Wednesday, 14th–It rained all night and much of the day. Our tents failed to turn the water, as the strong wind blowing literally drove the rain through the canvas, making it as wet where we lay as on the outside. There is no hay or straw to lie on at night and no lumber to be had for floors, but the quartermaster is providing us with plenty of cordwood, and having the Sibley tents we build fires in the center of them to warm ourselves and dry our clothes. A great many of the boys got permission to go down town to spend the night. We signed the payrolls for two months’ pay and were expecting to receive our pay today, but for some reason it failed to come.

Washington Wednesday January 14^th 1863.

As gloomy and as dark as two years ago are the days now. When we look into the future for our Country Dark days were those, and it looks dark now for the preservation of our Union. Our vast armies seem to be lying idle or baffled everywhere by our alert enimies. But worse than all there are indications of mutiny among ourselves. The weakness and imbecility of the Gov^t manifested in the Management of the War has raised a storm in the north and west that looks dark and threatening. People are tired and sick of the war, and now the Political leaders say, and the mass of the people believe, that the object of the war is now not what it was (to preserve the Union). But, to free the Negroes (an abolition War) and they hate abolitionists as well as the Negroes. Under present circumstances no Union or re-construction can take place. Nothing in fact but crushing the rebels, entirely subdueing them, can bring Peace. It dont now look as though we were able to do that, and in any case the South say they will accept No Terms short of their Independence. Well, the War must Continue for a long while yet. (Gold today 147). Got letters from home & one from Lieut Belden from Lyons. Called and spent an hour with Mr Haws on I S^t. I consider him a rising man. He certainly is a thriving one. There is no news in particular, quite a financial panic. If this miserable Congress does not adopt Mr Chase^s measures, we shall go to ruin soon.

JANUARY 14th.—Gen. Beauregard, some of whose forces have been taken from him and sent to the defense of Wilmington, is apprehensive that they may be lost, in the event of the enemy making a combined naval and land attack, and then Charleston and Savannah would be in great peril. Gens. Smith and Whiting call lustily for aid, and say they have not adequate means of defense.

Some 4000 more negroes have been called for to work on the fortifications near Richmond. I believe 10,000 are at work now.

A letter “by order” of the Secretary of War to Col. Godwin, in King and Queen County, written by Judge Campbell, says that blockaders are allowed to run through, provided they be not suspicious parties. The government takes what it wants at seventy-five per cent. and releases the rest. The parties are liable to have their goods confiscated by the Secretary of the Treasury, who, however, the letter proceeds to say, has never molested any one in the illicit trade–smuggling.

In Congress, yesterday, Mr. Foote called for a committee to investigate the commissary’s contract with Haxhall, Crenshaw & Co., and was particularly severe on Major Ruffin, in the commissary’s office, whom he understood was a partner in the flour concern.

Mr. Foote introduced a series of resolutions to-day, tempting the Northern States to make peace with us separately, excluding the New England States, and promising commercial advantages, etc. But we must treat as independent States, pledging a league with those that abandon the United States Government–offensive and defensive–and guaranteeing the navigation of the Mississippi River to the Northwestern States. They were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, of which he is the chairman. This is nothing.

But neither yesterday nor the day before was there a quorum of both houses; a sad spectacle in such a season of gloom. It was enlivened, however, by a communication from the Surgeon-General, proposing to send surgeons to vaccinate all the members. They declined the honor, though the small-pox is raging frightfully.

To-day a quorum was found in each house, and the President’s message was sent in. I have not read it yet.

Tuesday, 13th.—Passed Clinton at 10 o’clock this morning. Citizens proposed to give regiment a dinner, but Colonel McConnell would not wait until they could get it ready; too bad.

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

13th. Tuesday. Spent the day very quietly at home. Worked as usual. Last night Chester treated to the oysters. Buglers expect to be mustered out, very jubilant over it. Wrote a letter home.

January 13.–P. T. Barnum delivered his lecture on ” The Art of Money Getting” in Bemis Hall this evening for the benefit of the Ladies Aid Society, which is working for the soldiers.  We girls went and enjoyed it.

