Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Post image for Diary of David L. Day.

Diary of David L. Day.

February 3, 2012

David L Day–My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass

Feb. 3. The winds have ceased, and the sea is as calm as an honest man’s conscience. Companies are parading the decks of the steamers, a dozen bands are out playing, everybody is feeling good, and altogether, we are having quite an enlivening scene. Business is brisk today; all the boats are in the sound, and schooners are alongside of them, supplying them with coal, water and rations, preparatory to a trip up the sound. Everything now seems to be nearly ready, and I expect that some fine morning we will make a call on our southern friends. No doubt they will be delighted to see us, and as they say, to welcome us with bloody hands to hospitable graves; but perhaps it has never occurred to them that in a reception of that kind, they, perchance, may fill some of the aforesaid graves. I had much rather they would welcome us to a good dinner of fishballs than cannon balls; but I suppose they will have their own choice of reception and we must reciprocate the best we can.

Merchandise brings a right smart price in this market, and a man needs a heavy purse to purchase very extensively. I paid $1 for the same quantity of tobacco I bought at home for forty cents.

Post image for “Our marching orders are ‘played out.'” — Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

“Our marching orders are ‘played out.'” — Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

February 3, 2012

Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton (Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers),The American Civil War

 

Camp of the 83rd P. V.,

Hall’s Hill, Va., Feb. 3. 1862.

Dear Friend P—s.:—

It is just such a morning as would make a misanthrope happy. Byron’s bitterest and most sarcastic strains were, I believe, written in just such weather. It snowed last night and rains this morning and now two or three inches of slush cover unfathomable mud. Great black clouds roll up heavily from the west and slowly drizzle down discomfort in the camps. The evergreens that made our camp look so bright and homelike about the holidays are giving way under the abuse heaped upon them and now they stand leaning at every angle but that of 90 degrees, covered with ice and weeping great pearly tears of grief at their cruel treatment. The smoke curls slowly from the myriad pipes of the camp and makes a desperate effort to rise above the tents, then sinks despairingly to the ground. The cooks stir up their sputtering fires in vain efforts to make their kettles boil, and, as the rain drips off their ponchos, they look as if they would cook one more meal and die. I have been lounging on my bunk since breakfast, drawing the Spanish out of my cigar and working off the fatigue of yesterday’s guard duty, and now I have taken up my pen to answer your letter of the 24th of January. What I shall write, I can’t tell. There is no news beyond what you have in the papers. “All is quiet along the Potomac.” Our marching orders are “played out.” The boys are getting so that they won’t believe anything now. They sit around the fire and while away these dull days the best they can. How time does pass away, though! Here it is the 3rd of February. Seems to me I never knew a winter to pass so quickly.

Post image for War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

February 3, 2012

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Monday, February 3. — Received my order to report to General Porter. Slept in Lieutenant [George] Monteith’s tent, as mine was not ready. Stormy again.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

February 3, 2012

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Monday Feb 3rd 1862

No particular news today. The streets are in a wo[e]ful condition but the boys who are anxious to gain a penny — keep the crossings in tolerable condition for footmen. The hundreds of army wagons which are constantly passing keep the road way mud well stirred up.

______

The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

February 3, 2012

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Monday, 3d—The captain with eight men went out on a scouting trip to rout some “secesh” from an island in the Missouri river, where they were trying to recruit a company.

Post image for Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

February 3, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Monday, February 3. Charleston, Virginia.—Leave this morning on the steamboat ––for Gallipolis. Reached there at 2 P. M. A drizzly, cold day, snow on the hills, mud, snow, and slush at Gallipolis. With Avery and Bill Brown over town; oysters, eggs, and ale. At nine P. M. on Dunleith down the Ohio.

Post image for “We are going pretty close to New Madrid, into a hot place, where a long stay would not be pleasant.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“We are going pretty close to New Madrid, into a hot place, where a long stay would not be pleasant.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

February 3, 2012

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry),The American Civil War

Headquarters, 3d Battalion, 7th Illinois Cavalry,

February 3, 1862.

