CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF JAMES B. LOCKNEY

WIS. 28th REGMT., CO. G

October 1864

Copyright © 1986, 1997-2023 [James R. Shirey]. All rights reserved.


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October 1st, Saturday 1864

Last night I was on Post from 6 to 8 O'clock & from midnight till 2 A.M.  I was waked at 6 & stood till 8 A.M. when we were relieved.  Being on the 3d Relief, I had two terms of 4 hours each for sleep which I used to advantage, so I felt fully refreshed this morning.  When we reached Camp what was my surprise to hear rumors of an attack at which I first laughed & yet doubt but from all appearances the apprehension seems to be serious on the part of those in command, for orders have been given in regard to artillery ammunition &c & at the shops all are busy repairing all defective parts of Cannon Caissons &c.  The enrolled Militia in town are said to be at work repairing damages from wear or otherwise in the line of breastworks.  There was also a detail of soldiers to assist in such work.  As I can hear no trustworthy foundation for the rumors of a large force of Rebels moving against us, I place but little reliance in them for we have heard such stories so often that I will have to see the Foe, ere I fully credit the reports.  So long have we been inactive & waiting a fight one with any No. we could repulse would not be unwelcome.  We heard reports lately that Gen A.J. Smith had a fight with Old Rebel Gen Price in the N.W. of Ark. or S.W. of Mo.  About a month ago we heard Price was making his way toward Mo so there may be some truth in last reports of fighting.  This morning I saw Lt. Col. Gray along the line assigning to each Regt its position in the works.  I heard a rumor this evening that an effort was lately made to poison Gen Clayton by means of a cake some person sent him.  (This is doubtful, I think).  This P.M. I shaved clean & meant to have a portrait taken in profile, but the gallery was closed by reason of Militia Drill at 4 P.M.  During last 10 or 15 days I have felt (Cachexy) or somewhat ill.  We got one load of poles -3- for our new mess room.  I was out but was unable to do much.

 

[October 2, 1864 is missing]

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 3d, Monday 1864

Last night I reached camp about 7 O'clock & I felt hungry.  I ate four good biscuits which Clark made for supper & drank two cups of coffee from our new cups which Higley brought down for us from Little Rock.  This set of six cost $2.50.  They are strong, white, plain, heavy stoneware.  The saucers will be very handy for cooling our coffee.  Well, I should have told ere now that when we were going foraging we saw the boat coming down the river 3 or 4 miles above town.  When I got to camp, I found two letters for me.  One was from Matt of 13 & 14 inst.  All were well when he wrote.  Weather was showery & quite wet.  They had finished haying & had a good supply, much more than they expected early in the season.  They were about threshing but it was delayed by rain.  They had recd the $20 I sent by mail.  They kindly inquired if I wished to have new stockings sent.  This is the 2d or 3d time they asked about this matter.  Four of my old school mates & one other person deserted from the neighborhood to evade the threatened draft.  They were Maurice Hennessey, Jeremiah Murphy & Edward & William Gamble.  Oh, what deep shame, Shame!!  How can those ever look at the sun & not feel the place of their heart & where their Soul should be filled with chagrin & reproach!  Hinkley & I were just now speaking about those who desert our country in their hour of need! her Day of Battle!  How their shame & disgrace will adhere to them & follow them as closely as their skin where ever they go & whithersoever they seek to hide themselves.  How little they think of the many records will remain of their crime when & where & how their friends, acquaintances, & posterity may hide their heads in shame or cast an asthmas upon them for their treachery & cowardice.  All blessings on thee O Mother!  How often I heard thee inculcate the maxim 'Death before Dishonor! Be thou welcome O Death! that Liberty may Live!'  Day was cloudy & blustering.

 

Pine Bluff, Ark
October 4th Tuesday, 1864

Last evening was cold & very windy. S Foster  was cook yesterday & card playing so engrossed his attention till past 5 P.M. that it was late & dark when we ate supper.  Some would complain severely at such way, but I make my motto to be 'bear & forbear' as if others will bear with me so certainly should I do with their ways, while we are forced to be together.  Clark was on Picket & Turner took some supper to him in the dark.  Hinkley & I wrote & studied together, preparing letters &c for some future mail.  I slept in the barracks with H-- as I thought it [too] cold to sleep in the tent alone.  I had a good sound sleep till 4 this A.M. when the forage party started as H--was one from our Co.  I was cook today & I had much help from S. Foster, Turner &c when getting breakfast, & from Clark in getting dinner, which we ate about 1 P.M.  We had some fresh beef, baked & corn bread & biscuits which Clark made & I baked.  Wells French of our Co who has been nearly a year on detail as Clerk in one of the Offices of 2d Div at Little Rock came here Sunday on business connected with the office & has been a member of our mess since he came.  He is a person of quiet & orderly habits, altogether different from & superior to his brother-Melvin- who was at first a member of our Co but he never came further south than Columbus or Memphis where he was discharged early in '63.  French brought us the intelligence that Edson S. Bastin--formerly a member of our Co & also on detail in Little Rock during the past year - he did not [come] here with us -- was made Capt of Co E 4th Arkansas Cav by appointment of Gen. Steele & his Com had been forwarded to the Pres for approval.  He is well educated, honest & possesses more principle & genuine worth of character that is often found anywhere & especially among Com Officers.  Some think the appointment an excellent one, but B-- I think has very little of the Leader & Commander in his character so I think him not very well qualified for the place.  M. French ate dinner with us.  A.M. was showery P.M., cloudy, but dry.  Capt is out on forage.  I & 2 other privates from our Co in all 30 from Regt went on Outpost at 4 P.M.  Lt Gilbert is in Command.  I mailed Harpers Mag & one hard tack to Matt.  Postage 6 cts.  Two boats-Chippawa & A. Jacobs came down today.  No mail.

 

On Outpost
October 5th Wednesday, 1864

We reached outpost about 5 O'clock. Walton & Wells were from our mess & I asked Walton to leave his shelter (or dog) tent, which he willingly did & I was glad as it was likely from appearances that the weather would be wet.  They also left the little coffee pot which they took out as such things come handy on Post.  Lt G-- took out some papers, one Tribune of 16th ult in which I read a few items.  He also had the 'Atlantic Monthly for Sept.  By the light of a small fire I read the article 'Our visit to Richmond' being an account of a visit made in July last by Col __ Jacques of [73rd] Ill Inf & the Author Edmund Kirk (Jas. R. Gilmon) to the Rebel capital where they had an interview with the Rebel Pres Davis & his Sec of State J.P. Benjamin.  They went without any official authority to satisfy themselves by a personal conversation, if the Rebel Pres would not accede to some terms by which the War might now stop, the Union of the States preserved slavery - for the sake of permanent Peace - abolished, & the rights of the South secured on the same basis as those of the other states.  All this was refused & the only terms that Davis would offer or listen to were Separation with Independence - else Annihilation.  May the latter be the result rather than disunion.  I was on Post from 9 P.M. to  ___.  I was very sleepy & had to walk my beat to keep from nodding.  Night was cool & damp.  Sky was clear & stars shone rather dimly & coldly.  Gilbert had a chill & fever, went to camp about midnight when the Grand Rounds came, or rather when they went back.  I slept well till about 6 O'clock A.M. when I waked refreshed & satisfied.  This morning I read in Atlantic Monthly -Cadmean Madness- or the mania of writing & making books, which has raged during the last few centuries & especially during the last 1/4 of a century.  The result however of all this must be for good.  I read to 28 chap of Deut. this A.M.  One boat went up the river last night & took mail. (Now 3 1/2 P.M.  We hear a boat whistle, coming down with mail we hope?)  About 10 last night a scout of 30 from 7th Mo Cav brought in 9 Rebel Pris whom they caught 20 mi. out.  Day is clear & pleasantly warm

