Were paid off to-day and the peddlers that hang out just across the guard line have done a thriving business. Walter gets worse every day. His courage seems to be giving out and it is pitiful to see him suffer.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 82
On account of my cough, which is worse when I lie down, I have walked about evenings or sat and chatted with others about the camp fire until tired enough to sleep, and last night crawled in near midnight where my two bedfellows were asleep. Soon after I got into a drowse from which I was awakened by a coughing spell and saw Walt standing by the help of the tent pole and groaning in agony. Soon I heard him say "I'll end it all right now," and with that he pitched over towards his knapsack and by the noise I thought he was after his revolver. I jumped across Jim, who lay asleep in the middle, and snatched the gun out of his hand before he had it out of the case. Out in the company street I threw the three revolvers and then grabbed for a sheath knife which I knew was there, getting hold of the handle just as he grabbed the sheath. By this time Story was in the game and we both had our hands full getting him down and quiet. I went for Dr. Andrus, who after lighting a candle and looking in Walt's eyes, told us to take him over to the hospital. The struggle had put him in agony and it was pitiful to see how he suffered. We staid with him the rest of the night and by morning he was helpless. Every joint seemed as stiff as if no joint was there. For the next five days I did little but watch him and help in any way I could to make him more comfortable. Then he and others were taken to the general hospital in the city, where they will at least be warm. We have had a cold rain and the camp is a bed of mud. The wind sifts through the cracks in this old shed and although a stove was kept running, it was too cold for comfort. I have slept but little in the last five nights, but the doctor has kept dosing me and I feel better than when this time with Walter began. Letters from home have made the world seem brighter and the men in it better.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 82-3
Yesterday the chaplain's tent for public worship came and this morning we were all gathered there and the chaplain was praying, when snap went something in the top and down came the tent upon us. He didn't have time to say "Amen," to say nothing of the benediction. In the afternoon Isaac T. Winans, Jim Story and I went to see Walter and found him in a good bed and in a warm room. He is much better, but his wrists are swollen yet and look as if the joints had been pulled apart.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 83
Two doctors came to take the place of Dr. Andrus and they have had plenty to do. For several days the weather has been hot, which opens the pores in our tents so the first rain sifts right through. Last night it rained and we had another night of twisting and turning and trying to sleep and with very poor success. I cough so when I lie down that I keep up and going all I can, for then I seem to feel the best. Dr. Andrus still looks after us. He is getting better and we are glad, for he is the mainstay in the family. Brownell died this forenoon and I shall never forget the scene. He was conscious and able to talk and the last he said was for us to stick and hang. "But boys," said he, "if I had the power, I would start north with all who wanted to go and as soon as we passed over four feet of ground I would sink it."
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 84
Cold day. Ice formed on puddles last night. I am staying in my tent, keeping as warm as I can. I begin to feel I am going to give out. I have kept out of the hospital so far and hope to die right here in my tent if die I must. But to-morrow may be warmer and my cough better, and under such conditions my spunk will rise as it always has. So good-bye, diary. I am going to try for a nap.
SOURCE: Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 85
A fine pleasant day. Went down to the Ave in the morning, got Draft of $20, sent to Mrs Barnes Phila. Called at McClees Photograph Rooms. He told me that he had mounted 2300 pictures the day before. The call for Photographs by Army officers has been unprecedented the past six months. My wife and Julia called upon me at the office today. I went this evening with Julia down to the Church Festival, did not attend or go in tonight, intend to go tomorrow. I was in at Willards, about as many officers there as usual and the Ave is crowded afternoons. Ed Dickerson gave us a call this evening. Holly has been to the Festival, has just come home. 11 o'clock. Julia is not yet in. “Bud” has gone to bed long ago, sick. The Fair was too much for him last night.
SOURCE: Horatio
Nelson Taft, The
Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11,
1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.
There is a great dearth of news here now, but a great looking for of great events about this time, but few soldiers are here now compared with what there has been. The forts over the River are all maned [sic] and probably 50,000 men besides. There must now be about 200,000 tending towards Richmond now in Virginia. Fortress Monroe seems to be the great rendezvous. I expect it will be Norfolk first, and then Richmond. “Bud” has had a fever all day and we fear he is going to have chill fever. All the rest of us are quite well. Wife rcd letters today from Mrs Brownson (Lyons) and from Bd Hamton. Geo S Griswold of Lyons called upon me at the office. He is Lieut in the 2nd Regt NY Artillery stationed at Fort Ward over the R.
