Dec 1 - Moderating. My mare improves under Brush's care. Got good letters from Mother and Ella. Sterne has been home. Major Park here. Col [Horace] P[ark] at Pulaski.
Dec 2 - Lovely day. Went to mill. Counselled Birmingham who is in affliction. Saw the ruined place of rebel congressman Brown. Met rebel prisoners on way north.
Dec 3 - Lovely weather. Somewhat dyspeptic and depressed at eve. Talked with Col Swayne about it. Have commenced again teaching the colored boys to read.
Dec 4 - Lovely day. Rode down to bridge and felt better. Got on well in study. Must accept invitations to meals with officers. Seldom see papers now. Good prayer meeting at evening. Bragg has been driven back by Grant. 6000 prisoners and 50 cannon.
Dec 5 - A plan of life suggested. My father's idea in educating me was to have me prominent. I have unusual advantages , good mind, good education, good habits, quite good health, nervous disorder producing over anxiety and some dyspepsia I can control. Why should it not be my plan to make myself more of a man. Thus I can do more good and please my father. Read, write, and improve in speaking. Not as Gough or Douglass, not as Thatcher, but as Dr. Smith, Dr May or Dr. Sparrow.
Dec 6 - Most lovely and undecember like day. Good attendance in chapel a.m. Got on well in preaching. Bible class p.m. A good man from the 27th there. A most excellent and full meeting in evening. Pull up in dug-out and float down Elk river with Col H[errick] and adjutant.
Dec 7 - Fair but cloudy. Chilly wind. Was more industrious than usual having received a new impetus. Felt a little depressed at evening on account of lack of religious sympathy. The prayer meeting was a season of great peace to my soul. Regret my diffidence as to personal exhortation. Col Swayne addressed to regiment on re-enlisting. Some excitement in regiment.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
27 - 30 Nov 1863
Nov 27 - Feel better. Rode out and got view from high bank of Elk river. News of a success by Sherman and Hooker over Bragg. Feel new ambition to be diligent. I improve my time that I may not years hence have to mourn over wasted days.
Nov 28 - Saturday. Studied and went about as usual. Feel entirely well again. Fixed some rough seats in an upper room for service. Good news of Hooker and Sherman driving the rebels. 5000 prisoners and 40 cannon.
Nov 29 - Very cold hay. Hence held very short meetings noon and evening. Few out in a.m. A battery sergeant died suddenly of apoplexy. Cold feet at night.
Nov 30 - Reading Mill on Liberty. Some good thoughts on tyranny of public opinion, originality and self assertion. Officiated at sergeant's funeral in eve. His piece fired three times. Fixed stove in chapel.
Nov 28 - Saturday. Studied and went about as usual. Feel entirely well again. Fixed some rough seats in an upper room for service. Good news of Hooker and Sherman driving the rebels. 5000 prisoners and 40 cannon.
Nov 29 - Very cold hay. Hence held very short meetings noon and evening. Few out in a.m. A battery sergeant died suddenly of apoplexy. Cold feet at night.
Nov 30 - Reading Mill on Liberty. Some good thoughts on tyranny of public opinion, originality and self assertion. Officiated at sergeant's funeral in eve. His piece fired three times. Fixed stove in chapel.
22 - 26 Nov 1863
Nov 22 - Sunday. Some headache all night and a paroxysm about 10 a.m. but passed off entirely by noon. Had church papers to read. A very fair attendance at serve at 10:30 a.m. Men seem to come more freely since I have marched with them. P.m. taught the negroes some. Eve a good p[rayer] meeting. Spoke to the unpenitent. "How sweet is the sabbath to me"
Nov 23 - Mild but cloudy. Unwell and kept pretty quiet which had a good effect. Found an empty store room and got permission to use it for a meeting house. Soon a volunteer detail were at work preparing it for a church. May I fill this field of usefulness.
Nov 24 - Felt unwell. Drizzled till p.m. Cleaned up in eve. Write some on Thanksgiving sermon. Got absorbed in "Miss Gilbert's career"* in p.m. Eve the meeting house nicely fitted with seats and pulpit. I spoke to a full congregation. Hope the Lord will favor us with conversions. Home by moonlight.
Nov 25 - Most beautiful and exhilarating day. Made pastoral visits and wrote some in a.m. Col Swayne and me determined on a thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I went to engage extra cookery. Halted at Mr. Westman's - well bred people. My man is much improved. Eve a good and crowded meeting. What a hopeful field for good. Two men captured we fear, Murphy and Jones.
Nov 26 - Thanksgiving day. A thinly attended service. Felt thankful in review of the year. Got a letter from Ella. The boy is wearing short clothes and learning to walk. Had a fine dinner for all officers. Our church - Our church taken to store meal.
* "Miss Gilbert's career: an American story" by Josiah Gilbert Holland. First published in 1860.
Nov 23 - Mild but cloudy. Unwell and kept pretty quiet which had a good effect. Found an empty store room and got permission to use it for a meeting house. Soon a volunteer detail were at work preparing it for a church. May I fill this field of usefulness.
Nov 24 - Felt unwell. Drizzled till p.m. Cleaned up in eve. Write some on Thanksgiving sermon. Got absorbed in "Miss Gilbert's career"* in p.m. Eve the meeting house nicely fitted with seats and pulpit. I spoke to a full congregation. Hope the Lord will favor us with conversions. Home by moonlight.
Nov 25 - Most beautiful and exhilarating day. Made pastoral visits and wrote some in a.m. Col Swayne and me determined on a thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. I went to engage extra cookery. Halted at Mr. Westman's - well bred people. My man is much improved. Eve a good and crowded meeting. What a hopeful field for good. Two men captured we fear, Murphy and Jones.
Nov 26 - Thanksgiving day. A thinly attended service. Felt thankful in review of the year. Got a letter from Ella. The boy is wearing short clothes and learning to walk. Had a fine dinner for all officers. Our church - Our church taken to store meal.
* "Miss Gilbert's career: an American story" by Josiah Gilbert Holland. First published in 1860.
15 - 21 Nov 1863
Nov 15 - Sabbath. Distributed about 40 papers and 80 tracts. Had a good service in open air at 10:30 a.m. Pretty well attended. A letter from Ella at noon. P.m. read and went to battery. Eve prayer meeting full and interesting.
Nov 16 - We were almost out of some needful provisions. A forage train going out and it seemed needful someone should accompany it to get things. Lest I should be considered useless I went and got quite a supply. Some thieving and apprehension which made it unpleasant. To be buying honey and seeking butter under such circumstances seemed unclerical, but I laid dignity aside to be useful. Henry [my servant] dissatisfied and talks of leaving.
Nov 17 - Lovely Indian Summer day. Busy fixing a desk and shelves so as to study and write. Col. Sprague at dinner. Dyspepsia about gone. Milk is a great luxury. We have honey too. Read. We had a good prayer meeting. I have had some success in avoiding too much joking and sport and feel more of the spirit in my heart. May the blessed Lord give me more.
Nov 18 - Lovely day. Wrote to Ella and Sterne*. Taught black boys. Read. Rode to Elkview where the bridge is to be rebuilt. A pretty stream. Am interested in "Mill on Liberty"*. True and valuable ideas. Quite a fire in woods near, burns fences, etc.
Nov 19 - Beautiful and mild day. Enjoy quiet reading at my little desk. Feel well. Had prayer and thought on pastoral labor and today was enabled to speak to five pastors on divine things. Some kinds of provisions scarce. Good meeting eve. One of the best days have had in a long time - a white day.
Nov 20 - Cloudy and rainy. We got a good large mail at noon and newspaper. Ella is more desponding than I have seen her for a long time. Lottie and ma write good letters. All are well. Think of sending ma pocket money. Satisfaction in study and reading. Have plenty of chicken.
Nov 21 - Misty. Got on well in sermon. Stomach disordered by heavy biscuit and cornbread as we have no way to bake bread. P.m. felt unwell. Eve wrote to Ella.
* Stearne Chittenden, Richard younger brother (1 Jan 1833 - 8 July 1887)
* John Stewart Mill's (1806 - 1873) essay "On Liberty" published in 1859
Nov 16 - We were almost out of some needful provisions. A forage train going out and it seemed needful someone should accompany it to get things. Lest I should be considered useless I went and got quite a supply. Some thieving and apprehension which made it unpleasant. To be buying honey and seeking butter under such circumstances seemed unclerical, but I laid dignity aside to be useful. Henry [my servant] dissatisfied and talks of leaving.
Nov 17 - Lovely Indian Summer day. Busy fixing a desk and shelves so as to study and write. Col. Sprague at dinner. Dyspepsia about gone. Milk is a great luxury. We have honey too. Read. We had a good prayer meeting. I have had some success in avoiding too much joking and sport and feel more of the spirit in my heart. May the blessed Lord give me more.
Nov 18 - Lovely day. Wrote to Ella and Sterne*. Taught black boys. Read. Rode to Elkview where the bridge is to be rebuilt. A pretty stream. Am interested in "Mill on Liberty"*. True and valuable ideas. Quite a fire in woods near, burns fences, etc.
Nov 19 - Beautiful and mild day. Enjoy quiet reading at my little desk. Feel well. Had prayer and thought on pastoral labor and today was enabled to speak to five pastors on divine things. Some kinds of provisions scarce. Good meeting eve. One of the best days have had in a long time - a white day.
Nov 20 - Cloudy and rainy. We got a good large mail at noon and newspaper. Ella is more desponding than I have seen her for a long time. Lottie and ma write good letters. All are well. Think of sending ma pocket money. Satisfaction in study and reading. Have plenty of chicken.
Nov 21 - Misty. Got on well in sermon. Stomach disordered by heavy biscuit and cornbread as we have no way to bake bread. P.m. felt unwell. Eve wrote to Ella.
* Stearne Chittenden, Richard younger brother (1 Jan 1833 - 8 July 1887)
* John Stewart Mill's (1806 - 1873) essay "On Liberty" published in 1859
Monday, November 28, 2011
8 - 14 Nov 1863
Nov 8 - Sunday. Cool wind. Up before day. Marched all day. I read and kept up Sunday thoughts. Hilly. At eve passed through Landerdale [Alabama], factory, village, and over a swift clear river. Much thieving of chickens etc. today. A few men who lingered with a wagon were fired on. 2 wounded.
Nov 9 - Slept cold on cot and suffered some from cold during the day. We passed through the little town of Lexington. Eve got up a good fire. Stupid from cold and fatigue. Talked at camp fire.
Nov 10 - Up and breakfasted before day again. Off early with drums beating. Hills are higher. Pretty vales occasionally. The hamlet of Pinhook [Lawrence Co.]. Skirmishers advanced but did not find guerrillas. Cavalry found them. Chilly. Camped 6 miles from Pulaski. Pillaging forbidden to order.
Nov 11 - Good sleep in an empty house. Gentle rocky slopes up and down. Very high high hills. Wonderfully clear streams. Plantations and mansions improve. Sherman's army has almost stripped the people of chickens and cattle. Pulaski a pleasant pretty town. People gaze in wonder. Encamped on a Rocky shaded hill. Weather milder. Chapped faces.
Nov 12 - Weather fine. Turned South toward Decatur. Many delays and a slow march. Halted near house and large farm of a Presbyterian minister. Made black boys take back horses. I read over old letters. Camped on a rocky side hill. Trestle work fired by rebels still burning.
Nov 13 - Very mild. Left at 9 and marched about 4 miles to prospect mountainous hills. This is a R.R. station. A few houses. Regiment camped in a field. We have a house lately deserted in fear by the wife of a rebel soldier. Busy clearing up etc. Saw a sick wagoner and took him water. Brigade remains here at present. Hear Roddy* [sic] is 25 miles off with 4000 cavalry.
Nov 14 - Busy dividing my time between preparing sermon and some needful business. Gen. Dodge has come. We have plenty and variety to eat. I from irregular meals and gross food have dyspeptic symptoms. Must not think of my stomach. Good prayer meeting eve in dwelling house.
* Confederate Brigadier General Phillip Dale Roddey (born 2 Apr 1824/26 in Moulton, Lawrence Co, Alabama. Died 20 July 1897 in London, England) Known as the Protector of Northern Alabama. Pictured below
Nov 9 - Slept cold on cot and suffered some from cold during the day. We passed through the little town of Lexington. Eve got up a good fire. Stupid from cold and fatigue. Talked at camp fire.
Nov 10 - Up and breakfasted before day again. Off early with drums beating. Hills are higher. Pretty vales occasionally. The hamlet of Pinhook [Lawrence Co.]. Skirmishers advanced but did not find guerrillas. Cavalry found them. Chilly. Camped 6 miles from Pulaski. Pillaging forbidden to order.
Nov 11 - Good sleep in an empty house. Gentle rocky slopes up and down. Very high high hills. Wonderfully clear streams. Plantations and mansions improve. Sherman's army has almost stripped the people of chickens and cattle. Pulaski a pleasant pretty town. People gaze in wonder. Encamped on a Rocky shaded hill. Weather milder. Chapped faces.
Nov 12 - Weather fine. Turned South toward Decatur. Many delays and a slow march. Halted near house and large farm of a Presbyterian minister. Made black boys take back horses. I read over old letters. Camped on a rocky side hill. Trestle work fired by rebels still burning.
Nov 13 - Very mild. Left at 9 and marched about 4 miles to prospect mountainous hills. This is a R.R. station. A few houses. Regiment camped in a field. We have a house lately deserted in fear by the wife of a rebel soldier. Busy clearing up etc. Saw a sick wagoner and took him water. Brigade remains here at present. Hear Roddy* [sic] is 25 miles off with 4000 cavalry.
Nov 14 - Busy dividing my time between preparing sermon and some needful business. Gen. Dodge has come. We have plenty and variety to eat. I from irregular meals and gross food have dyspeptic symptoms. Must not think of my stomach. Good prayer meeting eve in dwelling house.
* Confederate Brigadier General Phillip Dale Roddey (born 2 Apr 1824/26 in Moulton, Lawrence Co, Alabama. Died 20 July 1897 in London, England) Known as the Protector of Northern Alabama. Pictured below
1 - 7 Nov 1863
Nov 1 - A lovely day. Some advice to Col S[wayne] in newspapers on the Sabbath. Hear that some men, and partially even officers have been gambling. Had a pretty good sabbath. Spite of business and preparations for moving, we had open air service in a.m. A decent attendance. In p.m. Mr. Fry and I were going to officiate in church in town but the church was taken.
Nov 2 - Rose early. Renewed in strength and hope by yesterday. Got articles at commissary - teams heavily loaded. Johnson one of our wagoners was captured yesterday. Marched 8 miles to Eastport on the Mississippi river [perhaps he meant to say Eastport, Mississippi, or he made a mistake and meant to write the Tennessee river]. Dined with Col. Hayes. Cared for a wounded man. We bivouacked in an old house.
Nov 3 - A fair mild Indian Summer day. Saw my wounded man. He is a true Christian I think. In the afternoon he died. Visited and talked with sick and well some.
Nov 4 - Pleasant day. Moved down to the [Tennessee] river and the brigade crossed. I staid behind to attend the burial of this man and distribute papers in a hospital. In p.m. I canoe over. All passed without accident. Dyspeptic in evening.
Nov 5 - Rainy and dark day. Troops are still crossing in our rear. Read Schalk's book on military science*. Read some in Dickens' stories. Visited among the men some. Went to bed tired. Have warm blankets and sheets and a cot. Deer and turkeys killed.
Nov 6 - Cleared off and a beautiful day. Our brigade being the advance of an army of about 10,000 under General Dodge moved at noon. Came about 9 miles through hills. Beautiful, clear springs and streams. Camped in a good place where forage is plentiful. Guerrillas have shot or captured stragglers.
Nov 7 - Most beautiful day. Clear streams around. Horses have plenty of fodder and young cane. Hear of stragglers captured and killed. Start at noon and march 12 miles. Encamp after dark. Tired.
* Summary of the Art of War: written expressly for and dedicated to the U.S. Volunteer Army, by Emil Schalk, A.O. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1862
* Union General Grenville Mellen Dodge was born 12 April 1831 near Danvers, MA.
In 1851, he graduated from Norwich University (VT) with a degree in civil engineering, then moved to Iowa, where he settled in Council Bluffs. For the next decade, he was involved in surveying for railroads, including the Union Pacific. He married Ruth Anne Browne on 29 May 1854. He was also a partner in the Baldwin & Dodge banking firm, and in 1860 served on the City Council.
