War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Camp Holmes, Annapolis, April 1, 1864.

Dear Hannah, — . . . I am glad to find that you are so pleasantly situated in Baltimore, and hope you will enjoy your visit very much. As to my coming on to see you, I am afraid that I shall not have any chance to do so. I have not been out of camp but once since arriving here, and now I am on court-martial, which will take up all my time from nine A.M. until three P.M. every day. I am very sorry that I cannot accept the invitation for the ball this evening, but as I have said, my duties prevent.

The regiment is getting into very good shape indeed. The men begin to appear and act like soldiers. We have very little trouble with them, and the number in the guard-house is diminishing. For the worst cases, we have provided a scaffold some twenty feet from the ground, erected on poles. Here the hard cases are placed, with the ladder withdrawn at night.

The troops around here are very poorly drilled and disciplined. Many of them are old regiments just returned from furloughs, which I most sincerely hope accounts for their want of drill and discipline. They are many of them Pennsylvania troops, however, which accounts for their deficiencies or failings. . . .

I am most happy to inform you that the regiment has improved greatly in battalion drills, etc. It will be a fine regiment soon. . . .

Friday, April 1. — Pleasant in the morning, but raining in afternoon. Gave Casey a pass to go to Annapolis on condition that he would touch no liquor. Received an order detailing me for court-martial to meet to-day, but as I did not receive it until late in the afternoon I did not report. Rode out of camp for first time since I have been here. Went about three miles on the road to Annapolis Junction. Bath.

Thursday, March 31. — Pleasant weather. The Council of Administration, composed of Captains Putnam and Thayer and myself, met at 11 A.M. We set a tariff for the sutlers, and then adjourned until to-morrow. Had battalion drill at 3 P.M. Men did quite well. All the company cook-houses are finished except one. Quartermaster’s building all completed except roofing.

Wednesday, March 30. — Woke up this morning and found that we had a confounded rain-storm. It is too provoking to have them now when we need all the pleasant weather possible, to drill our men. In this rainy weather there is nothing to do, except sit in one’s tent and read. The men have nothing to do, and consequently are liable to get into mischief. They are twice as happy when they are hard at work. Received no letters to-day.

Camp Holmes, Annapolis, March 29, 1864.

Dear Father, — . . . We are gradually getting our camp into very decent shape. The men all have A tents and the officers wall tents. Most of the companies have bought lumber to build cook-houses with, and these are now almost completed.

Annapolis is probably one of the worst cities in the Union at the present time. All the camp-followers attendant on our army, together with a large body of New York and Baltimore roughs, infest the place. These, together with paroled prisoners, make the place dangerous for any civilized beings. Within a fortnight four soldiers have been found between here and Annapolis with their throats cut. The last one found was a man named McAinsh of this regiment, a very good man indeed, but one who was fond of going on a “bender ” occasionally. He left camp without leave, went to Annapolis, got drunk probably, so that these rascals saw his money, and on his way out here had his throat cut, and his money taken. He was found dead in the woods close by here.

We have a new and novel way of holding the bad cases amongst the prisoners. There is a high platform built about twenty feet from the ground, and on this are kept some eight or ten very hard cases.

I hear that fifty-six infantry regiments are going with Burnside. My opinion is that we go to North Carolina, although I have no official or private information to make me say so. I do not see how we can get off before the 1st of May, and possibly later, even. New regiments are coming in daily, and amongst others several negro ones.

It turns out that the man who had his throat cut was not one of our men. . . .

Tuesday, March 29. — The report about McAinsh is not true. It turns out that he is in town pretending to belong to the provost guard. Had a good battalion drill this afternoon. Very windy during the day, with rain during the night. Work commenced on the quartermaster’s building.

Monday, March 28. — Weather pleasant. McCartney of A Company was sent in to-day for attempting to desert. He had bought citizen’s clothing and was about to leave when he was apprehended. Lieutenant Galucia brought in Shean and Murray of E Company, both of whom were placed in the guard-house. The colonel had an officer’s drill to-day and afterwards a battalion drill. Major Chamberlain was here in the afternoon, and saw our dress-parade. It is reported that private McAinsh was found with his throat cut in the woods near camp.

Sunday, March 27. — It cleared off last night, and to-clay we enjoyed the most delightful weather. It is just a week to-day since we left Readville. Lieutenant Galucia went out to-day with the patrol, but did not catch any one. Wrote Sergeant Ford in regard to deserters. Had dress-parade for the first time since leaving Readville. During the night six men deserted, five from H Company and one from C Company.

Saturday, March 26. —The storm continued with great violence. Patrol brought in seven men. Men had to remain in their tents.