Friday, 10th. Sky clear and quite cold. Lieut. Spencer and I issued a good amount of clothing. About noon orders came to march. After a hurried dinner, saddled and lay about until most sundown. Rear guard. Had to wait till every wagon had started. Very dull business; probably the advance guard was in camp before we started. Every mile wagons were in to the hubs in mud. At midnight halted, saddles on, so many teams had given out. Fed and lay down with oilcloth for a coverlet. Had lent my shawl to Sergt. Randall.
War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.
Thursday, 9th. Orders came to be ready to march at 7 A. M., we to draw our pay before starting. Hastened breakfast and we were paid during the day. Awful wet and muddy, cold and chilly. Wore overcoats and shivered. Delayed the march. In the evening a Kansas officer of the day became frightened and alarmed the camp. Got saddled and sat two hours in the rain. Boys mad. Some of the boys started for the fort with the sick.
Wednesday, 8th. Commenced drizzling in the morning and kept it up all day. I was detailed to act as Sergt. Major, which pleased me much. Went with picket detail and reported to Stewart at Salomon’s headquarters. Went down and saw Battery boys, and Archie, Reeve, Brooks, and Mason. Good time. In the P. M. Major Burnett with detail started back to Fort Scott. Major sick. Our cook among the detail, so we boys had to commence cooking ourselves. Kept raining all night. Battery paid off and very noisy.
Tuesday, 7th. Commenced a letter to Fannie after the morning work. Went to the river and washed some shirts with Sergt. Smith, Co. K., a boy whom I like much from short acquaintance. Mail arrived about noon, letters from Fannies A. and H., Sarah Felton, Fred and George Ashman. Went to 9th Kansas surgeon to get medicine for Sturtevant. Finished good Fannie’s letter. Sick with carbuncle and I with boils afflicted. I am so disappointed that I can not see her and home friends this fall. Bunked with Capt. N., Co. K. tent. Read part of a letter from Melissa, good sister. Read the late Cleveland papers. We lay and talked about boy and girl friends.
Monday, 6th. Got all ready to start. Ordered to lie still for a day or two for train supply to arrive. Went out on forage detail under Welch and Shattuck, four miles, got plenty of sweet potatoes and apples and honey. Sergt. Smith, Sturtevant and I got up a good meal. Had a good visit with the boys—very warm day. Shattuck said I had been reserved to stay in the regiment. Most of the boys mustered out. A regular officer, a captain, is to be our Colonel.
Sunday, 5th. In the morning rode about town and visited the different places of interest connected with the battle. Went into the stable where the Dutch were confined. At noon, after a hearty meal got up by us non-commissioned officers, started south. Capt. Seward came on and took command. N. officer of the day. Encamped on Big Indian, 15 miles from Pineville.
Saturday, 4th. Rainy and cold early. At sunrise got in sight of the enemy at Newtonia. Got batteries and men into position and fired upon them. The scene of the cannonading of our troops and the enemy was grand. The enemy in force are massed behind a fence and upon the plain near the woods. Our troops occupied the surrounding hills. The enemy at first scatter at the artillery fire, then collect again and commence a retreat. Rabb’s Battery, infantry and cavalry follow. We had been support to this battery. Now we change to the 2nd Battery, our own, which had been shelling the town and driven 100 men out. Boys rush into town and soon report 23 wounded of the Dutch retaken. Soon camped for the day. Horses saddled. The enemy fight Rabb. He follows closely and pours shell into them. Boys lay down, half frozen, and slept. One adj. regiment and one Adj. General captured. Took one piece of artillery, a long wire arrangement. Got rails and water and had coffee. Horse grows stronger. Rode about town.
Friday, 3rd. Was going to the river to wash when I was detailed for picket guard. My first experience. Reported with 14 men. Relieved 12 on the Granby road and stayed there till 10 P. M. Drawn in to go with command. Whole body moved at 12. Got ready and fell in. N. gave me the command of a platoon of 20 men. Quite an honor! Horse had belly-ache. Bled him most to death. Had to leave him. Saw Sturtevant coming. Had the rear guard.
Thursday, 2nd. Renewed our march without breakfast. Scoured the woods for our old friends. Took five men and acted as skirmishers. No bird discovered. Reached camp in the P. M. Heard the boys relate their stories about the fight. Somewhat tired.
Wednesday, 1st. Up at 5 o’clock. Commenced work at 5:25. Divided into three reliefs. I took charge for four hours. Boys went for provisions to a house three miles and got some breakfast at an empty house. Kept at work—after breakfasting at 10—till noon. Then marched homewards. Bivouacked 2 miles west of Carthage. Slept with A. B. N. My birthday anniversary (twenty one) . Charge of advance guard.
