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.

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.

8 - 14 Jan 1863

Jan 8 - Spent day with Dr. Bare and Mr. Burr at medical purveyor's planning to get to our regiments in p.m. Tried to be useful at fort and hospital.

Jan 9 - Started without them. Perforce left boxes and cot also at Columbus Ky. With others walked over break in R.R. made by late raid. A hard 5 miles. Evening at Jackson. Raining.

Jan 10 - Fine weather. Reached Bolivar Tenn. and my regiment about noon much to my joy. Encamped in a pleasant healthy place. Bolivar is a nice southern town. A warm welcome from Col. Swayne*. Letter here from wife. Tent with and mess with Col. Swayne and adjutant.

Jan 11 - A beautiful Sabbath. Balmy air. Not with standing camp noises, passes it rather pleasantly and profitably. a.m. went with officers to Bolivar but we were disappointed in finding no services. Afternoon at 3:30 preached to the regiment chiefly of Dan 5:24.

Jan 12 - Beautiful weather. Rode about almost all a.m. With Wagar [Swayne] p.m. Visited hospital. Few sick. Eve wrote to Ella. Some diarrhea again. Would gladly be free from it. Engaged a poor homeless negro lad for a servant.

Jan 13 - Mild. a.m. at horse corral. p.m. at hospital and saw contrabands at bridge under charge of Capt. Wright. Saw some albinos. Eve almost warm weather.

Jan 14 - Raining from daylight all day. Staid in almost all day. Reading and writing. In eve stove smoked and damp. Were driven out of our tent by smoke. Soldiers' tents leak.

*Colonel Wager Swayne (10 Nov 1834 - 18 Dec 1909) was born in New York City, but grew up in Columbus Ohio.  He graduated from Yale University in 1856 and the Cincinnati Law School in 1859.  At the outbreak of the war he joined the army and commanded the 43rd OVI which was forming in Mount Vernon.  He later rose to the rank of Brigadier General and won the Congressional Medal of Honor for leading a charge at the Second Battle of Corinth Mississippi in October 1862.  Late in the war he lost his right leg at Rivers Bridge in South Carolina.

Col. Swayne served as Military Governor of Alabama during the early days of reconstruction after the war, serving from 1867 to 1868.  He was a fervant Episcopalian throughout his life, as well as a staunch Republican and Abolitionist.  Pictured below