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.

April 5th. Governor Wm. A. Buckingham reelected. Pleasing to the boys in blue. The body of William Town, Company A, having arrived, was given a military funeral by the regiment in Greenville, Norwich. Bought one dollar’s worth of postage stamps. Writing letters is one of the pleasing features of the army life. Orders for our return tomorrow. All members must assemble here tomorrow morning.

April, Tuesday 5, 1864

I was awakened at daylight by a servant with a note from Miss Hudson who has succeeded in getting all she wants out of Memphis, and promised to take the things I had for Mrs. Hudson to her. I regreted not having all the things through the lines, but sent what I had—Although awakened, I did not think it too late to take a nice little nap—which thanks to Laura lasted until 10 o’clock. Breakfast I have no taste for, yet as Laura brought it to my room, I tried to treat it with politeness—

Nannie, Helen and Father were all gone to the funeral of Mrs. Barton’s little girl. I spent the remainder of the morning alone, met all at dinner, no deffinite news, some say Forrest has returned, I think though tis only prisoners sent through—Sewed some today, all together a dull, lonely time. Tip and Laura as usual asleep—I thinking, and wondering when I can be relieved—God be with me, Guide, protect and make me a christian—

APRIL 5th.—Cold rain all night and all day; wind northwest.

The Quartermaster-General now recommends that no furloughs be given, so as to devote the railroads to the transportation of grain to Virginia.

The Commissary-General again informs the Secretary of War, to-day, that unless the passenger trains were discontinued, the army could not be subsisted, and Richmond and all Virginia might have to be abandoned, and the country might be pillaged by our own soldiers. Not a word against the Southern (Yankee) Express Company.

Our prospects are brighter than they have been for many a day, and the enemy are doomed, I think, to a speedy humiliation.

I saw a note to-day from Mr. Memminger stating his fears that the amount of Treasury notes funded will not exceed $200,000,000, leaving $600,000,000 still in circulation! It is true, some $300,000,000 might be collected in taxes, if due vigilance were observed,—but will it be observed? He says he can make between $2,000,000 and $3,000,000 of the new currency per day. If this be done, the redundancy will soon be as great as ever. Nothing but success in the field will prevent an explosion and repudiation of the currency, sooner or later.

4th. Went to town with Tom Wood. Worked all day and finally succeeded in getting two loads of clothing. Very rainy and unpleasant. Teams got lost. Worried Tom–misunderstanding.

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 when we started into the service together.

APRIL 4th.—A cold rain all day; wind from northwest.

Mr. Ould and Capt. Hatch, agents of exchange (of prisoners), have returned from a conference with Gen. Butler, at Fortress Monroe, and it is announced that arrangements have been made for an immediate resumption of the exchange of prisoners on the old footing. Thus has the government abandoned the ground so proudly assumed—of non-intercourse with Butler, and the press is firing away at it for negotiating with the “Beast” and outlaw. But our men in captivity are in favor of a speedy exchange, no matter with whom the agreement is made.

Forrest has destroyed Paducah, Ky.

There is a little quarrel in progress between the Secretaries of War and the Treasury. Some days ago the Postmaster-General got from the President an order that his clerks should be detailed for the use of the department until further orders. The Secretary of the Treasury made an application to the Secretary of War for a similar detail, but it was refused. Mr. Memminger appealed, with some acerbity, to the President, and the President indorsed on the paper that the proper rule would be for the Secretary of War to detail as desired by heads of departments. Nevertheless, the clerks were detailed but for thirty days, to report at the Camp of Instruction, if the detail were not renewed. To-day Mr. Memminger addresses a note to Mr. Seddon, inquiring if it was his purpose to hold his clerks liable to perform military duty after the expiration of the thirty days, and declaring that the incertitude and inconvenience of constantly applying for renewal of details, deranged and obstructed the business of his department. I know not yet what answer Mr. S. made, but doubtless a breach exists through which one or both may pass out of the cabinet. The truth is, that all clerks constitutionally appointed are legally exempt, and it is the boldest tyranny to enroll them as conscripts. But Mr. Memminger has no scruples on that head. All of them desire to retain in “soft places” their own relatives and friends, feeling but little sympathy for others whose refugee families are dependent on their salaries.

