War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Saturday, April 16. — Rained all day. The court simply finished O’Brien’s case, and adjourned until Monday, when Porter comes before them. Received a letter from Hannah to-day. Had a final meeting of the Council of Administration. Nothing new. Took bath.

Annapolis, Md., April 15, 1864.

Dear Father, — . . . I see and hear no indications of our moving soon, nor have I any idea where we arc going. I hope that it will be against Richmond, as I want Lee’s army to be destroyed and Richmond taken. We must do both of these things this summer.

Our band serenaded General Burnside the other evening. This afternoon his chief of staff, Colonel Goodrich, came up here with some ladies to hear the band play. They did not stop long, however, on account of the chilliness of the atmosphere. They are coming again to-morrow.

I am not able to drill with the regiment now at all, as I am on court-martial almost all the time, and from present appearances shall continue on it as long as we are here.

We have been having quite pleasant weather lately, giving us a good chance to drill the men and get the camp in good condition. We have had two snow-storms since our arrival, the last one being merely a flurry. The grass around here is beginning to grow green, the trees to bud, and the birds to sing. Everything in fact looks like spring, by far the pleasantest season in the year in the “Sunny South.” The big blue-bottles, the pest of a camp, are beginning to show themselves and buzz round with that disagreeable noise and in that blundering, careless way which makes them so unpleasant.

I am thankful to say that we have got rid of two of our incompetent officers, and are in a fair way of losing another. . . .

We are all sorry to see that the draft has been postponed. I do wish that they would have it in every place that has been at all backward. We need the men very much.

Friday, April 15. — Received a letter from Father. Day pleasant. O’Brien was tried to-day for desertion. As I was a witness, I did not sit on the court. Colonel Goodrich, of General Burnside’s staff, was here to-day. He had some ladies with him and is going to have them here to-morrow to hear our band.

Thursday, April 14. — Court-martial took up the case of Sergeant George Young. Did not finish it. Some of our cases are to come up to-morrow. Day pleasant. Took command of dress-parade this afternoon. The regiment has improved a great deal since coming here. Had a game of whist in the evening with Mr. Lipp and others.

Annapolis, Md., April 13, ’64.

Dear Father, — The court-martial that I am on began its sittings this morning. From the amount of business before it, I imagine that we shall have a busy and long job. Many of the cases are small ones, which ought properly to be tried by a field officers’ court.

General Grant inspected all the regiments here to-day.[1] I was rather disappointed in his looks, as he is anything but an able-looking man. General Burnside and General Washburn were with him. I understand that General Burnside is to remain at Annapolis where his headquarters will be. I am glad of it, as he is much needed here. I see no preparations made for our leaving here and imagine that we shall remain here some time. . . .

The chief trouble that we have from our men now is caused by liquor. They manage to get hold of it some way, and get drunk. We have very little trouble with them, however, in any way.

I have not touched a drop of liquor or wine since leaving Readville, and don’t mean to while I am with the regiment. I don’t think it safe for an officer to do so, especially one who has so many lives in his charge. . . .

[1] General Grant issued his first order as Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States, in March, 1864. His headquarters were with the Army of the Potomac thenceforth, to the end.

Wednesday, April 13. — Court-martial met this morning. Finished one case to-day. General Grant reviewed the whole corps, riding to each camp and inspecting its regiments. Day showery. I was rather disappointed in General Grant’s looks. He reminded me of Captain Wardwell, or of old Mathison. Felt as if I were going to have a fever this evening.

Tuesday, April 12. — Walked around the city to see the sights. Saw the Washington Monument, etc. Spent the morning with Hannah and called with her on Mrs. Burnap. Saw the two Miss Hydes, both of them very pretty girls. Started for Annapolis at 4.45 P.M., and reached there about seven. Nothing new had happened, except that charges were laid against Captain —— by the major.

Monday, April 11. — Court-martial met and adjourned until Wednesday. I got leave to go to Baltimore for twenty-four hours, and started in the 4 o’clock train. Met John Hayden on his way to Washington, and Colonel Coales, Chief Commissary of the Ninth Corps, on his way to Baltimore. Reached Baltimore about 6.30, and took a room at the Eutaw House. Went down and spent the evening with Hannah. Day pleasant. Called on Egbert and had jolly talk with him.

Annapolis, Md., April 10, 1864.

Dear Mother, — . . . The court-martial that I am on meets for the first time to-morrow morning. After calling the roll, they will adjourn until Wednesday, as the Judge Advocate has just got out of a small-pox hospital, and of course has had to burn all his clothes. He is going to Baltimore to buy new clothes, and hence the necessity of an adjournment.

General Burnside dropped down on us for about thirty seconds yesterday. He went off again immediately and started for New York. To-day we have had two visitors, one was John Hayden and the other Mr. Peabody from Boston, brother of Oliver Peabody. . . .

The regiment is in very good condition and the men behave very well indeed. They will soon be ready to go into a fight, or rather be fitted for it, for I don’t think that there is much of that foolish “longing for a fight” extant nowadays.

I am perfectly well, etc. I had a slight cold the other day, which alarmed me a little, but falsely, I am glad to say.

I see very little of Annapolis, as I don’t leave camp much, and as I don’t care about going there. It is a very old-fashioned town, decidedly Secesh in its proclivities, and full of stragglers and drunkards, —not altogether a desirable place to visit. One can see officers drinking with their men, etc., there, which is enough to disgust me with the place. There are some very fine old-fashioned houses there, which seem the very picture of comfort. I wish I could transport one of them to Jamaica Plain, to live in it after the war is over. . . .