Tuesday, 5th–I took dinner at Mr. Curtis’s today, and had a fine dinner. Two other soldier boys were there, Mr. Curtis’s son, Homer and Thomas Fossett, both of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry. The citizens in and around Inland are very loyal, and the vicinity is well represented in the Eleventh and Twenty-fourth Regiments.
Monday, 4th–It rained all last night and nearly all day. I attended a party this evening at Mr. Fossett’s and we all had a fine time which passed off very rapidly. There were fourteen couples present. I remained over night with my old bunk-mate, James. I enjoyed my visit with him, talking over the times [...]
Sunday, 3d–I went to our church again this morning, it being the day for preaching. In the evening I went to see a young lady friend.
Saturday, 2d–They had a very cold winter here in Iowa and the ground has been frozen so deep that it is slow in thawing out. Farmers, as yet, have sown but little wheat, but they have everything ready to push the seeding as soon as the ground will permit. It is quite pleasant today, but [...]
Friday, 1st–The same old thing over and over. I almost wish myself back in the army; everything seems to be so lonesome here. There is nothing going on that is new, and there is no work of any kind.
Thursday, 31st–I went to a party this evening, given in honor of the veterans, over at Mr. Hatch’s, on Yankee Street.[1] There were not many present, but all enjoyed themselves. I found a new road to travel, a mile from this place—if all goes well. Things are very quiet in this settlement, but almost every [...]
Wednesday, 30th–I remained at home all day. Times appear to be very dull and lonesome. My brothers are having a siege of the measles. I am thankful that I have had them, for measles in the army causes more soldiers to be discharged for disability than anything else. I long to see this cruel war [...]
Tuesday, 29th–I attended a supper this evening given for the veterans of my company, at the home of Mr. J. W. Stanton on York Prairie. On account of the bad weather, dark night and muddy roads, there were not many there, but we had a fine supper and a pleasant evening with friends.
Monday, 28th–I went to Tipton on horseback today, accompanied by John D. Moore, who enlisted in Company E of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry. All of the Inland boys who went before have re-enlisted as veterans, and four or five others besides John Moore are going to enlist in our company and go to the front [...]
Sunday, 27th–I went with father to meeting today, in our old church at Inland, and attended the Communion of the Lord’s Supper with the Disciples. They have no minister at present, but meet every Lord’s Day to break bread. It rained nearly all day.
Saturday, 26th–The friends of the boys in our company gave a dinner for us today at Mr. Ray’s, and father took me over. It was a cold, cloudy day and the roads were muddy, but all the friends came out and gave the boys a warm greeting—and a fine dinner we had. We all enjoyed [...]
Friday, 25th–I remained at home all day visiting and talking over some of my experiences. One change I find in myself, and that is the discomfort in sleeping in a warm room, as the custom in the homes is, for it is more than two and a half years since I have slept that way.
Thursday, 24th–I went to Mr. Elseffer’s and spent most of the day there, taking dinner with them. Lewis Elseffer is a member of my company and was detailed as clerk in corps headquarters, thus could not return with us.
Wednesday, 23d–I left all my accouterments and clothing at the hotel. Before starting for home, I purchased some clothing and other articles, all amounting to $46.50. Among other things, I bought a blouse and vest, a hat, shirts, boots, pen, and my first watch, for which I paid $17.00. I started for home at 10 [...]
Tuesday, 22d–We reached La Salle at 2 o’clock this afternoon and changed cars for Davenport, arriving at our destination at dark. I took lodging at the Davis House. The taverns are all crowded, because of so many soldiers coming home on their furloughs.
Monday, 21st–We reached Cairo at 4 o’clock this morning and I went ashore with my comrades to the Soldiers’ Home for breakfast. We then went to the provost marshal’s office for our railroad transportation from Cairo to Davenport. We boarded the train at noon and arrived at Centralia at 5 o’clock. We had to lie [...]
Sunday, 20th–It is quite cool today. We ran all day, but we have a big load, crowding every nook and corner of the boat; we are more crowded than before reaching Memphis. The sergeant in charge of us six guards had our haversacks replenished at Memphis.
Saturday, 19th–It is quite cool. We reached Memphis at 4 o’clock this morning and remained all day, not starting on our trip till late this evening. The supply train of the Sixteenth Army Corps was unloaded here from our boat, and we took on the Thirty-fifth New York Infantry.
Friday, 18th–It is quite cool today with a rather sharp wind blowing, which with our crowded condition makes it very uncomfortable. The Thirty-second Illinois received their pay on board today, and no doubt the gamblers will get their hands in before we land.
Thursday, 17th–Our boat has been running steadily since starting, it having stopped but once, and that was to take on wood for the boilers of the engine. The time has passed without incident.
Wednesday, 16th–This is a beautiful day. I left for home on my thirty-day furlough. I embarked with the Fifteenth Iowa and the Thirty-second Illinois, on board the “Olive Branch.” We left for Cairo, Illinois, at 3 p. m. We say adieu to thee, Vicksburg, the Gibraltar of the West! We leave thee with some pleasant [...]
Tuesday, 15th–We were relieved from guard at the roundhouse, and I received my transportation papers from the provost marshal. I was promoted today from “high private in the rear rank” to sixth corporal in the front rank, my commission to date from March 1, 1864.[1] [1] This was indeed a surprise to me, as I [...]
Monday, 14th–It is quite cool today, after three days of warm weather. We are still on guard at the roundhouse. The contrabands are all being put to some kind of work, or enrolled in the army. As the Government has to feed them, they will partially pay their way by working.
Sunday, 13th–The Eleventh and the Fifteenth Iowa, together with the Twelfth Wisconsin, all veterans, went aboard the “Continental” this afternoon and about dark left for the North. I could not go with my regiment, as I have not yet been relieved from guard duty at the roundhouse.
Saturday, 12th–All the men of the Iowa Brigade who did not re-enlist have been formed into a battalion until the veterans return. Major Pomutz of the Fifteenth Iowa is in command. All the non-veterans of the old regiments are to remain at Cairo, Illinois, until the veterans return from their furloughs.