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

October 2014

Post image for A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

October 26, 2014

A Soldier's Diary, The Story of a Volunteer, David Lane, (17th Mich. Vol. Infantry)

October 26th, 12 o’clock m. Active preparations still continue. All detailed men are ordered to their regiments. Cooks, clerks and grooms, and even commissary sergeants, are ordered to carry guns, or have them on hand in case of emergency. “We will not move until night, if then. All Michigan men who are sick in hospitals are to have furloughs. I have made out several today.

4 o’clock p. m. The General is striking tent; will probably be off in the night. We are ready to march at “tap of drum.” All surplus stores, everything that might in any way impede our march, has been sent to City Point. Of the men, those who are so fortunate as to be sick, be it ever so little, are on their way to Michigan. I have been at Headquarters nearly all day making out furloughs. It is an agreeable task, even when I am not personally interested. Many of the poor fellows have not been home since they enlisted, and would not now, had not furloughs been given by wholesale.

7 o’clock p. m. We have just been notified we march at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning.

Post image for Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters

Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters

October 26, 2014

Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy's Letters (1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.)

Oct. 26th. At two P.M. moved to the “yellow house.”

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

October 26, 2014

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

October 26th.—Clear and frosty. Quiet below.

Gen. W. M. Gardner (in Gen. Winder’s place here) has just got from Judge Campbell passports for his cousin, Mary E. Gardner, and for his brother-in-law, F. M. White, to go to Memphis, Tenn., where they mean to reside.

Mr. Benjamin publishes a copy of a dispatch to Mr. Mason, in London, for publication there, showing that if the United States continue the war, she will be unable to pay her debts abroad, and therefore foreigners ought not to lend her any more money, or they may be ruined. This from a Secretary of State! It may be an electioneering card in the United States, and it may reconcile some of our members of Congress to the incumbency of Mr. B. in a sinecure position.

A friend of Mr. Seddon, near Vicksburg, writes for permission to sell thirty bales of cotton—$20,000 worth—to the enemy. He says Mr. Seddon’s estate, on the Sunflower, has not been destroyed by the enemy. That’s fortunate, for other places have been utterly ruined.

Investigations going on in the courts show that during Gen. Winder’s “Reign of Terror,” passports sold for $2000. Some outside party negotiated the business and procured the passport.

Gen. Early has issued an address to his army, reproaching it for having victory wrested out of its hands by a criminal indulgence in the plunder found in the camps captured from the enemy. He hopes they will retrieve everything in the next battle.

Governor Smith’s exemptions of magistrates, deputy sheriffs, clerks, and constables, to-day, 56.

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

October 25, 2014

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 25. On guard to-day. Drew half rations of everything except hard-tack. Had no corn for horses. Took out sacks as we went grazing. Husked some in a field where a woman swore in a terrible manner, made a desperate onslaught on us with words, but I got some corn. Forage train returned into camp 4 P. M. Charley brought in two ducks, and a lot of sweet potatoes.

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

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

October 25, 2014

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

Tuesday, 25th—Still lying in camp. The supply train of the Fifteenth Army Corps returned with rations late this evening, but the supply train of the Seventeenth Corps has not yet come in. It is reported that the army of the Tennessee is going on a march of four hundred miles. The route is supposed to be down through the States of Alabama and Mississippi and then up through to Memphis, Tennessee.[1] We are to take rations for thirty days and clothing for sixty days. The armies of the Ohio and of the Cumberland, it is said, are to garrison Atlanta[2] and also to hold the railroad between Atlanta and Nashville. The Twenty-third Army Corps moved out today to Cedar Bluffs.

[1] This was the first hint at “marching through Georgia,” but the camp rumor had it Alabama and Mississippi.—Ed.

[2] We learned later that it was Chattanooga instead of Atlanta, and that the two armies were to be united under the command of General Thomas.—A. G. D.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

October 25, 2014

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp Near Strasburg, Virginia, October 25, 1864.

My Darling: —. . . . We expect to remain here some time yet. I suspect that apprehension is felt at Washington that the Rebels will try to get up a raid into Maryland or Pennsylvania to create a panic about the time of the Presidential election, and that we are kept here to prevent it. I can’t think that after the complete defeat of Early’s Army on the 19th, any serious attempt will be made to drive us back. I regard the fighting on this line as at an end for this year. I suspect that about the 10th [of] November we shall move north, and I hope go into winter quarters soon afterwards.

We are having fine weather. Camped on a wooded ridge, we are very comfortable. This life is a good deal like that of the fall of 1861 when General Rosecrans’ Army was camped around Tompkins’ Farm. The men were then very sickly. Now there is no sickness. We now talk of our killed and wounded. There is however a very happy feeling. Those who escape regret of course the loss of comrades and friends, but their own escape and safety to some extent modifies their feelings.

Laura has a daughter! I must write her a congratulatory note. But how much I prefer a boy. Well stocked as our house is with boys, I almost rejoice that our last is not a girl.

My regards and love to all the good friends who are so kind to you. Kiss all the boys.

Affectionately ever, your

R

P. S. — Had a good letter from Force. He is returning to the Georgia front.

Mrs. Hayes.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

October 25, 2014

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

25th. Tuesday. Teams came up. Seems good. Hurrying up Q. M. papers. Letter from Ella Clark.

Post image for War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

October 25, 2014

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Tuesday, October 25. — Caught cold to-day and was unwell this evening. Had fuller accounts from the Valley. The double-header was on exhibition again to-day.

Post image for “There was some miserable artillery firing by both sides.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“There was some miserable artillery firing by both sides.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

October 25, 2014

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

Nine miles northwest of Gadsden, Ala.,

October 25, 1864.

Found the Rebels about noon to-day in position behind a rail work, running across from Lookout Mountain to Coosa river. It was only Wheeler’s cavalry, and we blew them out easily. We formed to charge them, but they wouldn’t wait. We followed until we were satisfied there was no infantry behind them, and then settled for the night, and sent out foragers. There was some miserable artillery firing by both sides. Not a dozen men were hurt; only one in our brigade, 100th Indiana.

Post image for A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

October 25, 2014

A Soldier's Diary, The Story of a Volunteer, David Lane, (17th Mich. Vol. Infantry)

Peebles House, October 25th, 1864.

We will probably, leave here tomorrow morning. Where we go no one knows, but all feel that something startling is about to happen. Appearances indicate a long and rapid march. All baggage not absolutely needed is to be sent to City Point. Instead of wagons, pack horses are to be used. We are to carry three days’ cooked rations in our haversacks, and five days’ uncooked in our knapsacks. A pontoon bridge is to accompany us.

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