Last night there was a detail of 5 from our Co for forage to
report at 3-40 A.M. I slept so soundly that I heard nothing of the noise
when they reported this morning, in fact I slept so well that I was late for
roll call. We had rather a short breakfast as our supply of bread from
yesterday was taken by the foragers, so we had a little corn bread & 'tack' in
plenty. Foster bought some fresh meat for supper, at 10 cts a lb.
Wells was cook today. I was busy most of the day making a Haversack in
which to carry my books & writing material. I used old knapsacks that some
of the boys cast down the river bank, so it cost nothing but the labor. It
is as good as those we got in Wis & we have drawn none since so good as those
were. In the A.M. Joseph Forward helped me some at it. He is in Co B
& cooks for a mess in our Co boys chiefly from Muskego. He & Wm. Young of
our Co have had the care of the wire fence since it was made last summer & have
had a very easy place, as it seldom takes more than an hour each day & no night
duty. Yesterday rations were drawn for five days, one of hard bread.
It appears the cause for not drawing 10 days rations as usual is the uncertainty
of the time we may stop here & the inconvenience of having much surplus on hand
when we move. We hear rumors that a train started from Little Rock
yesterday for this place & it may reach us tomorrow with supplies of clothing &
mail. Strange as it may seem, Henry Bence of our Co, Drummer, lately
married what appears to be a young woman in town. We heard his wife in Wis
went off with McKown's father, who also left a wife & family to take care of
themselves best they could. His new partner seems as if she may be an
estimable person. He keeps a barber shop near the Regt & lives close by,
has much patronage from the members of our Regt, especially the Com Officers &
for some time past he has worked in his trade for Clayton. He is certainly
a strange & erratic person. It is two years since we went from camp
Washburn to Fort Washington & one year ago yesterday we came to this place from
Little Rock. How rapidly time passes!!! How fast we pass toward the
grave & the last day of our life!! Well, 'tis not in vain, for I hope we
will leave the World better than we found it. Day was clear & beautiful.
Bright & breezy. Clark is sick today. I am well!
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 12th, Saturday, 1864
Last night a detail of 9 privates & two non-com officers was made
from our Co & a proportional one from each of the other 6 companies doing
Regimental duty. I took Hinkley's place on Picket & he takes my place on
duty as I was the first one left. This brought him on mess duty in my
place as cook & he was also detached on fatigue. I said to him that for
many Sundays past I had been on duty & this he knew I did not like the best, so
he proposed changing with one to favor me. This is not the first time he &
I did such favors for each other. All our Co except Sergts Donaldson &
McNeill-the first of whom volunteered for picket- & a part of Co H are on
Sulphur Springs Road. Day is truly beautiful, air mild & rather calm &
clear, almost as ether. Sky bright. We heard quails, bluebirds, &
robins this morning. Those are coming south, the two latter at least from
the approaching northern winter. About noon I rec'd a letter from Matt
dated 23d & 25th ult & mailed 26th. It consisted of two sheets of note
paper & contained a full account of the incidents connected with his draft.
He says that at first when on Sept 23d he knew he was drafted he made up his
mind to come here & serve out is year. He saw Capt Murray who told him he
had a good chance to come to our Regt & told everyone or many of his intention
to do so. Of the causes that prevented him from doing so & caused him to
change his mind about coming he says:
"On our way home from
Milwaukee, I asked Anthony how he though might be the best way to arrange
affairs, whether he would leave his home in Muskego & come down here -New
Berlin- or the old people to leave home & go to Muskego & live with him
for a
year, for said I 'It will not do to leave them alone this winter'. 'Will', said
he 'you are not going are you?' I said 'I think I will'-& said 'it may be that
I must'. John favored getting a substitute at any cost. I opposed it
as it was for only a year-if it were for three years I might feel different
about it as I don't think I would like to be obliged to serve for three years.
But when we got home the news got into the house long before I did. When I
went in , Mother spoke but I forget what she said, but Father said not a word.
When Mother understood that I did not favor getting a substitute, she fairly
sunk into despair. After supper Anthony started for home & Mother
followed
him out & I heard her cry, and ask the question. 'What will I do?' That
made me feel sad & thoughtful. I then thought for the first time that I
should not go. I always knew there were means enough at hand to buy a
substitute, though it were $1000. Still, I wished to go, as it was for so
short a term. That night after I went to bed -& I was the last one to go,
I could hear mother cry, & in the morning when Father rose he cried & said to me
'That it was the darkest day he ever saw in all his life', for said he 'Now the
short time I have to live, I am alone & left to cry'. It was for those reasons
that I consented to pay $700 to one that would take my place."
I have made
this long extract from Matt's letter because it tells one of the life trials
that come so seldom in the life of most persons & perhaps one of the most severe
that ever hung its shadow about our household. I heartily rejoice at its
removal in so truly loyal & honorable way. For awhile, the Peace of home & the
contentment of our Old Parents are secured. We still contribute to the
support of our Dear Land & her holy cause. In fact, where a good man who
can be spared-as single men free from the charge or support of others-takes the
place of persons situated as Matt is, I think all parties-even the country- gain
by the change. Surely not for all material wealth would have my Father &
Mother suffer for a month -much less for a year- as they certainly would if Matt
came away. Truly I can now bear anything during the rest of my term
knowing as I do that all will be well at home. I read the five first
Chapters of the 3d book of Kins & wrote three pages of large letter size to
Matt.