Tuesday, 13th–We left bivouac this morning at 6 o’clock and moved on to within a mile of Memphis, where we went into camp. The day was cloudy, threatening rain, and by evening had turned quite cool, with a high wind blowing. The ground being very rough here, the setting up of our tents was pretty slow work.

W[ashington]. Tuesday Jan’y 13^th 1863 (My Birth day) 57 years.

The first thing that I hear in the morning is the cry of the News Boys, “Baltimore Sun & Clipper,” “Morning Chronicle,” “Northern Battle.” At 3 o’clock the “Star.” About 4 o’ck it is “Star 2^nd Edition,” “Northern Union Victory.” After the N York mail gets in which is about 6 o’clock, the boys run through the Streets crying “N York Herald, Tribune, and Times.” The Baltimore papers and the Washington papers are sold at three cents, the NY at 5 cts, which are about three times the size of the “Sun” or Star. The old “Inteligencer” is distributed without any Noise. It stands on its dignity. Treads where it trod forty years ago, never radical or very divided in anything, trimming its sails to suit the breeze as far as prudence allows. It has lived through all administrations for half a Century and almost always enjoyed the patronage of the Gov^t until now. The Globe and the Republican are also daily papers. Nothing New today, all quiet. The Gov^t seems waiting (like Mr M^cCawber) “for something to turn up.” If it could only hatch out a Military genius who could lead our troops to Victory in Virginia, it would pay for sitting still. Victory is what we want now with gold at forty per cent over Treasury notes. I have not labored very hard today on the “Board,” have not had much to do. Was down to “Willards” awhile, saw Gen^l M^cDowell and Gen^l Heintzelman there. Qr Master Knowles called upon me today at the office. The hundreds of officers around the City have got what (in former times) was a Paradise to the southern employees in the Departments of the Gov^t, that is, “High Salaries and nothing to do.”

JANUARY 13th.—The generals in North Carolina are importunate for reinforcements. They represent the enemy as in great force, and that Weldon, Goldsborough, Raleigh, and Wilmington are in extreme peril. Lee cannot send any, or, if he does, Richmond will be threatened again, and possibly taken.

How shall we live? Boarding ranges from $60 to $100 per month. Our landlord says he will try to get boarding in the country, and if he succeeds, probably we may keep the house we now occupy, furnished, at a rent of $1200, for a mere robin’s nest of four rooms! But I hope to get the house at the corner of First and Casey, in conjunction with Gem Rains, for $1800. It has a dozen rooms.

Camp 103d Illinois Infantry, Jackson, Tenn.,
January 12, 1863.

Your letters are beginning to come through with more regularity and on decidedly better time. Have received your date of December 30, although the last was dated November 16th, and was the first you wrote after we left Peoria. You bewailed our being sent south of Cairo, which I think very ungenerous in you. Well, you’ll probably be suited in our present location, which is the only consolation I have in being sent so far rearward. There are some slight hopes though, that we may be sent to Vicksburg, which will ripen into a distant probability (nothing more I’m afraid) if the news of our repulse there be true. We’re encamped in the suburbs of this delightful little town, but so strict are the orders of the general (Sullivan) that, as far as seeing the town or making purchases therein are concerned, we might as well be camped on Pike’s Peak. All right, Mr. Sullivan, have your own way. He is by all odds the most like a soldier of all the garrison commandants I have been under. Will wager that you will never hear of his being surprised. The news from Holly Springs is that the last house in the town was burned night before last. Pretty rough, but I say, amen. Its pretty well understood in this army now that burning Rebel property is not much of a crime. I for one will never engage in it, until orders are issued making it duty, and then I think I can enjoy it as much as any of them. If any part of this army is ever called home to quell those Illinois tories, orders to burn and destroy will not be necessary. Since I have seen the proceedings of that traitorous legislature, I begin to understand why these loyal Tennesseans and Alabamians are so much more bitter against traitors than we are. It would make your blood run cold to hear the men in this army, without regard to party, curse those traitors. There is a gay time in prospect for those chaps. Don’t think I am much out of the way in saying that Merrick, Jem Allen, Dick Richardson, and the editors of the Chicago Times would be hung if caught within the lines of many Illinois regiments in this army. There are many officers who, while they doubt our ability to subjugate (that is the question) the South, would take an active part in ending the man who would propose to give the thing up. I come pretty near belonging to that party, though I think that if we can’t [continue reading…]

January 12th. Nothing of importance is occurring now-adays to mark one day from another.