Dodge joined the Union in the Civil War. At the beginning of the war, Dodge was sent by the Governor of Iowa to Washington, D.C., where he secured 6,000 muskets to supply Iowa volunteers. In July 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He commanded the 1st Brigade, 4th Division at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. For his services at the battle, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the District of the Mississippi, where he was involved in protecting and building railroads. Pictured below
Nov 2 - Rose early. Renewed in strength and hope by yesterday. Got articles at commissary - teams heavily loaded. Johnson one of our wagoners was captured yesterday. Marched 8 miles to Eastport on the Mississippi river [perhaps he meant to say Eastport, Mississippi, or he made a mistake and meant to write the Tennessee river]. Dined with Col. Hayes. Cared for a wounded man. We bivouacked in an old house.
Nov 3 - A fair mild Indian Summer day. Saw my wounded man. He is a true Christian I think. In the afternoon he died. Visited and talked with sick and well some.
Nov 4 - Pleasant day. Moved down to the [Tennessee] river and the brigade crossed. I staid behind to attend the burial of this man and distribute papers in a hospital. In p.m. I canoe over. All passed without accident. Dyspeptic in evening.
Nov 5 - Rainy and dark day. Troops are still crossing in our rear. Read Schalk's book on military science*. Read some in Dickens' stories. Visited among the men some. Went to bed tired. Have warm blankets and sheets and a cot. Deer and turkeys killed.
Nov 6 - Cleared off and a beautiful day. Our brigade being the advance of an army of about 10,000 under General Dodge moved at noon. Came about 9 miles through hills. Beautiful, clear springs and streams. Camped in a good place where forage is plentiful. Guerrillas have shot or captured stragglers.
Nov 7 - Most beautiful day. Clear streams around. Horses have plenty of fodder and young cane. Hear of stragglers captured and killed. Start at noon and march 12 miles. Encamp after dark. Tired.
* Summary of the Art of War: written expressly for and dedicated to the U.S. Volunteer Army, by Emil Schalk, A.O. Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1862
* Union General Grenville Mellen Dodge was born 12 April 1831 near Danvers, MA.
In 1851, he graduated from Norwich University (VT) with a degree in civil engineering, then moved to Iowa, where he settled in Council Bluffs. For the next decade, he was involved in surveying for railroads, including the Union Pacific. He married Ruth Anne Browne on 29 May 1854. He was also a partner in the Baldwin & Dodge banking firm, and in 1860 served on the City Council.
Dodge joined the Union in the Civil War. At the beginning of the war, Dodge was sent by the Governor of Iowa to Washington, D.C., where he secured 6,000 muskets to supply Iowa volunteers. In July 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He commanded the 1st Brigade, 4th Division at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. For his services at the battle, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the District of the Mississippi, where he was involved in protecting and building railroads. Pictured below
Friday, November 25, 2011
27 - 31 Oct 1863
Oct 27 - Got to Luka at noon. A crowd of soldiers got commisary stores. 3 good letters from Ella. Camped on a hill near.
Oct 28 - Learn we are to have considerable marching. Are reducing baggage. Busy about mess. Paid off. Long letter to Ella.
Oct 29 - Mild weather. A.m. turned out of tent by pay-master being here. Boys got up a hospital tent and we had a small prayer meeting in evg.
Oct 30 - Rainy and stormy. Preparations for starting again. Henry cooks well. The care of providing is some trouble. See Mr. Bushwell a worthy agent of the Christian Commission laboring here.
Oct 31 - Chilly fair day. Labor, study and some preparations for tomorrow. Report of gambling in the regiment. It is checked and names of offenders taken. Arrange with Mr. Fry for services in the church in town tomorrow. Half of this month has been spent in Memphis and half on the march.
I have felt hopeful. More troubled with dyspeptic symptoms than heretofore. Have had satisfaction in divine things. Have felt in better spirits in the march than previously. We have a journey and new scenes before us. Death may be in the path of some one. Who is it?
Oct 28 - Learn we are to have considerable marching. Are reducing baggage. Busy about mess. Paid off. Long letter to Ella.
Oct 29 - Mild weather. A.m. turned out of tent by pay-master being here. Boys got up a hospital tent and we had a small prayer meeting in evg.
Oct 30 - Rainy and stormy. Preparations for starting again. Henry cooks well. The care of providing is some trouble. See Mr. Bushwell a worthy agent of the Christian Commission laboring here.
Oct 31 - Chilly fair day. Labor, study and some preparations for tomorrow. Report of gambling in the regiment. It is checked and names of offenders taken. Arrange with Mr. Fry for services in the church in town tomorrow. Half of this month has been spent in Memphis and half on the march.
I have felt hopeful. More troubled with dyspeptic symptoms than heretofore. Have had satisfaction in divine things. Have felt in better spirits in the march than previously. We have a journey and new scenes before us. Death may be in the path of some one. Who is it?
22 - 26 Oct 1863
Oct 22 - Fine day to start. My mare is lame[?] and I ride Col. Herrick's horse which is at times restive. One old man was robbed of chickens on the way. Col. Swayne had them restored to him I think. Eve at Sauls[bury] busy. Commenced raining. Three or four regiments here.
Oct 23 - Rained almost all night. Very wet in the morning. We kept pretty dry in the tent but the men were wet. Started in the rain. Stopped and built fires. A number of sick and disabled men were sent to Corinth by rail.
Oct 24 - Col. Herrick and I rode to Corinth in advance of the regiment. A lovely day and a good road. Got in at three. Chill wind found the sick and weary who had gone part way on the cars.
Oct 25 - Sunday a.m. washed etc. Read testament. At noon got orders. At 3 left eastward. Passed former campground at Clear Creek at which number died. Enjoyed prayer. Camped 6 miles from Corinth. Good letters from Mother and Sam.
Oct 26 - Marched to within 8 miles of Luka. In p.m. heard the artillery of a fight several miles off. Wrote home in evening.
Oct 23 - Rained almost all night. Very wet in the morning. We kept pretty dry in the tent but the men were wet. Started in the rain. Stopped and built fires. A number of sick and disabled men were sent to Corinth by rail.
Oct 24 - Col. Herrick and I rode to Corinth in advance of the regiment. A lovely day and a good road. Got in at three. Chill wind found the sick and weary who had gone part way on the cars.
Oct 25 - Sunday a.m. washed etc. Read testament. At noon got orders. At 3 left eastward. Passed former campground at Clear Creek at which number died. Enjoyed prayer. Camped 6 miles from Corinth. Good letters from Mother and Sam.
Oct 26 - Marched to within 8 miles of Luka. In p.m. heard the artillery of a fight several miles off. Wrote home in evening.
15 - 21 Oct 1863
Oct 15 - By taking lumber from a deserted house by permission the men are enlarging the church. Tried to talk with a man supposed dying in 32nd hospital but he seemed averse to conversation. Evg Col Swayne made an unpleasant remark about my having been unwilling he should have a separate candle. Parried[?] me.
Oct 16 - A most lovely and perfect day. Oh that our hearts might be as pure and heavenly as the atmosphere of this day. Studied on sermon. The poor boy at Wisconsin hospital died this morning and I officiated at his funeral at evening. To market early. Down town about a stove and studied with success this long evening.
Oct 17 - Had orders to move tomorrow. Saw and talked with 2 invalids and did erands down town. At eve a great thunder storm. Got all through late at night. Regret that we are ordered to move on Sunday.
Oct 18 - Lovely day. Were up and breakfasted before day. Off at 7 o'clock. Mailed letters to mother and Ella. The brigade goes. 4 regiments and 2 betteries. Marched off. Halted at 2:30 p.m. at Germantown. 15 miles.
Oct 19 - Lovely day. Started before sunrise. Marched through Collierville and encamped at Lafayette 18 miles in a low flat, high grass and weedy place. A teasmster of the 27th thrown and ran over and killed today. Foraged some for hungry mess.
Oct 20 - Left about 9 a.m. After waiting orders marched about 8 miles. Encamped at Moscow. A negro regiment [?] 2nd Tennessee* look pretty well. Rained in the night but our tent was dry. Rode Col's horses.
Oct 21 - Rained and blew for several miles. Stopped. Marched 19 miles to Saulsbury. Quartered in an old deserted bouse. Got a good fire and a good supper. Wrote to Ella.
* The Union 2nd Regiment Tennessee Heavy Artillery (African Descent) was organized at Columbus, KY in June 1863 and served post and garrison duty at Union City, TN and Columbus KY until April 1864 under the command of Colonel Charles H. Adams.
Oct 16 - A most lovely and perfect day. Oh that our hearts might be as pure and heavenly as the atmosphere of this day. Studied on sermon. The poor boy at Wisconsin hospital died this morning and I officiated at his funeral at evening. To market early. Down town about a stove and studied with success this long evening.
Oct 17 - Had orders to move tomorrow. Saw and talked with 2 invalids and did erands down town. At eve a great thunder storm. Got all through late at night. Regret that we are ordered to move on Sunday.
Oct 18 - Lovely day. Were up and breakfasted before day. Off at 7 o'clock. Mailed letters to mother and Ella. The brigade goes. 4 regiments and 2 betteries. Marched off. Halted at 2:30 p.m. at Germantown. 15 miles.
Oct 19 - Lovely day. Started before sunrise. Marched through Collierville and encamped at Lafayette 18 miles in a low flat, high grass and weedy place. A teasmster of the 27th thrown and ran over and killed today. Foraged some for hungry mess.
Oct 20 - Left about 9 a.m. After waiting orders marched about 8 miles. Encamped at Moscow. A negro regiment [?] 2nd Tennessee* look pretty well. Rained in the night but our tent was dry. Rode Col's horses.
Oct 21 - Rained and blew for several miles. Stopped. Marched 19 miles to Saulsbury. Quartered in an old deserted bouse. Got a good fire and a good supper. Wrote to Ella.
* The Union 2nd Regiment Tennessee Heavy Artillery (African Descent) was organized at Columbus, KY in June 1863 and served post and garrison duty at Union City, TN and Columbus KY until April 1864 under the command of Colonel Charles H. Adams.
8 -14 Oct 1863
Oct 8 - Fair and pleasant day. Went down town to try for some old lumber for the church. Partially successful. Had a good dinner and got to sleep. In p.m. felt in better spirits from warmth and rest. The town [Memphis] looked lively. Go on alternate p.m.s to 32nd Mis[souri] hospital. Sometimes hesitate about going but conclude to go. The town is gay and lively in business hours.
Oct 9 - A lovely day. Felt exhilarated by the fresh morning air. New vigor comes with cooler weather. [?] tents into [?]. Called on Lieutenant Calvin of Battery F. U.S. Fine of late much broken up from study by business and calls out.
Oct 10 - Fair and mild. Feel rather anxious morose and lonely for a few days. Know not why. Suppose I miss my dear wife and baby. Studied on sermon. Rode down town on business. To orphan asylum with [2nd] Lieut. [John W.] Thompson [of G company] at eve. Pleasant.
Oct 11 - Beautiful day. Only two at servants' Sunday School. Good Bible class. Not as good attendance at p.m. service as usual. Read testament etc at hospital. Evg felt my heart revived. A good earnest prayer meeting. Heard distant cannon at noon.
Oct 12 - Cloudy, but cleared off. Col. Swayne has been relieved of Provost Marshal's duty. I hear we are going to Holly Springs. Chimneys are being built. I feel tired of army life. I hired Henry today.
Oct 13 - Election Day in Ohio. For two days have been a little troubled with dyspepsia. Went with William to market before breakfast. Lieut. Calvin better. I voted today, the Union ticket. Col. Swayne came back to the regiment. Seems like former times. Only 51 votes for Vallandingham [sic] in the regiment.
Oct 14 - My new boy Henry cook pretty well. Went about looking for lumber to repair our church and enclose it for cold weather. Feel better of my indigestion. Read and wrote some. No letter from Ella yet this week. Feel better as to spiritual things.
Oct 9 - A lovely day. Felt exhilarated by the fresh morning air. New vigor comes with cooler weather. [?] tents into [?]. Called on Lieutenant Calvin of Battery F. U.S. Fine of late much broken up from study by business and calls out.
Oct 10 - Fair and mild. Feel rather anxious morose and lonely for a few days. Know not why. Suppose I miss my dear wife and baby. Studied on sermon. Rode down town on business. To orphan asylum with [2nd] Lieut. [John W.] Thompson [of G company] at eve. Pleasant.
Oct 11 - Beautiful day. Only two at servants' Sunday School. Good Bible class. Not as good attendance at p.m. service as usual. Read testament etc at hospital. Evg felt my heart revived. A good earnest prayer meeting. Heard distant cannon at noon.
Oct 12 - Cloudy, but cleared off. Col. Swayne has been relieved of Provost Marshal's duty. I hear we are going to Holly Springs. Chimneys are being built. I feel tired of army life. I hired Henry today.
Oct 13 - Election Day in Ohio. For two days have been a little troubled with dyspepsia. Went with William to market before breakfast. Lieut. Calvin better. I voted today, the Union ticket. Col. Swayne came back to the regiment. Seems like former times. Only 51 votes for Vallandingham [sic] in the regiment.
Oct 14 - My new boy Henry cook pretty well. Went about looking for lumber to repair our church and enclose it for cold weather. Feel better of my indigestion. Read and wrote some. No letter from Ella yet this week. Feel better as to spiritual things.
1 - 7 Oct 1863
Oct 1 - Fair and pleasant. In a.m. succeeded in exchanging my little hack mare for a good young roan mare. I gave $50 to boot. Secessionists have unfavorable stories, say Bragg* is in Chattanooga etc.
Oct 2 - School in p.m. for contrabands as usual. Eve orders came to be ready for immediate service. Packed up for the fourth time.
Oct 3 - Rose at four to have breakfast at five. Jim was gone and I warmed some coffee. Did not want. I studied etc as usual. P.m. at Christian Commission rooms.
Oct 4 - A fair day but chilly wind. Distributed papers early, before breakfast as regiment was going on picket. S[unday] school at nine. Talked on temperance in battery at 11. Only 5 came to p.m. service so I had none. Eve preached at Union Chapel without manuscript.
Oct 5 - Staid last night with Col. Swayne. Saw Dwight Stone of Columbus. A.m. rode in to Chaplain's meeting. They don't like to have a religious superintendent. Toward eve rode to 63rd. Sherman's corps is passing though her for Chattanooga past more veterans.
Oct 6 - Rained some in a.m. About noon there seemed to be picket firing at the right http://www.civilwarobsession.com/2010/10/picket-guards-explanation-from-youths.html. Hear there was skirmishing and two regiments sent out. Fixed stove. To 32nd hospital. [Martin] Wolf of Co. K [43rd regiment]* died very suddenly at noon. Appeared only indisposed.
Oct 7 - Last night another order came to be ready to move, so we were up and breakfasted before day. Went with young [John] Wolf* to get burial case for his brother. Chilly wind, dull and sleepy. Hear that Cheatham's* or Johns[t]on's* division is not far off.
* Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
* Martin Wolf, born 1839 in Butler twp, Knox Co. Ohio of Simon Wolf (b. 1818) and Nancy Kemmer (b. 1819).
* John Wolf, born 13 Sep 1843 in Butler twp, Knox Co. Ohio of Simon Wolf (b. 1818) and Nancy Kemmer (b. 1819). John was appointed Corporal 1 June 1865.
*
Confederate General Benjamin Franklin Cheatham (20 Oct 1820 - 4 Sep 1886)
*
Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston (3 Feb 1807 - 21 March 1891)
Oct 2 - School in p.m. for contrabands as usual. Eve orders came to be ready for immediate service. Packed up for the fourth time.
Oct 3 - Rose at four to have breakfast at five. Jim was gone and I warmed some coffee. Did not want. I studied etc as usual. P.m. at Christian Commission rooms.
Oct 4 - A fair day but chilly wind. Distributed papers early, before breakfast as regiment was going on picket. S[unday] school at nine. Talked on temperance in battery at 11. Only 5 came to p.m. service so I had none. Eve preached at Union Chapel without manuscript.
Oct 5 - Staid last night with Col. Swayne. Saw Dwight Stone of Columbus. A.m. rode in to Chaplain's meeting. They don't like to have a religious superintendent. Toward eve rode to 63rd. Sherman's corps is passing though her for Chattanooga past more veterans.
Oct 6 - Rained some in a.m. About noon there seemed to be picket firing at the right http://www.civilwarobsession.com/2010/10/picket-guards-explanation-from-youths.html. Hear there was skirmishing and two regiments sent out. Fixed stove. To 32nd hospital. [Martin] Wolf of Co. K [43rd regiment]* died very suddenly at noon. Appeared only indisposed.
