Diary of Corporal Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, May 8, 1864

All is quiet. We had dress parade this evening and an order was read to the effect that the troops should drill two hours a day in company or skirmish drill, and besides that, the recruits should drill four hours a day; also that there are to be four roll calls a day, and company inspection every morning at 8 o'clock. There are about five thousand men in camp under command of Brig. Gen. F. M. Force, and all are in fine spirits and well fitted for a fight. The general quartermaster has large quantities of rations and ammunition here, and there are some three or four thousand beef cattle for our meat supply. This camp puts us in mind of our camp at Pittsburg Landing, two years ago, but I do not think that we will have such a battle as we had then, although the rebels' cavalry is quite active.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 186

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw, May 13, 1863

May 13, 1863.

We are just passing Schuyler and it is only 7 ½ o'clock, so we shall be at the Jersey dock before nine, — that I call very good luck. I wonder whether Berold looks at it in that light; I think he’11 be glad to leave the steamboat, at all events; he is wedged in tight between Ruksh and Nig, wanting to kick both, but unable to raise a foot, without human sympathy (lumps of sugar), for even Robbins has not been able to get near him since he came on board. However, he was well fed and watered on the dock last evening, — the government horses, poor things, going to bed supperless. We had a tedious time of it packing 440 horses where not over 200 ought to go, and running to and fro in the dark with miscellaneous baggage enough “for an army,” none of which seemed to belong to anybody. We finally cast loose at half past twelve and rested, feeling that no more men could slip off for eight hours; at roll-call this A. M. only one deserter is reported and he is supposed to be on board. The men (and officers too) after their good night's work and poor night's sleep look — well, I think it would take a very long typhoid fever to make them look interesting even to you; from a glimpse I have had of the horses, I think they will look very interesting.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 236-7

1st Lieutenant Charles Fessenden Morse, July 26, 1861

Harper's Ferry, July 26, 1861.

Reveille roll-call is just finished, and I have a short time before breakfast to improve by writing. We still garrison the town, and very hard work it is, too, it taking five companies a day to do it, making guard duty come every other day. What we principally have to do is to keep the rumshops closed to the soldiers. At night we have patrols on the streets all about the town, and any one found out after nine P. M. is sent to his house or quarters, or if suspicious-looking, taken to the guard-room, which, by the way, is the very engine house where John Brown made his final stand. The loop-holes and all are just as he left them.

We also guard all the ferries very carefully. The other night, when I was on guard, there was a report brought to me of a fight in a house a little ways off. I took a Sergeant and eight men and went, double quick, to the place; the house was full of men, fighting and drunk. We cleared it in about two minutes, took the noisiest, prisoners, then went back and emptied a rum barrel that had caused the whole of it. Such things were occurring frequently, two or three days ago, but, as the Pennsylvania militia go home, we have less and less of it. They are going home at the rate of two regiments a day, and we are glad of it, for a more undisciplined set of men I never saw, spoiling everything they come near, breaking into houses, robbing orchards, and doing all manner of harm generally. Our force will be about eight thousand, when they are all gone. General Banks arrived here, night before last, with two or three of his aides. We all hope he will do something more for us than Patterson has. You can form no idea of the terrible destruction of government buildings here, without seeing it. For nearly half a mile along the river were these splendid works, and now there is nothing but bare walls and heaps of ruins; they say twelve million dollars will not replace them. All the bridges across the Potomac and Shenandoah are also burned.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 10-11

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Saturday, August 31, 1861

Mustered today. I called the roll of our five companies and of McMullen's Battery.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 83

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: April 29, 1864

Reveille at daylight, then roll call, breakfast. Packed up waiting for orders to march, while in line. The command being given, we began our march, passing through town, out on the Winchester Pike. Macadamized roads were known as pikes. Going towards Winchester it was named after that town. Going from Winchester the same road was known as the Martinsburg Pike because it led to that town. Just outside of Martinsburg the 8th Corps was forming, under the command of General Sigel. This corps was also called The Army of West Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Our regiment was the last to arrive. Received hearty cheers from the Ohio and West Virginia boys, which we returned in good old Yankee style. We could cheer. At this point we were brigaded with the 28th and 126th Ohio Regiments under the command of Colonel Moore, 28th Ohio, a German officer. About nine o'clock we began our march, the day being very hot and the road very dusty. Pushing up the valley. After a slow, tedious march, late in the day, a halt was made at Bunker Hill, a small village on the main pike. A supply of good water. Tired and leg weary. Our record for today's march, ten miles.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 55-6

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: February 18, 1864

Arrived at Martinsburg at 2 A. M. Left Jersey City early yesterday morning. After an uneventful trip arrived in Baltimore at 4 P. M. Left at nine o'clock. Met other members of the regiment bound for camp. When we got there lay down for a little rest and sleep. At daylight attended roll-call, after which I was given a hearty welcome by the boys of Company C. Thankful for the furlough and the good time. Connecticut did look good to me as I again turned my back to it, facing southward, bound for old Virginia. Again writing letters home after my safe arrival in camp.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 42

Diary of Charles H. Lynch: December 1862

Much cold rain and snow-storms. Near our camp was a great neighborhood for pigs. They were allowed to roam about, running through our camp. Colonel warned the people to keep them out. It did no good. Colonel shot one, wounding it. Members of our company captured and dressed it. Company C had fresh pork for dinner. The owner tried to collect pay. The Colonel promised if the pigs were kept out of camp for two weeks he would pay. In less than three days the pigs were in camp again.

The routine for each day. Roll call at 6 A. M. Breakfast at 7. Guard mount, 8.30. Company drill, 9 to 11. Dinner, 12. Battalion drill, 2 to 4. Clean up for dress parade at 5 P. M. Supper at 6. Roll-call, 9. Taps, 9.30. On guard duty every other day and night. Much sympathy in this vicinity for the South. Railroads are kept well guarded.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 11-12