On Saturday, the cavalry battalion for local defense, accepted last summer by the President, were notified on parade that 20 days would be allowed them to choose their companies in the army, and if the choice were not made, they would be assigned to companies. They protested against this as despotic, but there is no remedy.

April, Monday 4, 1864

The days now passing are of so much paine and unhappiness to me, it is with the greatest difficulty I can have patience at night to make a record of my sad life. The weather today as gloomy as my feelings—cold and drizzling. Anna Nelson spent the morning, I went in to sit with her, did not stay long—oh! for happiness and peace—there is no love or sympathy for me there. I did not sit in the Parlor long after Tea—Father retired early—Laura and Bettie had a very good lesson—Laura now deep in slumber. Tippie Dora in bed asleep, but my poor Beulah, alas, the best of friends must part—I am alone, all alone, there is a mournful spell in the heart echo of that simple word, even when it bounds through the warm blood of youth!—I have thought until my brain feels like a burning fire—it is 1 o’clock, yet where is sleep or rest for my weary spirit—oh! heavenly Father, have I not suffered enough—remove this trouble, and if I am not humble then return it to me. Oh! try me once again, bless me and brighten my hopes—and guide and lead me in the paths of Righteousness.

Huntsville, Ala., April 3, 1864.

Thunder, lightning and rain are having a little time by themselves outdoors to-night. No audience, but guards and government mules, but that don’t seem to affect the show. We have a right good hotel here, a rather lively party, and have spent a pleasant, highly gaseous evening, Colonel Oglesby, Dr. Morris and Captain Wilkinson of our division. We came down on two days’ leave, principally to see the place, but all having more or less business. Found Will Trites this a.m.; dined with him, and this afternoon four of us have been riding. I enjoyed it very much. Had good horses, and ’tis a beautiful town. I think the finest I have seen South; but nothing near what Decatur, Bloomington, Quincy and a dozen other Illinois towns promise to be when they have half its age. In the cemetery there are as many really fine monuments as there were in the Chicago cemetery in 1859, and should think it not more than half the size of the new Canton graveyard. Our soldiers have been registering their names on the finest of the monuments. It looks so sacrilegious, and fully as ridiculous. They have a beautiful custom here of placing wreaths of flowers and bouquets upon the graves. This p.m. (Sabbath) nearly every grave had one or more such offerings. I attended the Presbyterian church this a.m., and certainly never heard the English language so abused before. The minister was a citizen. Did not by a word allude to the war in sermon or prayers. Most of the ladies wore mourning. Very full attendance of them. All who refused the “oath” here, have been sent across the river. Saw General McPherson at breakfast this morning looking as of old. We were paid four months last Thursday.

April 3rd. Sunday. Went to town and receipted for clothing. A rainy unpleasant day.

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.

Getty’s Station.

April 3. This is a station on the Seaboard and Roanoke railroad; the camp ground lies between the station and the Nansemond river. The camp is named Camp Wellington in honor of a gentleman of that name in the city of Worcester, Mass., but I reckon if he could see this camp he would not feel very highly honored. It is the worst ground we have ever camped on, being little else than a mud hole. I have slept out in the woods ever since we came here, but we are getting it drained and the tents stockaded, but by the time we get it habitable we shall have to leave it.

April 3d. Sunday. Attended church and Sunday School at Hanover, New London County, where I spent my boyhood days.

APRIL 3d.—The snow has disappeared; but it is cloudy, with a cold northwest wind. The James River is very high, and all the streams are so much swollen that no military operations in the field are looked for immediately. It is generally believed that Grant, the Federal lieutenant-general, will concentrate an immense army for the capture of Richmond, and our authorities are invoked to make the necessary dispositions to resist the attempt.