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 6th Thursday, 1864

Last evening the boat came down the river, having 27th Wis Inf Regt from Little Rock.  We got a mail which brought late letters.  I got three from Matt, from 18 to 24th of Sept.  During those days the draft was made in Milwaukee for a part of our district.  After all the wards & towns in Milwaukee Co were drafted, those towns in Waukesh Co that had not filled their quotas were drafted.  Mathew was in town on the 23d & on that day the draft for New Berlin was made.  His name was the 33 or 34 drawn as Prize.  The quota of the town was 27, but 100 percent was added which made a draft of 54 names.  The No. of names enrolled was 201.  The others that I know & remember are Alvarus, Gilbert, Edw. Gamble, Jeremiah Murphy, Thos. Carrol & a few others.  Some of those left for parts unknown so others may be taken to fill their places.  Thanks to God, Mother said truly Matt will not run!  This is better than to inherit any crown on Earth.  Matt finished his letter, thu 'Sept 24th I am in town today.  Substitutes are held a $550 for one year.  I am just going to mail this--all are well.  Conscript!' --Under date of 18 ult.  Matt writes--'Matt Goff, Thos. Brogan & I talk of going out to Janesville to the state fair, which comes off from 26 to 30 inst-- yet it is quite generally believed that the draft will commence in Milwaukee tomorrow that may take me, if so I leave all work & go to the War!'  He says ' I was told John Evans said it was more honorable (?) to run from the draft than if one were drafted, to hire a substitute'.  'We have had no frost this fall yet.'  I think the time is not far distant when many -I for one- will think less of the opinions of such peace sneaks or peace men (?) as J. Evans than I did in the past for I never heard him speak in favor of the War.  I also got a leaf written on both sides from Mother.  Her health was as usual & her sight was good though her eyes keeps sore.  Today was bright & pleasant.  We reached camp about 5 P.M.  River is very high for this season.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 7th Friday, 1864

Last evening I read in Milwaukee, Wis an account given by one of our soldiers who had been a prisoner at Andersonville, Geo of the inhuman manner in which our soldiers are treated by the Rebels.  The No. confined there exceeded 30,000 & 130 to 150 died each day from starvation & exposure.   So large a No was confined on 25 acres of ground without shelter from sun or storm.  We may soon make Peace with our barbarous & fiendish foes, but not by compromise!  No, never!!   Yesterday P.M. about 1,500 Cav came here from Little Rock.  They started Tuesday-among them was Capt Bastin of Co G, 4th Ark mounted Inf.  He came to see our boys in P.M. & again in the evening.  He came to my tent & stopped 1/2 or 3/4 hour.  He is the same plain unaffected person as when only a private in Co G 28 [Wis].  While here he read two pieces:  'The Inner Life' in Oct No. of Harper's Mag & the article 'Private Miles O'Riley ' in the Weekly... for Sept 24.  He is a good Reader, his voice is musical & mellow & he has been trained well (I judge) in Rhetorical Exercises.  He looks well & healthy & bears his honors better than many in our Co, in fact he does not feel them.  The Cav with all that were here started early this morning on an expedition.  They will probably feel [?] of the Rebels at Monticello & wherever else they find them.  I heard an account read of Victory won on 19 ult near Winchester, Va by our forces in Sheridan's Dept over the Rebel Gen Early.  Rebel loss is stated at 9 or 10,000 including about 3,000 Pris.  We heard that a salute of ___ guns was fired at Little Rock yesterday in honor of a great victory lately won by Grant over Lee.  Last evening I wrote a letter to Mother.  I fear for the effect ofn father & Mother of Matt being drafted as they always dreaded it.
Today I was on fatigue duty at the saw mill, run by Co C.  I & another carried nearly all that was cut.  It was heavy work, as the timber was fresh pine.  In scraps of time when the saw did not run I read first 20 chap's of Joshua.  Day was clear & bright... I feel very well.

 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
October 8th Saturday, 1864

I often have evidences that satisfy me that others observe with wonder & perhaps sometimes with contempt, what they think the oddity or singularity of my ways & I sometimes am surprised at the ways of others.  One instance which arrested my attention yesterday I will now state.  There was a Sergeant of Co B sent with the 6 or 8 men detailed from our Regt to assist Co C at the saw mill.  It is very universal for any such non-Com Officer, whether Corp or Sergt, to do anything in the way of work, but they usually move about as boss or director of the job & some improve those opportunities to make their subordinate authority felt by the privates, generally however to no other effect than to excite the contempt of the latter, many of whom are the superior in every natural respect.  Others lazily lie about idly & do or say but little, so was it yesterday with the Sergt.  I wondered how he lay down or sat down, all of the 8 hours we were there at work, except 3 or 4 times he got hold of a Cant Hook or Handspike.  He did not read a page or column in a book or paper all this time which I would have so gladly used to my humble purpose for there was much in the late papers that I wished to read & he is a person that does read sometimes, but I judge he has no passion for such entertainment.  He did however in those few hours what I should shudder to have to perform during all my future lifetime-viz, smoked many pipes full of & tobacco & many cuds of fine cut.  How powerfully this illustrates the force of habit!  What a commentary is every day life on the absence of truly Christian or enlightened principles, as directing & controlling the actions of person at home as well as abroad.  How many husbands & fathers destroy the Peace & home Joys of which they should be the especial promoters & with no apparent object than to give vent to their morbid or depraved temper or appetites
Yesterday, Capt took my Harper's Mag with him on Picket & on of the boys stole it from him.  It had my name, Co, Regt &c on it.  Today he bought another.  Day was clear & windy.  I worked on our mess room some.  Boat went up with Mail P.M.  I sent two letters.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 9th Sunday, 1864

It was about 10 1/2 O'clock (I think) when I lay down last night.  Clark was on Outpost, so the little boy John -who helps us in our mess- slept with me.  This boy is 19 years old & was raised near Monticello in this state.  His father is in 4th Ark Cav.  The night was cold & still clear.  Those on Picket say there was frost.  About day light & till 6 O'clock A.M., a thick fog, very damp which appeared to rise from the river, covered the south side of the river--this is said to be a great cause of Ague & chills.  Last night I wrote some in my blank book which I have neglected nearly all the time since July.  Yesterday, Turner & Wells were on Picket & last evening we all forgot or neglected to take any supper out to them, this being the usual custom with all our Regt to bring the meals to those on Post.  The boys must have felt it quite severely, thought they did not complain much when they came in at 8 1/2 O'clock A.M.  I was cook today.  I made pancakes for breakfast as we had no bread but hard tack.  All the pancakes that I ever saw made in camp are greatly inferior in palatableness & healthiness to the good & light ones I so often saw at home.  For dinner we had a few small pieces of lean & bony salt pork boiled with beans & corn.  Of the two latter, I ate too freely, & the consequence is my bowels are quite loose, as they have been generally for the last month, in which time I think I have lost flesh more than any time that I have been south.  In fact during most of the past five or six weeks our rations have been short & our living not very good.  There was Co Inspection about 9 A.M.  I was present, though a little behind time.  I did not have my boots polished though we are furnished blacking regularly for this purpose paid for out of Co fund.  I did not go to any church today & I was quite busy all day, though I did not read much.  I made a pretty good corn cake for supper & we had some stewed pumpkin which was very good.  Cav Scout returned today having lost none & taken few prisoners, if any.  Day was clear & bright, but cool.  We hear rumors of great victories by Grant, but no certainty yet.  Boat came down this A.M. with rations, no mail.