Oct 7 - Last night another order came to be ready to move, so we were up and breakfasted before day. Went with young [John] Wolf* to get burial case for his brother. Chilly wind, dull and sleepy. Hear that Cheatham's* or Johns[t]on's* division is not far off.
* Confederate General Braxton Bragg.
* Martin Wolf, born 1839 in Butler twp, Knox Co. Ohio of Simon Wolf (b. 1818) and Nancy Kemmer (b. 1819).
* John Wolf, born 13 Sep 1843 in Butler twp, Knox Co. Ohio of Simon Wolf (b. 1818) and Nancy Kemmer (b. 1819). John was appointed Corporal 1 June 1865.
*
Confederate General Benjamin Franklin Cheatham (20 Oct 1820 - 4 Sep 1886)*
Confederate General Joseph Eggleston Johnston (3 Feb 1807 - 21 March 1891)
Friday, November 18, 2011
22 - 30 Sept 1863
Sept 22 - We have hints of leaving fair days and lovely moon light nights. A.m. went to auction sale of stock but could not get rid of my unsuitable horse. The horse question troubles me much of late. Put it away. To Missouri hospital and was able to speak on divine things to three men.
Sept 23 - Warmer - still see indications of a projected movement of the regiment. [John R.] Wilson of Company D quite sick at hospital. Felt somewhat depressed and homesick in the p.m. My school of six or eight contrabands three times a week and Sunday a.m. is quite interesting. Evening rumors of a reverse to Gen Rosencrans. Doubt it.
Sept 24 -Last night at 11 orders came to be ready to move. Got up and packed up. Nothing further today. Hear a raid was anticipated on M & O Rail Road*. Saw Col Swayne. Recovering. Rosencrans repulsed, not defeated. Heavy loss on both sides. Some Ohio officers killed. P.m. to Missouri hospital.
Sept 25 - Cloudy and cool. Have to cater for our mess now and instruct Jim some in cooking. Gen John Geiger here and on request made a union speech to the assembled brigade. Real good but stained by introduction of 3 oaths and a convivial allusion to whiskey - a pity. Soldiers have too much such influence already.
Sept 26 - Fine day. Mind unsettled but got it confined so as to study my sermon. Lovely moonlight nights. Over at 32nd hospital much thinned out. Health is better. Heard of auction of horses and got aroused on that question. Hear our whole corps (16th) to leave here for Rosencrans. Jim succeeded in pies. Sent trunk to Elyria by Lieutenant Kilby.
Sept 27 - Sunday. Feel much fatigued especially in mind. The regiment has been occupied somewhat with preparations for a contemplated move. Other regiments have moved in and bivouac near us. Has benefited in prayer meeting. Fond thoughts of our dear little boy.
Sept 28 - My cold in the head and anxiety about selling my horse gave me quite a dull head ache. A.m. was at horse business but accomplished nothing. P.m. pretty quite. Eve felt better. Our sick all [?] down town but we hear now we are not to go. Fine letters from Ella and Oren.
Sept 29 - When having little else to interest me I am apt to over eat and think too much of eating. My appetite is [?] controlled than formerly. Cloudy and hazy and mild, oh how dusty. Strange regiments from below are about us. Took the drinking and swearing pledge through three companies. Quite encouraged. Tea with Capt. H[errick].
Sept 30 - It has rained almost incessantly from before daylight. Much needed. [2nd] Lieutenant [Henry J]McFadden [from D company] quite sick. Went down town in the rain to have my horse sold but no auction hardly. Conclude not to waste any more time on her now. Presented quarterly report. Read much in p.m. and evening.
* The Mobile and Ohio Rail Road was chartered Jan / Feb 1848 to go between Mobile, Alabama and Cairo, Illinois. On September 13, 1940, it was merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad to form the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
Sept 23 - Warmer - still see indications of a projected movement of the regiment. [John R.] Wilson of Company D quite sick at hospital. Felt somewhat depressed and homesick in the p.m. My school of six or eight contrabands three times a week and Sunday a.m. is quite interesting. Evening rumors of a reverse to Gen Rosencrans. Doubt it.
Sept 24 -Last night at 11 orders came to be ready to move. Got up and packed up. Nothing further today. Hear a raid was anticipated on M & O Rail Road*. Saw Col Swayne. Recovering. Rosencrans repulsed, not defeated. Heavy loss on both sides. Some Ohio officers killed. P.m. to Missouri hospital.
Sept 25 - Cloudy and cool. Have to cater for our mess now and instruct Jim some in cooking. Gen John Geiger here and on request made a union speech to the assembled brigade. Real good but stained by introduction of 3 oaths and a convivial allusion to whiskey - a pity. Soldiers have too much such influence already.
Sept 26 - Fine day. Mind unsettled but got it confined so as to study my sermon. Lovely moonlight nights. Over at 32nd hospital much thinned out. Health is better. Heard of auction of horses and got aroused on that question. Hear our whole corps (16th) to leave here for Rosencrans. Jim succeeded in pies. Sent trunk to Elyria by Lieutenant Kilby.
Sept 27 - Sunday. Feel much fatigued especially in mind. The regiment has been occupied somewhat with preparations for a contemplated move. Other regiments have moved in and bivouac near us. Has benefited in prayer meeting. Fond thoughts of our dear little boy.
Sept 28 - My cold in the head and anxiety about selling my horse gave me quite a dull head ache. A.m. was at horse business but accomplished nothing. P.m. pretty quite. Eve felt better. Our sick all [?] down town but we hear now we are not to go. Fine letters from Ella and Oren.
Sept 29 - When having little else to interest me I am apt to over eat and think too much of eating. My appetite is [?] controlled than formerly. Cloudy and hazy and mild, oh how dusty. Strange regiments from below are about us. Took the drinking and swearing pledge through three companies. Quite encouraged. Tea with Capt. H[errick].
Sept 30 - It has rained almost incessantly from before daylight. Much needed. [2nd] Lieutenant [Henry J]McFadden [from D company] quite sick. Went down town in the rain to have my horse sold but no auction hardly. Conclude not to waste any more time on her now. Presented quarterly report. Read much in p.m. and evening.
* The Mobile and Ohio Rail Road was chartered Jan / Feb 1848 to go between Mobile, Alabama and Cairo, Illinois. On September 13, 1940, it was merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad to form the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
15 - 21 Sept 1863
Sept 15 - Read papers and wrote letters. Distributed testaments in Illinois battery - well received. A private there had been a city missionary in Chicago. At Missouri hospital. Toward evening weary, but spirited a little and nervous. Anti-Vallandigham* resolutions largely signed in regiment.
Sept 16 - A little cloudy, quite a relief. Fine display of the brigade and cavalry out on inspection. Felt weary toward evening and somewhat dis-spirited and lonely but the prayer meeting did me good. Feel my work is great but must cast my care on the Lord. Feel want of family intercourse and society.
Sept 17 - Rain, clouds and cool wind. Beginning to feel the monotony of camp life. Read in "Chaplain's manual" useful instructions on dealing with sick and well. Eve to prayer meeting of 32nd Missouri. Not as interesting as ours I think. Burnside* has marched on a hoodless conquest and deliverance of E. Tennessee. Appetite less voracious.
Sept 18 - Chilly day. Rode to town on my little horse. Liked him and did not like him. The horse question has troubled me much for ten days. Rosencrans has taken Chattanooga and Burnside.
Sept 19 - Chilly still. Lib. our cook sick and Jim cooks. Studied etc. P.m. to 32nd hosp[ital]. Shall alternate daily between that and ours. Gave tracts and papers. Eve talked with Col Herrick of bringing wife and friends south in winter.
Sept 20 - Fine day. An unexpected and delightful tho' short call from Sam who has a furlough of 20 days. He is well. His regiment has suffered and is suffering much from sickness and death. In p.m. preached to an unusually good number of soldiers. Col Herrick has talked to officers about attending church. Very bad sick head ache in eve.
Sept 21 - Fine day. A.m. to Chaplain's meeting etc. P.m. school. My school room does well. Six or eight in attendance. In eve spent an hour or two with Col. Swayne who is quite sick. Prayer with him. Good letter from Ella and Henry.
* Clement Laird Vallandigham was born 29 July 1820 in Lisbon Ohio. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ohio legislature in 1845 and 1846, and by a very small margin to the U.S. Congress in 1858 and 1860 representing the district around Dayton. When the war broke out the majority anti-secession population of Dayton turned him out of office by a large margin in 1862.
He was a member of the copperhead movement and was vociferously anti-war on the basis of states rights, and perhaps racism played a part as well, as he defended the institution of slavery.
After the war, Vallandigham returned to Ohio, lost his campaigns for Senate and the House of Representatives on an anti-Reconstruction platform, and then resumed his law practice. By 1871 he won the Ohio Democrats over to a "new departure" policy that would essentially neglect to mention the Civil War.
Vallandigham's assertion that "he did not want to belong to the United States" prompted Edward Everett Hale to write The Man Without a Country. This short story, which appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in December 1863, was widely republished.
Vallandigham died on 17 June 1871 in Lebanon, Ohio, at the age of 50, after accidentally shooting himself with a pistol. He was representing a defendant in a murder case for killing a man in a bar room brawl. Vallandigham attempted to prove the victim had in fact killed himself while trying to draw his pistol from a pocket when rising from a kneeling position. As Vallandigham conferred with fellow defense attorneys in his hotel room, he showed them how he would demonstrate this to the jury. Grabbing a pistol he believed to be unloaded, he put it in his pocket and enacted the events as they might have happened, shooting himself in the process. Vallandigham proved his point, and the defendant, Thomas McGehan, was acquitted and released from custody. Pictured below
Union General Ambrose Everett Burnside was born 23 May 1824 in Liberty Indiana. He attended West Point, graduating in 1847. He fought in the Mexican-American war doing mostly garrison duty in Mexico City near the end of the war. At the close of the war, Lt. Burnside served two years on the western frontier, serving under Captain Braxton Bragg in the 3rd U.S. Artillery, a light artillery unit that had been converted to cavalry duty, protecting the Western mail routes through Nevada to California. In 1849, he was wounded by an arrow in his neck during a skirmish against Apaches in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Burnside was a brigadier general in the Rhode Island Militia. He raised a regiment, the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed its colonel on May 2, 1861. Within a month, he ascended to brigade command in the Department of Northeast Virginia. He commanded the brigade without distinction at the First Battle of Bull Run in July, committing his troops piecemeal, and took over division command temporarily for wounded Brig. Gen. David Hunter. After his 90-day regiment was mustered out of service, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on August 6, and was assigned to train provisional brigades in the nascent Army of the Potomac.
General Burnside also fought in North Carolina, Antietam, Fredericksburg, East Tennessee, The Overland campaign and the Crater.
Burnside was relieved of command on August 14 and sent on leave by Grant; Meade never recalled him to duty. A court of inquiry later placed the blame for the Crater fiasco on Burnside and his subordinates. In December, Burnside met with President Lincoln and General Grant about his future. He was contemplating resignation, but Lincoln and Grant requested that he remain in the Army. At the end of the interview, Burnside wrote, "I was not informed of any duty upon which I am to be placed." He finally resigned his commission on April 15, 1865.
Burnside was noted for his unusual facial hair, joining strips of hair in front of his ears to his mustache but with chin clean-shaven; the word burnsides was coined to describe this style. The syllables were later reversed to give sideburns.
Sept 16 - A little cloudy, quite a relief. Fine display of the brigade and cavalry out on inspection. Felt weary toward evening and somewhat dis-spirited and lonely but the prayer meeting did me good. Feel my work is great but must cast my care on the Lord. Feel want of family intercourse and society.
Sept 17 - Rain, clouds and cool wind. Beginning to feel the monotony of camp life. Read in "Chaplain's manual" useful instructions on dealing with sick and well. Eve to prayer meeting of 32nd Missouri. Not as interesting as ours I think. Burnside* has marched on a hoodless conquest and deliverance of E. Tennessee. Appetite less voracious.
Sept 18 - Chilly day. Rode to town on my little horse. Liked him and did not like him. The horse question has troubled me much for ten days. Rosencrans has taken Chattanooga and Burnside.
Sept 19 - Chilly still. Lib. our cook sick and Jim cooks. Studied etc. P.m. to 32nd hosp[ital]. Shall alternate daily between that and ours. Gave tracts and papers. Eve talked with Col Herrick of bringing wife and friends south in winter.
Sept 20 - Fine day. An unexpected and delightful tho' short call from Sam who has a furlough of 20 days. He is well. His regiment has suffered and is suffering much from sickness and death. In p.m. preached to an unusually good number of soldiers. Col Herrick has talked to officers about attending church. Very bad sick head ache in eve.
Sept 21 - Fine day. A.m. to Chaplain's meeting etc. P.m. school. My school room does well. Six or eight in attendance. In eve spent an hour or two with Col. Swayne who is quite sick. Prayer with him. Good letter from Ella and Henry.
* Clement Laird Vallandigham was born 29 July 1820 in Lisbon Ohio. He was elected as a Democrat to the Ohio legislature in 1845 and 1846, and by a very small margin to the U.S. Congress in 1858 and 1860 representing the district around Dayton. When the war broke out the majority anti-secession population of Dayton turned him out of office by a large margin in 1862.
He was a member of the copperhead movement and was vociferously anti-war on the basis of states rights, and perhaps racism played a part as well, as he defended the institution of slavery.
After the war, Vallandigham returned to Ohio, lost his campaigns for Senate and the House of Representatives on an anti-Reconstruction platform, and then resumed his law practice. By 1871 he won the Ohio Democrats over to a "new departure" policy that would essentially neglect to mention the Civil War.
Vallandigham's assertion that "he did not want to belong to the United States" prompted Edward Everett Hale to write The Man Without a Country. This short story, which appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in December 1863, was widely republished.
Vallandigham died on 17 June 1871 in Lebanon, Ohio, at the age of 50, after accidentally shooting himself with a pistol. He was representing a defendant in a murder case for killing a man in a bar room brawl. Vallandigham attempted to prove the victim had in fact killed himself while trying to draw his pistol from a pocket when rising from a kneeling position. As Vallandigham conferred with fellow defense attorneys in his hotel room, he showed them how he would demonstrate this to the jury. Grabbing a pistol he believed to be unloaded, he put it in his pocket and enacted the events as they might have happened, shooting himself in the process. Vallandigham proved his point, and the defendant, Thomas McGehan, was acquitted and released from custody. Pictured below
Union General Ambrose Everett Burnside was born 23 May 1824 in Liberty Indiana. He attended West Point, graduating in 1847. He fought in the Mexican-American war doing mostly garrison duty in Mexico City near the end of the war. At the close of the war, Lt. Burnside served two years on the western frontier, serving under Captain Braxton Bragg in the 3rd U.S. Artillery, a light artillery unit that had been converted to cavalry duty, protecting the Western mail routes through Nevada to California. In 1849, he was wounded by an arrow in his neck during a skirmish against Apaches in Las Vegas, New Mexico.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Burnside was a brigadier general in the Rhode Island Militia. He raised a regiment, the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed its colonel on May 2, 1861. Within a month, he ascended to brigade command in the Department of Northeast Virginia. He commanded the brigade without distinction at the First Battle of Bull Run in July, committing his troops piecemeal, and took over division command temporarily for wounded Brig. Gen. David Hunter. After his 90-day regiment was mustered out of service, he was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers on August 6, and was assigned to train provisional brigades in the nascent Army of the Potomac.
General Burnside also fought in North Carolina, Antietam, Fredericksburg, East Tennessee, The Overland campaign and the Crater.
Burnside was relieved of command on August 14 and sent on leave by Grant; Meade never recalled him to duty. A court of inquiry later placed the blame for the Crater fiasco on Burnside and his subordinates. In December, Burnside met with President Lincoln and General Grant about his future. He was contemplating resignation, but Lincoln and Grant requested that he remain in the Army. At the end of the interview, Burnside wrote, "I was not informed of any duty upon which I am to be placed." He finally resigned his commission on April 15, 1865.
Burnside was noted for his unusual facial hair, joining strips of hair in front of his ears to his mustache but with chin clean-shaven; the word burnsides was coined to describe this style. The syllables were later reversed to give sideburns.
8 - 14 Sept 1863
Sept 8 - A very warm day. Gave in my mare and halter at govt. stable and got a receipt from Capt. Eddy. Saw a man at Washington hospital, apparently a sincere Christian, a communicant of our church and promised to administer the sacrament. Buried a soldier of 32nd Mis[souri]. They have many sick and unusual mortality. No letter from Ella yet this week. Good pr[ayer] meeting.
