CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF JAMES B. LOCKNEY
WIS. 28th REGMT., CO. G
May 1864
Copyright © 1986, 1997-2023 [James R. Shirey]. All rights reserved.
There are two versions of this portion of James B Lockney's Civil War Journal. The short entries were copied directly from his field diaries. The more lengthy journal appears to have been composed by Lockney after the war, based on the uniform penmanship and cleanliness of the paper.
[diary] May 1 Sunday, 1864
Lewis, Snyder & I were together on Picket I slept well. We started early & reached Pine Bluff at 2 P.M. Day was sunny & pleasant. We met 8 ambulances & help going to our wounded at Moro Creek. I am well.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Regt went on boat to Little Rock. Yesterday morning we were quite surprised
when within a mile of Mount Elba to receive orders to counter march. We had
cooked no breakfast before starting, so we took about 1/2 hour to cook coffee &
eat some of our hard tack, that is, those who were so fortunate as to have some
of the precious substance. Many of the boys took bread & biscuit from camp
but as one cannot carry so much of this as of hard bread or rather what one can
carry of soft will not last so long as of the hardy bread. What tack I
took in my haversack I found would last me 4 to 6 days. So I divided some
with the others of our Mess of whom there were 9 along. The wagons were
behind a short distance & were driven a few rods into the brush where the
pontoons were thrown off. We may yet want them for use & we were all glad
to have them left or burned so that the wagons could carry our blankets &c.
Yesterday rain fell nearly all the P.M. & when we camped about 5 O'clock, 18
miles from Pine Bluff, it rained very heavy which continued for about two hours.
Lewis, Snyder, & I were detailed on picket. Along with us were Speaker of
Co B & two of Co A besides two others. We were posted at the corner of a
field & soon we made a good shelter of our rubbers, & built a good fire of rails
with which we dried our clothes & kept comfortable all night. We laid down
rails on which we spread some of our blankets & covered ourselves with others &
thus slept soundly. I was on post from 7 to 9 P.M. & from 1 to 3 A.M.
The hours were long & somewhat dreary as I stood on my lonely beat in view of
the campfires & while thus I repeated our Good Lord's Prayer and begged God that
he would be merciful & take me "Just as I am" & make me better. I also
thought of the dear ones at home, all of which afforded me relief from the
tedium of the silent solemn hours of the time when God is seen to move the
worlds in sublime omnipotence. I was awaked from a pleasant sweet sleep at
5 A.M. & as soon as we reached the Regt, the battalion was moving.
Blankets were rolled & loaded on the wagons. During the night, the sky
cleared over & the day was warm, bright & pleasant. The roads were muddy &
the streams which cross the road were swollen so as sometimes to be a little
troublesome to cross. We met 8 or 10 ambulances & two baggage wagons going
out under a flag of truce with medical supplies & several Dr's, among them
Surgeon Smith of our Regt. There was an escort of some 20 Cav to help the
train across rivers &c. We marched 18 miles yesterday & reached this place
at 2 P.M,. all very glad to get back to our comfortable quarters once more.
While we were gone we did not sleep without our clothes on. I took my
boots off two nights, having washed my feet each time which I am very exact to
do when marching & to this I attribute in no small degree my immunity from
blisters, corns & sore or stiff joints. One cannot realize how exquisite a
pleasure is afforded by the simple & common act of divesting ones self of
clothing every night till he has kept the same clothes on night & day for a week
or more & then takes them off & lays down, if it be but on a board or rails,
with sufficient clothing to keep him comfortable. Oh! that men would
realize the superiority of rational pleasures & by grateful for he cheap rate at
which Heaven affords them. Clayton came in yesterday but left two
howitzers with us & about 100 Cav for scouts & rear guard to prevent roving
parties of the enemy from attacking us unexpectedly. I spoke with a member
of 5 Kansas Cav who went with his rifle to Kansas in [18]56 from Dodge Co, Wis
for said he to me, if we did not take our rifles with us they would have planted
slavery there. Now thanks to god he & hundreds of thousands of others have
their rifles for the defense of Liberty & Union. He & others let some of
our boys whose feet were sore, ride their horses, while they walked. We
found all right in camp. This evening 150 or 200 wounded men were brought
in from Steel's Army. I am very well.
[journal] [in the margin of April 28, 1864] May 2d, 5P.M.
We got back yesterday at 2 P.M. We had no fight. Steele had very heavy fighting.
We live in stirring & eventful times & few of us perhaps
can fully realize the influence on the future destinies of the world & of man of
the decisions of the present time. Future generations will admire the
noble heroism, or regret the cowardice & blindness of the people of the North,
East, & West, as they secure or sell the vast issues of the present hour.
Gold is tried only by fire & the nobleness & greatness of a people by the
sacrifices & labors they willingly bear for principles eternally true as their
author.
[diary] Tuesday 3, May 1864 River is very high. Days are pleasant. Flowers
bloom in vast beauty & profusion but War blights all. I wrote some [journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Last night I wrote till 10 P.M. with L.R.Moore in our mess room & he wrote later
to finish a letter to his wife. It was 10 1/2 when I lay down & as Hinkley
was on picket I lay with Stutsman. I was waked up in the night twice, so I
slept till 6 1/2 this morning. The day was clear & pleasantly warm.
Last night was cool but clear & calm. I & Lewis were detailed at 9 1/2
A.M. on fatigue duty. There were 18 from the Regt. Our work was to
load logs for the guard house or prison now building in the Courthouse square.
It will be about 30x35 feet, all of logs. Two teams went out this A.M. but
as one went without chains to bind the logs on, we drew but one log in the A.M.
Again we started at 2 P.M. & got into camp at 6 having drawn with 2 teams &
wagons 3 logs. Another team went out as in the A.M. & wasted time. I
do not like how things are managed in the army. So much carelessness is
everywhere. Sergt Vanderpool Co B had charge of the detail. [diary] May 4 Wednesday. Pine Bluff Weather continues pleasant. Gun boat went down
the River. I mailed letters to Matt & Maria. All well [journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Last night I slept well, till roll call this morning. The day was
clear & pleasant, the wind blew during the middle of the day & raised the dust.
I washed some today all Hinkley's soiled clothes & mine, 7 shirts as many
stockings &c. I wrote nearly all four pages of a large sheet of letter
paper to Maria. I read Capt. Tichenor's [Milwaukee] Sentinel of the 21 ult.
that is the latest paper I have seen. Reports, needing confirmation, say
the Red River Expedition lost 2, 000 to 2,400 men & 18 to 24 cannons a
part of which latter were retaken. It was expected the Potomac Army would
begin to move about the 1st inst. Some say
Forrrest's
raid to Paducah, Ky &
Ft. Pillow was
planned in the north. Copperhead papers charging it on the abolitionists?
while Union Journals assert the traitors of the North were a party to the bloody
tragedy, the latter I think most probable. Milwaukee dates of 15 ult
show gold sold at 75 to 80 cts. premium. Silver at 65 to 70 pure[?].
Papers speak of the great extravagance in all parts of the North. Butter
brings .50 cts a lb. Flour is moderate from $5 to $7.50. Government
securities bring a high premium:" 5-20[?] sell at 1.10 to 1.15. A
new loan is out known as ________. I do not know for what amount. We
hear reinforcements were sent to Steele as soon as he crossed the Saline River,
so he did not retreat any farther. Little is known here, except to those
in command, about the situation of affairs in his force. Earthworks are
made here near the picket line for four field pieces, which will annoy the enemy
on his first appearance, should he come. If necessary, the guns would be
taken inside the inner breastworks. We hear Saline River is high, so the
enemy may not cross. The gunboat Still lies here to assist if a fight
takes place.
Brig. Gen.
Andrews, late, Col 3 Minn, Inf.
Col. Clayton &c were
present on dress parade at 5 1/2 P.M.
[diary] May 5 Thursday 1864 Today was pleasant. Many are on fatigue duty.
Some of the boys got tite Geo. Church was so [journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
What I saw at dinner time. We were all sitting down ready to begin
eating dinner when Geo. Church came in swaggering & swearing & staggering about.
He was not drunk enough to fall & yet unable to control his motions. He
sat down saying he was going to eat dinner with us. Soon one of the boys
coaxed him out, but soon he returned & got in Safford's way. Suddenly S__
took hold on him & there was quite a scuffle for a few minutes. S__ got G.C out of our mess room but C__returned & I feared a fight would be the result.
Some cups of coffee were spilled. At length Church, after boasting of his
fighting powers, was induced to go to his own mess room & all was over.
Thus, in a short time & so unexpectedly arose a squall that threatened to be
quite a storm. The drink was stolen by the boys while on guard & drank by
several of our Co. for others were merry. It is surprising what dexterity or
cunning some of the boys acquire in this way. For this reason many keep a
small gimlet with which they bore through whiskey barrels & this often get many
canteens full of beer or whiskey. All that I saw at noon made me sad as I
thought of him who was once my dearly loved brother who, alas, fell a victim to
the destroying power of strong drink. Alas!, thought I, where is my
brother Michael [Loughney]? does he yet live & if so how & where?
Has he died? when--& how-- & where? How forcibly was all the past
brought to my mind as I saw my brave fellow soldier brought to a condition below
that of the brute- because of the abuse or perversion of high powers of mind as
saw my brother Michael in a still lower state of intoxication--& that, too, alas
by the use of a gallon of liquor for which I was sent! Oh! that scene I
can never forget so long as memory remains, nor can I cease to regret the part I
acted on that occasion of sorrow & shame. The time of which I speak was in
the spring (March, I think) of 185_ when he came home from Chicago & sold his
land to John. Again, I see him in fancy, one bright & pleasant October
morning of the same year, when he had a small bundle-coat &c packed up, & ready
to start away from the place he had called home for so many long years, & where
he did so many faithful & hard day's work. When with swimming eyes, he
took my hand & bade me to be a good boy & accompanied by John, he left Mother &
all of us and none of us ever saw him since, nor does anyone know what became of
him. Oh! how often I wish he could be among us again & that he was free
from the fatal habit, thus to be restored again to manliness & God's grace.