The officer of the Day said to us this P.M. that our Regt would
probably be relieved from duty here in a day or two. This looks very much
as if we would soon go to Little Rock. The mail was brought by the train
which got in this A.M. & was 2 1/2 days on the way. They came on the north
side of the river. One package of note paper came for which I sent $4.00
for H & I. I got but one letter. The boys from Muskego have word
that Peter Dougherty of that town who was drafted, ran away to parts unknown.
In our town, Walter Sterling was missing, having been drafted & it seems from
reports that more than 1/2 all that were drafted ran off as soon as they heard
of it. I heard L. Evans had returned home. I am very well.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 13th, Sunday, 1864
Last night was clear & bright nearly the whole time, for the moon
set but a short time before daylight. There was but a light frost.
Wells & I slept together & we were warm & comfortable. We were relieved
after 9 A.M. & I meant to go to church, but as I had much to do. I stopped
in Camp. I read Chicago Tribune of 1st inst. There was but little
news from any point & little of military importance. There were returns of
the state Elections in Pa, Ohio, & Ind. In some N.Y. Regts the vote was
from 5 to 30 times as large on Union side as for McClellan. Those were
known before election day owing to the fact that soldiers from the Empire State
vote by proxy at home.
I finished my letter to Matt &
sent it off tonight as the mail goes tomorrow. Hinkley & two others from
our Co went on forage today, early as usual. Higley came down with
the mail & he goes with it tomorrow. This A.M. I read a letter of 23d ult
from Miss. P.A. Evans to Gilbert. She attends school at the college in
Waukesha. She has taken a school term of five months at $23 a month.
Her brother Alanzo goes to school at the same place. I believe she
expresses some sentiments of truth & loyalty, higher & nobler than her father
may entertain. There seems to be good demand for women in the schools.
I rejoice they receive so good wages which in times past were altogether too low
compared with those paid men. She said Miss Annie Murray had an offer of
the Center District School for the winter term. There were vast flocks
of pigeons flying southward from the river this A.M. but they appeared to break
up into small parties & return again to the line of the river. Those are
like flocks we saw last year at Little Rock & are the largest I ever saws.
I read a report of a meeting of the Reb Governors east of Miss River which is
said to have convened at Atlanta, Geo (?). Oct __ in which they resolved that
the last man, the last dollar & the negroes must be employed in prosecuting the
War. There is little connection or real help from States west of Miss
River at present to the Confederate cause. In Oct, Jeff Davis made
speeches in many parts of Al. & Geo. His reception is said in Rebel papers
to have been cold with little display of enthusiasm. Gen Johnson
supercedes Hood in Geo.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 14th, Monday, 1864
Last night I read a sharp & sensible article of eight pages in
Sept No. of Atlantic Monthly on the merits & defects of Volunteer Officers as
compared with those that have received a military education at West Point or
Annapolis. The writer appears to have been 'behind the scenes' for many of
his remarks & very pertinent & forcible. Still for the very defects in
most volunteer officers, remissness & want of rigid enforcement of a strict
discipline & the execution of every punctilio of military rules & every
technicality of regulations, for these things which leave the soldier as much as
possible a man instead of converting him, for the time being into a mere
locomotive or portable machine. I like the volunteer service & hardly for
any consideration could I be induced to enter the regular service. There
are neglects of cleanliness &c about a camp which cause the man to suffer from
sickness & by which the efficiency of the service is very much impaired & which
can not be too strongly condemned or too scrupulously avoided; while on
the contrary, Lieut Turner tried his best at Helena to force upon our Co the
system of Co cooking, which never could be made to work as well among us as
doing our cooking in small messes of from four to a dozen in each. This
arrangement of cooking for the Co in one or two messes is, I believe, the way
followed in the Regular Army.
I had as good & pleasant a sleep
till after Roll Call this morning as I ever had in my life. I did not hear
the drums beat for Reveille. A.M. was sunny & immerse flocks of
pigeons
filled the air along the river for nearly an hour. Many shots were fired
at them, but one only was hit. Adj. ordered Walton in arrest for firing
his pistol, but he was released this evening, so he might go on Picket tomorrow.
Forage train got in about 4 P.M. Boys complain of delays resulting from
mismanagement, the consequence of drunkenness of some Com. Officers in command.
Wagons were searched by Co D before crossing Pontoon Bridge & dead hogs &c
which the boys got were confiscated. Donaldson marked two blankets for me
& knapsack. P.M. was cloudy & night showery. I am very well.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 15th, Tuesday, 1864
Last night the rain fell at times very freely, but ere midnight
the sky was clear & the moon was brightly shining. In the last of the
night the air grew cold & the wind was high & sharp. There was a detail of
ten Privates & two Corps from our Co for Picket. Hinkley is tired today,
for forage is the most severe duty we perform. Today was cloudy & quite
cold in the A.M. but the P.M. was moderate. I was cook today & had quite a
job of washing dishes before breakfast that were left over last night.
This has been the practice of the boys since Sunday because Turner did not cook
supper that day & some of the others did & left the dishes unwashed.
Rations were drawn today for 5 days & Turner, Hinkley & I had our share drawn in
Mr Corp Moore's mess. There were five besides himself in before, viz,
Sergt D. McNeill, Wm. Young, Wm. Jones, Peter Coons & Sergt W.T. Donaldson.
