CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF JAMES B. LOCKNEY
WIS. 28th REGMT., CO. G
December
1864
Copyright © 1986, 1997-2023 [James
R. Shirey]. All rights reserved.
On the March to Little Rock
December 1st, Thursday, 1864
It was nearly dark last evening when we halted for the night.
Though the boys had been complaining about marching so late as water & wood
were plenty along the way. When we did stop nearly all rejoiced at the
beautiful place selected, for spring water was plenty & nearby. I did not
eat much supper, for I was but little hungry & felt a little tired. The
most of the boys were quite tired & foot sore. Some of them carried their
knapsacks yesterday P.M. & this made their shoulders sore. I washed my
feet before lying down & this was pleasant & good preparation for tomorrow's
march. The boys cooked coffee & I drank a cup of it. I lay with Owen
Finley as both our partners were on guard or Picket. The night was clear &
the sky starry. The young new moon appeared in the west in its new dress &
like all orderly, well-behaved people, she sunk early to rest. I am very
well.
How strange was it that while I there so soundly slept under the bare limbs of
the clustering oaks, that a vision of beauty should come to my mind, for I was in
the presence of a young woman who has grown to womanhood in that vile old town
in which I passed 21 years of my life. I was also in conversation with her
for some time & the impression made in my mind was one of Beauty & Purity & Joy &
Love. I awoke early & my mind was filled with the vast treasures of the
imaginings of the night. Though someone else may be the partner of my
Life's Joys & sorrow, yet will this one ever occupy a hallowed place in my
memory. How joyous is it for one to know that his influence is only for
good & not to injure others & blast one's own Peace. I feel that the
impression made in my mind was more Ideal & higher than my subsequent
acquaintance with men & women too has realized, but though by no means
faultless, yet I think she is a very good person, though perhaps tainted deeply
with prejudices from which a person of her intelligence should be free.
Yesterday our Co was
rear guard & today is advance guard. The day was
sunny & as we marched fast in the warm air most of the boys sweat freely & felt
sore. All knapsacks were drawn on the wagons today. Water is plenty
along the way. Lt Col Gray came through with us, but in arrest.
Little Rock, Ark
December 2d, Friday, 1864
Last Evening we halted for the night eight miles from this place.
Before we stopped, I & McKown were detailed as guard at two houses that were
near to keep the soldiers from going in. About dark we were relieved
having been detailed on Picket. We went to camp where the boys had coffee
cooked & we ate supper & in the dark, we made our way to the Picket Post about a
hundred rods from the camping ground. There were about a dozen on the
Post, so each had to stand 1 1/2 hours. I slept well. The night was cloudy
& threatened rain toward daylight, but the air was mild. We started about
daylight this A.M. & a shower of rain fell between 8 & 9 O'clock. I &
others kept our rubbers off the wagons & carried them, & they kept us dry while
more [those?] who had no rubbers to keep them dry were saying they were as well pleased.
We had a very rocky piece of high hill & some muddy low bottom to cross & we
had to sit & wait for the wagons nearly an hour during which all got stiff &
cold. When about two miles out, we fell into line & counted off, & being
thus, Gen. Solomon & his staff consisting of 6 or 8 Com Officers & two or three
orderlies rode up & three cheers were given for the Gen. (I should have
stated that at Pine Bluff before we started, the detachment of 1st Ind gave
three cheers for our Regt & we returned the compliment with a will. Also
three cheers were given for Clayton by our Regt. I could heartily join in
such demonstrations if men were more true & manly). Soon we were at the
Post Hospital at
St
John's College where the brass band of our Brigade awaited our coming.
Soon we marched to the camp of the 9th Wis Inf where we were treated to hot &
sweet coffee & good crackers, of which all gladly partook. All the
officers of our Regt except four--Capt Stevens, Tichenor, Lt Gilbert & Dr
Smith--had deep draughts of strong drink, all in hospitality. After M. we
fell in & were preceded by the band through the town & found old quarters of
36th Iowa Inf which we occupy while we build new ones. We are on the S.
bank of the river above town. There seem to be few troops here at present,
but crowds of officers. 29th Iowa Inf are Provost Guard.
We got mail
P.M. I got one letter from Matt & one from Maria. I am well.
Camp at Little Rock, Ark
December 3d, Saturday, 1864
Yesterday P.M. some of the officers of our Regt, having drunk
deeply themselves, ordered some of the boys to drink & used drunken threats of
violence if they refused to get drunk. When I heard of this I could not
well restrain my indignation & I felt that if an officer made any such threats
against me for such a cause, my language would be more emphatic than polite.
Again today some of the boys went down town & got drink which they used so
freely at 25 cts a drink, that some were wild, noisy, & violent. Late
this evening some of the boys of our Co made a noise because the rations were
not divided more promptly. Corp Church was at the head of the noisy party
& Sergeant Donaldson was severely censured by Capt for not restraining them even if
he had to arrest them. Yesterday as we approached the town, Heaton stuck a
cracker on the top of his gun & kept it there after Lieut. Gilbert ordered him
to take it off before we got to town. Capt afterward ordered it taken off
& this evening he spoke of it in a very severe manner, saying that he had a mind
to recommend that all our Co non-Commissioned Officers be reduced, saying none
of them or few were fit for their places. After a while he came in--for it
was all in our room-- & chatted more pleasantly for a time. There are many
rumors as to what duty we will be ordered to do, but little yet seems to be known.
Today I bought a paper printed here for a dime. There is little news
in it. I also bought a loaf for 25 cts. Yesterday, I bought four or
five apples for 25 cts, a loaf of bread for 25, & two candles for two 'bits'
(Here, a shilling or 1/8 of a dollar is called only a bit) This takes off
my money pretty fast, but for some time past or since we came here we have been
hungry & living much at our own expense. The crackers we drew on the march
were poor, having black bugs & maggots in them. The recruiting
party returned from Wis & about 30 men with them. Murray had many things
for many of the boys. Day was bright & pleasant.
Camp at Little Rock
December 4th, Sunday, 1864
Night before last our Capt & Lieut condescended to sleep in
places which the boys had prepared hastily for themselves, as they had neglected
to have any made for their own accommodation. Capt slept with Foster's
Mess where Clark had a bunk made for himself & Gilbert came & slept where Heaton
& I had spread leaves on the ground in one corner for him & Hinkley & myself.
I was so thoughtless as to leave my place & lay on some boards, but the wind
blew some & I was waked by the cold. Last night I had my place & slept
well. I noticed coming on the march how our officers picked up their meals
in a great measure among the boys instead of having their own rations carried by
their servants or carrying it for themselves. It is strange how quickly an
Orderly Sergt when promoted to a Lieut. becomes to stylish or perhaps too
burdened by his responsibility (P) as to be unwilling to carry his own canteen,
unless it be whiskey or his coat if the day be at all warm. Those remarks
may seem unkind but it is what I see & can not but wonder at those things for
many of those were no more comfortable at home than many of us privates who
carry the heavy loads that all such must bear, as well as the many severe duties
we do & from which those who bear Com are free. I saw & spoke some with
Capt Murray today.
This was a very pleasant day. The sun shone clear, nights are clear & pleasant.
