Went to Granville. I
rode Jimmy's gray horse and left my mule with his boy. Staid all night with
Capt. Trousdale; had to paddle over the river in a canoe and swim our horses.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 15
Came to Gifford's
blacksmith shop. Albright had swapped horses, had two shoes put on, got dinner
and came on to Joe Carter's. A. had two more shoes put on, went on to Griggs
and got supper. A. and Maze of Petticord's Company came on. We came four miles
to Joe Sullivan's; left A. there. I and Maze went over to Jordan Carr's. Yanks
all through here yesterday.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 15
Left Carr's and came
up to John Mitchell's. Came out to Stinson's on to Giles Harris. From there to
Scottsville and Gallatin. Crossed at Coatstown, went on to John Rippy's, got
supper and fed horses. Went on in rain to the Webb's, Maze's uncle, found the
Yanks so close by that we turned and went back to the hills.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 15
Start this evening,
six of us, to Allen County, Ky. Went up in eight miles of Scottsville; stay all
night or day in woods. To-night go by Ayres, Will Span's and old man Span's. At
the latter place we got into hot water. Bushwhackers attacked us, killed my
horse, stampeded all. I got separated from the rest, went one mile, got two
horses, came on through to New Row Monday, 11th, and on across to Coatstown.
Find Will at Mrs. Huffey's, shot. Miss Sallie Key there on visit. I stay all
night.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 16
This evening we all
went in and got supper then down to Mr. Wickwire's and got supper and the
supper is a mistake; danced until 12 o'clock. I and Miss Jimmy danced two sets.
I enjoyed it finely, then bid them adieu and came out to Pete Laurence's by
daylight. Birch swapped horses on the way. Pete's sister brought us provisions.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 16
To-night stopped to
see two Lincolnites; got six shooter from one, single barrel from the other;
stopped at Squire Henry's; got some cherry bounce; played off Yankee on him;
got all the information we wanted and went on to Wickwire's; fed at Mr.
Simpson's; girls got up, chatted them awhile. I, Harper and Gibson then left
the crowd, crossed the railroad and bought two horses and came on to Bracken's
and got breakfast. From there to Ashlock's and got dinner. Came cross the pike
and I left them, went by Bass's and on to Crews and staid all night.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 16
Down to Hughes, got
my horse shod, came back, and nine of us started. Came up near Epperson
Springs, found the Yanks were there and at Scottsville too strong for us. Got
supper at Stinson's, a regular tory. Lamb swapped horses with him. Then started
for New Row. Came across to Bracken's, got breakfast, three of the boys had
left us.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 17
Came cross the pike
to Meadows, fed our horses. I, Jim and Lamb started back to Kentucky. We came
cross pike to Mr. Hodges and got supper, then cross railroad and out through
Mitchellville to Norris ten miles from railroad; staid all day and to-night.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 17
Went down to
Finche's and got a horse. Mr. Finch came out with us some distance. Came back
to Norris; staid all night; nothing to eat.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 17
Met up with Parker as Lieut. Brown. I got a horse for Mason Rector. Came on to Granville, found Company D there, and that we were published as deserters. Came out near Cookville to-night.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 18
West Point. The horses were landed to-day. By five o'clock P. M., we marched two miles, and camped at Elkhorn, on the Pamunkey.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 42
Am expecting soon to
go to Huntsville, Alabama, as hospital nurse. Should have gone four days since,
had not Gen Sherman closed the way against everybody and everything except
soldiers, rations, gunpowder and pontoon bridges. The road has been crowded
with those for a week past. A great battle is expected to come off very soon,
some where at the front. The Government has been pressing horses of every
description into the service to-day. The streets have been crowded with teams
marked "United States Transfer," those of "Q. M. D." and
ammunition wagons.
This evening 600
horses have gone past our door, en route for the front, where
they are to act as scouts, I understand not the horses, though, I believe, but
their riders.
General Sherman,
himself, left for the front to-day noon. During this time of waiting for a
pass, rather than remain idle, and also for the purpose of picking up some
grains of knowledge with regard to the "capacity" of the colored race—which
I believe a wealthy man said he would buy for his daughter if she was'nt
supplied with the article—I volunteered my services yesterday, as teacher in
Mr. Brown's school. This is held in the body of the colored peoples' church,
near the Chattanooga depot; Mr. B. is from Hamilton, Ohio, and is the pioneer
here, in this work. There are some 400 pupils and five teachers, all in one
room. I supposed they were having recess when I entered, but found that it was
impossible to prevent them from studying aloud. It seems it is practiced in the
schools of white children here, and the great number in this one room,
prevented such discipline as otherwise would have been secured.
SOURCE: Elvira J.