How gladly would I labor to sustain him as a recompense for the devotion with
which he strove to help along in the far distant early day. He it was who
wrote my name in my first school reader--the "Juvenile" in Dec 1844. How
could I weep for him, could that restore him to friends & home to temperance &
peace.
[diary] May 6. Friday 1864. Day is pleasant. I am on guard in Camp. On
dress Parade there were about 320 all told. strong works are made for cannon
about town. I am very well. [journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
I mailed a letter to Matt & sent a lock of hair. Last night I
lay down about 10 O?Clock & had a good sleep till roll call about 5 1/2. I
took a dose of two pills last night & the effect was good. The morning was
clear and tonight & the day pleasant, though windy. The earth is dry &
roads dusty. Sky was a little clouded in the A.M. I am on camp guard
on the 3d relief, was on post from 4 P.M. to 5-20. Dress Parade was at 5
1/2. Col. Clayton was present with a lady in a buggy. I heard he was
married but his wife is dead... I have no doubt there are many talented &
able minded women in the South, & though the influences of slavery in the past &
of the sundering of domestic relations during the War have had a very pernicious
influence on the virtue & purity of the people, still I hope vice & sensuality
are not so common as some corrupt persons wish & would have others to believe.
There were about 320 on dress parade. The more I hear Gray speak, the more
am I convinced of his lack of worth of character, & Christian virtues. Alas!
[diary] May 7, Saturday, 1864. All our force was waked at 3 1/2 to 4 A.M.
ready for a fight. I am well. Dress parad[e] was at 5 1/2 I am very well. May 8
Sunday, Pine Bluff. I attended at Presbyterian Church A.M. & P.M. Chaplain
Reake Preached last. Day was pleasant. I got a rose from a little Girl. I am
very well.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
We signed payrolls yesterday.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Early in the week orders were read against boarding out.
Last night I lay down about 9 P.M. & slept well till 4 O'clock A.M.
I lay down after roll call & slept till about 7 O'clock. I ate no
breakfast, so I had a good appetite at noon. I was at Presbyterian Church
in the A.M. & I heard the Episcopal service in the P.M. in which our Regimental
Chaplain officiated. The service resembles that of the Catholic Church in
some respects. Chaplain Peake read a discourse of medium length. A
Sergt of Co C played on the
melodeon. He did petty well, but could improve very much by practice.
Brig. Gen. Andrews was present at both services. he sung in the P.M.
There were 8 or 10 ladies present in the A.M. & two of those went away ere the
end of the discourse. I could not help observing the impropriety of
whispering in which many of them indulged during the service. Only one
lady was present in the P.M. She came in co. with Lieurt Coates, Co. A.
I judge she & her people sympathize with the Union cause. I should judge
she is a Christian & well behaved person & alas! this is much more than I can
think of many I see. This was the first time I heard a prayer for the
Congress & Pres. of U.S. One deplorable fact & evidence of the disturbing
effects of the War, if not of its degrading consequences, is that of the vast
no. of women here, so very few attend any of the places of worship. [diary] May 9 Monday 1864 Little going on in Camp. I was on fatigue
duty a short time in A.M. A light shower fell. Most of the boys got whiskey. 5
or 6 did not take it. our work was on breastworks. Rebels took Plymoth N.C We
lost 1500 to 2000 men, Killed, wounded & Pris. & 20 cannons also two
light gunboats.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co
Last night it was 1/4 to 10 when I & a few others lay down to
sleep. I slept well during the night waking up only once & that from the
noise made by waking up two of our Co. to go on picket. It was about
midnight. Some firing was heard outside the line & it was understood the
pickets had been driven in. It proved to be the outpost of Cavalry Pickets
that a party of rebels tried to surprise & trap. I heard today our men
were in a lane & the foe advanced from both ends, but our men were so sharp as
to withdraw one side & listened to the enemy as they advanced expressing their
joy & hopes at their expected prize. I have not heard whether any were
killed or wounded. I suppose there was a similar detail from all Companies
& Regts. We fell out & stacked arms at 4 O'clock when I & many others lay
down & slept again. I slept till about 6 after breakfast. I had a
good wash all over in the morning. This I will often enjoy as I think it
will be very condusive to health & withal being so pleasant. I think if I
ever have a home, that I shall have a way or convenience so each member may
enjoy this great luxury, so cheap & beneficial, as often as desired, at least
once a week. Three (of which I was one) were detailed on fatigue duty at 8
1/2 A.M. There were about 25 or 30 on the work [detail] which was to
finish the work on some breastworks, not completed yesterday. A light
shower fell during the A.M. It was much needed. We saw a party of 80
to 100 coming in from outside the picket line, having been out falling timber to
block up the roads to prevent the approach of the enemy. All things show
that a period of inactivity will prevail in their section of Rebeldom, till some
new developments come to light or reinforcements come to our help. We
heard that Thayer's force went to Ft. Smith. Also that the 12 Army Corps
were coming to join us--7th A.C.
[diary] May 10 Tuesday, Pine Bluff. Last night I, Lewis, & Griffing were on
Picket. 18 & two sergts were on the party. We got back to camp at 5 1/2.
Night was showery. Day was cloudy & a shower fell P.M. I had a short nap. I
am well.
[journal]May 10 Tuesday 1864
Last night we prepared for bed about 8 1/2 O'clock as Hinkley,
Goelzer, & I had been writing in our mess room &
Chas. Gill read--all four of us at
one candle, while Walton & three others play cards on the other end of the
table. Yesterday, I asked Muckey, Bowers, Wells, S. Foster to go into an
other tent, so that I could write on our table as they had occupied it for two
or three hours. At this they felt quite indignant & Walton had such a
sympathy with them as to make him express himself very strongly in their favor.
I said very little, but Hinkley spoke to him sharply, giving [rather, making]
him understand that others had a stronger claim on our mess premises than he
had. This he could forcibly do for he did as much or more than any one
else & Walton did nothing at any time since he joined our mess. Walton is
evidently a spoiled boy, having probably been the pet of his family. He is
ill-mannered, insolent, boastful, & has no fine feelings or sense of duty to
restrain him, so his natural inclinations control him in no very amiable way.
He, it was that said, while we marched from Helena to Little Rock, that he left
his good manners at home when someone remarked his lack in this respect.
This he said with the utmost boldness & even if possible, with a sort of
boastfulness that was not a little strange. At Helena, he was made
Corporal & this is the way I heard it happened. During some of the rainy
weather after we returned from the Yazoo Pass Ex[pedition]., he like many
others, was some[what] indisposed & often excused from duty weeks at a time when
the weather was stormy. He & others were sent on picket & he was sick for
some time after from that or some other cause. In May, his father came to
Helena & was trying to make a fuss about this with a view to his son's
discharge. I heard he was made Corp by way of Compromise, though he wished
to get out of the service. I certainly do not & never did, consider a
promotion by such means as this, any evidence of merit, but on the contrary a
disgrace rather. He has always been haughty & supercilious, with a strong
inclination to be abusive, using vulgar language & blasphemous oaths, like
others of the boys. While we marched from Benton to Little Rock last Nov
1st I tried to get my place in the ranks as orders were given to all to do so.
Walton & a few others joined to crowd me out, so I fell in the rear of the Co.
This displease me a little & I twitted him of the means used to gain the place
he occupied, & which he used to order me about at that time. I have
sometimes regretted this as long entertained the opinion that the abuse used by
others did not justify me to do likewise. He sometime speaks to me in a
patronizing way, but I as through his guise of assumed cordiality & respect.
There is a good chance for him as well as myself & others to improve our ways.
He drinks moderately, uses tobacco in plenty, plays cards much of the time, & I
fear will grow in evil ways.
[diary] May 11 Wednesday, 1864. Slept well Last night. Day was pleasant. We
caught some fish & ate some for dinner & breakfast I wrote some &
am well.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Col. Clayton acting Gen. appoints staff.
[diary] May 12 Thursday, 1864 Day was pleasant & warm a detail of 95 men--8
from our Co--was at work on earthworks & a battery. I was one. We reported
at 6 3/4 A.M. & worked till 5 1/2 P.M. Whiskey was given to the boys.
Lewis, Hinkly or I took none. None were allowed in through the lines to go out
again
[journal] Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co
Last night was cold, so that two blankets were comfortable though
we slept under one very well. We fell out & stacked arms at 4 A.M.
The stars were yet shining, and soon rose the beautiful sun while the fog or
steam rose from the surface of the river. The day was bright & pleasant
after 9 O'clock, but I wore my overcoat till that time. I & 8 others were
detailed on fatigue duty from our Co. The detail from the 9 Co's doing
duty in our Regt was 95 privates & 9 non-com officers. Lt Watts of Co D
has the superintendence of the construction of the breastworks & batteries under
the direction of Col. Clayton. Col C_ & Gray with his adj A.S. Kendrick &
Capt Smith our Regt rode around to see the works in the A.M. & P.M. Those
are large & strong & better I think in those respects than any we had at Helena
at the time of the fight, but there are no high positions so good as there.
The ground is cleared of the standing timber in front of the works to the
distance of 80 to 100 rods. This was one of the greatest advantages we had
at Helena as the hills & ravines were cleared & the brush burned far around.
This is now doing here. The batteries will have an effective cross fire,
also musketry from behind the strong & safe breastworks. Those are formed
in zigzag lines, a ditch 2 to 3 feet deep & as wide is dug & the earth formed in
a bank on the outside. This is three feet wide on the bottom & slopes to 1
1/2 on the top, being 2 to 3 feet high. Many of the boys tried to shirk
doing their share & did often succeed. The earth is a strong clay soil as
deep as we dig about 4 feet. I did not work constantly, but I tried to do
a fair share at least in which I think, I succeeded. While I was at work
the Lieut. said I merited a safe place in the works if we had a fight for the
diligence with which I worked. this pleased me as it was unexpected &
unsought. At another time, when Richard Griffing was acting orderly as he
sometimes did in Orderly Gilbert's absence from camp & when unfit for duty.
