Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: January 31, 1864

The weather for the past few days has been very bad, making our duty very severe. Picket and guard must be done. These cold storms make the life of a soldier a bitter one. Wood must be brought to camp, trees cut down, then worked up into fire-wood. Must go out about five miles from camp for the wood. All must take a hand at the axe. Teams and woodchoppers must be kept well guarded. Each tent is provided with a small cylinder stove set on the ground, pipe up, out the top of the tent. Once in a while a tent takes fire, which makes lively work for the boys. We keep prepared for such an emergency. Manage to keep comfortable in our tents when off duty. Visit the town quite often when off duty.

Orders received that our old commander, General Robert H. Milroy, will visit our camp this afternoon and review our regiment. Much excitement getting everything in order. All are happy and pleased at the prospect of seeing the General, whom we have not seen since the battle of Winchester, June 13th, 14th, 15th, 1863. At 4 P. M. the General, with staff and escort, came into camp. The regiment being in line, received him with hearty cheers and a welcome and a salute. He addressed the regiment, which I copy.

Soldiers of the Eighteenth. Since I last saw you, you have suffered captivity in rebel prisons. We have been separated since then, but I have come to see you and to praise you for your gallantry.

I saw you in the second day's fight, as you charged the enemy from your rifle-pits and drove them back upon their reserves, holding them in check until night, when you fell back but with your face to the foe. Again I saw you the next morning facing as hot a fire as I ever witnessed. I looked in vain to see you waver. Boys, it was a hot place — a hot place. I saw you go where none but brave men dare to go, saw you make three successful charges, preserving your line as well as if on dress parade. I witnessed it all. I saw you as you broke the first line of rebel infantry, and charged up to their batteries, driving away their gunners, still pressing on and breaking their reserves. But a third line was too strong for you. I knew it was. Only then did you fall back, when your lines were broken, and many brave Connecticut men lay bleeding on the field. But you only fell back to re-form, and give them another taste of your steel. I knew it was madness to order you forward again, it was ordering you to death and annihilation. But I watched you with pride as you charged the third time, but when I saw your ranks withering, and your comrades falling, it made my heart grow sad within me, and I ordered you to fall back. You know the rest. You were surrounded and there was no escape.

But I miss your noble commander, Colonel Ely, may he soon return to you.

Boys, to your valor I owe my safety. You come from a state whose soldiers never disgrace themselves nor their flag. I am proud of you.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 37-9

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: October 10, 1861

Played chess with Miss Hamlin, and visited with the other girls. Wrote to Fannie.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 2

Battery "G" 1st Ohio Light Artillery.

Organized at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and mustered in December 17, 1861. Moved to Louisville, Ky., February 10, 1862; thence to Nashville, Tenn., February 27. Attached to 5th Division, Army of Ohio, to June, 1862. Artillery Reserve, Army of Ohio, to September, 1862. Artillery, 8th Division, Army of Ohio, to November, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division (Centre), 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, 14th Army Corps, to October, 1863. 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Army of the Cumberland, to March, 1864. 2nd Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to August, 1864. Unattached Artillery, Dept. of the Cumberland, to October, 1864. Artillery Post of Chattanooga, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. Artillery Brigade, 4th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to August, 1865.

SERVICE. – March to Savannah, Tenn., March 18-April 6, 1862. Battle of Shiloh April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 10. Movement to Athens, Ala., June 10-30, and duty there till August. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., August 19. Siege of Nashville September to November. Repulse of Forest's attack on Edgefield November 5. Advance on Murfreesboro, Tenn., December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Duty at Murfreesboro till June. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. Hoover's Gap June 24-26. Occupation of Middle Tennessee till August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Davis Cross Roads or Dug Gap September 11. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Siege of Chattanooga September 24-November 23. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25; Mission Ridge November 24-25. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., December 2, and duty there till August, 1864. Battery veteranize January 4, 1864. March to relief of Fort Donelson, Tenn., March 3-12. Spring Hill March 9. Rutherford Creek March 10. Duck River March 11. Ordered to join army in the field August, 1864. Rousseau's pursuit of Wheeler September 1-8. Lavergne September 1. Franklin September 2. Campbellsville September 5. Expedition after Forest. Pulaski September 26-27. Nashville Campaign November-December. Columbia, Duck River, November 24-27. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville December 15-16. Pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Rutherford Creek December 19. At Huntsville, Ala., till March, 1865. Expedition to Bull's Gap and operations in East Tennessee March 20-April 5. Duty at Nashville till June. Moved to New Orleans, La., June 16. Ordered home for muster out August 31, 1865.