Moore does all the cooking when not on duty for which each pays him $1.00 a
month. He also has chief management & control of the interests & affairs
of the mess & as he is a sensible man & very diligent, the cooking is very good
& regular & the food I think is better than in most other messes. It is
with feelings of some regret that I part from those with whom we have been so
long associated, though at times some of them were rough & offensive. On a
few occasions, I exhibited some feeling & resentment, but on most occasions I
tried to bear quietly & calmly all offense & insult, profanity & vulgarity may
be less I hope, though I can not be wholly away from those disgusting annoyance
while in the army. I rejoice in the consciousness that I seldom if ever
uttered while in the mess any profane or obscene word or sentiment, for it was
painful to me to hear it from others.
Today I read N.Y. Independent of
20th ult of the death recently of
Walter Savage Landor. He was a true &
genuine Republican, though born one of the aristocracy of Great Britain he
always favored the progress of Freedom & the rights of all the people. He
was quite a literary man, but few of his works are of permanent value. He
lived in Italy many years, but died in England. I am very well....
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 16th, Wednesday, 1864
I had a good sleep last night & waked up before Reveille.
Today was cloudy & calm. In the morning I thought I would have a day of
leisure so that I might study & write some. Ah, how forgetful was I, for
soon I was detailed on fatigue duty at 9 O'clock with three others from Co's K,
E, & H. Our work was to chop four wagon loads of wood -oak- two of them for
Post Hospital & two for the comfort of Lieut Col Gray. Thus I thought we
now do the drudgery for persons of less worth of character than ourselves, but
ere the end of a year things will undergo a great change & they that now have
many to minister to them will be compelled to do their own work. We
reached camp at 4 P.M. with our task done, having cut two loads in A.M.,
two in P.M. There was Dress Parade yesterday P.M. & this P.M. at 4 1/2
O'clock. We began in our new boarding place this morning. For
breakfast & supper we had good corn bake in plenty & for dinner no coffee, but
good water & tea & a cut of pumpkin pie for supper. Even today I could see
evidence of much greater economy than our old mess would care about having.
I began to read today a small 16 mo pamphlet of 130 pages, entitled
'Prairie
Farming' by James Caird, memeber of Parliament of Great Britain. It
is a very sensible & interesting record of what he saw & heard & thought during
a short tour of parts of N.Y., the Canadas, & the N. Western States, Michigan,
Ills, Wis, & Minn. I read the first half of it & he appears to be wholly
free from national prejudice & conceit so common among many of the English.
For some few months past there has been rumors of the consolidation of the
British North American provinces into a more distinct & independent national
union than they ever before formed & that this was favored for economy to the English
government by many of her leading public men. I would like in it well to
see all the Possessions of Great Britain forced from all control of her
Government & United in an independent Republic or better yet, forming by their
own choice a part of the U.S. & divided into States on an equality with all the
other states of our New Free Union. I have a hope that the latter will
yet take place for if all our States be free, I think the interests of our
Northern neighbors & our own would be identical.
I am very well today.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 17th, Thursday, 1864
Last night I lay down at 10 O'clock & had a good sleep till about
4 O'clock this A.M. when I was waked by Orderly, as I was detailed for forage
duty. Jones fried some pork last night & we were to take it out with us.
We were ready & reported about 4 1/2 O'clock while the rain fell steadily & was
sometimes heavy. The detail was about 30 men & Lieut Coates was in
command. We marched to the Pontoon Bridge & Lieut went promptly to the
Quarter Master & waked him & found about him sending out the train so rainy a
time. After waiting nearly an hour, the Wagon Master came along & said we
might go to our quarters with which we gladly complied. It was 6 O'clock
when we got back to camp. I & Jones ate breakfast early, he lay down but I
wrote by candlelight till after daylight. The Day was cloudy & rain fell a
part of the time. I read some in 'Prairie Framing' & wrote a page in
"Memories'. Gilbert & many of us in our room had some talk in regard to
the style of some pieces in Sept No. of Atlantic Monthly. He condemned the
style of the first article -Cadmean Madness- as containing too many words that
the majority of diligent? readers can not understand. I held they could if
they tried to use their time, means, & natural abilities as well as they could
do & might do. There were many words in the piece that I seldom meet but
still could understand them in the connection in which they are used & many
others that I would like to find in the dictionary. To all those he
objected, because the majority could not understand them while I contended that
such might be properly used even though people had to work & study for many of
the words. He said there was a strong resemblance between me & my brothers
Anthony & Matt. I was a little surprised at this & then we spoke of some
of the families about our section of country.
During the last six days the
river rose gradually till last night when it began to rise very fast & today it
is so high that boats can run well. The Annie Jacobs came down at dark,
but brought no mail. I heard this evening that Sherman burned Atlanta
&
started for Charleston, S.C. I am very well.
Pine Bluff, Jefferson Co
November 18th, Friday, 1864
Yesterday there were 12 privates on camp guard, which was nine
more than the usual No. The cause was that for many days past some of the
boys discharged many shots, sometimes at the flocks of pigeons that flew over us
& often purely for mischief. As this is against standing or permanent
orders. Someone, it seems, determined to administer a dose of prevention.