The former said to me that he noticed 'I was always on hand when I was wanted
for duty'. I am conscious myself that this has been strictly true with
very few exceptions since I first became a soldier for Liberty & Union.
Notwithstanding, the difference between my ways & opinions & those of nearly all
others or probably because of that differences I think I am very well treated &
respected by all persons generally with whom I become in any way acquainted.
One cannot reasonably expect good treatment from everyone even all in any Co,
but all one way or another & at one time or another, whence their opinion
that my ways are generally more correct my opinions well founded & my intentions
pure & honest, than those of others more like themselves. Still war is
often waged against me & silence sometimes constitutes my defense & at other
times words are efficient weapons. At Little Rock last Sept & Oct, Gilbert
& I often had sharp talks & arguments on various subjects which we often
continued long after the hour when stillness should reign in camp. A few
days ago I was speaking to some in Co. B & I was not a little surprised to hear
one of them make the flattering remark that they often thought I had the best of
the argument. This was said by one who would be very unlikely to say so,
or remember it just to deceive or please me. Many think G__ is influenced
by very strong prejudices & dislikes which warp or vitiate his judgment.
This page proves what vanities & conceits please me & how few are those free
from such weaknesses. Daniel McNeill treats me very respectfully ever
since I made him realize that I was determined to resist all efforts to impose
on me. Truly did resistance secure peace. [diary] May 13 Friday, 1864. Pine Bluff Fell out early to roll call & stocked
arms. Day was dry & pleasant A Heavy detail is on the Works. Yesterday flag
of truce party returned but did not get
Capt. Townsend's body. They were out
four days. I wrote some birthday verses for Maria. I am well
[journal] May 13 Friday 1864
Last night was still and pleasant. The moon & stars shone
mildly & softly. I slept well. We were waked as usual at about 4
1/2, though the drummers were a little late. The day was calm & pleasant,
air a little hazy. This A.M. our mess & some of Co K made a small boat for
fishing that bears three. It is all flat & square with little regard to
beauty. We could make a pretty one had we means & tools. The detail
for fatigue was heavier today than yesterday. This evening, rumors say
that the probabilities of an attack on this place increase & that after Sunday
all that wish to go outside will be allowed to do so & the lines then closed,
when none will be allowed to pass either way. This may or may not be so.
Last Monday a party went from this place with a flag of truce for the purpose of
recovering the body of Capt. Townsend, who it is believed was killed at the time
he Rebels attacked & destroyed the train coming here from Gen. Steele at Camden.
Nothing certain or quite satisfactory is known of his death, but as he is not
heard of as a prisoner or wounded, it is believed he was killed & as nearly or
quite all our dead were barbarously stripped of their clothing, it is believed
he was buried in his shirt & drawers. Yesterday P.M. the party returned,
but found nothing very certain about the matter as they were not allowed to
advance nearer than four miles of the place of action. It is said some one
of the Rebel officers found his (Townsend's) father's portrait in his pocket.
It is difficult to imagine the cause of the exclusion of our men at such a
distance from the battlefield. Lt. of Co. B & our surgeon were with the
party. The rebels have about 180 of our wounded out there, but they
refused to allow our men to see them. They would give them up to us
outside their lines, & I hope they will be brought here.
[diary] May 14 Saturday 1864. Day was pleasant & bright. A.M. mail came
from Little Rock I got four letters one from Matt, one from Maria, Anna, &
Catharine, one from M. Gilbert & a letter from Sec. of State, St. Paul. All
were well 27 *** & 2 inst. weather had been backward.
[journal] May 14 Saturday 1864
Last night I slept well & we fell out at 4 O'clock this morning &
stacked arms. The weather is very pleasant, the nights moonlit & starry;
days calm & pleasant. This morning I & Clark were out on the river tending
the fish lines. I learn a little by experience in rowing a boat.
Though the river is quite low--being from 6 to 10 feet lower than two weeks
ago--the current is quite strong & rapid. Some of our mess are very
willing to help to attend the lines, while others are best to help devour the
fish. William H Clark is the chief and most interested of the first class,
for he understands fishing as it appears his father followed that occupation
some time in Milwaukee, & Wm helped him. He is quite inventive & very
persevering. This A.M. he & I fished for a piece of line on which were
several hooks. In one place we worked with the grab hook a long time but
without success & we moved to another place and soon found it. He said he
was bound to find it ere he gave it up. He is of English descent & is a
good natured, jovial person. It is much to be regretted that he is given
to vulgarity & swearing to some extent & will use liquor, though with moderation
& caution. He is also given to the habit of telling fibs or making
misstatements of facts, but mostly for the trick or fun of the thing & without
malice. He plays cards, but not so much as most others & uses tobacco.
It is a pity he has those ways, for he has a good temper and disposition.
If he & I live through the War, I will often be glad to meet him for he is free
from all pride & haughtiness & generally treats all kindly.
[diary] May 15 Sunday, Pine Bluff. Day is clear & bright with foggy morning.
I was at Catholic service A.M. & on fatigue on breastworks P.M. 100 men
were from our Regt. I am very well.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Last night I wrote in our mess room till 10 1/2 O'clock. It
was expected the mail would go up the river today & I wished to have some
letters ready to send home and also to Maria. I filled up two envelopes
quite full with sheets of my diary. Matt's last letter & two closely
written sheets of large letter paper, which may interest Matt & others, as it is
in a conversational way. Louis R. Moore wrote with my or rather we both
wrote by the same light. He was writing to his wife & wished to finish his
letters, so he wrote till past 11 O'clock. I wished to work as late as
that , for I had plenty to occupy my time, but as we are waked so early every
morning, I felt that I dared not lose so much sleep. Today I feel a little
annoyance in my eyes..a dimness in consequence of my night toil. I try to
avoid late sittings up on this account.
[diary] May 16 Monday, 1864. Weather is pleasant. We catch some fish, so
we have a plenty to eat some to sell. I & Clark & Turny have got our
money back. I got $2.25 today. I am very well. I was on Camp guard.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff, Ark
Yesterday P.M. when returning from our place of labor on the
works to camp, one of Co A, who was out as a loafer or spectator, acted in a way
to excite the indignation of all right minded persons who saw him. Two
colored women attired in wide distended skirts and otherwise decent apparel were
walking by in a decent & orderly way when this ill-mannered person in company
with a few others used insulting language & acted in a corresponding manner.
Of all the times in my life I burned with indignation at this unprovoked abuse
& I felt that if the epithet puppy had ever an application to a human being, it
was in this & similar cases. Here, I thought were those poor creatures so
lately the victims of Slavery and now suffering from all its consequent
ignorance & disadvantages, yet well behaved to all & respectful, kind &
courteous to each other whose brothers, sons, & father are now in vast thousands
helping us against rebel foes & fighting more bravely than many a boastful white
darist even to contemplate and yet many of this superior (?) race abuse & insult
those inoffensive people. "Alas! for the rarity of Christian charity under
the sun" is as applicable now as when Hood first wrote it.
[diary] May 17 Tuesday Pine Bluff I came off guard at 4 3/4 this A.M. Sky is
cloudy, but day was sunny & is pleasant. heavy details for fatigue are made
each day. I keep on writing so as to be ready when Mail comes.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Last night I lay down at 9 1/2 & was waked up at 2 this A.M.
I was on post till 4 3/4-5. Kansas battery & 18 Ill Inf. were waked at 3
1/2 O'clock, our Regt was the last to wake up. I slept an hour & a half
after I came off post. Night was calm & pleasant, about daylight clouds
overspread the sky. Day was bright & pleasant. There was no
detail to work on fortifications as usual. I have a cough, which does not
trouble me much & my right eye is a little sore & dim because of a cold--a very
slight one I took a few days ago. Still, I feel well and hearty, so that
my eye causes me only a slight inconvenience.
[diary] May 18 Wednesday, 1864.
I was on fatigue duty this A.M.
[journal]
May 18 Wednesday 1864
Last night I was sleeping so I was excused from roll call & lay
down about 8 O'clock. I slept till near 5 this A.M. when we fell out at
Reveille & stacked arms. I took a dose of three pills last night & they
did me good. My eye is better today than it was & I expect it soon will be
well as ever. The day was pleasant & sunny. Last night & today there
were dark & heavy thunder clouds hanging & slowly floating about in the air, but
no rain fell. I was on fatigue duty this A.M. We got two loads of
corn off the post for the use of our Regimental teams & horses. There was
a large detail from our Regt at work from 2 P.M. yesterday & last night
unloading corn off two barges &
steamer J.Miller that was brought down the river. I believe the corn
was bought on a plantation nearby, the owner of which took out Protection
Papers by which our troops would be bound to let everything alone or if property
or produce were taken or destroyed, complaint is made & vouchers or payment
giving. The price of corn is about $1.00 a bushel. I think our
interests would be advanced & our debtless as well as our army better supplied
if we early adopted the plan of taking everything we needed in all parts of the
south or rebel states leaving settlement to be made after the War. This
too without regard to the loyalty of the owner as rebels had no rights to
property recognized by a state of War & true friends should sacrifice at least a
little for the good of the country. This would have afforded no means to
mount many Regts of Cav. now in part afoot, besides mounted Inf Regts thus
increasing their efficiency.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Last night I had a good sleep. We [?]Red up at about 4 O'clock
this A.M. & fell out & stacked arms after which I lay down & slept more than an hour.
I was waked by Hinkley as breakfast was ready. I sat up pretty late last
night writing. I helped some of the boys at fishing this A.M. & P.M.