12th. Monday. Capt. N. called for me. Went into the house and stayed till noon, then went to the depot and met Melissa and S. R. N. Went with them to N.’s Aunt’s. Plain people. Returned to camp and went down with boys to Mr. Rice’s. Melissa there. Very good visit. Miss Cohen there, too. Libbie expects to go home Friday. (S. R. N. was Stiles Nettleton, brother of A. B. N.)

Monday, 12th–We struck tent early this morning and at 8 o’clock took up the line of march, the entire Sixth Division being on the road bound for Memphis. Companies E and K are on rear guard. The day being fairly warm and quite pleasant, we covered twenty miles without incident, and bivouacked for the night within nine miles of Memphis.

Washington Monday Jan’y 12 1863

The capture of Galvestion & the Steamer “Harriet Lane” by the Rebels has become a fixed fact and is not a “Secesh lie,” and what is full as bad, our forces were badly repulsed at Vicksburgh with much loss to us. Our “Army of the potomac” is still idle on this side of the Rappahannock. Around Washington there are troops enough to fill the City with their officers every day who for the most part much prefer to air their Uniforms on the Avenue to staying with their commands in the Camps. I was placed this morning upon the Examining Board of the Land office, that is, to examine the patent Deeds and records after they are finished by the writers. It is a place of considerable responsibility and importance. I was at Vanmasters Room an hour or two tonight. He seems to be doing an extensive business prosecuting Claims &c. A great crowd at Willards,. “Stars” and eagles and smaller birds very plenty. Met Whiting the distinguished Lawyer of Boston. He is here as the Attorney of the War Department, also saw Col Allen of Boston. Pay Master Austin from Auburn NY has his office & Room below Stairs at my present place of abode. He invited me to call and see him this morning and I must do so. There is plenty of Small pox near the City or rather in the suburbs if not directly in our midst. About 250 cases are reported among the Negroes near the Contraband Depot up 12^th Street. There are many cases now all over the City.

JANUARY 12TH.—The news of the successful defense of Vicksburg is confirmed by an official dispatch, to the effect that the enemy had departed up the Mississippi River. By the late Northern papers, we find they confess to a loss of 4000 men in the several attacks upon the town! Our estimate of their loss did not exceed that many hundred. They lost two generals, Morgan and another. We did not lose a hundred men, according to our accounts. The Herald (N. Y.) calls it “another Fredericksburg affair.”

The estimate of the enemy’s loss, at Murfreesborough, from 12,000 to 20,000, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, and ours at from four to nine thousand. Bragg says he will fight again near the same place, and his men are in high spirits.

Our men fight to kill now, since the emancipation doom has been pronounced. But we have had a hard rain and nightly frosts, which will put an end to campaigning during the remainder of the winter. The fighting will be on the water, or near it.

The legislature is in session, and resolutions inimical to the passport system have already been introduced. But where are State Rights now?

Congress meets to-morrow.

Georgranna Woolsey to her brother-in-law, Joseph Woolsey.

P. G. HOSPITAL.

Thank you, my Colonel, for the doughnuts and comic papers. They are just what the men prize most, and under every pillow I shall establish a little nest of both! . . . I always accompany a “Life of Headley Vicars” with a piece of chewing tobacco. . . We are going to have a chapel in two weeks. At present it consists of eight holes in the ground and a tolerable fishing pond, but in one fortnight this will be a church and will stand next door to our house, leaving us no excuse for staying at home in the evening. We have embraced the puddles all along as argument against “protracted meetings.” . . . Jane and Sarah and H. Whetten have just been relating their refreshing experiences for the day, in the next room. Miss Wormeley is down stairs getting up her official correspondence with the Surgeon and Q.-M. General. The diet tables are all made out and consolidated for tomorrow, and several reproving notes to ward-masters sent in to meet them at breakfast; and now, nothing comes except the usual burglar and as much sleep as this howling, driving storm will let us have. . . .