I am pretty sure that we will start on a scout to-morrow that will give us a ride of 150 miles. From the knowledge I have of it believe that we are going to raise the devil before we get back or get raised ourselves. There are only about 300 of us going, but we are all cavalry and are going fast, will make our mark and then return probably at the same gait. We are going pretty close to New Madrid, into a hot place, where a long stay would not be pleasant. I believe there are 300 or 400 men about 70 miles from here guarding commissary stores. We are going to try and surprise them and destroy the goods, kill what we can of the secesh “and get out o’ that.” It will be my first scout horseback but I’m going if it busts me. This is one of Colonel Kellogg’s ideas and looks more like work than anything I have tried yet. It’s awful rough weather to start out in but that makes it more favorable for us. Well, I have got over the hardest part of soldiering, though I doubt if I enjoy myself as well as I did in the ranks. I never in my life spent nine months more pleasantly than those I passed in the “8th.” We had some rough times, but good health and good company made them as pleasant as and often happier than life in quarters. I disliked very much to leave the boys I had been with so long and knew so well, but cupidity and ambition got the better of the just resolves I made never to leave them untill the war was over. John Wallace, Fred Norcott and my chum, Hy Johnson, I did hate to leave. They’ll get along just as well though after they have forgotten us. My chances for a lieutenancy in that company were first rate but I have got a better thing, and without so much walking. You never saw a gladder boy than Sam was when he found himself safe out of the infantry. He couldn’t begin to hold his body. I suppose he and Keefer are having very gay times all by themselves. Sidney and I concluded that our best policy was to stay here and I’m glad I did so, although I would have liked a visit home more than I can tell. If we can manage it so as to get off together some time this spring we will do so, but I have little hopes now of seeing you untill the war is over. The major (Rawalt), Seavy, Billy Resor and myself mess together. We have the wife of one of the men cooking for us and are living as well as I want to, in regular home style. White tablecloth, white ware and a fork and spoon for every man. Warm biscuits and excellent coffee every meal. My duties are light and not many of them. All writing. We live in a house, too. My health is booming again. That trip brought me out all right. This is a splendid place to camp in—high, healthy and beautiful. There are lots of pretty girls here too, that smile very sweetly on shoulder-strapped soldiers, but well, you understand me. I have Billy Stockdale, Trites, Chancey, Geo. Shinn, Jesse B. and the rest of the Canton boys in the 17th and they are all in excellent health. Chancey will be home in a few days I think. He is second lieutenant in the Fairview Company now. Billy Stockdale is sergeant major. Trites is romantic, enthusiastic and desponding as ever. Major Rawalt is one of the best officers there is in the service. He and I will get along splendidly. We are really off in the morning, and for a 200-mile march. There will be fun before we get back.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

February 3, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

3rd. Went down town and drew rations. Neighbors sent in some nuts and pickled beets.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

February 3, 2012

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

FEBRUARY 3D. —We have intelligence of the sailing of an expedition from Cairo for the reduction of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River.

Post image for Detached from regiment. — assigned to General Porter's headquarters. –Stephen Minot Weld.

Detached from regiment. — assigned to General Porter's headquarters. –Stephen Minot Weld.

February 3, 2012

The American Civil War,War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Hall’s Hill, Feb. 3, 1862.

Dear Father, — I have been detached from my regiment, and am now at General Porter’s headquarters on the above-mentioned hill. I am occupying for a day or two Lieutenant Monteith’s tent, he being absent in Washington, and am not quite settled yet. I shall make preparations to stay here for a fortnight at least, as we cannot advance before that time, and hardly under a month’s time. General Porter has not yet returned, but will be here to-morrow evening. All his staff whom I have seen are pleasant fellows and are quite kind to me. The Assistant Adjutant-General, Captain Locke from New York, is a very polite, gentlemanly fellow, and is a smart business man. Lieutenant Batchelder is quite pleasant, and Lieutenant McQuade seems to be the same, although I have not seen much of him.

My tent was pitched this afternoon in the midst of a driving snow-storm, and I shall not occupy it till I receive some boards to make a floor, and a stove, both of which I must beg in Washington. It will be quite a comfortable tent when I shall have fixed it up a little. I have not discovered any superfluous article yet which I have brought out here. I am only sorry I did not buy me a bedstead and cork mattress, which I shall have to get. My buffalo robe is the best thing I have. I could not have got along without it, and I thank my stars every night that I have such a comfortable robe.

General Porter every one says is extremely simple in his way of living, etc., which I am glad to find out, as it will save me a great deal of expense. Hautville, who is on Banks’s staff, told me that it would cost me from $45 to $50 a month to live, but I hope to find that he is mistaken.

James gets on quite well, although somewhat slow in his ways. In a week or two I shall have him in good trim, and shall make him quite a good servant. He is somewhat inclined to grumble, but not much so, and this too I shall stop. He seems to take good care of my horse, and on the whole I like him quite well. If he does not suit me I shall discharge him and send on for Tom.

The weather is stormy again, and no prospect of clearing off. Sunday was the first day the sun had made its appearance for 18 days. We had a regular New England snow-storm to-day, but now it seems inclined to change to sleet.

When Colonel Barnes handed me my order to report here, he said he would like me to come over and drill with his regiment whenever I could, and I shall do so, as I think it will be a good thing for me. He was very kind and pleasant to me all the time I was there. I am in first-rate health and have no doubt but that I shall continue so.

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