Thus, were the many innocent liable to punishment for the transgression of the
few. The 9 were relieved last night & will not be put on again if this
very reasonable order be observed. I rejoice that the punishment is no
longer continued & am resolved to aid all I can to prevent any necessity or
cause for resorting to it again.
We hear reports that
Price has come to grief as the result of his expedition in Missouri. Some
of our Co saw some deserters from his army & those say all the Mo. troops
deserted him & he was making his way back through the Indian Nation with a small
remnant of his Army said now to No. but 3 or 4000 men all told. We hear he
lost nearly all his Artillery. One of those men says he saw Gen's Fagan &
Shelby dead on the field. I consider this rather doubtful & in fact, all we
hear is very unreliable, being such a mixture of truth & misstatement all with
so many changes & additions.
The boat brought a load of
rations, which the colored Battery boys are unloading today. They have a
disagreeable time in the mud, such as we often had before. The river
continues to rise & now boats can make the down trip in one day. We now
wish they would move us to Little Rock as by going on the boat we can take many
things, which we would be forced to leave, if we moved by land, but if they
leave us here all winter we will be well pleased. On the boat came 12 vol
recruits for our Regt. I had a short talk with one of them--from Delafield-
this P.M. They started three weeks ago from Camp Randal, Madison. He
said there were 40 more to come. They enlisted for one year. He said
he had 12 relatives in U.S. Army, two brothers in our Regt. I read some
today in my Bible. Our Regt does Picket today. Capt & Lieut are
on. I am on guard in camp & am well. Rain fell nearly all day.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 19th, Saturday, 1864
Last night was a rainy, dark, & drizzling one. I was on
guard at the Carrol or stables for the mule teams of our Regiment. I was
on from 7 to 9 P.M. & from 1 to 3 & 7 to 9 A.M. having slept about 7 1/2 hours
in the intervals. During the day I felt well & fully satisfied with my
sleep. I wrote two pages in my 'book of memories' & I read several
chapters in my Bible, to the death of Solomon at the end of 11th chap of 1st
Book of Kings. It is strange, I said today, speaking with due respect that
so much is said & so minute an account is given of so merely worldly matters as
his wealth, extravagance & to the vulgar eye his gorgeous splendor. It may
perhaps be designed to show how even he, the wisest & wealthiest of Kings & men
came to naught when he forsook the ways of God. How else could it be with
him when he went so far in sensual excess as to have 700 wives & 300 concubines
& 'tis said 'twas those that turned away his heart from God's Law.
Last evening, Hinkley & I sent an order for some gold pens to N.Y. City.
After straightening our accounts I have about a dollar left & H- the same.
As our expenses are few & are not likely to increase much this may be sufficient
to meet our wants till pay day. If our pens come along as our last lot,
did we may sell them at a profit when the boys get paid.
We had a detail for fatigue -to unload the boat- from our Regt today. We
heard there were onions in the Post Commissary, brought down by the boat & we
got a requisition for some. They are sold at .06 a lb. I heard
Foster paid $1.00 a lb for some onions to help his brother's earache & a citizen
told me about two weeks ago that he paid 50 cts a pound for a few quarts he
had. The boat went up this P.M. & took the mail. I sent two sheets
of diary to Matt in a letter. River rises rapidly & is now quite high.
Capt did not feel well today on account of loss of sleep last night. He
could hardly endure the hardships of a Private though he enlisted as one.
This evening Gilbert came in & we had a pleasant talk for a time, but the Minds
&c became the subject & all ended as usual. Moore, Donaldson & I & Hinkley
against him.
Pine Bluff, Ark
November 20th, Sunday, 1864
Last night there was no other detail for camp guard. We
were all glad of this, for I felt we would have one Sabbath rest in camp.
All this was changed so on after taps, we heard an Orderlies Call & all felt
there was something new on foot. With true soldier indifference, I said to
Hinkley that we would sleep soundly till morning as if we were wanted we would
be informed. We slept well till morning when at Roll Call 10 privates &
three Corps & Sergts were detailed for Picket. This took a few that came
off yesterday morning, thus going on every other day. The cause was this,
the Lieut Col of the 106th Ill Inf died yesterday & his Regt, whose turn
it was to do the Picketing today, was excused that they might escort the remains
to the grave. The funeral took place about noon. The Starry flag of
our Union & the Ill state flag were carried in the usual place in the center of
the Regt. The body was carried in an ambulance. The tune played was
a sweet one, the same I think to which I heard my mother sing, the poem by
Burns, beginning 'Adieu, a heart warm fond Adieu'. The tune is a beautiful
one & quite plaintive. The volleys were rather scattering, or what our
boys called poor. Well thus alike are the highest & the lowest in the army
as well as out of it, consigned to the earth where the worm consumes the forms
that were once so strong & beautiful.
The day was cloudy in the A.M. & in
the morning threatened rain about M. the sun shone bright & pleasant.
The
officers on Picket are Capt Kenyon & Lieuts Seymour & Howing.
Today I read the Sentinel of 27th ult, It contains a detailed account of
Sheridan's great victory over the Rebel Gen Early on the 19th Oct just a month
ago yesterday. Early in the day had the rebels had gained great
advantages owing to the fog being so thick that their advance was not observed
till within a few feet of our lines. Later in the day, the sky became
clear & Sheridan came on the ground & the long & desperate fight resulted most
disastrously to the rebel forces, they being whipped & were severe. The
rebels took some 20 cannons in the A.M. but in the P.M. about 45 or 50 fell into
our hands owing to the complete dispersion of the enemy. Today each Co of
our Regt got a pail full of crout or cabbage, & one of onions from the Hospital.