 

October 10th Monday, 1864

Last night I lay down about 1/4 or 1/2 past 10. I wrote a page in my 'Memories' after making my Diary record.  I read to the end of the Book of Joshua. The night was bright & calm, but rather cold. Clark, being still on outpost, John slept with me. I waked refreshed this morning to the sound of our drums beating the Reveille. As usual, I was detailed on Picket, King being the other from our company C.  Jacobi is on guard.  He has been sick so long that he looks pale, not having yet wholly recovered.  So it is with many of the boys, they are weak & but little fit for duty.  Yesterday I saw ___ Coates of the 27th Wis Inf who looks well & tough.  I believe he has always been in the hospital Dept.  Last year I saw him in Helena & at Hales Corners a few days before I started.  It is pleasant thus to meet those whom we saw or knew at home.  Yesterday, I asked Capt Tichenor whether he had heard from his father about my box which Capt sent to him by Fellows-the Suttler of our Regt.  The answer was that Fellow's took it along as far as Milwaukee where he lost it & he & Capt's father looked for it some & the latter had some hopes of finding it.  I wish I had sent it by express for now I fear all its contents are hopelessly lost, though worth from $15 to $20.  The greatest danger is that Fellows may have lost the box anywhere between here & Milwaukee.  What losses are caused by men getting gloriously drunk. & letting everything take care of itself.  This is the second time I have lost by private conveyance.
Copperheads in N.Y. have renominated Gov H. Seymour as their candidate for Gov & the Union men have chosen Ruben Fenton as their leader on the State Ticket.  State election in Vermont is wholly a Union victory.
Last evening we heard outpost duty was to be discontinued & we hope this may prove true.  It is believed the Rebels have evacuated Monticello & all this side of the Saline River.  At noon we heard Sergt A. Rodgers formerly Com Sergt in our Regt but for many months at the head of the post Commissary fell from an upper floor & broke one of his thighs & was so hurt as that he may die from the effects.  Day is bright & pleasant.

 

Pine Bluff, Arkansas
October 11th Tuesday, 1864

Last night, I was on post from 4 to 6 when I slept till 10, then on post till 12 M & again I slept soundly till near 4 A.M. when we were roused to fall in for the 'Grand Rounds' or nightly visit of the Officer of the Day.  I had two wool blankets out & my overcoat, so I slept well &warm all the time.  Night was not as cold as usual.  I did not feel my hours on post long, for a part of the time I conversed with one of the 13th Ill Cav who was raised in Southern Ill.  I asked many questions & obtained much information in regard to the country &c, also in regard to treatment of distemper in horses.  He said sulphur pulverized & fed a tablespoon full a day in bran & active exercise every day would speedily effect a cure.  This morning I bought a qt of sweet milk for 25 cts & ate a part of it for breakfast & a part for dinner.  I intend to get more tomorrow as I think it will improve my health to use some for a time.  Yesterday P.M. or last night one of our ambulances & from 3 to 5 men in Cav were gobbled & taken off by the a party of about 40 Rebels.  Our men -15-followed them 12 or 15 miles but failed to overtake them.  I worked most of the day mudding our mess room.  I did not do much at it before when the boys built & covered it as I was on out post.  Inf was relieved from this duty for the Present--this takes 31 off our daily detail.  A forage train was out today & a detail from our Regt.  It returned before dark.  Today 6 or 8 from our Co were out getting polls for new sleeping rooms.  Hinkley & I may have a separate place.  Yesterday full rations were drawn from Commissary of most things, some tea was drawn which is the first tea we drew in many weeks.  We had bread today- 3/4 of 10 days rations are soft bread & salt pork & 1/4 of hard tack & fresh beef...  Steamer Chippawa went up early A.M. & Annie Jacob's came down at 5 P.M. with mail.  I got a letter from Matt of 30 ult.  Substitutes are scarce & held at 550 & $600.  He had not yet got one.  Day was bright & pleasant.  I feel well today though weak.  I copy the following beautiful & heart-touching verses from Harper's Weekly for Sept 24, 1864.  They wee written by an officer in a N.Y Regt whose name I now forget, but whose nome de plume is Private Miles O'Riley.  The following is sung to the tune of 'Janie's on the Stormy Sea':

Song of the Soldiers
"Comrades known in marches many,
Comrades tried in dangers many,
Comrades bound by memories many,
Brothers ever let us be!
Wounds or sickness may divide us,
Marching orders may divide us,
But whatever fate betide us,
Brothers of the Heart are we,

Comrades known by faith the clearest,
Tried when death was near & nearest,
Bound we are by ties the dearest,
Brothers ever more to be--
And if spared & growing older,
Shoulder still in line with shoulder,
And with Hearts no thrill the colder,
Brothers ever we shall be

By communion of the banner--
Battle-scarred but victor banner,
By the baptism of the banner,
Brothers of one church are we!
Creed nor faction can divide us,
Race nor language can divide us,
Still whatever fate betide us,
Brothers of the heart are we!"

Copied by Jas B. Loughney on the banks of the Arkansas River, before Roll Call, night of Oct 12th, 1864.  Tomorrow will be the first day of our third & last year of service under our present term of enlistment as two years ago tomorrow our Regt was mustered in Camp Washburn, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  How heartily we wish that the War for the Freedom & Union of all our States will end ere another year passes.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 12th Wednesday, 1864

Last night hundreds of pens were busy writing in answer to those from home & elsewhere.  It must have been nearly or quite 11 O'clock when Clark & I lay down.  I was waked once in the night, so I had to rise.  My health improves I think, for my bowels are not so loose as in times past.  I did not get up to Reveille, nor did I wake again till breakfast was ready, when Clark who was cook, called me.  The boys had pancakes, but I ate none of them, for I think they do not agree with me.  For breakfast I ate some bread & coffee & fresh beef fried.  I went with Hinkley to the woods abut 9 A.M. with saw, axe, & iron wedge.  We fell a tree, a splendid Pine that could be hewn 65 to 80 feet & cut some shake or long shingle bolts.  We came in rather weak & tired about 1/2 past 1 or at 2 P.M.  Last night I left my canteen in a house so I could be sure of a quart of milk today.  I got it at noon & boiled 1/2 of it & ate bread & some stewed muscadines that Hinkley cooked one day, so we both made hearty meals.  Our mess had two hens or chickens cooked for dinner, but we were late, but quite satisfied.  We went to the woods again & worked till 4 1/2 or 5 O'clock & again were late for supper.  H- ate none & I finished my milk which was sweet yet.  We expected the mail would go up this A.M. so I mailed a letter to Matt, Mag & Paper to Maria & paper to Matt Goff.  Perhaps I should send nothing to the latter, as he never once sent me a word of any kind --perhaps-- like his father he wishes to show that he can live without me, but I can live, too.  How few friends one may have & how brittle is the tie of friendship that commonly exists between people, especially where no interest chain exists.  This evening the Annie Jacobs started up with a large No of sick from the several hospitals here.  There were between 200 & 300.  Layhee went from our Co.  Last evening Maj White of our Regt & ____ Inspector came down.  General Ins. is ordered tomorrow.  N. Hampshire state election is Union by 20,000Day was clear & pleasant.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 13th Thursday, 1864

At no time since our barracks were built nearly a year ago was there so great general activity in our camp as during the last week or 10 days.  All the seven companies now doing Regimental duty are divided into messes & each mess has built or is busy building cook & mess rooms & also rooms to sleep in.  Early this week some of our Mess led by Co. Orderly Sergt A.D. Foster-whose chief characteristic is his unbounded self-esteem- & contracted views of all general principles of fairness & justice from which he may never be freed-- projected & planned a room 14x16 feet & choose some from other messes to make 8 in all, leaving Hinkely & me out & Walton who keeps his old place in the barracks.  Foster & his brother in Co B, Danl. McNeill, & Wm Young, Turner & Wells, Darling & Clark are the new party;  Now some of those had good places while I & H- had some of the poorest in the barracks last winter.  Adjoining was a space where H- & I could have made a good room for ourselves and under the same roof where Capt wished to have the Co Commissary things stored.  But they put their 16 feet so as to leave us but very little room --too lilttle-- 9 1/2 feet on one front side while theirs is on a corner having two front sides.  I asked Capt to have more room left or to have them change theirs about a little, but he would not do anything about it, having previously given all control to Orderly.  H- & I reasoned, argued & remonstrated with the enterprising builders, but most of them were so blinded by selfishness that they could not see & did not wish to.  Thus, Hinkley's chances & mine of a pleasant & private place during the winter are greatly diminished.  Certainly Capt lacks the power of directing & controlling as the vest interests of all require.  One short year hence as many acres may welcome me as any of those who now have control.  I was on fatigue today.  We were making fence in the woods.  I felt well all day.  Day was pleasant.

