Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

March 19, 1863.—The 83d gives a grand party on the Ewing tonight in honor of Colonel Harding. We shall go.

Letter from Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Donelson, March 17, 1863.—The dangers that surround us have made us appreciate every hour together. Our train went over to Fort Henry day before yesterday, and on coming back yesterday they saw a number of rebels, who probably meant to attack the train but saw it so strongly guarded that they let it alone.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

March 17, 1863.—We all went out to see the dress parade. The ground has been so muddy and broken that they have not had a parade lately. The Thirteenth Regiment surpasses them all.

In the night the telegraph operator came to say that Colonel Harding was promoted to Brigadier-General. Most of his regiment, the 83d, came down here to congratulate him. They serenaded him, sang all kinds of war songs, and tried to get into his room, but all in vain. A boat came by with a band on it that played beautifully.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

March 16, 1863.—The boys found a dead rebel in our quarters, buried about six inches below the surface.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

March 15, 1863.—We went to church and heard Mr. McKenney, Chaplain of the 71st Ohio, the first preaching I have listened to in three months. After dinner we walked to the burying ground, where the heaviest of the last battle was fought. There were a number of bodies picked up right here. Two battles were fought over this ground. It had once been decorated beautifully. There are a number of slabs that are box-shaped, handsome monuments, nearly all broken by cannon balls and shells. It makes a desolate place of it. After the last battle they dug pits and put from twenty to forty bodies in each grave, without even a box to shelter them. There are a great many interesting places around here, made so by events that will enter history.

Colonel Lyon’s Letters.

Fort Donelson, Tenn., March 12, 1863.—We are well and have gotten quite comfortably settled after our move. The weather is very pleasant now, mud rapidly drying up.

I don’t know that I ever told you that our officers elected Dr. Smith, of Buffalo, Chaplain of this regiment some time ago. Just received a letter accepting the appointment, but he will not join us probably for some weeks.

Business is very active on the Cumberland, as all the supplies for General Rosecrans’ army go up this river. A fleet of twenty or more transports, convoyed by gunboats, left here this morning for Nashville.

You have doubtless heard ere this that the 22d Regiment, Colonel Utley, is captured. We have no particulars yet. They doubtless fought gallantly. I do not think either the regiment or its officers are to blame. The period of our stay here is very uncertain.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

Fort Donelson, March 10, 1863.—Raining all day. Captain Woodman and the Rugers took dinner with us. The Armeda came with the rest of the ladies. They came around by Paducah. Only two ladies out of 24 went home.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

Fort Donelson, March 9, 1863.—We don’t do much but cook. There is a large family of us. It is lucky that we have a large room.

Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.

Fort Donelson, March 8, 1863.—The rest of the women came over today. Mrs. Twist and Mrs. Norton stayed with the other privates’ wives—the husbands stayed as guards. The roads are awful. They had no arrangements made, so they made a field bed for the four women and children. Raining all the time since we came.