Battery lost during service 6 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 26 Enlisted men by disease. Total 33.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1485

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, March 29, 1864

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, March 29, 1864.

Spencer¹ and the Whipple boys continue to enjoy themselves. Yesterday was a fine day, and they rode over with me to Hancock's, some five miles. We then rode to Culpeper Court House, five miles, where I met General Grant, just from Washington. After which we returned to headquarters, a distance of six miles, making in all sixteen miles for the day's riding. En route the boys ascended Pony Mountain, a hill of some five hundred feet elevation, near Culpeper, on which we have a signal station and a fine telescope, and from whence you have a good view of the country, the rebel lines, camps, etc. At night Pennie was pretty well fatigued. But this morning he was up bright and early, and started with me, before eight o'clock, to go to Culpeper, where General Grant reviewed two divisions of infantry, and one of cavalry. It commenced to rain, however, during the review, which curtailed the ceremonies, and after spending an hour with Grant, we returned home in the rain. I borrowed an India rubber poncho for Pennie, so that he came back dry, but on the way his horse, and Willie Whipple's, became excited and started off with them at full speed. The boys, however, kept their seats beautifully till George² and an orderly headed off the horses and stopped them.

Grant continues very affable and quite confidential. He laughs at the statement in the papers of his remarks about balls, etc., and says he will be happy to attend any innocent amusement we may get up, he including among these horse races, of which he is very fond.

I join with you in the regret expressed at the relief of Sykes. I tried very hard to retain Sykes, Newton, and even French, as division commanders, but without avail. I had very hard work to retain Sedgwick. As to Pleasanton, his being relieved was entirely the work of Grant and Stanton.

I hear Butterfield has been swearing terribly against me. I shall go up day after to-morrow to meet his charges.

It is storming now violently.

_______________

1 Son of General Meade.

2 Son of General Meade.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 185

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, May 27, 1865

Saturday, May 27th.

Enclosed herewith I hand you the only copy of Mobile paper I can procure; the details therein will be sufficient without further comment from me. To-day is deliciously cool, too cool for comfort without woollen clothes. My little boat has just arrived, bringing me cargo of chickens, green peas, string beans, cucumbers, blackberries, sweet potatoes, and peanuts, with beautiful bouquets sent to me from Mount Louis Island, a blossom or two you will find pressed.

I cannot say what my future will be, a resignation would not be accepted, inasmuch as I have a full major-general's command, and I am in uncertainty as to the day or hour when I may be mustered out, or ordered hence to another field. It is only left to me to be patient to the bitter end. There is a growing disposition through many parts of the country to pay more honor to the base rebels who have been conquered in their efforts to overthrow the best government in the world than to the brave defenders of their flag. It will not be long before the United States uniforms will cease to be a badge of honor. How base the treatment of Sherman, how nobly he has emerged from the fiery furnace. I dare not trust myself in speculation upon passing events, or anticipation of the future.

I rejoice to note by the price current that most of the staples of life are largely reduced in value; corn, oats, flour, etc. You will now be able to make your dollar purchase pretty nearly a dollar's worth, and thus your income be virtually increased.