The large fish we got last evening was sold today for $2.00. The day was
clear, bright & beautiful. We now have as delightful weather as any I ever
saw, at any season.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Last night I wrote till after 10 O'clock & lay down a short time
after. I slept well till roll call at 4 this A.M. I was anxious to
finish my letters, as it was expected the mail would go off this morning.
I filled a sheet of note paper to Mother & sent my diary, up to the time of
closing. Higley took the mail off this A.M. but the boats are detained
here for orders or permission to go up or down. We hear a rumor that the
rebs have a battery placed below this place & between us & the mouth to blockade
the river. I do not know yet what truth is in the report. The river
has risen 1 1/2 to 3 feet yesterday & today, so when gunboat 37 comes up she
will make an opening. A detail from our _____ Regt was made
yesterday to go down the river foraging, Sergt Foster was from one Co.
They returned this P.M. Last night some of our Co were gambling till near
10 1/2 & I & Hinkley heard them wrangling & disputing about the amount each won,
& owed the other &c. H. & I never do so & we agree well.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Last night I lay down about 9 1/4 O'clock and slept till 4 this
A.M. when I was waked from sleep to answer to my name that had just been called.
This was the second time that I was asleep at roll call & absent in that way.
As laxity rules lately in our Co., no one is put on extra duty for absence, so I
may not be. This is what I dislike--no regularity or uniformity & of which
I complained before. Very many of the boys complain often at what they
call partiality in making details. Orderly claims not only that he does
his best but more, that all duty is made with correctness & fairness. I
have seen enough to make one think otherwise. It is very natural to make
mistakes &c, but very disagreeable to insist that one does his work or duty in a
perfect manner at all times. I lay down after roll call & slept till waked
for breakfast at 5 O'clock. After that I cleaned my gun & got ready for
picket. The line is moved out 60 to 75 rods farther than it was a month
ago as all the trees have been cut down-with a few exceptions & all the ground
is covered with tree tops & small pines fallen in every direction to hinder the
advance of a rebel force. Shade is scarce & the heat of
the sun is very great. On our way we crossed through the wire fence &
found it would be quite a hindrance to the enemy.
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Yesterday, Capt Smith- Co I was officer of the Picket from our
Regt. During the A.M. officer of the day came along unexpectedly & we had
our equipment off but quickly got them on. He noticed it & remarked we
should keep them on according to orders from Post Commandant. The day was
bright & hot, so in the P.M. I took mine off & wrote some. Capt Smith came
along & mildly chided me by saying that would not do. This A.M. we were
relieved about 9 O'clock. Sergt McKee was chief on the post today & he &
one or two others on his post were sent in the A.M. in arrest for having their
cartridge & cap boxes & belts off. All the boys hate this order,
considering it unnecessarily severe as the weather is hot & the reserve post
being 25 to 40 rods in the rear of the
videttes on the line. All the boys sympathize with those in arrest.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Last night I slept well. The night was clear & pleasant.
We fell out about sunrise & stacked arms. None of us can guess why this is
still continued as, if there be danger of an attack we should be waked earlier,
& if not, we should not stack arms. The day was clear & hot. During
the P.M. a thunder cloud rose in the west & for a time threatened us with a
shower. Thermometer showed 89 in the shade. Today I saw Cobalt used
to poison flies. It is mixed up in hot or boiling water & sugar used to
sweeten. It attracts the flies & kills them soon after they have used it.
I never used it & did not know it was or could be used for this purpose. I
have been out on the river fishing, but we did not catch many. The water
is still turbid & thickly mixed with red earth, so that the water is not fit to
use & we get our water from wells in which the water is quite good for cooking &
drinking. I read some in 'A Mother's Trials'. I think the author is
Mrs. Gaskell.
I was showed for the first time specimen pages of the 'History of the
Rebellion', a work of 1__ pages. The work is the first pages of the first
volume which is now issued or soon will be. This contains two groups of
Steel portraits of the Union Pres & Cabinet & the rebel leaders on another page.
The price varies from $3.50 to $6.00 a volume. Our Capt has those first
pages & showed it to me & gave it [to] me to read. I cut many scraps
of prose & poetry from many old newspapers. I have an old book in which to
put them. Capt gave me a lot of old papers from which to clip. I
wrote none today. Rumors came to us today through rebu [Rebel?} sources of
the rebel Pres & his chiefs deserting the country & trying to get to Europe.
I doubt this & it must be premature I think . There is a report this P.M.
that fighting is going on today at Brownsville, between L.Rock & DeValls Bluff.
My eye is much better today. We had fried liver of a beef & apple pie for
supper
[journal] Camp at Pine Bluff
Last night was very pleasant & bright. I slept well & we rose early this
morning & stacked arms. Last night Moore & Gilbert had quite a warm chat
about the motives that actuated them & should incite a person in regard to
leaving his people or family to enter the service of our Country. G-- very
frankly & strongly stated that with himself the feeling was his family first &
after that Country. Moore contended that Duty made it --the interest in
the Country & with it those of Mankind first & after that came ones duty to his
family & that had that not been the case with him. He would not have left
his family & became a soldier in his Country's service. I came in while
the talk was going on & was appealed to for my opinion as to duty in this case.
I very promptly answered that I myself, felt the duty we each of us owe to his
Country & her true interests was greater & superior to the ties of family & said
I thought and acted from a different motive when I enlisted, as well as himself.
I contradicted this statement by him for so far as I can remember, I felt the
cause of Liberty and the life of our Nation to be superior to that of myself or
my relatives, and all that I might hope for in the future. G-- thought it
would be otherwise with me if I were married! I asked him to answer
this--if his people & all his personal interests had to be blotted out of
existence or our nation and all the vast interest connected with it, by which
all the future time & all nations would be so affected, which would he choose.
He evaded an answer to this by saying such an extremity for the country could
never happen. I agreed with Moore in his opinions.
[journal] May 25 Wednesday 1864
Yesterday P.M. I read dispatches from Gen. Grant's army to the 16 inst.
The fighting in the Wilderness in the vicinity of Chancellorville during the
progress of our army south from Fredericksburg was tremendously heavy &
destructive on both sides . Our loss in killed, wounded & missing is
stated at 35, 000, most of the wounded being very slightly hurt. The No.
of the killed is about 4,000. We pressed back the rebel forces steadily,
but slowly. Grant is said to have brought 400 cannon into action at one
time. I saw no estimate of Rebel losses, but they are heavy.
Reinforcements are sent so promptly to Grant that all our losses are speedily
filled & his force kept full. We hear he had taken about 12,000 prisoners
& 30 or 40 cannons from the start to the 16 inst. Gen. Sheridan who
commands the Cav, got around in Lee's rear & tore up the R.R. between him &
Richmond. Gen. Butler has made successful advances up the James River to
City Point seizing Ft. Powhattan on S side of the Jas. & fortifying all chief
points along the bank. He advanced 8 miles toward Petersburg & fought one
part of Beauregard's army, which were driven back. It is said the roads
are destroyed between Petersburgh & Richmond, both R.R. & pike. Ft Darling
on the S. side of Jas. was besieged. Our large fleet of gunboats &
monitors were at Newport News and in the Jas. Riv. to cooperate with the land
forces. Good news comes through reliable sources that Gen. Sherman in
Northern Geo. & Ala. was successful in driving Johnston toward Atlanta or
beyond. Most or all the news appears to be more reliable & limited than
formerly. Everything appears to favor us, as the 100 day men are answering
to 'the call' for 200,000 more! The thing I most dred is that Johnston may
join Lee, which he can do ere Sherman could join Grant & this would so
strengthen Lee that he could crush our forces in detail. Some say the
roads are so torn up & bridges burned that this can not be done. I hope
this is so. Terrible fighting must take place most of the time till
Richmond falls or we are severely beaten. I hope this last cannot be done.
All seems to indicate that the critical time has come when the result must be
decisive one way or the other. Should we be successful I think the War
must end before winter, but should we be repulsed as in the advance on Richmond
in 1862, the war must last one or two years longer. The result must I
think be the same. May God grant the desired & right end speedily.
[diary] May 26 Thursday, Pine Bluff.
Morning Cool. P.M. hot. Day breezy. Grand Review by Gen. Steele & staff &
Col. Clayton P.M.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Last night I read some & wrote a short time. I wrote a
large letter to Maria & Thos. today. Some of the boys took
possession of our mess room early, so that itI was filled by two sets of card
players & we could not get in to write. I lay down to sleep early & had
good rest till 4 1/2 O'clock this morning when we fell out and stacked arms.
I read today the St. Louis, Mo. Democrat of 19 inst, which was brought down this
A.M. on the Annie Jacobs. There was but little mail. In the
paper is news to the 18 from Army of Potomac. On 12th
Gen Handcock's
Corps captured 42 cannons & 7000 prisoners consisting of
Maj. Gen Ed
Johnson's Div. of Ewell's Corps before 10 O'clock A.M.. The fighting
was of the most desperate character. The foe fought with all the firmness
& determination of our own men but the movement was well planned & skillfully
executed. A fog favored us in a part of its execution. What
prodigies of valor & scarifizes [sic] are performed on both sides, ours for the
rights of every human being & the best interests of all--their's for the
preservation of slavery & the privileges of a few, but against universal Liberty
of the innocent & general intelligence. We for our Beauteous starry
banner, the grandest that is kissed by the breeze, they for a rag that only
represents oppression & slavery. The morning was cool & breezy so
too the A.M. The P.M. was quite warm. We had a general review of all
the force here. Cav, Inf & artillery at 4 P.M. on the field below the
town. There were 28 Wis, 62d Ill, & 3d Minn. Regts of Inf 1st Ind,
5th Kansas, & 7 Mo Regts of Cav & 12 to 16 pieces of artillery. Col.
Clayton rode beside Gen Steele, both followed by his-Steele's staff of 6 or 8
officers. First our Col & Adj &c had much trouble to get a straight line.
They had too much commissary. Our band made one or two blunders.
