22nd. Thursday. Had a good visit with Ma. In the afternoon met the “B. F.” at Will’s. Adjourned to Thursday lecture by Prof. Fairchild. Liked it well. In the evening called on Fannie. Home early with Ma.

Thursday, 22d–Today we enjoyed the first warm, clear day for more than two weeks, the snow having entirely disappeared. Our fleet continued all day without a stop. We met the White river expedition returning to Memphis from Napoleon, Arkansas. We tied up for the night about one hundred miles above Vicksburg.

JANUARY 22d.—We have reliable intelligence of the sinking of the U. S. gun-boat Hatteras, in the Gulf, by the Alabama. She was iron-clad, and all the officers and crew, with the exception of five, went down.

Gen. Whiting telegraphs to-day for the use of conscripts near Wilmington, in the event of an emergency. Several ships have just come in safely from abroad, and it is said a large number are on the way.

Mr. Miles yesterday reported, from the Military Committee, a bill repealing the existing exemption law, and embracing all male residents between the ages of 18 and 45 years. The President, or Secretary of War, to have authority to grant exemptions in certain cases, if deemed expedient. This ought to give us 200,000 more men. And they will be required.

A resolution was passed demanding of the Commissary and Quartermaster-General the number of their employees capable of performing military duty. It would be well to extend the inquiry to the War Department itself.

A letter from Norfolk states that at a grand ball, in celebration of the emancipation of the negroes, Gen. Vieille opened the dance with a mulatto woman of bad character as his partner; and Mrs. V. had for her partner a negro barber.

Washington Thursday Jan’y 22^nd 1863

Another chilly, wet, misty, muddy day. It has passed off very quietly. But we were somewhat startled to learn tonight that Maj Gen^l Fitz John Porter was “cashiered and dismissed from the Service.” The verdict of the court is said to have been unanimous. M^cDowell will come out better. There is a rumor tonight that there has been another Battle near Fredericksburgh and that Gen^l Hooker is mortaly wounded, but I think it is only a rumor. The evening “Republican” contained it. Gen^l Burnsides address to the Army of the Potomac is in the “Star” this evening. My old friend John Merchant (& Lady) from Lyons called on me this morning. I showed them round the Pat office and this evening called and spent an hour or two with them at Mr W^m Orme^s where they are stoping on E St. Mrs Merchant (who was Harriet Cole, daughter of Joseph Cole dece^d) is a cousin of Mrs Orme. Mr O is one of the wealthy men of Washington, has lived here near forty years. A girl who has been with the army and acted as female scout in “Seigels Corps” called here while we were at dinner to see Cap^t Johnson of the “Light Brigade” distinction. The Cap^t would not see her. She claims that he promised to marry her and seemed quite disconsolate. I did not see her. I weighed 142^lb today. Am well and hearty as I ever was. For dinner today we had a nice meat pie, chickens & Beef, potatoes (Irish & sweet), turnip, cabbage and celery. For desert Rice pudding with a cup of tea. We dine at 5 o’clock. $30.00 pr month for room and Board, fire & light.

Wednesday, 21st.—Crossed swamp half-mile wide.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Oberlin, Ohio.

21st. Wednesday. Stayed at home in the morning. D. R. called. Played a game of chess with Minnie. Saw Ellie. (Mrs. Albert Bushnell.) In the evening called on Fannie, the dear girl. What happiness for me, a poor soldier boy! She has not changed much. The same beautiful, perfect creature of 15 months ago. Home at nine.

Wednesday, 21st–The weather continues cold. At daylight our fleet started on down the river, reaching Helena, Arkansas, at 10 o’clock. We left Helena at noon with thirteen transports loaded with troops and tied up for the night sixty miles below. The transports dare not run at night on account of being fired upon by the rebels from the banks of the river. They fire on us even on the day run, but before we can get our boats to the banks to give them chase, they are gone and out of sight.

JANUARY 21st.—Last night the rain fell in torrents, and to-day there is a violent storm of wind from the N.W. This may put an end, for a season, to campaigning on land, and the enemy’s fleet at sea may be dispersed. Providence may thus intervene in our behalf.