Seasonable Words
"And a word spoken in season, how good it is,
A gentle to a little child,
In kindly accents given,
Lest we with angry words should blight,
The lily buds of Heaven.

A loving to the bright-haired boy,
Upon whose sunny face,
A brave & noble beauty sets,
Its purest seal of grace.

A tender to the blue-eyed bride,
Who from the Mother nest,
Flies to the dream--land of a Love,
Warm fluttering at her breast.

A patient to the wayward youth,
Thus bark by tempest tossed,
Oft comes to harbor, while the ship,
Less tempest-tried be lost!

A cheery for the white-haired man,
The frost upon his brow,
May hide a heart as warm as thine,
Though winter crowns it now.

A timely to the weried soul,
Beneath life's noonday sun;
That fainting sinks upon its way,
Ere yet the fight be won.

Good words, true words, good deeds, kind deeds,
Oh! 'tis a glorious part
To shed upon our fellow man
The sunshine of the Heart.

Then, though the chain that binds us here,
By Death a while be riven,
God--beautified in Heaven!"

Copied by J.B.L Cot 13, 1864 from Harper's Weekly Sept 17.

 

October 14th Friday, 1864

Last night I wrote till after Retreat.  I began a letter in answer to Mrs E. Woods of Aug 25th.  I finished it on Picket this A.M. & with a letter to Matt containing one old letter from him & two or three sheets of diary.  I took them to Camp & had them mailed so they went with the mail this P.M. which was taken up by the Ad. Hinds.  She came down last evening with stores but brought no mail.  I slept very well till roll call this morning.  This A.M. was cloudy & a light shower fell.  P.M. was nearly the same.  A negro man was instantly killed by falling on the ground from an Army wagon.  The accident took place about 20 rods from our reserve Post on Little Rock Road.  I & McKown are on Picket today from our Co.  I took out a good supply of wool blankets -2- & my overcoat.  We are on the third Relief, my post No 5 is a good one.  P.M. a member of 126 Ill Regt was buried.  We do what I think is a beautiful act of respect to our Departed Brothers--viz, fall in line & present arms while the funeral party passes.  Most of our boys notice the superiority of the Regt Bands of most other Regiments as compared with our own.  I much regret this for I would enjoy very much the good music of our band if it could play well.  Lately I sometimes have strong wishes that I might be at home for one month so I might enjoy the good & wholesome things so plenty there.  Potatoes, apples, milk, homemade bread &c.  Oh! how good those things would be.  But the last year is passing away & then we'll go home.  When on picket last I saw the first volume of J.T. Headley's history of the Rebellion.  I read a few pages in it.  I think he does the President great injustice in holding him responsible for many things for which alone the convulsed & disordered state of country & the almost universal defection & treachery of all the agents of the Buchanan Administration was the great cause for the present incumbent had not true & trust men yet in place. in the spring of 1861. I felt my blood boil while I read of the treachery of the Champions of Slavery.
I got a quart of milk this morning retreat.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 15th Saturday, 1864

Last night was dry, but the air was damp & much warmer than during the day. In the night I was on from 6 to 8 O'clock & from 12 to 2 this A.M. & last from 6 to 8 A.M.  In the intervals I slept soundly & sweetly.  Luckily, Grand Rounds came up at 12 so none but one relief had to be waked as the 2d was relieved by the 3d at that time. The Countersign was Quebec. Yesterday morning I got a qt of sweet milk, so for dinner & supper I had boiled milk & toasted bread which I think are very good for me. I felt quite strong & well today so I think I began to regain my old robustness. Yesterday, I read in 'Sketches of the Irish Bar' of John Henry North & Thomas Wallace.  Day before yesterday when on fatigue, I read all the Book of Judges during the intervals when waiting for the teams that hauled the rails. I also saw & read some in the 'Boston Pilot' of ____.  In it was an editorial of one whole column denouncing the spirit of Seward's speeches while senator & later as Secretary of State.  The writer tries most desperately to attach a deep treachery to a passage in his speech made recently in Auburn, N.Y.  I think the passage will not fairly bear the construction which the writer so determinedly tries to force upon it.  But chiefly, I noticed the vain agonies with which the writer tortured himself with which he would heartily afflict every man, woman & child in all the length & breadth of the Land when he commented on the splendid effort of the able Senators--his famous Irrepressible Conflict Speech made at Rochester, N.Y. in 1856 or '57.  The writer, whose nonsense & spleen is given in the Pilot says--if I remember correctly that Seward's statement of the Irrepressible natural antagonism between freedom in the North & Slavery in the South, did more to excite & hasten the present conflict between the two systems than anything else that was ever said.  What nonsense is this!  He did not & could not make the antagonism, but only gave a forcible expression.   To the convictions forced upon him by his knowledge of the history of past systems & nations & what he saw of the development of the two systems, both working for the control of the government & each determined to use the whole power of the government for extending & strengthening itself.  Thus it was the great object-the Life- work of the South to use the power of the nation to increase the number of slave states even before they could be settled more than enough merely to hold them as such, till the importation of slaves from foreign lands or the natural & often unnatural increase of those here enabled them to settle the new domain more thickly.    At the same time the Mighty North was actively at work in all parts of her dense communities, acting as she securely could on her broad & deeply laid foundations to resist by all Constitutional means the spread of Slavery & Polygamy into the public domain where they, or it rather the first, did not already exist by municipal enactments.  Both of those old practices were more & more getting to be considered 'Twin relicts of Barbarism' & the former particularly as embracing the latter within it.  The law makes the slave the subject of the Master to -All intents & purposes- whatever.  This certainly includes the unnatural lusts of the Master as well as his rational demands at least in practice if not in design.  Now when Galileo made or invented the telescope, he did not make the distant stars that are invisible to the eye unassisted, nor have those who have since his time brought it to its present state of reflection.  Thus, is it with W. H. Seward--he did not make it, but saw or discovered it, because more able & learned that many others & gave expression to what he knew & what me now feel.  A.M. was cloudy.  Rainbow at 7 O'clock P.M. was sunny & pleasant.  Air was hazy.  Annie Jacobs came down P.M.  No mail

 