Sept 9 - Warm. Administered sacrament to a poor soldier in Washington hospital. Apparently a devoted Christian. At noon a watermelon and cake at dinner. Upset my digestion and stupefied me some. I cannot be as careful in camp as at home. Oh that I might never over load my stomach. "Thy table is a snare and a trap". A letter from Ella.
Sept 10 - Very warm. To Wisconsin hospital in the a.m. but accomplished little. Studied etc. Got over my dyspepsia. Poor old Mr. Grimshaw died after a very short illness. P.m. to Christian Commission and saw and prayed with poor Hicks, who is very low in Jefferson hospital. Get almost exhausted walking in and out, partly from weather and partly want of practice in activity.
Sept 11 - Warm and very dusty. We buried Mr. Grimshaw in the morning. I attended auction of condemned stock. A man had bought and I bought of him at 25 dollars a small and rather exhausted looking mare. Pleased with my bargain. We had orders to be ready to move at sunset. I hurried and worked till bed time in preparation.
Sept 12 - Col. Swayne has come. Think we will go into Arkansas. A letter from Ella. Hearing I was and no letter (fault of mails) she is very anxious. Sends $10.00. Wants to come if I will send for her. A loving true wife.
Sept 13 - Usual routine of duties. Fair attendance at p.m. service. Read at hospital. Evening a chaplain's meeting and I baptized Murphy, Page and Howard. In evening saw Col. Swayne. Walked in and staid with him. Brings a good letter from North.
Sept 14 - Fine day but dusty. Chaplain's meeting. Nausea and vomiting after breakfast but feel better. Errands down town and school. See that my new purchase [the mare] is too small to carry me but will keep till I can sell or trade and if we march will go afoot some.
Sept 9 - Warm. Administered sacrament to a poor soldier in Washington hospital. Apparently a devoted Christian. At noon a watermelon and cake at dinner. Upset my digestion and stupefied me some. I cannot be as careful in camp as at home. Oh that I might never over load my stomach. "Thy table is a snare and a trap". A letter from Ella.
Sept 10 - Very warm. To Wisconsin hospital in the a.m. but accomplished little. Studied etc. Got over my dyspepsia. Poor old Mr. Grimshaw died after a very short illness. P.m. to Christian Commission and saw and prayed with poor Hicks, who is very low in Jefferson hospital. Get almost exhausted walking in and out, partly from weather and partly want of practice in activity.
Sept 11 - Warm and very dusty. We buried Mr. Grimshaw in the morning. I attended auction of condemned stock. A man had bought and I bought of him at 25 dollars a small and rather exhausted looking mare. Pleased with my bargain. We had orders to be ready to move at sunset. I hurried and worked till bed time in preparation.
Sept 12 - Col. Swayne has come. Think we will go into Arkansas. A letter from Ella. Hearing I was and no letter (fault of mails) she is very anxious. Sends $10.00. Wants to come if I will send for her. A loving true wife.
Sept 13 - Usual routine of duties. Fair attendance at p.m. service. Read at hospital. Evening a chaplain's meeting and I baptized Murphy, Page and Howard. In evening saw Col. Swayne. Walked in and staid with him. Brings a good letter from North.
Sept 14 - Fine day but dusty. Chaplain's meeting. Nausea and vomiting after breakfast but feel better. Errands down town and school. See that my new purchase [the mare] is too small to carry me but will keep till I can sell or trade and if we march will go afoot some.
1 - 7 Sept 1863
Sept 1 - Fine mild weather. Read, wrote, and visited a.m. P.m. to town and got my pay. Sent $35 to Henry*. Pleasant prayer meeting at Christian Commission. I hope those realms [?] Messers Burnell and Essing on will be encouraged. My appetite is too slack. I try to control it. With Col H[errick] to Judge S[?] in eve.
Sept 2 - Men hufing[?] a good deal and some drinking. See others sick and feel grateful for continued health and blessings. Spent an hour in hospital, read some from hope to Hicks. Eve to 27th regiment. Called on Dr. Young. Heard a soldier singing a hymn and talked with him on religion. A good letter from mother.
Sept 3 - Slightly hazy and warm. A.m. to Lieutenant Col. Fullers and Maj. Churchill's. P.m. to Rev. Mr. Hews where was quite pleasant. Eve a good but rather thin p[rayer] meeting. Rested my soul on Christ. Tired of my own works and feeling my unworthy deservings. He died for my sins. Rev. Mr. French named. Poor Hicks* at hospital seems failing.
Sept 4 - Fine settled weather, not very warm or very cold. Bad smell of carrion at night fall. Becoming more interested in Mr. Bonnell and his reading room. Attended auction sale of confiscated stock. Saw nothing I wanted among the lean starved up horses. Sought help and was enabled to speak kindly to poor Hicks of Jesus. He was moved to tears. A contrite heart God will not despise.
Sept 5 - Warmer days. Felt uncommonly lazy and listless in p.m. Feel some monotony and loneliness but am thankful for continued life and health. Suffer some from tyranny of appetite. Prepared for Bible class and went about some. Asked officers to induce more men to attend church. Murphey* and Howard* called - candidates for baptism.
Sept 6 - Fine day and labor[?]. Papers around at S[abbath] S[unday] School for servants for 9. Bible class at 10:30. Services at 2. Hospital and read at 3:30. In town to Union Chapel and preached to a large congregation at eve. Got on very well. Very tired. A fine church and congregation.
Sept 7 - Warm and dusty. Pleasant chaplains meeting. I was chosen chairman of the association for one month. At Gen Hewletts to see about my horse. Col Benson says cannot be appraised. Repossessed one for not having a uniform. No letter from Ella. Disappointed. Prayer meeting evening. Three deserters brought back after absence of one year or more.
* Henry Treat Chittenden (1836-1909), Richard's younger brother.
* David Hicks. Born 1839/40 in Washington twp, Harrison Co. Ohio. Appointed Corporal 1 Apr 1865,
* Joseph S. Murph[e]y. Born 1835/36 in Miller twp, Knox Co. Ohio.
* George W. Howard. Born 1839/40 in Huntington twp, Brown Co. Ohio.
Sept 2 - Men hufing[?] a good deal and some drinking. See others sick and feel grateful for continued health and blessings. Spent an hour in hospital, read some from hope to Hicks. Eve to 27th regiment. Called on Dr. Young. Heard a soldier singing a hymn and talked with him on religion. A good letter from mother.
Sept 3 - Slightly hazy and warm. A.m. to Lieutenant Col. Fullers and Maj. Churchill's. P.m. to Rev. Mr. Hews where was quite pleasant. Eve a good but rather thin p[rayer] meeting. Rested my soul on Christ. Tired of my own works and feeling my unworthy deservings. He died for my sins. Rev. Mr. French named. Poor Hicks* at hospital seems failing.
Sept 4 - Fine settled weather, not very warm or very cold. Bad smell of carrion at night fall. Becoming more interested in Mr. Bonnell and his reading room. Attended auction sale of confiscated stock. Saw nothing I wanted among the lean starved up horses. Sought help and was enabled to speak kindly to poor Hicks of Jesus. He was moved to tears. A contrite heart God will not despise.
Sept 5 - Warmer days. Felt uncommonly lazy and listless in p.m. Feel some monotony and loneliness but am thankful for continued life and health. Suffer some from tyranny of appetite. Prepared for Bible class and went about some. Asked officers to induce more men to attend church. Murphey* and Howard* called - candidates for baptism.
Sept 6 - Fine day and labor[?]. Papers around at S[abbath] S[unday] School for servants for 9. Bible class at 10:30. Services at 2. Hospital and read at 3:30. In town to Union Chapel and preached to a large congregation at eve. Got on very well. Very tired. A fine church and congregation.
Sept 7 - Warm and dusty. Pleasant chaplains meeting. I was chosen chairman of the association for one month. At Gen Hewletts to see about my horse. Col Benson says cannot be appraised. Repossessed one for not having a uniform. No letter from Ella. Disappointed. Prayer meeting evening. Three deserters brought back after absence of one year or more.
* Henry Treat Chittenden (1836-1909), Richard's younger brother.
* David Hicks. Born 1839/40 in Washington twp, Harrison Co. Ohio. Appointed Corporal 1 Apr 1865,
* Joseph S. Murph[e]y. Born 1835/36 in Miller twp, Knox Co. Ohio.
* George W. Howard. Born 1839/40 in Huntington twp, Brown Co. Ohio.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
29 - 31 Aug 1863
Aug 29 - A.m. early to town on an errand. Studied then in Company A. P.m. wrote on sermon. Have furnished tracts and papers to regiment going out on guard. Then errand to 32nd Wis[consin]. Then hospital, then battery. Tired at night.
A view of a Civil War field hospital
Aug 30 - Cool a.m. Bible class at 9. Rode to a Methodist Church with Col. Pleased and benefited sermon on witnesses. Brief appointment at 32nd Wisconsin not fulfilled. The Col. had made other arrangements not knowing of mine. Heard chaplain Peake in eve. Preached on John 3:3.
Aug 31 - A cold night last night. Moderating today. Pleasant chaplain's meeting a.m. Regiment paid off. Two soldiers paid me up borrowed money - honorable. A real good letter from wife and a courant*. We hear of Fort Sumter being demolished and I hope to hear of capture of Charleston. Good prayer meeting in eve.
* The Hartford Courant is the oldest newspaper in North America in continuous publication. It began as a weekly in 1764. Daily publication began in 1837, but the weekly edition continued until 1896. George Washington used the Courant to lease part of his Mount Vernon estate, and Thomas Jefferson sued the paper for libel, but lost. During the Revolution the paper had the largest circulation of any paper in the colonies. The Courant, inspired by a visit by President Lincoln to Hartford CT became leading supporters of the new Republican party. When Lincoln won his second term the headlines proudly exclaimed "VICTORY, VICTORY, WE'VE GOT 'EM". During the Civil War the Courant was a primary way of spreading war news among the troops.
A view of a Civil War field hospital
Aug 30 - Cool a.m. Bible class at 9. Rode to a Methodist Church with Col. Pleased and benefited sermon on witnesses. Brief appointment at 32nd Wisconsin not fulfilled. The Col. had made other arrangements not knowing of mine. Heard chaplain Peake in eve. Preached on John 3:3.
Aug 31 - A cold night last night. Moderating today. Pleasant chaplain's meeting a.m. Regiment paid off. Two soldiers paid me up borrowed money - honorable. A real good letter from wife and a courant*. We hear of Fort Sumter being demolished and I hope to hear of capture of Charleston. Good prayer meeting in eve.
* The Hartford Courant is the oldest newspaper in North America in continuous publication. It began as a weekly in 1764. Daily publication began in 1837, but the weekly edition continued until 1896. George Washington used the Courant to lease part of his Mount Vernon estate, and Thomas Jefferson sued the paper for libel, but lost. During the Revolution the paper had the largest circulation of any paper in the colonies. The Courant, inspired by a visit by President Lincoln to Hartford CT became leading supporters of the new Republican party. When Lincoln won his second term the headlines proudly exclaimed "VICTORY, VICTORY, WE'VE GOT 'EM". During the Civil War the Courant was a primary way of spreading war news among the troops.
24 - 28 Aug 1863
Aug 24 - Col. Sheldon called on Col. Herrick to my surprise. Not quite well but going back. Col. Swayne left for Ohio.
Aug 25 - Remarkable change yesterday a.m. Clouds and chill wind. It is strengthening. Men have requested prayer meeting every night except when on guard. I urge religious thoughts and reading in regiment.
Aug 26 - We begin to eat. Clear but cool day. Am stupid and weak. By request attended funeral of a soldier in 63rd O[hio VI]. P[rayer] meeting in eve. A supper given at G[?] house to Gen. Grant. I was not invited.
Aug 27 - Fine and cool. Rather weak. A letter from Ella but too short and in pencil. In p.m. to town on business and eve a pleasant call at Col. Boyd's with Col. Herrick.
Aug 28 - Rained most of the a.m. I studied. Often feel tired and weary in my work. Have prayer meetings every evening except when on guard. Bowels some sore. Chilly weather.
Aug 25 - Remarkable change yesterday a.m. Clouds and chill wind. It is strengthening. Men have requested prayer meeting every night except when on guard. I urge religious thoughts and reading in regiment.
Aug 26 - We begin to eat. Clear but cool day. Am stupid and weak. By request attended funeral of a soldier in 63rd O[hio VI]. P[rayer] meeting in eve. A supper given at G[?] house to Gen. Grant. I was not invited.
Aug 27 - Fine and cool. Rather weak. A letter from Ella but too short and in pencil. In p.m. to town on business and eve a pleasant call at Col. Boyd's with Col. Herrick.
Aug 28 - Rained most of the a.m. I studied. Often feel tired and weary in my work. Have prayer meetings every evening except when on guard. Bowels some sore. Chilly weather.
17 - 23 Aug 1863
Aug 17 - Attended Chaplain's meeting am. A cool room and pleasant talk.
Aug 18 - Mr. [Daniel] Rheem [i.e. Ream] of Ohio here to get away his son [John]* - very low at the hospital. He chafes at delay in papers. The poor boy dies on the 21st.
Aug 19 - Lay too cold and got up feeling agueish and unwell. Write to wife twice a week now.
Aug 20 - Still unwell tho' keep about my duties. Mr. Rheem [sic] complains that Dr. Rose who is sick does not see his son and other patients. I inadvertently repeat the complaint. Col. Herrick notifies him. He requests to know who complained. I write and explain. The Dr. soon friendly again.
Aug 21 - Unwell still. Bad taste and poor appetite. Col. Herrick the same. Got on finally in preparing sermon this evening.
Aug 22 - Feel worse, have fever. Disappointed in letter from wife this week - now get one saying she has taken whooping cough. Undressed and went to bed to be sick. Was mulled[?] off and feel better.
Aug 23 - Sunday. Too unwell to do duty. Mr. K.A. Brumell addressed the regiment. Good attendance. Col Swayne dropped in going home [?]. Weak but better than yesterday.
* Pvt. John Ream, born 1838/9 in Madison twp. Fairfield Co. Ohio. He was the son of Daniel (born abt 1808 in PA) and Sarah (born abt 1811 in OH).
Aug 18 - Mr. [Daniel] Rheem [i.e. Ream] of Ohio here to get away his son [John]* - very low at the hospital. He chafes at delay in papers. The poor boy dies on the 21st.
Aug 19 - Lay too cold and got up feeling agueish and unwell. Write to wife twice a week now.
Aug 20 - Still unwell tho' keep about my duties. Mr. Rheem [sic] complains that Dr. Rose who is sick does not see his son and other patients. I inadvertently repeat the complaint. Col. Herrick notifies him. He requests to know who complained. I write and explain. The Dr. soon friendly again.
Aug 21 - Unwell still. Bad taste and poor appetite. Col. Herrick the same. Got on finally in preparing sermon this evening.
Aug 22 - Feel worse, have fever. Disappointed in letter from wife this week - now get one saying she has taken whooping cough. Undressed and went to bed to be sick. Was mulled[?] off and feel better.
Aug 23 - Sunday. Too unwell to do duty. Mr. K.A. Brumell addressed the regiment. Good attendance. Col Swayne dropped in going home [?]. Weak but better than yesterday.
* Pvt. John Ream, born 1838/9 in Madison twp. Fairfield Co. Ohio. He was the son of Daniel (born abt 1808 in PA) and Sarah (born abt 1811 in OH).
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
9 - 16 August 1863
Aug 9 - Preached to a fair congregation at 2. Major Park and others going North for conscripts left at 4 or 5 p.m. Buried a Wisconsin soldier at 5:30. Sun[?] hurt my head. Spent night with Col. Swayne. Head ache.
Aug 10 - Walked out to camp. Got into Major's tent. A short letter from home. A lull in public events. Warm and dry for marches and awaiting conscripts.
Aug 11 - Go on in my routine duties. Am not satisfied longer with doing without much am but to fill up time. Now try to have an aim in doing good and follow it out. The other way accomplishes little and becomes intolerably tedious.
Aug 13 - Ride into town occasionally on errands.
Aug 14 - Over 90 nine months men go home about this time*. Makes the regiment small. Hope for conscripts to fill up.
Aug 16 - Burial of F.A. Mansfield. Col. Herrick did not think [?] to send around notice of church as has been done and as I feared attendance was small. Quite disheartened me. Hot weather along now.
