We have a splendid camping ground, plenty of wood and water, Made ourselves very comfortable. I feel so much better here where we can have batallion drills and dress parade.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 8
My tent is on the bank of the Valley river. The water, clear as crystal, as it hurries on over the rocks, keeps up a continuous murmur.
There will be a storm to-night. The sky is very dark, the wind rising, and every few minutes a vivid flash of lightning illuminates the valley, and the thunder rolls off among the mountains with a rumbbling, echoing noise, like that which the gods might make in putting a hundred trains of celestial artillery in position.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 49
Made three miles yesterday, and are now encamped in a thick forest with an abundance of good spring water at hand. We are washing clothing and fixing up generally, but ready to begin the march at any moment. We draw flour every day, with bacon occasionally, and roasting-ears are to be had for the gathering.
SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 281
Haines Bluff. Yesterday,
as I was strolling through the ravines, picking berries, I came across a spring
of delicious water, cold and pure. It is about half a mile from camp, in a
lovely, romantic spot, almost shut out from the light of day by the thick
foliage of the magnolia and other evergreens which are thickly interwoven with
flowering vines. I wish I could picture the unrivaled beauty of the magnolia.
The largest I have seen is about fifty feet in height, leaves from four to six
inches in length by two in breadth in the middle, rounding each way to a point,
and are of the darkest shade of green. Its chief beauty lies in its blossoms,
which are pure white, about six inches in diameter, contrasting strongly with
its dark green leaves. It is very fragrant, filling the air with sweet perfume.
Nature is indeed prolific in this Southern clime, bestowing her gifts in the
greatest variety and profusion, both animate and inanimate, things pleasant to
look upon and grateful to the senses, and those that are repulsive and
disgusting in the extreme. Insects and reptiles, varying in size from
diminutive "chiggers," too small to be seen by the unaided eye, but
which burrows in the flesh and breeds there, to the huge alligator that can
swallow, a man at a single gulp. I have not seen an alligator yet, but some of
our men have seen him to their sorrow. Soon after our arrival some of the men
went in to bathe and wash off some of the dust of travel. They had been in the
water but a few minutes when one of their number uttered a shriek of terror and
disappeared. Two of his comrades who happened to be near by seized him and
dragged him to shore. The right arm was frightfully mangled, the flesh
literally torn from the bone by an alligator. Since that incident bathing in
the Yazoo is not indulged in.
Moccasin snakes and
other poisonous reptiles abound, and a species of beautifully-tinted, bright-eyed,
active little lizards inhabit every tree and bush, creep into and under our
blankets and scamper over us as we try to sleep. The nimble little fellows are
harmless, but quite annoying.
There has been uninterrupted
firing of small arms and artillery at Vicksburg today. We are busily engaged in
throwing up breastworks two hundred rods from here. Our regiment was detailed
for that purpose today.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 58-9
Another hard night;
one of a few very cold and disagreeable ones. We left the ranks early for
rails, and after carrying them two or three miles, found, on arriving at camp,
there were plenty on hand and not accounted for. We got our supper and tried to
sleep, but it was almost impossible. We would have suffered severely had it not
been for our woollen blankets; as it was, when we woke up this morning, many of
us found the water in our canteens frozen, said canteens having been used as
pillows during the night.
WHITEHALL.
After starting at
seven o'clock, we kept halting continually until nine. We had travelled not
more than four or five miles when we heard heavy firing in our immediate front.
Our brigade being a head, our regiment was sent in about the first. We left the
main road, taking the one over the hill on the left, and were immediately under
fire. Here we came upon two men of "A" who had been killed by a shot
or shell. We dropped our knapsacks and filed along a line of fence, coming to a
halt in front of the Neuse, with the rebels on the opposite shore.
We fired several
volleys by company, then the order came, "At will," which was easier.
