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

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Post image for “I have a clerk, too, for my copying, etc., so I’m a gentleman.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“I have a clerk, too, for my copying, etc., so I’m a gentleman.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

June 16, 2012

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

Rienzi, Tishomingo Co., Miss., June 16, 1862.

We are camped here enjoying ourselves grandly. As our brigade is scattered over a line of 50 miles we just pitch our headquarters in the quietest spot we can find independent of the command. There are only two companies now out of the 24 within 8 miles of us, and all we have to do with any of them is to send them orders and receive their communications and forward them. In the heat of the day we read and lounge in our tents, and mornings we go to the creek and bathe and then ride a dozen or so miles to keep our horses exercised. I have a clerk, too, for my copying, etc., so I’m a gentleman. Evenings I visit generally some of the half dozen families within a half mile of us of whom I borrow books and in return furnish them with occasional papers. We have splendid water and my health is perfect. This is the healthiest part of the South.

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

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

June 16, 2012

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

Monday, 16th—It came my turn for the first time to go on fatigue. Our men are throwing up a line of breastworks and building some very strong forts. I worked all day at one of the big forts built for the siege guns. The fort is fifteen feet high, with a ditch in front fifteen feet wide and ten feet deep. At the top within each fort the guns will be mounted on a dirt platform about ten feet high so as to afford a good view in front. When the works are completed on this grand scale it will require one million men to defend them.[1]

[1] These works were never completed, the commanding general having called off the work. It was a good thing that it was discontinued, for the heavy work during the hot weather would have greatly injured the men.—A. G. D.

Post image for A Confederate Girl’s Diary

A Confederate Girl’s Diary

June 16, 2012

A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

June 16th, Monday.

My poor old diary comes to a very abrupt end, to my great distress. The hardest thing in the world is to break off journalizing when you are once accustomed to it, and mine has proved such a resource to me in these dark days of trouble that I feel as though I were saying good-bye to an old and tried friend. Thanks to my liberal supply of pens, ink, and paper, how many inexpressibly dreary days I have filled up to my own satisfaction, if not to that of others! How many disagreeable affairs it has caused me to pass over without another thought, how many times it has proved a relief to me where my tongue was forced to remain quiet! Without the blessed materials, I would have fallen victim to despair and “the Blues” long since; but they have kept my eyes fixed on “ Better days a-coming “ while slightly alluding to present woes; kept me from making a fool of myself many a day; acted as lightning rod to my mental thunder, and have made me happy generally. For all of which I cry, “Vivent pen, ink, and paper!” and add with regret, “Adieu, my mental Conductor. I fear this unchained lightning will strike somewhere, in your absence!”

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

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

June 16, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp Jones, Flat Top, June 16, 1862. Monday. — A cold morning and a cloudy, clearing off into a bright, cool day.

Last night walked with Captain Warren down to General Cox’s headquarters. Talked book; the general is a reader of the best books, quite up in light literature; never saw the Shakespeare novels; must try to get him “Shakespeare and his Friends.”

The extracts from Richmond papers and Jeff Davis’ address to the soldiers indicates that the Rebels are making prodigious efforts to secure the victory in the approaching struggle. I trust our Government will see that every man is there who can possibly be spared from other quarters. I fear part of Beauregard’s army will get there. Can’t we get part of Halleck’s army there?

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

June 16, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

16th. Monday. Issued rations to several companies. Stayed at the Commissary most of the day.

Post image for Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne.

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne.

June 16, 2012

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne

Written from the Sea islands of South Carolina.

[Diary] 16th.

To-day Mr. McKim, Lucy, Ellen, and I went over to Gabriel Caper’s, Edgar Fripp’s, Dr. Scott’s, and to Oliver Fripp’s, where we dined with Mr. Sumner, Mr. Park, and Mr. Gannett. They rode beside our carriage on their horses, and as the rains made the roads bad, they explored the broken bridges and fords. We had a jolly time except when Mr. McKim was questioning the people about their treatment in the old time. Such dreadful stories as they told! Dr. Scott’s own daughter and granddaughter had marks of their mistresses’ whip to show. They lived in a very nice house built entirely by the husband of one of them.

Post image for Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

June 16, 2012

Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton (Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers)

Camp at Gaines’ Mill, Va.,
Monday, June 16, 1862.

Dear Mother:—

I received your letter of the 10th yesterday. I was writing at the time and intended to answer yours as soon as I finished the one I was writing, but a thunder storm came up and prevented me. I suppose you would think at home that was a singular excuse, but anyone who has lived in these shelter tents any length of time can appreciate the difficulties of writing in a heavy shower, perfectly. The wind blows and the rain comes down in great drops that spatter right through our light canvas tents. It whirls round and comes driving in the door, and by the time we have something hung up to stop that fun, there is a pretty large creek running right through where we want to sleep, and as that won’t do, why that must be attended to also, and so it goes. This is a great country for rain. It rains for two days and the next day it rains, and then we have some rain and wet weather. For a wonder we had three or four very hot days last week, but the rain yesterday afternoon was cold and last night we slept cold. Night before was very hot and we could not sleep for the heat.