What a contrast between this beautiful weather even now & that of which Matt
writes on 20 & 22 ult when the weather was cold & snow lay on the ground & all
regular farm work was at an end. He sold more than $100 worth of pork at
$13.25 a 100 lbs. Father had two or three fits of vomitting which weakened
him much, but Mother was well & smart as ever. John's eyes were quite sore
& Matt & some others had colds. I also got a letter from Thos. & Maria
written 20th ult. Thos. wrote but little; he teaches the school in
our old district. Maria wrote a long leaf full . She stopped a few
weeks at Grand Pas. Matt was glad of this. She had been at the
Institute in Oct at Waukesha. She goes to school this winter at home.
I was at church today.
Camp at Little Rock
December 5th, Monday, 1864
These are pleasant days & nights, but we are not situated so as
to enjoy the natural beauty of the beautiful season. The days are calm
bright & clear & the nights clear & but little cold. Details are made to
get logs for our new barracks & the work goes on a little more briskly than
yesterday. One of the detail told me 43 loads of logs were drawn today.
We have reveille at daylight. I wrote most of the day & finished a long
letter to Maria, one page to Thomas & a sheet of notes to Matt. I find in
my paper of the 3d inst that Sherman has advanced as far as Macon &
Milledgeville & scattered his forces into three lines in his victorious march.
The only news from him is through rebel sources. In the Richmond papers as
late as 22d ult it was said Early had retreated to Richmond & was said to be
sent to meet Sherman, but this is improbable, & will be of no effect if it be
so. I read that Gen. McClellan sent in his resignation on the 8th of Nov.
It was promptly accepted & Brig Gen Phillip Sheriden was commissioned Maj Gen in
the regular Army. This is a good exchange & all loyal people will rejoice
at it. There is a report of a fight between Sheriden & Early with the
usual result.
Today I paid 50 cts for two loaves of bread. There were five dollars worth
of bread bought for our Co out of Co fund. This paid but for 20 loaves.
Co B got a requisition from their Capt & got larger loaves for 13 1/2 cts a
loaf. All our boys pay out what little money they have for bread & still
feel hungry & discontented. We heard the cause of us not drawing rations
or of a long delay, was that Jacobi of the 9th Wis in command of our Brig was
too drunk to sign the papers for us to draw them from the Post Commissary.
An order came this P.M. releasing Lt Col Gray from arrest & I hear he will be in
command of the Regt tomorrow. Our Adj has been detailed as acting
Assistant Adj Gen acting on Brig Gen Mackey's staff. Mackey is Col of 233d
Iowa Inf. I mailed my letters this P.M. I am very well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 6th, Tuesday, 1864
Last night, Lt Gilbert wrote with us on our temporary table.
He & Heaton & I slept together. It was 10 P.M. when G & I stopped talking
& I slept well till morning. Roll Call was about daylight. Four, of
whom I was one, were detailed to go to the woods & we reported at 7 A.M.
Corp Smith was from our Co. We got out about five miles where the 36th
Iowa runs a mill on the Benton Road. We passed by Ft Steele which mounts 6
to 10 guns. This is situated on the Benton road & near the chief Burial
Ground about the City. I was in this enclosed plot of ground before we
left here last year & there I saw the finest & largest monuments that I ever saw
anywhere.
Pine is very plenty & the soil is very strong & gravelly. White & red oak
is plenty, but not of good quality. All the roofing for the soldier's
quarters is of oak & whole acres are thus covered for Stables for the Cavalry
horses &c. Lumber is very scarce here though many mills are running every
day & often in the night. I heard Dr Smith of our Regt made a requisition
for lumber for our Regt'l Hospital, but it was returned without the necessary
approval. He was to try again & may succeed. All this too, while a
large building is fitting up for a theatre, which requires a large quantity of
lumber. I fear things are run somewhat more to suit private whims or the
designs of speculators rather than for the best interests of the service.
We found a member of the 36 Iowa out hunting for deer &c. He was born or
at least raised on E Branch of Potomac Creek in Va. He is Sergt & a person
of considerable intelligence. We spoke long about the War, slavery &c.
He is as he said, an abolitionist & for the good of our land he wants slavery
extinct & the slaves freed, deported & colonized. In our views we
-He & I- agreed perfectly. Mail came this P.M. Some of our Boys got
letters as late as 28 or 29th ult. I got none. This evening boys in
the streets had St Louis papers of 2d inst. There was Dress Parade at 4
1/2 P.M. Lieut Cowing Co K acting Adj & he read an order by Gen Steele
releasing Lt Col Gray from arrest. Gray was in command on Parade.
Day was pleasant. This evening I saw two or three bright & lovely young
girls. Today I finished 2d Kings & began Chronicles.
Little Rock, Arkansas
December 7th Wednesday, 1864
Last evening, Gilbert invited me to take a walk with him.
We went down town to the Post Office & after a circuitous walk of about an hour
we reached Camp, just in time for roll call. During the last two or three
days, Capt was on a Court Marshal & Lt Gilbert was in Command of the Co.
He told me of the extravagance of many of the officers of our Regt. Lieut
Alword of Co C was at home last summer about two months & his expenses were
$_00. Capt Blocki, Adj Gen on Gen Solomon's staff went home last summer &
in about the same length of time as the other his expenses were about $1100.
He has a good opportunity to hear of such follies on the part of many officers &
he wonders at them as well as I do. How true it is that such willful waste
must sooner or later be followed by most woeful want. He told me of his
wish to get home on a furlough & of his wife's anxiety to have him do so.
Today Gilbert was taken sick in his usual way, Ague & cramps in his joints, he
was some better tonight. Jacobi had a chill & fever today. he felt
better & was going about this evening. Yesterday & today we drew a ration
of soft bread that is 1/3 of a loaf for each, one every day. This with
what I bought makes a plenty for me so far, but my money is very short & it may
be more than a month ere we get pay. The last 24 hours was quite
changeful. A few drops of rain fell during the last of the night, but it
began to grow cold in the A.M. & was quite cold before night. The morning
was cloudy, but the sky grew clear & the P.M. was bright & breezy
During the time we have been here we slept on the ground with oak leaves & our
rubbers under us, but about noon a strange activity seemed to seize all, & in
our shanty we got boards enough to make six bunks large enough for 12 to sleep
in. I found a plenty on a raft of logs that lay in the river near our
camp. Others got boards in many places & many a piece of board was this
saved from waste & put to good use. Much of this was against orders for
guards are very numerous, but it is not against conscience nor Duty for
self-preservation forces us to this..
We heard this P.M. that Maj Gen Steel is ordered to Washington, D.C. & he is
superseded by Gen Raynold. On Nov 30th a heavy fight took place at
Franklin, Tenn between Hood's Army & some of our forces. Rebel loss about
7000, ours 5 to 800. I am well.
Camp at Little Rock
December 8th, Thursday, 1864
Last night was cold & the wind was sharp & cold. We kept fire all night,
but this helped but little, for our room is not very tight, though the boys put on some
mud yesterday P.M. Most of us slept pretty comfortable, though all have a short supply
of blankets. Some kept their clothes on, but Hinkley & I slept without ours. Today was
cold as yesterday. There was a detail for Picket today--about 30 from our Regt,
There
were also other guards detailed for teams going out for shingles & lumber. The prospect
is good for a share of duty that will be heavy. This morning E.B. Smith, Sergt Donaldson,
& I went down town with a requisition from Lieut Gilbert for 20 lbs of bread. This made
21 lbs-but 7 loaves & those were to be divided among 38 men, this cost $1.40. We found
out that the Com of our Co could at any time make out a requisition for any thing
that the Co wanted & this being signed by the Post Commandent & by the Post
Commissary, the articles would be supplied at the lowest-the Government-price.