Otherwise all passed off very well. 62d & 3d have good musicians & bands.
Streets were very dusty. We were out in light order. McKee was in
the rear rank, as private [he had just been demoted from sergeant]. This
makes Griffing 2d Sergt. I am very well. Foster hurt his leg.
Got to camp at 6 1/4 P.M.
[diary] May 27 Friday.
Day was breezy, & clear. sent a letter to Matt. & one to Thomas Brogar.
Gen Steele & staff went up the River.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co
I wrote a part of a letter to Maria. Last night I lay down about 9 1/2 and about 10 I fell asleep.& did not wake
till roll call at 4 1/4 this A.M. I again lay down & slept till 1/4 to 6.
We had breakfast at 6 1/2. The day was bright & breezy & not near so hot
as usual. I mailed a letter to Matt & one to Thos Brogan. As the
regular mail did not go, I took my letters to the landing & had one of Co E give
them to our Chaplain, who went up on the boat. About 10 O'clock the Done
went up, having Gen. Steel & staff on board. The regular mail went up last
evening while we were on Review. I had a pleasant promenade about town
after I put my letters away as I went in my bare feet. My feet sweat some
so as to scald my toes & I go barefoot some to avoid this. I read new
orders lately issued by post commandant. Two were in regard to Freed men.
One of those dated 25 inst forbid negroes to build houses through the town or
any place within the post limits without permission from Col Clayton.
Another requires all soldiers to be in their quarters after 9 P.M. After
that time Provost guard will arrest offenders, who will be punished by 5 days
hard labor. There is a stringent order in regard to the habit of getting
drunk. All persons found so will be compeled [sic] to do five days hard
labor & every drinking saloon keeper will be fined 25 dollars for each person
found drunk. The first order requires many negroes to move or leave their
house, they built on vacant ground. I saw
Godey's S. Book for June. In it is a beautiful Steel plate of two young
women assisting their old mother or grandmother to walk.
One is on each side.[this is Godey's Ladies Book--why would soldiers
have access to a ladies book?] I read
Pres. Jackson's farewell Address of March 4th, 1837. I think he
foresaw the perils to which Slavery exposed our Nation. His advice to
forbearance & unity are like restraining the growth of a vigorous oak by tying a
whipcord, linen bandage about it. We now realize on the battlefield
all he dreaded. No dress parade today. All quiet in camp. I am
well.
[journal] May 28 Saturday 1864
Last night, for the first time in many months, I lay down soon after roll call
& before taps or retreat. I slept well till 4 1/2 O'clock this A.M. when
we fell out & stacked arms. I had a good & pleasant full wash this morning
before breakfast. The mail came down this A.M. I got a two letters
from Matt, one mailed 11 & the other 18th inst. Mother wrote one page on
note paper. They were all well. Matt & John & Father worked together
getting off stone. It would seem that Father worked as he did a dozen
years ago. Mother was very well, comfortable as normal & all hopeful of
success to Grant. Anthony & his family were over to Father's & were well.
Matt heard that Maria was a little short of the required standard as follows, as
she told him.
Orthography 6, Writing 7, Reading 5, Written Arithmetic 5, Mental Arith- 5,
Geography 5, Grammer 5. It being required to answer 6 out of 10 questions
on each branch of study. He heard she began her school on 16 or supposed
so. She had to go to Waukesha to see the Supt. of schools, Elizabeth
Loftus teaches our district school. Heavy rains had fallen & trees were
getting green. They still fed all cattle but the sheep. They had
about 50 lambs & over a hundred sheep.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
I had a good & refreshing sleep last night. At 4 1/2 A.M.
we had roll call, but as a damp fog or mist was in the air we did not take our
guns out, as they would take rust. We had breakfast over at 6 O'clock.
I cleaned my gun before & shaved a part of my whiskers off after breakfast.
I would have made a clean shave, but I feared taking cold. I used Clark's
razor. Many of the boys are very accommodating to me & I try to be so to
all as much as I can. We very often have disputes & arguments on various
subjects, often on the liquor question, but those are always kindly talks, into
which no malice or hard feeling enters & our reasoning & talking powers have a
little play.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
It was nearly 10 last night when I got asleep. Gilbert & I
took a walk last evening at his request. His chief subject was in regard
to his chances of the promotion to a Lieutenancy in our Co & of Lt. Col. Gray's
efforts to have the Sergt. Major McGill of Co D promoted to the place of 1st Lt.
in our Co. Capt Tichenor & is trying to do his best to have Gilbert get
the place. About a week ago Orderly Sergt. Co H had his shoulder straps on
, as 1st Lt & G-- would have his on if it were not for the action of Col. Gray.
Gilbert says the only cause of Gray's opposition is that he would not drink with
Gray last New Year's & Gray also says Gilbert does not dress well enough, both
of which are mere trifles or excuses. Many think Gilbert is very awkward &
ungainly as a soldier, and as Co. G sets very high value on such points, that
are certainly trifles as compared with the difference between habits. I
think this is a part of his cause. I think G--is clumsy & has very little
of the military turn about him. One day lately I looked at him while on
his left in one of our Co so I have him in profile & I never before saw him to
appear so entirely homely, not to say disagreeable as he then did to me.
That was the first time I ever noticed his appearance, having such a view of
him, the first time I ever saw such an expression of coarseness & absence of all
that which even in men I think is beauty. What seemed most disagreeable in
his features is a prominence of the face between the eyes & mouth when seen in
profile. I do not think his expression was much different from what it
usually is although the state of one's feelings & spirits has I think, much to
do with the pleasantness of ones expression. This reminds me how much more
the idea of beauty is in the mind, as what interest & warmth of feeling with
which we regard a person, for I doubt not if his wife or mother could have seen
him at the time, their satisfaction would have been so great as to invest his
appearance with all their highest ideas of beauty. Thus, I think it is
love, rather than mere shape, color & combination of features that impresses us
with a sense of beauty in an other. Again I incline to think my opinion is
not well founded in fact for we are not infrequently impressed with an
irresistible sense of the beauty of persons whom will have seen for the first
time & of whom we may never have heard & this impression of beauty cannot have
its origin in love, but on the contrary is not unfrequently the source of
admiration & this if acquaintance follows, leads to & very often result to in
love or the strongest & most irresistible affection. I conclude then that
the combination of form & color of features of the human face. Divine in a
general sense constitutes beauty, as when all the different parts harmonize so
as to produce an agreeable impression on the mind of the beholder. I think
however these form two distinct classes of beauty & that which has its origin in
a rational love or natural affection to be the highest order of these two as
without the lovable qualities of mind by which affection is secured the
fascinating charm of mere physical loveliness is soon lost & forgotten.
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
Last night I was on post from 8 to 10 p.m. I then lay down
along with Corp E.B.Smith on some boards with our blankets under & over us & I
slept well till 4 1/2 this A.M. We slept out in the open air. A
light fog overspread the surface of the river but soon cleared off. The
day was sunny and clear. Thermometer in shade reached 92°. P.M. our
barracks & mess room were very much cooler than the best tents could be made.
Dress parade was at 6 P.M. Orders from Post Headquarters were read such as
I noted lately & the order reducing McKee to the ranks. He was on Picket
yesterday as a private for the first time. He tries to bear up under it as
well as he can, but many of the boys think he feels it heavily.
[journal] General Monthly review
Early this month the great body of our forces, being concentrated in Va & Northern Georgia,
were moved forward against the enemy. Lt. Gen. Ulysses S Grant, having
chief Com of the entire force, the Army of the Potomac proper, is under the
immediate Com of Gen Meade, that part south of James River is under Gen B.F.
Butler & that from Chattanooga is led by Gen Sherman. The movement in Va.
was began about the 6 or 8 inst. The fighting was the heaviest & I judge
the forces on both sides the largest probably that ever met before on this
Continent. The advantages of position are very much on the side of the
rebels. The advances made up to last dates from the field, 16 to 19, show
the rebels driven back after the most stubborn resistance. See Command the
rebel force on the North side of Richmond, Beauregard on the south side &
Johnson in Northern Geo & Ala. against Sherman. War broke out
into open hostilities in Europe between Denmark & Prussia, aided by Austria.
The first action took place Feb ___ and since the Danes were driven from some
important positions, among others that of Duppel. My sympathies & I
believe those of nearly all the people of the North are with Denmark as being
the side of the people against the Privileged Classes. The State of Europe
for some time past is quite unsettled.
May 1st Sunday, 1864
[journal] Pine Bluff, Ark
May 2d Monday 1864
The cause of our return we find to be this according to the most reliable
statements: Gen Banks'
command succeeded in defeating the rebel force
commanded by Dick Taylor along the Red River, having driven the enemy from
Alexandria & Shreveport. Taylor suddenly & it seems unexpectedly joined
his force with that of Price & Marmaduke on the Washita. By this increase
of force, a part was detached to destroy the train on its way to this place, a
week ago today. We also hear a force was sent to cross the Washita at Archidelphia
above Camden, which was to proceed to Little Rock with the hope to overcome the
small garrison there before Steele could reach it or find the place was
threatened. In this they were disappointed for Steele heard of the danger
of the Capital week ago last night & instantly began to destroy all his surplus
baggage as his means of transportation was greatly diminished & his animals weak
with deep miry roads over which to pass vast amounts of clothing & equipments of
all kinds were destroyed. From some that came from his army at Gen Kings
Ferry some 12 miles above Mt Elba. We hear his troops suffered severely
from short rations nearly all the time since he left Little Rock as the Rebels
stripped the country of every thing except corn which formed a large part
of the sustenance of our men. Last Saturday his rear had a desperate fight
against greatly superior numbers of the enemy. We hear our Brigade-the 2[nd]-
had a large part in the fight as well as one or two Negro Regiments. All
with whom I have spoken-white soldiers and citizens-agree the negroes make
efficient and superior soldiers and that few if any white troops would have
fought as the colored ones did. The rebels repeatedly charged on them, all
of which were bravely met & soon they had orders to charge the enemy, who, being
unable to withstand the fierceness of the onset of their late slaves, gave way &
many soon asked for quarter, which the Negroes refused, remembering that the
enemy would give them no mercy when they fall into their hands. The
battle
at Jenkin's Ferry was very severe & the loss on both sides heavy, but much
heavier on the rebel side than on ours. A Negro Regt captured three
cannons, 27th Wis one & another of our Regts took two pieces.
