence and respect but also the esteem and
affection of all his command.
“Resolved, That
as Colonel Babcock from the first organization of the first regiment of Illinois-from
the opening of the war to the present date, has proved himself before us, as a
commander most efficient—as a man and a brother in arms at once just, genial
and generous, we sincerely hope and trust that his affairs may again permit the
government to avail itself of his invaluable services in the field; and should
such be the case, it will be our highest happiness to be again associated with
him in the service of our common country.
As the Colonel
leaves us we remember those wintry days of battle on the Cumberland hills
before Fort Donelson, and how with the private soldiers he endured the battle's
privations there; and how amid smoke and flame he led the Seventh on to
glorious victory. We also remember how he moved upon Corinth's bloody field and
proved himself a leader true, when darkness and gloom seemed to mantle the
Seventh's brave soldiers. May he on his return to civil life receive tokens of
gratitude from Illinois' grateful people.
Reveille is beat
early this morning and soon the Seventh is on its feet. At sunrise we report to
brigade headquarters. It falls to the third brigade to take the rear, and in
consequence we are slow in leaving Corinth. A heavy force under the command of
General Dodge is now on the tramp, headed towards the Tuscumbia valley. We
travel slowly all day, save at times when we are compelled to make brisk steps
owing to the tardiness of the teams. We go into camp to-night at Burnsville,
fifteen miles from Corinth. The boys are in fine spirits, eager to push
forward. It is intimated that the expedition will be directed towards Decatur,
Alabama. It seems evident that some bold movement is contemplated.
Twenty-six
miles to-day, and everything in camp at sunset. That is No. I work with 300
sets of wheels to the division. We have reveille at 3 a. m. and start at 4 now.
We seem to
have got pretty well out of the pine country. Hardly saw one the last three
miles this p. m. Have also about left cotton behind us. Tobacco and wheat
are the staples here. I saw as many as five large tobacco
houses on one farm, built 25 logs high. Notice also some very fine wheat
growing, now 12 inches high. Very large peach and apple orchards on almost
every farm. The trees look thrifty, but show neglect. All kinds of fruit
promises to be abundant this year.
The last five
miles to-day was through beautiful country, fine houses, too. The people were
all out to see us, but I am glad that I have no demonstration a la white
handkerchief to chronicle. The men are full of the de'il to-day. Scaring
negroes almost out of their wits. Our division is the right of the army. We
have been side tracking so far, but to-morrow we get the main road and Corse
takes the cow paths. I think that not more than one-fifth of the cleared land
so far in this State is under cultivation this year, and that fully one-fourth
of all has been turned over to nature for refertilization from four to forty
years. On some of this turned out land the new growth is more than a foot in
diameter. I saw a sassafras tree to-day that was 15 inches in diameter.
