Update: As readers have pointed out in the comments, this entry is obviously dated wrong.  The battle at Shiloh is still in the not-to-distant future. MARCH 31st.—Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is to command on the Peninsula. The President took an affectionate leave of him the other day; and Gen. Lee held his hand a long [...]

Monday, 31st–Our regular drills are: Company drill from 10 to 11 a. m., battalion drill from 3 to 5 p. m., and dress parade at 5 p. m. We have a splendid drill ground in a large field. Received orders to get ready for review by General Grant tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock. The country [...]

March 31st. Discovered a portion of a submarine telegraph cable across the river directly under our ship. The cable was destroyed, and a sample brought on board ship.

31st. In the morning read in “Ivanhoe.” Learned to play whist, pleasant game, but unprofitable as all cards are–will not allow myself to play. Rainy and cool.

31st.–To-day, whilst all were expecting orders to move forward, I received orders to build a log hospital. – What can this mean? The weather is beautiful, roads good, troops in fine condition, warm weather coming on, and here we are preparing as for a summer’s stay. God help us and our little General, but put [...]

Sunday March 30th This has been a cold rainy day, as uncomfortable for the soldiers as could well be. It rained so hard that none of us went to church in the morning. Wife and the boys went in the afternoon. I have not been out, staid in the house reading. ______ The three diary [...]

MARCH 30th.—Gen. Lee is to have command of all the armies—but will not be in the field himself. He will reside here. Congress passed an act to create a commanding general; but this was vetoed, for trenching on the executive prerogative—or failed in some way. The proceedings were in secret session.

Sunday, 30th–This is our first Sunday in camp in the “Sunny South.” We had company inspection with all accouterments on, by the colonel of our regiment, Colonel Hare.

30th. Sunday. Brigade review, Second Ohio Cavalry, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry and Rabb’s Battery practiced with guns. Helped foot up officers account with Q. M. Received and answered a good letter from Fannie.

30th–Slept in the open air again last night; it rained, and I awoke in a pool of water. Strange that we do not take cold from such exposure. I never felt better, and I notice that very few of the soldiers take cold from any amount of exposure at this season of the year.

29th.—After much anxiety, more authentic information from the “Valley” received this morning. We gave them a good fight, but the field was left in the enemy’s hand. Poor, noble Winchester, to what degradation is she brought! Our dear W. B. C. was shot through the hip; the wound painful, but not mortal; he was carried [...]

Saturday, 29th–A large detail from the brigade was sent to cut and clear away some timber between Jones’ Field and a small field just to the south, so as to throw the two fields together, making it possible for the First Division to form a continuous line to be reviewed by the commanding general of [...]

March 29th. Had a good bath in the creek, and washed my clothes–new experience. Very warm and sultry.

March 29th. Nothing of importance is occurring now-a-days to mark one day from another. Yesterday, Capt. Bell, with the gunboats Kennebeck, Wissahickon and Winona, ascended the river to the forts, when Fort Jackson opened fire on them, and after firing about one hundred rounds at us our vessels hauled off. They discovered the position of [...]

From Mother’s Journal. Saturday, March 29. To camp again. Snow-storm. Stayed at Mrs. Bright’s cottage Saturday night and drove up to camp on Sunday. Service in hospital tent, Dr. Miller, of the 16th, and Dr. Adams, of the 5th Maine, officiating. Communion–about thirty soldiers and several officers partaking. Heavy and continual thunder, with everything outside [...]

29th.–We are in camp again, about two miles from Newport News. Nothing doing, and this gives me an opportunity to realize the condition of my hospital. Up to the time of our leaving Camp Griffin in the early part of this month, we had not in all our moves, lost to the amount of a [...]

by Horatio Nelson Taft Friday March 28th Very pleasant today. Streets quite dry & dusty. A great movement of troops. A stream of men and Govt Wagons have been going down 14th St for a number of hours. The Divisions of Genl Keyes and Casey, 10,000 or 12,000 each, have moved for Alexandria to embark. [...]

Point Pleasant, Mo., March 28, 1862. There isn’t a thing to write only that they keep up the infernal “boom, boom,” with their cannons all day and night long. It’s perfectly disgusting the way they waste powder and iron without killing anyone. They have knocked every house in town to flinders, and round shot and [...]

MARCH 28th.—Mr. Benjamin has been promoted. He is now Secretary of State. His successor in the War Department is G. W. Randolph, a lawyer of modest pretensions, who, although he has lived for several years in this city, does not seem to have a dozen acquaintances. But he inherits a name, being descended from Thomas [...]

Friday, 28th–It is warm and dry—it is delightful. There is nothing of importance going on. Our camp is well protected on the left by the Tennessee river and by Owl creek on our right flank. Most of the camp ground lies high and just rolling enough to keep the ground dry. Our camp—the First Brigade [...]

28th. No letters for poor me. Read the latest papers. Rode over with Nettleton for the mail. The boys set the prairie on fire in several places, making one of the grandest sights I ever saw. Slept last night out of doors on the ground with Nettleton.

Friday March 28th Very pleasant today. Streets quite dry & dusty. A great movement of troops. A stream of men and Govt Wagons have been going down 14th St for a number of hours. The Divisions of Genl Keyes and Casey, 10,000 or 12,000 each, have moved for Alexandria to embark. Doct David called about [...]

March 28th.–I did leave with regret Maum Mary. She was such a good, well-informed old thing. My Molly, though perfection otherwise, does not receive the confidential communications of new-made generals at the earliest moment. She is of very limited military information. Maum Mary was the comfort of my life. She saved me from all trouble [...]

28th.–Slept on the ground last night, my saddle for a pillow. Greatly to the chagrin of all of us, after having driven in the enemy’s pickets yesterday, we fell back a mile or two, and to-day fall back about seven miles. “The King of France, with 40,000 men, Marched up the hill, and then marched [...]