Today three steamers came down from Little Rock one of which brought mail.
Three transports & gunboat 37 came up the river, one of which brought us mail.
In all I got two letters: one from Matt mailed 20 & one from Maria dated
17 & 25 (?) inst. Both were filled with vast treasures of good news &
love. Oh, how great was the joy thus brought to me to know that all at
home were well. The weather on the 17 was pleasant, but before was dreary
& backward. Father & Mother were well & John was middling. Maria
wrote a long & oh! how good a letter. She said she would write to me every
week & expressed regret that she had neglected to do so in times past.
This indeed is a valued promise which, if not performed with literal strictness,
will at least afford me a greater plenty of letters. From what she & Matt
write, I judge they both seek & enjoy each other's company very much. This
will be mutually beneficial & how glad I am it is so.
The day was pleasant & sunny, wind blew some. River is very high.
A boat took 200 wounded to Little Rock, some Negroes & most whites. 7 Co's
were mustered for pay at 9 A.M. We hear nothing of paym[?]
May 3d Tuesday 1864
All the
time since we returned, an attack was expected on this place or L. Rock from the
consolidated forces of
Kirby, Smith, &
Price [future governor of
Missouri] &
Dick Taylor. For this
reason active preparations have been going on to prepare this place for a
successful defense. As most of the troops that came here with the train
are yet here & 10 of the cannons they brought along besides 11 we have had & the
gunboat. I have wished that from 10,000 to 15,000 rebels would attack us &
I think if they tried hard & long enough, at least one third of the No. would
fall a prey to our deadly messengers. Yhere are at least 3,000 men here, & that No. would be plenty to man all our
breastworks which are so strong as to
afford almost perfect protection. We hear Old Price has promised to lead
his force into Mo. The object of this is to retain them for many of them
are determined never to follow him south of Red River. I do not think he
will attack us here or at L. Rock. His force probably amounts to 20,000.
Two steamers came down. I got ripe strawberries today.
May 4 Wednesday 1864
May 5th Thursday 1864
The day was pleasant & bright. River is
falling slowly. Gunboat went down the river this P.M. Lewis & I went
about & saw some of the works now made. We saw one earthwork for four guns
outside the buildings & having a sweep clear to the picket line 60 to 80 rods.
There are rifle pits for sharpshooters on each flank. We saw
5th Ohio
battery & Constable's Battery, both 10 guns. Some of them are rifled,
others 12 lb. howitzers. Other works are making in other places.
The only way the enemy could operate to advantage would be to charge the place
at night. But his is not probable.
Jacob Heaton cut my hair today.
Many say I look much better than before. He is not very well. I am
well & hearty.
May 6 Friday 1864
I was at the new earthworks which the
62d Ill Regt are
building east of town. They are at the corner of a wood, a part of which is
cut down to clear the range of the guns. Those are the strongest works
made here yet being 12 to 15 ft thick at the base & faced inside with logs.
I spoke to one of the boys & found him agreeable. He said they have some
700 men now in their Regt. Two Co's were home on veteran furlough &
filled their No. to the maximum... the other Co's have not been home yet.
I saw vast rose bushes all covered with a profusion of rich & beautiful roses.
I never saw the like of these before. Oh, how I wish for the speedy &
right ending of the war, for this land could be made almost a paradise full of
beauty. Many governors urge Pres. to accept 200,000 men for 100 days to
garrison forts & cities & use all old soldiers in the field for that time.
May 7 Saturday 1864
Last night Hinkley & I wrote till 9 O'clock when we lay down. I slept well till
2 A.M. when Corp. Snyder waked me up from a sound sweet sleep. I was on
post till 5 O'clock when I lay down & soon was asleep which lasted till 8
O'clock. The night was calm, mild, starry & beautiful. Before we lay
down, Capt. Tichenor recd. orders for his Co (like all others) to fall out at
Reveille at 4 O'clock, as spies & scouts brought in word yesterday P.M. that
several thousand rebels had crossed the Saline River & more were crossing so
that Clayton wished all ready early for their reception should they come.
At 3 1/2 O'clock the 18th Ill. were waked by the 'Alarming Drum' & soon followed
62d Ill & 3d Minnesota. First to sound the war notes was the 5th Kansas
Battery & by 4 1/4 A.M. all the other batteries were waked, horses harnessed,
drivers ready to mount & 20 Eloquent Union Orators were ready to take their
place, if not on the stump--& speak true words of sound logic to trembling
audiences of unbelievers rebels, should they assemble here. The force now
here would I think fall short of 3,000 all told, as follows: 3d Minn,
about 700. 62 Ill 700. 18 Ill 325. 28 Wis 625. 1st Ind, 5th
Kansas, & 7 Mo Cav Regts 5 or 600. Probably 100 to 200 citizens would join
us in a fight. The gunboat went down to the mouth of the river & will
return soon, probably with transports. Details for fatigue duty are quite
heavy. Picket & guard duty are light as all the Regts. help. River
has fallen about two feet continues falling. Reports this P.M. say
there is no large force of Rebels on this side of Saline River. I hear a
deserter from Price's army came in today & reports very heavy loss on their side
in late fights.
Day was slightly cloudy. Safford felt like ague &
was quite unwell. Daugherty is also quite sick. Bank's Red River
Expedition met with sever reverse & losses on 8 ult. Plymouth, N.C. was
captured by rebels on 20 ult after a severe contest, loss 1600 to 2000 men & 20 to
25 pieces of artillery. N.C. men & negroes were cruelly treated.
May 8 Sunday 1864
About M. two steamers came down from Little Rock. On one of which was a
small mail & the 29 Iowa Regt as guard. Some of the boys were in our
barracks & told us of the trials they had along with Steele's late Ex. His
whole force has returned & is now at Little Rock except a force sent to Ft.
Smith with Gen. Thayer. The 29 lost 100 in killed & wounded & missing.
The Washita is navigable for medium sized steamers as far as Camden, having a
good depth of water. We scuttled & sunk a boat there; rebels burned
a good grist mill. Some months may elapse ere we advance again.
A few of the boys got letters. I got none. Day was pleasant.
Heavy details work on fortifications. Dress parade at 6 P.M. I am
very well.
May 9 Monday 1864
Day was cloudy, river
falling. I read for the fourth time since their receipt. Maria's
letters of 9th, 17 & 25 ult. Our fatigue party were given whiskey at 10
A.M. when we stopped work. I & a few more took none.
Last night I & Lewis & Sergt
Griffing were detailed on picket at 9 O'clock after S. was abed & G & I were
ready to lie down. The detail from our Regt --the 9 Co's-- E on provost
duty, having their quarters in the Court House, & doing no duty with the
Regt--was 18 privates & two Sergts. with Lt. Rowing of K Co. We
reported at Col. Clayton's head q'rt'rs & were sent to act as support to the 18
Ill picket party on Little Rock Road. Night was showery, heavy clouds
overspread the sky, flash lightning & rolling thunder continued nearly all
night. Griffing & I lay down on a rubber under a tree & slept till 5 A.M.
except from 1 to 3 A.M.. We returned to camp at 5 1/2 A.M. Day was
cloudy till 3 P.M. when a light shower fell when the sun shone.
Evening was windy. Three transports & 37 came up & one transport down from
L. Rock. No mail. I read 100 pages of 'Physiology of Marriage' I
borrowed from Capt Billings, Co K. I am well.
May 11 Wednesday 1864
Last night Hinkley was on duty & on picket, so I slept with R.R. Griffing. We
lay down about 9 O'clock & I slept so well as to be conscious of existence but
once during the night. There was a detail for two extra pickets, about 10 P.M.
We were waked & stacked arms at 4 O'clock A.M. & I was about getting asleep
again when Clark called me to go out with him to get what fish was on the line.
We were out about an hour & a half. We got one large catfish, about 15 lbs
weight. Again the boys caught another
buffalo fish of 8 or
10 lbs. Clark, Turner & I made a good strong line 110 ft long. We
have 50 good hooks to put on it. 10 or 15 hooks were lost last night.
The fish broke the small cords that fastened the hooks to the line. We had
a mess of fish for breakfast & dinner & some apple sauce for supper.
Work
still goes on by detail, making earthworks for cannon & infantry. We will
soon have this place well fortified. Sergt Foster took my watch out on
picket today. Our way to make fish line is a great deal better than the
contrivance the people here had to twist line. We notice in many ways the
backwardness of the people here in ignorance, lack of enterprise, & earnest
energy. I often notice the unusual height of men here & women, too.
I think [they] are taller than the average North. They are not so stout or
strongly built as people generally [are in the] North. Both sexes of the
Negroes are very stoutly built, thus showing the benefits of outdoor work & open
air exercise to afford robust health. Last night was windy & cold, today
was cool & invigorating, clear & sunny. We had cream for our coffee at
dinner. I read Memphis Bulletin of 4th inst. Little news.
Freedom gains slowly & surely in Tenn. Two transports went up river.
Now only Gunboat 37 remains. Dress parade at 6 P.M. I am well.
Orders read. Four of 28 Court Marshaled sentences, read.
May 12 Thursday 1864
Lt. Watts told me today
that scouts report the Rebels crossing the Saline at three places. Many
officers ride out on horseback or in buggy with ladies of this place.
River falls steadily. No dress parade. Now we draw all soft bread &
no flour.