* On Aug. 4 1862, President Lincoln called up 300,000 men for nine months service, on top of the 300,000 he had already requested in July 1862 for three years. The militia call-up was General Order No. 94:
Aug 10 - Walked out to camp. Got into Major's tent. A short letter from home. A lull in public events. Warm and dry for marches and awaiting conscripts.
Aug 11 - Go on in my routine duties. Am not satisfied longer with doing without much am but to fill up time. Now try to have an aim in doing good and follow it out. The other way accomplishes little and becomes intolerably tedious.
Aug 13 - Ride into town occasionally on errands.
Aug 14 - Over 90 nine months men go home about this time*. Makes the regiment small. Hope for conscripts to fill up.
Aug 16 - Burial of F.A. Mansfield. Col. Herrick did not think [?] to send around notice of church as has been done and as I feared attendance was small. Quite disheartened me. Hot weather along now.
* On Aug. 4 1862, President Lincoln called up 300,000 men for nine months service, on top of the 300,000 he had already requested in July 1862 for three years. The militia call-up was General Order No. 94:
Ordered: I. That a draft of 300,000 militia be immediately called into the service of the United States, to serve for nine months unless sooner discharged. The Secretary of War will assign the quotas to the States and establish regulations for the draft.
II. That if any state shall not by the 15th of August furnish its quota of the additional 300,000 volunteers authorized by law, the deficiency of volunteers in that State will also be made up by special draft from the militia. The Secretary of War will establish regulations for this purpose.
1 - 8 Aug 1863
Aug 1 - Met Gen. Buckland* on cars. I am in his brigade. A hot and dusty ride. Cairo [Illinois] at 4 p.m. Left on boat at Columbus [Kentucky] at midnight. Went to McElg Hotel.
Aug 2 - Fine hot day. At church (Pres[byterian]) a.m. and went on hill with tracts to camp and hospital p.m. Eve wrote to Ella for mail from here.
Aug 3 - Waited for boat and left on "Sallie Robinson*" for Memphis, fare $8.00. Small and few passengers. Write up all July journal to date.
Aug 4 - Pleasant sail down, Stopping at Fort Pillow*. At 4:30 Memphis here in sight and was some on the wharf. Got a carriage and rode to regiment. Warm welcomes.
Aug 5 - Mess with Col. Herrick and Major Park: sleep on floor of Col's tent for the present. Met acquaintances. The regiment seems quieter than formerly. Good clapboard quarters.
Aug 6 - Attend funeral of a child of a member of 32nd Wisconsin encamped near us about this time "Thanksgiving day". Attend dinner at Christian Commission rooms*. A pleasant time.
Aug 8 - Preparing for Sunday.
* Ralph Pomeroy Buckland was born 20 Jan 1812 in Leyden Massachusetts. His family moved to Ravenna Ohio the year he was born. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1838 and after passing the bar practiced Law in Fremont Ohio. He served as Mayor of Fremont from 1843-1845, and was a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1855 - 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War he became Colonel of the Ohio 72nd Infantry and later commanded a brigade under General William Tecumseh Sherman at the battle of Shiloh in April 1862. He was commissioned a Brigadier General of volunteers on 29 November 1862 and served at the siege of Vicksburg in the Spring and Summer of 1863. He resigned from the army in January 1865 and returned to Ohio where he won a seat in the U.S. Congress where he served two terms from 1865-1869. He died in Fremont Ohio on 27 May 1892. Pictured below
* The Sallie Robinson was a steamship sailing out of Shreveport and New Orleans, mostly to points west along the Louisiana Coast and Texas, which was commandeered by Union troops for the blockade of the the Port of New Orleans beginning 19 April 1861. It then sailed up and down the Mississippi river picking up passengers like Richard Chittenden.
* Fort Pillow, at Henning Tennessee, was the sight of a bloody battle fought on 12 April 1864. The battle ended with a massacre of African-American Union soldiers who had surrendered to Confederate forces under the direction of Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
The New York Times reported on April 24, 1864 "The blacks and their officers were shot down, bayoneted and put to the sword in cold blood... . Out of four hundred negro soldiers only about twenty survive! At least three hundred of them were destroyed after the surrender! This is the statement of the rebel General Chalmers himself to our informant."
This tragedy was used as a rallying cry in the North and helped the resolve of the Union to see the war through to the end.
*The United States Christian Commission was formed 16 Nov 1861 at a convention of delegates from the YMCA held in New York City. "The object of the Commission was to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of the officers and men of the U.S. army and navy, in co-operation with chaplains and others." Taken from "Report of the United Stated Christian Commission for the Army and Navy: Work and Incidents: 1st annual report: Philadelphia, February 1863"
Aug 2 - Fine hot day. At church (Pres[byterian]) a.m. and went on hill with tracts to camp and hospital p.m. Eve wrote to Ella for mail from here.
Aug 3 - Waited for boat and left on "Sallie Robinson*" for Memphis, fare $8.00. Small and few passengers. Write up all July journal to date.
Aug 4 - Pleasant sail down, Stopping at Fort Pillow*. At 4:30 Memphis here in sight and was some on the wharf. Got a carriage and rode to regiment. Warm welcomes.
Aug 5 - Mess with Col. Herrick and Major Park: sleep on floor of Col's tent for the present. Met acquaintances. The regiment seems quieter than formerly. Good clapboard quarters.
Aug 6 - Attend funeral of a child of a member of 32nd Wisconsin encamped near us about this time "Thanksgiving day". Attend dinner at Christian Commission rooms*. A pleasant time.
Aug 8 - Preparing for Sunday.
* Ralph Pomeroy Buckland was born 20 Jan 1812 in Leyden Massachusetts. His family moved to Ravenna Ohio the year he was born. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1838 and after passing the bar practiced Law in Fremont Ohio. He served as Mayor of Fremont from 1843-1845, and was a member of the Ohio State Senate from 1855 - 1859. At the outbreak of the Civil War he became Colonel of the Ohio 72nd Infantry and later commanded a brigade under General William Tecumseh Sherman at the battle of Shiloh in April 1862. He was commissioned a Brigadier General of volunteers on 29 November 1862 and served at the siege of Vicksburg in the Spring and Summer of 1863. He resigned from the army in January 1865 and returned to Ohio where he won a seat in the U.S. Congress where he served two terms from 1865-1869. He died in Fremont Ohio on 27 May 1892. Pictured below
* The Sallie Robinson was a steamship sailing out of Shreveport and New Orleans, mostly to points west along the Louisiana Coast and Texas, which was commandeered by Union troops for the blockade of the the Port of New Orleans beginning 19 April 1861. It then sailed up and down the Mississippi river picking up passengers like Richard Chittenden.
* Fort Pillow, at Henning Tennessee, was the sight of a bloody battle fought on 12 April 1864. The battle ended with a massacre of African-American Union soldiers who had surrendered to Confederate forces under the direction of Confederate Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest.
The New York Times reported on April 24, 1864 "The blacks and their officers were shot down, bayoneted and put to the sword in cold blood... . Out of four hundred negro soldiers only about twenty survive! At least three hundred of them were destroyed after the surrender! This is the statement of the rebel General Chalmers himself to our informant."
This tragedy was used as a rallying cry in the North and helped the resolve of the Union to see the war through to the end.
*The United States Christian Commission was formed 16 Nov 1861 at a convention of delegates from the YMCA held in New York City. "The object of the Commission was to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of the officers and men of the U.S. army and navy, in co-operation with chaplains and others." Taken from "Report of the United Stated Christian Commission for the Army and Navy: Work and Incidents: 1st annual report: Philadelphia, February 1863"
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
23 - 31 July 1863
July 23 - Eve at Pres[byterian] prayer meeting. Levitt Hayden killed at Gettysburg. Tonight home.
July 24 - Have a note for $800.00 with interest from Pa for deed for lot in Chittenden place.
July 25 - Have been writing a sermon this week on "Kingdom that cannot be moved". Baby has whooping cough. He caught it in Columbus. Ella has sore mouth again.
July 26 - Preached at our dear little church a.m. and communion p.m. Sunday school was done and prayer meeting stopped. They need a rector. Eve spoke at Bible society.
July 27 - Mr. Morgan* wishes bargain. Thinks the mare will be always lame. I tell him I will do what is right.
July 28 - A pleasant ride. Fixing canned fruit for me to take.
July 29 - As usual. Henry gone East. Mr. Gordon* gone. Left his word to consult my wife if dissatisfied. She will offer him $50 for the mare $10 damages for loss of sale to others perhaps.
July 30 - Took my farewell in p.m. Took [?] for once. Reached Columbus at 11 p.m. Dear Ella I hate to leave you.
July 31 - Packed a trunk with numerous things for self and others. Saw Gov. Tod to get Oren's[?] promotion but he gave me no hope. Left at 11 a.m. and left Columbus at 5.
A pleasant month. Recovered from illness. His mercies are new every day. Duty calls me away. May duty let me live at home soon "and go no more out".
Dewitt Howard* gone to 103rd regiment with Sutter.
* John D. Morgan b.1802 in Connecticut. His wife's name was Anna. They moved to Elyria in the 1850s
* Jeremiah Gordon b. abt 1810 in England. His wife's name was Jane. They moved to Elyria in the 1840s
* The younger brother of Richard's wife Ella. He was born in Delaware in 1836.
July 24 - Have a note for $800.00 with interest from Pa for deed for lot in Chittenden place.
July 25 - Have been writing a sermon this week on "Kingdom that cannot be moved". Baby has whooping cough. He caught it in Columbus. Ella has sore mouth again.
July 26 - Preached at our dear little church a.m. and communion p.m. Sunday school was done and prayer meeting stopped. They need a rector. Eve spoke at Bible society.
July 27 - Mr. Morgan* wishes bargain. Thinks the mare will be always lame. I tell him I will do what is right.
July 28 - A pleasant ride. Fixing canned fruit for me to take.
July 29 - As usual. Henry gone East. Mr. Gordon* gone. Left his word to consult my wife if dissatisfied. She will offer him $50 for the mare $10 damages for loss of sale to others perhaps.
July 30 - Took my farewell in p.m. Took [?] for once. Reached Columbus at 11 p.m. Dear Ella I hate to leave you.
July 31 - Packed a trunk with numerous things for self and others. Saw Gov. Tod to get Oren's[?] promotion but he gave me no hope. Left at 11 a.m. and left Columbus at 5.
A pleasant month. Recovered from illness. His mercies are new every day. Duty calls me away. May duty let me live at home soon "and go no more out".
Dewitt Howard* gone to 103rd regiment with Sutter.
* John D. Morgan b.1802 in Connecticut. His wife's name was Anna. They moved to Elyria in the 1850s
* Jeremiah Gordon b. abt 1810 in England. His wife's name was Jane. They moved to Elyria in the 1840s
* The younger brother of Richard's wife Ella. He was born in Delaware in 1836.
16 - 22 July 1863
July 16 - Got some new pants and vest and some books contributed by John Andrews for the camp library for our regiment.
July 17 - As usual Pa and I get pretty warm in discussing political affairs so I shall stop it. I am an unconditional Union man. He favors the peace Democrats.
July 18 - Trying to get baby's photograph. P.m. rode to Gahana with Lieut. Connell* of the 43rd. Eve at Col Swayne's. Gen. Brayman* walked home with Ella and I with ma.
July 19 - A pleasant Sunday at Trinity a.m. and eve. Spoke at Pres[byterian] Sunday School concert in the afternoon. Capt. Henry Chittenden* at Camp Chase*. Morgans of Ky in the state.
July 20 - We left for Elyria at 11 a.m. I have got my leave extended not being quite strong and well. Arrived at 3 in the rain. Ella had bad headache.
July 21 - Saw folks in town. Happy place. Pleasant here. Saw our sweet old home. Ella has more sore mouth.
July 22 - John Morgan* captured near Salineville [Columbiana County, Ohio]. Pay my debts and visit some. Sell Topsy for $60.00 to Mr. Gordon.
* Zachariah A. Connell, a 1st Lieutenant in F company, 43rd OVI. He enlisted as a private on 3 Oct 1861, was appointed 1st Sergeant 1 Jan 1862, Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 17 July 1862, and 1st Lieutenant 3 Sep 1862. He was discharged 28 Aug 1863.
*Brigadier General Mason Brayman (23 May 1813 - 27 Feb 1895). Became 7th Governor of the Idaho Territory, serving from 1876 to 1880. Pictured below
* Henry Treat Chittenden, Richard's younger brother, born 18 Dec 1836. He died 30 May 1909.
* Camp Chase was a Union training and staging camp as well as a prisoner of war camp on the west side of Columbus, OH. There is a cemetary there where 2,260 Confederate soldiers are buried. The cemetary is located at 2900 Sullivant Ave.
* Confederate General John Hunt Morgan (1 June 1825 - 4 Sep 1864) pictured below
July 17 - As usual Pa and I get pretty warm in discussing political affairs so I shall stop it. I am an unconditional Union man. He favors the peace Democrats.
July 18 - Trying to get baby's photograph. P.m. rode to Gahana with Lieut. Connell* of the 43rd. Eve at Col Swayne's. Gen. Brayman* walked home with Ella and I with ma.
July 19 - A pleasant Sunday at Trinity a.m. and eve. Spoke at Pres[byterian] Sunday School concert in the afternoon. Capt. Henry Chittenden* at Camp Chase*. Morgans of Ky in the state.
July 20 - We left for Elyria at 11 a.m. I have got my leave extended not being quite strong and well. Arrived at 3 in the rain. Ella had bad headache.
July 21 - Saw folks in town. Happy place. Pleasant here. Saw our sweet old home. Ella has more sore mouth.
July 22 - John Morgan* captured near Salineville [Columbiana County, Ohio]. Pay my debts and visit some. Sell Topsy for $60.00 to Mr. Gordon.
* Zachariah A. Connell, a 1st Lieutenant in F company, 43rd OVI. He enlisted as a private on 3 Oct 1861, was appointed 1st Sergeant 1 Jan 1862, Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 17 July 1862, and 1st Lieutenant 3 Sep 1862. He was discharged 28 Aug 1863.
*Brigadier General Mason Brayman (23 May 1813 - 27 Feb 1895). Became 7th Governor of the Idaho Territory, serving from 1876 to 1880. Pictured below
* Henry Treat Chittenden, Richard's younger brother, born 18 Dec 1836. He died 30 May 1909.
* Camp Chase was a Union training and staging camp as well as a prisoner of war camp on the west side of Columbus, OH. There is a cemetary there where 2,260 Confederate soldiers are buried. The cemetary is located at 2900 Sullivant Ave.
* Confederate General John Hunt Morgan (1 June 1825 - 4 Sep 1864) pictured below
8 - 15 July 1863
July 8 - In p.m. yesterday accompanied Henry [Richard's younger brother] into the country, a fine ride. On our return saw fire works and great rejoicings. Vicksburgh capitulates to Gen Grant July 4th with thousands of prisoners.
July 9 - I intimated that my wife had not economized enough about buying the baby carriage. She learnt too that I intended to return and if well to remain in the regiment a year or more. She was much grieved and shed tears. Afterwards felt better. Went to Wed eve lecture.
July 11 - Took a fine ride at eve. Plumb Park wants me for superintendant of the D. & D. Asylum*. I don't wish to be a candidate. The baby is a delight to his grandma and aunts.
July 12 - Got chilled by an open window last night and felt miserably all day. So chilly. In eve we had our dear boy Lucius Howard Chittenden baptized by Rev. J E Grammar, Trinity Church. Jos. R. Swan and Lottie C Sponsors.
July 13 - Felt better. Got some quinine. Great appetite but gain strength slowly. Port Hudson taken by Gen Banks* this month. Lee invades Penn., Battle of Gettysburgh, retreats to Virginia.
July 14 - Ride, read, talk, walk etc. So the days pass pleasantly away.
July 15 - As usual my dear wife is not strong. Has had sore mouth. I attend the morning Union prayer meeting.
* The Ohio School for the Deaf [and Dumb], founded by Rev. James Hoge in 1826 in Columbus. The building that Richard would have known was built in 1832 on East Town Street. The School remained in that location, with additions and remodelling and rebuilding, until 1953.
* Union General Nathaniel P. Banks (1816-1894) was considered by many as an inferior general. At the start of the war he was Governor of Massachusetts (1858-1861) and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. He was known as "Old Jack's Commisary General" and "Commisary Banks" for he was twice defeated by Stonewall Jackson, at Winchester on 25 May 1862 and Cedar Mountain on 9 Aug 1862. He later commanded the department of the Gulf, succeeding General Benjamin Butler. He is pictured below
July 9 - I intimated that my wife had not economized enough about buying the baby carriage. She learnt too that I intended to return and if well to remain in the regiment a year or more. She was much grieved and shed tears. Afterwards felt better. Went to Wed eve lecture.