I am not much in the habit of telling dreams, and there is no Joseph to interpret; but three that have been lately dreamed, are so peculiar in connection with passing events, that, without giving them in full detail, I will let you have the outline. The first dream I dreamed myself about the time of the assassination of the President, and it was to this effect; that General Canby sent for me to be the bearer of despatches to President Lincoln, and that I went to heaven to deliver the despatches. You will naturally ask how heaven appeared to me in my dream. I can only give you a vague idea of my impressions. The scene was a spacious apartment something like the East Room of the White House; but vast with shadowy pillars and recesses and one end opening into space skyward, and by fleecy clouds made dim and obscure, just visible, with a shining radiance far away in the perspective, farther away than the sun or stars appear to us. I have no remembrance of my interview, but a clear recollection of my sensations that were those of perfect happiness, such as I have never had waking or dreaming. I would not tell this dream to anyone, till some weeks afterwards the Provost Marshal of my staff told me of a strange dream in which he had awakened the night before, and that had made a serious impression on his mind. The scene of his vision was laid at Carrollton, near New Orleans. I was standing surrounded by my staff, Jemmy Sherer and Joe, when a man approached and asked me to retire to the back yard on plea of private and important business. I walked out with him and a moment after a rebel officer followed us, with his hand upon a pistol, partially concealed in his breast. Mrs. Stone, the wife of my Inspector-General, called the attention of the dreamer to this fact, with a solemn warning that I was about to be assassinated. He at once sprang to the door for the guard, and perceiving an officer in command of an escort approaching, called halt, that from him he might procure the guard, but as he neared, discovered he was escorting a long funeral procession of mourners clad in white, in the centre of which was a hearse with towering white plumes. A colloquy and quarrel ensued, and pending the denouement he awoke. He told his dream to me, and on the instant, my own being recalled to mind, I told him mine, but neither of us mentioned the matter to others. Lastly, the Adjutant, Captain Wetmore, had his dream. The march and the battle, and all the vicissitudes of the campaign, in the rapid kaleidoscope of thought, had passed through his brain, when at last Jeff Davis appeared, a captured prisoner, then he was indicted, tried, and convicted, all in due course, and finally the sentence, that he be banished to “Australia” for twenty years, provided the consent of the British government could be obtained thereto.

These dreams were all vivid and interesting in detail, the last the most sensible of the three, and certainly as easy of interpretation as those of the butler and the baker of the King of Egypt. Yet they only serve to remind us of the words of him, who wrote as never man wrote, who knew the human heart, and springs to human action, and the world, and all its contents, better than anyone on earth,

“All Spirits,

And are melted into air, into thin air;

And, like the baseless fabric of this vision,

The cloud-capp'd towers, the gorgeous palaces,

The solemn temples, the great globe itself,

Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve;

And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,

Leave not a rack behind: We are such stuff

As dreams are made of, and our little life

Is rounded with a sleep. . . .”

My next letter will be dated from New Orleans, events transpiring, foreshadow my early departure from my headquarters at Dauphine Island, to which I have become a good deal attached. I have had some lonely hours on its shores, but the waves have made sweet music in my ears.

I have some fresh accounts of the horrid accident at Mobile; language fails to do justice to the terrors of the scene. The professional sensation writers will fill the columns of the daily press with details, and I will not attempt to harrow up your soul with my tame pen.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 403-6

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, November 24, 1863

The weather is clear and cool, and the regiment is in good health. No news of importance.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 154

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: January 28, 1864

This morning the Pennsylvania boys are packing up to leave, they having received marching orders. Ordered to New Creek, West Virginia. Our boys lined up, bid them good bye, good luck, with hearty cheers. These regiments, the 3d and 4th were known as the reserves and the Buck Tails, they having seen hard service. We found them a good lot of boys, and visited back and forth very much while they were in camp near us.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 37

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: October 9, 1861

My mother's birthday. The Wellington Three Hundred came to camp. Somewhat indisposed. Had a good time though.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 2

Battery "F" 1st Ohio Light Artillery.

Organized at Camp Lucas, Ohio, August, 1861. Moved to Camp Dennison, Ohio, September 1, and mustered in December 2, 1861. Left State for Louisville, Ky., December 3. Attached to 4th Division, Army of Ohio, to February, 1862. Artillery, 6th Division, Army of Ohio, to July, 1862. Artillery, 4th Division, Army of Ohio, to September, 1862. 19th Brigade, 4th Division, 2nd Corps, Army of Ohio, to November, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, Left Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, 21st Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. Artillery, 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1864. 2nd Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to March, 1864. Garrison Artillery, Decatur, Ala., District of Northern Alabama, Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Moved to Nashville, Tenn., February 10-25, 1862. March to Savannah, Tenn., March 18-April 6. Battle of Shiloh April 7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 12. Buell's Campaign in North Alabama and Middle Tennessee June to August. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 21-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg to London, Ky., October 1-22. Battle of Perryville, Ky., October 8 (Reserve). Danville October 11. Wild Cat Mountain October 16. Big Rockcastle River October 16. Near Mt. Vernon October 16. Near Crab Orchard October 16. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 23-November 7. Duty at Nashville till December 26. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Woodbury, Tenn., January 24. At Readyville till June. Middle Tennessee (or Tullahoma) Campaign June 23-July 7. At Manchester till August 16. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga (Ga.) Campaign August 16-September 22. Battle of Chickamauga, Ga., September 19-20. Siege of Chattanooga, Tenn., September 24-November 23. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-27. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., and duty there till March, 1864. Moved to Decatur, Ala., and duty there till July, 1865. Expedition from Decatur to Moulton, Ala., July 25-28, 1864. Action at Courtland, Ala., July 25. Siege of Decatur October 26-29, 1864. Mustered out July 22, 1865.