I read some in my Bible . Walton is in arrest for first offence.
Boat came down P.M. & brought but mail.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 21st, Monday, 1864
Last night I was on Post from 3 1/2 to 7 1/2 P.M. & from 11 1/2
to 1 1/2 A.M. & from 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 A.M. today. The first part of the
night was calm & the air was mild & soft, but about midnight the wind rose high
& the air was soon cold & piercing. Owing to the late rains the water
stood on the surface so as to cover nearly all of it & this prevented
vedette from moving
about or walking on a beat so that he could keep warm. Many of the
vedettes had little fires at the post at which they dried their shoes or boots &
warmed their feet. I had about 7 hours of good & refreshing sleep while
few others were able to get any sleep, after midnight. After daylight the
air was frosty & we waited impatiently for the relief Picket to come, which the
did at 9 1/2 A.M. Last evening Hinkley went to camp for the mail
which was a small one & brought out 4 or five letters for all on Post, some14 in
No. I had one from Matt -a short one of one sheet of note- dated 30th ult
& 1st inst. They were all well. Weather was cloudy, damp & warm. (He
said week from today we elect Old Abe). Mother went to mass, she walked I
think quite a walk for a person past 70 years from 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 miles.
Oct 27th he was at a meeting at Hales Corners & heard
E.D. Holton speak.
He liked well what Holton said & that was not for compromise. They had all
the corn husked, but some on the barn floor. He heard there was to be
another draft to fill up deficiencies. Also that but 17 out of the 27
drafted, & as many more drafted to fill the place of exempts &c reported thus
perhaps necessitating the draft spoken of. If no more were drafted from
the club organized last fall, he would draw about $200 as his share.
Thomas Brogan was at Father's house & visited awhile. He thought some of
taking the shool [school?] in that district. It was a cheering last night
to hear the shouting & cheering for Abraham Lincoln & firing of guns &c which I
heard among the Ill. Regts. All this showed very clearly how the soldiers
from that state would vote if allowed to do so. Today was clear & bright &
the wind was high & piercing, especially in the P.M. so that it was certainly
the coldest day this season. But few papers were received. Capt got
[Milwaukee] Sentinels to the 8th inst. Rebel accounts say that our gun
boats in Albemarle
Sound, N.C. after three days fighting got possession of the town of
Plymouth, which the Rebels took from us last May. Yesterday I began the
study of my Algebra.[!!!]
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
November 22d, Tuesday, 1864
Yesterday I ate too much soup at dinner, for we had fresh beef &
in the soup were some desecated vegetables, such as we get as a part of our
rations & as we sometimes call them desecrated vegetables, for though composed
of cabbage, carrots, turnips, peppers, and many others still they taste but
little like those when fresh. I have found that soup seldom agrees with
me, especially if beans form a part, though I like beans well boiled & then
baked to a brown color, otherwise they seldom agree with me. This made me
uneasy all the P.M. so I resolved to eat but little supper. Well I ate but
one slice of bread, but I drank two cups of tea & that was more than enough, so
again I felt uncomfortable from that cause. I had a good sleep till roll
call this morning. The wind blew high before daylight & continued till 9
O'clock when it fell. The night & morning were the coldest of the season,
in fact it was much like a winter time in Wis. The boat brought down a
supply of forage & details were made for its removal. The Corporals &
Sergeants of our Co have been taxed heavily getting a supply of road ahead, as
the teams are expected to be absent some time soon to draw corn to the river so
the boats may draw us a supply, the roads being impassible by reason of the late
rains. There are accounts of the capture by the Rebels of 3 or 4 gunboats,
tin clad & 6 to 10 transports at Johnsonville on the Tenn River, about the 5th
inst. It is stated that Gen. Hood is moving into Tenn & that Forrest gets
in concert with him. It is believed that Hood has most or all his army
with him, while Sherman left on Corps of his army to cooperate with our forces
in Tennessee & moved remaining four corps to Atlanta, thus leaving Hood far in
his rear. It is not improbable that Sherman may have abandoned Atlanta &
moved with his whole force against Charleston, S.C. though accounts of a late
date say he had fortified it strongly so that a small force could hold it.
Last evening, I took a walk down town & saw R.D. Lewis, who for some time past
has been unfit for duty. He came up to Camp this P.M. & sat awhile.
Draper was up also. Mess bought 1 gal of molasses for 95 cts & 1/4 bu of
onions for 90 cts. I read & wrote some today & am very well. Steamer
went up today P.M. & brought mail.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
November 23d, Wednesday, 1864
Last evening we had Parade at 4-30. I was a little
surprised at the sight of Walton of our Co & one of Co ___ being marched under
guard to be reprimanded by Capt Stephens before the Regt. Many of the boys
cursed & felt indignant against the Adj as he was the cause of this extra
punishment. It appears that Capt Stephens wished to dismiss the case of
Walton shooting against orders, but Adj went to Clayton and reported the case &
orders were given for the extra punishment. Many are the anathemas that
are uttered against this too officious Official in our Regt the Adj. How
different from this was the feeling toward our first Adj. John A. Savage who
during the last summer fell in defense of our nation's cause & honor on the
bloody fields of Va & his memory will be cherished in many hearts for long, long
years. Hail Glorious Democrat, so true to Freedom & Country & to God!!!
though false to the base behests of treacherous party & determined to maintain
Union & Liberty though all party ties had to be severed, how we need more noble,
devoted men like thee to save our Land & make her grand & glorious as she is
sure soon to be. What an honor to Old Badger to hold his ashes in her fond
embrace. How gladly will I visit his grave & shed a tear to the memory of
so true a fellow soldier.