October 16th Sunday, 1864

When the boat came down yesterday P.M. nearly all were busy working on the new houses &c, but about 4 O'clock the order came to be ready to fall in for Inspection in Light Marching order at 4 1/2. How soon all was changed & all were busy brushing clothes & boots, cleaning guns &c.  The place of where the inspection was had was about a mile from town on the bank of the river below.  Our Regt was first on the grounds & was ready to start back when the last of the other Regt's got there.... The Inspecting Officer was a Col of ___ & just such a one as suited the boys, for he handled few guns, but passed along rapidly & scrutinized the condition of arms, uniforms & equipments &c.  I presume he was pleased with our Regt for all or most looked clean & orderly.  The 27th Wis was out & the other Inf. Regts, viz 62-106 & 126 Ill's.  There were two batteries out the   --th Ohio Battery & Capt Driscol's battery.  The guns in the former were not in nice order, as the time of the men is nearly out.  The Colored boys in Driscol's Battery had their brass pieces as bright as an Eagle & their uniforms were as neat & clean as any I ever saw, in fact I never saw troops look so orderly.  No whites would, for they-except the Germans- would not take pains enough to appear so well.  And those are the devoted unionists we helped to keep in ignorance & slavery!  Oh Heaven! forgive this Land its crimes!!  We reached camp before sundown & in 5 minutes we fell in to bury Joseph C Blanchard of our Co.__.  He died early yesterday morning & had been in Hospital but two days.  He went up to Iowa year ago last summer & was absent just a year, but was not well anytime since.  It was late when we got back to camp.  At time of Inspection-this A.M.- we fell in without arms & Capt read first 35 Articles of War.  Day was bright but cool.  I did not leave camp.  Many worked on their new houses as if it were not Sunday.  I read 12 Chaps in 1st Samuel.  Hinkley made good biscuit for dinner.  Dress Parade at 5 1/2 P.M.  Annie Jacobs went up with 3d Minnesota.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff, Ark
October 17th Monday, 1864

Last night I slept in the barracks with Hinkley as it was cold in the tent & Clark was on Picket.  I slept well .  Roll Call was early this morning & as the air was cold, most of the boys lay down.  I had a nap between that time & breakfast.  I went & got a quart of sweet milk & had 1/2 of it & toasted bread for breakfast.  This agreed with me very well for I felt very comfortable during the A.M.  Turner was Cook today & he made some good corn cake for dinner for we did not get the bread for today till P.M.  I ate some of the corn bread & the rest of my milk for dinner.  During the past month corn bread did not agree with me very well as it produced too great looseness of the bowels.  I think I have been gaining in strength & flesh since the 10th or 12th inst.  The forage train went out today & is out yet (7 1/2 P.M.)  The last time our boys went out-Saturday- they went about 20 miles & the roads were quite rough.  They got a lean porker, so we had fresh pork for meals yesterday.  I washed some for the boys this A.M.  Day was pleasant, but little sunshine was seen & the air was heavy.  Last evening on Parade, the report of the trial by Court Marshal was read in regard to the offense of a young boy in Co C. Thomas Carr, who let a citizen cross the pontoon bridge in this town, the citizen not having a pass.  His pay was stopped for 1/2 or one month & he was then reprimanded by Lieut. Col. Gray.  He is a rather hardened person-an orphan, I think- & there is but little ground to hope for his reform.  This is much to be regretted, for he might be an amiable & useful person.  Steamer Chippawa came down this P.M. with rations & Suttler goods.  We heard she started before the A. Jacobs, but was delayed being fast on a sand bar.  I read Chicago Tribune of 4 inst which had some details of the late important operations near Richmond which took place about the 1st inst.  Rebel Iron Clads took a slight part in the fighting, the result of which was decidedly in our favor.  Rebels were driven from their position which our men held against most desperate efforts of the enemy to retake them.  Rumors say rebels are crossing the Saline coming this way.  A detail for Outpost went from our Regt P.M.

 

October 18th Tuesday, 1864

Last night I slept alone in the barracks.  It was not a cold night & I slept very soundly till Reveille which was a little before daylight.  I took a short nap before breakfast.  The morning was cloudy & threatened rain, but about 10 O'clock the sky became clear & the day was beautifully bright & pleasant.  The call for outpost last evening was quite unexpected & as it was cloudy & threatening, the brave & devoted trait of character was required to enable one to answer it without mental murmurings.  Hinkley thus received it & he had but a few minutes to prepare.  This A.M. Donaldson, Stutsman & I went to the woods to get shingle bolts & poles for our new room & the Commissary room.  We got back at noon having got a good lot of stuff.  I could not help noticing how much better & stronger I feel now than 15 or 20 days ago.  Now I can chop nearly as of old & I lifted & helped carry heavy poles.  I read two articles in 'Irish Sketches' today, viz, 'Wexford Assizes & John Doherty'.  While reading the first of those I was deeply moved by the mention made in one place of a simple & beautiful peasant girl singing one of Moore's Melodies, commencing "Though the last glimpse of Erin with sorrow I see" to what the author calls the "enchanting melancholy air, which is commonly called "The Coulin" & which was sweetly & inartificially sung, went deeply into our hearts."  I often heard my mother sing this tune in her old age & now I read of its sweetness to other ears, when far away from her whose sweet songs & gentle words of sympathy & love were ever heard to increase the happiness & comfort of all at home, thus striving ever to make it all she could-like Heaven.  I have often wandered at her memory of songs learned before her 18 year, all of which she could repeat with much correctness.  I took a walk about town P.M.  Late in the summer I found a dozen good books in good order which I could have bought for a low price & which I meant all the time to buy.  I was told the owner went North & took them with him.  I much regret this as I could read them all winter.

 

October 19th Wednesday, 1864

Last night I read & wrote till as late as 9 1/2 P.M.  I was detailed for forage so I got all ready for an early start.  (I wrote a latter to Mr B.F. Rahler, a member of 1st Ind in answer to his of Sept 28th.  He was then at home in Ind.).  I was not up till the drum beat the call & then I was as soon as the rest on hand.  We started early & were about 3 or 4 off at daylight.  The morning broke cloudy & foggy, but continued dry & a part of the time the sun shone clear.  We went down along the north bank of the river & loaded our wagons at a place 20 miles from town.  Nearly all the country as far out as that is waste, the fields so broad & of so fertile, soil are covered with a rank growth of fireweeds.  I also noticed some rank, smart weed along the road, which is seldom met with here.  Many of the boys shot pigs, & some got large hogs.  I shot at two hogs, but missed both.  Some got sheep & chickens.  I got some onions such as grow here-- all top or stalk & little full.  I also got a few beets.  We got excellent corn.  I was well housed in barns & large bins.  I tried to buy some sweet potatoes, but the man would not sell any.  The negroes told me he had potatoes.  They always are our friends & act as if they knew instinctively we were theirs.  Well thanks to God we are working to overthrow the tyranny & wrongs under which they have so long labored.  Very near where we stopped there was a burial place & a Catholic priest lives close by it.  I did not see a church edifice, though perhaps one was close by.  I asked the priest where his well was but the water found rather poor.  I addressed him as neighbor.  His housekeeper was an old colored lady, who told me upon inquiry that the people all round about are Catholics & I suppose nonetheless Rebels.  We met a few vehicles coming to town & returning.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff, Ark
October 20th Thursday, 1864

We had a very difficult time last evening to make our way over the last 3 or 4 miles of road at it was quite dark & the road is very winding & narrow.  We often got fast in stumps & had hard work to get the wagons clear.  The driver of the wagon on which I rode in was of the 13th Ill & I was surprised & shocked to listen to his awful & frequent blasphemies, for when anything happened wrong he only swore at his team, as if it was to blame.  Four or six of the last teams were nearly an hour after the rest of the train, so it was at least 1/2 past 10 when I reached camp.  I ate some supper & speedily went to bed.  Today I felt pains in the chords of my limbs, caused by the fatigue of riding so far & getting in & out of the wagons so often with ones accouterments on.  We worked at our new house today.  Hinkley split shakes & I laid up some logs, assisted a part of the time by Donaldson & Stutsman.  The day was bright & clear & the air was sharp & cold most of the day.  This A.M. I finished reading 'Sketches of the Irish Bar'.  The book contains 388 pages.  The notes added by MacKenzie in fine type occupy a large part of the book.  Gilbert showed me a large 12 mo. work of 450 pages with about 30 well executed steel portraits of leading southern Methodist ministers.  The book is called 'The Methodist Church South'.  He said Lieut. Tiel gave it to him.  Last night I shelled nearly a bushel of corn which I carried in my rubber blanket.  This will make meal for our mess which is worth $2 a bushel.  This was ration day & ten days rations were drawn from Post Commissary.  Full rations of coffee, sugar, were drawn, four days rations of hard bread & salt meat -shoulders- were drawn & six day's of fresh meat & soft bread come in the ten days.  I carried supper to Walton on Picket & got a qt of milk for tomorrow.  I also got a qt this morning.  I feel very well.  River is very low.