Battery lost during service 1 Officer and 7 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 28 Enlisted men by disease. Total 36.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1485

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Monday, November 23, 1863

It was warm and pleasant again with rain in the afternoon. The "chuck luck" banks at the spring are in full operation this morning. At each bank there are from twelve to twenty of our boys down on their knees laying their money on certain figures, as the "banker" throws the dice. After each throw the operator picks up the largest number of dollars. Some of the men in less than five days lose every dollar received from the paymaster.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 153-4

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: January 26, 1864

In camp today we have a visitor, a minister from Woodstock, Connecticut, Rev. Mr. White. The day being fine, our regular routine was carried out. At dress parade, Mr. White delivered an address, a message from home. A pleasure to hear direct from old Connecticut.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 37

Diary of Luman Harris Tenney: Tuesday, October 1, 1861

My birthday (twenty) — what a contrast between this one and that of the year before. Spent the day about as usual.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 2

Battery "E" 1st Ohio Light Artillery.

Organized at Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and mustered in October 7, 1861. Action at West Liberty, Ky., October 23. Expedition into Eastern Ohio and West Virginia after Jenkins' Cavalry November 23-29. Moved to Louisville, Ky., December 2, 1861; thence to Bacon Creek, Ky., and duty there till February, 1862. Attached to 3rd Division, Army of Ohio, December, 1861, to September, 1862. Artillery, 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, Army of Ohio, to November, 1862. 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, Right Wing 14th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to January, 1863. Post of Nashville. Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to June, 1863. Artillery, 2nd Division, Reserve Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 1863. Unassigned, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1863. 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to December, 1863. Garrison Artillery at Bridgeport, Ala., Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1864. 1st Division, Artillery Reserve, Dept. of the Cumberland, to November, 1864. Garrison Artillery, Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to July, 1865.

SERVICE. – Advance on Bowling Green, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn., February 10-25. Occupation of Nashville February 25. Reconnoissance to Shelbyville and McMinnville March 25-29. Advance on Fayetteville April 4-7, and on Huntsville April 10-11. Capture of Huntsville April 11. Advance on and capture of Decatur, Florence and Tuscumbia April 11-14. Action at West Bridge, near Bridgeport. April 29. Destruction of railroad bridge across the Tennessee River. Relief of 18th Ohio at Athens May 1 and dispersement of Scott's Forces. Negley's Chattanooga Campaign May 27-June 14. Duty at Battle Creek June-July. Action at Battle Creek June 21. Occupy Fort McCook August 20-25. March to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of Bragg August 25-September 26. Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October 1-15. Lawrenceburg October 6. Dog Walk October 9. March to Nashville, Tenn., October 20-November 7, and duty there till December 26. Reconnoissance from Lavergne November 19. Advance on Murfreesboro December 26-30. Battle of Stone's River December 30-31, 1862, and January 1-3, 1863. Battery captured December 31. Ordered to Nashville, Tenn., January 20, 1863, and duty there till September. Moved to Stevenson, Ala., September 6; thence to Battle Creek, Anderson's Cross Roads and Chattanooga. Chattanooga-Ringgold Campaign November 23-27. Battles of Chattanooga November 23-25. Garrison duty at Bridgeport, Ala., till July, 1864, and at Nashville, Tenn., till July, 1865. Battle of Nashville December 15-16, 1864. Mustered out July 10, 1865.

