Friday, 18th—It is quite cool today with a rather sharp wind blowing, which with our crowded condition makes it very uncomfortable. The Thirty-second Illinois received their pay on board today, and no doubt the gamblers will get their hands in before we land.
March 2014
March 18, Friday. Seward read to-day a letter on the subject of emigration with a proposed bill for a law on the subject. Did not strike me favorably, though no one else took exceptions. I remarked quietly to Seward that I thought we should be careful about meddling with the subject on many accounts; we might retard instead of promoting emigration, and if the Government attempted to interfere and take upon itself the burthen, it would cause the whole private effort to cease. Millions are now contributed to aid friends to emigrate, but this would wholly stop if the Government came in to assist. He thought there might be some danger if we were not careful, but something must be done to pacify the feeling. Usher wanted something done. Chase read over the letter and law and appeared to acquiesce. The thing does not impress me favorably. As a general thing I am averse to government bounties.
March 18.—Colonel Stokes’s Fifth Tennessee cavalry again overtook Champ Ferguson and his guerrillas on a little stream called Calfkiller River, near where it empties into Caney Fork, Tenn., and there killed eight of them.
—The behavior of the rebel brigade under General Pettigrew, at the battle of Gettysburgh, was vindicated in this day’s Richmond Enquirer.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 18TH.—Bright and warmer, but windy.
Letters received at the department to-day, from Georgia, show than only one-eighth of the capacity of the railroads have been used for the subsistence of the army. The rogues among the multitude of quartermasters have made fortunes themselves, and almost ruined the country. It appears that there is abundance of grain and meat in the country, if it were only equally distributed among the consumers. It is to be hoped the rogues will now be excluded from the railroads.
The belief prevails that Gen. Lee’s army is in motion. It may be a feint, to prevent reinforcements from being sent to Grant.
My daughter’s cat is staggering to-day, for want of animal food. Sometimes I fancy I stagger myself. We do not average two ounces of meat daily; and some do not get any for several days together. Meal is $50 per bushel. I saw adamantine candles sell at auction to-day (box) at $10 per pound; tallow, $6.50. Bacon brought $7.75 per pound by the 100 pounds.
My good friend Dr. Powell and his family were absent from the farm near the city during the late raid. The enemy carried off several of his finest horses and mules, and consumed much of his supplies of food, etc., but utterly failed to induce any of his negroes to leave the place—and he has many. One of the female servants, when the enemy approached, ran into the house and secured all the silver, concealing it in her own house, and keeping it safely for her mistress.
March 18th. Nothing important has taken place during the past few days. Weather very good, but very cold nights along the Potomac. Out among the farmers buying straw for our tents. Ground too cold to sleep on. Try to keep comfortable, large campfires kept burning nights and days. When too cold to sleep sit around the fire.
Huntsville, Thursday, March 17. Day very fine. Cold night. Heavy frost in the morning. Policed camp in the morning. Inspected in the afternoon by Captains Lee and Dillon. T. J. Hungerford none better. His brother detailed to nurse him and I to take care of Milton’s team. Michael Murphy died in post hospital last night at 3 A. M. No mail or papers. Reported capture of the train near Tullahoma with all on board, burning the cars and tearing up the track. Much anxiety is felt, as Generals Grant and MePherson were expected on it. If they should be captured it certainly would be a calamity.
17th. Stormy day. Played a little chess and read some. In the P. M. went to Thursday lecture. A stranger, an old graduate, occupied the pulpit—from a tent on Tappan Square. Columbian’s concert in the evening. Remained at home with Ma and baby Carrie.
17th. Stormy day. Played a little chess and read some. In the P. M. went to Thursday lecture. A stranger, an old graduate, occupied the pulpit—from a tent on Tappan Square. Columbian’s concert in the evening. Remained at home with Ma and baby Carrie.
Friday, 17th.—Congress passed an act requiring all persons not re-enlisted by the 20th to be held during the war under their present organizations, without having the benefit of furlough system. As I am in anyway, don’t expect to get out until killed or go out on my own hook. I will try my luck at drawing for furlough. Re-enlisted for the war. G. P. Harris drew the furlough; I drew 20 and he drew 21.
March 17—An order was read out at dress parade that all troops in the army would be held until the end of the war. This was nothing of importance to us, as we enlisted for that time. It is raining and snowing very hard, and almost every day. Our regiment is not in winter quarters, for we expect to move when the bad weather stops. We had a snowball fight—our regiment with the 43d North Carolina. Then our brigade with Battle’s Brigade. It was lots of fun. Nothing more until the 26th.