If this plan were practiced in the Regt many dollars would be saved to the boys
& a better supply of bread secured, but the Captains & officers generally are
too careless , too heartless to take the trouble to attend carefully to the
duties of their position or the interests of their commands. We will try
to make this knowledge available for the time to come. Last night 12 of us
drew lots to see what two of us should go for a board that one of the boys saw
at a house. The lot fell on Coons & Heaton, but the first one & Turner & I
went but found the board was nailed. We had a Battalion Drill this P.M.
The boys suffered some from the cold. Today I read an account of Price's
defeat in Mo. It was estimated his loss was about 7,000 in killed,
wounded, & missing, less than 1/2 of those of the latter class, our loss was
about 800 killed & wounded & few prisoners. I also read Jeff Davis'
message to the rebel Congress on Nov 7. Its tone is confident & rather
boastful. I tried to get a job in the saw mill tonight, but failed.
They pay $2.50 a night
Little Rock, Arkansas
November [December] 9th, Friday, 1864
Last night, most of the boys of our mess passed about an hour
each in his turn telling obscene or indecent stories, some of which may have
been told tens of thousands of times, and each time making victims unto ruin.
The best I could do was to keep busy washing the mess dishes, keeping free from
the hateful converse. Last night I was detailed for guard today to report at
7-15 A.M. We had to wait some time at the Quartermaster's & then we went
out on the Pine Bluff road, about 8 miles. There were 12 or 15 teams, but
they drew less than 1/3 of a load for a two horse team in the north. The
mill was in as good order as any one I saw in the South, though run more than
five years & the men seemed to fully understand their work. Those were all
citizens & two or three negroes. I was told the wages paid was $2 to 2.50
a day & extra wages were paid for extra work at night. Two rather small
circular saws are used & both are used for large logs & only one for small ones.
Lumber is worth $18 on the ground & as logs are very convenient this should be
profitable. They told me living costs nearly 1/2 their wages. I
suppose they get supplies from the commissary. We got back at about 3 1/2
or 4 P.M. having walked the whole way in & out. The day was cloudy &
rather cold I expected the weather was about to change & moderate, but in
the evening the sunset was clear & the air cold & still. The boat -Cadet-
that left Pine Bluff last Tuesday came up this evening at dark. As the
river fell during the past week, the passage was slow & the boys suffered
severely from exposure to the cold & their rations running short. I went
to the landing & got my knapsack & Lewis'. He & others came off the boat
this A.M. where she was fast on a bar. The boys say they pulled the boat
over three or four bars while coming up. They did this by taking the
anchors ahead & pulling on the capstain.
Our mail that went to Pine Bluff was brought back & distributed this evening.
I got a letter from Matt of 13 & 14th inst. Weather was pleasant on 13th
but a snowstorm came on the 14th & winter appeared to set in. Mother
walked to church on 13 & all were then well. Thos Brogan began his school
on 14th Nov. I am well.
Camp at Little Rock
December 10th, Saturday, 1864
Last night I slept well & was refreshed with sound rest at
Reveille, which was a short time before daylight. Today was cloudy &
still. Tonight is clear & starry. This was a busy time in camp, for
the teams were drawing our boxes from the landing & we got all our boxes in good
order & everything safe. This affords us a good supply of blankets and a
plenty of clean clothes. Last night Moore wished some of the boys to bring
him some bread, but none of them would do it. Today Moore & Lewis came to
camp & now form a part of our mess. The boys are not inclined to have him
for Cook in the Mess & lately the cooking has been done by turns of a day at at
time. They do not like his way, thinking he wants to have too much control
& that he has too rough a way. This control that he assumes is, I think,
for the good of a mess in a pecuniary way & I could get along with him very
well. There is a prospect that we may have to follow a different way when
we take our place in the Brigade, as there are rumors that we will have Co Cooks
& this we do not like, but here we may not be able to get stoves as at Pine
Bluff.
Last night Bence of our Co came to camp under the influence of drink & Captain
talked to him some. He denied having been drinking or barbering down town,
both of which were forbidden to do by Capt Tichenor. Capt ordered him to
go to bed, which he hesitated doing & still kept on talking though ordered to
stop. At length Capt took hold of him & dragged him out & had him tied up
by his hands above his head to a tree, in which situation he was some 10 or 15
minutes in the chill cold air. Drink was the cause of all this & it was
rather a disagreeable scene to witnesses & most heartily do the boys rejoice
that our term is but 10 months longer. During the week I saw the Catholic
priest in the street that was pastor at Pine Bluff last winter & spring. I
suppose he is the pastor here. I also saw A.A.C. Rogers Rep Elect from one
Dis in this state to U.S. H. of Rep. I am well
Camp at Little Rock
December 11th, Sunday, 1864
This was another rather cold & piercing day. The sky was clear all day,
sunshine bright & the west wind swept down the river through the deep gap between the
high hills 1/2 or 3/4 of a mile above town. It was late when we got stirring, for
there was little to arouse or entice one from bed & most lay down after Reveille if
for no other purpose just to get warm. It was 11 O'clock when we had Inspection & the
ceremony was just as the boys like it, viz, "short & sweet". Orderly Foster was the
inspector for Lieut. Gilbert does not have good health enough to attend much to duty &
he still commands the Co Capt, being detailed on other duty. The teams were so busy
yesterday that no wood was got[ten for] the use of the camp, so about noon the cold started many
of the boys out to secure a supply. Many of the trees growing on the steep bank by
our camp were cut down & all or much wood that lay around loose was turned to good use.
In about an hour & a half, our mess got a pile sufficient for 1/2 or 2 days. We find
that green red oak burns well & makes a strong heat in our wide fireplace. Owing to
the necessities of the case & a wish to do my full share, I chopped more than an hour.
This A.M. I went down town & bought a St Louis Democrat of the 5th inst & Memphis Bulletin
of 7th for Capt. The two cost 50 cts. There is but little news of importance, but all
things are favorable in Tenn & Sherman is still making his way through the 'Heart of Dixie'
all seeming to go well with him. By buying 3 National Democrats for 25 cts at two
different times & selling two to some of the boys that wanted them at a dime
each (which is the regular price). I got two to send home at 5 cts apiece.
Oh Joy! this A.M. I recd a good letter from Matt & Mother of 28th ult mailed
30th. All were then well but that Father did not feel well on Tuesday(?)
morning (Dec 1st) Matt says Maria & Thos have just started for school.
What joy to have dear ones united! John's eyes did not get well yet.
He adds we have just been talking about you.
Camp at Little Rock
December 12th, Monday, 1864
Last night was cold & clear. The moon was full & very
bright, its light was very clear the whole night. After roll call this
morning the moon afforded a grand, a beautiful sight as She set beyond the
Western Hills. The day was bright & clear, a gentle breeze blew all day.
Floating ice filled the river in the A.M. & such was the force of the immense
flakes that the Pontoon Bridge was broken or else removed to prevent its loss.
Should this continue long it will be a very great inconvenience, as the ready
passage which the bridge affords is very necessary for conveying the supplies
brought by the Railroad to the store rooms on the south side of the river.
