January 6th. Last night, while on guard duty, I was taken suddenly ill. Had to be relieved from duty. Placed in an old barn, used for a field hospital, with a leaky old roof, the rain coming down on me. Colonel, I was informed, came to the barn, saw my condition, ordered me carried to [...]

6th. Delos returned from town and told me of his visit with his sister. Sent my regards and explanation. John got into the guard house for being away without a pass. R. and I went to Mr. Bateham’s, met Libbie Kinney, Will Rice and sister, and Miss Cohen. Went to meeting in the evening, concert [...]

January.–Grandmother went to Aunt Mary Carr’s to tea to-night, very much to our surprise, for she seldom goes anywhere. Anna said she was going to keep house exactly as Grandmother did, so after supper she took a little hot water in a basin on a tray and got the tea-towels and washed the silver and [...]

Tuesday, 6th–We received a large mail today, coming through from Memphis, and it is quite jolly in camp. Besides this, our teams returned from Memphis with loads of provisions, and we hope soon to have something more to eat. A report was circulated in camp today that peace had been declared, but no one takes [...]

Washington Tuesday Jan’y 6th 1863 The weather has been delightfuly warm, dry & pleasant every day since the New Year came in until today. It has rained all the afternoon and I got some wet in comeing from the office without my umbrella. That article is a servant that is frequently absent when most wanted, [...]

JANUARY 6th.—To-day we are all down again. Bragg has retreated from Murfreesborough. It is said he saved his prisoners, captured cannon, etc., but it is not said what became of his own wounded. The Northern papers say they captured 500 prisoners in the battle, which they claim as a victory. I do not know how [...]

Monday 5th.—Crossed Little Warrior 12 M; camped on south side Gurley’s Creek. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Washington Monday Jan’y 5th 1863 Great excitement in the City tonight. We are Victorious at Murfreesboro. A dispatch has been rcd from Rosecrans setting the matter at rest and I breathe easier again. And we also hear that in all probability Vicksburgh is in our possession. All our news from the South West is highly [...]

5th. Monday. In the morning George Fairchild called. Pleasant visit. After my work Rob and I rode to the city. Took up my pants for stripes. Got me a vest. Called at Neil House. Phoebe not in. Sorry. Muddy, and I had a servant black my boots! Rode back disconsolate and disappointed.

Monday, 5th–A report came to camp that the forces under Sherman made an unsuccessful attack upon Vicksburg.[1] We are shut out of communications now as well as of provisions; we have had no mail for a month. [1] They failed because of the strong fortifications and the fact that Grant failed to make his attack [...]

JANUARY 5th.—We learn from Gen. Bragg that the enemy did not retire far on the 2d inst., but remain still in the vicinity of Murfreesborough. He says, however, that our cavalry are still circling the Yankees, taking prisoners and destroying stores. During the day an absurd rumor was invented, to the effect that Bragg had [...]

Sunday, 4th.—Marched five miles to Little Warrior River; water bound. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Sunday January 4th 1863.Washington D.C. A painful suspense have we all been left in today in reference to the “great Battle” reported in Tennessee. The “Sunday Morning Chronicle” has nothing definite as to the result. This Silence is rather ominous of evil, good news travels faster than that over the wires. But the wires may [...]

January 4, 1863. There I quit, for we received orders to get ready at once to march to Jackson, Tenn. The colonel ordered me to take charge of the train (wagons) and with my company guard it through by the wagon road, while the other nine companies went through by railroad. The regiment got off [...]

Sunday morning, January 4th. This morning, at ten thirty, prayers were read on the quarter-deck, after which a general muster of the crew took place. To-day we received a mail from home by the U. S. steamer Circassian.

Sunday, January 4th. One just from Baton Rouge tells us that my presentiment about our house is verified; Yankees do inhabit it, a Yankee colonel and his wife. They say they look strangely at home on our front gallery, pacing up and down. . . . And a stranger and a Yankee occupies our father’s [...]

4th. Sunday. Stayed at home and read the Independent and newspapers. Passed the day very quietly. Wrote a letter home.

Sunday, 4th–I was on picket again today. A work train came in from Memphis, and four trains passed through going to Memphis; but none of them brought provisions, and as our provisions are so low, the division quartermaster sent all the teams to Memphis to bring provisions.

JANUARY 4th.—We have nothing additional from Murfreesborough, but it is ascertained that the bridges burned by the enemy on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad cannot be repaired in a month. It really does seem that some potent and malign influence, resident at the capital, some high functionary, by some species of occultation, controlling the action [...]

Jane, Sarah Woolsey and G. were meantime nicely established at the hospital six miles from Newport, R. I., with a jolly little thin board house built for the nursing staff; their rooms 10 x 10, furnished from home with every comfort, and work fairly begun. Jane Stuart Woolsey to Abby Howland Woolsey: PORTSMOUTH GROVE, January, [...]

January 3d. To-day, at one o’clock, we were honored with a visit from Major-General Banks and Brigadier-General Weitzel.

3rd. Saturday. Besides my daily work, did little. Took up checks and distributed them. Col. Abbey made me a present of a pair of government pantaloons. I was pleased with the kindness. Heard that Phoebe (Haynes) was in town.

Saturday, 3d–A work train came in from Corinth today, and troops are coming in from the front. It is said they are bound for Memphis where they will take transports down the river, to go into camp just above Vicksburg. The Fifteenth Iowa left camp here and took up quarters down in Lafayette.

Washington Saturday Jan’y 3, 1863 We could not have finer weather, the air is soft and balmy as May. It is much like a northern Indian summer. The same blue haze rests upon the horizon. The roads and fields are dry and everything (out doors) invites one to make an excursion. But the beautiful groves [...]