We had an old rail-fence in front, and beyond that a few barrels of pitch or
turpentine, then a slope, and the water, and the rebels beyond. We received a
good share of their bullets, and hoped ours did better execution, as we were
fortunate in not losing a man. There were several narrow escapes, however. The
flag was immediately behind our company, and a part of the time the flag of the
9th New Jersey was unfurled behind us also, which might have drawn an extra
amount of fire; but we did not suffer any loss, while some of the companies
lost several. "A," four killed and seven wounded; "B," one
wounded; "C," three killed; "K," one killed; "D,"
two wounded; "F," one wounded; "G," two wounded;
"H," two wounded. We were on the rebels' right. We stayed there about
an hour and a half and then were ordered back, and started directly across the
field in line of fire for cover, where we could see other regiments flat on the
ground. All the protection we had there, was by hugging mother earth and
folding our arms back of our heads, the bullets whistling close to us in a
neighborly fashion. Here we waited, and those who had hard-tack munched it; but
we kept up a thinking all the while whether the muscles of our arms would stop
a bullet from going through our heads. Soon Belger's battery took our old place
and opened on the rebels, who treated them pretty severely for a time, as we
could see good R. I. material dropping constantly. The battery boys came for
the water we had in our canteens, with which to cool their guns, the firing
having been quite brisk. After two hours of very steady work, the rebels
concluded to give up the fight. As they had destroyed the bridge yesterday, we
could not chase them, so fell in and started again for Goldsboro, and about
eight o'clock camped in a field at the junction of two roads.
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. 26-7
As it grew daylight
we arrived at Greenboro, N. C., a pleasant place, appropriately named, I judge,
for the beauty of the scene cheered and made me forget I was not on a pleasure
trip. The village is full of green trees and flower gardens, splendidly located
in a slightly undulating, but not hilly region. Away to the west the Blue Ridge
appeared like a panorama. We stopped near a large, thickly wooded park charming
as the original forest. The wide streets, rows of green trees glistening with
dew as the sun shone on them, the morning songs of birds, and the people on the
street and those that came to look at us as though we were a caravan of strange
animals again made us think of lost liberty. The people appeared anxious to
talk but were prevented. The soldiers said a strong Union feeling existed. I
judge they are tolerable compromisers. We left Greenboro at 8 p. m.; while
there I traded by hat cord for three biscuits with a Rebel soldier going to the
front. Thompson and I call it breakfast. From here to Salisbury we halted at
three stations; the people appeared kindly disposed, mannerly, our folks like.
At one station a citizen gave the boys a few cakes. I find human nature is the
same everywhere. Men may differ widely in opinion, still they are alike. Today
we can forgive or embrace what yesterday we fought. Whoever we meet and
wherever we meet them, we see something of ourselves reflected. This is
consoling in circumstances like these; so if we love ourselves we must love our
enemies. Man is a curious compound of many animate beings with an additional
quality higher and better.
"His nature none can o'errate, and none
Can under rate his merit."
At Salisbury we
stopped two hours. Men and women came out to talk but were not freely allowed.
One family inquired for Pennsylvanians, stated that they formerly lived in that
State, and sent two little negro girls to bring us water, but were finally
forbidden intercourse. Here is a prison where many Union officers and Union
citizens and newspaper correspondents are confined. At 6:30 p. m. we reach
Charlotte, 93 miles south of Greenboro and were marched a mile and camped.
After dark we drew a day's ration of hard bread and bacon; had had nothing for
36 hours.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 50-1
Water in the stream
is very foul from so many using, and the refuse thrown in it from Rebel cook
houses and camps that floats down, and drainage from offal that covers portions
of the banks. Notwithstanding we practice bathing before sunrise, we always
find the water foul. Men with blotches, putrid sores, gnawed by lice and worms,
squalid from weakness, scurvy and wasting diseases go there to drink, wash
clothing and bathe. They are obliged to step into the stream the banks being
two to three feet high, slippery, nasty. Daily lice are seen floating while
clothing is being washed.
Excitement this
morning is about a fellow caught last night and cut loose by a fellow raider;
retaken, knocked down three times, sopped in the filthy swamp, then marched
about camp as a warning, after which he is given seven lashes on his bare back
that brings blood. Mob law is our only recourse. Neither friends or foes
outside protect us. He is an inferior looking man. A search follows among known
thieves for articles lost. Several things have been found when a dozen savage
fellows came with clubs. A few fought them with their hands, were badly beaten
and forced to yield.
A rally was made to
release one who had been knocked down, and one raider was captured, who was
administered a course of punishment to exact promises of better conduct. Raiders
are on the good side of our keepers. They sell articles they steal, or exchange
them for food and things which help to keep them in strong physical condition.
They are allowed favors not accorded others, are continually fawning to Wirz
and his subordinates.
Some are excited
over a report of the fall of Atlanta, Richmond and Charleston, which I see no
reason to credit. Considerable excitement manifested in the Rebel garrison;
troops being arrayed for a show, or a fight for two hours this afternoon. I
learn that three tunnels have been found which led to the belief that an
outbreak was contemplated. Every day squads of men explore the ground inside
and outside of the stockade with feeling rods which they punch into the ground.
