CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF JAMES B. LOCKNEY
WIS. 28th REGMT., CO. G
September
1864
Copyright © 1986, 1997-2023 [James
R. Shirey]. All rights reserved.
Diary for 1864
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 1st, Friday 1864
Last night I wrote & read till about 9 1/2 P.M. Clark was on camp guard,
so I lay down alone & slept well till about 2 1/2 this morning when I lay for at
time restless, so I rose & found the sky clouded. I found Moore &
one of Co B up & talking about the War. This is the all-absorbing subject
of conversation & very often of dispute among us, each with his own views how
public affairs should have been managed but all agreeing as to the difficulties
that beset us on all sides & all willing that anything be done to secure us
victory. Today I read Chicago Trib of 19. N.Y. Independent of 2d
inst & Waukesha Freeman & Co Dem (The latter is filled as usual with abuse of
the Administration in low witticisms, prose, & verse. Our boys feel a deep
& bitter indignation against the editor--Carny & threaten vengeance if they
return. Not a word is said against Davis & his rebel crew). It is
grievous to us to see talk of meetings & of taxes to raise bounties to encourage
volunteering, when the draft should be rigorously executed & thus promptly fill
our decimated ranks. I lay down at 3 & slept till roll call at 5.
S.R. Turner was cook today. I washed shirts, pantaloons, &c for the boys
to the amount of 50 cts. I worked about 3 hours. I suppose some may
think it mean thus to earn money but it is honest & useful & I can never be
ashamed of it. I had rather earn cigars thus than by playing cards for
them. Cha's Wicket one day said he would tell my sister Mary about me
washing when we get home. This was a good joke & I said I hoped he would.
Hinkley & Gill were from our Co foraging today. They started early, but
were long delayed by blunders of those in Com. Some credit is now allowed
as for Picket & guard. Turner & I meant to have 12 photographs taken for
each so we could exchange with others but agreed today prices are too high &
quality of pictures too poor. I saw Juhre & Sears in hosp today;
both are gaining. P.M. was very lot. River is quite high. I
read last of Exodus today. I am very well.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 2d, Friday 1864
Last evening was hot, but calm & sky starry. I lay down at 9 1/2 O'clock
and was waked for Roll Call at 1/4 to 5 this morning. This is my third day on Picket
or third time. For some of the boys [who] do camp guard who are not yet strong enough to do severe duty.
At this I do not complain, but rejoice that I am fit for any duty, wishing that
all others were as well. Day was quite hot, but much relief was afforded
by this gentle breeze which blew nearly all day. Last night some of the
boys of our mess & others played cards for cigars. Day before yesterday,
Foster, McCl's, Walton, & Turner played some game for their rations of candles
which was drawn for 10 days. F- won them (3) & Walton was dissatisfied &
complained of unfairness. Yesterday, Gilbert was troubled with vomitings,
& some fever. Capt was field officer of the day. I was speaking
today to some of 13 Ill Cav who were raised in Northern Alabama & who went North
when the War began. They say many in some companies are from the slave
states & they make the very best of soldiers. How much it is to be
regretted that a War sets us against each other for many of them would be with
us if allowed their chance. Lieut. Hartwell is with us on
Picket today. I sometimes wonder how it is about officers. How
little they associate with Privates, but if they are commissioned in a negro or
other Co. they suddenly act as on equal terms. Today I began reading
'The Rejected Wife' by Mrs Ann S Stephens. It is a story of the times
of Benedict Arnold. I read 18 pages in 'Night Thoughts', about 50 pages
yet remain. I bought 25 cts worth of apples today. I got 13. I
am on 1st relief & on same post as last time. In one of the raids made to
cut off communications South & East of Atlanta, Gen. McCook's command gained a
signal [single?] victory & captured & destroyed a large train. There was
liquors in the train which our men used freely & got drunk when they lost all
they had gained in prisoners &c & many of Com were captured. Yesterday I
weighed 148 lbs.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September 3d, Saturday 1864
Last night, I was on post from 8 to 10 & slept with
McKown till 2 A.M. when I was waked & was on post till 4 O'clock. Night
was starry & calm, but the air was close & hot. I slept about 1 1/2 hours
in the cool of the morning & then I read the first 10 chapters of Leviticus.
I also read many pages in 'Rejected Wife'. We reached camp about 8 A.M. &
I read in Sentinels from 1st to 10 inst of the operations before Petersburg &
Atlanta. At or near Atlanta there was very severe fighting on 20d, 22d, &
28th of July in which accounts say our men counted 3990 dead Rebels besides many
others that the enemy must have lost. At usual average of wounded, enemy
would have from 20 to 25,000 wounded besides those otherwise missing. Our
loss was also heavy, but much less. Gen Hook is relieved from Command in
Sherman's Army in Geo & is likely to have a command in Va. Gen __ Smith is
removed from Com in Grant's Army. He made himself offensive to Gen's Butler &
Meade. He was esteemed an able officer & his loss to the army is much
regretted. It is now said in the East as has long been suspected on the W.
side of Miss Riv that the rebel troops are crossing to reinforce Hood's Army at
Atlanta. The charge of our troops on rebel works at Petersburg at the time
of blowing up the rebel fort by a mine on ______ was a failure & caused much loss
to our men. The project was well planned, but failed in Execution.
A small S.Carolina Regt was destroyed in the ruins of the Fort. The 'gallery'
was ___ yds long & was done in a month from June 25th by 48 Pa Inf Regt:
Efforts are made in the north to fill the call for 400,000 by volunteering.
Large bounties will be paid. Many men too old or otherwise prevented from
enlisting as Merchangts are sending substitutes at their own expense.
Hinkley & I paid 50 cts for a candlestick today. I bought 25 cts worth of
matches & sold them for 35 cts. River falls fast. A. Gunder Co H
was foraging & sunstruck. [Charles] McGill Co F was buried today.
He was a good man.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 4th Sunday 1864
Last night I slept well & till Reveille about 5 O'clock this A.M.
Three from our Co went out foraging. Clark was one of those. The
train went out 15 miles & returned about 5 O'clock P.M. I heard we have to
pay a dollar a bushel for this corn. I do not like this for I think the
price to much. I read some in 'Rejected Wife' & also in my Bible. I
read to 15th chap in Leviticus. I went to Pres Church in which there was
the Episcopal service by our Chaplain Peake. I think it was the first time
I ever saw the ceremonies fully gone through with. There were but few in
attendance & those chiefly soldiers. There were two ladies present who
took a part in the exercises. I think the old Sesesh, Minister is ousted,
for I see the Melodeon is taken out, so our boys--three of them-- had a hard
time singing. In the service, the Lord's Prayer & Apostle's Creed are the
same as among Catholics. The service was tedious & dull, with frequent
kneeling &c, though much less than in the Mass.
Boat Ad. Hinds came
down at 11 A.M. having started about noon of Friday. She brought a mail &
papers. The latest papers are to 23 ult & letters to 20. Some of the
boys got 3 to 5 letters. I got only one & that from Matt written from 14
to 17 Aug. They were all well. Weather had been very warm & he
cradled oats. The crop is fair much better than he expected. Many
were leaving for places unknown fleeing from the draft. L. Evans left & J.