It is feared that we have met with a serious blow in Arkansas, but it is not generally believed that so many (5000 to 7000 men) surrendered, as is stated in the Northern papers. Gen. Holmes is responsible for the mishap.

Conscription drags its slow length along. It is not yet adding many to the army. The Assistant Secretary of War, and several others, “by order of the Secretary of War,” are granting a fearful number of exemptions daily. Congress, I hope, will modify the exemption bill immediately. It is believed enrolling officers, surgeons, and others are permitting thousands to remain at home “for a price.” Even clerks in the War Department, it is said, are driving a lucrative business in “getting men off,” who should be on duty, in this war of independence. Young men in the departments, except in particular cases, will not stand in good repute “when the hurly burly’s done, when the battle’s lost and won.”

Congress is at work projecting the organization of a Supreme Court.

Washington Wednesday Jan’y 21^st 1863

No snow storm but a cold, windy, rainy day. All last night it seemed to pour down, and as the wind drove the rain against my window I could not help thinking of the thousands of poor Soldiers who must be lying on the ground with only a partial shelter from the storm, and had I been as young and vigorous as I was twenty years ago I should have felt almost guilty as I drew the covering around me in my warm bed, so comfortable and secure from the hardships and dangers which I should have felt it my duty to share in the present crisis. Cap^t Swan called at the office and staid a little while with me. My roommates insist upon my having charge of the Room and Signing my name first to all documents. Well, neither the responsibility or the labor is very great. I went to hear Geo Vanderhoff read this evening at Willards Hall. He read from “Les Miserables” & “Oliver Twist.” The opening of the former and the trial at “Arras,” and the Courtship of Mr Bumble and Mrs Corney from the latter. It was most admirable. He excels Murdoch in giving all the delicate touches of feeling by countenance and gesture, his face expressing as much as his words, but his voice is not as clear and distinct as Murdochs. Yet he is evidently a more cultivated and better educated man. The Hall was full altho it rained. There is nothing new today. We as yet know nothing from below or whether the army has moved. Wrote quite a long letter to H. N. Jr, counseled him in reference to his Reading and Studies. Memory was like an elastic bag &c.

20th. Tuesday. Got my pass and started in the rain. Called and told Libbie all ready. At 1 P. M. left with her for home. How good it seemed! Could hardly wait for the slow cars. Pleasant company. At home at 8:30. W. N. and D. R. at depot. Found Minnie and John at our house. What a blessing to be home again.

Tuesday, 20th–Another cold, wet day. We completed loading our regimental supplies about noon, and at 4 o’clock started for Vicksburg. We tied up for the night about forty miles below Memphis. The boats are overcrowded, and because of the cold weather there is much suffering.^[1]

[1] Starting on this trip ended seventy-nine days of campaigning; in northern Mississippi and western Tennessee. For suffering from exposure, part of the time no tents at night, nearly all the time on half rations or less, for forty-nine days no change of clothing, and more than sixty cloudy days with rain or snow, this campaign proved to be one of the most laborious campaigns during our four years’ service.—A. G. D

Washington Tuesday Jan’y 20^th 1863

A cold raw wind all day. But Capt Swan and myself started about noon for Fort Gaines and vicinity, which we visited and returned to the City about 5 o’ck. I saw a number of Lyons people attached to the 138^th. Fort Gaines is a very small affair but is situated on quite a commanding eminence mounting five guns (32 pounders). As we could not get a conveyance back from Tenallytown as we expected we walked back to Georgetown having rode up there in the “Bus.” We walked altogether at least 5 miles. I think I shall sleep well tonight. A thousand rumors are afloat in reference to the movements of the Army of the Potomac. But nothing is public or reliable in reference to any movement as yet. But something is going on. We shall know what soon. We did not see Maj E. P. Taft or lady as they started for Lyons today. He on furlough of thirty days. Cap^t Swan goes back to his Reg^t on Thursday next. Geo. Vanderhoff does not read tonight as I expected but tomorrow night. I was in at Willards awhile, officers of the Army quite scarce. The Hotel is full of strangers who come and go all the time so that it is full of new faces almost every day. It is decidedly the Hotel of Washington. It is said that the Proprietors make $1200 pr day from six to eight hundred guests, who pay upon an average at least four dollars pr day. It is inclined to storm tonight. I think we will have a snow storm tomorrow.