I slept well last night &
till Reveille. Today was milder than the last two days, sky clear & sun
shine bright. Our Regt is on picket today, 9 privates & 3 Corps on Picket & one
private & one Corp on guard. I have been at leisure all day & have read &
written some. I finished the 1st book of Kings.
The opinion gains that we
are likely to remain here all winter as we heard some reports by last mail that
29th Iowa had returned to their old duties from which they had been relieved,
preparatory to coming here. We also hear the whole move was the result of
wire pulling for promotion on the part of some ambitious spirits at Little Rock.
Gilbert has ague & fever today & had day before yesterday. Some sweet
potatoes were sold at Picket line for $2.50 a bushel. Clark bought some. A
few boats came up the river & more are coming. I am well.
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 24th, Thursday, 1864
Last night the mail was distributed about 9 O'clock. Most
of the boys got letters. Mr. Moore got four, Hinkley got one & I got one.
Mine was from Matt & was dated 6th to 9th inst. All at home were well.
Weather was rainy & but little frost was felt. He & Father, John &
neighbor Fohay went to election in the P.M. of the 8th & all voted the
unconditional Union, no surrender, no compromise ticket for Honest Old Abraham
Lincoln & Loyal Andrew Johnson of Tenn. He said all was quiet on the day
of election. Oh! this brings to me the Joy I so much longed for, viz that
the day would be so pleasant & my dear old Father able & disposed to attend the
contest in which freemen assemble to determine results as vast & momentous as
ever occupied the attention of a Councel of Kings. And God be praised, the
result is a decision in favor of the prosecution of the War till the last Rebel
fills his place in the Last Ditch.
I have seen the Waukesha
Freeman of the ____ inst. It has meager returns from places along the R.R.
lines & other chief places in Wis & some reports from the East Waukesha Co gives
a Copperhead majority of about 150, though most of the towns give a small Union
majority. New Berlin, of infamous memory, gives a rebel maj. [majority?] of about 140,
Muskego 65 or 70, Waukesha town & village went 93 Union maj. New York is
said to have given about 35,00 maj for McClellan in the city, state of N.Y. is
Union. Ill also. Well, the vote of our Regt will set our Co ticket
also the assembly districts & I hope our Congressional District all right I
hope. It seems very probable that Delaware & New Jersey & perhaps Ky are
the only states that have given majorities for McClellan. In nearly all
the States there is a large gain of Union Congressmen.
Moore was on guard last night & he had breakfast ready at daylight or before
roll call. Night was moderate & today was calm & the air was soft &
pleasant. It changes & looks a little like rain. Our Regt was out
for inspection at 10 A.M. & after wasting an hour or more during which time we
did nothing but wait, the order was countermanded. A medical inspection
came on the boat & examined our quarters &c. I mended my clothes some P.M.
Parade was at 4 P.M. Boat went up P.M. River keeps steady & rather falls.
I am very well.
Pine Bluff, Ark
November 25th, Friday, 1864
I slept well last night. Moore had breakfast ready before
daylight so we ate by candle light. I am on guard today at Clayton's
Headquarters. It has rained lightly nearly all day, so the guard stands
under the porch all the time. The day is calm & the air soft & time passes
rapidly with me though the appearance of things is somber & rather dreary.
I am on the first relief from 9 to 11 A.M. The medical inspector was at
Clayton's this A.M. & I heard Clayton & him & some others express some opinions
of the relative capacities & qualities of Man compared with Woman. One
remarked that the male of birds, beasts, &c in the natural kingdom were always
most beautiful & perfect. Gen Clayton made the remark that Man was
superior to Woman in respect to his physical as well as his mental abilities.
Well, I think many such men know as little of abstruse [?] questions as many
others who never wear shoulder straps, stars or eagles for very often they waste
their leisure in dissolute ways instead of using their time & means so plenty
for personal improvement & learning useful knowledge.
The
theatre opened last night being the first time in several months. I
understood from a reference to neglected business that the Gen & his military
household attended the exhibition. Five steamers came up the river &
reached the landing about 11 O'clock A.M. There was no gunboat with them.
Most or all of them are large boats. Three of them passed on to Little
Rock after a short delay, viz May Duke, Eclipse, & Saint Cloud. As they
steamed up in view the sight presented was a beautiful one. The veterans
of the 62d Ill Inf were on the boats. I did not hear if they had any new
recruits. All Ill. troops in the state were allowed to remain till after
election, but this delay limited to the 14th inst. During the last two
months there was an order issued & for a time in force in the North prohibiting
the sale of powder & all kinds of fire arms. Copperhead called this the
Powder Order & were greatly incensed against it. I read some in Hinkley's
book
The Sexual Organism. I sent a letter to Matt, but mail did not go.
I said some prayers on my knees last night.