Bell went to Kansas &c. Some efforts were making to raise large bounties
for volunteering-- The draft will be a heavy one. The No. required
from Wis will be over 12,000 & from N.Y. 89,000. In [the] attack on Mobile
we lost the Monitor Tecumseh, she was sunk by the explosion of a torpedo. Rebel
lines at Atlanta are 18 miles long & ours at Petersburg 25 miles long. I
got three dollars of letter stamps today. No dress parade today.
September 5 Monday 1864
Last evening I was busy till near 11 O'clock getting letters
ready for the mail. I sent but one to Matt & on that but single postage
was paid. I also sent an order to Milwaukee for a small lot of envelopes
to the amount of $1.25. I slept well till roll call this A.M. at 5
O'clock. The day clear & warm, was relieved much by an active breeze
blowing nearly all day. I washed to the amount of about 50 cts & finished
about 11 A.M. I read in many papers very full details of the various
operations since the 20 of July. The results are important though not
decisive, as we could wish... I read Harper's Weekly of Aug 27 which Chas. Gill
of our Co bought & gave me to read. There was an explosion at City Point,
Va. Aug 9 by which property to the amount of $2,000,000 & about 50 lives & 100
wounded. Three vessels--transports-- were destroyed & sunk. By
advices [?] from Chattanooga to Aug 23d or 4 the enemy had broken & very
seriously threatened to destroy the 138 miles of rail road on which Sherman
depends for his supplies. I have dreaded this ever since he began his
advance from Chattanooga. I have very great anxiety for the safety of his
army at or before Atlanta. The Editorials in the Weekly are sound, able, &
true as usual. I read in one of the papers that an English paper says in
commenting on our War there never was so severe & desperate fighting done by the
Human Race..
I read to 20th Chap of Leviticus & many pages in
the "Rejected Wife'. The day wore away drearily & slowly & this P.M. I
felt some slight symptoms of fever again. My bowels are not so regular,
easy, & healthy (I think) as they generally are. Waukesha Freeman has a
list of those enrolled for the draft in the County. The draft will be a
heavy one in each of the towns. The quota for the Co is ___. Letters
from New Berlin say my former school mate, Abagail Newel married a man having 5
children. Boat went up with the mail at 6 A.M.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 6th Tuesday 1864
I lay down last night about 9 O'clock & Orderly waked me up at 3
1/2 this morning as I & three others were detailed for forage duty to report at
4 A.M. He had a hard task to break the bonds of sweet, soft sound [of]
sleep in which I was bound. But I had pledged my faith more than two years
ago to bear & help support our Union & its flag as the symbol of Universal
Freedom in the fight now waging between Human Rights & old & bloody privilege,
by which for long ages past the great multitude labored & as if it were lived
but to feed & pamper the few that ruled them & to pander to their appetites &
passions. Well, as we daily remark we do not like to be here but there was
a vast work to be done & providence made it our duty to do a part of it & the
part we agreed to do is not yet accomplished--- But I often think what if one
die in the War & so prematurely end our dearly loved Life here & join the vast
hundreds of millions who have in all the past fought & bled & died for the
maintenance of a nationality in which they were allowed few Rights or none; or
for some usurper or dynasty whose only purpose was to degrade & oppress them
whose blood secured it & whose sweat & toil upheld it. How different it is
with us; for the fight is as much for each of us who occupied the humblest
place before the War & who now does a Private's duty as for the highest &
proudest in the land. We fight even for the best interests of our foes who
are led on to destroy the rights which we strive to secure for all the future
generations. Day was clear & sun hot a breeze blew which afforded much
relief. There were 50 wagons & about 200 men with the train.
We went out 15 miles, the roads were quite dusty. I asked a lady 'how long
the country there was settled'. She said she did not know. River
falls very fast. I am pretty well.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 7 Wednesday 1864
I often have to wonder how many of the human race are not only
willing, but anxious for the possession of that authority or power which would
make others subject to their every wish & whim. On one occasion, two or
three days ago, I heard Porter, Orderly of Co K & a few others in the same Co
speaking of some negroes & what they liked & disliked in the ways & habits of a
Negro. I was made sad & filled with reflections in regard to the injustice
& dark & narrow Prejudice that so abounds in the world now in the last half of
this century so boasted of for its enlightenment & Christianity. But alas
those are the subjects of such empty boasts! The wish of all those
champions of despotism was that the Negro would know his place & keep it with
all impossible exactness. If a white man or villain rather, begins an
attack of abuse in words or blows, they'd like to have the wronged Negro take it
all with not only quiet submission but even with good humor & almost with thanks
that they make him (Negro) the object of their attentions. Above all, mean
& low traits of character I hate that most & consider it most devilish which
tried ever to keep the poor & oppressed forever in that state in which they were
born. The landlords in Ireland wished my oppressed & down trodden
ancestors to know their place & to keep it, allowing them to approach only with
bare heads in acknowledgment of their object & dependent condition. But
thanks to God, that I now live to fight & if need be die for the overthrow of
oppression & privilege of a person of contracted views & great self esteem he
aspired to a lieutenancy in our Co, at its formation, but was with two or three
others transferred to Co K to fill it. He wrote some letters which were
Pub. in Waukesha Freeman. Yesterday I read more than 100 pages in
"Rejected Wife'. I regret that I lost my copy of Young's Night Thoughts,
which I had with me. Day was bright & breezy till M. when a light shower
fell. P.M. was cool. I & others helped build a post hospital on N.
side of river. I have a slight cold. Official telegraph dispatch
says Atlanta is ours.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 8th Thursday 1864
This A.M. was sunny till about 10 O'clock when a shower fell for
a short time which was followed by another before noon. I washed some
clothes & got done at 11 O'clock. The P.M. was bright & breezy. I
read in N.Y. Independent of Aug __ & some beside. I did not write any.
At 3 O'clock we had orders to be ready with two days rations in 15 or 20
minutes. All of our Co fit for duty & not on at the time were out, also, a
detail of 10 from Co E & I making in all 60 men & non Com. We went to
Headquarters to report & there found details from 106 & 126 Ill Regts & after a
time a detail from 13th Ill Cav. At first we heard Rebels burned a bridge
& so cut off the forage train which went out early this morning. This was
all guess for we soon found all this was for outpost duty on all the roads
leading to town. Capt Techenor came with us & took 1/2 detail from our
Regt & was ordered on Lower Monticello Road. We are about two miles from
town in a partly cleared wood & along a field of cotton. We came off from
Camp so suddenly & expecting we had to march several miles, all the boys came
off without the ubiquitous cards which they very sincerely regret & I came off
without any of my reading or writing material which I will miss very much.
When we started from Headquarters & knew where we were going I was very much
inclined to go to camp to get some things with which to use my time; but I
let the golden moment pass & felt a little backward to ask Cap. as, if he let me
go, many others would want to go also. We have men enough to make five
reliefs so we will be two hours on post & eight off. Walton & Wells are
out with the forage train. There is a worm working in late planted cotton
in such No's as threatens to destroy the greater part of the crop for most of it
was planted late. The first part of the crop is ripe now & the work of
picking has been going on more than a week. Col Clayton has been promoted
to Brig. Gen. I am very well.