Battery lost during service 3 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 29 Enlisted men by disease. Total 32.

SOURCE: Frederick H. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the 3, p. Rebellion, Part 1484-5

Official Reports of the Action at and Surrender of Murfreesborough, Tenn., July 13, 1862: No. 6. – Report of Col. John C. Walker, Thirty-fifth Indiana Infantry.

No. 6.

 SHELBYVILLE, TENN., July 13, 1862.

SIR: An engagement has been going on at Murfreesborough nearly all day between our troops at that place and the enemy under Colonel Starnes. I give you the reports as they come to me through messengers of Colonel Hambright, who is stationed at Wartrace. It seems from these reports that Colonel Starnes, with about 5,000 cavalry and two pieces of artillery, attacked Murfreesborough this morning. After two or three hours' fighting he succeeded in taking prisoners seven companies of the Ninth Michigan Regiment and the entire provost guard. It is said that General Crittenden, of Indiana, is also taken prisoner. Since this the First Kentucky Battery was engaged for several hours in shelling the rebels. The battery, I believe, is sustained by the Third Minnesota Regiment. Toward evening the enemy withdrew to the woods.

I cannot vouch for the details of this statement, but will add that the cannonading has been heard distinctly at this place during nearly the entire day. Colonel Matthews, Fifty-first Ohio, arrived at this place this evening and will await further orders. Under existing circumstances I have taken the responsibility of ordering my regiment to this place, for the purpose of co-operating, if necessary, with the other troops in this vicinity. In the course of a day or two I will have the regiment proceed to Elk River Bridge, unless orders are received directing me to do otherwise.

Trusting that my action in the premises will meet with your approbation, I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 J. C. WALKER,

 Colonel Thirty-fifth Indiana.

 Col. J. B. FRY,

 Chief of Staff, Huntsville,.Ala.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 16, Part 1 (Serial No. 22), p. 800

Major-General Charles F. Smith to Senator James W. Grimes, March 13, 1862

Savannah, Tenn., March 13, 1862.

Your kind and complimentary note of the 24th ult., addressed to me at Paducah, was not received by me until this morning. I fear that yourself and others overrate the value of my services recently; I did not suppose I was doing anything remarkable; however, I am not the less sensible of the kindness and manliness you have exhibited toward one so entirely a stranger to you as myself. I am deeply grateful to you, believe me. As I know it will gratify your State pride, it affords me great pleasure to say that, although all of the Iowa regiments acted creditably, the behavior of the Second was, during the assault of the 15th, as fine an exhibition of soldierly conduct as it has ever been my fortune to witness.

I am here with a large force on a rather delicate mission, which will be developed in a few days. Again thanking you for your manliness and kindness, I remain

Very truly your friend and servant,

C. F. Smith.

The Hon. James W. Grimes, Washington.

SOURCE: William Salter, The Life of James W. Grimes, p. 183

Diary of Major Rutherford B. Hayes: Friday, August 16, 1861

A morning of small excitements. A wagon train stopped on its way towards Sutton to search for arms or ammunition concealed in boxes of provisions.  . . . Drake, Captain, and Woodward search train in vain for contraband.

SOURCE: Charles Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes, Volume 2, p. 67

Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, March 27, 1864

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac,

Easter Sunday, March 27, 1864.

Your letter of the 25th inst. arrived this afternoon. I am very much distressed to hear of Sergeant's continued weakness. As to my going home, that is utterly out of the question. You must not expect to see me till next winter, unless, as before, I am brought home on a litter. Whatever occurs, I shall not voluntarily leave the field.

We have had most interesting services to-day by Bishop Whipple, who administered the Holy Communion to quite a number of officers and soldiers, hastily collected from the staff and the detachments on duty at these headquarters. We had afternoon services, and afterwards the bishop and his assistant, with General Seth Williams, dined with me. The bishop brought down with him a magnificent bouquet of flowers, with which our rude altar was adorned. The bishop is a most interesting man, about forty years of age, but full of life and energy. He preached two most appropriate and impressive discourses, well adapted to all classes of his hearers.