The details for duty today have been light, only two for Picket, one for guard
&c. Jacobi was cook today & he did his work very well. Lewis has
boils on his hands, so he has not been fit for duty. We drew a ration of
soft bread today & another ration was bought by Co fund. Each of those
shares was a ration, or one man's share of bread for one day, but being fresh it
was little more than a person would eat at one meal. We eat more bread now
than usual, for we have not got everything arranged yet as we will try to have
them in our new quarters. Day before yesterday , rations for 10 days were
drawn, full rations of all kinds, fresh beef, six or seven days & pork & bacon
the rest of the time. I wrote more than a page in my 'Memories' this P.M.
I sent two sheets of Diary & an old letter from Matt to his address today.
It contained dates to yesterday. Today we heard that a telegraphic
dispatch was rec'd from Devall's Bluff that the news came there that Sherman was
at Savannah or in possession of the city. Also, that a citizen from the
outside had brought word that the rebel Gen. Sterling Price died since his
return from Mo. I read some in 1st Chronicles. It is very dry
reading consisting in large part of genealogies & difficult names. I would
like to finish reading the old Testament & the remaining 160 pages of my
'Memories' before we leave here in spring if we do so. I have a cold now,
not severe.
Camp at Little Rock
December 13th, Tuesday, 1864
Last night was warm & the air was soft & mild. Today was
cloudy & the A.M. blew some, but the P.M. was calm & the frost that was in the
ground thawed & made some dampness in some places. I & 5 others were
detailed on fatigue or police duty to clean up the rubbish on our new
campground. We reported at 7-15, placed in command of Lieut. Bennet &
marched to the place. When we got there we found we had come unprepared
for the work, for few brought axes or spades. It surprised me & I suppose
many others that 40 or 50 of us should be sent 3/4 of a mile to work & yet not
the least foresight was used to make our time of any profit. Jones & I
came up at 10 O'clock & did not return till afternoon. In the P.M. we had
axes, picks, & spades & we worked to good advantage gnibbing out stumps &c.
Each Co works on its own ground. In the A.M. I went to town to buy a
paper, 'Harpers' for which each of us or part of our mess, some 10 cts & others
5 cts each. The 3d inst was the latest, so I did not buy any. I met
Capt Bastin of the 4th Ark on the street & spoke a short time with him. He
is well & looks hearty. He afterward came down to the Co & visited the
boys. This P.M. the boys bought a 'Weekly' of the 10th & a St Louis
Democrat of 7th inst. In the latter, I read the
President's message. I think it the shortest annual message I ever
saw, as well as the most pointed & explicit I ever saw. He is firm &
unalterable in his purpose that the rebels must submit or be annihilated.
The second last paragraph runs thus: 'I retract nothing heretofore said as
to Slavery. I repeat the declaration made a year ago, that while I remain
in my present position I shall not attempt to retract or modify the Emancipation
Proclamation, nor shall I return to Slavery any person who is free by the terms
of that Proclamation or by any of the acts of Congress. If the people
should by what ever made or means, make it my executive duty to re-enslave such
persons, another and not I, must be their instrument to perform it'. This
is as good as any true Unionist wishes. I was so blessed as to have a
letter from Matt written 3d & 4th & mailed on the 5th. All were well, but
Father had sick turns once in a while. Last of Nov was mild. Dec
came on cold.
Little Rock
December 14th, Wednesday, 1864
Last evening I read the Message for our mess at their request.
All listened attentively. I was a little affected by my cold, but I did
not experience any great difficulty. I think this is the severest cold I
have had since I came South but today it is passing away & is much less severe.
Last night Jones & I went down to the mill & tried to get a chance to work all
night in the mill. We failed as others were engaged before us. But
as we need the money we will try again. We heard lately that an order was
recently issued by War Department to stop all payments to troops till further
orders. It is highly probable that we will not get pay till about the
middle of next month. This will make it tight times for most of the boys,
as very many have not a dollar each. It appears that this suspension of
payments will not continue long. H.W. Wells French was returned for duty
to the Co today, but in the P.M. he was detailed in another place. He was
acting as clerk in the muster-out office in this place, during the last year.
As he is a plain unpretending person & not robust enough for company duty, all
are well pleased that he should have a favorable place. We drew our
regular rations of bread this A.M. & this P.M. I & two others got 39 rations -13
three lbs loaves- out of the Co fund. Many complain of their inability to
do with what rations we draw. Yesterday P.M. King & I went to the camp of
the 9th Wis & we had some talk with the boys. They have two cooks
permanently detailed in each Company. They sometimes draw flour & in each
cook room is a part partitioned off for a bakery & an oven is connected with it.
They do not make so much saving as we do in our messes. As so many of them
can bake they make this plan work better than we could. When on our way
back to camp we -Jones & I- saw some colored soldiers on guard in town.
While passing one of those-the brightness of whose gun surprised Jones- a
citizen in Co with three women passed & I noticed the derisive sneer that was on
his countenance as he passed the guard. Is he a rebel ? yeah. Today
I cooked for our Mess. I got along without any difficulty & all seemed
satisfied. Today was cloudy & mild. I had no time to read.
Camp at Little Rock
December 15th, Thursday, 1864
We do often have some very good & innocent jokes in camp among
ourselves & so heartily do we enjoy those that I sometimes have to laugh more
than I like to. So it was with Moore last night when he was convulsed with
laughter till, literally, his sides ached. A large detail for Fatigue was
made last night to go to the woods to get logs, as 20 post teams were to be
furnished for the use of the Regt. Co A has their quarters built & moved
into them today. Only two rooms are built for each Co., those are 18x22
feet each. Some of the officers' rooms are nearly finished. These
are larger than those they had at Pine Bluff & many of the boys complain that
theirs are so large as compared with those for the boys. In each of ours
there must be 20.
I am on Picket today. The detail from our Regt is about 36 or 40 & 12 or
15 Corp's & Sergt's. Lieut Gilbert is in command. We guard four
posts or about a mile of the line extending from the river on the W[?] side of
the city to the State Prison. I & Lewis & Corp Edwards are from our Co &
on the main Post. Gilbert & I picked some crystals from rocks along the
line. Some of those are very small. It is a little surprising how
the woods around the city have been cleared away. This was done for two
causes, first to make firewood for the many camps & also to extend the range of
artillery in the ports & batteries on the hights [sic] around the city. A
similar change was made at Pine Bluff & Helena while we were in those places &
his was one of the many circumstances in our favor at the time of the fight
there in July 1863. I heard the orderly of Co E--Hibbard-- received his
commission today as 2d Lieut in that Co. I think there are not men enough
in the Co to entitle it to three officers; but I heard the new recruits
were to be assigned to that Co temporarily, so that by a trick the three
officers might be secured although the men chose other companies. Heaton
has been detailed nearly a week as Regt Carpenter. He is now making window
sash for the quarters.
Today was foggy & the air was chill, so that an overcoat was very welcome.
In the evening the sun peeped out & the air was mild. I read some in the
Tribunes of Oct 29th & Nov 12th, which Matt sent me. I am very well.
A south wind blows.
Camp at Little Rock
December 16th, Friday, 1864
Last night I was on Post from 6-40 to 8 O'clock. I was quite sleepy
& sometimes fell, for a moment, into a doze, when again waked up & for a time stood up.
While on watch, a few drops fell & stars appeared soon after. Each of us
was on post two times of 1 hour & 20 minutes each, this was the easiest
Picketing I ever did. Lewis & I slept from about 8 P.M. to 5 1/2 A.M.
We fell out once for the Officer of the Day. Some of us laid in a small
shanty while many lay outside. The night was cloudy & calm, the air soft.