On Out Post Duty
September 9th Friday 1864
Last night I was on Post from 8 to 10. The sky was cloudy
& it seemed doubtful whether it would keep dry or not. I slept soundly,
though muskittoes troubled some. We were waked up & fell in for Grand
Rounds. Most of the boys have much difficulty to get asleep, but I am not
so troubled at anytime. I slept till about 6 A.M. when I waked & found a
thick damp mist all over the land. It passed off about 8 O'clock & the day
was pleasantly warm & bright. Moses (Capt T's Colored man) went to
town
this A.M. & I sent by him for my portfolio. This is to me one of the
[most] dreary dull & lazy days of my life. I slept most of the time & so the time
was not wholly lost. I do not remember two nights & a day in which I
slept so much. How strong is the force of habit, for many pass whole years
of life as idly as today was to me & I had rather be on any kind of duty than to
pass many days so unoccupied. I ate some bread with fresh butter milk
which the boys got about 1/2 mile off for 10 cts a quart. This is the
first I had in a long time. This A.M. Walton & Cullen came from camp & W-
brought cards, so the boys take turns playing games. The hoarseness in my
throat still continues, but does not distress me much. Gill was taken sick
this P.M. & as Capt does not feel well. Both went to camp in the evening.
Lt Bingham, Co E came out & took his place. We have been expecting a boat
the last of this week, but do not know whether she will come. Clark & I
intended to fix up our sleeping tent, but now will be prevented for a time.
A citizen residing on a neighboring plantation came to the post without a pass
but was not allowed to go out. He told us the cotton crop this year might
yield 1000 lbs of seed cotton to the acre & about 3 1/3 lbs of this was allowed
for one lb of ginned or clear cotton, so that the crop will be less than a bale
on each acre. This morning about 300 or 350 Cav went out toward Monticello
with one small steel gun.
Out Post On Monticello Road
September 10th Saturday 1864
Last night was beautiful, clear, starry & moonlit. I was on
post about 12 to 15 rods from the reserve sitting in an easy posture on a log,
resting against another log lying across that on which I sat. Soon, Sergt
Daniel McNeill came along & I familiarly asked him if a new countersign had been
sent out as it was decided to use the old one -Vile- [?] which was used last
night if no new one was sent. Instead of answering he ordered me in an
insolent & authoritative manner to stand on my post & he also noticed I had the
tompion or stopple in my gun, so in all he insinuated it would take an
incredible length of time for me to get ready to fire if need was to do so.
His manner was so insolent that I refused to comply while he was present if I
should at all. In very fact I was in a good position to watch all in front
of one & was not at all drowsy or inattentive for I heard & saw him while he
approached from the rear. I then stood with my gun in my right hand as at
attention with my left foot resting on the log in my front. I suppose he
went part way toward the reserve Post & stopped to watch me, for he soon
returned & ordered me to stand in front of a large tree in the clear moonlight
where I was a good mark for a sneaking foe. He was now more impudent than
ever & ordered me to stand where he indicated at shoulder Arms. This
I contemptuously refused to do when he went on asking me if my gun was loaded &
capped? This I refused to answer, saying if he wanted to know he might
find out when I was relieved off duty. He two or three times threatened to
report me which did not at all scare me. I can only think he came to me
hoping to find me fit to treat as a dog & only succeeded in proving himself a
puppy.
Day was rather hot & breezy. Moses took out my portfolio &c
before noon. What joy this was, for now I could be busy. I found a
lot of Muscadines ripe of which I ate a great many.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 11, Sunday 1864
We were relieved yesterday P.M. at 5 O'clock by a detail from our Regt & we reached
Camp after sunset. We tried to be too late to discharge our guns, so we
would not be on inspection today, but they waited for us in camp so we had to
fire them. We were a little tired & very glad when we got back & we found
a good supper ready, of which we partook with eagerness. I was about to
eat two pieces of meat, but as I felt I should not eat the last one judgment
triumphed over appetite & one little victory was won. I wrote & chatted
with Griffing till past 7 O'clock when I lay down & slept cool but very
comfortably till a few minutes before Reveille. I was busy till 6 O'clock
when all our Regt fell out in heavy marching order --that is with knapsacks,
haversacks, canteens &c. Adj. A.S. Kendrick & Capt Kenyon of Co were the
inspectors. We had to open knapsacks which we felt to be an extra
ceremony, though a common thing in Europe. After that I had to get
breakfast, at which I found Griffing busy. Soon all was ready & we ate all
the bread that was left & we had to borrow a loaf for Foster's breakfast, he
being on Picket. G- also helped me to get dinner as I got the wood &
water, while he attended to the cooking. We got 16 lbs of nice fresh pork
for 75 cts which we cut up & salted so as to make it keep. While we were
out, the boys got a nice ham of fresh pork but, as they did not cut it up, it
spoiled. We drew rations yesterday & got 1/2 hard tack & 1/2 bread.
This is the first time in many months we drew Pilot Bread. We also drew
but 1/2 rations of sugar & of meat. I had to chop wood for cooking this
A.M. & I sewed some P.M. either of which I did not like to do. The Cav.
Scout returned this P.M. & met a large force of the enemy midway between this
place & Mt. Elba in the A.M. today. No reliable particulars. I did
not go to any church today, nor did I read or write much. River is very
low & water quite clear. Day was sunny & night, who can describe it.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September 12th Monday 1864
Last night I finished all my work as filling diary &c at 9
O'clock & was ready to lie down at that time. I was detailed with Hinkley,
Coons, & Jones for forage duty & we were waked at 3 O'clock A.M. & reported at
4. We crossed the river & the train started at 5 O'clock. We filled
about 40 wagons with good & sound corn at a place 16 miles from town & were
ready to start back at noon. Lieut Col Gray was in Command & Capt Tichenor
& an officer of 62d Ill were along. We got some grapes & muscadines, both
of which are now getting ripe. We had little time to get those things as
the teams moved fast & regularly. One mule fell into a deep well or hole &
after some efforts to get it out, which were ineffective it was shot & left.
Day was hot & clear, but on the whole grand & truly magnificent . I saw
the fields of cotton in which the worms have eaten all the leaves & leave the
stalk with the branches standing bare. The boles that are now full will
ripen & be good, but the future growth of the crop is at an end, so there will
in most cases be less than 1/2 crop. The worm is green underneath with two
dark or black lines or ridges on the back extending the whole length & moves by
crawling. In its movements it is rather active & about one inch or 1 1/4
in length.
I finished my book 'Rejected Wife' which I took
with me. It covers 436 pages. There are three negro (slave)
characters & the parents of the Leonard & Arnold families. Benedict Arnold
& his early wife & first wife love Amy S--. Hannah-- B. A's sister, who is
wooed & won by Paul de M-- whose sister Laura B.A. courted & engaged in
marriage which is prevented by Amy (whom B.A. secretly married long before)
having an interview with Laura the night before the intended marriage. In
the middle & end of the events narrated a weak but popular minister becomes A's
victim & object tool for the accomplishment of his ambitious purposes.
After she is acknowledged as A's wife Amy dies.
Train reached town
at 5 P.M. I sold my watch P.M. for $14.50 to Layhee. I am very well.