JANUARY 20th.—The rumor of fighting on the Rappahannock is not confirmed. But Gen. Lee writes that his beeves are so poor the soldiers won’t eat the meat. He asks the government to send him salt meat.

From Northern sources we learn that Arkansas Post has fallen, and that we have lost from 5000 to 7000 men there. If this be true, our men must have been placed in a man-trap, as at Roanoke Island.

Mr. Perkins, in Congress, has informed the country that Mr. Memminger, the Secretary of the Treasury, has hitherto opposed and defeated the proposition that the government buy all the cotton. Mr. M. should never have been appointed. He is head-strong, haughty, and tyrannical when he imagines he is dealing with inferiors, and he deems himself superior to the rest of mankind. But he is no Carolinian by birth or descent.

We see accounts of public meetings in New Jersey, wherein the government at Washington is fiercely denounced, and peace demanded, regardless of consequences. Some of the speakers openly predicted that the war would spread into the North, if not terminated at once, and in that event, the emancipationists would have foes to fight elsewhere than in the South. Among the participants I recognize the names of men whom I met in convention at Trenton in 1860. They clamor for the “Union as it was, the Constitution as it is,” adopting the motto of my paper, the “Southern Monitor,” the office of which was sacked in Philadelphia in April, 1861. Our government will never agree to anything short of independence. President Davis will be found inflexible on that point.

There was a rumor yesterday that France had recognized us. The news of the disaster of Burnside at Fredericksburg having certainly been deemed very important in Europe. But France has not yet acted in our behalf. We all pray for the Emperor’s intervention. We suffer much, and but little progress is made in conscription. Nearly all our resources are in the field. Another year of war, and _____!

What the children played in those days is shown by the following little letter:

Little May Howland to Georgeanna.

NEW YORK, January, 1863.

Dear Aunty: Did you get my letter I wrote you from Moremamma’s? You must come home now and nurse me, I have the chicken pox. . . . The children play that one is you, and the other Aunt Jane, and they play that the logs of wood are the soldiers. They get bits of ribbons for cravats. I am going to crochet a pair of slippers for the soldiers. I may as well scratch out that I have the chicken pox, for the doctor has just been here and said that I can go out. . . .

Monday, 19th.—Passed DeKalb 4 P. M. Very shabby-looking place. Cold, wet and muddy; only marched ten miles to-day. Our mess got old house to cook in and church to sleep in. Getting plenty to eat and have had plenty during all this march. Never had been any soldiers here before.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Monday, January 19th.

That blessed Mr. Halsey like an angel of mercy sent me “Kate Coventry” yesterday, just when I was pining far a bonne bouche of some kind, I did not care what, whether a stick of candy or an equally palatable book. It is delightful to have one’s wishes realized as soon as they are made. I think it rather caused me to relent towards Mr. Halsey; I did not feel half so belligerent as I did just the Sunday before. At all events, I felt well enough to go down in the evening when he called again, though I had been too indisposed to do so on a previous occasion. (O Sarah!)

