Wednesday, 11th—All is quiet. The commissioned officers of our brigade had a meeting at brigade headquarters for the purpose of considering ways and means for arming the colored men, since they have been declared free. The plan is to put them under good officers for garrison service, thus relieving that number of men for the more important places in the front. They also passed resolutions calling upon the loyal people of the North to put down those at home who are opposing the prosecution of the war; if need be they would use force by calling for soldiers from the front. The men at the front feel that this opposition to war at home is helping to prolong the war, by encouraging the rebels.
March 2013
March 11, Wednesday. —I was sitting in the chaplain’s tent Sunday evening, complimenting him on his excellent sermon, which he had just preached in the sutler’s tent to a congregation of men sitting on molasses barrels, and boxes of almost every thing. Every moment, a bearded face was thrust in at the door with, —
“When does the mail come?” or, “When does it go?”
Presently in comes the sergeant-major. “Two items of news.”
Complimentary corporal becomes mute. Chaplain turns. Inquirer at the door, or rather flap, of the tent, listens attentively.
“First, the ‘Nashville’ is taken.” (Intelligence received with due patriotic joy.)
“Second, orders to march have come at last!”
We expect to march: but hours go by, days and nights go by; and now here it is Wednesday noon, and we are still at the old ground, —knapsacks packed, canteens filled, rations ready. Our shelter-tents came yesterday. They are simply pieces of cotton, about five feet square, with buttons and button-holes on the sides, so that they can be connected. We are expected to get the necessary stakes from some fence or forest, wherever we may be. Each soldier carries one of these squares of cotton cloth. Four of us expect to go together. At night we shall button up our house, and be comfortable.
11th. After getting up beef and bread, issued rations for 10 days. Drove round in wagon and distributed the potatoes. Through in good season. In the evening played checkers and finished my letter to Fannie. Received a good letter from her, also one from Frederick.
Washington Wednesday March 11th 1863
When I looked out of the window this morning everything was covered with Snow. But it has all disapeared tonight leaving a due quantity of mud in its place. No important events are chronicled in the papers today. In looking ahead a month ago I thought it impossible that a month could pass away without something of great importance taking place. The Capture of Charleston, Savannah, or Vicksburgh seemed among the probabilities or attempts that way at least. I suppose our forces are doing what they can and will at least make an attempt direct to Capture Savannah or Charleston soon. I think it is intended to Starve them out at Vicksburgh by cutting off their Supplies and surrounding the City with water. Great crowds still frequent the Ave afternoons and “Shoulder Straps” were quite plenty. The army orders in the morning papers is stirring them up. The sweet delicate looking lads, the ma mas pets who have got on “Straps” through and draw their pay through pa pas influence cannot air their nice uniforms much longer in the streets or parlors of Washington. March into “line” Gentlemen, or a disgraceful dismissal from the army. Called at Charleys and at Doct Munsons this evening. Got to my room at 9. Got letter from Home & from W T Tinsley of Lyons, wants Seeds.
Near Helena, Ark., Wednesday, March 11. Sunny and fine weather. Instead of moving came the order to disembark, and by noon the whole of Quinby’s Division was on the sand bar of about two acres in one solid mass. It was with difficulty that we got our battery in position and tarpaulin put up.
Wednesday, 11th—Went after forage. I and Reuben Slaughter went together, did not find the Squadron, piruted around and came back to Camp after night.
MARCH 11TH.—Gen. Fitzhugh Lee has made a dash into Fairfax (near Washington) a day or two ago, and captured the Federal Gen. Slaughter and other officers, in their beds.
Last night one of the government warehouses in this city was burnt. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary traitor; perhaps in retaliation for the recent impressment of flour. Yesterday the lower house of Congress passed a resolution restricting impressments. This has a bad aspect.
The Bureau of Conscription, to-day, under the direction of Col. Lay, decided that all clerks in the departments, appointed subsequent to the eleventh of October last, are liable to be en-rolled for service. Yet the colonel himself has a clerk appointed in January last.
Gold sells at $5 in Confederate States notes for one; U. S. Treasury notes are at a premium here of $2.50. Even the notes of our State banks are at 60 per cent. premium over Confederate notes. This is bad for Mr. Memminger. An abler financier would have worked out a different result.
All the patriotism is in the army; out of it the demon avarice rages supreme. Every one seems mad with speculation; and the extortioners prey upon every victim that falls within their power. Nearly all who sell are extortioners. We have at the same time, and in the same community, spectacles of the most exalted virtue and of the most degrading vice.
Col. Mattel, the former commandant of conscripts for North Carolina, who was wounded at Kinston, and yet was superseded by Col. Lay’s friend, Col. August, is now to be restored, and Col. A. relieved. Upon this Col. L. has fallen sick.
Mr. Duffield, whom Col. Lay and Mr. Jacques had appointed A. A. G. over me, has not yet, for some cause, got his commission. The Secretary or some one else may have “intervened.”
March 10th. At five thirty A. M. got under way; started ahead, steaming up the river. At nine A. M. beat to quarters, passed Donaldsonville; at this place a few companies of General Banks’s army were encamped. As our ship passed on, we were saluted by the soldiers on shore. At six P. M. brought ship to anchor off Manchac.
Tuesday, 10th—We heard again that Port Hudson was taken, and also that Rosecrans had a battle, but can learn nothing definite. A squad from our regiment mounted on mules and horses had an exciting experience while out scouting, about twelve miles from camp. Seeing some chickens in the yard of a farm house, they thought they might as well get a few to take along with them. When some of the boys, dismounting, entered the yard to catch the chickens, they were met by the woman of the house with a bucket of scalding hot water and they had a hard time trying to keep out of her way. Some of the boys got a touch of the hot water, but they caught their chickens.
March 10 — Snowed all day, but melted as fast as it fell.