September 13 Tuesday 1864
Last night I lay down past 9 O'clock & slept soundly till
Reveille which was a short time before rise of sun. Day was warm clear &
cloudless. Sunset was all that poet or painter could desire & the
grandeur & glory & power of God are displayed in the beauty & clearness &
brightness of the moonlight. Surely Nature has blessed this land in
salubrity of climate, clearness of sky & long mild seasons. But alas, that
it has so long been darkened with the deep dark curse which was the parent of
the present wide spread waste & suffering & loss of life on every hand.
Every day I go foraging, I find new information from some of the negro
teamsters, all confirming the worst that I ever heard or read of the vile curse
that made four millions of slaves (Blacks is not proper, for many of them are
not Blacks!). Its victims & wasted & blackened with crime the lives &
souls of from two to three millions of the masters & their families & destroyed
the advantages of as many other whites, by making labor a badge of degradation &
depriving the masses of the middle & poor classes of equal rights & the
privileges of a general system of education. Yesterday a teamster told me
some things of the indoor life of the haughty daughters of the south which I
could not doubt & yet could scarcely believe, but it could not be published (&
can not be written here) & so must remain unknown to the world at large. I
will think of it & (if I return) I may tell it to a few.
Clark & I
fixed up our tent & I fixed my box so that it makes a very comfortable writing
desk & book case. We have a good tent instead of the one we had.
There was a detail of four this P.M. from our Co for Outpost duty & others from
our Regt. I had a full wash just after rising this A.M. I have such nearly
every day I be in camp. We hear boat will start tomorrow A.M. We are
longing for mail. I read 1st & 2d Ch. of Numbers last night. Juhre
was in camp today. Wells was cook. Saw McKee, H. Draper, &c this evening
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 14th Wednesday 1864
Last night I was detailed for Picket, so today I am on duty along
our old line with reserve on Little Rock road. Capt Tichenor is in command.
I am on the first relief & post No. 5, which is the third time I have been in
the same shady & cool place under the branches of an apple tree. One of
the boys of the 13th Ill was accidentally shot yesterday while he & one of his
mates had a loaded revolver taken apart & he died about 10 O'clock this A.M.
The ball entered his side & lodged penetrating both lungs. 'Twas sad to
hear him groan his life away for in him we all lose one who offered his life
that Freedom might not die..
The A.M. was clear & warm, but a cloud rose
& overcast the sky & there was a high wind & a light shower fell. In P.M.
the air was cool & pleasant. Foster is cook today. Clark took out my
dinner & Walton brought me supper. I also ate some of the Capt's dinner &
supper, which was much nicer than mine. He gave me a piece of peach pie,
some fried pumpkin & greens & some nice fresh meat. He & Gilbert board at
Mrs Buck's & pay $5.00 a week each. They give her orders for supplies on
the Post Commissary which she gets at government prices. In this way she &
many other families get their supplies of provisions. The loss on our side
in the late scout was very small, but 2 or 3 killed & wounded. Our men
brought in 8 or 9 prisoners. They came very near losing the cannon as the
enemy charged on it & nearly all our men left it, but it was finally secured.
Many of those on the scout were placed in arrest & in the jail charged with
cowardice & misconduct in the fight. While on guard Mounting
this morning the tune played during Inspection of Arms was Gay & Happy. I
thought of the words in the song 'Better be a Soldier's Widow than to be a Coward's Wife!'
One of Co C was buried P.M. I am very well.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September 15th Thursday 1864
Last night I was on Post from 8 to 10 & I slept soundly & sweetly
till 2 this A.M. & again was on Post till 4 O'clock after which I had a good
sleep till 7. I then came to camp as Capt allowed me to & I carried his
blankets to camp. The night was cool & if one had clothes & blankets
enough along, it was very favorable for sleep. I spoke with some of 13 Ill
about the War &c & the sentiment of all is 'to fight it out' to the end in any
time or at any cost. One who was a Douglas Democrat formerly was willing
the south should extend slavery, now wished the monster dead.... I notice that
those generally are less intelligent than the average of those raised in Wis.
Those lived in Pope Co about 40 miles from Cairo & 8 or 10 from Ohio River.
Fruit grows abundantly. The system of public schools is the same as in
Wis. but they usually have but one school term -the winter- of each year.
This is commonly for 6 months. They pay about the same wages to teachers
as was paid in Wis. before the War from $25 to #32 a month.
We heard yesterday the boat was within 15 or 18 miles of this place with mail for
us. A scout of 85 Cav went out last P.M. but I think they went to repair
telegraph line, as communication is often broken by the enemy cutting the line.
As many of ovens or all of them in which our bread was baked have fallen in, the
prospect is that we shall have to eat hard crackers all of this week & perhaps a
part of next. Our fare at present is quite frugal, but we often think of
our destitution at Little Rock about a year ago, when any of us would have
heartily thanked a person for maggots in them. I read to page 58 in
'Sketches of the Irish Bar', a 12 mo. vol. of 388 pages by Richard L Shiel M.P.
This is 1st vol. of the work in which are 2 vols. Pub. by Redfield in
1856. I read to 10th Chap in Numbers. I washed some in A.M.
Outpost is relieved every day. One of Co A & of __ were buried today.
All well.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 16th Friday 1864
Last night was cool & bright. I lay down to sleep about 9
1/2 O'clock. As usual I slept soundly till Reveille which was about 20
minutes before sunrise. The morning was grand, truly a sublime specimen of
the Great Wonders God has made & eternally sustains. But here, there is no
one to commune with one's human spirit & to pour into the vacant heart & aching
soul that tender true & hearty sympathy for which Heaven designed us to be
recipients & dispensers. But alas! how frequent how common is this in the
homes of the World in which true love & genuine sympathy are not often to be
found. Distrust, envy, dissimilarity of tastes & incompatibility of temper
with an utter forgetfulness of the more than golden Precept- 'Bear & Forbear' &
a vast No. of other causes, many or all of which could be removed, combine to
destroy Human Happiness.
I began early to get boards mostly from a
distance to board about 2 1/2 or 3 ft high at around under our tent. This
took me till near noon, for Clark was on duty & I had to do it all alone.
There are Orders against taking boards without permission from proper authority,
but those were waste & neglected boards that had been used for public uses.
Had our Col. Gray or Adj Kendrick or others so officious seen me I might have
been placed in arrest or in jail but as I said to some of the boys, I
could have gone there with a good conscience for I did not feel that I was doing
wrong. In the P.M. I shaved & went down town & had an Ambrotype taken.
It cost a dollar without a case. Today, I paid 50 cts toward our mess
fund. We bought 40 lbs of flour at 4 cts a lb & 7 1/2 sugar at 28 cts a lb.
I studied very little. Day was clear & cool. There is a new staff
some 90 feet high newly erected at Brig Gen Claytons headquarters. Forage
train went out this A.M. & got back at 8 P.M. Boat came down at 5 P.M.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 17 Saturday 1864
Last night I slept well & waked before Reveille this morning.
I prepared for guard at 8 A.M. & was so fortunate as to be on Camp Guard.
We have to stand on the parade grounds to keep cattle, horses &c off during the
day & at night the Post is at the Adj's Office. We were delighted last
evening at 5 P.M. by the appearance of the Chippawa with mail for us.