As a contrast to the
scenes of the day Thompson and I have been reading Milton's description of Eden
in the days of Adam and Eve's primal purity. No rations granted today. The
stench from the lagoon is very disagreeable every night in the south part of
the stockade.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 64
In consequence of
the damp nights I cough badly. Nights are cool, compared with the heat of the
day, the sun being terrible, in consequence of which I have suffered with
headache. Going about camp I find several wells 20 and 25 feet deep. In company
with twenty others our mess have commenced digging today. Pinchen is whittling
staves out of sticks of pine rations for a bucket with a small jack-knife, to
use in pulling up the dirt. Prison managers are against this enterprise; but
the jealousy is being overcome happily, through the influence of surgeons and
military officers who occasionally come inside and we have shown them the
condition of the stream. As yet no spades are allowed for this work, although
these officers have kindly suggested that they could be trusted to us under
restriction. So they have been dug with case knives, pieces of canteens, or any
piece of iron or stick convertible for such use. As digging proceeds men go
down on poles, where one can be obtained, bracing against the bank and
ascending the same way. The earth is a red sand, packs hard, needs no stoning.
After several feet a fine layer of clay is struck, smooth and soft which is a
curiosity to some, who smooth it and whittle it into fancy articles, among
which are pipes. Tin pails are attached to whatever we can create for ropes for
drawing up dirt and water.
Yesterday I noticed
a dead-line board laying on the ground inside, one end about three feet from
the post, blown, I suppose, by the wind. We have been troubled about getting in
and out of the well we are digging, and cannot find anything to put down to
climb on: 'I conceived the idea of capturing it to obviate the trouble. It got
pretty dark near midnight. I approached the place cautiously, and lay flat and
crawled to the board and tied a string to the end farthest in and sitting on
the ground 25 feet away, drew it cautiously until out of danger from being shot
by sentinels, when I picked it up and brought it to our place. We covered it
with sand when Rebel sergeants came in the morning, and after the well was
finished, broke it up for wood to cook our rations of meal. The Rebels missed
the board, but never found it. Thompson watched the guard while I pulled it
away, to warn me if they were likely to shoot, but the other boys didn't know
when I stole the "dead line."
Seven hundred men
taken at Spottslvania come in; report Grant at Mechanicsville, Johnston falling
back on Atlanta. Those who have razors shave for 5c., cut hair for 10c. Sweat
boards or dice appear in camp where men can stake 5c. a throw, if he wishes to
try his luck at gaming. I have known some to win quite often, but hear of more
who lose. A few things have been worked into camp by men who get out on duty or
by Rebel sergeants. A fair sized onion goes for $1, apples 10c to 40c, dry hog
peas 40c. per pint, plug tobacco $1.50. There is one commodity never had in any
market. It is ahead of any Dutch brewery extant; it is meal beer made by
letting corn meal sour in water. Molasses can be had for 5c. a teaspoonful; a
little is added to give it a twang and sassafras roots can be had by digging,
the tea of which is often added to give it flavor. Those who have money, pay
ten and fifteen cents for half a pint and drink it with a relish. Men crave
something sour, and poor fellows with feverish lips and scabious tendency,
without money, beg and whine for it childishly. The vender cries, "Here is
your nice meal beer, right sour, well seasoned with sassafras."
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 65-6
A good work designed
to remedy somewhat the unwholesomeness of the place, began today. A squad of
men are furnished spades, hand barrows, which they themselves constructed, and
carpenter tools, and voluntarily go to work burying the filth and sinks that
have overflowed, and cover several yards and is in terrible ferment and alive
with vermin. The plan is to cover a portion of the swamp near the east part
each side of the stream, about five rods wide by 10 long, with dirt from the
banks and erect a framework over the stream for a privy. This will partially
supply the wants for the south side, but the north is separated by an
impassable marsh. This project is set on foot by persistent pleading of our men
with physicians and officers of the military post, as chances have been
offered, to get the means for doing it. Through them Wirz has been induced to
acquiesce, but like all internal improvements, humane influence has to be
brought to bear upon Wirz. He was persuaded by the argument that prison insobordination
was more likely to occur under unsanitary conditions, that there was great
libality of epidemic that would sweep both the prison and military post. A
colonel of the post was inside this morning and talked with some of us. His
opinion is that we will soon be exchanged; but I do not indulge in hopes likely
to be deferred, which "maketh the heart sick." A day ration was shown
him. He said more was allowed; that there was no reason why rations are so
small; that more is provided under the regulations; expressed a belief that
someone is speculating to our injury and, though he had no authority, he would
inquire into the matter.