Powers, Hospital Pencillings: Being a Diary While in Jefferson General
Hospital, Jeffersonville, Ind., and Others at Nashville, Tennessee, as Matron
and Visitor, p. 61
Near Oxford. It
rained nearly all day, making it very muddy, hard for our horses. No mail for
two days.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 19
Last night about
supper-time, ten of Company E under command of Acting-Corpl. Emerson, were sent
to Gen. Wessels as headquarters guard, and after a severe night's duty in
keeping the general's horses all right and his staff from straggling, were
suddenly marched at "double quick" back to camp, to find the regiment
packing and getting ready to start. We bade good-by to the old barrack after a
hearty supper, and with flags furled and no music wended our way down town and
aboard the steamer "Escort." Company E was stationed forward, and as
it was dark we could see nothing, but found the soft places and turned in. We
will miss Russell and his mule this trip, as he is on duty in New Berne and
cannot leave. As we passed across Craven Street we saw him with his father, and
bade them good-by, telling him to look out for what boxes might come. Not a
very safe man, with his reputation as a forager, to leave our boxes
with; but it is the best we can do.
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. 42
Camp Warren, Sept. 15th, 1861
It is now a little more than a week since I was with you, Although it is but a short time It seems to me about a month. I have seen so many strange and new things in moveing about and liveing as I have that although I am not homesick the time when I look back upon it seems long. You may think strange my writing with a ledpencil but it is so much handier as I am siting on the ground with a board on my lap. I had a letter written to send home, when John3 came down to Davenport and as I did not know when we would leave there and I thought John could carry all the news I did not send it, I suppose John told you all about our camp at Davenport, well it is much better than it is here for here we have nothing but tents. They are smaller than the one we had [illegible], and Thirteen have to mess and sleep in two of them. The first thing may be you would like to know is about my traveling after I left home &s (I did not have time to tell John much) About one oclock I left Lyons4 and after a pleasant trip of five hours arrived at Davenport or Camp McClellan5 which as John will tell you is very pleasantly situated. There was preaching at Camp Mc.C. evry Sunday I attended and heard a good discourse by Bishop Lee6 first Sunday after I left home, I bought me a Bible and some medicine at D. The morning after John stayed with us we were ordered to get ready to move from camp in one hour. We were told it was to go to Burlington In less than half that time every one was ready to march for the boat, We were taken in front of the Burtis House7 at Davenport and sworn in servise of U. S. I beleive John was there in time to see us, After takeing the Boat we had a pleasant trip one hundred miles down the great river We had dinner and supper at Leefingwells8 expence I was told, We arrived at Burlington about 10 oclock P. M. Was marched through the dust to Camp Warren a distance of 1½ mile from town, we were met by Isaac's9 company and after many hearty cheers went in quarters with them for the night. This camp is very comfortable although they are nothing but shanties most of the boys sleep on the ground because they did not know how hard it would be in wet times Friday first day in Camp Warren it rained all day so we had to stay where we could untill we could get and put up our tents. friday night it rained very hard and about midnight I found my self swiming in water, with a number of others. I concluded to take quarters on a table where I took a wet but a good sleep Saturday we put up our tents and dug ditches around them so they are water proofe. Sunday today is comparatively quiet though I hear the Band play a part of the time as the guards have to be changed. I have not been to preaching to day but they say that next Sunday there will be preaching on the ground. We have plenty to eat here and can trade Pork and Beef for all the nicnacks we want. We draw as rations Pork Beef Rice Potatoes Bread sugar Coffee tea molasses vinegar Soap & candles Salt Pepper &c not all at once but all we need as evry other day for a change we have a good mess the Best one in the crowd to my notion. [illegible] myself and 3 other Carpenters one Telegraph operator 3 Mt. Vernon students Fred Wilkes10 one stone mason besides two other common laborers, mess together We are all well suited and all good cooks Tell Peter11 that Gorum [Josiah Gorhem] the wagon maker at Clinton is in our mess. There is now a full Regiment of Cavalry here a great many of them want horses sadles and equipments besides us, they get them as soon as can be, but no telling when Isaac's Company with some others look well when mounted, as they have theyr saddles.
3 John Schuyler was the oldest son of Peter and Lorrette Schuyler and therefore was William's nephew although he was about the same age. He later enlisted and died in camp.
4 Lyons is a town of about 6000 population, two and one-half miles directly north of Clinton, Iowa. Here Company B of the First Iowa Cavalry was organized about May 1, 1861, under the leadership of Judge William E. Leffingwell of Lyons, its first captain. Samuel S. Burdett of DeWitt, 1st lieutenant, was later promoted to captain. —Lothrop's A History of the First Regiment Iowa Cavalry Veteran Volunteers (Lyons, Ia., Beers and Eaton, 1890), p. 20.