July 11 - Took a fine ride at eve. Plumb Park wants me for superintendant of the D. & D. Asylum*. I don't wish to be a candidate. The baby is a delight to his grandma and aunts.
July 12 - Got chilled by an open window last night and felt miserably all day. So chilly. In eve we had our dear boy Lucius Howard Chittenden baptized by Rev. J E Grammar, Trinity Church. Jos. R. Swan and Lottie C Sponsors.
July 13 - Felt better. Got some quinine. Great appetite but gain strength slowly. Port Hudson taken by Gen Banks* this month. Lee invades Penn., Battle of Gettysburgh, retreats to Virginia.
July 14 - Ride, read, talk, walk etc. So the days pass pleasantly away.
July 15 - As usual my dear wife is not strong. Has had sore mouth. I attend the morning Union prayer meeting.
* The Ohio School for the Deaf [and Dumb], founded by Rev. James Hoge in 1826 in Columbus. The building that Richard would have known was built in 1832 on East Town Street. The School remained in that location, with additions and remodelling and rebuilding, until 1953.
* Union General Nathaniel P. Banks (1816-1894) was considered by many as an inferior general. At the start of the war he was Governor of Massachusetts (1858-1861) and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. He was known as "Old Jack's Commisary General" and "Commisary Banks" for he was twice defeated by Stonewall Jackson, at Winchester on 25 May 1862 and Cedar Mountain on 9 Aug 1862. He later commanded the department of the Gulf, succeeding General Benjamin Butler. He is pictured below
1 - 7 July 1863
July 1 - Mr. Home left. I was unable to accompany him.
July 2 - Sat up some. My furlough and 2 months pay I have. Must long remember Col. Swayne's kindness in procuring them so quickly.
July 3 - Left on boat "Eva*" this eve. Took Amanda. Improved at once.
July 4 - Good trip. Tried to help sick and distressed soldiers on boat.
July 5 - Arrived 6 a.m. at Cairo [Illinois]. Had expected to be here last night. At St. Charles [Mo?] enjoyed ch[urch] and communion in a.m. at Pres[byterian] church.
July 6 - Left with Amanda at 3 a.m. At night changed cars at Cincinnati. Feel well comparatively.
July 7 - At daylight reached Columbus, thanks to a kind Providence. Slept till morning and met my beloved wife and our sweet little boy. She wanted to know if I were disappointed in him, dear girl.
* I haven't been able to find out much about the history of this boat, except that on 16 April 1899 "The steamer Eva, while lying at Madisonville LA, on the Chefunete River, took fire and was totally destroyed" from Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General, Steamboat-Inspection Service for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900
July 2 - Sat up some. My furlough and 2 months pay I have. Must long remember Col. Swayne's kindness in procuring them so quickly.
July 3 - Left on boat "Eva*" this eve. Took Amanda. Improved at once.
July 4 - Good trip. Tried to help sick and distressed soldiers on boat.
July 5 - Arrived 6 a.m. at Cairo [Illinois]. Had expected to be here last night. At St. Charles [Mo?] enjoyed ch[urch] and communion in a.m. at Pres[byterian] church.
July 6 - Left with Amanda at 3 a.m. At night changed cars at Cincinnati. Feel well comparatively.
July 7 - At daylight reached Columbus, thanks to a kind Providence. Slept till morning and met my beloved wife and our sweet little boy. She wanted to know if I were disappointed in him, dear girl.
* I haven't been able to find out much about the history of this boat, except that on 16 April 1899 "The steamer Eva, while lying at Madisonville LA, on the Chefunete River, took fire and was totally destroyed" from Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General, Steamboat-Inspection Service for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1900
25 - 29 June 1863
June 25 - Crawled about in P.m. My friend Dr. Smith put me to bed. Pain in bowels. In distress. Mustard helped none. Morphine finally quieted me.
June 26 - Drowsy and confined to bed. Weak. Murphy nurses me. Excellent care. No appetite. Have fever and loose bowels. Take medicine. Can eat, gruel and beef tea.
June 27 - Still sick. Col. Swayne, Mr. Boyd and Mr. Rose, Col. Herrick, Maj. Park and James Fifer* and other privates very kind.
June 28 - In bed all day. Some Sunday thoughts. Mr. Fry was too unwell to preach to regiment.
June 29 - Col. Swayne of his own accord has kindly got me a sick furlough of 20 days and pushed it through. Home here.
* James W. Fifer of the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
June 26 - Drowsy and confined to bed. Weak. Murphy nurses me. Excellent care. No appetite. Have fever and loose bowels. Take medicine. Can eat, gruel and beef tea.
June 27 - Still sick. Col. Swayne, Mr. Boyd and Mr. Rose, Col. Herrick, Maj. Park and James Fifer* and other privates very kind.
June 28 - In bed all day. Some Sunday thoughts. Mr. Fry was too unwell to preach to regiment.
June 29 - Col. Swayne of his own accord has kindly got me a sick furlough of 20 days and pushed it through. Home here.
* James W. Fifer of the 67th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
16 - 24 June 1863
June 16 - Moping and unwell. Went to pest-house to see Rice by request. Low and penitent and fearful. I prayed with and talked with him. Quite and experience.
June 17 - Rice improving
June 18 - Weaker
June 19 - Do little duty. P[rayer] meeting eve.
June 20 - Felt better eve, but not permanently.
June 21 - Quite unwell, was persuaded though quite weak to ride to Epis[copal] church. Felt worse. P.m. managed to preach on swearing. A good attendance. Eve too unwell to go to church.
June 22 - Weak but rode down town in ambulance. Try meals[?] etc but do little good. Bad taste. Weak and no appetite.
June 23 - About the same as yesterday.
June 24 - Rainy again. Could not stay in damp tent so went to Mrs. Byrd's house. Still weak.
June 17 - Rice improving
June 18 - Weaker
June 19 - Do little duty. P[rayer] meeting eve.
June 20 - Felt better eve, but not permanently.
June 21 - Quite unwell, was persuaded though quite weak to ride to Epis[copal] church. Felt worse. P.m. managed to preach on swearing. A good attendance. Eve too unwell to go to church.
June 22 - Weak but rode down town in ambulance. Try meals[?] etc but do little good. Bad taste. Weak and no appetite.
June 23 - About the same as yesterday.
June 24 - Rainy again. Could not stay in damp tent so went to Mrs. Byrd's house. Still weak.
9 - 15 June 1863
June 9 - Dickey*, a church member of Co[mpany] H died after a short illness. It will be a sad blow to his family.
June 10 - Buried Dickey near the fort in a place thick with soldiers' graves.
June 12 - Mrs. Swayne left this eve for Columbus. Her visit has been pleasant for her and us.
June 13 - Distributed tracts in various batteries and to our companies who are going on guard.
June 14 - A charming day. Distributed some papers and at mail[?] preached by previous invitation at battery F. U.S. artillery. Went off well. 2 p.m. good attendance at service. Col. Swayne has been stirring them up. Eve good prayer meeting. Feel thankful to a merciful God.
June 15 - Indisposed with diarrhea. Rode up town but did me no good. Hear of a copperhead* convention at Columbus. Great fun.
* Pvt. Benjamin Dickey, born abt 1820 in Deersville, Franklin twp., Harrison Co. Ohio. His wife was Mary, born abt 1823. They had two children, a son named William (b. 1841) and a daughter named Martha J. (b. 1843).
* Copperheads was a term given to northerners, mostly Democrats, who favored the Confederate cause. The copperheads were opposed to the abolition of slavery and opposed President Lincoln. They urged for peace with the confederacy. The best known copperhead was Ohio politician C L Vallandigham who was arrested by the Union army and sent into exile into the south.
June 10 - Buried Dickey near the fort in a place thick with soldiers' graves.
June 12 - Mrs. Swayne left this eve for Columbus. Her visit has been pleasant for her and us.
June 13 - Distributed tracts in various batteries and to our companies who are going on guard.
June 14 - A charming day. Distributed some papers and at mail[?] preached by previous invitation at battery F. U.S. artillery. Went off well. 2 p.m. good attendance at service. Col. Swayne has been stirring them up. Eve good prayer meeting. Feel thankful to a merciful God.
June 15 - Indisposed with diarrhea. Rode up town but did me no good. Hear of a copperhead* convention at Columbus. Great fun.
* Pvt. Benjamin Dickey, born abt 1820 in Deersville, Franklin twp., Harrison Co. Ohio. His wife was Mary, born abt 1823. They had two children, a son named William (b. 1841) and a daughter named Martha J. (b. 1843).
* Copperheads was a term given to northerners, mostly Democrats, who favored the Confederate cause. The copperheads were opposed to the abolition of slavery and opposed President Lincoln. They urged for peace with the confederacy. The best known copperhead was Ohio politician C L Vallandigham who was arrested by the Union army and sent into exile into the south.
Monday, November 14, 2011
1 - 8 June 1863
June 1 - I hear from Ella regularly. She is pretty well and so is the boy I am happy to say.
June 2 - Hundreds of wounded arriving from Vicksburgh about his time.
June 5 - Several men taking small pox removed to pest-house. I wish they had a chaplain.
June 6 - Great Union celebration in Memphis in commemoration of the occupation of the city by the Federals June 6 1862. Speeches etc. Not many of the aristocracy present.
June 7 - Fine day. Tracts a.m. Not quite so formal in distributing so many to every tent. At 11 went to Episcopal church. A good sermon and staid to communion. P.m. preached to regiment and eve service at union chapel.
June 8 - Chaplain's meeting in p.m.
June 2 - Hundreds of wounded arriving from Vicksburgh about his time.
June 5 - Several men taking small pox removed to pest-house. I wish they had a chaplain.
June 6 - Great Union celebration in Memphis in commemoration of the occupation of the city by the Federals June 6 1862. Speeches etc. Not many of the aristocracy present.
June 7 - Fine day. Tracts a.m. Not quite so formal in distributing so many to every tent. At 11 went to Episcopal church. A good sermon and staid to communion. P.m. preached to regiment and eve service at union chapel.
June 8 - Chaplain's meeting in p.m.
28 - 31 May 1863
May 28 - Eve with Fifer* to the 27th regiment where I preached. Battery men present. Col. Spalding accommodating. Acid stomach and eat little and light. 480 wounded came up now.
May 29 - To market early. Saw 4 large boat loads of Gen. Grant's prisoners. 2 of our companies go as guard. Eve small prayer meeting success and pleasure in talking pastoraly with men.
May 30 - Fine day. Reinforcements morning for Gen. Grant. Distributed tracts in a.m. Warm walk to Episcopal church. P.m. good attendance of soldiers at service. Eve went to 39th but no invitation to preach. Read thoughts on missions.
May 31 - Grant has defeated various attachments of rebels in Mississippi taking Raymond and Jackson. Has devastated[?] Vicksburgh, his [?] touching the river above and below. Banks* is around Port Hudson in the same way. Sign regiments have been raised and are being raised, they fight pretty well.
* James W. Fifer of 67th OVI
* Union Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks was born 30 Jan 1816 in Waltham, MA. He had only common school education and at an early age worked as a bobbin boy in a textile factory. He then apprenticed as a mechanic with Elias Howe. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of 23.
Here he is as a young man
He was elected as a Democrat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving from 1849-1853, and was speaker of the house from 1851-52. In 1853 he was elected to the US Congress. He was re-elected as a Republican in 1856 and served as speaker of the house, but resigned from Congress in 1857. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1858-1860.
As the Civil War became imminent, President Abraham Lincoln considered Banks for a cabinet post, and eventually chose him as one of the first major generals of volunteers, appointing him on May 16, 1861. Perceptions that the Massachusetts militia was well organized and armed at the beginning of the Civil War likely played a role in the appointment decision, as Banks had also been considered for quartermaste general. He was initially resented by many of the generals who had graduated from the United States Military Academy, but Banks brought political benefits to the administration, including the ability to attract recruits and money for the Federal cause.
Banks first commanded at Annapolis, Maryland, suppressing support for the Confederacy in a slave-holding state that was at risk of seceding, then was sent to command on the upper Potomac when Brig. Gen. Robert Patterson failed to move aggressively in that area.
General Banks served in the Shendoah Valley, at Cedar Mountain, at the Battle of Mansfield, Port Hudson and the Red River Campaign.
May 29 - To market early. Saw 4 large boat loads of Gen. Grant's prisoners. 2 of our companies go as guard. Eve small prayer meeting success and pleasure in talking pastoraly with men.
May 30 - Fine day. Reinforcements morning for Gen. Grant. Distributed tracts in a.m. Warm walk to Episcopal church. P.m. good attendance of soldiers at service. Eve went to 39th but no invitation to preach. Read thoughts on missions.
May 31 - Grant has defeated various attachments of rebels in Mississippi taking Raymond and Jackson. Has devastated[?] Vicksburgh, his [?] touching the river above and below. Banks* is around Port Hudson in the same way. Sign regiments have been raised and are being raised, they fight pretty well.
* James W. Fifer of 67th OVI
* Union Major General Nathaniel Prentice Banks was born 30 Jan 1816 in Waltham, MA. He had only common school education and at an early age worked as a bobbin boy in a textile factory. He then apprenticed as a mechanic with Elias Howe. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at the age of 23.
Here he is as a young man
He was elected as a Democrat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, serving from 1849-1853, and was speaker of the house from 1851-52. In 1853 he was elected to the US Congress. He was re-elected as a Republican in 1856 and served as speaker of the house, but resigned from Congress in 1857. He served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1858-1860.
As the Civil War became imminent, President Abraham Lincoln considered Banks for a cabinet post, and eventually chose him as one of the first major generals of volunteers, appointing him on May 16, 1861. Perceptions that the Massachusetts militia was well organized and armed at the beginning of the Civil War likely played a role in the appointment decision, as Banks had also been considered for quartermaste general. He was initially resented by many of the generals who had graduated from the United States Military Academy, but Banks brought political benefits to the administration, including the ability to attract recruits and money for the Federal cause.
Banks first commanded at Annapolis, Maryland, suppressing support for the Confederacy in a slave-holding state that was at risk of seceding, then was sent to command on the upper Potomac when Brig. Gen. Robert Patterson failed to move aggressively in that area.
General Banks served in the Shendoah Valley, at Cedar Mountain, at the Battle of Mansfield, Port Hudson and the Red River Campaign.
21 - 27 May 1863
May 21 - Busy as usual sometimes up town, sometimes distribute testaments in battery. Read and see our own men.
May 22 - As usual. Warm and dusty.
May 23 - Prep for Sunday.
May 24 - Sacrament at Union Chapel a.m. Several of our men went. Did me good. Whitsunday [Pentecost] sermon p.m. Col. and others valued the sermon. Good letter from Ella.
May 25 - Interesting and full chaplain's meeting in p.m.
May 26 - As usual. Write to Ella home, Henry*, Bishop Bedell and L [could be an F]. Rain much needed.
May 27 - Eve with Major to his cousin Judge Swayne's. Enjoyed the piano, lemonade and society. Moonlight ride back.
*Richard's brother, Henry Treat Chittenden, born 18 Dec 1834.
May 22 - As usual. Warm and dusty.
May 23 - Prep for Sunday.
May 24 - Sacrament at Union Chapel a.m. Several of our men went. Did me good. Whitsunday [Pentecost] sermon p.m. Col. and others valued the sermon. Good letter from Ella.
May 25 - Interesting and full chaplain's meeting in p.m.
May 26 - As usual. Write to Ella home, Henry*, Bishop Bedell and L [could be an F]. Rain much needed.
May 27 - Eve with Major to his cousin Judge Swayne's. Enjoyed the piano, lemonade and society. Moonlight ride back.
*Richard's brother, Henry Treat Chittenden, born 18 Dec 1834.
14 - 20 May 1863
May 14 - Women peddling whiskey give trouble. Number of men get on spr[?] and are punished.
May 15 - Saw chaplains. Lumber got and seats prepared in a grove near camp for meeting. Page very helpful.
May 17 - Service in p.m. Many of the 43rd and more of the 39th present. Ladies present. Eve Fifer led the p[rayer] meeting while I went to church.
May 18 - Ministers' meeting p.m. Saw chaplains of hospitals and others.
May 19 - Visit among the men and meeting and making improvements.
May 20 - Hear of Gen. Grant's victories near Vicksburgh about the time Hooker failed lately in a bare ground attack on the rebels in Va. Yet their loss was great.
May 15 - Saw chaplains. Lumber got and seats prepared in a grove near camp for meeting. Page very helpful.