We expected to be relieved at 8 or 9 A.M. but guard mounting was delayed till
near 11 O'clock, so it was very near noon when we reached camp. The cause
of the delay was that the several Regiments were formed to pay the parting
respects to Maj Gen
Frederick Steele, who it was said was to leave town today, having been
ordered to report at New Orleans. Some of the Regt cheered him loudly, but
our Regt gave two faint cheers, but the last one was a mixture of cheer & groan.
Our Regts never had any great love or respect for the Gen. There is a very
common opinion among the troops that Steele too much favored the citizens & that
the affairs of this Dept have been managed too exclusively with a view to their
interests rather than that of the Union cause. Perhaps he did what he
thought best & it is notorious that citizens -so far as we know or can hear-
very generally regret his removal, while soldiers on the contrary rejoice at it.
A large public meeting was held one night as soon as the order for his removal
was rec'd & a petition was sent to Washington, D.C. with the request that the
order be reversed. But thanks to God! the fates are sometimes inexorable.
In the Papers of the 7th inst, I read that
J.J. Speed, a prominent
lawyer of radical principles of Ky & long the friend of
Cassius M. Clay, has been appointed to succeed
Edward Bates as Atty
Gen of the U.S. the resignation of Mr B- taking effect on 1st inst. On 6th
inst, U.S. Senate confirmed the appointment of
Salmon P. Chase, as
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. In times past, I would have given a
year's earnings to secure such a change in our Supreme Court. 'God works
in [?}.
Clouds covered the sky all day. Air was damp & still. I finished
reading 1st Chron. Sergeant Snyder is sick today, no others in our Co.
December 17th, Saturday, 1864
Yesterday, many of the boys said they were tired of doing
nothing, so for amusement they gave each other the name of some girl who was not
known to the writer, & who did not know him. Those girls live north &
generally in Waukesha Co. Some of them wanted me to take a name of someone
unknown to whom I should write, but I declined all those offers. Some of
the boys wished the recipients of their letters would not show the letters to
their Mothers & this was sufficient proof of the doubtful propriety of their
act. In their first letter no name was given, but a promise was made that
if an answer will be sent & the correspondence went on his real name would be
given next time & after she had given hers. The boys thought it would be
giving the girls too great an advantage if they gave their name first! I
think those girls who will write to soldiers without their Mother's approval &
full knowledge of the whole affair will do a thing that is not for their own
best interest. I hope few of the girls in the North would write or
speak to many of our soldiers if they knew how the latter act & speak.
A shower of rain fell about 2 A.M. It caused many of our blankets to get
some wet, as the roof is not tight. There was a large leak in our bunk &
it being an upper one, it started me out. I felt anxious about some of our
things getting wet, but I was happily disappointed.
Three others & I were detailed on fatigue duty to go to the woods to chop logs.
The fatigue call beat 1/2 hour after Reveille, so we had not time to eat
breakfast. After some of us had 'fell in' we were delayed waiting for
others long enough for all of us to get breakfast. Thus are things
managed. We got out into the woods about 8 O'clock & the sun shone for a
short time, while the voices or notes of the birds were heard among the trees,
all making it the most like a genuine spring morning that I saw for a long time
past. Day was changeful & cloudy. R.D. Lewis & I chopped together.
A detail of about 20 was sent at 5 A.M. as guard on the boat going to Pine
Bluff. Yong & Wells were from our Co. Yesterday P.M. I sent a letter
to Matt.
Little Rock, Arkansas
December 18th, Sunday, 1864
Last night was mild & I slept well. The night was misty &
the morning also & a shower fell before noon. We had Regimental Inspection
at 8 O'clock A.M. While out our guns got some wet. The Inspection
was hurried on this account & we all rejoiced at this. I did not go to
church during the day nor with some of the boys in the evening. I read
many chapters in the 2d Book of Chronicles. In the evening I went down
into the mill & made a good place to write on a box. There I wrote a part
of a letter to Matt. A mail came this P.M. I got a notice from the Post
Master at this place that there was a registered letter in the office for me.
I went down to the office soon after, but the clerk was absent & so I did not
get it. I don't know what it can be except the money H- & I sent for
our pens a month ago. It may be the pens have come. If it be money,
I can not think from whom it can be. I will go in the morning -Please God-
to find what it is.
I have the Milwaukee Sentinel -Weekly- of 7th inst received here on the 14th I
think. As it would be interesting as a part of the record of those strange
times I will here copy some of the market prices. Gold sold on 5th at 125
premium. Silver 105 to 110 prem. No 1 spring wheat sold at 1.71, No
2 at 1.60. Extra flour sold at 8.00 & $8.25. No 1 oats .63, corn
sold at .95 & $1.00. No 2 barley $1.45. Rye was worth 1.20, beans
1.90 & 1.95. Clover seed $10 a bushel. Timothy $3.75, $4.00. Flax
seed 2.00, $2.25. Potatoes .60 & .75. Hops .30 & .35. Butter
.33 & .35. Eggs .32 a doz. Wool .80 & .85. Dressed hogs of 250
lbs $12.75. Live hogs of same weight 10.50. Beef cattle of 1375 lbs
$4.50. Sheep of 90 to 102 lbs 5.00 to $5.50 per cwt. Hay
timothy baled $25 & 26 a ton at retail & loose by single load $29 & 30 a ton.
Packing barrels $2.50 & 2.65. Mess pork firm at $33. Prime lard .21 cts.
Lumber by cargo 16 to $18 per M. Yard prices clear plank $55. Boards
$45 clear dressed flooring $42, common boards $20. Lath-U. 9 & 10, best
shingles $5 & 5.70
Little Rock, Ark
December 19th, Monday, 1864
Last night was rainy, so the leak waked us. Hinkley & I
fastened up two rubbers which kept us dry. As I had not a wash since we
started from Pine Bluff & I got to feel the need of a full wash badly, I went
out in the rain & had a good full wash. Afterward I lay down & had a good
sleep. There was no roll call in our Co this morning. The day was
rainy till late in the P.M., the air was cold & raw & the change in the weather
is surely for another cold term. It was a dreary day, one of little
comfort for the present time & it required a strong hopeful spirit to bear up &
feel grateful & satisfied that all was for the best if it rain or shine.
Few could think that it must be better to have rain & cold winds today or any
day than to have sunshine & bloom & bird's songs everyday. And yet this
must be so, for else the Creator must have made a mistake & this can not be
admitted. Surely he doeseth all things well!!
About 9 A.M. I went to
the Post Office & got my registered letter. It contained the five Gold
Pens Hinkley & I sent for on the 18th of last month. They were all
put up in a single envelope which was registered & on it the postage was 12 cts.
We sold one to Capt & one to Lieut for $9.50, both of which cost us but $6.50.
We sold one-not warrented- to Jocobi for $2.50, but we wait till pay day.
The pens were excellent, but Morocco cases were not sent with those having desk
holders as in the first ones we sent for. We have two yet to sell, so we
will realize at least $5.00 on our venture, or perhaps 7 or 8 dollars.
Layhee came to the Co today direct from Wis. He looks well, but I think
will not stand the climate or hardships of common duty well. He brought a
considerable amount of money with him & I saw some of our Com Officers borrow
from him. I think our Capt & Lieut borrowed from him. What H- & I got makes us very easy.