The papers contain a supplemental proclamation of President Lincoln, and understand it to be merely an electioneering card to secure the Abolition vote in the convention to nominate a candidate for the Presidency. If it does not mean that, its object must be to induce us to send an army North to burn and pillage, so that the Federal authorities may have a pretext to raise new armies, and prosecute the war, not for the Union, but for conquest and power.

Custis and I received yesterday $500 in the new Treasury notes, but we had to pay $16 for two pounds of bacon. So no diminution of prices is yet experienced. It is now a famine, although I believe we are starving in the midst of plenty, if it were only equally distributed. But the government will not, it seems, require the railroads to bring provisions to the exclusion of freight for the speculators. Certain non-combating officers of the government have abundance brought them by the Southern Express Co., and the merchants have abundance of goods brought hither by the same company for the purposes of speculation. Well, we shall see the result! One is almost ready to believe that the government declines to fill the depots here, harboring the purpose of abandoning the city. That would be abandonment of the cause. Nearly all who own no slaves would remain citizens of the United States, if permitted, without further molestation on the part of the Federal authorities, and many Virginians in the field might abandon the Confederate States army. The State would be lost, and North Carolina and Tennessee would have an inevitable avalanche of invasion precipitated upon them. The only hope would be civil war in the North, a not improbable event. What could they do with four millions of negroes arrogating equality with the whites?

April, Sunday 3, 1864

This has been a sad and lonely day for me—I miss my poor Beulah so much. Tippie Dora has not come tonight, so Laura and I are all alone. Tate, Joanna, Nannie, Robert, and Uncle Elum all went to Church. Father went up to Mr. Hildebrand’s, Helen was at home, spent the morning in her own room. My sainted Mother, how different from what you wished, to see your two youngest  born so widely separated, both in thought & feeling—it is not my fault, I pine for a companion, yet she is happier with those of her choice—

I spent the morning in Father’s big chair, reading. I read the book of Romans, Father returned but had no news. We have not heard from Forrest since he crossed the Cumberland at Eddyville. God grant us success throughout the State, and return my Bro safe to us once again. I spent the morning alone, grieving for my lost friend—just one week ago this eve I had a long walk, with her as companion, but now I, oh! it makes no difference to any one but myslef, why do I thus complain. A hard storm of rain and wind is raging. Laura learning her lesson. Bettie did not come tonight. Father of mercy give me hope, brighten my life, oh! give me a companion, or my mind is lost. Thy will, not mine oh! Lord be done—Tip just arrived

2nd. Got up some straw and forage. A rainy day. Slept with Bill in Q. M. Dept.

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 the roads are very muddy yet, and there is no news of any importance.

April 2nd, 1864.—We did a mean thing yesterday. It being “all fools day”, we issued invitations to a favored few to supper. Then we went to work to play a joke on them. We induced Betsey, who keeps house for the Donelsons, to help us. We made pies, beautiful looking pies, but they were filled with cotton instead of fruit. Green corn had just filled out enough to eat, so we had corn fritters, but cotton was shredded through and through the tempting looking brown cakes. We had hot biscuits, but they, too, were tough and unfit to eat because of the cotton kneaded in the dough. A beautiful bowl of salad graced the centre of the table, but instead of lettuce, hoarhound had been used. Now Mother would never have let us do this but Aunt Margaret is very indulgent and allows her daughters to do pretty much as they please. The company arrived, three young ladies and three soldiers from Camp Randolph. We took our seats at the table and Aunt Margaret made the coffee and the dishes were handed to the guests. It was only when we saw the blank expression on their faces that we understood what an unkind prank. we had played.

Aunt Margaret arose to the occasion—Betsey must have whispered in her mistress’ ear, for she touched the bell, which sat beside her plate and Rose and Chatity came in and removed the dishes, which we had come to hate by this time, and Betsey followed, with old Aunt Prudy in the rear, with a truly good supper, a more bountiful one than we had provided and far better. Oh, how we thanked. Aunt Margaret and she did not scold us one bit.

