Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

21st. Wednesday. Archie and I went out and grazed our horses. Good time. Saw George Ashman. Bathed.

20th. Tuesday. Nettleton and Stewart went to Leavenworth. Rained.

19th. Made arrangements for another horse. Had the one lost examined and got an order from the General for another. Very pretty bay, well satisfied.

18th. Sunday. Wrote to Fannie. Attended preaching by Mr. Hawkins, from Isaiah 1st, 3rd verse, “My people doth not consider.”

17th. Saturday. Went up town and saw George Ashman. Went to the hotel and got breakfast. Cooked our own meals. Letter from Fannie Andrews.

16th. Rain obliged us to arise at five. Stayed under the wagon a while. Then went to the creek to wash. Reveille blew just before I got back. Lt. Hubbard arrested Brooks and me because somebody had wanted us and could not find us. Released us as soon as we came into camp. Rode partly on the wagons and walked some. Seemed good to get back to Fort Scott again. Found two letters from home.

15th. Thursday. Archie and I cooked a respectable meal. Took our ease until five P. M. Then we marched again. Reached East Drywood at midnight. Capt. Stanhope and Lt. Rush were ahead and were chased by thirty jay hawkers. Column halted. I went on with the advance two or three miles, no sign of any men.

14th. Wednesday. Left Carthage at 8. Most of the boys footed it. My horse was well enough but I thought I would fare as the rest did. Stopped to graze our horses at ten miles. I was very tired. Got my haversack and gave my horse into Tom’s care. I went to a little bush and ate a lunch in sight of my horse. Soon fell asleep and when I awoke, could not find my horse. Baggage wagons were going on. One of the boys said he saw the horse go ahead. Hurried on to see. Tom rode all about the field and prairie vainly. I got a horse and another man and went back and searched thoroughly and vainly. Reached Lamar in the evening.

13th. Issued four days’ rations. Most all the horses were condemned for sore backs. Sent to mill for one day’s ration of flour. Companies fell out several times from false alarms. I accidentally fired a gun while drilling with Reeve and Archie.

May 12th. Monday. Major Miner arrived at three A. M. Major Purington left early to report under arrest at Fort Scott. Miner commenced a rigid discipline and introduced a new system. Quite an alarm from shooting at an ox. Companies turned out.