May 17 - Service in p.m. Many of the 43rd and more of the 39th present. Ladies present. Eve Fifer led the p[rayer] meeting while I went to church.
May 18 - Ministers' meeting p.m. Saw chaplains of hospitals and others.
May 19 - Visit among the men and meeting and making improvements.
May 20 - Hear of Gen. Grant's victories near Vicksburgh about the time Hooker failed lately in a bare ground attack on the rebels in Va. Yet their loss was great.
8 - 13 May 1863
May 8 - Rode out with escort collecting in northern part of country. Not much success. A lovely afternoon.
May 9 - Paymaster came. Studied sermon a.m. P.m. was paid $289 much to my joy. Paid off debts.
Orders to be ready to move.
May 10 - Sunday. Expecting to move. Services this a.m. A delightful and crowded meeting in evening.
May 11 - Expecting to move all day.
May 12 - Left in a.m. for Memphis with regiment. Symptoms of diarrhea but was quiet and abstemious and felt better. A long warm ride. Saw Bolivar with interest.
May 13 - Woke up in Memphis. Sent by m. $25.00 and my wife $85.00 per express. Camped in S.E. part of city on Vance Street. Rest of brigade near. Eve Mrs. Swayne arrived. Called on her.
May 9 - Paymaster came. Studied sermon a.m. P.m. was paid $289 much to my joy. Paid off debts.
Orders to be ready to move.
May 10 - Sunday. Expecting to move. Services this a.m. A delightful and crowded meeting in evening.
May 11 - Expecting to move all day.
May 12 - Left in a.m. for Memphis with regiment. Symptoms of diarrhea but was quiet and abstemious and felt better. A long warm ride. Saw Bolivar with interest.
May 13 - Woke up in Memphis. Sent by m. $25.00 and my wife $85.00 per express. Camped in S.E. part of city on Vance Street. Rest of brigade near. Eve Mrs. Swayne arrived. Called on her.
1 - 7 May 1863
May 1 - Marched to Iuka. Refreshing rest at noon by the cool springs. Eve got to Burnsville. I rode about to see that contrabands got food.
May 2 - Col. Herrick wished to go to Corinth by a R.R. train for business and I accompanied him. Saw the battle field by the forts where Col. Smith and Adjt. H[?] fell. Eve regiment came. Felt depressed.
May 3 - Sunday a.m. washed in a stream. P.m. the regiment left for Bethel. I staid and preached for Mr. Fry. Pleasant p.m. and eve.
May 4 - Dr. Smith having invited me to visit a hospital under his charge, I staid and talked with patients. Staid p.m. and eve at his room. At pleasant chaplains meeting in a.m.
May 5 - Early to Bethel. Fixed ourselved again.
May 6 - Busy about camp.
May 7 - Prepared rations to send to be distributed on Friday.
May 2 - Col. Herrick wished to go to Corinth by a R.R. train for business and I accompanied him. Saw the battle field by the forts where Col. Smith and Adjt. H[?] fell. Eve regiment came. Felt depressed.
May 3 - Sunday a.m. washed in a stream. P.m. the regiment left for Bethel. I staid and preached for Mr. Fry. Pleasant p.m. and eve.
May 4 - Dr. Smith having invited me to visit a hospital under his charge, I staid and talked with patients. Staid p.m. and eve at his room. At pleasant chaplains meeting in a.m.
May 5 - Early to Bethel. Fixed ourselved again.
May 6 - Busy about camp.
May 7 - Prepared rations to send to be distributed on Friday.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
27 - 30 April 1863
April 27 - Started early from Tuscumbia East. At noon entered the lovely Tennessee valley. Skirted by high hills, almost mountains on one of which Lagrange college was visible for miles. Camped at Ludon. 3 good letters in evg. Ella has some [?].
April 28 - Marched only two miles, skirmishing in front. Troops disgrace themselves (some of other regiments by breaking into fine deserted dwelling and smashing and stealing furniture). This is a lovely region.
April 29 - Started back toward Tuscumbia. Saw blazing home in our rear and cotton sheds. The Alabama and Kansas cavalry are re[?] their [?]. Gen Dodge issues an order respecting such a thing. [Darn Mary's writing!]
April 30 - This day was appointed by Pres. Lincoln but we were on the march. Rather a warm and dusty day. Camped at Bear Creek. Had a fine bath in a stream. These marches are tiresome. In evg we talked over old times in Columbus.
April 28 - Marched only two miles, skirmishing in front. Troops disgrace themselves (some of other regiments by breaking into fine deserted dwelling and smashing and stealing furniture). This is a lovely region.
April 29 - Started back toward Tuscumbia. Saw blazing home in our rear and cotton sheds. The Alabama and Kansas cavalry are re[?] their [?]. Gen Dodge issues an order respecting such a thing. [Darn Mary's writing!]
April 30 - This day was appointed by Pres. Lincoln but we were on the march. Rather a warm and dusty day. Camped at Bear Creek. Had a fine bath in a stream. These marches are tiresome. In evg we talked over old times in Columbus.
Friday, November 11, 2011
23 - 26 April 1863
April 23 - Lovely morning. Started early on march. Passed through rolling lovely country and beautiful vales. Two or three large plantations and mansions. Dead horses killed in a skirmish. Eve camped at Bear Creek.
April 24 - Left early a.m. A march through a lovely country. [?] farms and plantations and wooded hills. At noon came in sight of Tuscumbia [Alabama]. P.m. rode into the place. Pleasant flowery gardens but mostly deserted houses, stores closed and empty or broken open.
April 25 - Warm. Studied in a.m. Col. Herrick and self rode into town in p.m. My mare is too poor. Col. H[errick] and I were at Col. Fullers in eve. Later Major and I took a good bath. Fond thoughts of dear absent wife and baby[?]. How I long to see them.
April 26 - Showery morning. Men collected under cotton sheds. Too rainy for services. Read and visited them some. P.m. a pleasant meeting under trees. [?] attendance from brigade. Eve rain again and could not have prayer meeting.
April 24 - Left early a.m. A march through a lovely country. [?] farms and plantations and wooded hills. At noon came in sight of Tuscumbia [Alabama]. P.m. rode into the place. Pleasant flowery gardens but mostly deserted houses, stores closed and empty or broken open.
April 25 - Warm. Studied in a.m. Col. Herrick and self rode into town in p.m. My mare is too poor. Col. H[errick] and I were at Col. Fullers in eve. Later Major and I took a good bath. Fond thoughts of dear absent wife and baby[?]. How I long to see them.
April 26 - Showery morning. Men collected under cotton sheds. Too rainy for services. Read and visited them some. P.m. a pleasant meeting under trees. [?] attendance from brigade. Eve rain again and could not have prayer meeting.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
19 - 22 April 1863
April 19 - Good meetings in morning and p.m. and evening. The servants had a good meeting in p.m. Eve just after we had got to bed orders came to prepare to move. After busy preparations we left on cars at about 2:30. I took a horse. Left memoranda of my distribution business.
April 20 - Passed through Corinth and got to Glendale Miss. The rest of the Ohio bridage passed us at noon and on we marched through flowery forests of the south. Halted near Burnsville and bivoacked on cedar [?]. Very tired.
April 21 - On the march at about 8. Impressed with the size of an army and train. A pleasant march. P.m. came in rain and some mud. Through Iuka, a beautiful watering place, almost deserted. Made 18 miles and overtook Gen. Dodge's army at Bear Creek.
April 22 - Rested this day. Feel stiff and tired. Camped in wood near with the rest of Gen. Dodge's army. Eve had a small prayer meeting under the trees.
April 20 - Passed through Corinth and got to Glendale Miss. The rest of the Ohio bridage passed us at noon and on we marched through flowery forests of the south. Halted near Burnsville and bivoacked on cedar [?]. Very tired.
April 21 - On the march at about 8. Impressed with the size of an army and train. A pleasant march. P.m. came in rain and some mud. Through Iuka, a beautiful watering place, almost deserted. Made 18 miles and overtook Gen. Dodge's army at Bear Creek.
April 22 - Rested this day. Feel stiff and tired. Camped in wood near with the rest of Gen. Dodge's army. Eve had a small prayer meeting under the trees.
13 - 18 April 1863
April 13 - Get most interesting and pleasant letts from wife.
April 14 - A rainy day. Made issues.
April 15 - Went up to M @ Rainy Station and from there with a few soldiers for guard to Cottnoridge as per appointment. We collected about $18 in all. Rode out to a couple of well off farmers and collected. Spent night with Capt. Rhodes.
April 16 - A.m. by R[ail] R[oad] to Henderson Station and from there 4 miles out to Montezuma. Collected little. Rode a fine mare belonging to govt. Dined at the plain table of a Christian man.
April 17 - Staid at Provost Marshall's office to make issues to destitute families.
April 18 - Staid at home. Got some thin outside shirts for summer. Studied on sermon. A warm day. P.m. visited some . Hear of burning houses in Purdy by Col Hearst's men.
April 14 - A rainy day. Made issues.
April 15 - Went up to M @ Rainy Station and from there with a few soldiers for guard to Cottnoridge as per appointment. We collected about $18 in all. Rode out to a couple of well off farmers and collected. Spent night with Capt. Rhodes.
April 16 - A.m. by R[ail] R[oad] to Henderson Station and from there 4 miles out to Montezuma. Collected little. Rode a fine mare belonging to govt. Dined at the plain table of a Christian man.
April 17 - Staid at Provost Marshall's office to make issues to destitute families.
April 18 - Staid at home. Got some thin outside shirts for summer. Studied on sermon. A warm day. P.m. visited some . Hear of burning houses in Purdy by Col Hearst's men.
5 - 12 April 1863
April 5 - Easter Sunday. Fair and pleasant. Preached on resurrection of Christ in a.m. Fair attendance and got on pleasantly. Col. Swaine at Corinth. P.m. a white contraband preached for negros. Bible class at 3:30. A crowded prayer meeting in eve. We hope for a revival.
April 6 - Collecting and distributng these days.
April 9 - Day of issue.
April 10 - Went to Camden Station. Collected in a.m. and rode out p.m. Dry. fine weather.
April 11 - Studied in the chapel and visited some.
April 12 - Preached at Henderson Station and had a good voluntary attendance. Dislike the recent necessity of going to and fro in the cars. On Sunday eve Capt. Rutters came with a letter, cakes, and sweet meats from dear mother.
April 6 - Collecting and distributng these days.
April 9 - Day of issue.
April 10 - Went to Camden Station. Collected in a.m. and rode out p.m. Dry. fine weather.
April 11 - Studied in the chapel and visited some.
April 12 - Preached at Henderson Station and had a good voluntary attendance. Dislike the recent necessity of going to and fro in the cars. On Sunday eve Capt. Rutters came with a letter, cakes, and sweet meats from dear mother.
15 - 29 March 1863
March 15 - Fair and cloudy. Good service of 7th Iowa and was at church. I preached and got on well. P.m. meeting decent. McCormick spoke. Eve a good p[rayer] meeting in the cabin.
March 16 - To Purdy again.
March 17 - Day of issue to destitute families. Apply to me at Provost Marshal's office.
March 22 - Meeting in the new church inside of breast works which Col. Swayne has had appropriated for us.
March 29 - Chilly wind. By invitation I went to Fort Hooker [?] in North Co. K and preached. Citizens there. Dined with one, a good Methodist, milk and sweet potatoes. P.m. home. Prayer meeting in evening.
March 16 - To Purdy again.
March 17 - Day of issue to destitute families. Apply to me at Provost Marshal's office.
March 22 - Meeting in the new church inside of breast works which Col. Swayne has had appropriated for us.
March 29 - Chilly wind. By invitation I went to Fort Hooker [?] in North Co. K and preached. Citizens there. Dined with one, a good Methodist, milk and sweet potatoes. P.m. home. Prayer meeting in evening.
12 - 14 March 1863
March 12 - Lovely morning. Took my station in Provost Marshal's office. Numerous applicants for aid came in - was thronged. I like the business and had a cabin fixed for a refugee's family. Headache. No prayer meeting because no seats.
March 13 - Fine spring day. See much destitution and misery in poor families. Busy at office. I had my horse shod. Visited hospital. No mail for a few days. 2 officers of 7th [?] came to consult about meetings. Tell of meetings and revival in their regiment. I am cheered by the good news. Vicksburgh evacuated. Hope to men.
March 14 - Lovely day. Went to Purdy. Collected 7.50. Town half deserted apparently. Dined with Mr. Gardner. 3 of Tenn. cavalry came in and took dinner, [?] tired and too much inclined to be petulant.
March 13 - Fine spring day. See much destitution and misery in poor families. Busy at office. I had my horse shod. Visited hospital. No mail for a few days. 2 officers of 7th [?] came to consult about meetings. Tell of meetings and revival in their regiment. I am cheered by the good news. Vicksburgh evacuated. Hope to men.
March 14 - Lovely day. Went to Purdy. Collected 7.50. Town half deserted apparently. Dined with Mr. Gardner. 3 of Tenn. cavalry came in and took dinner, [?] tired and too much inclined to be petulant.
6 - 11 March 1863
March 6 - Windy and cloudy and occasional showers. Feel dumpish. Perhaps Miss Ella's good long letters. She is now sick and I only have an occasional short one from mother. P.m. I found Capt. Wright sick. He has felt more serious for four days. I prayed with him.
March 7 - Cloudy. At night alarm caused by picket firing. Companies roused. A squad sent over. A horse seen and fired on. All quiet. At battery with tracts etc.
March 8 - Some rain. Distributed tracts etc. Bible class. At Methodist church Rev. Chaplain Hamilton preached of 69 Ills. Anticipate learning.
March 9 - Rose early, tents struck. Marched off bravely. Fine day. Farewells to friends. Rode all day [?] Jackson to Bethel. Lodged in shanty etc. crowded. Some wet. Met 2 chaplains. Fine men.
March 10 - Rained in night. 48th and 49th Ills left for Lagrange. After confusion got our stuff up. Col. and I have a good cabin. Raining most of the day. Are very comfortable.
March 11 - Pleasant. Getting dry. Was appointed collector and distributor for this district. Made inquiries etc. Selected a horse from corral. Col. went to Corinth p.m. We all like it here. Have cabins and the neighborhood is friendly.
March 7 - Cloudy. At night alarm caused by picket firing. Companies roused. A squad sent over. A horse seen and fired on. All quiet. At battery with tracts etc.
March 8 - Some rain. Distributed tracts etc. Bible class. At Methodist church Rev. Chaplain Hamilton preached of 69 Ills. Anticipate learning.
March 9 - Rose early, tents struck. Marched off bravely. Fine day. Farewells to friends. Rode all day [?] Jackson to Bethel. Lodged in shanty etc. crowded. Some wet. Met 2 chaplains. Fine men.
March 10 - Rained in night. 48th and 49th Ills left for Lagrange. After confusion got our stuff up. Col. and I have a good cabin. Raining most of the day. Are very comfortable.
March 11 - Pleasant. Getting dry. Was appointed collector and distributor for this district. Made inquiries etc. Selected a horse from corral. Col. went to Corinth p.m. We all like it here. Have cabins and the neighborhood is friendly.
1 - 5 March 1863
March 1 - A lovely Sabbath. Bible class at 9. Had service on Parade ground for the 8 companies. Got on very well. Satisfactorily to myself. Made practical remarks on some camp [?]. Distributed over 100 tracts. Service for soldiers at church p.m. and prayer meeting in evening. Col. John McDonell was here.
March 2 - Cloudy. Visited Col. John. Contrabands. Eve. Mr. Gregg post master gave a short temperance lecture. Interesting.
March 3 - Temperance lectures continued. Rather cool and cloudy. No late letters from Columbus. Eve. another temperance lecture. P.m. at hospital in town. At an officers at supper in eve. All passed off well.
March 4 - Clear but raw, mud. The regiment was paid off. A.m. I expected to go to Memphis but my permit did not come. Disappointed. Indigestion made me depressed all the p.m.
March 5 - Much windy but dry. Called at tents as usual. For 2 days have hoped to go to Memphis on an order for regimental library and to see Com[ander] but have not heard from applications for permission. Letters from Henry* and Ella interesting. Eve, pretty good prayer meeting.
* Henry Treat Chittenden, Richard's younger brother, born 18 Dec 1834.
March 2 - Cloudy. Visited Col. John. Contrabands. Eve. Mr. Gregg post master gave a short temperance lecture. Interesting.
March 3 - Temperance lectures continued. Rather cool and cloudy. No late letters from Columbus. Eve. another temperance lecture. P.m. at hospital in town. At an officers at supper in eve. All passed off well.
