15 - 21 February 1864

Feb 15 - Awoke in Louisville.  Sent letters to Ella and Mr. Dibble.  Passed through canal - an expensive but paying work.  Down the beautiful Ohio.  Wrote to Mother.

Feb 16 - Lent out library books to men.  The cold weather crowds the cabins.  Laid up on account of wind at Carrolton Ky. for 12 hours from 2:30 a.m.  Some men got on shore and behaved badly.  One man had his face cut. [Below is an old picture of a steamship on the Ohio River at Carrolton Kentucky]

Feb 17 - I have been much interested and benefited in reading "Recreations of a country parson."*  Evening reading on Japan.  Distributed papers and books.  Wrote 3 letters.  Entered the Cumberland River. [19th century view of the Cumberland River at Nashville, TN below]


Feb 18 - Passed Clarksville Tenn. in a.m.  Fine R.R. bridge part destroyed.  [Below is view of Federal troops stationed to protect bridge (obviously unsuccessfully) which is seen in background].
A pleasant looking town.  Saw two wrecks of steamers burned last year by [?].  High cliffs on shore.  The river narrows.  Late in the evening reached Nashville.  [Below is a view of the Nashville waterfront in 1865]
Feb 19 - Disembarked early.  Got reading matter from Christian commission.  Saw the State House.  Smaller but finer interior finish than the one at Columbus.  Saw former home and monument of ex Pres. J. K. Polk, house of John Bell.  Nashville a fine town on high rocky ground in a fine country.  [below a view of the TN statehouse in 1863]


[Below is Polk Place, the home of former president James K. Polk in downtown Nashville taken about 1880.  His grave is to the right in the photo]


Feb 20 - Take day board with Mrs. Jones 69 Sumner St.  Much pleased with Messrs Atkinson and Smith agents of Christian Commission who have meetings of soldiers in barracks.  Much dissipation here.  Saw Richard Rapf.  His wife a fine woman I think.

Feb 21 - Had a meeting in barracks a.m. and p.m.  Attended Episcopal church in the eve.  Old memories revived by sitting in the choir.  New recruits are coming in.  I have learned some lessons from agents of Ohio commission here.  Lovely weather.


*  Written by Andrew Kennedy Hutchinson Boyd and published in two volumes in 1862 by Ticknor, Boston.

1 - 7 Jan 1864

Jan 1 - A very cold day.  With regiment started for Ohio.  Our breath froze upon our whiskers and the road was hard and icy.  Passed through Pulaski [TN] and camped 8 miles North of it.  Men have no tents.

Jan 2 - Rose early.  Very cold.  The adjutant is much used up by the march.  Bread and meat are frozen in our haversacks.  In p.m. camped within a few miles of Columbia [TN].  Had hay under our blankets.  Quite comfortable.

Jan 3 - Not much like the Sabbath.  Better to move than be still this cold weather.  Passed through Columbia [TN] with music.  Over Columbia [Duck] river in pontoon bridges.  The weather is softening.

Jan 4 - Yesterday p.m. got Christmas boxes for the regiment from home.  Almost all had a past on delicacies.  Rode on cars to Nashville [TN].  At eve left there on box cars for Lousiville [KY].  Narrow escape from running off the track.

Jan 5 - A tedious cold ride.  No stoves in cars.  Kept warm at night under blankets.  Jumped about to keep frost off.  Snow on ground.  Hear of men of the 39th regiment froze to death.




Jan 6 - Awaked at 2 a.m.  Miserable from cold and in advance of regiment walked to Louisville hotel.  Very cold weather and sleighing.  How I enjoyed warmth and food after our trying journey.  I hope I am thankful.  Regiment has uncomfortable barracks.  Read etc.



Jan 7 - Snowing almost all day.  Sleighing in the streets.  Rewrote my quarterly report.  Read Olmstead's "American Farmer in England"*.  Some good Christian thoughts in it.  Visited the barracks.  [?] more comfortable.  Anxious to leave for home.

*  "Walks and talks of an American Farmer in England" written by Frederick Law Olmstead (1822 - 1903) chronicles an 1850 walking tour of England which Frederick took with his brother John and their friend Charles Brace.
Pictured below