This A.M. a
disgraceful fight took place between two of Co. B. Both were badly bruised
& cut. Reports say Grant's Army fought Lee's Rebel force on [for?] three days,
holding the battlefield each day. Our loss 12,000 [!!!]. Enemy were driven
back toward Richmond. I wrote some birthday verses for Maria today.
Today I copied my verses & changed them a little from the first draught or
penciled copy which I made yesterday. When all completed there will be
three distinct pieces in different measures. This is my first effort at
writing birthday verses & those are for Maria. I think I shall try again
as practice may improve one so destitute of genius, even as I
Yesterday I finished reading ' Physiology of Marriage', a valuable work of 260
pages, pub. by Jewett of __________ This I think is the best work on the
subjects of which it treats, being plain & very sensible in nearly every respect
so far as I can judge, & in nearly every case it advocates the highest & noblest
practices from a sense of duty to God & Man. How I wish every man & woman
in our land & boys & girls of sufficient age would read this book as I think
many would be saved from evil ways by its warming voice. I think I shall
try to buy the book sometime.
This A.M. steamer came down from
Little Rock & brought us a good full mail. I got four letters! one from
Matt dated 27 ult, one from Maria, Anna & Catharine of same date, one from Myron
Gilbert of 17 & one from St Paul, Minn in answer to inquiry about taxes &c.
All were well at that time. Weather was backward for farm work. Matt
had sown some wheat. Maria wrote as late as 2d inst. They had
finished sowing wheat. She was going to Milwaukee that day. They had
letters from the boys in Cal. who were well. This was the second time Anna
wrote & the first for Catharine. Who can tell what good may result at
sometime in the future from those fond though feeble efforts now made by those
dear little ones. How I wish those other little ones would try to send
some little words of love & remembrance to me. May Heaven guard them all.
Matt is school district clerk by request & appointment of Heaton & Twyre, the
other two members of school board. The place was made vacant by John
Murray going to Idaho. I read Chicago Tribune of 5th inst. Reports
say Grant's army was ready to start about 1st. Nearly all N.C. is to be
abandoned & all forces concentrated against Richmond, VA
May 15 Sunday 1864
Mr Moore is one
of our best members so far as I know or can judge in regard to
moral character. Sound principles & good natural abilities, though lacking
in education as he told me his chances in this respect were few when he was
young; and to complete all he married while yet young, a few days
less than 20 yrs. He is now 36, was born & reared in eastern N.Y. He
now has a wife & family in Wis--New Berlin. He told me how men tried to
take advantage of his family by charging them unreasonably high house rent.
How little men in easy circumstances think orf
eel for the privations the absence of husband & father brings upon his
family while he is in the Union Army. The first time I ever spoke to Moore
was in Nov 1861, the day the 10 Regt left Wis for the seat of War, then I think
in Ky. As the train started off and those dear brave Brothers sung &
cheered in answer to kind words & hearty expressions of cheer & sympathy he and
I with others waved our hats & as each car passed we said 'Good Bye' as they
said those pathetic & kind words for then we were not strangers, though we had
never seen those thousand faces before. I now remember that ere the trains
started from the grounds, I went up to one of the cars & spoke to one of the
boys through the open window. I spoke few words for my heart was in my
throat, but I said to him that he must keep good courage, as victory must be
ours at last & I said to him there were tens of thousands more that surely would
follow them if needed. Thanks to God for life & health & that I am one of
the half million more for now I know my assurance was not a lie. That one
may have fallen & what can I now willing to lay down, or give up my life
in the same holy cause? Moore & I expressed our hatred of slavery then &
hold the same hatred of the curse yet, but it is stronger for then we heard but
since we have seen. We sometimes now speak of that day. He is
pemperate in his habits, uses no profane language, plays no games of chance & is
clever & open & frank. He told me his ancestors were Irish & he in
personal appearance favors the Irish.
Today was bright &
pleasantly warm. Co. Inspection was at 8 1/2 A.M. After quite a
conflict in my own mind as to whether I should go to the Catholic or
Presbyterian Church, though I started to go to the Catholic, & I went there.
I did not wish to displease or excite anyone & this caused the dispute in my
mind. There was no singing during the service. The discourse was not
offensive to strangers as some others I heard, though parts of it were plainly
intended more for them than the congregation. The day was the anniversary
of the great Pentecost. About 10 or 12 ladies were present a few of those
members were well looking & somewhat prepossessing.
About 100
men from 25 were on the detail to build breastworks in the P.M. I was one.
I read an article in May No. of Harper's Mag--2d Div at Shilo. I am very
well.
May 16th Monday 1864
It
is customary for the fatigue party, when relieved in the evening & at Noon, to get
a share of whiskey, familiarly called by the boys, Commissary. All agree
that of all liquor & glad as the boys are to get even this trash, it is the
poorest or worst & most fiery than they ever drank & I think some of our mess
went out in my & Lewis' place when they fell in where the commissary was dealt
out.
I slept well last night. We fell out & stacked
arms. The day was bright, calm & pleasant. I was on guard in camp &
was on post from 5-20 to 6-40 P.M. Details for guard & picket are small
nowadays as fatigue is heavy. Capt. Tichenor is officer of the day.
The commissioned officers of our Reg have adopted a new uniform or suit not
authorized by Military Regulations. Most of them & a few of their
particular subordinates or hangers-on wear white linen pants & coats of
the same color or brown. I could respect them more if I knew their
character corresponded better with the snowy whiteness of the fabric. For
some time past, aspiring & prenentious[sic] corps & sergts. adopted the practice
of wearing white neck collars such as the higher officer wear, known here as
'paper collars'. Those are made of a thin cloth fabric inside & white
paper pasted all over on the outside. This is variously shaped, but
usually to 'turn down' & are stamped to imitate stitching. Those will not
bear washing, but are worn a few days till soiled & then thrown away. I
saw a list of prices--$1.50 cts a 100 & $13.00 a 1000. Some of our boys
sent for enameled metallic or flexible steel collars. Those cost a dollar
each, sent by mail & are cleaned by the use of a sponge & water. Sergt.
Foster, Griffing & McKee got some of this sort, but I judge they did not prove
satisfactory, for they have gone out of use. With all this license among
Com. Officers, there are strict orders against privates & non-Com Officers,
wearing any but the regular uniform, even the cord & tassels worn by officers on
their hats, having one strand of gilt in them were not allowed. Lately, as
many wore them early last winter, this is felt by many to be very cutting, as
nearly all respect each other as much as the Com. Officers. This at last
is the feeling. All this affects one personally but very little, though
much that I see of Commissioned Officers fills me with disrespect for them.
We caught two fish this A.M. one 16 & one 20 lbs. Read
Harper's Weekly May 7.
May 17 Tuesday 1864
My thoughts were of Mother & others, myself & the past of my life while on post
this A.M. and this kept my mind so occupied that the time seemed short. My
beat was a pleasant seat in our Regt. Ambulance.
We hear
soldier's wages have been raised to $16 for Privates-18 for Corps-$20 for Sergt,
except Orderly or 1st Sergt who gets $24. Commissioned Officers' wages
have not been raised as it certainly should not be. Some of our best
men-privates-feel & express indignation at this difference in favor of non-com
officers, Corp's & Sergts, for we see & know that we privates do nearly all labor
& duty, while the three classes of officers stand or lie about and as a rule
seldom put their hands to anything, some of those stuckups even now from
dandyism wear gloves of buckskin. This and more pseudo superiority of
empty rank is anything rather than pleasant to us as American citizens &
soldiers. But the wages never was any object with the majority of the
Northern volunteers for, like Washington, I felt I could & should help defend our
flag & country without regard to wages.
I believe thousand more felt likewise.
I
wrote a letter of note paper to Maria. I am well
We caught 4 or 5 fishes today, one of 45 lbs.
Walton, at suppertime, found fault that Clark sold some, but as he did little
work & advanced little money, he worse than lost his talk. I got $2.25
yesterday for a share. I paid that sum for line & hook.
May 19 Thursday 1864
This morning the 18 Ill Inf. left camp & crossed the
river. They go with a train of wagons & the 5th Ohio battery to Little
Rock. The service of a part of the Regt has expired & from 150 to 200 go
home. I saw them march along with their weather beaten starry flag, that
so often may have floated in the front of Battle, for I saw it there in the Mt.
Elba fight. A part of the Regt. who are new recruits or joined the service
since the Regt was organized have yet a part of their term to work out & will be
retained in the Dept.
During the month of March or April while the
Army of the Potomac
was reorganizing, there was some trouble with troops called 'The Pa. Reserves'
who were three yrs. in the service, including a few months in the state service
& before they were mustered into U.S. service. They claimed discharge from
the service, but it was decided by the authorities that they owed three yrs.
service from the time of muster in to US service & not from time of enlistment.
The most stringent orders were published for the summary execution of any who
refused obedience. It was of the utmost importance at such a time to have
all submit to the best interests of our Cause. This is the first time (I
believe) the case was decided upon during this War.
The most extensive preparations have been made to insure success in the present
operations for the capture of Richmond, Va. Several weeks ago, sutlers &
all not regularly engaged in the service were ordered to the rear of the army
excluding all except licensed newspaper correspondents & forbidding the writing
of letters from the Army till further orders. All this may seem sever & to
some even arbitrary, but the best interests of our vast undertakings justify it
all, severe as it will be thoughts by many. The movement against Richmond
is the heaviest of the War and at this time the most important that could be
attempted; as, if it succeed, all Va. is ours & N.C. & S.C. are exposed to
our successful advances by which resulting in the capture of Wilmington &
Charleston, the enemy would be completely cut off from the ocean or at least
those points through which they got their supplies through the blockade.
Today we have news from Va. to the 11[?] inst in Memphis Bulletin of the _____.
The first great movements were made which resulted in heavy fighting between
Grant & Lee in the vicinity of Chancellorville & toward
Spotsylvania Court
House. The advantages were uniformly on the rebel side but the results in
our favor. The loss must have been heavy. Lee was driven back across
the North Anna River.