I feel better this morning than I have in some time before. I have been quite unwell since the fight. I got very weak and couldn’t eat, but I’m just about all right again now. It seems wonderful that I have stood it so well.

With regard to Captain Austin’s complimentary remarks, I presume he was conscientious in what he said, but I must say if that was a specimen of his judgment, he is a very poor judge of military matters. I think, however, that I have done tolerably well in some things. I’ve been in the service over a year now and I’ve never been “pricked” (marked absent without leave) or had any extra duty imposed on me for misconduct. I’ve never been in the guardhouse or had any serious difficulties with officers or men. The nearest I have come to that was two or three days ago when I turned around and struck a fellow a tolerable crack in the face for his extra exertions to get his feet entangled with mine in the ranks. It made some little stir for the time being, but the captain did not say a word. I know he did not blame me much, but it would not do to say anything in defense of such conduct in the ranks, and so he said nothing. I feel well enough satisfied myself and I have an idea that the fellow, who is the veriest bloat and bully in the company, will conclude to let me alone. I suppose he thought as some others did, because I never wrestle or scuffle or box, that I hadn’t much spunk, and could be snubbed round by a bigger fellow with impunity. I don’t know as my temper is any better than it used to be, but I control it rather more. I suppose you won’t think the above is evidence of the fact, but my ideas of non-resistance are different from Father’s and, perhaps, from yours.

Unidentified Confederate Soldier

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

June 16, 2012

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Monday, 16th.—Got to Knoxville at 4 A. M.; went one mile to camp. Regiment ordered to Loudon. Being sick, I was left at camp. J. M. Badgett and W. T. Swanson were also left, and waited on me very well.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Post image for Diary of David L. Day.

Diary of David L. Day.

June 16, 2012

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

Hot Weather.

June 16. It is so hot most of the time we are scarcely able to do anything more than keep ourselves as comfortable as possible. All duty is suspended except guard duty and dress parade, and we are getting almost too lazy to eat; in fact do miss a good many meals unless they happen to have something we like. We lie around in our tents or in the shade of the trees from 9 o’clock in the morning till 4 in the afternoon, brushing away the flies, and trying to keep cool. I thought I had seen some flies at home but they are no comparison to what we have here. I really believe there are more flies in this camp than there are in the whole state of Massachusetts. Besides they are regular secesh ones, and by the way they bite, one would think he was among a nest of hornets. I am often reminded of the old minstrel song:

 

“If you perchance in summer time

Should visit Carolina’s sultry clime,

And in the shade should chance to lie

You’d soon find out the blue tail fly.”

 

We were visited last evening by a thunder storm which makes it quite comfortable today. For several days past the weather has been very hot, the thermometer ranging about 100 degrees in the shade. Just before sunset last evening the clouds began to gather and we soon heard the low mutterings of thunder. We knew very well what that meant and set about fastening our tents by driving down the pins a little firmer. We got ready for it just in season, and such a storm! a regular bombardment, with rivers of water, lasting about two hours. Why our thunder storms at home are only a slight skirmish compared with this. After four or five days so hot we can but just live we get one of these storms, and then we have one cool, comfortable day. It is so cool today I expect the colonel will have us out for drill towards night. He says when it is cool we must work a little or we shall get so lazy we can’t stir, and will forget all we ever knew.

 

Dress Parade.

Next to a good choir of singers, the colonel takes great pride in a dress parade; and he certainly has good ones, as good, perhaps, as any regiment here. The boys like to please him and at dress parade put in their best work, especially if there happens to be a good many looking on. They have got so used to him, they can anticipate the order, and it is executed together as one man. I reckon Gen. Foster thinks pretty well of us, as he is out here two or three times a week to witness our dress parades.

Post image for Drowned Out and Starved Out

Drowned Out and Starved Out

June 16, 2012

War Diary of a Union Woman in the South by Dora Richards Miller

June 16.—Max got back this morning. H. and he were in the parlor talking and examining maps together till dinner-time. When that was over they laid the matter before us. To buy provisions had proved impossible. The planters across the lake had decided to issue rations of corn-meal and peas to the villagers whose men had all gone to war, but they utterly refused to sell anything. “They said to me,” said Max, “‘ We will not see your family starve, Mr. K.; but with such numbers of slaves and the village poor to feed, we can spare nothing for sale.’” “Well, of course,” said H., “we do not purpose to stay here and live on charity rations. We must leave the place at all hazards. We have studied out every route and made inquiries everywhere we went. We shall have to go down the Mississippi in an open boat as far as Fetler’s Landing (on the eastern bank). There we can cross by land and put the boat into Steele’s Bayou, pass thence to the Yazoo River, from there to Chickasaw Bayou, into McNutt’s Lake, and land near my uncle’s in Warren County.”

______

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in New Orleans, the diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were often used instead of full names — and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials.

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