There are papers to the 5 inst from Chicago & St. Louis. The news is
important & highly favorable, as it is known that at last Atlanta is ours & also
Ft Morgan, which was surrendered A.M. Aug 23 with 60 guns & a garrison of some
600 men. I have not yet read details of Capture of Atlanta.
Considerable activity prevails in most sections, occupied by our forces & I have
heard of the arrival of several thousand troops in this dept en route for Little
Rock & there is some prospect of some new movements there this fall, though the
seasons may be too far advanced except for Cavalry expeditions. The mail
was a large one. Letters were to 1st or 2d inst & came in great numbers.
I got four - two of which were from Matt of 26 & 28 ult...News was good as all
are well. Rains fell freely & benefited corn, potatoes & grass. Some
crops would be better than expected. They got up all oats in five loads &
expect 100 bushels of grain. Father, Mother & all were well. Matt
does write in a strain about the War &c that surprises me as if a little that he
was thinking Peace should come soon. Somehow, as that was getting to be
the very general sentiment. I say give us war for a century rather than
Race by disunion or compromise. I also got a first rate letter from Maria,
dated Aug 27, the longest & best I ever got from her. It is well composed
& neatly written. All her people were well & she gives a good account of
all relatives. Day is breezy & cool. I am well. Chas. Wicket
is sick, he has chills & fever. Mail brought me 13 qrs of note paper &
Harper's W.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 18th, Sunday 1864
Yesterday, I was very busy writing answers to letters recd. while
I had time to spare when off duty. I wrote till 10 last night when I went
on Post till 12. Night was cool & very clear. I slept soundly till 4
this A.M. which is all the sleep I had. Day is clear & breezy. The
Ad. Hinds came down this A.M. & brought a later mail, letters & papers to the 6
& 8 were received. I got one from Anthony of 28 alt & one from Matt &
mother of July 31st & Aug 1st. McClellan was nominated for Pres &
Pendleton of Ohio for Vice Pres. on 30 ult at Chicago. T.H. Seymour was
the chief opponent to McClellen. I have not read the platform which is
said to be wholly for peace on any terms suitable to the South. At least
it opposes any prosecution of the War. Today the boys discuss McClellan's
chances & merits quite warmly. It is strange that the less the chances of
successes to the Union Army are, the greater become the chances of the election
of the Copperhead candidate to the Presidency. The noted Cav.
Rebel leader
John Morgan was killed in a fight at Greenville & East Tenn on 3d inst. The
Copperheads are exulting everywhere & I know of no one they could choose who
will get so large a vote in the Army. I have not gone to any church today.
I heard the Catholic Priest who was here went North about a month ago.
Mail brought my Harper's Weekly from Aug 6th to 10 inst, also Sept No. of the
magazine. I got a letter from Mrs Wood in answer to mine to her at the
time of Ira's death. The true ardent anguish of the fond sister's heart
break for her brother dying away from home is expressed in every line. I
also got a letter from Wm Woodcock inquiring if the body could be sent home.
Griffing got his furlough yesterday. I have slight cold... Read to 16th
chap in Numbers.
Pine Bluff, Ark
September 19, Monday 1864
Last night Clark & I wrote till 10 1/2 P.M. I said to him
it was guilt for us to be up so late, but he thought not so as we were so busy &
well employed writing letters. He said he had another [?]- a dozen letters
or sheets, but the boys' letters are usually quite short. Those with which
I afflict those few to whom I write are commonly very long, but perhaps very
devoid of interest. I always like a long letter & am usually best pleased
when I receive such. The last mail brought several such full & complete
ones. Most of those were from Matt, but one was from My Loved, Maria.
Mother's letter was the longest. She wrote me since I came South. It
was filled as usual with her familiar words of Love & Hope & Cheer. Some
fears of the draft taking Matt were expressed. This morning, Richard R
Griffing went aboard of the boat & she started up the river about 6 O'clock.
I carried his knapsack & blankets for him & he took my letters to be mailed at
Little Rock. Sergt McDonald of Co B was aboard also bound for Wis. on sick
furlough. He also came near dying having been sick about two months.
It is peculiarly gratifying to Griffing to get leave to go home for some time
ago he read to me some paragraphs from the last letter he had from his affianced
Loved One. The longing, the vacant time through which she had to pass,
with only the daily routine of teaching a district school to afford her
employment was more than she felt long able to bear. She regretted
such forced inactivity when her spirit longed for a scene of broader & more
congenial action. Perhaps she wished she was a man so she could don a suit
of Army Blue, & with a musket to follow the Stars & Stripes. There are
many such...
I washed some for myself & others this A.M. Day was
bright & clear. We had Inspection by Co P.M. All well.
Pine Bluff
September 20th, Tuesday 1864
Yesterday P.M. I made inquiries about obtaining Metallic Coffins
as Woodcock wished to have Ira's body sent home & for that purpose sent me a
letter in the last mail. I found there are several coffins here for sale
at $100 each. Surgeon Smith of our Regt told me there are several bodies
now here in such coffins till the cold weather comes when it is intended to send
them North by express. Last night I answered him to this effect. Dr
Smith thought the body could be changed into such coffin now but did not know if
it could be in a month.
Higley went aboard the boat Hinds with the mail at
8 O'clock last evening. I took some letters down to him after retreat &
when the gibbous moon had risen & was brightly shining in the Eastern sky.
Some of our mess sent by him to Little Rock for cups & saucers each sent 50 cts.
He does have an easy & good place as mail agent. He is allowed in addition
-to his regular pay as soldier- 75 cts a day for rations. When at Little
Rock, he stops at the soldier's home, where he gets board free, but is not
allowed at such times to charge the 75 cts a day. Yesterday P.M. I was
detailed on outpost but exchanged with McKown & so am on Picket today in his
place...This was most convenient for me & I can exchange with him at some other
time. Several of our sick boys were put on the boat last night to be sent
up the river & some perhaps home. I saw several of the boys in our
hospital & most are glad to see me & smile at my coming & enquire about my
health &c. How fortunate I am never to be so confined. I heard that
three new recruits came on last boats for our Regt being the first of several
hundred that we hear are coming soon to join us. One of those was arrested
on the charge of being a deserter from 5th Kansas Cav. He was a substitute
for the ___ time, deserting each time after he had his bounty. Save us
from substitutes & give us Men. Corp Hitchcock is detailed to drill the
others. I read some in my Bible, Harper's Weekly Sept No. of Mag &c.
Day was cool & clear A.M. but cloudy P.M. Boat went up early.
Editorials in Harpers W. of 10 inst are right & able.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 21, Wednesday 1864
I have felt for some months past that when my present term of
service expires in about 11 or 13 months from the present time according as we
shall be mustered out in three yrs. from the time of enlistment or from the time
of muster in as a Regt. I should go back to civil life & its varied
enjoyments & enchantments as compared with the very best condition which a
person in any position may enjoy in the Army. I reasoned with myself that
three years faithful & devoted real [?] heart service to the sacred cause of
Union & Liberty was enough for the full & fair share of anyone--at least those
who occupy no position or requiring rare abilities & long experience to qualify
a man for the duties of the place as that of some of our ablest & most
successful Generals when we who have learned in hardship & privation to love our
holy cause might let or compel others less faithful to take one place & we might
do the voting & fill places of trust till those had done their share. I
often have feelings in variance with this very logical reasoning & I felt them
in all their force yesterday morning on our way to the Picket station.
