Friday, 23d–We continued our journey again at daylight and by evening reached a point about ten miles above Vicksburg, where we drove our fleet ashore and remained on the boats all night. Fully seventy-five boats loaded with troops are assembled here, while the fleet of gunboats is lying in the river two miles below us. [...]
JANUARY 23d.—The Northern papers are filled with what purports to be the intercepted correspondence of Mr. Benjamin with Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Lord John Russell is berated. The Emperor of France is charged with a design to seize Mexico as a colony, and to recognize Texas separately, making that State in effect a dependency, from [...]
Friday Jan’y 23rd 1863 It has been quite pleasant today overhead but muddy and bad at the crossings of the streets. No particular news from the Army or from any other quarter. Congress seems disposed to meet Mr Chases views and I think that his financial scheme will be adopted in the main. That is [...]
Thursday, 22.—Crossed another swamp one and one-half miles wide. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Camp Reed, Jackson, Tenn., January 22, 1863. I received your four-volume letter of the 5th, 12th, 13th inst. last night, and return you my sincere thanks for the time and writing material you expended in my behalf. I suppose that you now understand why you did not receive my letters. You ask me how I [...]
Thursday, 22d January. What a rush of visitors last night! One would imagine they had all come by appointment, expressly to have an impromptu dance, which they certainly enjoyed, by the way. There was little Captain C––, the Susceptible and Simple, who so innocently says “I seen” and “I done it,” without the faintest suspicion [...]
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 [...]
Washington Thursday Jan’y 22nd 1863 Another chilly, wet, misty, muddy day. It has passed off very quietly. But we were somewhat startled to learn tonight that Maj Genl Fitz John Porter was “cashiered and dismissed from the Service.” The verdict of the court is said to have been unanimous. McDowell will come out better. There [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Washington Wednesday Jan’y 21st 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 [...]
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 [...]
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; [...]
Washington Tuesday Jan’y 20th 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 138th. Fort Gaines is a very small affair but is [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]