Sunday,11th.—Cross Black Warrior River 11 A. M.

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

11th. Sunday. Stayed at home again and read the Independent and home letters telling of M.’s marriage.

Sunday, 11th–We received orders to be ready to march early in the morning for Memphis. The report in camp is that we are to go on down the Mississippi river. The Fourth Brigade of the Third Division came in at 5 o’clock in the evening and relieved our brigade. A detail from the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry furnished the picket guards to relieve our post where I was on guard with Corporal McBirney and Privates John Esher and George Eicher, all of my company. We are all glad to leave this place, as it is low, damp and unhealthy, which with the smallpox makes it a bad camp.

The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context.

Washington Sunday Jan’y 11^th 1863

Attended religious service in the Senate Chamber this morning. If the service was not so very interesting, one can endure even a dull sermon while lolling in a Senatorial chair. Chaplin Stockton held forth in the other chamber. The crossings are very muddy since the rain of last night, but the weather has not been unpleasant today. We had roast goose with celery and a variety of vegitables for dinner, had a talk at dinner with Johnson of the “Light Brigade.” He gave me a minute account of the “Charge.” Only 180 men rode out of the scrape, near one hundred afterwards straggled in who were not wounded, the bal. were killed and wounded. He (Johnson) had his horse killed and got a shot through the leg. I was down to Willards this evening an hour or so. Always see a number there that I know who tell me the news if there is any. Was told by Maj Chase that the Rebels are reported to have retaken Galveston Texas with 600 prisoners and the Steamer Harriet Lane. I think it is a “Secesh” lie. There is a great deal of growling among the shirking officers and soldiers about the War. They are “tired of fighting for the Nigger.” I think Mr Lincoln intended to give the Rebels a hard blow by his Proclamation of freedom, careing less about abolishing Slavery than crushing the Rebellion. Interested and short sighted men declare it is all for the abolition of Slavery. Went over on to 9^th Street and spent an hour with Cha^s & Sallie. A lady from Gloucester Mass presented her with a $15.00 Photograph Album. Her son was in Cha^s Hospital. They had been spending the afternoon at Father Woodwards with the baby, which is growing fat rapidly.

JANUARY 11th.—The message of Gov. Seymour, of New York, if I am not mistaken in its import and purposes, will have a distracting effect on the subjugation programme of the government at Washington. I shall look for riots, and perhaps rebellions and civil wars in the North.

Mr. Stanley, ycleped Governor of North Carolina, has written a letter (dated 31st December) to Gen. French, complaining that our soldiery have been guilty of taking slaves from their humane and loyal masters in Washington County, against their will; and demanding a restoration of them to their kind and beneficent owners, to whom they are anxious to return. Gen. French replies that he will do so very cheerfully, provided the United States authorities will return the slaves they have taken from masters loyal to the Confederate States. These may amount to 100,000. And he might have added that on the next day all—4,000,000—were to be emancipated, so far as the authority of the United States could accomplish it.

The enemy’s gun-boats (two) came up the York River last week, and destroyed an oyster boat. Beyond the deprivation of oysters, pigs, and poultry, we care little for these incursions.

Saturday, 10th.—Passed Tuscaloosa 2 P. M. Main streets very wide, with nice row of shade trees through centre of each street.

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

10th. Saturday. Robinson and I issued rations for ten days. Col. Abbey went home on the morning train, also Dan Arnold. In the afternoon had baked beans. Capt. Nettleton returned. Left Melissa with his friends near Delaware. Charlie F. returned.

Saturday, 10th–Two trains loaded with provisions came through on the railroad from Memphis, and we drew five days’ full rations. This was the first time that we drew full rations in forty days, but we have no way of drawing extra clothing, and our knapsacks in storage again failed to come today. The First Brigade passed by on its way to Memphis.