What is Life, thought I apart from the sublime struggles & self-sacrifices which
the progress of Human events & interests & duties call for, or allow us to make
in the cause & defense of Principles, the highest & noblest of which we know as
emanating from God with all his vast & manifold Powers & perfections! and of
those are The Truth, Justice & principles of Liberty involved in this War &
forming the very foundations of the whole vast struggle! Who will
accurately estimate the degree in which the truest & purest interests of
Religion & Education are involved in this War & how deeply & permanently they
will be affected by the issue. What are Wealth, Ease, Luxury, Position, &
even influence over the minds of the multitudes at all of which the world stands
agape in wonder & base reverence, compared with the consciousness of highest &
most disinterested duties nobly done! And yet we know a person may be a soldier in our
army & be a strictly religious & God-fearing man, though not without sever trials of spirit
& struggles in which he needs all of God's aid & grace to sustain him against the inner foes.
It is evident the worlds looks at interests & duties in a light very different from that in
which they are here in viewed; but is not this likely to move the way that they are seen in
the light of the eternal future? for we are told 'Not as man judges does He judge' as his ways
are high above the ways of Man. Thus, I felt that I should be a soldier while the War
continues & is plainly an effort of hoary wrong to overthrow struggling Right. Who is it that
lives? truly! Really! Is it he that dresses elegantly, feasts daintily & wastes his time is
luxurious & voluptuous ease every day, apparently with no need of a thought for the morrow, so
many are there whose life duty it is to anticipate his wanted care for his interest that his
estate suffer in no manner? No!
'He only lives who bravely combats
Error!' Are all those dead who have finished their course here & whose
bodies are consigned to the dust & to the damp of the darksome grave? Or
rather have they not begun to Live, if they acted the part here of good &
faithful servants & truly mourned the wrongs they did? Most truly!
We are now, & have been for the last three years & a half, fighting an
aristocracy, a privileged class which have the hearty good wishes & sympathies
of all the Aristocrats & Despots every where in the World! If we conquer
all genuine Democrats & Republicans of every nation will rejoice knowing that
Oppression has received a death wound from which it can never recover! But
if we shamefully fail now by comprising with armed traitors the Heaven ordained
result is not destroyed, but only delayed!
Day was pleasant &
bright. Lieut Coates was on Picket with us & I think he is one of our few
really worthy officers & a good a noble man. I wrote several pages in my
blank book today & read some in my Bible. River is rising & water is quite
clear. I am well.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September 22d, Thursday 1864
During the last two nights I slept but about nine hours as when
on Picket I traded two hours of the night when I could have slept, for two hours
of the P.M. during which I read in my Bible, wrote in my Diary &c & last night I
wrote till about 10 O'clock & was waked at 3 this A.M. to go on forage. We
went up along the river & got old corn to fill 40 or 45 wagons. We were on
our way before sunrise went ___ miles from town & got back about 2 1/2 P.M.
We had a very pleasant trip going, but when returning the wind blew the dust
onto us, it lying deep in the road. I took 'Sketches of the Irish Bar'
with me & I read 48 pages, going & returning being [reading?] the articles on
Daniel O'Connel & William Coningham Plunket. Shiel seems to treat his
subjects with great candor in regard to what he conceives to be their faults or
deficiencies as well as when stating their great & varied abilities. The
work is one of much value & interest to all inquiring minds; & is made very
complete & satisfactory by a few notes by the author & those longer & more
numerous by R. Shelton MacKenzie who wrote the introduction to this edition.
The day before yesterday P.M. I felt a slight feeling of fever & this P.M. the
symptoms were stronger, so that I did not feel very gleesome or sprightly for
about two hours. The quinine which Matt sent will now be good for I think
a few powders will break it up for the present time. I heard our Surgeon
got 10 oz of quinine by last mail or boat & our Capt also got a supply, so there
is now likely to be no lack of the precious article. I often have to
think of our vast & plentiful supply of forage & how easy we procure it,
compared with the difficulties with which our Potomac Army often had to contend,
as I read in letters ere I enlisted. What joy to my soul was the
sight of our Glorious Flag as I saw its bright folds spread & kissed by the
breeze as we came in sight of town when returning . Oh! Long may it
wave! Amen. Layhee & Juhre are now in the Co. We heard this even.
boat started A.M.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 23d, Friday 1864
Several weeks ago, I heard a rumor in camp that a citizen of the
town was captured near the town & that papers were found on him which contained
descriptions & drawings of the works & statements of the forces at this Post.
I had so little confidence in the truth of the report that I made no note of it
& had no hope that any merited punishment would be meted out to him if true.
There was a court marshal held lately on which our Capt was setting & the person
above alluded to was tried & convicted as a Spy for which he to suffer Death.
In addition to his guilt as Spy, there are many other high crimes of which it is
said he was guilty. I heard he was for some time before his arrest engaged
in trade of some kind & often had passes from H-d-qrtrs of Post to go out of
town to buy or get vegetables &c. It would seem from this that he must
have taken the Oath of Allegiance somewhere though it is said he denied ever
having taken it here. The day of his capture he stole or took a horse
(with saddle & equipments, I think & pistols) belonging to a Capt of 5th Kansas
Cav. With this he got out on a pass through the lines on his way to our
foes, when he met & fired several shots at the officer of the Day who had been
on his tour of daily duty visiting the Outposts. Last week he received his
sentence, which was execute about 10 O'clock A.M. today. Last evening the
scaffold was erected on the N. side of the river & in full view from South side.
Most of the troops were drawn up in a hollow square around the scaffold.
Inf. on E, South & West sides & Cav on North. Our Regt fell in at 8
O'clock & crossed, being first on the ground, victim was of slight stature of
medium height or below it & was not far from 20 yrs old--little above it if any.
When condemned, he named citizens here as implicated with him, they paying him
large sums of money, but exonerated them today when on Scaffold. He was
attended by Catholic Priest though I believe not a Catholic in the past.
A.M. was cloudy P.M. clear, hot & windy. I was cook today.
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
September 24th Saturday 1864
Last night it was about 10 O'clock when I lay down to sleep, alone, as Clark was on
outpost. I had a full wash before I lay down. I was waked in the
night by the wind & heavy rain which fell. At 3 this A.M. I was waked by
Orderly Foster, as I was one of four from our Co detailed last night for Forage
today, but after I answered him & he went away, I slept on, (as I often did at
home when waked some mornings) till 4 O'clock when the drums had beaten for us
to report to Sergeant Major. Then one of our Miss S Foster waked me & said
the drums had beat the Call. At this I realized I had no time to spare, so
I quickly dressed & was ready with the other boys for duty, so I was early
enough & had about an hour extra sleep. All I forgot to do was to
wash my face & hands which I seldom fail to do before I start away & I hardly
ever fail or forget to do it every morning, as to me it is a real pleasure at
all times. Some that are sick the most & very filthy never care about
washing themselves for they seem never to have discovered the genuine pleasure
of the act. I took along a loaf of bread, some sugar, & sketches of the
Irish Bar. I read 35 pages, including the sketch of Charles Kendal Blushe.