Wheeled into the parlor, there I beheld not my friend alone, but several other individuals whose presence rather startled me. I found myself undergoing the terrors of an introduction to a Colonel Locke, and to my unspeakable surprise, Major Buckner was claiming the privilege of shaking hands with me, and Colonel Steadman was on the other side, and – was that Mr. Halsey? O never! The Mr. Halsey I knew was shockingly careless of his dress, never had his hair smooth; let his beard grow as it would, and wore a most ferocious slouched hat. This one had taken more than one look at the glass, a thing I should have imagined the other incapable of doing. He had bestowed the greatest care and attention on his dress, had brought his beard within reasonable limits, had combed his hair with the greatest precision, and held lightly in one hand an elegant little cap that I am sure must be provokingly becoming. Why, he was handsome! Ah ça! some mistake, surely, I cried to myself. My Mr. Halsey was not, certainly! “If it be I, as I hope it may be, I’ve a little dog at home who will surely know me,” I kept repeating. I resolved to test the little dog’s sagacity, so I pretended to know this apparition, and thanked him for the pleasure he had afforded me by sending me “Kate Coventry.” He looked conscious and pleased! The “little dog” had found out his identity! I was more puzzled than ever. How account for this wondrous change? . . . But metaphorphosed “John” talked! He was expatiating at a most extraordinary rate, and had been doing so for an hour after supper, when Gibbes drew his chair near me (Gibbes likes to hear what visitors say to his little sister); whereupon timid Mr. Halsey drew his slightly back, and very soon after asked for his horse. O Gibbes! you wretch! what an amusing tête-à-tête you spoiled, you innocent! And the General, of course, only waited for his exit before beginning to tease me unmercifully. I must put an end to this; they shall not bring such unjust charges against him. Yet how am I to make them see reason?

Night.

I am more pleased to-night than I could well express. I have been talking to an old and dear friend, no other than Will Pinckney! His arrival was as unexpected as it was agreeable. The cry of “Here comes Will Pinckney” sent me back to August, ‘6o, when the words were always the forerunner of fun and frolic. . . . He told me what he called his secrets; of how he had been treated by the War Department (which has, indeed, behaved shockingly towards the Colonel).

19th. Monday. Went to work early and got rations issued by noon. But I could not get my pass signed so as to leave. Got memoranda of all stores received and accounts at bakery and .compared all accounts, which proved correct.

Monday, 19th–We worked all day loading our supplies on the transports. The Ninety-fifth Illinois finished their loading today and are now lying in waiting. The river is quite wide here, one and one-half miles, and is fast rising. There are four mortar boats and one gunboat here, besides a large fleet of transports, some of which are loaded with troops to go down the river, while others are coming from the North with fresh troops. The rebel gunboat, “General Bragg,” has just been captured here.

19th.—Colonel Bradley Johnson has been with us for some days. He is nephew to Bishop J., and as bright and agreeable in private as he is bold and dashing in the field. Our little cottage has many pleasant visitors, and I think we are as cheerful a family circle as the Confederacy can boast. We are very much occupied by our Sunday-schools—white in the morning, and coloured in the afternoon. In the week we are often busy, like the “cotter’s” wife, in making “auld claes look amaist as weel as new.” “New claes” are not attainable at present high prices; we are therefore likely to become very ingenious in fixing up “auld anes.” My friend who lately arrived from Washington looked on very wonderingly when she saw us all ready for church. “Why, how genteel you look!” at last broke from her; “I had no idea of it. We all thought of you as suffering in every respect.” I told her that the Southern women were as ingenious as the men were brave; and while we cared little for dress during such anxious times, yet when our husbands and sons returned from the field we preferred that their homes should be made attractive, and that they should not be pained by the indifferent appearance of their wives, sisters, and mothers. She was still more surprised by the neatly fitting, prettily made dresses of Southern manufacture. “Are they of Virginia cloth?” she asked. No, poor old Virginia has no time or opportunity for improving her manufactures, while almost her whole surface is scarred and furrowed by armies; but Georgia and North Carolina are doing much towards clothing the first ladies in the land. Sister M. has just improved my wardrobe by sending me a black alpaca dress, bought from a Potomac blockade-runner. We, ever and anon, are assisted in that way: sometimes a pound of tea, sometimes a pair of gloves, is snugged away in a friendly pocket, and after many dangers reaches us, and meets a hearty welcome; and what is more important still, medicine is brought in the same way, having escaped the eagle eyes of Federal watchers. A lady in Richmond said laughingly to a friend who was about to make an effort to go to Baltimore, “Bring me a pound of tea and a hoop-skirt;” and after a very short absence he appeared before her, with the tea in one hand and the skirt in the other. It is pleasant to see how cheerfully the girls fall into habits of economy, and occupy themselves in a way of which we never dreamed before.

