Saturday, 30th. In the morning was on picket in the town. Roasted corn for breakfast. Ate and slept on a porch to a jayhawked store. Slept soundly. Went to the tannery and had a good wash. Got some peaches. Went out about noon and joined the main command, two miles out. Went out a mile where Capt. Welch was staying with a picket guard. Got plenty of melons to eat from a Mrs. Dade, whose husband was in the secesh army, a surgeon. Scouting parties went out ten and twelve miles each way, north and east. Went out and met our command. Slept in a house on floor. Strange.
War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.
Friday, 29th. Morning passed as usual in reading the late papers and loafing. Washed dishes. No encouraging news. Several commissions came over—some very just and deserved ones. In the afternoon came a detail of all well mounted men to go on an expedition into Mo. Archie and I went. 50 men in all under Capt. Welch. 9th Wisconsin, Allen’s Battery, and part of the 9th Kansas along under Gen. Salomon. We went as advance. Rode all night. Slept a good deal in saddle. Was very sleepy. Reached Montebello just before sunrise. Went in on all roads, dashing down at full gallop, but never an enemy. Expected to find 1200 there.
Thursday, 28th. In the morning came the detail for the 2nd Kansas Battery. Heretofore officers had said that such a detail should not be made. But the order came to the Colonel for 150 men and the Colonel gave orders to Batt. commanders for the detail and they to their companies. The detail was made but not a man would go. Three or four companies marched to guard house. Finally after several Orderly calls and speeches by Majors to Battalions, the detail submitted. The wrangle about the to-be colonel of the regiment continues. Papers went on signed by ten in favor of Doubleday and nine against. Miner, Burnett and Ratliff rascals— selfish. Major P. sent in his resignation.
Wednesday, 27th. In the morning did very little. Read some. In the afternoon Delos and I went down to see Charlie. He was about going to water his horses. Stayed a short time and read a Lorain Netvs. Nothing particular. Saw a corpse, a Co. A. man. Went in and saw several sick men. Two from Co. H. are doomed to die. Boys sat about as carelessly as ever, playing cards and swearing. Washed the dishes when I got home. Played ball a little.
Tuesday, 26th. In the morning read some. Finished a letter to Sarah Felton. She is a splendid girl. I wish she would be content to stop study for a year like Fannie A. and Fannie H. In the afternoon issued five days’ rations. Had a very pleasant time talking with the boys. Mail came in the evening. None of us but John Thayer, received letters. Rather disappointed. Andy enlisted and left for Mount Vernon. Rather sorry to see him go—good boy.
25th. Monday. Went over to Capt. Nettleton’s tent and borrowed Longfellow’s “Hyperion.” Charlie came over in the morning and read Will’s last journal and my letter from Fred. Enjoyed both and a first-rate visit about home and “B. F.” and other friends. Like Fred’s course. Read in “Hyperion.” Enjoyed it pretty well. In the evening commenced a letter to Sarah Felton. John Devlin and two other boys of Co. F came in. Were in the late brush on Drywood. One of the corporals was wounded. Had a clever visit with Newt. Adams. Bill tolerably drunk, yelling as usual. Lively talk before sleeping.
24th. Sunday. In the morning found my old contraband missing. Didn’t think it worth while to look for it. Cleaned up and prepared for inspection. Archie and Reeve laid out a bed of state pistols, sabres and spurs. Wrote to Melissa and Ma and some more to Fannie. Read some in an old Independent. In the evening went out and heard Chaplain preach a good sermon. Romans, 6th chapter, 11th verse. Good remarks. Mrs. Miner was out to hear him. The Mrs. Majors are still here raising sensations. Seemed good to see them horseback riding.
23rd. In the morning did chores and read the papers. In the afternoon went into Adj. Watson’s tent. He treated to strawberries. Reeve and Major Miner were in when some one asked about our being mustered out of service. He said he thought we would not be, and then he asked why we wanted to go. He believed if we stayed in the regiment, we would all have commissions. In the evening wrote to Will H. Received letters from Fannie Andrews and Fred Allen, both excellent. Got some new ideas about Will from Fred. News came that Doubleday was coming back to command and that the regiment would be taken to another field. Boys all rejoiced. Some officers were opposed.
22nd. Friday. Slept rather late. F. Brooks back, looking very sleek. Went to the river and washed myself thoroughly. Changed my clothes and rested as well as possible. The command came in. Boys seem hardy, though the trip has been tough. All the boys are exasperated that they did not catch the enemy. News that Fremont is to have command here, good. We to go home. Wrote a middling long letter to Fannie Andrews. Wrote while Brownell read in “Woman in White.” Boys issued rations for five days. Naturally lazed a while myself.
21st. Thursday. Went with two Company F men and got breakfast at a farmhouse. Some of the boys had had nothing to eat for 36 hours. Ham and corn bread. Borrowed 20 cents and paid. They asked nothing but we preferred to pay them. Major Burnett, with detail of five started for Fort Scott. Several of us contrived to go too. Got breakfast out three miles, milk and honey. A man came up. We frightened him so he swore he was secesh and made himself ridiculous generally for a union man. Had a secesh horse, taking care of it. Brought him in. In the morning put a rope around a boy’s neck and made him take the oath with some meaning. Letters from Minnie, Melissa and Fannie.