How glad I feel that in our own loved Free States we have no titled & recognized
Aristocracy as in Europe & Great Britain for you can never judge from the title
of Lords &c what their names are or were, for who knows who Lord 1 is.
Earl 2. Duke 3 &c. I had my wash in the river when the train stopped 5
miles from town. I waste but little time even when on duty for I nearly
always have some book or paper with me. Surely I hope this is saving the
fragments of time which the millions waste & never think of. We went out
15 to 20 miles & got back at dark. We heard of depredations done by
guerillas last night near the place at which we loaded & expected a little fire,
but heard none & saw no enemy. We had once brass Howitzer- a 12 poiunder-
along. Morning was cloudy A.M., bright & cool P.M. quite hot.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 25th Sunday 1864
Last night I wrote & read till after tattoo. The night was
cold, so that Clark & I felt cold in our tent with two blankets over us.
Toward morning I put on another & that made us warm enough. Lately there
is more strictness in attending Roll Call as for a long time there was little
regularity about it, some answering & others not. Foster does better for
Orderly than many of the boys expected. Many of the boys yet do not go on
duty, being troubled with Diarrhea, Ague &c. We had inspection this A.M.
by Sergt Foster. Capt was Officer of the Day yesterday & Lieut. Gilbert is
on duty today. We had a mess of sweet potatoes for dinner today. S.
Foster & I got them yesterday, & he got a part of a hog which we had cooked for
dinner. We also had coffee & good bread &c which made a grand dinner.
Clark was back today. I did not go to any church-but I wrote most of P.M.
& read in Numbers & Harper's Weekly most of A.M. I think the Weekly is the
ablest & soundest Union Paper that I know of. It is not partisan & that
adds much to its strength & leaves it freer than a party journal can be.
This P.M. I had a chat with Chas. Micket of Co H about the presidential
election. He is sound & true & unselfish for the war even if he has to
serve another term of three years. He said to me 'if we do not complete
the work now, your children or mine in 30 years will have to go to the war which
we can now prevent, if we only complete the work well instead of settling by
compromise & we will know & be sorry that we did not finish it at first!'
This is true. Co H he said would give a large copperhead note; more I
think than all the rest of the Regt. Day was bright & pleasantly cool.
No forage today.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 26th Monday 1864
[There are two copies of this date--at least the first part of a lengthy entry] Last night
I heard some of the boys talking about the War and the candidates for the
Presidency &c. There are few who speak for the Copperhead McClellan, for
nearly all feel that he is but the tool of our traitor foes in the North.
Soon, I took a Chicago Tribune of 1st inst among them & read a part of the
speech made by Hannah of Ind in Chicago Convention. He first shouted
Halleluiahs at the prospect of sudden Peace which the triumph of the Democratic
(?) Party at the ensuing election would secure. Next, he reviled Lincoln
in most abusive terms which was loudly cheered & charged the Pres. with
Treachery & extravagance in the management of affairs & the conduct of the War!
Cheers. He next asked 'who are the supporters of the President?'
Chief among the supporters is Butler whom he described as half Devil, one
quarter beast, & less than one quarter human. (Cheers) Begotten by
the Primce of Hell. Hewed from the rotten womb of crime & thrown in to the
lap of civilization, a deformed unfinished wretch (Cheers), he was sent before
his time into this breathing world, half made up & is so hateful looking &
deformed that the dogs bark at him as he passes by! (Cheers). At
this, the boys were unable to restrain their indignation & many sternly said 'If
they any person speak in such terms of any of our able devoted fellow Soldiers
or Generals, they would shoot him on the spot! & I believe it would be done, for
I feel I should do so myself. Many said they would fight three years after
our present term against such treason & traitors. There is surely a
terrible day of Retribution awaiting such villains.
I was on fatigue this
morning from 4 to 7 1/2 O'clock A.M. I and four others got about 600 lbs
fresh beef at slaughter house for our Regt. Other Regt's drew beef also.
I washed from 8 O'clock A.M. til l 2 1/2 P.M. 7 pairs pants at ten cts each &
several shirts, drawers &c. I may thus earn some for current expenses. Hinkley cooked &
I did not read or write any today. Day was clear &
pleasant. I am well.
[additional commentary]
Oh how ardently I love Life with all its bright & beautiful things, all of which so enchant
us with charms of the wonders & mysteries of Creation & of human life--of all
Life! all of which appeal so strongly to our sense of gratitude to our otherwise
faithful & bountiful Father for having so environed us with beauties & so attractive & pays so sweet & constantly
pressing for our attention that this they may adorn our pathway through Life & fulfill the
purpose for which -in part- they were created viz, to stir our hearts to our Maker's Praise.
Think but for a moment of the visible Creation set daily & nightly before us for
our joy & study that seeing we may believe & know & knowing we may enjoy the
grandeur & sublimity of our Father's works & the endless treasures of all good
of which he is possessed. How bright & beau in their seasons are the birds
in vast variety with their lively songs of heaven taught harmonious melody & the
innumerable flowers that smile & nod kindly & sweetly at our coming whether we
bear frowns or joyousness on our faces for they have not learned to frown, ere,
though some times tearful, perhaps for our faults that can be more pleasant &
surprising than the almost transparent clearness & brightness of a drop of dew,
as it adheres to the fine point of a blade of grass or perhaps when many are
strung in a row on the edge of some leaf, or as it were gems studding the crown
of sweet nature as they glisten on the leaves of some newly expanding or full
blown flower. Again the beauty -the charm, the wonder of Water! so light
as to be absorbed by the atmosphere & carried to all parts 'even where no man
Liveth' & made to fall so as to supply man's wants & those of all kinds of
vegetables & animal growth so strong it as to bear without murmur the vast
navies & marine [life] of the world as easily as an elephant, a feather, or a
hair that fell from our head. So refreshing to drink, so pleasant to bear
us on its smooth surface or to allow our forms to save [swim?] & dive in its
tickling softness. The snow too, with its almost angelic whiteness so
kindly clothes the bosom of our kind Mother Earth & bears so smoothly on its
firm atoms their merry & joyous parties that so often glide in the bright
moonlight like fairies in their nightly gambles[?]
Outpost near Pine Bluff
September 27th Tuesday 1864
Last evening we left camp at 4 O'clock & went on Outpost on
Sulphur Springs Road. The post is about a mile from the outer line of
works in the boarder of a wood. There were 24 privates & 7 non Com & Lieut
Seymour. We had four on each relief so each had to stand only four hours.
I was on from 11 P.M. to 1 A.M. The Officer of the day came before 11 so
we were all waked up & we fell in line. I slept well till about daylight,
having slept more than in one night for a long time past. Hinkley took
rations out & I took readings & writings for him & me. We cooked coffee,
three times. The boys played cards most of the time. I finished
reading Numbers & began the Book of Deuteronomy in which I read first two Chaps.
I also read the sketch of H Joy in sketches of Irish Bar. I read
Harper's
Weekly of Aug 20th in which are able & admirable editorials on 'A Peace
Administration' 'should McClellan be recalled to command of Army'. No
comments on The Wade & Winter Davis Manifesto; or address to the country in
opposition to the Pres & on the failure of the assault on the Rebel works at
Petersburg on 30 July. All sensible & truly loyal.
