Nashville, Thursday, Dec. 29. Last night was bitter cold. Most of us suffered severely, being but poorly fixed, but the sun came out a little this morning, warming us a little. To-day has presented another of those [scenes] that can nowhere be found outside the soldiers’ camp, when everybody is busy acting as his own carpenter, mason, cabinet maker. All have to meet their own wants and busily have we all worked. We have got our bunks up, one above the other. I went to town this afternoon after an additional length of pipe to reach through the tent. Everybody is in good spirits over the good news. Rumors prevalent that we are soon to start for Sherman.
December 2014
29th. Field officer of the day. Moved over upon the Romney pike. Visited the picket line.
Thursday, 29th—The weather continues pleasant but cool. The glorious old Seventeenth Army Corps was reviewed at 9 a. m. by Major-General Sherman. The corps performed nicely and looked fine considering the campaign through which they have gone, and also considering the fact that they have not yet drawn new clothing. We formed our lines in the streets down in the city and the general rode along the lines to inspect them. We then marched along Front Street, where the general was stationed to review us. General Foster was also present as we passed in review. We got back into camp at 2 o’clock, having had a fine day for the review. Things are very quiet and there is no news of any importance. Small boats come up the river every day to bring rations and other army stores.
December 28th.—Rained all night; warm.
A large stable burned down within sixty yards of our dwelling, last night, and not one of the family heard the uproar attending it.
Gen. Bragg telegraphs the President that the enemy failed to reduce Fort Fisher, and that the troops landed above the fort have re-embarked. But he says the enemy’s designs are not yet developed; and he is such an unlucky general.
We found a caricature in the old black chest, of 1844, in which I am engaged in fight with the elder Blair. Calhoun, Buchanan, etc. are in the picture.
It is still believed that Gen. Lee is to be generalissimo, and most people rejoice at it. It is said the President and Gen. Jos. E. Johnston have become friends again.
Library of Congress image.
Wednesday, 28. — Thawing and muddy. General Crook and staff go by railroad to Cumberland. We hope to follow soon. Rain this eve. Attack on Fort Fisher by Porter, etc.; no results as yet. We hope Wilmington will be closed — but?
28th.—A bright spot in our military horizon. The enemy’s fleet of more than thirty gun-boats made a furious attack on Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, N. C., on the 24th, (last Saturday;) they kept up an average fire of thirty shots per minute until night. On the 25th the attack was renewed, and on the 27th, after being three times repulsed, the enemy abandoned his position above Fort Fisher, and re-embarked. The damage done to us was very slight—only two guns disabled, and but few other casualties. Thus failed utterly this great expedition of land and sea forces, from which the Federal authorities and the whole North confidently expected such grand results. And so may it ever be; the Lord help us, and deliver us in every such hour of need.
Yesterday we had a pleasant little dinner-party at Dr. G’s—so rare a thing now, that I must note it in my diary. Many nice things on the table were sent by country friends. What would we do without our country friends? Their hearts seem warm and generous to those who are not so well off as themselves. They set a good example, which .I trust will not be lost on us. Our relatives and friends, though they have been preyed upon by the enemy almost to exhaustion, never seem to forget us. Sausage from one, a piece of beef from another, a bushel of dried fruit, a turkey, etc., come ever and anon to our assistance. One can scarcely restrain tears of affection when it is remembered that these things are evidences of self-denial, and not given from their abundance, as at the beginning of the war. The soldiers are not forgotten by these country friends— those who remember the refugees are never forgetful of the soldiers. Take our people as a whole, they are full of generosity and patriotism. The speculators and money-makers of these trying times are a peculiar class, of which I neither like to speak, think, nor write; they are objects of my implacable disgust. They do not belong to our noble Southern patriots. They are with us, but not of us! I should think that a man who had made a fortune during the war would, when the war is over, wish to hide it, and not own his ill-gotten gains. I trust there are not many such. The year 1864 has almost passed away. Oh, what a fearful account it has rendered to Heaven! What calamities and sorrows crowd into its history, in this afflicted country of ours! God help us, and guide us onward and upward, for the Saviour’s sake!
Nashville, Wednesday, Dec. 28. Struck tents 8 A. M. and moved on the Harding Pike nearer town. I was left behind to load the teams as they returned after camp equipage, boards, etc. Guarded the new camp by 3 P. M. Was agreeably surprised to find them busy at work building quarters, raising their tents. Shakes three feet long furnished to be nailed up and down. I fell in too, and by night we had the tent stretched on a neat wall three feet high. Was quite tired. Our horses are stabled about a quarter of a mile off in government stables, making it very inconvenient for drivers. Griff over with them on guard all day. Ordered to be ready for grand inspection by Major Welker.
28th. Moved camp upon a hill near by. Awfully muddy. Made a large fire.
Wednesday, 28th.—Passed through Tuscumbia. The next few days we were marching on, passing through Cherokee station, Barton’s station, Price and Vandorn’s fortifications, Iuka battleground, and on to Burnsville, Miss. Very cold; and so ended 1864.
Alas, how many since thou begun,
Have finished all, their races run;
Their bodies lie beneath the sod,
Their spirits gone to meet their God;
Many doomed to eternal woe,
To mourn their loss in flames below;
But many, Oh, how blest they.be,
Will sing praise through eternity.
O God of heaven, our truest Friend,
Make us to Thee in suppliance bend,
That we in heaven, in joyful lays,
May sing our Great Redeemer’s praise.
Wednesday, 28th—It was cloudy with some rain, though it cleared off in the afternoon and turned quite cool. Things are very quiet in camp, and our duty is light; we do not have even picket duty, as the cavalry are doing that on the outskirts. Nearly all the citizens inside of our lines have taken the oath, swearing that they will not aid the Southern Confederacy. All of them express the view that the war will come to a close soon. We hope their view will prove true.
