Thursday, November 12, 2026

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, January 22, 1863

Buntyn Station. Sunny and warm. All quiet in camp. Exercised the horses on the course. Weighed 140 pounds. Read Parson Brownlow's book in the evening.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 28

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, January 23, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Spent the day in darning stockings. Listened to Brownlow read in tent. But when night came there was a scene at once ludicrous and deplorable. Music was started in the 4th Platoon tent; Parker with his fiddle, Bill Bailey with the banjo, Day's tambourine, Byness with the bones, and Goodman's clarinet. But Quartermaster had brought some bottled whiskey into camp and it broke up in a drunken row. Deplorable, deplorable sight. Rec'd a letter from Thomas and a Milwaukee Sentinel of the 18th, mailed on the 20th inst.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 29

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, January 24, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Rainy and dark all day. Health good. Battery in general dull from the effects of last night's carousal.

Price of army clothing, Oct. 1862

Hats, naked

$1.68

Cord and tassel

.15

Eagle

.14

Cross Cannons

.03

Jacket

5.55

Trousers

4.60

Woolen shirts

1.46

Woolen drawers

.95

Stockings

.32

Sewed boots

3.25

Pegged boots

2.87

Overcoat

11.59

Woolen blanket

3.60

Lined sack coats

3.14

Canteen

.44

Knapsack

2.14

Haversack, glazed

.56

Rubber pouch

2.90

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 29

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, January 25, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Sunny in the morning, but clouded over by afternoon and rained heavy while out on exercise; got beautifully wet. Received the N. Y. Tribune from John, mailed 18th. Letter from Mary, Jen and James (his first letter). May he be permitted to live a useful and intelligent life to comfort my aged parents. Prospect of their once more finding a home in Dodge Hollow, Iowa County. May they live to see their children once more gathered in the old homestead.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 29

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, January 26, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Rain, rain, rain. Turned cold towards night. Health not very good on account of the damp. Ague and rheumatism.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, January 27, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Cold this morning. Came out sunny.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, January 28, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Cold and clear. Froze hard in the night. Went down to the 59th Indiana where there was a gallery. Took my likeness for $1.00. Carriages washed clean for painting.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, January 29, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Warm and pleasant. Stood guard. Health good. No mail.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, January 30, 1863

Buntyn Station.  4th Brigade of this Division passed toward Memphis. Harnessed up in the afternoon in order to see if the harnesses were in marching order. Indication of rain.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, January 31, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Sunny in the A. M. but clouded over and there came a heavy spring shower. Rained nearly all night. Health good.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 30

Diary of Dr. Alfred L. Castleman, February 7, 1862

Still all is uncertainty here as to what is in store for us. Some are of opinion that we are to accompany the next squadron to the South; some that we go to Norfolk; others that we shall next week move on Manassas. My own opinion is that we shall remain where we are till about the first of April, then advance on Centreville, and if successful to Manassas, and thus to follow up our victories as long as we can win them.

To-day our Regiment is scouting. This morning a body of Cavalry went out from our Brigade, and returned about ten o'clock, bringing in six rebel cavalry men as prisoners. But some of our own men are missing. We immediately sent out two regiments to reconnoitre. They have returned with thirteen prisoners. Two of the Cameron Dragoons are wounded, but not badly.

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. 81-2

Diary of Dr. Alfred L. Castleman, February 9, 1862

The Court of Inquiry to examine into the conduct of my hospital affairs yesterday, decided that they would not investigate that the accusations were the result of personal ill feelings. At least, so a member of the court informed me. I begged him to insist on an inquiry, and the court has reconsidered its action, and will investigate. I hope there will be a full expose of the whole conduct of the hospital. I have long desired it.

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, p. 82