 

October 21st Friday, 1864

Last night I tried to write so as to fill my diary, but I felt so tired that I could not finish it.  I slept well in the barracks & fell out to roll call & after that had a nap.  The day was warm & pleasant.  Last night was clear & cold.  There was frost to be seen this morning.  We often wonder at the coldness of the nights & think they are but little if any colder at this time in Wis.  We finished laying up the logs in our house & put on most of the roofing, so that it is nearly ready for laying the shingles.  Today S.K. Moore helped us, having decided to come in with Hinkley & me.  He is quiet person, never plays cards & so will be a good partner for us.  H- & I often say how we could not enjoy or use our time if we were in with the party adjoining, for there is so much uproar that we would have little quiet for study.  Now if Matt comes here we will have room for him with us.  The forage train went out early this morning.  There are 3 or 4  from our Co.  The train got back about 9 1/2 O'clock.  Clark & two of the other boys got a hog & he said the boys got a vast number of hogs some chickens &c.  He kept 1/2 & gave the rest to the other two.  Wm Young was not on detail but he went out on his own hook to get some for his mess.  This was often done at Little Rock last year when we were short of rations & thus in part made up a supply.  I heard it spoken of, that the forage train would be sent out one day so as to load up & return the next day.  This should be done for it is too severe on teams & men to be up from 3 O'clock A.M. to 10 1/2 or 11 P.M.    I t comes to mind that I once heard or read a remark made of the disgust felt by persons -not very deeply interested- in the silly way that persons courting act in their intercourse before marriage.  One day lately I happened to be a spectator at a short distance from a man & woman indulging in endearments.  It would be more pleasant to know if it be virtuous love.  I agree however that love-making should be as private as possible.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 22d Saturday, 1864

Last night I wrote till about 10 O'clock while the boys were busy dressing the pig, &c.  I slept well till Reveille when Hinkley & I went to work & got breakfast.  We did no work on our house today.  About 9 A.M. we heard mail would go at noon so I wrote a sheet of note paper & put it in with two sheets of Diary & mailed it but I forgot to put a stamp on it.  I hope it will go safely but they must pay double on it- .06  This morning I got two sacks of corn from one of the forage wagons & I shelled & Hinkley & I took it over to the Mill & had it ground.  The Miller gives equal measure of meal for the corn, keeping the rest of his pay.  He sells meal at $3.00 a bushel.  He told me he pays $2.00 a bushel for the corn & husks, shells, and grinds it for one dollar a bushel.  This A.M. Gilbert gave me a requisition on Post Commissary for one lb of green tea for our Mess.  It is beautiful tea & cost them $1.50 a lb.  I am tired of using coffee so constantly & it is a saving to use tea for supper while we can get $1.00 a lb for coffee.  Our mess uses an enormity of sugar in coffee, so we -or they rather- for I do not care enough about sugar in coffee as to use more than full rations--buy many dollars worth Hinkley does not like so extravagant a way & says he will be in no more.  I sometimes notice how many of the boys leave sugar on the bottom of the cups.  This P.M. the 27th Wis Reg broke camp & started by land for Little Rock.  They had but 3 teams, so I think the boys may have to carry their knapsacks most on all the way.  Many from our Regt were busy getting boxes, boards, nails &c from the bunks & shanties they had made.  They had hauled some logs to build barracks.  I think their Regimental band as poor as our own, or poorer.  Moore & Donaldson & I & H- got aplenty of boards to make a floor &c in our room.  The mail was sent with the 27th.  My gold pen is getting disordered so it is hard to use it.

 

October 23d Sunday, 1864

Last night I wrote till late, & I had a good sound sleep till Reveille this morning.  I was awaking at roll call but did not rise for I thought it was too cold to get out of bed.  Foster came to me & called me after, so he may report my absence to Capt & I may have to do extra duty but I do not expect it.  If it comes, I can do it.  I felt some the effects of a cold I have & this was a part of the cause for not rising.  I was up soon after daylight, as I had to clean my gun & be ready at 7 1/2 for Guard mounting as I was detailed for Picket.  I had all things ready in time & just as we finished breakfast the drums beat.  I am not on 3d Relief which is the best for getting good sleep.  McKown is also on with me.  Lieut. Bennet B. Co is in Command.  The day & duty are both lonely & dreary.  I do not complain of this as others do, nor do I feel it so severely for I always have plenty of reading to occupy my time.  Some of the others read, but most sit or stand about the fire & talk of matters good-bad & often indifferent.  Hinkley brought out dinner about 2 P.M.  Turner was cook, but as he did not cook enough & went off after dinner as he was wanted to drive one of our Regimental teams, H- had to cook some meat which delayed him.  He & I are different from the others & Clark, too does not quite agree with them as he is quieter & more reasonable than the others.  A.D & S. Foster, Walton, Wells, & Turner.  These use sugar in their drink & otherwise & I use none so but eat some with my bread.  At breakfast Walton found fault with this way that I use it but thinks the way himself uses it is all right, however extravagantly.  He told me this morning that I was a 'd--d' or G- d- d-d liar when in speaking of the coffee being weak for breakfast. I said it would not require so much sugar to sweeten it as if it were strong.  I let all this pass unnoticed, for I know my word is trusted more than his & I do not wish to have any trouble or quarrel with him.  He showed his ill manners & insolence in the summer but if he would fight which I doubt he could not do so alone.  I read to 20th Chap of 1st Samuel & 50 pages in Roads & R. Roads.  Day is bright & wind blown the dust freely.  I am very well.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 24th Monday, 1864

It is much with the Com Officers here as with the habits of the Privates in regard to expenses.  Thus, many of the officers of our Regt pay $30 a month for their board in private families, while others board with an old Negro man, who has been with the Regt since it left the state & get their board for $16 a month.  Of this latter class are our Co. Officers Lieut. Bennet of B, Heartwell of I &c.  One day last week I was in the bookstore in town looking over some papers, magazines, &c when my attention was attracted by an officer present who complained of the low (?) wages paid to Com Officers.  He went on to say that if the Government did not soon raise their wages no responsible (?) men could be found to fill the places of trust & responsibility which Commissioned Officers now hold.  I felt anxious to give him a piece of my mind in regard to the habits of Officers of which I have heard & I think there are facts that would take him down fast.  I heard lately of Capt Slawson Co B losing 400 dollars one night playing cards.  Officers often buy bourbon, whiskey, brandies, wines &c at from $2.50 to $4.00 a bottle which holds about 1 1/2 pint each.  Privates know little about how many of these are emptied into other tumblers or animated liquor holders in the course of one night, passed till the small hours in carousal & gambling.  It is a fact that there are many Privates who have more native ability, moral worth, & are better educated them any of the shoulder strap gentry.  This is not always -I think- the fault of those  having the appointing power, but is rather to be charged as one of the abuses of society & those abuses will diminish as society becomes purified.  When Congress last session increased the wages of soldiers & non-Com Officers the wish was that officers' wages should not be raised & rather than that we would have ours as before.
I slept well last night so I got about 7 1/2 hours sound sleep.  Night was not cold.  Today was warm & pleasant.  I was Cook.  We had a plenty of fresh pork, baked in our oven.  We got a part of our roof on.  This A.M. I finished 1st Samuel.  I ate heartily, worked some & feel first rate.

