Thursday, November 12, 2026

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, January 13, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Cloudy and appearance of rain. The health in general is not very well, several troubled with ague, etc., supposed to be owing to the water which is very bad, being taken out of an artificial pond. Stood guard. Rained very heavy in the night.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 27

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, January 14, 1863

Buntyn Station.  This morning, while it was yet dark, Sergeant Hamilton came to our door, calling upon Evans to harness and hitch up team. I being on guard, coupled the horses, stood until 8 o'clock, when they were unhitched and unharnessed. Marched from 2 o'clock. Roll call. After [marched] to the headquarters of the 48th Indiana to be paid off, the boys having two months' pay. I received none. Raining heavy all day. Five months in the service of Uncle Sam.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 27

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Thursday, January 15, 1863

Buntyn Station.  The rain of the day before has turned into snow during the night, and I awoke to find the ground all white, my head imbedded in a snow drift. Looked out to see the 4th Platoon boys crawling out from under the snow, their tent having given way under the weight and rolled aside. It was a little the hardest sight seen during my campaign, but there was no murmur, all were jovial and contented. We had to take the horses, who were trembling at the rack, out to exercise to the race course, against a blinding storm of snow from the west. In the afternoon it stopped snowing, leaving about a foot deep on the ground. Many of the boys gone to Memphis.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 27

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Friday, January 16, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Clear though cold morning. S. Beaver, S. E. Sweet, E. W. Evans, T. J. Hungerford and myself, having a permit from Captain, started for Memphis at 8 in the morning, going afoot on the railroad. Travelled briskly until within two miles of town, when we were halted by a guard, with orders not to pass any officer or private of Quinby's Division without a pass signed by officer commanding, but suggested that we had been in the service long enough to know how to pass a guard. Taking the hint we turned back about fifteen rods, then going through the snow around a field, passed in to town undisturbed. Stayed in town some four hours, went to the gallery, had my likeness taken. Spent money. Returned by the evening roll call better off than most of the boys, as we were able to walk straight as we had taken no liquor. Considerable tired nevertheless.

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

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Saturday, January 17, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Was spent in resting from the tramp to town. Sunny but raw, did not take much of the snow off. Rebuilt our chimney.

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

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Sunday, January 18, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Most of the snow made its disappearance to-day. Cloudy in the afternoon. Health very good. Anxious for mail. Rec'd none since the 13th.

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

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Monday, January 19, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Rainy and disagreeable. Logan's Division passed on the R. R. going towards Memphis. Rec'd three letters, four newspapers.

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

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Tuesday, January 20, 1863

Buntyn Station.  Still rainy and muddy. Orderly Jenawein gone to town. Sergeant Hauxhurst acting. Health good.

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

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones, Wednesday, January 21, 1863

Buntyn Station.  One day without any rain, which dried up underfoot somewhat. Health excellent. On guard. No news from below.

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

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