Monday Jan’y 19^th 1863

This has been another cold day but clear and pleasant. I did not have much to do in the office after making out my weekly report. All seems to be in uncertainty in regard to the movements of the Army of the Potomac. But I think it is again over the Rappahannock. Went up to Georgetown after office hours with a view of going out to Fort Gaines, but was too late, so I came back to Browns the (“Metropolitan”) where I met John C Adams. He is a “Chip of[f] the old Block.” Also met Capt Swan there. We agreed to go up to the 138^th Reg^t tomorrow. He intends to return to the Army in a day or two. Important news (which seems to be official) from the Arkansas River. Seven Reg^ts of rebels taken prisoners and a great amount of Stores and Ammunition. Gen^l M^cClernand in command of our troops. I called at Charleys and staid an hour and then went to Odd Fellows Hall to hear readings or recitations from “Madame Lizzy Bell.” Her recitations were very good. He had quite a good house. James E Murdoch and George Vanderhoff both read tonight, the former in the Senate Chamber and the latter in “Willards Hall.” I must hear Vanderhoff tomorrow night. I do get lonesome sometimes, but not often. With my Books and my writing in my room with a good fire I enjoy myself tolerably well. I go into the Hotels almost every night but do not often sit down. Always meet old friends and acquaintances there. “Shoulder Straps” are rather more scarce since a late “order” ordering all officers to their commands. Sent three newspapers home today, got no letters.

JANUARY 19th.—We have rumors of fighting this morning on the Rappahannock; perhaps the enemy is making another advance upon Richmond.

There was a grand funeral to-day,—Gen. D. R. Jones’s; he died of heart disease.

Gen. Bragg dispatches that Brig.-Gen. Wheeler, with his cavalry, got in the rear of Rosecrans a few days ago, and burned a railroad bridge. He then penetrated to the Cumberland River, and destroyed three large transports and bonded a fourth, which took off his paroled prisoners. After this he captured and destroyed a gun-boat and its armament sent in quest of him.

We have taken Springfield, Missouri.

Rosecrans sends our officers, taken at Murfreesborough, to Alton, Ill., to retaliate on us for the doom pronounced in our President’s proclamation, and one of his generals has given notice that if we burn a railroad bridge (in our own country) all private property within a mile of it shall be destroyed. The black flag next. We have no news from North Carolina.

Mr. Caperton was elected C. S. Senator by the Virginia Legislature on Saturday, in place of Mr. Preston, deceased.

An intercepted letter from a Mr. Sloane, Charlotte, N. C., to A. T. Stewart & Co., New York, was laid before the Secretary of War yesterday. He urged the New York merchant, who has contributed funds for our subjugation, to send merchandise to the South, now destitute, and he would act as salesman. The Secretary indorsed “conscript him,” and yet the Assistant Secretary has given instructions to Col. Godwin, in the border counties, to wink at the smugglers. This is consistency! And the Assistant Secretary writes “by order of the Secretary of War!”

Sunday, 18th.—Seven companies of regiment gone back to Scooba to get on train. Companies F, C and B going on through with wagons.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Jan. 18th. Sunday. In the afternoon rode to town to see Melissa. By invitation stayed to tea and then overnight. Had a first rate visit with Melissa during the evening and wrote a little to Theodore. Intended calling at Mr. Rice’s, but Melissa promised to call and see Libbie.

Sunday, 18th–Bright sunshine, with cold northwest wind blowing. We struck our tents early this morning, loaded the wagons, and started for the river. Upon reaching the city commons, on a high bluff overlooking the landing, we stacked arms and remained there in the mud all day. About dark we were ordered to go aboard the transports. Our regiment with two others, the Eighteenth Wisconsin and the Ninety-fifth Illinois, together with a part of the Second Iowa Battery, embarked on the Marie Deming, where we bunk tonight.