General Grant went up to Washington to-day, expecting to return to-morrow. You do not do Grant justice, and I am sorry to see it. You do not make a distinction between his own acts and those forced on him by the Government, Congress and public opinion. If left to himself, I have no doubt Grant would have let me alone; but placed in the position he holds, and with the expectations formed of him, if operations on a great scale are to be carried on here, he could not well have kept aloof. As yet he has indicated no purpose to interfere with me; on the contrary, acts promptly on all my suggestions, and seems desirous of making his stay here only the means of strengthening and increasing my forces. God knows I shall hail his advent with delight if it results in carrying on operations in the manner I have always desired they should be carried on. Cheerfully will I give him all credit if he can bring the war to a close.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 184-5

Brigadier-General Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, May 26, 1865

Headquarters District Of South Alabama,

Fort Gaines, Ala., May 26, 1865.

You had received my recountal of our narrow escape from perishing at sea. The varied experience of the past few years has showed me the uncertainty of human life. “We are such stuff as dreams are made of, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” I often wish you were with me here, that you might have leisure for reflection, and opportunity to study the wonders of the deep, the great sea, fitting emblem of eternity. To watch with me the changes on its surface, now dimpled and glittering in the sunlight, then glassy as a mirror, reflecting the bright moon, or by starlight lambent with phosphorescent glare; and again maddened by the wind, tossing and roaring and foaming with rage. To see the sun rise from the ocean in the morning and set beneath its waters at eve; to see the sweet sight of “sunset sailing ships,” to wander by the shore and watch the graceful seabirds dip their wings. Nothing that poet has written or traveller described, can give to the mind an idea of the heart emotions awakened by the ocean, whether in repose or agitated by storm. I am never weary of it, or the southern gales that sweep its bosom. You remember old Governor Duval's description of the breeze at Pensacola. How its influence made one dream of “bathing in a sea of peacock's plumes.” Here you can realize how graphic was his description. The weather is perfectly delicious; you never saw so blue a sky. In the early morning it is hot, but about ten o'clock the sea breeze springs up and sitting in the shade you have nothing in the way of atmosphere to desire. My house is favorably situated close to the beach, or rather on the beach, close to the water's edge, so close that the spray of the waves sometimes falls in light mist on my brow, as I sit on the long and wide piazza, facing due east. Here I linger far into the night, sometimes till the early morning, watching the stars and chewing the cud of sweet and bitter fancy, with nothing to break the silence but the tread of the sentry and the splash of the waves, drinking in deep draughts of night air that give no cold. They tell me the coming months are hot, and the mosquitoes troublesome. I know not how that may be; the present is the perfection of climate, and I wish you could enjoy it with me. My health is improving. I am taking iron and quinine, and within a few days my disease seems brought under subjection.

It is strange that as I have been writing and endeavoring to moralize upon the uncertainty of human life and the futility of human plans, another and terrible lesson has been read to me. Yesterday, while writing to Walter my house was shaken by a tremendous explosion, that I supposed to be a clap of thunder, though the sky was clear. I called to “J. L.” to know if any of the guns at the fort had been discharged; he said no, but thought one of the “men-of-war” in the offing had fired a gun. I thought it rather strange, it being about two o'clock in the afternoon. At night, I discovered a bright light in the north and feared for a while that a steamboat was on fire; but just at this moment the mystery has been solved by the intelligence brought me that the magazines at Mobile have been blown up, half the city destroyed, thousands of lives lost, and a scene of misery and destruction terrible to imagine. I shall cease writing now and close my letter by giving you full particulars, as they will be brought me by the next boat. Truly in life we are in death. Thousands of soldiers and refugees, women and children, have been hurried to eternity without warning, and many hundreds of mangled and wounded are craving death to relieve them from misery.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 401-3

Diary of Private Alexander G. Downing: Sunday, November 22, 1863

This morning when our detail was relieved from picket, we were marched to brigade headquarters and put to target shooting. This is to be done regularly from now on, in order to give the boys practice. To encourage good marksmanship a reward is given; those who hit the bull's-eye are excused from picket duty, once for every time they hit the mark.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 153

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: January 18-25, 1864

Rain, sunshine, snow, very windy, has been the weather for the past week. At times very disagreeable. Target practise has taken the place of drilling. Daily routine does not change very much from day to day. Many are ill at this time, in hospital. Occasional death takes place.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 37