March 4 - Clear but raw, mud. The regiment was paid off. A.m. I expected to go to Memphis but my permit did not come. Disappointed. Indigestion made me depressed all the p.m.
March 5 - Much windy but dry. Called at tents as usual. For 2 days have hoped to go to Memphis on an order for regimental library and to see Com[ander] but have not heard from applications for permission. Letters from Henry* and Ella interesting. Eve, pretty good prayer meeting.
* Henry Treat Chittenden, Richard's younger brother, born 18 Dec 1834.
28 Feb 1863
Fair. Studied. Went to post hospital, battery, etc. Evg. a wind storm. Col. Swayne's horse ran away with me. I jumped off as he was checked by a gully and got on and by curb bit controlled him easily. A merciful escape. Went to [?] [?] camp. Like a camp meeting. Saw the chaplain lieutenant.
This month has been rainy though not very cold. I have felt much favored in my own lot and that of my friends. Public affairs have made apparently little progress. Public attention in a great degree is concentrated on Vicksburgh, a rebel stronghold almost their last point on the river and threatened by our army.
This month has been rainy though not very cold. I have felt much favored in my own lot and that of my friends. Public affairs have made apparently little progress. Public attention in a great degree is concentrated on Vicksburgh, a rebel stronghold almost their last point on the river and threatened by our army.
23 - 27 Feb 1863
23 Feb - Cold but pleasant p.m. At home to try to see the people but couldn't get a pass. At least 2 negros die there daily out of 13. A letter from mother Howard. Ella doing well. Anxious of not hearing from crew[?] evening. Major Saye gave a supper to officers. Pleasant.
24 Feb - An uneasy night, with head ache a.m. but passed off. The supper caused it. Lovely day. At hospital in a.m. was vaccinated. Dress costs us high. Have to manage.
25 Feb - A rainy, stormy day. Visited in tents etc. Eve preached at contraband corral. A class meeting and earnest prayers and hand shakings got met on return.
26 Feb - Rainy and story. Camp ground not muddy. Rain puts it [?]. Sent Capt. Wright's gun back. River high and more sickness than ever at contraband corral. Full prayer meeting. Might [?] visit one company daily.
27 Feb - Fair mild day. Find satisfaction in visiting tents. Have talked with two or three on religion. Have been busy and happy this week. R[ail] R[oad] car was through to Columbus Ky.
24 Feb - An uneasy night, with head ache a.m. but passed off. The supper caused it. Lovely day. At hospital in a.m. was vaccinated. Dress costs us high. Have to manage.
25 Feb - A rainy, stormy day. Visited in tents etc. Eve preached at contraband corral. A class meeting and earnest prayers and hand shakings got met on return.
26 Feb - Rainy and story. Camp ground not muddy. Rain puts it [?]. Sent Capt. Wright's gun back. River high and more sickness than ever at contraband corral. Full prayer meeting. Might [?] visit one company daily.
27 Feb - Fair mild day. Find satisfaction in visiting tents. Have talked with two or three on religion. Have been busy and happy this week. R[ail] R[oad] car was through to Columbus Ky.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
18 - 22 Feb 1863
Feb 18 - Good news by mine from Elyria this a.m. Mother and some are doing well. I am thankful. Should like to see them. Cloudy and mud. Funeral of poor McCoy p.m.
Col. Herrick returned.
Feb 19 - Extremely windy and cool. Wrote, talked with men and Capt. Wright. A gentle expostulation for profanity. A new kitchen for Bradford. Some acid stomach.
Feb 20 - Beautiful cloudless day. Went to battery and prison and deserters in fetters. Got mittens for soldiers from Lottie but no letter. Rather disappointed.
Feb 21 - Heavy rains till about 3 p.m. Good letter from Ella. Felt a little down hearted and cold. Divine things. Felt better in prayer in evening.
Feb 22 - Cold and windy. A happy Sabbath. Good bible class a.m. and read in hospital. Distributed over 200 tracts not neglecting officers, teamsters and the battery. Letters from home and Ella. Stern sick. Mrs. Nelson of Elyria dead. Ella well. 34 guns from fort for Washington's birthday and at dress parade part of his address read. The anniversary of the regiment's departure from Ohio noted and prayer by me. A delightful prayer meeting in evening.
Col. Herrick returned.
Feb 19 - Extremely windy and cool. Wrote, talked with men and Capt. Wright. A gentle expostulation for profanity. A new kitchen for Bradford. Some acid stomach.
Feb 20 - Beautiful cloudless day. Went to battery and prison and deserters in fetters. Got mittens for soldiers from Lottie but no letter. Rather disappointed.
Feb 21 - Heavy rains till about 3 p.m. Good letter from Ella. Felt a little down hearted and cold. Divine things. Felt better in prayer in evening.
Feb 22 - Cold and windy. A happy Sabbath. Good bible class a.m. and read in hospital. Distributed over 200 tracts not neglecting officers, teamsters and the battery. Letters from home and Ella. Stern sick. Mrs. Nelson of Elyria dead. Ella well. 34 guns from fort for Washington's birthday and at dress parade part of his address read. The anniversary of the regiment's departure from Ohio noted and prayer by me. A delightful prayer meeting in evening.
13 - 17 Feb 1863
Feb 13 - Cloudy but clear in p.m. Col. Swayne left for a short visit to Memphis as we are not to leave now. Servant Jerry sick in tent. I have prayed with him. Pleasant call from Mr. Thompson, Presybterian clergy man at Bolivar. We touched on the war. Since democrats at the north are crying for peace and against the Emancipation Proclamation.
Feb 14 - Rainy most of day. Troubled with heart burn and acid stomach considerably, a little afraid of dyspepsia. At 2 a.m. was awakened by the roll call. A volly of musketry had been heard. Troops replied and arms ready. No more trouble. Picket had exchanged shots with guerillas. Hear that 40 latter were wounded.
Feb 15 - Cool wind but clear. Good bible class in a.m. Read in hospital. P.m. good attendance at church. Got on pretty well. Servant Jerry dying. Eve good prayer meeting. Doubtful whether to go to prison and preach. A soldier handed me $3.00 from himself and others to get tracts for the regiment.
Feb 16 - Cloudy and still. Numbers of citizens in town. Some think they may attempt a rescue of prisoners captured yesterday. Jerry was buried today. Heartless remarks by one or two soldiers about "a dead nigger". McCoy* quite low with typhoid. Our country's affairs look bad. Gold at 50% previous. Wrote a brief [?] for [her?] church and wrote Ella
Feb 17 - Cloudy and rain at eve. McCoy at hospital apparently dying. Col. Swayne came at noon to my great satisfaction. Brought numerous supplies and a letter from Com[pany]. Com[pany] is in good spirits and garrisoned at Memphis. Appearances of more united feelings at the north.
* Thomas J. McCoy. born 1843/44 in Cross Creek twp, Jefferson Co Ohio. Part of F company. He died on 17 Feb 1863 at the field hospital in Bolivar TN.
Feb 14 - Rainy most of day. Troubled with heart burn and acid stomach considerably, a little afraid of dyspepsia. At 2 a.m. was awakened by the roll call. A volly of musketry had been heard. Troops replied and arms ready. No more trouble. Picket had exchanged shots with guerillas. Hear that 40 latter were wounded.
Feb 15 - Cool wind but clear. Good bible class in a.m. Read in hospital. P.m. good attendance at church. Got on pretty well. Servant Jerry dying. Eve good prayer meeting. Doubtful whether to go to prison and preach. A soldier handed me $3.00 from himself and others to get tracts for the regiment.
Feb 16 - Cloudy and still. Numbers of citizens in town. Some think they may attempt a rescue of prisoners captured yesterday. Jerry was buried today. Heartless remarks by one or two soldiers about "a dead nigger". McCoy* quite low with typhoid. Our country's affairs look bad. Gold at 50% previous. Wrote a brief [?] for [her?] church and wrote Ella
Feb 17 - Cloudy and rain at eve. McCoy at hospital apparently dying. Col. Swayne came at noon to my great satisfaction. Brought numerous supplies and a letter from Com[pany]. Com[pany] is in good spirits and garrisoned at Memphis. Appearances of more united feelings at the north.
* Thomas J. McCoy. born 1843/44 in Cross Creek twp, Jefferson Co Ohio. Part of F company. He died on 17 Feb 1863 at the field hospital in Bolivar TN.
8 - 12 Feb 1863
Feb 8 - Mild and muddy. Good bible class. Read a chapter etc. in hospital. Good service and full congregation at Methodist church in p.m. Eve a good prayer meeting. We have orders to leave for Corinth.
Feb 9 - A short hunting excursion in the bottom in p.m. Admired cave lakes and holly. Capt. Wright wants to sell me his horse.
Feb 10 - Rainy. To post hospital and saw four of our men. Struck with comfort of hospitals. Evg a good prayer meeting. A revival of religion in my heart. Share unusual peace and desire to do the divine will. Evg a good prayer meeting.
Feb 11 - Lovely spring morning. Went to corral and saw neglect about hospital. A servant sick in a little tent. I prayed with him. He thanked me. His wife much worried. To tea at Mrs. Gray's. Rebel ladies [?] too dull.
Feb 12 - Cooler. Clouds and wind. Col. much impressed by his visit of last night. Copied company rolls most of a.m. P.m. errands in town. A dear letter from Ella. Seems rather cheerful and hopes my not coming is for the best. Proposed a regimental church at prayer meeting evening. 13 names to begin.
Feb 9 - A short hunting excursion in the bottom in p.m. Admired cave lakes and holly. Capt. Wright wants to sell me his horse.
Feb 10 - Rainy. To post hospital and saw four of our men. Struck with comfort of hospitals. Evg a good prayer meeting. A revival of religion in my heart. Share unusual peace and desire to do the divine will. Evg a good prayer meeting.
Feb 11 - Lovely spring morning. Went to corral and saw neglect about hospital. A servant sick in a little tent. I prayed with him. He thanked me. His wife much worried. To tea at Mrs. Gray's. Rebel ladies [?] too dull.
Feb 12 - Cooler. Clouds and wind. Col. much impressed by his visit of last night. Copied company rolls most of a.m. P.m. errands in town. A dear letter from Ella. Seems rather cheerful and hopes my not coming is for the best. Proposed a regimental church at prayer meeting evening. 13 names to begin.
1 - 7 Feb 1863
Feb 1 - Rainy but cleared up beautifully. A good bible class at 9. Bible reading in hospital. Service at the Methodist Church. Four there, not good notice given. Was somewhat disappointed. A good prayer meeting at eve. The Spirit seemed present. [?] It was good to be there.
Feb 2 - Fine day. Intended to build shanty but lumber was not ready. Call from post chaplain Dr. Kingsbury. Write to Ella. Decided not to apply to go home March 1st. Evg. turned cold. Read a story to Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Kellogg.
Feb 3 - Cold wind. Shanty built by J. Rope and Mr. Fifer. Small pr[ayer] meeting at evening. Letter frpm Ella much to my joy.
Feb 4 - Shanty done. Moved from Mrs. Ramsey's to camp. Chimney smokes and shanty too damp for sleeping. A good negro servant in one of companies died after a very short illness.
Feb 5 - Snow on ground and cold. Not a full prayer meeting again. I go to the hospital daily. But after fail of desired apportunities of speaking to patients in [?] things about 10 sick.
Feb 6 - A cold night. Fair but cold thawing. Got on well in talking and acquaintace with men. Repaired chimney in evening.
Feb 7 - Thawing and mild. Sick in hospital improving much. Studied sermon etc. Called at Mr. Gray's but not at home. Hear we are soon to be ordered to Corinth. Hope we may get mails and papers there regularly.
Feb 2 - Fine day. Intended to build shanty but lumber was not ready. Call from post chaplain Dr. Kingsbury. Write to Ella. Decided not to apply to go home March 1st. Evg. turned cold. Read a story to Mrs. Ramsey and Mrs. Kellogg.
Feb 3 - Cold wind. Shanty built by J. Rope and Mr. Fifer. Small pr[ayer] meeting at evening. Letter frpm Ella much to my joy.
Feb 4 - Shanty done. Moved from Mrs. Ramsey's to camp. Chimney smokes and shanty too damp for sleeping. A good negro servant in one of companies died after a very short illness.
Feb 5 - Snow on ground and cold. Not a full prayer meeting again. I go to the hospital daily. But after fail of desired apportunities of speaking to patients in [?] things about 10 sick.
Feb 6 - A cold night. Fair but cold thawing. Got on well in talking and acquaintace with men. Repaired chimney in evening.
Feb 7 - Thawing and mild. Sick in hospital improving much. Studied sermon etc. Called at Mr. Gray's but not at home. Hear we are soon to be ordered to Corinth. Hope we may get mails and papers there regularly.
29 - 31 Jan 1863
Jan 29 - Feel better. Reading Rowland Hill's life with much interest. A church of England Spurgeon A flaming fire. P.m. to hospital. Prayers here in evening. Band playing below.
Jan 30 - Cold better. Wrote on sermon. Went to hospital and rather disappointed in getting no better. Mr. Gray called on me and Col.
Jan 31 - Saturday. Studied some. Feel quite well. A good long letter from mother at noon. Cam[paign] at Memphis with 95th. P.m. rain began.
This month has passed quickly away though at times longing for my home. I have been at work and have enjoyed considerable satisfaction in it. The war still rages and the land mourns. May the Lord be merciful to our distressed country.
Jan 30 - Cold better. Wrote on sermon. Went to hospital and rather disappointed in getting no better. Mr. Gray called on me and Col.
Jan 31 - Saturday. Studied some. Feel quite well. A good long letter from mother at noon. Cam[paign] at Memphis with 95th. P.m. rain began.
This month has passed quickly away though at times longing for my home. I have been at work and have enjoyed considerable satisfaction in it. The war still rages and the land mourns. May the Lord be merciful to our distressed country.
22 - 28 Jan 1863
Jan 22 - Cleared off beautiful and mild. a.m. birds about, like a spring morning in Ohio. On a borrowed spirited horse rode into the country and enjoyed it much. In the evening a good prayer meeting.
Jan 23 - Cloudy and a little rain. p.m. pleasant thoughts of home. Good corn bread at meals. Evening up town but did not see Whitney. Talked on religion with a man in hospital and others. Did me good.
Jan 24 - Snow, rain, and mud. Air is mild. No letter from Ella.
Jan 25 - No rain and mild. Some cold in chest. Thought once I raised some blood but likely not. A good bible class a.m. Hospital [?] p.m. Field church at 4. Got on pretty well. Eve am excellent and crowded prayer meeting. Several acknowledged past backsliding and good resolves for future.
Jan 26 - Rain in p.m. Pay master paid the rgt. this p.m. My cold continues. The snow, rain, exposure and speaking in open air have affected my throat and lungs. Mr. Williams State pay agent from Ohio made us a pleasant visit.
Jan 27 - Sent $25.00 (borrowed from Col.) to mother and Ella per pay agent. Many soldiers sending by him. P.m. a spell of coughing and lay down. Whitney with us in evening. Did not go to prayer meeting. Cold.
Jan 28 - A camp in a poor place to recover from my bad cold. By the Col's advice I go to Mr. Ramsey's. A pleasant room, fire and bath. Evening sat with pleasant ladies here. A good [?] family. Coughing much this p.m.
Jan 23 - Cloudy and a little rain. p.m. pleasant thoughts of home. Good corn bread at meals. Evening up town but did not see Whitney. Talked on religion with a man in hospital and others. Did me good.
Jan 24 - Snow, rain, and mud. Air is mild. No letter from Ella.
Jan 25 - No rain and mild. Some cold in chest. Thought once I raised some blood but likely not. A good bible class a.m. Hospital [?] p.m. Field church at 4. Got on pretty well. Eve am excellent and crowded prayer meeting. Several acknowledged past backsliding and good resolves for future.
Jan 26 - Rain in p.m. Pay master paid the rgt. this p.m. My cold continues. The snow, rain, exposure and speaking in open air have affected my throat and lungs. Mr. Williams State pay agent from Ohio made us a pleasant visit.
Jan 27 - Sent $25.00 (borrowed from Col.) to mother and Ella per pay agent. Many soldiers sending by him. P.m. a spell of coughing and lay down. Whitney with us in evening. Did not go to prayer meeting. Cold.
Jan 28 - A camp in a poor place to recover from my bad cold. By the Col's advice I go to Mr. Ramsey's. A pleasant room, fire and bath. Evening sat with pleasant ladies here. A good [?] family. Coughing much this p.m.
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