 

October 25th Tuesday, 1864

Last night I slept well.  The wonder is why we have roll call so early, while other Regiments have it an hour later, viz at 6 O'clock A.M.  Since Lt. Col. Gray has been in arrest I believe Capt Stephens commands the Regt & now the boys wonder that he does not order Reveille from 1/2 to an hour later.  Six from our mess were absent from camp on duty, leaving but A.D. Foster & I for dinner.  He was cook & took it rather leisurely.  Some of our Mess devote nearly all the day to the work when it is their turn to cook.  Of this No. are Clark, Hinkley, & I generally make an all day job of it & Wells often does well but both Fosters, Walton, & Turner commonly act as if the less time & labor they expend the better they do.  Well, we should bear & forbear & I only wish all would try to act on this principle.  Walton, Clark & S. Foster were foraging.  They started at 3-45 A.M. or were waked then & got back about 3 1/2 P.M.  They got a hog which orderly & I skinned & dressed which weighs about 100 lbs net.  Turner was out with them as teamster with one of our Regt'l teams.  Train did not go more than 10 or 12 miles.  Hinkley & Wells went for some of the machinery of a saw mill out some 12 miles from town.  They reported at 1/4 to 7 A.M. & were long delayed before starting got back to camp at dark.  This P.M. I ate [one] of the first hogs liver since I left Wis.  I have often eaten of a beef's liver, which is a favorite article in camp.  A saw mill is about to be built from the material of the one they are now bringing here.  Gen. Clayton went to Little Rock Sunday by land & we expect a mail by land when the escort returns & the hope is that will be speedily.  The river is so low that no steamer can make the trip.  Day was cloudy & a shower fell A.M.  I worked alone and finished the roof on our room.  It attracts general notice from all passers-by in our Regt & looks as nice as any yet made.  The tree H- & I got was an excellent one & we dressed the shakes with an ax.  Many wild geese pass over, their course is southward.  They sometimes stop along the river.  Week ago Sunday one of the boys shot a crane across the river.  From tip to tip of wings was about 4 1/2 to 5 feet, neck was 20 inches & legs as long.  This evening I feel some like ague with slight fever.  This A.M. I wrote a letter with respect to Miss A.P.E. [his mystery female pen pal]

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 26th Wednesday, 1864

Last night was rainy, but not rough or stormy nor cold.  I slept well & pleasantly except once.  I rose in the night till roll call a short time before daylight.  I had a nap before breakfast.  A.M. was cloudy till 9 O'clock.  The rest of the day was clear, mild & pleasant.  This A.M. I wrote a part of a page in my 'Book of Memories' on page 27.  I read five Chapters in 2d Book of Samuel.  Today Moore, Hinkley & I worked some on our room.  I get to like it more & more each day.  We will have a quiet & I hope a pleasant place, where no swearing will be heard & no cards will be played.  We had a plenty of fried & baked fresh pork, fresh bread from the bakery for dinner & also a good corn cake for supper with tea.  Walton was cook.  Yesterday Jacobi shook in ague.  He has been sick many weeks past or unfit for duty & was lately on Picket, which exposure was probably the cause of his present attack.  Lieut. Gilbert was sick yesterday or day before with ague.  He does not have good health, though so little exposed & having so many advantages which I or any private, doing duty with the Co never enjoys.  Well, a good constitution  firm and devoted spirit will help one through much hardship.  I remember an adage my dear old Mother oft repeated-"God fits the back for the burt[?] then'- but we often see cases in which this fails.  This P.M. Henry Draper & Jacob Gelzer came up to the Co on an evening visit.  They both & McKee are doing duty in the post Commissary building, the two latter as clerks or copyists & Draper in other duty.  About 10 days ago Leon H King was detailed for guard duty there.  This takes one half each day & he helped at work a part of the rest of each day.  I am glad he has so good a place for there he is not exposed to storm & has no night duty to perform, which is the case with the others mentioned above.  They never go foraging or on fatigue duty.  King is true & the oldest man in our Co.  J. Heaton is also on detail in town doing carpenter work & R.D. Lewis Velty is absent & was most of the summer.  He does blacksmith work.  I am very well.

 

Pine Bluff, Ark
October 27th Thursday, 1864

Last night Hinkley & I read & wrote in our mess room till Retreat at 9 P.M.  He was detailed on guard & I on forage.  It seems a long time since I was on guard, but he is at Headquarters today & that is not as pleasant as Camp guard.  I waked about 3 1/2 A.M. & was ready in good season.  The detail from our Regt was 20 privates, 2 Sergt's & two Corp's & we started from camp at 4 O'clock & had to wait at the Pontoon Bridge till after daylight.  The early morning was chill so that overcoats came good,  Lieut. Col of 13th Ill Cav was in Command.  His name is Whittemore.  He is a plain & good man I think.  We went out on the Lower Monticello road 10 miles & loaded about 30 wagons with good old corn, one or two years old.  There was but one woman & a little girl 12 or 13 yrs old about the place & a few Negro women.  The boys shot many hogs & some got sheep, whole others got a large No. of hens & chickens.  I was told that hens were sold for 23 cts each in one place & for this price I would have bought for 8 to take to camp as our mess would like to have some & they could be sold in town for $.75 to $1.00 each.  I got enough sweet potatoes to make one or two messes.  Had I been along sooner I could have had one or two bushels of good large ones.  On the way in I shelled some corn for meal.  While going out I read many pages in Roads & R. Roads.  I took with me a plenty of bread & corn cake with baked fresh pork & a small box of sugar.  The woods were often like those on rich lands in Wis or Minnesota being chiefly oaks (burr & black),  White ash trees often of very large size & excellent for saw logs.  Hickory of large & small growth, scattering cypress trees & cottonwood & gum abound.  The soil is rich & the surface flat, & but little rolling.  If cleared up & well cultivated, it must bear abundant crops.  Some beautiful weeping willows were seen more beautiful I think than any ever seen in the severe Northern clime.  Daniel McNeill & I exchanged a few remarks more kind words than we had in two months before.  I am glad of this.  We reached town about dark.  Mail came late from Little Rock.

 

Pine Bluff, Ark
October 28th Friday, 1864

The long delayed mail came last night at dark & was distributed in our Regt about 9 1/2 O'clock P.M.  It was a large one, bringing many letters & papers.  Clark got 25 newspapers from his people, & many others in proportion.  I got a letter from Matt mailed 6th inst.  I inferred from its tone that he is very apt to come South instead of getting a substitute, if he could do so.  It was the most depressing to my spirits that he ever wrote me, for it seems that Father & Mother suffer great anxiety and have dark forebodings.  It is little wonder as they are both so old & he being the youngest & only one left to take care of Home & them.  He feels perfectly willing to come but evidently dreads the pain that they will suffer in his absence & mine.  He remarks that he fears Father will not live during the year if he comes, so he hardly hopes ever again to see him alive.  I hope this will not be so for in that case I too must suffer the same loss.  He thought he would come to our Co if allowed to do so, though many advised him to gain a battery of heavy artillery, rather than to come to so sickly a place as this.  He had not been notified, but so many were running away that it seemed almost certain he would be taken.  Alas those last five weeks have been the saddest days in my old home that I ever knew.  Still, God be praised! there is no disloyalty there.  Anthony wrote Sept 28th in much the same tone as Matt.  He says Mother says Matt must not com South, so I infer that she prefers that he should get a substitute at any cost.  For the sake of the old people, I wish he would do so, as their comfort is above all price.  A- is rather despondent.  He said little Winifred was sick.  I also had a short letter from Maria dated 28th ult.  She had a bad cold & was unwell.
A strange occurrence had taken place in regard to book postage.  Our gold pens came all right.  I got a lot of paper--one ream & 600 envelopes & pills H- & I sent for.  I washed some this A.M.  Day was bright & pleasant.  Last evening I took a dose of quinine.  Today I am well.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 29th Saturday, 1864