I got an order for 15 loaves of bread - 8 for our mess & 7 for another in our
Co, each one paying his own 20 cts for his loaf. The day was a severe one
for Pickets. Fatigue parties went to the woods but did not work. My
cold has left me. I am very well.
Camp at Little Rock
December 20th, Tuesday, 1864
Last night rain fell dreary & steadily as if some sorrowing
spirit, deeply grieved wept for the approaching death of the Dear Dying Year.
The morning looked as if it would be dry & cold, but rain again fell before noon
& continued till near dark. The air was cold & raw. Moore & I did
some washing, but it was a disagreeable job such a day. This is the first
washing I have done here. I read a part of the abridged report of the
Secretary of the Treasury in the Chicago Tribune of 10th. On July 1st our
National Debt was $1,740,000,000; and according to the estimated expenditures
for the present year ending 30th June 1865 it will be $2,230,000,000. The
interest on our Public Debt is over $85,000,000 per annum.
This A.M. I went about town to ascertain what I could get a lb for the flour we
draw--two days--in those tens days. I learned nothing definite about 8 or
10 cts. For the first time I was in the Western Christian Sanitary
Commission building in town. In one part a large No. of bbls of onions,
potatoes &c. were stored. In another part is a large reading room for
soldiers with a large table & seats around it, for soldiers to write. I
think ink, paper & envelopes are furnished free to any that wish them. The
room is quiet & warm & some papers are on file for those who wish to read.
Testaments & hymn books & various tracts are on hand for free distribution.
I took one.
I read in 'Sexual Organism' & some in my Bible. It was cold & disagreeable
in the quarters, for our fires do not warm the rooms which are open & dark.
It was a very disagreeable day for the Pickets. I wished I had a good &
pleasant place to work for wages. Daniel McNeill bought our pen in
extension holder for $5.50 when payday comes. Tonight Capt went down town
& he got cigars at 25 cts each & some cost 50 apiece. What extravagance!!
Two or three steamers came down the river today from Ft. Smith. River
rises very fast. I am well.
Camp at Little Rock
December 21st, Wednesday, 1864
Little of interest occurred during the last 24 hours, but as no
day passes without its peculiar incidents I will state what I remember. I
had a sound sleep last night. It was past 10 O'clock when I & H- lay down.
We were waked about 5 A.M. by some of the boys getting breakfast as some had to
report for fatigue at 5 O'clock. We all got up & ate breakfast immediately
having finished long before daylight. The morning was cloudy, but during
the A.M. the sky became clear & all the rest of the day was bright & breezy.
Yesterday P.M. the air was so cold that the rain froze on the stones & limbs of
the trees as it fell. About noon today most or all of this thawed or fell
off. Moore's & my clothes dried today. Hinkley, who with many others
of our Regt, have been detailed on daily duty to get out stuff for shingles,
went to the woods today intending to stop in the woods the rest of this week.
There are 10 or 12 of the party. This for the time leaves me without a bed
fellow, but I will sleep with some of the others while his mate is on duty &
absent. This A.M. I was detailed on fatigue. 8 or 9 of us went out
with two teams & got four loads of wood. In P.M. we went out & got one
load--but 9 of us went out as in A.M. Our Co has two teamsters-Edw. Thomas
& H. Smart. Vosburgh was teamster at Pine Bluff for two or three months,
but he was called back for duty in the Co because of his manner toward our boys
while on the march to this place. He complained much about the boys
putting their knapsacks on his wagon, or that which he drove. For this
cause Capt appointed Smart in his place.
A few days ago there was a rumor that part of the troops in the Dept would be
sent to Tenn to reinforce Gen. Thomas, that Ft Smith was to be evacuated & the
forces there were to come here & that those or our-1st Division, would be the
force to go. If required we will go without murmur.
Yesterday 11 days rations were drawn, 6 days soft bread, 2 days flour, & 3 of
crackers. Our mess drew the sugar -full rations- separately for the last
ten days rations did not hold out, though Heaton, Hinkley & I did not draw ours
out or rise them. I sold the flout for our mess, 30 lbs at 10 cts a lb. We
hear Gen. Reynolds came here this P.M. I am well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 22d, Thursday, 1864
I daily see new exhibitions of old traits of character among
those with whom I daily associate so that I am often made to wonder how selfish
man is. What led me into this train of thought is this: when we drew
rations on 10th inst, Heaton, Hinkley & I agreed to save our shares of coffee &
sugar, which we would sell & buy bread with the money we got for it.
Hinkley ate no supper, so he made out with what bread he drew better than most
of us, but Heaton & I, like the others, could not do with the quantity
furnished. Purses were not plethoric & few of us would have money for many
days. The other 10 or 12 used theirs right along & said to us to take out
our shares if we wished. This we delayed doing thinking we could get it
anytime but in this we were deceived for though none of us three used any, the
others had no sugar for their coffee during the last two or three days of the
10, for which the rations were drawn. We thought we could get our shares
from the others out of their rations for those 11 days, viz, from 20th to 32st
inst. To this some agreed, but most declared their firm purpose to do no
such thing. No one refused to allow us our back shares of coffee.
Because of this there was a great plenty & to spare & yet the principle in both
cases is precisely the same. Chief among those opposed were D. McNeill &
S.R. Turner. I think the latter is as selfish & tight about money as any person
with whom I am acquainted. The saving to each one on those two articles
might be $2.00 a month & this would buy a plenty of bread in addition to what we
get. Some of the boys will not use coffee unless they have sugar, in fact
few will. I care little for sugar in coffee.
I am on guard today in camp. Nights are clear & frosty. Ice was
formed last night. Day was clear, cold & breezy. I read Chicago Trib
of 14th I think I saw Gen Reynolds this A.M. We hear Gen Sherman has
Savannah & 12,000 prisoners. I doubt it. I got two letters from Matt
of 10 & 13. They bring good news. Co H left camp tonight to guard
boats to Ft. Smith. I am very well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 23d, Friday, 1864
Last night I read & wrote till 10 O'clock & then I went on guard
till midnight when I was relieved. I had no mate, but with my great coat
under me & my clothes on, I slept warm & comfortable with three wool blankets
over me. At 4 A.M. I was again waked from a sweet quiet sleep & was
relieved at 6, having finished my duty. Breakfast was then ready, so I ate
with the others. We had some Irish potatoes boiled & of those I ate
heartily, but they were not sweet & good as those at home. I thought sleep
would be better for me than breakfast, yet I hoped to do a good day's work of
studying & writing without more sleep. I got an order for 75 rations of
soft bread from Capt, 15 loaves for our Mess & 10 for Foster's & about 10 A.M. I
& four others went to town & got the bread. Before this I felt my stomach
sick & again when we returned, so that I thought I should vomit. When
dinner was ready, I cared but little for food, however good, so I lay down
without eating & had a good sound sleep till about 4 1/2 O'clock when I waked
feeling well. I ate some supper & feel quite well
Day before yesterday, two sacks of potatoes were bought for $6 of Co fund.
They are not first rate. The river has been very high during the last 3 or
four days. Three boats started for Fort Smith last night & this A.M., I
suppose to take stores & supplies down here preparatoly to the evacuation of the
place. A boat came from Pine Bluff & the detail from our Regt returned.
About 13 there was excellent sleighing in Wis. Weather was cold & wintry.