Weather intensely
hot, the sick badly affected and are multiplying. Every day men die, every
morning are carried out. The average number of deaths now is said to be 40,
although 70 have died some days, the principal disorder being diarrhoea, induced
by the nature of the food; it has become chronic. Scurvy which affects mouths
and limbs, sometimes back and bowels, is increasing. One doctor speaks of an
affection of the spleen. In many homesickness may hasten disease and loss of
strength. It seems as inevitable as bodily ailments under these conditions.
When men fall hopeless and helpless, griping with pain, it is not unnatural
that nostalgia be added to the scale of misery. When these compiaints unite,
the days of victims are being numbered.
Prisoners come in
from Florida captured on the 18th. They were engaged in collecting horses and
cattle for the army. I spoke with a man, prisoner since Gettysburg, who
attracts attention, though thin and yellow, he is remarkably smart. His
clothing is all worn out. On the way from Richmond a woman gave him a petticoat
which reaches just below his knees that whops about his legs as he strolls
characteristically through the camp, a sailor's cap on his head, and not
another rag on his person.
Two wells near us
are finished which we assisted to dig; the water is excellent. Pinchen has
finished his bucket whittled from rations of wood, and hooped with knapsack
straps, and it is used to draw water. Griffith and I have sold four tin plates
for $1 each. This money helps us live.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 69-70
We encamped in a
corn field last night, completely exhausted; in the middle of the night it
commenced to rain but I slept through it until I woke up and found myself in
two inches of water. I tried the top of a furrow but that was not much better,
so gave up sleep as a bad job. We started about 10 o'clock on our march for a
camp ground. The roads were the worst I have yet marched on; snow, mud, water,
everything that makes marching disagreeable except dust. Marched a few miles
and then filed off into some beautiful woods where I understand we are to camp
for a while—good water, plenty of wood and a good chance for rations and mail
to reach us, what more can a soldier want?
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 7
While waiting for
the brigade to move, I will endeavor to write up what transpired yesterday. At
about I A. M. we were aroused from sleep with orders to fall into line, but no
movement was made for nearly two hours. We saw that the wagon-train was in
front, and this indicated a fight or a retreat; at 3 o'clock we began the march
at a quick gait, which was kept up until evening, when we bivouaced on the
Jackson road, fifteen miles from that place, and three from Clinton.
We had passed in a
few miles of the enemy early in the morning, but so silently that he was
probably unaware of the movement. The wagon train was sent by another route for
safety. We now have confirmation of the news from Vicksburg. There is no longer
any doubt about its truth. The place surrendered after the garrison had
subsisted ten weeks upon mule meat and pea meal. The officers and men are to be
brought within our lines and parolled, the officers to retain their side arms.
It is said that there is a heavy column of the enemy, under General Osterhaus,
following in our wake. General Johnston is having the pond, which afforded
water to the army last week, ditched off, and to make it palatable for our
pursuers, is having dead mules thrown into it. It is the only chance for them
to get water this side of Big Black. Bragg's army is reported falling back to
Chattanooga, leaving our homes to the mercy of the foe. It is now ten o'clock,
and Ector's Brigade, which is in line of battle in our rear, and ours are all
the troops left here, the rest having gone ahead.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western
History, Vol. 1, p. 216-7
Jackson.—We took
position in the ditches early in the morning of the 9th, and have been here
ever since, under fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, and occasionally of their
batteries. The opening shots of the second siege of Jackson were heard on the
Clinton road on the morning of the 9th, where Jackson's Cavalry were disputing
the advance of Grant's army, and in the course of the day the firing grew
nearer. A number of citizens abandoned their homes for a place of safety, and
we had free access to their houses. The regiment was posted in a yard under
fine shade trees, and nearly every man had a book, while some were seated in
rosewood chairs. At ten o'clock General Johnston and staff rode along the
trenches, and seemed in fine spirits. We drew crackers and bacon, and had our
water hauled to us. Early on the morning of the 10th, it was reported that the
enemy was advancing to storm our works, and at eight o'clock skirmishing and
canonading were lively at the center. At 4 P. M. firing began on our wing, (the
right). Several prisoners were brought in during the afternoon, and it was
reported that a Louisiana regiment had charged a battery, and captured two of
its pieces. After nightfall several fine residences, outside of the lines, were
set on fire to prevent the enemy's sharpshooters from taking shelter behind
them, and the vicinity was soon brilliantly lit up. Sharpshooting was kept up
until late at night. At daylight on the morning of the 11th, the Yanks opened
fire on our front from a clump of trees on a slight eminence, and their long-range
guns enabled them to keep us in hot water, while very few of our guns could
reach them. The firing was pretty constant all along the lines during the
morning. Private Estes, of Captain Cunningham's Company, was wounded in the
temple, while looking over our breastworks, and another (name unknown) wounded
in the hand. A call for fifty volunteers from the regiment, to act as
sharpshooters, was promptly responded to. While on this service, in a
cornfield, Private Renegar, of Captain Little's Company, was killed, and
Corporal W. C. Gracy, of Captain Feeney's Company, severely wounded. This
evening the Yanks made two vigorous charges on our right wing, and were badly
repulsed. At 6 P. M. the artillery firing on the extreme left was very heavy.
