Goldsboro, N. C., March 25, 1864. We were two days coming back here from Bennettsville; and have Sherman’s receipt for another campaign and his promise of a little rest. Have a nice camp ground and will enjoy ourselves, I think.
MARCH 25th.—Raining moderately. Yesterday Mr. Miles, member of Congress from South Carolina, received a dispatch from Charleston, signed by many of the leading citizens, protesting against the removal of 52 companies of cavalry from that department to Virginia. They say so few will be left that the railroads, plantations, and even the City of Charleston [...]
March 25th. Marching orders received to report at regimental headquarters, Camp Hill, Bolivar Heights, near Harper’s Ferry. A cold rain storm on at this time. On account of a hard cold, with a number of others, went to Harper’s Ferry by cars. There met by ambulance and rode to camp. My first ride in an [...]
Scottsboro, Ala, March 24, 1864. Two months and twenty-four days without changing camp; which is the longest time our tents have covered one piece of ground since we organized. We have marched, though, some 35 days during this time, and some such marching. Whew! I think I never suffered on a march as I did [...]
MARCH 24th.—A bright pleasant day—snow nearly gone. Next week the clerks in the departments, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, are to be enrolled, and perhaps the greater number will be detailed to their present employments. Gov. Vance is here, and the President is about to appoint some of his friends brigadiers, which is [...]
March 24th.–Yesterday, we went to the Capitol grounds to see our returned prisoners. We walked slowly up and down until Jeff Davis was called upon to speak. There I stood, almost touching the bayonets when he left me. I looked straight into the prisoners’ faces, poor fellows. They cheered with all their might, and I [...]
MARCH 23d.—Snow fell all night, and was eight or ten inches deep this morning; but it was a bright morning, and glorious sunshine all day,—the anniversary of the birth of Shakspeare, 300 years ago,—and the snow is melting rapidly. The Secretary of War had a large amount of plate taken from the department to-day to [...]
MARCH 22d.—Cloudy morning, with ice; subsequently a snowstorm all day long. No war news. But meat and grain are coming freely from the South. This gives rise to a rumor that Lee will fall back, and that the capital will be besieged; all without any foundation. A Mrs. _____ from Maryland, whose only son is [...]
MARCH 21st.—Although cloudy, there was ice this morning, and cold all day. Yesterday another thousand prisoners were brought up by the flag of truce boat. A large company of both sexes welcomed them in the Capitol Square, whither some baskets of food were sent by those who had some patriotism with their abundance. The President [...]
Scottsboro, Ala., March 20, 1864. What under the sun can I tell you that will interest you. That it is intolerably dull, bah! Have just had a long visit from Lieutenant Colonel Wright, now army assistant inspector general of the division, and Lieutenant Van Dyke, A. D. C., to our new commander, General Harrow. The [...]
MARCH 20th.Bright and beautiful weather. There are fires occurring now every night; and several buildings have been burned in the immediate vicinity of the War Department. These are attributed to incendiary Yankees, and the guard at the public offices has been doubled. Mrs. Seddon, wife of the Secretary of War, resolved not to lose more [...]
March 20th. Sunday. Detailed for picket duty. Posted about two miles up the river, between the river and the canal, on the tow path. Our company, C, and the Loudon Rangers ordered to ford the river for a scout into Virginia. Returned quite late. Nothing important obtained. Bad time of the year to ford rivers. [...]
MARCH 19th.—Warmer, calm and cloudy. I saw a large turkey to-day in market (wild), for which $100 was demanded. I saw Dr. Powell to-day. He says the Federals asked his servants where the master and mistress had gone? and they were told that they had been called to Petersburg to see a sick daughter. They [...]
March 19th. L. A. Manning and I off duty. Weather being fine, we decided to take a long walk out into the country. Passed a few farm houses. Came to a small school house where we heard the music of a violin. Looking at the building and listening to the music, a gentleman came out [...]
March 19th.–A new experience: Molly and Lawrence have both gone home, and I am to be left for the first time in my life wholly at the mercy of hired servants. Mr. Chesnut, being in such deep mourning for his mother, we see no company. I have a maid of all work. Tudy came with [...]
MARCH 18th.—Bright and warmer, but windy. Letters received at the department to-day, from Georgia, show than only one-eighth of the capacity of the railroads have been used for the subsistence of the army. The rogues among the multitude of quartermasters have made fortunes themselves, and almost ruined the country. It appears that there is abundance [...]
March 18th. Nothing important has taken place during the past few days. Weather very good, but very cold nights along the Potomac. Out among the farmers buying straw for our tents. Ground too cold to sleep on. Try to keep comfortable, large campfires kept burning nights and days. When too cold to sleep sit around [...]
MARCH 17th.—Bright, clear, and pleasant; frosty in the morning. Letters from Lieut.-Gen. Hood to the President, Gen Bragg, and the Secretary of War, give a cheering account of Gen. Johnston’s army at Dalton. The men are well fed and well clothed. They are in high spirits, “and eager for the fray.” The number is 40,000. [...]
MARCH 16th.—There was ice last night. Cold all day. Gen. Maury writes that no immediate attack on Mobile need be apprehended now. He goes next to Savannah to look after the defenses of that city. The Examiner to-day publishes Gen. Jos. E. Johnston’s report of his operations in Mississippi last summer. He says the disaster [...]
Scottsboro, Ala., March 15, 1864. I am again on court martial duty, with a prospect of a long siege; but we have an experienced President and a Judge Advocate who promises to be a fast worker; so we may get through quicker than we anticipated. The President, Colonel Heath, 100th Indiana, is a Bob Ingersoll [...]
MARCH 15th.—A clear, cool morning; but rained in the evening. By the correspondence of the department, I saw to-day that 35,000 bushels of corn left North Carolina nearly a week ago for Lee’s army, and about the same time 400,000 pounds of bacon was in readiness to be shipped from Augusta, Ga. At short rations, [...]
March 15th.–Old Mrs. Chesnut is dead. A saint is gone and James Chesnut is broken-hearted. He adored his mother. I gave $375 for my mourning, which consists of a black alpaca dress and a crape veil. With bonnet, gloves, and all it came to $500. Before the blockade such things as I have would not [...]
MARCH 14th.—Bright, pleasant day. The city is full of generals—Lee and his son (the one just returned from captivity), Longstreet, Whiting, Wise, Hoke, Morgan (he was ordered by Gen. Cooper to desist from his enterprise in the West), Evans, and many others. Some fourteen attended St. Paul’s (Episcopal) Church yesterday, where the President worships. Doubtless [...]
March 14th. Cold, disagreeable morning. All quiet along the Potomac at this place. Received a number of letters from friends at home. These letters bring much comfort to a fellow. Some of our boys are being appointed officers in the colored regiments. These regiments must have white commissioned officers. L. A. Manning and I, of [...]
MARCH 13th.—A lovely spring day–bright, warm, and calm. There is nothing new, only the burning of houses, mills, etc. on the York River by the Yankees, and that is nothing new. Subsequently the day became very windy, but not cold. The roads will be dry again, and military operations will be resumed. The campaign will [...]