A shower fell
from 2 to 5 O'clock P.M. It was scattering. Capt Tichenor went out with
detail & relieved us this P.M. I often think of the treasures of Love that
others possess & how I might possess & enjoy treasures as great if only 'What
might have been' had been. One of our Co showed me a love token
which he received by last mail--only a card---plain & simple, bearing the words:
'If thou wilt trust my love, I will trust thine'. This I think was a part
of her answer to inquiries he may have made in regard to her fidelity, for I
heard some of the boys who know her speak of her rumored marriage with one at
home in Waukesha Co & who has not been in the Army. How sweet & contented
must be his mind & sound his sleep with this sacred treasure secure to welcome
him home one year hence! Oh, give me the wealth of true love & you can have
the golden treasures!
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 28 Wednesday 1864
About a week or ten days ago, when I fixed my box for a book case
& made a comfortable place to write by making the lid to fall so as to answer
for a table, I cut a piece of wire that was used to keep the stairs that lead to
the river in their place, so weakened the fastening. It was strange that I
did so & I can only account for it by ascribing it to thoughtlessness! for when
inquiries were made, I frankly owned that I did it & I think no other one knew
or could find out had I not told. When Capt saw it he told Orderly to
order me to fix it which Foster did. I said I would fix it but delayed to
do it & when Capt relieved us last P.M., he said he wanted me to fix it the
first thing when I got to camp last evening or he would put me through next time
I disobeyed the Orderly! I never refused to do it, but delayed too long!
All day I had half a notion to ask Capt to make no more threats of
punishment, but to execute them on me when he finds an opportunity.
Feeling as I do that I have always faithfully tried to do my duty so as to give
no trouble to Officers or offense to anyone going on duty, always cheerfully &
without finding fault & complaining as others often did & do & fit for duty when
few others were & perhaps when some feigned sickness or 'Played off!' It
is not pleasant to have threats & ill temper often dispensed as an evidence of
--- Appreciation ? by ones Co Commander. Thanks to God we have but a year
& about 15 or 20 days to serve on this term & if I try again, 'twill be with a
different Capt mate, crew, &c even though the voyage be the same! I
fixed the wire today & cooked for our mess. We drew full rations of fresh
beef & bread, both in plenty. Clark & Wells are on Picket. Cameron
was taken to hospital last evening, he was some better today. Our mess &
another bought a barrel of flour form Post Commissary for $8.15. Each mess
takes half & in our mess each ones share is 50 cts. How I long for fruit
as Peaches & Apples -dry- in preference to meat, but there is no fruit here.
This A.M. was cloudy & misty. P.M. was bright & clear. I am well!
Yesterday rumor was of a grand victory of Sheridan over Early.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 29, Thursday 1864
Yesterday P.M. I went to town with an old coffee pot which I or
we wanted repaired as that which we used all season got leaky. It was one
I saved from the river & it has a good copper bottom in it, there was only the
body without handle spout or cover. The charge was 75, though I got old
tin to do. While in town I read some in the Pilot of 3d inst chiefly the
editorials and a few copied paragraphs of the same tone. All were as
disheartening, discouraging & hopelessly gloomy as the most hopeful Rebel or
malicious & treacherous Copperhead could desire, as I afterward said the one of
the editorials was simply Devilish. It is surprising that men-our foes in
the North-are willing or rather determined to pervert facts to favor the rebel
enemy & charging the war & all its present consequences & the long time it has
continued on the President & his Cabinet, attributing every repulse defeat or
disaster to imbecility, or treachery on his part & that of his chief advisers &
his determined purpose to ruin all the Nation & its interests, as if he had no
personal interest involved & only strive to perpetuate his own eternal infamy.
What a disastrous, what a damnable effect all such teaching must have on the
dark & prejudiced minds of those Irish Catholics who accept its teachings in
Political matters, much as they do its opinions on Religious ones for most of
them, or very many read no other paper. Today I read Editorials in N.Y.
Herald of 18 inst. One ignorant jackass (please pardon the word) got his
hoofs in type & commenting on the defects of the blockade & mismanagement of
Navy Dept said - If it had been efficiently & honestly managed it alone could
have subdued the Rebels. This might be had their territory bunsmall Isles
like Denmark. Another complained that N.C. had 12 senators, while N.Y.
with a larger population had but two. The effort was to excite jealousy
against N.E. in middle & western states. All day was cloudy. Last
night, a heavy rain fell with much lightning.
Camp at Pine Bluff
September 30th Friday 1864
Yesterday, Clark & I finished improvements in our tent & I made
my old chair strong, so that it makes a good article of furniture. We
often expend much time in little improvements, which we may be compelled to
leave any time, or by somebody's order things may be so changed. Last
night I slept well, but waked about 2 1/2 this A.M. and remained awake some 3/4
of an hour during which time I heard the rain fall & the orderly waked those on
forage, three from our Co. I was soon asleep & did not wake till sick call
at 6 O'clock when breakfast was ready. I & two others are on Picket & rain
fell so heavy that all ceremony as music, inspection of Arms &c were dispensed
with. While we went to post, the rain fell very heavily & most of us got
some wet. I got my pantaloons wet about my knees & after I was on Post a
short time, I slyly went off & sped off to camp where I quickly changed my
pantaloons & drawers & got on dry ones. I wear my boots today & they keep
my feet dry & warm as if I were in a room. Those are the boots in which I
hope to march up East Water Street, about a year from the present time.
The day was misty, cloudy & dreary, no sunshine to cheer nor aught else to
beguile the weary, drooping spirit, from the gloom that memories of the past &
fears & anxieties about the future & the vast concerns that hang on decisions to
be soon made cast about the thoughtful mind. But with God abide results &
in Him can we safely trust! I wrote a letter to Mother, not so pleasing to
me as I wish facts would allow. I read in Irish Bar the article
'Calamities of the Bar'. It is an able & appropriate commentary on the ill
consequences of foolish show & extravagance to many who rise to eminence in the
legal profession. I read several chapt's in Deuteronomy.
General Review of September
During the last month, the oft-repeated capture of Atlanta took place.
After severe fighting, in which Hood, the rebel commander exposed his troops to
great loss & operated at a great disadvantage, he was forced to evacuate his
stronghold as raiding parties had cut his lines of communication & left him
exposed to the assaults of General Starvation. Affairs in the Shenandoa
Valley & on the Upper Potomac are not so satisfactory as is desirable. I
wish we had a sufficient force to permanently hold Gordonsville on the N.W. of
Richmond & Lynchburg on S.W. During the month we heard the sad news of
Gen. McPherson's death, which occurred July 22d in the battle which was fought
on that day 2 miles east of Atlanta. He was one of our ablest & best
commanders & was a great favorite with the Army. He leaves a widowed
bride-to-be to mourn his departure, not Loss! The Copperhead
Convention at Chicago nominated Geo. B. McClellan for Pres. & Geo H. Pendleton
of Ohio for Vice Pres. Con. declares we should ask pardon of the south as
we have been the offenders!-?
[The following was written between the
previous lines, but upside down] During last half of this month I have not
been so well as usual I think I was not so weakly at any other time since we
returned from Yazoo Pass, Expedition in May 1863. How little I have been
troubled compared with others of my comrades who have been sick so long.
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