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

Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Co. D of Terry’s Texas Rangers

Friday, 1st day of January, 1864—Received one pair of drawers from Miss Nannie Scott, two shirts from Mrs. House. One hundred and fifty of the prisoners start to-day for Strawberry Plains. We go to-morrow.

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Dodd was sentenced to death on or before January 5th. An extract from a letter by the general commanding and dated at Knoxville, Tenn., January 17, 1864, reads:

I also avail myself of this opportunity to forward an order publishing the proceedings, findings and sentence in the case of Private E. S. Dodd, Eighth Texas Confederate Cavalry, who was tr, condemned and executed as a spy.

‘I also inclose a copy of an order which I have found it necessary to issue, in regard to the wearing of the U. S. uniform by Confederate soldiers.”

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*Inclosure No. 7 (here omitted) contains General Orders, No. 3, Department of the Ohio, January 5, 1864, promulgating charges, findings and sentence to death in the case of E. S. Dodd, Eighth Texas Cavalry, arrested and tried as a spy.”

War of the Rebellion, Series III, Vol. 4, p. 53.

Thursday, 31st—Miss Anna Brooks came around, Miss McMullin with her, brought me a pair of socks. I sent a note to Mrs. House by Hupplits to-night.

Wednesday, 30th—Morton out on street parole.

Thursday, 25th—A dull Christmas. Receiving one-quarter pound bread a day and bout one pound beef, no wood hardly— freezing and starving by inches. All this brings me up to the 29th Monday. Morton tried to get to see his sister but could not. The Parson came in and informed him that she died at 3 o’clock this morning. Such is the fate of war. In 150 yards of her and yet could not get to see her.

Sunday, 21st—Parson —— preached for us this evening.

Friday, 19th—I find one of the 11th Texas here, three or four of the 2nd Georgia. I send out a summons to the Lodge for assistance; two members call on me and promise to attend to my case, but I hear no more from them. Another squad of 96 prisoners came in, also three of Morgan’s men, Messrs. Church and Smith.

Maj. Smith of Wheeler’s staff called on us. Two other squads came in. With the last came Will Morton of the Battery or Company F. Alexander takes the oath and left us. Morton, myself, the two Churches and two Smiths form the mess.

Thursday, 18th—Start this morning for Knoxville; get in bout 1 p. m. Capt. Barnetts takes charge of me and sends me to Prison.

Tuesday, 16th1—Came on to Chandler’s, got lost on the road and had to stop and inquire at a house (John Robinson’s). He told me about the Home Guards being in the neighborhood. I or we went on until we got to the house where they were camped or near it. The road forked and I went up to inquire about the road. Found ’twas not a dwelling and saw the Home Guards through the window. Went on to the next house, Mr. Johnson’s, and got the information and traveled on. Got to C’s 1 o’clock at night, found Mr. Houck there. Boys staid at the house while I went to the house. I took supper with them and got some meat and bread for the Boys. Miss Rogers was there. I could get but little information from Chandler. I went to the barn and we went into the straw to stay next day and cross at Bradson ‘s next night.


1 There is confusion of days and dates from “Tuesday, 16th” to “Thursday, 25th;” for the 16th is Wednesday, the 17th is Thursday, etc.

Tuesday, 15th—Came to Hiram Bogle’s, crossed the Little River at Finley’s, the Sheriff of the County. Got to Bogle’s and got a snack to eat. Mr.. Bogle had taken the oath and would give me no information, only directions to Tim Chandler’s.

Monday, 14th—Start to-night for Sevier; ran into the Yanks at Maryville; my saddle turned; I lost my horse. The Boys abandoned theirs and we made our escape on foot. Worked our way out to McClaine’s on Little River just at daylight, but he would have nothing to do with us; could get no assistance from him. Came down the River and lay out in a little mot of timber.