5 Camp McClellan, at Davenport, served as a concentration point for the additional companies permitted by an Act of Congress of July 29, 1861. This act increased the number of companies constituting a cavalry regiment from ten to twelve. This permitted the addition to the First Cavalry of Company L, mustered into the service on September 23rd; and Company M, which went into quarters at Camp McClellan on September 2nd and was sworn into service on September 12th.
6 Henry W. Lee, of Davenport, was bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Iowa from 1854 until his death in 1874. He was instrumental in the founding at Davenport of Griswold College and the building of Trinity Cathedral. He also carried to a successful conclusion a money-raising campaign which made possible the purchase of 6000 acres of land by the Iowa diocese.— Downer's History of Davenport and Scott County (Chicago, S. J. Clark, 1910), Vol. I, p. 590.
7 The Burtis Opera House, 413 Perry St., Davenport, Iowa.
8 Captain (Judge) William E. Leffingwell organized Company B, First Iowa Cavalry, under the name of the "Hawkeye Rangers". This was the first full company of equipped cavalry in the State. It numbered 98 officers and men, according to the Lyons City Advocate of July 27, 1861. It is significant that Capt. Leffingwell raised this company and procured its equipment without aid either from the State or Federal government. At different times before and after the war Leffingwell was a Presidential Elector, Judge of the Eastern Iowa District Court, and President of the Iowa State Senate. He was an able lawyer, and was distinguished for his scholarly attainments.
9 Isaac Gulick of Company B, a cousin. He re-enlisted in 1864 and survived the war. He afterwards moved with his parents to State Center, Marshall County, Iowa, and according to latest reports, he is still living there.
10 Fred Wilkes (Frederick R. Wilkes) also of Company M was William Gulick's most intimate friend and "buddy" until the death of the latter in September, 1863. He had come to Clinton County from Indiana before the war, and joined Company M with the original enlistment in September, 1861. He re-enlisted in 1864 and served out the war.
11 Peter Schuyler, a brother-in-law to Gulick, had married Lorrette, William's oldest sister.
SOURCE: Benjamin F. Shambaugh, The Iowa Journal of History and Politics, vol. 28 (1930), pp. 201-4
The siege is
progressing slowly but surely. We are making gradual approaches and are now
within one hundred feet of the enemy's works. The work is done by the men
rolling in front of them a large gabion filled with earth so as to keep the
rebel sharp-shooters from picking them off. They then dig a trench throwing the
dirt up on both sides; at times men are killed; one of our men, a sergeant in
Co. B, has just been brought in killed in the advance rifle pit. He was shot
through the head and killed instantly. Such an occurrence makes the men careful
but they soon grow careless again. The Rebs are throwing shells into our camp,
pieces fall in close proximity to our quarters. Their sharp-shooters are
constantly on the watch for a chance to pick us off. I was riding along the
other day to see the works on our left and stopped for a moment, when a bullet
struck at the feet of my horse's front legs and in a second more two or three
others in close proximity. I changed my position. No one can form any idea of
the extent of their works, reaching a distance of eighteen miles, completely
encircling Vicksburg. Quite a number of our wounded men have died since they
have left to go North. The severity of the wounds is proven by the fact that
there were over fifty amputations of arms and legs in our brigade alone.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 18
Rain ceased; bright
and clear this morning. We came on to Alexandria. I spent the evening working
with my mule's feet. After supper I went over to Lodge to assist in conferring
some side degrees. I took 1001; staid till 11 o'clock. Came back and went to
bed. In a few minutes ordered to saddle up. Yanks coming down on us like
thousand of brick from Liberty, Snow Hill and all around. We marched all night.
I and Jack and Bill Kyle got together. Couldn't keep up with Regiment. Stopped
at daylight, got breakfast, fed horses and traveled on. Crossed river—nearly
swimming. Came out three miles and camped.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 14
Start at 3 o'clock
for the wagons at Yankeetown. All horses unfit for duty sent there under Lieut.
Gibson of 11th Texas. Regiment went to Rock Island. We came in fifteen miles of
Sparta and camped. Men and lame horses straggled all along the road for miles.
I and McFarlan bunked together.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 14
Remained in Camp
to-day; horses inspected. John R. left me to go to the command. Albright bunked
with me to-night. I went up with him to Mr. Williams and got supper.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 14
Started at half-past
five A.M., marched to Gettysburg, and reached there about noon. The battle
commenced at four in the afternoon, and lasted till eight at night. We went
into position four or five times, and had six men slightly wounded and four
horses shot. "Boots and saddles" at twelve o'clock at night; started
out, and went into position on the extreme left of the line of battle. Stopped
there all day and night. Fighting going on all day. It rained during the night.
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. 277
