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)

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.

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.