Pine Bluff, Ark
November 26th Saturday, 1864
Last night was damp & rainy a part or most of the time. I
had a good sleep from 11 to 5 1/2 A.M. When I was on guard from 9 to 11
P.M. I sat on a soft sofa on the porch, while inside Clayton &c were busy
playing cards. I heard sums mentioned which one had lost & another won.
About 10 O'clock Col. Erskine of 13th Ill Cav went away, having declined playing
poker. The guard that relieved at 5 1/2 A.M. said they stopped playing at
5 & the Gen said 'it was time to go to bed'. What a view of the habits of
men in very responsible places & having large duties & liberal advantages &
salary was thus given & this is, I fear, a common specimen of the ways of such
men & those too whom do such surprising feats of valor as we read about in
letters & papers. How true it is that no man is a hero to his personal
attendants; & that 'Distance
lends enchantment to the view!' Yesterday the rumor again
started & spread like a prairie fire that orders were received from Little Rock
for our Regt to go very soon to that place. Still we have no positive or
reliable information in regard to it, but some movements such as the removal of
some or all our sick into the Post Hospital from the house lately occupied, & we
hear rumors from Capt Stephens &c but all is doubt & uncertainty. Now that
the river is high one would think it certain that we would be moved on a boat
for the roads are deep & muddy, but this is doubted by many & is a very common
subject of speculation among those most interested. All this is annoying,
for now when we have all things well fixed the thought of moving throws every
thing loose. Col Gray is still in arrest & is excluded totally
so far as I have seen from Post Headquarters. He seems to go very little
anywhere & looks rather dispirited. Alas, that his case is not one in
which he can be supported by the sense of high duty nobly done, thus when we do
evil we come soon to have no friends & no comfort, but if well, then God is ours
forever.
Today was wet & rainy. I washed a lot of clothes
for some of the boys to the amount of $1.25 & with my own more than $1.50.
Our Regt is on Picket today. I am well.
Pine Bluff, Ark
November 27th, Sunday, 1864
This was a heavy, dreary day & till the middle of P.M. It was wet & dark.
I did not leave camp till about 3 O'clock when I went about the muddy streets
for 3/4 of an hour seeking something to cheer my rather heavy spirits & in part
a place where I might get some good apples to buy, for I felt greedy for some.
After some inquiries I found a place where they sold apples privately, for it is
against orders to keeps shops open on Sunday except those of druggists. I
chose to take two good large ones, rather than three that had some rotten.
This was the highest price I ever paid for apples & I hope ere a year pass away
I can get two such for 05 cts. For those two I paid 25 cts & for one day
before yesterday I paid a dime. This is all the money I have paid for
apples so far since last spring & as money is scarce, I shall not buy any more I
think. We had a grand sleep last night & we waked before roll Call.
We had no Inspection today for Capt was on Picket yesterday & came off this A.M.
& Lieut Gilbert was in charge a fatigue party. Teams were busy & details
also unloading the boats & drawing oats in sacks to store rooms. Some of
the boats had hay in bales for a part of their loading. The two remaining
here are the Live Oak, a large side wheeler & the Tempest, smaller, but of the
same class. The river falls rapidly from 12 to 20 inches in the last 24
hours. Today I read the St. Louis, Mo Republican of the 18 inst.
This is a bitter copperhead paper, while the Mo Democrat is an able & true Union
& radical paper. In it I saw an estimate of the home vote for Pres & which
gives Lincoln a maj of 250, 00 & I think it will prove more than that so the
soldiers vote will raise it to 400 or 500,000. The only states known to
have given a maj for McClellan are it. Jersey & Delaware & Kentucky
probably & Mo possibly. I wrote a letter to Matt today. Last night &
on Thursday night I said my prayers on my knees & this morning also. I am
very well.
Pine Bluff, Ark
November 28th, Monday, 1864
This was a pleasanter day than any we had for what seems to be a
long time past. The ground dries & the streets are not so sloppy as they
were yesterday & days before. I was busy most of the time in the A.M.
mending my old overcoat & in the morning after breakfast I read several chap in
Book of Kings. This includes some of the transactions of the Prophet
Elijah. Mention is made of many of the short reigns of some of the wicked
kings of Judah & Israel. The dreadful death of the wicked Jezebel, of
which I first read many years ago in the History of the Bible is given.