Butler is operating on the south side of Jos. River
& is said to have taken Petersburg .
Beauregard commands the enemy
against him. Longstreet is reported killed, also we lost
Sedgwick &
Wadsworth killed. I got a letter from home
today to the 3d
inst. All are well & so am I. Mother wrote some.
May 20th Friday 1864
The other day when I was coming off fatigue, I saw a negro in our Uniform
trying to read words of three letters in the beginning of the Elementary
Spelling book. I stopped awhile & helped him along some. With a
little help he would learn very fast. He was diffident & thought could not
learn fast. He told me he had just got his spelling book & belonged in Co.
A. Yesterday & today there were details from our Regt to make a fence with
posts & wire on the outside & along our line of works. This is
supposed to be for the purpose of stopping the progress of a charge on us
should the enemy attack us here. For this it would be very effective as it
would check & disorganize a charging party.
I sent one package of books
(2) to Anthony & one to Maria. Stamps are scarce in camp. We have
doughnuts &c. for meals. Board is very good & we have jolly
pleasant times in our mess. Weather is delightful. I am well.
May 21 Saturday 1864
Last night was one of
those delightful nights when one may think Earth has been changed to celestial
light & peace & blissfulness. But to us--or me at least--that association
so essential to bliss & in which happiness so much consists was far away or, if
near, I knew not of its presence. What treasures to us are memory & by
which we live over again the happy hours of the past; & hope by whose cheering
presence we are encouraged to bear the present, and allowed to see in the future
brighter scenes, clearer skies, lakes, more gun-like & murmuring liquid streams
more pleasing to our vision, as well as to see sweeter smiles on faces yet
unseen, hear sweeter voice than any of the past, which even though never to be
realized & known to be a delusion is still pleasing to such a degree that we
would not cast it wholly away. But alas! that there are so many on life's
stormy sea without the rays of hope to cheer them on, who lives a lingering
death, through a hopeless life. Capt Redington Co D & _-
Barker of Co A came down on the mail steamer. I read
Harper's Weekly of 14
inst yesterday. By the latest papers we read that Gen. Sherman is moving
with a strong force from Chattanooga, either toward Richmond or into Georgia.
Rebels have drawn their chief forces from Ga & S.C. & Fla. to reinforce
Richmond. Gen Butler commands our forces on the south side of Jas. River &
Gen. Beauregard those of the rebels. We hear that Ft. Darling on S. side
of James Riv. below Richmond was captured by our people. I hope this is
true though not yet quite satisfied of it. Word is here today that Lee has
made offers of surrender to Grant on certain terms. I doubt the
correctness of this, but wish it true. We hear
Admiral Dahlgren is about
to begin work at Charleston again. The rebels have new & heavy mortars
mounted in Ft. Sumpter.
By the last mail & I got a
letter from Minn in regard to the amount of taxes due on my 1/4 Sec. for the
last three yrs. The sum is $16.30. I also got a letter from
Miss A. ---- with the request that I correspond with her. This is a person
I never knew. I judge she is Irish by the was she uses j instead of g in
the word gentleman. A few letters may show who & what this person is.
She professes to feel a great interest in the success of the Union Armies &
having no correspondent in the S.W. was referred to me by one of her "very
intimate friends". Today I read 12 13 & 14 Chaps of Acts of
Apos.[Acts
of the Apostles] I
have read all the way clear through as far as this.
Yesterday P.M. some of
the boys were in river swimming & David McNeill sunk one or two times & was
caught & saved by Owen Findley.
May 22d Sunday 1864
Last night was moonlit & the full moon shed a flood of glory over all the earth.
The muskittoes [mosquitoes] bit a little, but Reamer & I slept well together from 9 P.M. to 3
A.M. we stood but one hour at a time. This was disagreeable as we were
waked twice as often as we otherwise would have been. I had a pleasant full
wash & went to Pres. Church along with Gilbert. We disputed going about the good
result of fasting, he denying & I affirming & returning we differed on an other
subject. The minister requested a collection. I gave none.
The discourse was better than usual. Subject: Individual
Responsibility to God. I ate no breakfast on post, nor till M. We
had dinner at 2 P.M., no supper. I feel very well. My eye is some
better than yesterday. This P.M. I cut out scraps from newspapers for a
scrap book. Mail went on boat up river yesterday. Another boat went
up this P.M. Yesterday the water in the river was changed to a muddy red
color, so as to be very different from anytime before since we came here.
Some say it is caused by high water in the tributary, known as
the Canadian.
Rumors of good news comes from Grant & reports that rebels blew up
Libby Prison. I
cannot credit this last. I read part of 'A Mother's Trials'. Dress
Parade at 6 1/2.
May 23 Monday 1864
May 24 Tuesday 1864
I was on fatigue
duty today. Work still goes on strengthening the works. I felt quite
lazy & carried water for a few of the boys. The day was hot--about 90 in
the shade. A boat came down with mail. I got a letter from Matt &
one from Maria mailed Feb 26. No late ones. Others got letters
mailed 16 inst. I read Memphis Argus of 19 inst. I sent a letter to
Matt & one to Miss ___ by today's mail.
Yesterday, the new recruits were assigned to the different Co's. Ours got
three. The letters I got yesterday were good ones & I missed them when
they should have come. I would not have them lost for a good deal for they
are so good they would keep along time and yet be good. Last
week about a hundred wounded were brought in from the other side of the Saline,
& were sent up to Little Rock. Last night Jocobi & I with 18
others from other Cos. went on reserve picket. The night was pleasant,
each was on watch 1/2 hour. I from 12 1/2 to 1 A.M. We came to camp
at 6 O'clock. The day was quite warm, air dry & hot. The flies are
so troublesome that I cannot write much, and scarcely read. I had an
excellent sleep last night till 5 A.M. Today an order was recd. by our Capt.
reducing Sergt McKee of our Co to the ranks. We do not like
this as the cause is considered insufficient. I read 16 & 17
chaps. of Acts. Steamer came down this P.M., bringing Gen Steele & staff. A
salute of 12 or 13 guns was fired. Papers say Gen Canby relieves Gen.
Banks & is in Com. of Trans. Miss. Dept. River keeps muddy. I
am very well.
May 26 Thursday 1864
May 27 Friday 1864
About 2 P.M. a member
of Co K died in Regt.al hospital of dierreah [sic] & inflammation of the bowels.
He was a large & strongly built, middle aged person. The funeral took
place about 5 P.M. While this show-paced procession passed along, I had a
thought never mine before. I wished our beauteous loved Banner would float
droopingly over the coffin of each one that Loved it so well as go bear all
dangers & brave death for its preservation & support. Thus would I prefer
to be borne to my last resting place & this should supply the place of dearly
loved, tearful friends.
Day was sunny & pleasant. A high wind &
light shower came on P.M. I mailed a letter to Matt & one to Maria.
No dress parade. No late papers this mail.
May 29 Sunday 1864
We had inspection of arms at 8 1/2 A.M. Capt. Tichenor was more
exact than usual & found dirt in some guns, for which he
looked & gentle reproach, or said a few words to a few. He found mine all
right for which I was very glad, as I wish to please him. We only can
realize how good & kind he is as compared with Turner. He is kind as a
brother & gentle as a maiden.
I was at the Presbyterian Church
this A.M. I read some of
Greely's American Conflict, also two chaps. of
Acts of Apostles & one or two of
Kirk White's Melancholy Hours & a part of
Mother's Trials.
Two boats went up the river this morning early.
For dinner we had water & bread, nutcakes & apple pie--for supper pie also.
I wore my boots today, the first time since our last March, four weeks ago.
Dress parade as 6 P.M. Our Co had 40 men present--the largest No. in 12 to 15
months.. My eyes (thanks to God) are well. What a change in a week.
I
wrote a letter to Myron Gilbert today.
May 30 Monday 1864
G- said he wished to gain the promotion, not so much for the pay or honor of the
position, as that Gray's efforts might be thwarted. He said his wife had
some aristocratic friends or relatives & for this cause he would wish to get the
place. I said I hoped my wife--when I have one--would have no aristocratic
relatives or friends, as I care nothing for that class of people. This
cause him to make explanation of the sense in which he used the word, as
meaning well-off & being in comfortable circumstances. I said to him I
thought he was over-anxious & selfish, but he could not think so.
The day is pleasant, bright & warm. I am on guard today at the ferry &
landing. Boat came down, with rations & commissary & whiskey. More
than 100 soldier were aboard, many of 3d Minn. & some of 24 Wis. There
were no late papers or mail. I wrote a part of a letter to Matt. E.N.
Walden's health continues poor so that he finds little enjoyment. How he
must long for such sound health as I enjoy! Since he enlisted he never had
robust health. I read some in my books. Last night & today river
rises quite fast..
May 31 Tuesday 1864
A boat came down the River today. No mail. A detail of 50 men & a
Capt of 3d Minnesota was on duty unloading the boat yesterday P.M. I heard
said some of them rolled two barrels of whiskey away to hide it & among them was
the Capt as an accomplice. Col. Clayton was going by in a buggy & his attention
being arrested by some dispute among them he ordered the arrest of the whiskey
thieves. Many of the barrels had more or less drawn out & some of them
were entirely empty. Hands on the boat, guards, & all are anxious to get
the awful stuff. I have heard that a Capt of the 3d Minn was reduced to
the ranks for some misdemeanor & now serves as a private. If this rule
were rigorously applied in our Regt, many shoulder straps would soon come off.
It is evidently the true & right way. Capt Stephens, Co C came down on the boat
yesterday & was chief or acting in Com on dress parade. He is an able
officer & a well behaved, self respecting man, one who will not disgrace himself
or woe who are associated with him. Alas, we have few such. He is a
tin smith by trade & lives in Oconomowoc. I read some as usual.
Sefford does not feel well. He has chills & fever. I am well.
This is the last day of May. What vast interests are on trial.
last modified: 3/2/2023