Matt got his share of the draft club fund--$144. There were three others
drafted from the club. There was no supplementary draft in New Berlin as
the required No. was got by paying a bounty of $210 apiece to 14 men-13 was the
No. required. In Muskego, several that I knew were drafted. Today, I
saw Bowers' brother direct from Wis. He hired for 6 months as U.S.
teamster. Maria still lives at my old home. All were well. I
am very well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 24th, Saturday, 1864
Last night there was a strange rumor, which may prove too true &
in which two members of Co G are concerned, viz, Corp Thos Edwards & Private Edw
Thomas teamster. About a week ago, one of the teamsters came around in the
night offering large plugs of tobacco for sale at 90 cts apiece offering to wait
for the money till pay day. This excited suspicion in some minds that all
was not right. We heard some of the boys traded their watches for cigars
or tobacco &c. & were thus realizing on them. We heard those three were
arrested & placed in confinement yesterday P.M. It appears a large lot of
this stuff was lately stolen from some store in town, or Sutler's & that
detectives were employed to search out the thieves. I heard said that Corp
E. was found in town peddling pipes which may have been a part of the stolen
property. It is supposed he may not have had a part in stealing the
things, as he was allowed to come to camp, but this is said to be according to
the privileges of Corp's & Sergt's as established by U.S. Army Regulations.
Surely 'Honesty is the best Policy' for all. It is said such an offense
might cause their confinement in the Penitentiary for -- years. Our Regt
so far has had a good name-better than many in it deserved for while in Camp
Washburn, many stole things from the stores of which I had not the least
suspicion & of which I have since heard some of them tell. At Pine Bluff
many of them stole articles which were attributed to the 18th Ill Inf. or 13th
Cav.
Moore & I & slept together last night. Today was moderate, bright in A.M.
but cloudy & soft & calm in P.M. Some frost in the ground thawed & made
the surface soft. Today I heard St Louis Dem of 19th read. It
contains an account of the great victory over Hood near Nashville. Several
of our gunboats went up Roanoke River in N.C. & were sunk by torpedoes in the
stream.
I bought
Harper's Weekly of 17 inst. It contains
portraits of Sherman & Thomas. I wrote a part of a letter to Maria.
Mail came P.M. I am well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 25th, Sunday, 1864
Last night was calm & mild, today was misty & the air was soft &
still. We had Co Inspection at 9 A.M. by Lt Gilbert. Most of the
boys went to church, some to Presbyterian & others to Methodist Church.
Those in the latter church liked the preaching well, as if was of the true Union
spirit & able & pointed. I intended to go, but thought it would be better
to stop in camp & read & write some. I read several chapt's in 2d
Chronicles & wrote a letter to Maria & a short one to Mother. The day was
dull & rather dreary, no excitement, nor anything unusual took place. Some
of the boys wished they had money so they could get liquor with which to get
drunk. It is lucky money is so scarce for the boys would misuse it if they
had it. Many of the boys would spend from 1/8 to 1/4 of their wages during
the present 10 days if they had it.
Yesterday Gilbert & I had a walk through the city. We met Lieut ___ of Co
C, led by one of the Co as he was unable to walk alone. The cause was that
he had too much of what some think- a good thing. This is not a very
uncommon occurrence & if our Regimental Commander were a strict temperance man
some of the Commissioned ones of our Regt would do better or be removed in
disgrace from their responsible (?) & honorable (?) positions, but as it is, he
gives his influence in favor of vileness & drunkenness & is himself much the
same as his associate & subordinate officers. I have heard Gen Reynolds
has gone about in disguise to see for himself the conduct of the officers & that
some were found in the ditch.
Yesterday I inquired the price of card photographs by the dozen. Those of
common size taken in pretty good style-though not first class-cost $8 a dozen.
I will not pay so high a price as this for pictures. Large photographs of
Gen Clayton they sell at $1.50 each.
The boys in other Regts fired many shots during the day & night. The late
orderly of Co A has been promoted to 2d Lieut. Sergt Barker is now
orderly. Lieut's name is Hopper.
I mailed two letters this P.M. to Matt & Maria.
Little Rock, Pulaski Co
December 26th, Monday, 1864
Last night many of our boys went to evening services in the
different churches. Some were pleased & I hope juofited[?] by the
exercises. I did not go, for I had reading & writing to do which I wished
to get through with. I wrote one page in my 'Memories'. The room was
less crowded & the weather not so cold as usual & both those were favorable.
I did not lie down till 10 O'clock, for Heaton wrote with me & we were both the
last up. How little could we have imagined this when we worked together in
1856! It must be grating to the three recruits-Heaton, Jones, & Coons-all
married men-in our Co who have more than two years yet to serve, when we talk of
our term ending in 8 or 10 months. I am very glad I enlisted when I did
rather than to wait longer & unlike many others I meet. I thank God that I
never once regretted that I was a soldier.
I often hear the boys, or some of them, speak in a way to excite regret & pity
rather than dislike or hatred, though contempt is stirred a little. The
cause is ignorance & a want of charity, for those are fit parents for the
offspring, viz, Bigotry. Persons wholly uninformed speak on subjects of
great general importance, in regard to which they have no personal acquaintance
& of which they know only by hearsay from prejudiced persons as ignorant as
themselves. This happens most in regard to the subject of Religion & the
statements often made are painful to hear. I was amused, though not
pleased, at the remarks made by many of the boys on the first day of this month
when on the march to this place. The Catholic church & its various
peculiar doctrines & customs of which I had intimate knowledge was the subject.
I had been behind the curtains & knew of what the others spoke, but knew not.
I wish the habits of the members of the Catholic Church were what the doctrines
& pure principles of the church would make them to be.
I am on Picket today near State Prison. Day is cloudy & a mist spread
around in A.M. I read in Chronicles & 'Sexual Organism'
Little Rock, Ark
December 27th, Friday, 1864
Last evening I was on post from 6 to 8 O'clock. That was
the first time I was on & finished by standing an hour this morning. I
slept with Jocobi from about 10 P.M. to 5 1/2 A.M. Last evening I finished
2d Chronicles. This morning I finished reading the Book 'Sexual Organisms'
it contains ___ pages. I think it a good book for all persons to read, as
it contains much information that would benefit thousands if they only knew
them. This morning was misty till about 8 1/2 O'clock & then the sun had a
hard struggle to scatter the clouds that lay about the horizon. There was
Division Guard mounting this morning, which delayed the relief till after 10
O'clock. This was vexations, for we had expected to be relieved at about 8
A.M. We reached camp about 11 & found the camp quite deserted for nearly
all were absent on duty. The fatigue detail called 150 men from our Regt,
yet such was the mismanagement & want of implements that each worked but about 1
1/2 hours. The work was done on a new Battery called Ft Solomon to the SW
of the town. It is on a high knoll having such an elevation as to afford
the guns a very wide range. Where all those works now are was covered with
trees & brush when we came here a year ago. Now the brush & trees are
cleared a mile about town & in some places as far as about 1 1/2 mile. I
ate some breakfast on Post & again after we reached camp, but yet I was not
satisfied. Six rations of Irish potatoes were distributed in our Co.
Moore peeled them & we had one good mess for supper & that was all it made.
We were all hungry & ate heartily once at least. The boys burned the soup
for breakfast so as to spoil that & the fresh beef drawn yesterday. I &
two others of our mess bought each a loaf of bread. This P.M., Jones & I
washed our clothes. I also washed for two others to the amount of 30 cts.
I heard said several boats came up the river today. River falls rapidly.
Most of Co's have moved to the new Camp. Day was pleasant.