In the P.M., I was detailed with three or four others from each Co for fatigue
duty. We rolled bales of hay off the
Tempest while another detail loaded
them onto the wagons. The bales were smaller than those we helped reload
at Helena & weighed I think about 200 to 250 lbs each. I heard there were
700 or 800 bales on that boat, besides other freight. I read the
Inspection Certificate posted up in the cabin & also that of the Live Oak in the
cabin of that boat. Those are very minute in regard to details & the
established requirements as regulated by law. The tonnage of the first is
161 tons & that of the Live Oak 366. The boilers of the Tempest were
subjected to a pressure of 200 lbs to the sqr. inch & those of the other to 195
lbs. The Live Oak is a fine & large steamer & both of those boats are
owned by the Masters on board. From the Oak, a large quantity of
government freight was taken today. This consisted of spokes, tongues,
hubs, iron boxes, & other material for repairing Gov wagons, also a large number
of blacksmith & carpenter & tools in sets packed in boxes & sets of horse
shoeing tools, anvils, bellows, nails &c. Most of this, I suppose, is
intended for shipment to up the river to the Rock & Ft Smith. I judge
there is a school somewhere in town for the children who were lately prevented
by Hell-black slavery & state laws enacted in its interest from learning to
read for I see many of them in tidy attire with the old elementary spelling book
in their hands or pockets & this makes my heart rejoice. The river
continues to fall. It fell a foot in last 24 hours. I am well
Camp at Pine Bluff
November 29th, Tuesday, 1864
This is very apt to be our last night in this place. About
noon it became definitely known that the time had come & soon after, we had
orders to pack all our extra baggage in boxes which would be sent to Little
Rock. We were to take a change of clothes with us in our knapsacks &
blankets &c. We hope we will not be compelled to carry our knapsacks far
on the way, but of this we know not. With all, it has been a hurried,
feverish & excited day. Every Mess had so many things to dispose of from a
store to a box of blacking & there were many citizens about, bargaining, as one
of the boys remarked for stoves that in many instances the boys stole from them
but a short time ago. In this way some get from five to fifteen dollars
for the furniture of their quarters. I heard that seven from different
companies of our Regt are to remain on duty at this post. Of those, two
are from our Co.: McKee & Draper, both of those are permanently detailed
in the Post Commissary, Mc. as clerk & Draper in some other responsible & easy
duty. Sergt Brown of Co C is Clerk in Adj Gen Office. Sergt Elliot
Co A is chief printer doing work for the Post. Private Summerlot of Co B
remains for the present, at Post bakery. All except two others have been
relieved & join the respective Companies.
The day was a very
pleasant one, arid was mild & sunshine was soft & mellow. This P.M. I mailed
six or 8 books & packages, on which I paid about a dollar postage. One of
the packages was a morrocco watch case in which I put my sliver pen case or
holder which I brought from Wis when I came away. Also in it were four
five cent pieces in silver. If I do not return some one may value those
relics at more than their nominal value. This A.M. I read many Chap in my
Bible & this evening I made a short call to Lieut Teel at the quarters of the
Ambulance Corps. I also was in the Regt Hospital, where I saw & talked
with Sergt Alex Rogers. All the boys are jubilant. We expected a boat with mail but none came. I am very well.
On the March
November 30th, Wednesday, 1864
We were awake & astir late last night & early this morning.
Many of the boys sold a part of their things last evening & many were about camp
early taking things away. Every mess had some things to sell & Moore was
busy as he could possibly be packing up & preparing for our start. I left
my knapsack with Lewis who said he would take it along when he comes with our
things on the boat. There were about a dozen of our Regt left behind, Corp
Moore of our Co & Lewis & King. There were about 40 enlisted men & two
commissioned officers with us & there are probably more than 500 men that move
with us today. Orders were to fall in at 8 O'clock, but it was long past
that time or past 9 when we fell in . I went to the Post Office & mailed a
book & a letter for Matt. At last we fell in after the long roll had
beaten. I was late in falling into line, but was there before the Co was
counted off by two's so I caused no delay. In our front were a detachment
of the 1st Ind Cav. Orders were given 'Officers to the front'. Then
a sort of farewell order was read in which Clayton expressed his personal regret
at the orders by which he was forced to allow us to leave the Post which he
commanded. No praise was stinted, but was rather freely lavished on our
Regt for he said it was one of the best if not the best Regt that he ever knew.
We started about 9 1/2 or 10 A.M. & marched by Clayton's Headquarters. He
appeared on the porch, so we were soon on our way. It was much to our
pleasure that we were to come on the South side of the river. The day was
cloudy & threatened rain, but it passed without any falling. The
detachment of Cav acted as escort so far as the Outpost Pickets. Many of
the Officers were under the influence of Drink. We carried our knapsacks
about four miles & then as our Co was on rear guard, we put ours on a wagon.
I took my blankets We marched 18 miles.
General Review of November
Many important transactions have taken place during the month &
much that occurred last month of which we did not hear till during the month
last passed. Chief among those events is the capture of the rebel Pirate
or privateer Florida, which was captured in or near the harbor of Bahia in
Brazil. According to the brief accounts received so far of the
circumstances under which the event took place, I have some apprehension that
Brazil may feel insulted, somewhat as England in the case of Mason Slidel & in
some way our success in ridding the seas of a destructive, a rover, maybe some
to our humiliation may none the less rejoice at the prowes & good fortune of our
navy. One of the most provoking items & disagreeable facts that has
come under my eye is one stating that a force of 3700 Austrian troops had
embarked for N Mexico & that this force was to be augmented to 7,000. This
was in addition to the present French force there. Now how can Europe hope
to spread her monarchical institutions here in any other way than by the waste
of precious blood in quantities sufficient to float the combined navies of the
World. I certainly hope to see the day when not a French or other foreign
flag or soldier will remain in North America, at least not in Mexico, even if
this made it necessary for me to serve another term of three years as a soldier.
What an insult to every American & friend of Free government everywhere to have
as sister republic swept from the list of Nations & the Wily Napoleon taking
advantage of our internal troubles, using an Austrian Prince as a fox would use
a cat's paw to accomplished he dark designs!
After a period of a
year & 20 days passed in Pine Bluff, & having lost perhaps 60 to 75 of our Regt.
by sickness well have left it probably for the last time.
Heaven has blessed me with good health & good news from home.
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