SOURCE: Horatio
Nelson Taft, The
Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11,
1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C.
Moscow. I felt
rather unwell, having had a lusty old shake with the ague. In the night went to
the doctor, had four pills and an excuse from duty. Foraging party brought in
twenty-five bushels sweet potatoes, four hogs, a hive of honey and two loads of
corn.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Moscow. Cold and
chilly. Troubled with diarrhea; felt rather bad.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 14
Prostrated with
severe pains, chills and fever which lasted most of the night. Getting a small
piece of beef and rice in lieu of meal we have a fine dish. Griffith has sold a
three quart tin pail, given us in Virginia by Wesley Norwood, for $5 U. S.
currency.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, pp. 94
I was sick. Adjutant excused me from guard mount. I cleaned my gun. Studied music lesson, etc.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Feel some better and did my office business. Made out a new roster for February. Very blustery, snowy, a howling, blustering storm.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 11
Fifteen cases of
fever reported this morning. A dead man was taken out very early and buried in
a hurry. This has given rise to the story that small-pox has come, too. It
looks as if it might be so, for it's about the only thing we haven't got. Those
that seemed strongest are as likely to be taken now as the weakest. I have been
half sick through it all and yet I hold my own, and only for my sore
throat and this racking cough would enjoy every minute.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 74-5
One day is so much
like another that the history of one will do for several. I think about
everything that can be done for our comfort is being done. There must be some reason
for our being kept here and it is probably because of so much sickness. It
would not do to take us where others would catch our diseases and yet it is
tough lines we are having. Chaplain Parker does everything he can to keep up
our spirits, even to playing boy with us. A new doctor has come to take the
place of one that died while we lay off Newport News.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 75
Inspection of arms
to-day and a sermon by the chaplain. We are thinking and talking of the letters
we will get when we have a mail. Uncle Sam keeps track of us someway and sooner
or later finds us. We have a regimental postmaster, who is expected every day
from the city with a bag full. We have enough to fill him up on his return
trip. The Arago is unloading all our belongings, which looks as if we were to
stay here. Good-bye, Arago! I wish there was a kettle big enough to boil you
and your bugs in before you take on another load. So many are sick the well
ones are worked the harder for it. I still rank amoung the well ones and am
busy at something all the time. Just now I have been put in place of fifth
sergenat, who among other duties sees that the company has its fair share of
rations, and anything else that is going. I also attend sick call every morning,
which amounts to this. The sick call sounds and the sick of Company B fall in
line and I march them to the doctor's office, where they are examined. Some get
a dose of whiskey and quinine, some are ordered to the hospital and some are
told to report for duty again. Dr. Andrus and I play checkers every chance we
get. We neither play a scientific game, but are well matched and make some
games last a long time. He is helping my throat and my cough is not so bad
lately. Our quarters were turned into a smoke house to-day. An old stove
without a pipe is going and some stinking stuff is burning that nothing short
of a grayback can stand. It is expected to help our condition, and there is
lots of chance for it.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 75-6
I was very sick last night and hardly able to ride this morning. Command left before day, got to Lebanon at daylight. Dr. Hill could not get the medicine for me but gave me a pass to return to the wagons. Near McMinnville I came out to Mr. Bass's and staid all night.
SOURCE: Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 12
I felt better this morning but very weak. Francis came over this morning or evening. George Tracy was over in the morning, I believe.