Susan Bradford is 18 years old when this entry was made.

April, Saturday 2, 1864

Ever memorable and (to me ) sad day. I was awakened this morning by the pitious howl of poor Fosco—as I feared when Beulah left the room, they all killed seven sheep last night. Uncle Elum knocked Fosco in the head, Beulah ran to my room, thereby saving her life—Father sent for her, and then came for her—but oh! he knew not what he asked—to give my dog—my best friend—my Beulah, who had so often defended me in danger, my only protector in the dead hour of night—to drive her from my side, to be murdered. I would as soon thought of kneeling myself on the block, as to see my best friend. Father positively forbid my takeing her off—I hope God will forgive me for the disobedience, but I was obliged to do it. Mary Robinson and Joe Smith took her to Memphis in the buggy to Ed and Rhoda. I know they will love her—none of them sympathise or appreciate the sorrow it gave me to part with poor Beulah. Old Wright’s drunken son has been prowling all over the place tonight, shot Ben’s dog, Edmondson’s battery both white and black started after him, met him in the lane, he cocked his gun and flourished it—cowardly dog, sneaked off after that. Laura, Tip and I all alone, oh! my poor, poor Beulah, how can I do without you—

APRIL 2d.—It rained furiously all night; wind northwest, and snowed to-day until 12 to a depth of several inches. It is still blowing a gale from the northwest.

To-day the clerks were paid in the new currency; but I see no abatement of prices from the scarcity of money, caused by funding. Shad are selling at $10 each, paper; or 50 cents, silver. Gold and silver are circulating—a little.

A letter from Liberty, Va., states that government bacon (tithe) is spoiling, in bulk, for want of attention.

From Washington County there are complaints that Gen. Longstreet’s impressing officers are taking all, except five bushels of grain and fifty pounds of bacon for each adult—a plenty, one would think, under the circumstances.

Senator Hunter has asked and obtained a detail for Mr. Daudridge (under eighteen) as quartermaster’s clerk. And Mr. Secretary Seddon has ordered the commissary to let Mrs. Michie have sugar and flour for her family, white and black.

Mr. Secretary Benjamin sent over, to-day, for passports to the Mississippi River for two “secret agents.” What for?

Gen. Lee has made regulations to prevent cotton, tobacco, etc. passing his lines into the enemy’s country, unless allowed by the government. But, then, several in authority will “allow” it without limit.

I set out sixty-eight early cabbage-plants yesterday. They are now under the snow!

April 1st. Moved camp over the railroad, three-quarters of a mile. Went to town and got camp and G. equipage, and hay and wood.

April 1.–Grandfather had decided to go to New York to attend the fair given by the Sanitary Commission, and he is taking two immense books, which are more than one hundred years old, to present to the Commission, for the benefit of the war fund.

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.

April 1.—My diary has been somewhat neglected, for after looking over commissary accounts for six hours in the day, and attending to home or hospital duties in the afternoon, I am too much wearied to write much at night. There are reports of movements in the armies which portend bloody work as the season advances. Oh that the Lord may have us in his holy keeping!

We continue quite comfortable at home. Of course provisions are scarce; but, thanks to our country friends and relatives, we have never been obliged to give up meat entirely. My brother-in-law, Mr. N., has lately sent us twelve hams, so that we are much better supplied than most persons. Groceries are extremely high. “We were fortunate in buying ten pounds of tea, when it only sold for $22 per pound. Coffee now sells for $12, and brown sugar at $10 per pound. White sugar is not to be thought of by persons of moderate means. Milk is very scarce and high, so that we have only had it once for many months; and we, the Colonel, Mr. –– , and myself, are very glad to get a cup of tea, night and morning, sweetened with brown sugar, and without milk or cream. Before the war we would have scorned it, but [continue reading…]