The Forty-first was ordered on picket, to remain twenty-four hours.
At 5 A. M., on the
morning of the 12th, heavy skirmishing began along the entire line, and
continued until nine o'clock, when the artillery opened, and rained on our
works a terrible shower of shot and shell for the space of an hour. Our
skirmishers were driven in by this fire, and we fully expected a charge to
follow, but were doomed to disappointment. Throughout the day shells came at
regular intervals, our guns replying slowly. About 9:30 A. M. fifty skirmishers
from each regiment went out to recover the lost ground, which they succeeded in
doing after a sharp battle. At 11 o'clock heavy firing was heard on the left,
and news soon came that Breckenridge's Division had signally repulsed the enemy
with heavy loss to them in killed, wounded and prisoners, besides two stands of
colors. This was soon confirmed by the appearance of the captured flags, which
were borne along the entire line of our works. The casualties in the
Forty-first, in this day's operations, were three men wounded. On July 13th skirmishing
began in front of Gregg's Brigade before daylight, and continued briskly all
day. Barrett and Robinson, of Captain Cunningham's Company, came in off picket
and said they had killed a Yank. Some of the boys afterwards went to the spot
they pointed out, and brought off the body, when it proved to be a member of
the Third Tennessee. He was in advance of the line, and hence this mistake.
On the 14th there
was very little change in the state of affairs. At one o'clock a truce of three
hours was held, to enable the enemy to bury his dead. There was quite a
mingling of the Gray and the Blue during the cessation of hostilities on this
part of the line. Two or three casualties occurred in the regiment during the
day, among them Private Goodrum, wounded in the head, while seated at the
bottom of the ditch.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western
History, Vol. 1, p. 217-9
Camp McClernand,
Cairo, Ills. Ten men on Police Duty again to day Nighswonger refused to act
having been detailed—in consequence was put in the Guard House on Bread &
water time indefinite. Private in the Guard House Also for drunkeness.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 227
The guard was relieved early, and at seven A.M. we fell into line with the regiment, marching across the town to Fort Totten, where we joined our brigade. We made little progress till nearly noon, when, as we thought, we started, but there were continued hitches somewhere, and we had many chances to stretch ourselves on the ground. We were loaded down this time, carrying blankets and knapsacks, and most of us a change of clothes. About four o'clock we passed the pickets on the Trent road, apparently about a regiment, having a prettily situated entrenched camp, on a small elevation; their posts being about an eighth of a mile farther up the road. Soon after leaving them we encountered the first “obstacle" of the expedition. We kept halting, and then starting a little, and soon found we would probably have to sleep in wet clothes. We had to cross quite a long and deep run of water, but, for a change, were allowed to struggle with the plank at the side of the road; but those who succeeded in keeping their feet on the narrow, slippery timber, were few, but dry, and consequently happy. We saw lights ahead, and supposed we were close to camp, but had to march three miles or so before we turned into a cornfield on the left of the road, having marched about fourteen miles. A self-imposed detail of two went back to get water for the mess, and what wood we could find; then made our fire, had supper, and turned in. No good bunks now, but plenty of soft dirt to be tucked up in.
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. 23-4
Owing to wet
clothing and a chill I could not sleep. Before day I was watching the country.