Little Rock, Ark
December 28th, Wednesday, 1864
Last night I slept well & [as] usual was out at reveille. The
custom for some time past in our Co has been to prick everyone absent from any
of our three daily roll calls & unless there was a reasonable cause for the
absence. The delinquent was required to do duty--fatigue only-- for Orders were
issued from War Dept last summer against soldiers doing Picket or guard duty as
punishment. Often were some of the boys saluted by others thus Ha! you're pricked! Now boys, you'll have to do extra duty for that! when the
delinquent fully realized his condition. This often made some do
considerably more than a share of duty, but no one could complain of
unfairness. Such punishment or some penalty of some kind must be resorted
to in order to make some comply with the requirements of duty. Our Co went
to the new Camp to build our quarters but finding only five logs on the ground.
We put those in place in an hour & returned to Camp. The day was
breezy & a little cold. Sky clear & the air was fresh & healthy.
There was Division Guard Mounting this morning & many are the curses that are
daily poured when the head of Gen Solomon for so much empty parade & ceremony
thus causing the boys 1 1/2 to 2 hours extra duty in fact four hours. This
A.M. I read St Louis Democrat of 21 inst. Our forces in Tenn under Thomas
had a late fight with Hood's army near Nashville on or about ___ inst. One
report says that of 65 cannons that Hood had with him when he advanced
Northward, we captured 54. Accounts of 20th inst say Hood was retreating
toward Kentucky or was driven in that direction. It was also said rivers
were high & rising & the bridges were destroyed before him. Gen
Breckenridge --of eternal infamy-- was lately defeated in E. Tenn or on the
borders of Va. Our forces were under the gallant Stoneman. Sherman's
forces took Ft McAlister by a grand assault in a few minutes. In the fort
were 21 heavy guns & 200 prisoners. Savannah was closely invested on the
north side. President has issued a call of 300,000 more men. Draft
is ordered Feb 15. I am well.
December 29th, Thursday, 1864
The end of the year brings not the long desired close of the War. On the contrary active hostilities are still prosecuted with more perseverance and
success on our side, as well as with more confidence of final if not speedy victory
then ever before at this season. How altered & improved the condition our situation
at the close of this year as compared with what it was but two short years ago!! In all this what is most calculated to
encourages every Loyal heart is the fact
that we are not only busy, but also that we are successful & so vast & varied are
our means ready for use that we are prepared to execute very rapidly any movement,
however extensive, difficult, or hazardous.
The enemy's country is no longer a sealed mystery, a dangerous unknown to our armies
as it was to so great an extent even two years ago; for now our armies penetrate any
part of rebellion, with but little fear of masked Batteries for our experience has
give us courage & developed our skill so that those are bravely assaulted & victoriously
won, or they are flanked or carefully reduced by our skillful engineers & experienced
artillerists. At that time the Miss. River was sternly held by the foe, while now
itself & all its tributaries except one small branch -the Red- are safely navigated
by our boats & generally with such entire safety as to require but small guards &
seldom a heavily armed convoy. Lately that rich & hitherto undisturbed part most
guilty & wealthy has been treated to a dose of fiery War's corrective remedy & in
fact no part is safe against the advance of our conquering hosts. Division is showing
itself boldly in the enemy's camp & country & though our own land has its spirits of
evil intent, it is a fact that dissensions are much more dangerous to them than they
can possibly be to us. What I know of the past & the present, makes one very
confident
that our work will be completed ere the last day of 1865.
I was on fatigue duty today. Day was bright & rather pleasant, wind in the south.
Frederick Harrison came to our camp today. He left Wis 1st inst. Many boats are
up from below. Co H. returned P.M. All well.
Little Rock, Ark
December 30th, Friday, 1864
How pleasant to me is music, even the simple strains of a violin are
very pleasant to my ear, all uneducated as it is & little as I have heard of learned
of this grand art-this heavenly gift. This evening I heard one of Co B playing the
tune "Gentle Annie" a tune I have always admired for its simplicity & great sweetness.
I listened for a time outside & then went in the shanty for a short time. What Joy from Home came today to me! for
at noon I read a letter from Matt dated 19th & 20 inst when all were well. John's eyes
had so far recovered that he went out & was able to work more than usual. Matt had sold
hay--marsh--of quite a common quality for 18 to $20 a ton. Wood also continues high
--from 6 to $8 or 10 a cord. He was busy as usual at work up very early & Mother also
to get breakfast often longer daylight. Matt writes that Brogan's people had bought
Shield's place in Muskego, 160 acres for $4,800 as the boys had sent over $2000 home
from California. This is quite unexpected good news -to me- but alas, my joy might be
ten fold if the gain were not the price of their dishonor!! I was cook this morning & intended to be all say but that I was detailed for fatigue in
the morning at reveille. This caused me to be up late last night cooking some fresh
beef & beans. As there was not time for them to cook long this morning - as roll call
was but about 3/4 of an hour before fatigue party had to report there was too much
water & we had a very thin soup-but this made it only more plenty. Nearly all our Co
was on duty as there were several heavy fatigue details & those not at other work did
a little on our new quarters. I was helping to unload one of the boats that came up
the river -bar iron-wood for wagons -as tonegries & c & thousands of sacks of oats
containing about four bushels each. The landing presented a very busy scene.
As the
pontoon is not yet used, a steam ferry is used. A large No of refugees that came down
on the boats from Ft Smith were gathered in groups where they were all night & day
without any shelter but our Flag!! & Heaven!!! Morning was clear, but ere noon clouds overcast the sky. A national salute was fired
from Ft Steel at noon.
Camp at Little Rock
December 31st, Saturday, 1864
Last night after supper, we found ourselves without wood & as the
wind blew high, I for one, concluded that we must get some. We were all so
busy all the day that no one in our mess got any, though other messes had a
plenty. One--I think I--proposed that some of us should go about to
confiscate or gobble some. Well the trouble was that none of us knew of a
heap of wood anywhere about & as the night was dark, it was a bad time to go
seeking some & to be sure to avoid detection. Moore, Smith, & I were the
first & only ones to start. Soon I thought of dry wood at the Mill so I
went there unobserved & behind it near the furnace I found some & reached 'our
home' with three dry pieces of cordwood which were soon making a cheerful blaze
in our fireplace. A second trip was as successful as the first & I thought
that enough for my share. The two others came near getting caught by the
guard at the very start, but still determined they went on & soon found some
such as I got. W.H. Smith went for a second adventure & when he was
picking up his load, one of the mill hands asked him 'what in H--l he was
doing!' Cool & self-possessed he answered 'only carrying it up to the
furnace', which satisfied the other so that he passed on, when our friend
'changed his mind' & soon came with his precious load, which made us a good
supply last night & for cooking breakfast.
How cheering to all unionists was the roar of our guns yesterday noon, fired in
celebration of our late victories in Tenn & Geo. There were 35 or 36 guns
fired in Fort Steele and we listened to the harsh music with great Joy & glad
hearts. Blank cartridges only were fired & this caused the sound to be
much less sharp than when shot or shell is fired as in battle.
I am on Picket today on 1st post near State prison. For the first time I
was on Div Guard mounting on the St John's College--now Hospital--grounds.
On our return, we saw Co's B, C, H, & G going to master on our new Camp Ground.
How grand our Green Flag -state- & the Red-White & Blue looked borne at the head
of the battalion. Day was bright & sunny. I read the whole Book of
Nehemiah. I am well.
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