Last night I wrote till late & had good rest as usual.  We sleep in the barracks for we are on duty so after that we have little time to work on our room.  We did some at it & when finished we will have a good place.  This A.M. was rainy & I got some bricks to make a foundation in our room for our stove.  S.K. Moore & I carried them 50 or 60 rods to our camp.  In our first load we carried 32 old water-soaked bricks & I felt the load very heavy & had to rest several times.  The second load we carried 22 & that made a fair load.  They probably weighed from 6 to 8 lbs each.  Either they were enormously heavy, or I was very weak.  I do not feel near so strong as I did last summer, nor so hearty, but I am comfortable enough.  This P.M. I got Harper's Weekly of Oct 22.  In it I find the State elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, & Ind have resulted in favor of the Union.  This is encouraging though in the latter state the soldiers are not allowed to vote.  It is truly cheering that those great States are secure for the Union & the War.  In Nov such facts will make rebels & traitors fear & tremble.  I see it stated that Geo. W. Curtis is editor of Harper's Weekly & has been nominated for Congress by the Unionists in the __ District of N.Y.  I hope he will be elected for he will be a giant for the Right in Con[gress].  H- & I sent for some pills to Bosworth & Sons in Milwaukee & at the end of the note I added a few words, thus:  Yours for Union & Liberty--no Compromise, no armistice with traitors.  When I opened the package night before last, what a thrill of joy passed through me as I read the response sent at the end of the bill enclosed, thus:  No Sir-no surrender, no compromise, no armistice, Battle for the Union until traitors lay down their arms.  This is what our soldiers wish almost unanimously.  I find by the papers that Gen. Butler made an important movement on 29 or 30 ult which involved heavy fighting.  We lost 8 canons by being temporarily driven back but all the ground was recovered.  Mead made a movement toward SW of Richmond with success Sheridan gained another victory over Longstreet who succeeded early in Shenandoah Valley.  I have many offers for my new Gold Pen.  By dates of 20 inst gold is only .90 & 1.00 Premium.

 

October 30th Sunday, 1864

It was late last night when Hinkley & I lay down to sleep.  I slept so soundly that when I waked this morning at reveille it seemed as if I had not been asleep an hour, yet I was refreshed & strong.  This was at 5 O'clock & H- & I went to work quickly to get breakfast, which we had ready at daylight.  H- & I washed the dishes & got ready for inspection which was about 9 O'clock.  The inspection was by Capt Tichenor & took but a short time.  I was busy all A.M. so that I read or wrote none.  I had a wish to go to church but was prevented from doing so as I had to attend to preparing for dinner.  I baked some beef & made coffee which we ate with flour & corn bread.  The meat was rather tough.  I made a corn cake for supper.  Clark is on Picket today.  S. Foster was sick yesterday & today.  His brother A.D. Foster takes care of him.  He often eats too freely -I think- when getting well, so he does not be well long at a time.  There was Dress Parade this evening, Capt Stephens was in command.  Orders were read in regard to Officers attending to the proper variety of rations allowed to soldiers, too often neglected to the great detriment of our Army & the health of our soldiers.  This was issued by Gen Canby who commands the trans- Miss. Dept & was well received by the men as many of them cheered for Canby & potatoes &c as they were referred to in the order.  Lt Gilbert still continues unfit for duty.  McKee, Goelzer, Draper, & Velte were up in the Co today.  They all seem well.  Lewis lately was ailing with a cold.  Heaton is absent from the Co having changed his boarding place to the town.  He works very industriously all his spare time being used in some work for his own benefit.  He makes ax halves for which he gets $1.00 each.  How much better he would have done had he married many years sooner as then his time & money would have been well used & saved.   This P.M. I wrote a part of a letter to Anthony in answer to his two last ones.  I could not but weep while I pondered the subject,-viz, Matt leaving Father & Mother to come south & that they will fret & suffer so much.  I feel very well today.

 

Camp at Pine Bluff
October 31st Monday, 1864

Last night I read in the barracks for some of our boys, the speech of Gen John A. Logan of Ill at a late meeting in the Southern part of that State.  He comes fairly & boldly for Lincoln & Johnson & the prosecution of the War till the rebels yield.  Before the War, I thought him one of the most subservient of the northern friends of slavery, being a friend & follower of Douglass for several years in Congress.  He now asserts that he hear Pendleton utter treason in the House of Rep. & he is very severe on him.  He thinks McClellan not so bad as his associates but only the tool of bad men.  I wrote till late.  There was evening service in the Pres Church.  A Capt in one of our Regts preached a good discourse, some of our boys said who were present.  Had I known of it I would have gone to attend it.  As a part of the result of the preaching one of our boys, W.T.H. McK- came to me where I was alone writing & made known to me the impression made in his mind to reform & be more careful in the future how he behaves himself.  I sympathized with him & talked to him some trying to encourage him & to cheer him to leave the common ways of his associates & to follow a higher & purer way than they follow.  He was deeply impressed & I  hope the result will be for good.  His associates so far have been the most profane wearers- most obscene speakers- & inveterate card players in our Co & I will look with anxiety for his change.  I slept well last night & after Roll Call this morning I slept till breakfast was rung[?].  Jones & I from our Co were detailed from our Co about 20 from our Regt on fatigue duty.  We reported at 6-45 at the Q.M. office-but had to wait till about 9 O'clock before Mr Q.M. Capt Barns came to tell us what to do.  Such delays are provoking for he was abed till near 8 A.M. & we had to work late to make up for the time lost early by his fault.  We worked getting pine poles of small growth with branches on to lay for a foundation for a bridge near the new Mill now building in the back part of town.  I read many pages in Roads.  I feel very well.  Day was pleasant & bright.  Our Regt was mustered today [in 1862].

 

 

Pine Bluff
General Review of October

I will make a few extracts from the morning reports of our Co to show the condition of our Co during the month just expired.  One Capt.--one first Lieut; no 2d.  Three Sergts present for duty one Griffing absent in Wis.  Corporals C. one Walders absent on sick leave.  One drummer, no fifer.  Privates present with Co for duty 17 to 21.  On daily duty non-com. 1-Privates five.  Sick two were reported once & 1 most other days.  Privates sick varies from 1 to six seldom more than 4.  Total Com present two.  Total enlisted men varies from 36 to 41.   Absent on detached service:  enlisted men 12 first of month & increased to 15 before lasted to 3.  Enlisted men absent sick first 2 most of the month but one Private Daily who deserted from Camp Wahburn & afterward arrested & placed in confinement, was reported sick in confinement till 24th when his name was dropped from the Book.  He deserted from Cairo, Ill. Sept 18, 1863.  Total enlisted absent varies during the month from 16 to 19.   Present & absent Com Officers 2. Enlisted men first of month 58 & runs down to 55 at the end of the month.  Of this decrease but one was caused by death-viz. Joseph C Blanchard.  We begin Nov with an aggregate of 57 in our Co, all told.  This is a very small No. compared with that shown two years ago in Camp Washburn & the record differs materially in many respects.  Some of our ablest & best lie in Southern graves & the others are scattered far & wide.  Less than 2/3 of us are left to work out the last year of our term.  I do not think any of those left with us regret that they enlisted.  I know I do not, but rather rejoice most heartily.  Still, I could wish matters were better in my old home with those who must remain.  I read in Paper of 20 inst the Chief Justice of U.S. Supreme Court Roger B Taney died at his home in Maryland.  I heartily rejoice at this for he was a friend to Slavery.

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last modified: 22 May 2023