Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, March 9, 1863

Helped get out the morning report book in the forenoon. At noon the company formed and we marched up town and received our pay. Mine was nineteen dollars. Cold and windy today. At about 2 o'clock heavy cannonading was heard on the other side of the river in the direction of Yazoo City. It was continued until after dark, and in the night it started again and continued for some time.

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. 43

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, Friday, June 13, 1862

We had orders to cook three days' rations, and be ready to take up the line of march by three o'clock P. M., but as it was pay-day, and as the paymaster did not get through by that hour, the order was countermanded, and we did not move. We were paid for four months and twenty-two days' service, from 1st of January to the 22d of May, 1862, one hundred and thirteen dollars and sixty cents to each private.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, pp. 199

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Saturday Morning, February 1, 1862

Our Regt. on Guard to day. Rec'd our Pay yesterday. Sixteenth Ills. arrived here last night. To day they have gone over to Birds Point. This evening we rec'd. marching orders, were countermanded however about 8 O'clock.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 235

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, February 28, 1863

For the last two days we have had no drill out of doors, and very little guard. It has rained steadily. The "Dudley Buck" arrived yesterday with a large mail, and a lot of boxes have also made their appearance. We were mustered for two months' pay this forenoon, and in the afternoon, between the showers, began one of a series of base-ball games between men of the 23d and ours; but the rain postponed it to the dim future. We find our barracks just the thing this weather, much better than tents, and thank our stars and the United States Government for them.

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. 40

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson, Saturday, February 21, 1863

Lieut. Buck and I were surveying from bastion No. 2. The paymaster arrived and paid me $26, being the amount due me up to the first of January.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 12

Diary of 5th Sergeant Lawrence Van Alstyne, January 9, 1863

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

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, January 16, 1863

We were paid off this morning, after which there was a general settling up of accounts. I drew $41.00; $25.00 advance bounty, one month's advance pay, and $3.00 premium for re-enlisting. I expressed $25.00 home. It is very cold this morning, not more than five or six degrees above zero. Towards noon the report came that we were to be relieved. We were almost frozen, having no chance to fire up and keep warm. These are the dark days of a soldier's experience.

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. 28

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, June 13, 1863

Received two months' pay. Left camp at seven o'clock at night, in an awful rain-storm; marched through the mud, and arrived at Hartwood Church at eleven o'clock. Went into camp for the night. 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. 275

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, January 15, 1863

About six inches of snow fell last night and it has snowed all day. The citizens say it is the heaviest storm they have seen in a number of years. By night it was about ten inches deep. The paymaster paid off all but our company today.

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. 27

Diary of Musician David Lane, August 16, 1863

Camp near Hickman's Bridge, Ky. I did not join the regiment as soon as I expected, owing to the negligence of the Medical Director, whose duty it was to furnish me transportation. As I had no money, I was forced to await his pleasure. The regiment took cars for this place the day they crossed over, so I was left in Cincinnati until Friday evening to live as best I might. I crossed the river on Friday, and next morning took cars for Nicholasville, fourteen miles beyond Lexington, and one hundred fifteen miles from Cincinnati. I was just in time to get two months' pay. I should have drawn for two months more, but there was a mistake in the pay rolls, which cannot be corrected until next muster. The Paymaster says he is going to pay us again next month, and the next time muster us out of the service.

We have a very pleasant camp, in a shady grove, and an abundance of pure, sparkling water, which I appreciate now as I never did before.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 77

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, April 18, 1863

Received four months' pay, which was of the greatest service to the officers and men and put all in a good humor. Sutlers shops were patronized extensively and the express office crowded with soldiers sending money to the loved ones at home. On the other side, gambling is carried on extensively till the sharpers have fleeced the green ones out of their last cent. Officers try their best to prevent it, but the men will steal away whenever they can get a chance. It is about as hard to keep them from gambling as getting whisky, and where an officer could not get a drop men can get all they want.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 12

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, April 30, 1863

Mustered for two months' pay. Started from Potomac Creek at half-past one P.M., with eight days' rations. Each off-horse had a bag of grain on his back. We marched to Hartwood Church, and went into camp at six P.M., having marched eight 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. 274

Diary of Private Lewis C. Paxson: Wednesday, November 19, 1862

We were paid off, $57.75. Guard reduced to three posts. N. F. Randolph paid me $40, making us square. I wrote some in Q. M. department. Commenced to pallisade. Received $25 bounty and $2 premium.

SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 8

Diary of Corporal Lawrence Van Alstyne: November 19, 1862

Have been paid off; $24.70 I got, and we all went ashore and washed up. The bunks on the Arago have been used so long by so many that they are lousy and most everyone has them. I, however, have found none as yet. We are kept on shore as much as possible, as a guard against disease, which would surely come when so many are crowded in so small a space. As there is no way to spend money here except for oysters, a great many gamble it away, then borrow again from those that win and pay any interest asked for. There is more and more sickness every day. Many are taken to a hospital at Fortress Monroe, which I am told is not far away.

SOURCE:  Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 63-4

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Tuesday Morning, October 22, 1861

Morning weather cool though during the day tis very pleasant The news of Jeff Thompson's defeat at Fredrictown by our forces causes much rejoicing in camp the news came this evening by telegraph Lt. Allen has succeeded in getting his pay to day—due for the Mo. of September & a furlough home for seven days he leaves to-morrow morning on the 4 O'clock train, prospects for a storm

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 229

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, Thursday Morning, October 31, 1861

Still cool Regimental muster for Pay. The forces now stationed here are all mustered to day—on the Brigade parade ground—An Order placing Capt. Hart under arrest by Col. Buford¹—was read this evening on Dress Parade.

_______________

¹ Napoleon B. Buford was a graduate of West Point, law student, assistant professor at West Point, 1833 to 1835, civil engineer, Illinois merchant, banker and railroad builder. At the outbreak of the Civil War, his banking business was ruined due to large investments in Southern State bonds. He gave up all his property to satisfy his obligations and was commissioned Colonel of the 27th Illinois Volunteers by Governor Yates. For his gallant conduct at the battles of Belmont, Island No. 10, and Union City he was commissioned Brigadier-General by the President. When he left the service, he held the commission of Major-General. Eddy, Patriotism of Illinois, II., pp. 56-57.

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 230

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, February 28, 1863

Battery mustered for four months' pay. Sergt. Brown returned from furlough. Capt. Martin went to Washington.

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. 272

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, January 1, 1863

To-day we were mustered for two months' pay, and of course we were happy till our ardor was cooled by our captain, who told us it might be three months before we received our money. All the consolation to us is, our names are on the list. Our barracks are up in arms, as we are getting ready for the entertainment this evening. Those who are not practising or ordering round are working like beavers putting things to rights.

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. 31

Diary of Captain Joseph Stockton, February 24, 1863

Received two months' pay on the 22nd. I may repeat here a little incident that occurred which was very pleasant to me. Through some accident for which I was not responsible, the first enlistment roll was lost and in making out a duplicate I had to guess at the time the men were enlisted (this was for my company.) As they got pay from the date of enlistment it made a difference of a few days with a number of men, so I refunded out of my own money all that they lost taking their own word for it. Last night I was surprised by having it all returned with the following note:

Captain Stockton,

 

Sir:—As a slight expression of our esteem, and a debt of gratitude we hereby acknowledge for the fatherly care you have extended us since the organization of the company, caring for our interests individually and collectively, and for this last act of generosity arising from that innate sense of justice dwelling in the human heart, sacrificing self for the good of others and believing in the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have that they should do unto you, we tender you the enclosed by the hand of our representative, Oliver Rice, Orderly Sergeant, and ask your acceptance of the same.

It was signed by all I had paid the money to and was a most agreeable and happy surprise to myself. Colonel Starring said it was the best thing he had seen in the service.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8-9

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, January 22, 1862

Received two months pay. News arrived in the evening of the Union victory at Springfield, Kentucky, and death of the rebel General Zollicoffer, in honor of which a national salute of thirty-four guns was fired. Quiet in camp, the latter part of January.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31