Easter Sunday, April 5.—A very beautiful day. I went to the Episcopal Church in the morning; Mr. Denniston preached an excellent sermon on the text, “The Lord has arisen indeed.”
Spent the rest of the day, as usual, visiting the patients.
April 2013
5th. Orders for our Battalion to move today to Cincinnati. Received orders to go along a little while before starting. Went up with the Battalion. Drew my pay. Went and called on Sister Melissa in P. M. and evening. Sent $125 home. Wrote to Fannie and home. Left on the cars at eight. Rather tiresome ride. All glad to go into the field but sad at leaving again.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
Fort Donelson, April 5, 1863.—The scare is over. Van Dorn has proven to be Woodward. We are still quiet and safe and do not expect an attack from him.
On the Yazoo, Sunday, April 5. Although late, arose very sleepy to feed my team. 7 A. M. we started up stream with the rest of the fleet in their proper places. The day was beautiful and we travelled very fast, guns all ready for action. I enjoyed the scenery much, the air so soft and balmy, all nature seemed to be at rest. The darkies on shore in their Sunday suits met us with waving of rags and hats under their arms, and once in a while a timid woman also, more from policy than principle I suppose. 1 A. M. another shot was given us near the same place as before, which was promptly returned by half the regiment. Most shot at random to show their good-will. No one hurt on board. The ball passed near the pilot house. 5 P. M. tied up to take on fuel from the fence. Went ashore to cook.
April 5. — This morning the snow was between two and three inches deep. We were to have a brigade guard-mounting to-day, but owing to the storm it was put off until to-morrow. About ten o’clock the sun came out, and before night the snow had almost entirely disappeared. I went over to the Sixth Corps with Dalton about one o’clock. I saw Dr. Dalton there. Went from there with Whittier to Brigadier General Devens. General Benham called Lieutenant Roosa up to-day in regard to disturbance while the general was in Washington. Also a sutler named Jerry. There was to have been a grand review of all the cavalry to-day, but it was postponed on account of the weather. Major Cassin was here to-day. A detail of 500 men was ordered this evening.
Sunday, 5th—We had company inspection at 10 o’clock this morning and regimental inspection at 5 p. m. I did not go out on inspection, having to prepare an elaborate dinner (some of that codfish), and after dinner I had a good many dishes to wash —tin plates, cups and knives and forks. I read the following chapters today: Isaiah, ninth chapter, second to the eighth verse; Psalms, twenty-second chapter.
5th April (Sunday).—Mr Zorn, or Don Pablo as he is called here, Her Majesty’s acting Vice-Consul, is a quaint and most good-natured little man—a Prussian by birth. He is overwhelmed by the sudden importance he has acquired from his office, and by the amount of work (for which he gets no pay) entailed by it,—the office of British Consul having been a comparative sinecure before the war.
Mr Behnsen is head of the firm. The principal place of business is at San Luis Potosi, a considerable city in the interior of Mexico. All these foreign merchants complain bitterly of the persecutions and extortion they have to endure from the Government, which are, doubtless, most annoying; but nevertheless they appear to fatten on the Mexican soil.
I crossed to Brownsville to see General Bee, but he had not returned from Boca del Rio.
I dined with Mr Oetling. We were about fourteen at dinner, principally Germans, a very merry party. Mr Oetling is supposed to have made a million of dollars for his firm, by bold cotton speculations, since the war.
“We all went to the theatre afterwards. The piece was an attack upon the French and upon Southern institutions.
Boat Howitzer Battery, Md. Heights,
April 5, 1863.
Dear Friends:
I received three letters and a box. The major has got up a new signal code for the benefit of the officers; each one knowing them, they talk with the other batteries. I see by the paper that McClellan has made his report of his campaign, it will be out next week. The voice of the army is still for him, and no wonder, in his report he gives all the praise to the men. He says that “to the calm judgement of history he leaves the task of pronouncing on the mouvement, confident that its verdict will be, that no such difficult one was ever more successfully executed. That no army ever fought more heroically, repeatedly, and successfully against such odds, that no men of any race, ever displayed greater discipline, endurance, patience and cheerfulness under such hardships.” No wonder that the soldier’s heart clings to him, for the reason that he is right, but has been shamefully abused. Gen’l. Morris, formerly Col. of the N. Y. 6. Heavy Artillery, has command of us now, or rather we are in his brigade. All of his staff officers are from his regiment and he does not look with much respect on this battalion. Major R. will not stand much from him; they have only been in the service since last Oct. They have the idea that they can whip the world. It really seems as if we were never going to move.
I hope they will put the conscription act in force soon. I have no doubt some men north would as leave let the south have all they want rather than come out here. What kind of men do you call them? They think a great deal of their Country! If you have an opportunity, get the Adjutant general of Massachusetts report for 1862, it is a good thing. News from Fort Albany is big, I forgot to write it before. Major W. is a 2nd Lieut in the N. Y. 2nd H. A. Lt. D. is being court martialled for drunkenness. Capt’s C. and A. have resigned and also Lt. S. Col. W. has preferred charges against Col. C. Grand chance for promotion, which there always has been in this regt, but there is no chance for poor W. From
Lev.
Sunday, 5th—I came by Dan’s and got my clothing, overtook the command at town. Came up to Fairfield, crossed Bell Buckle Creek, went three or four miles and camped.
April 5—Everything is quiet on our line to-day.
