January 28th. This morning the Pennsylvania boys are packing up to leave, they having received marching orders. Ordered to New Creek, West Virginia. Our boys lined up, bid them good bye, good luck, with hearty cheers. These regiments, the 3d and 4th were known as the reserves and the Buck Tails, they having seen hard service. We found them a good lot of boys, and visited back and forth very much while they were in camp near us.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Thursday, 28th—Some of the troops that are going out on an expedition to Meridian, started on their way this morning. It is rumored that the Seventeenth and Sixteenth Army Corps are to make a raid across the State of Mississippi for the purpose of destroying the railroad running from Vicksburg to Meridian, and that General Sherman is to be in command of the expedition.
28th. Took Burs, Thomas, Wood and Bosworth to Gait House for breakfast. Wrote a line to John’s parents. Crossed the river at 2:30 P. M. Charge of I Co. too, stopped at Seymour till 9 P. M. Changed cars. Rode in passenger car during night. Some sleep.
27th. Concluded to bury Extell’s remains in city. Went to Gait House for breakfast. Bought a pair of boots. Evening saw Corsican Brothers, went with company.
Huntsville, Thursday, Jan. 28. Up bright and early as usual. Breakfast, swept, brushed, washed, combed, etc. ready for the routine of duty, when I was notified that I was on detail to go with the forage train, which was then waiting.. Fell in with a long train under quartermaster of 18th Wisconsin. Went on the turnpike to the west, travelled about eight miles through a somewhat winding road, but beautiful country. It was rolling enough to make it varied, with good timber where not cultivated. Old fields containing 50 to 600 acres lying idle, apparently for three years or more, which was running wild into prairie. The general appearance of the country was much like extensive farming regions. North of them were wealthy Southern plantations, much more attention being paid to grain raising than to cotton. Numerous stacks of wheat were stacked unthreshed, and broad fields of corn unhusked, the land under a medium state of cultivation. I could but think with Northern enterprise and intelligence, with free and willing hands to do the work, what lovely and fruitful farms could be built in such a delightful climate. Obtained plenty of corn on a large plantation which all the whites had left, leaving a large flock of negro women and children unprovided for, and seemed delighted to see us until some of the boys took unallowed privileges of the chicken coop, which they earnestly protested against. Returned to camp at sundown well pleased with my ride of sixteen miles and my observations therein, having also escaped the drill, etc. Camp had again been swept up, ammunition packed in gun limbers. Lieutenant Clark gone to Nashville after horses. Lieutenant Jenawein in command of Battery and appeared to-day with shoulder straps on for the first time. Looks fine and soldier-like.
Diary And Memoranda, 1864
Jan. 28th. Have been preparing all day for inspection which comes off tomorrow. Played four games of chess for the first time.
January 28th, 1864.
The all-absorbing topic with the Ninth Corps continues to be the probability of our speedy departure. No one doubts our going, but where and when? Is it strange that we would leave this place, and that right speedily? It is the possibility, should we go north, of seeing our loved ones once more, if only for a brief period. Rumor says, and Dr. Bonine, Division Surgeon, corroborates it, the different regiments are going to their respective states to recruit. Who can blame us for cherishing the fond delusion, for such it will, doubtless, prove.
Mr. Collier has just arrived from camp. He makes his presence doubly welcome by bringing me a letter from my dear wife bearing date December 30th. How precious to me are these favors, permitted by kind heaven, to keep me from despair. I do not become accustomed to the separation. I long more and more for the society of my wife and children.
Governor Blair and Dr. Tunnicliffe are entitled to the gratitude of soldiers and their friends for their persevering efforts in our behalf. Some Northern papers speak disparagingly of the high bounties offered by Government. What, then, is to be done? We must have men, and “it is beneath the dignity of freemen to submit to conscription.” So says Governor Seymour. Perhaps it may be cheaper to buy volunteers, even at one thousand dollars a head, than to enforce the Conscription Act. Our currency is a marvel to the world. It will bear the strain; and then, soldiers will vote next fall.
January 28.—The National forces under the command of Colonel Phillips drove the rebel General Roddy to the south side of the Tennessee River and captured all his trains, consisting of over twenty mule teams, two hundred head of cattle, six hundred head of sheep, and about one hundred head of horses and mules, and destroyed a factory and mill which had largely supplied the Southern armies.—General Dodge’s Report.
—This morning, two forage-wagons and some men of the Eighty-first Ohio, near Sam’s Mills, a distance of about nine miles from Pulaski, Tenn., were captured by a party of rebels. The wagons were going for forage with a small guard, and when they reached a brick church on the Shelbyville pike, two or three miles from the mills, they were attacked by thirty confederate cavalry, and captured. The two wagons were burned, the mules, arms, and equipments and the men were hurried off. A mounted force from Major Evans’s command was sent in pursuit, but without overtaking them. Private Mills, of company G, was wounded and left by the rebels. Five men of company G and three of company K were captured.
—The British steamer Rosetta, from Havana for Mobile, was captured at a point west of the Tortugas, by the steamer Metropolis.—Scottsville, Ky., was entered and plundered by a body of rebels under the command of Colonel Hamilton. —Brig.-Gen. J. C. Sullivan, from his headquarters at Harper’s Ferry, Va., issued the following general orders: “It appearing that the leaders of the rebellion against the Government of the United States have passed laws conscripting all males between certain ages, and have appointed agents to enforce such conscript laws; and such agents having made their appearance in the counties of Berkeley, Jefferson, Clarke, and Loudon, counties not occupied by or under the control of insurgent troops; and believing that a large portion of the citizens of these counties are anxious to remain at home, and to preserve their faith and allegiance to the Federal Government, and to receive the protection which is due them; and knowing that the poorer class of citizens of these counties have been hostile to the usurpation of the rebel authorities, and have been compelled by them to shoulder the musket, while the rich man’s sons have worn the sword, notice is hereby given to the inhabitants of said counties: That, upon representation being made to these headquarters by any person of the conscripting and forcing into the rebel ranks of father, husband, brothers, or sons, the nearest and most prominent secessionist will be arrested and imprisoned and held until the return of such conscript.”
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 28TH.—The beautiful, pleasant weather continues.
It is said Congress passed, last night, in secret session, the bill allowing increased compensation to civil officers and employees.
Mr. Davidson, of fifty years of age, resigned, to-day, his clerkship in the War Department, having been offered $5000 by one of the incorporated companies to travel and buy supplies for it.
Mr. Hubbard, of Alabama, suggests to the Secretary to buy 500,000 slaves, and give one to every soldier enlisting from beyond our present lines, at the end of the war. He thinks many from the border free States would enlist on our side. The Secretary does not favor the project.
Gen. Whiting writes for an order for two locomotive boilers, at Montgomery, Ala., for his torpedo-boats, now nearly completed. He says he intends to attack the blockading squadron off Wilmington.
The weather is still warm and beautiful. The buds are swelling.