At sunrise we were alongside the Little Roanoke River near its confluence with
the Staunton. On the bridge over the Staunton several guns were planted, one so
near the track that the engine swept it off. This was in expectation of a
cavalry raid. We were 46 miles from Danville. Here they retain their slaves and
agriculture is in its usual state. As we approach the Dan River the country is
admirable, rolling land, rich valleys. The road runs near the river several
miles north of Danville, then sight is lost of it. At this point I judge it is
larger than the James at Lynchburg. It was after 3 p. m. when we got off the
train at Danville and marched through the place, and an hour later when we get
into quarters in a large brick building formerly a tobacco warehouse. In
passing through we tried to buy bread of women who offered, but guards would
not allow. Several buildings were filled with prisoners. As we got near the
building we were to enter I saw a man taken at the battle of Chickamauga eight
months before, who attempted to talk but was driven away. He was on parole
building a high fence back of our prison. We were crowded so thickly into the
building that there is scarce room to lie down. While waiting for rations a man
passed through with tobacco at $1 in greenbacks and $3 in "Confed" a
plug. At length rations came, corn bread and bacon warm. This was new, men had
a great relish for it. It was the third day's ration drawn during the nine days
we had been prisoners. Danville is four miles from the North Carolina line on
the Dan, a branch of the Roanoke River. It has water power for manufacturing,
but not developed; lies in a fertile country; the river is boatable to the
falls in the Roanoke 40 miles east to Clarkville. Population, 1,900. Close
confinement, not being allowed to get faces to windows, although they are
heavily barred with strips of oak plank, the nature of our rations and
conditions in general, began to work perceptibly on men. Water is insufficient
and bad, taken from the Dan, muddy in consequence of rain. Diarrhoea is
becoming universal. Bread is coarse, no seasoning.
SOURCE: John Worrell
Northrop, Chronicles from the Diary of a War Prisoner in Andersonville
and Other Military Prisons of the South in 1864, p. 46
Marched into Memphis, encamped in the southern part of the city near Fort Pickering—one of the meanest places we ever encamped in, no water or wood near. Glad to get a chance to lie down as our tramp has been a hard one. A snow flurry during the night.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 7
This morning at four o'clock we left our camp of the last four days, and came to our present abiding place, in a thick grove, about two miles east of Canton. We are well situated as far as shade and wood are concerned, but the water is very bad; in fact, all that we have had for the last four weeks was hardly fit for swine to wallow in. Yesterday our hearts were gladdened by the arrival in camp of some of our Tennessee friends who, hearing that we had been engaged at the battle of Raymond, and being ignorant of the casualties, had come on to render any needed assistance to their sons and friends. The party was composed of Messrs. Goodloe Woods, the father of "Our Jeems"; R. S. Woodard, the father of Galen and James (or "Daddy,” as we call him); W. H. Webb, James' father; D. P. Holman, "Bud's dad"; and R. P. Ferney, the father of our gallant Captain. Their presence seemed to have brought a new ray of sunshine into camp, and cheered the boys greatly.
SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 214
Yesterday morning
the brigade left Canton, heading northwest. We made twenty miles and encamped
for the night in a grove convenient to water, badly broken down by the march.
Our division is now composed of five or six brigades of infantry and cavalry,
under acting Major General Walker, and it is in fine fighting spirits. Nothing
of interest on the route yesterday, except the crossing of the Big Black on a
pontoon at 3 o'clock, P. M. To-day we have made about eight miles, and are now
halted in a hot lane awaiting orders. The Forty-first Tennessee is the advance
guard for the division. We have passed the little town of Benton, and are in
eight miles of Yazoo City; by day after to-morrow we expect to meet the enemy.
Besides our own, there are two other columns marching on the enemy, each said
to be fourteen thousand strong, the whole under command of General Joseph E.
Johnston. It is thought to be his intention to fall upon the enemy's rear at
three points, while the Vicksburg garrison assails from the front. I expect
some bloody work, but we are confident of the result.
SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 214-5
Camp near Yazoo City.—The
division arrived here after dark last night. The troops suffered greatly from
heat, thirst, and fatigue. Two of our brigade dropped dead, and some fainted,
while more than half are straggling into camp this morning. We traveled all
yesterday without water except what we could get through charity of the citizens
on the route.
SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 215
morning duties
performed as usual Lt Allen Officer of the Guard to day. Weather pleasant but
showery.—nothing of importance but drilling. Water scarce on account of
negligence of water master. Death of Jeff Davis confirmed today—that is still
believed. Report this evening that Pillow is within one days march of Birds
Point—4 Comp from th[e] 9th Regt. And the Chicago light Artillery left to night
tis said for Columbus Ky.
SOURCE: Transactions
of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 225