SOURCE: Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 12
I have for some time
had as mess-mates Surgeon J—— V—— and his two sons. I find him a most estimable
Quaker gentleman, and he is by his courteous and affable manner, doing very
much to smooth down the asperities of the rough road over which I am now
traveling. Since the removal of camp, the sickness is abating rapidly. The
list, which two weeks ago numbered over two hundred, is now less than sixty,
and every day diminishing. I have much trouble in getting my assistant to
perform his duties, which, with the constant interference of military officers,
greatly embarrasses me in my course. We have to pass some trying scenes. Last
week a private in our regiment, a lawyer from ———, heard of the sickness of his
daughter. He asked a furlough of thirty days to visit her. The officers here
granted it, but when it reached General McClellan he cut it down to fifteen
days, which would but give him time to go and return. He declined to go on it,
and yesterday intelligence of his daughter's death reached him. Oh, how much I
thought of this, and thought if it were my case! 'Tis very sad to think of.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, pp. 49-50
This morning our
Brigade Surgeon ordered me to leave the hospital for a few days, on account of
my fatigue and prostration. He said that a regard for my health demanded it,
and I must go where I pleased. I rode to Arlington, the headquarters of General
King. The Arlington house, I believe, is (unless confiscated) the property of
Gen. Lee. It is a magnificent mansion, overlooking Georgetown, Washington,
Alexandria, and miles of the beautiful Potomac. In a room of this house, said
to have been a favorite room of General Washington, I found my old friend
Surgeon ———,badly broken by the fatigue and excitement of the campaign. I
called on him, in company with Doctor A——, and after talking of his illness for
half an hour, Doctor A. proposed to him to have my advice, to which he replied
"Yes! if he will not medicate me too much." I said, "Doctor, I
will prescribe for you, and with a single dose will medicate every fibre of
your body, and by a healthy shock, restore you to health at once." With a
look as if he thought me a hyena, he asked: "What do you mean to do with
me?" "To take you out of this place and put you for thirty days under
the care of your wife and family." The poor suffering man grasped my hand,
burst into tears and sobbed aloud, "My Colonel won't consent to it."
For a moment, forgetting his religion, and not having the fear of military
commanders before my eyes, "Your Colonel may go to the d-vil, and you
shall have a furlough." I rode immediately to medical headquarters in
Washington, procured him the promise of a furlough as soon as his papers could
be sent in, returned, informed him of it, and had the pleasure on my long night
ride back to camp, of feeling that I had contributed something to the happines,
and, perhaps, had saved the life of a good and worthy man. How easy for any
man, however humble his position, to find opportunities of doing good, if he
will only wear the "spectacles of benevolence."
After the vandalism
I have witnessed in the destruction of property, in and about the houses of
rebels and elsewhere, it was a pleasurable relief to find here, that General
King, in the goodness of his always good heart, had enforced respect for the
property and furniture. The garden, with its fences, is preserved, and the
walls of almost every room in this immense old building, are covered with the
rich paintings and old family pictures, left hanging when this favorite of
rebeldom left his home. The garden is fine, but I think does not compare with
that of Kalorama. The antique bureaus and [s]ide-boards calling up impressions
of generations long passed away, are still tenants of the building; and the
halls recall Scott's fine description of the Halls of the Douglass, where the
arms of the hunters, and the trophies of the hunt, mingled with the trappings
of the warrior, constituted the attractive features of the chieftain's forest
home. Over the halls, and at every angle in the stairs, were the antlers of the
elk and the red-deer fastened to the walls and nearly interlocking their
branches over my head as I walked through. They were hung, too, with the arms
of the hunter and the warrior. So perfectly does this position command
Washington, that had the rebels there secretly collected a dozen mortars, they
might have fired the city before a gun could have been brought to bear on them.
Everybody is talking of a prospect of a move within three days, but the origin
of the reports I know not; perhaps in the impatience of the army to be led forward.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, pp. 53-5
Since the order of
the early part of this month, that my directions in reference to the sanitary
measures could be disregarded, I have not visited the camp, or given any
directions in regard to cleaning, ventilating, &c., and though it is now
but three weeks since that order was made, the sick list, which had decreased
in two weeks from about two hundred to thirty-nine, has suddenly run up again
to one hundred and sixty, and the diseases are assuming a low typhoid type. So
foul are the tents that if a soldier, with simple intermittent, remains three
days in his quarters, he is sent to hospital in a condition approximating
ship-fever. The seeds of disease are now sown in our regiment, which, in
despite of the greatest care, will not fail to yield rich harvests of sickness
all winter. Our Governor has been in camp to-day. He has no doubt seen the
effect of this military interference, for he has called on me to know if something
cannot be done to arrest the trouble. I have laid the whole matter fully before
him, and I have no doubt that what is in his power to do, will be done to avert
the evil.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, pp. 56-7
