Camp Brownlow Frederick City MD, 1861

 

1861

Jan 1^st

Wensday         I stayed in camp all day, was quite sick & spent a verry dull New Years the wind blew verry hard, but was quite warm. in the eveing the wind blew a perfect hurricane blew down Johnsons store & cook shanty. I thought certainly that our barracks would blow down but it came out all right.

2^d

Thursday         Feel some better to day but stayed in my bunk most all day. I am verry sore in my breast & verry lame in the back & cough verry a great deal guess I am getting the consumption. the Company out of rations. the Capt went down town & bought some bread & balona sausages so we made out verry well. Received a letter from Jane Hart they was all well at home. Wrote to Sarah Snover.

Friday 3^d         Weather pleasent but a little cool the Co came from town. Great times about cooks I offered to cook for 50 cents per month from each man. Wrote to Hank in A.M. & wrote to Jane Hart in P.M. went to the postofice & got Co G mail. I did not get a letter felt verry much disappointed 7 oclock PM Simons is fiddeling & the boys are all danceing & haveing a good time in general. Some are playing cards some reading novels others news paper while some are trying to write to friends at home

Saturday 4^th     Weather clear & cold. it snowed dureing the last night about 1½ inches. Stayed in camp all day. Our cook shanty was built & the following cooks was choosen High Brigs Lorens Thompson & Cyrenius Van Dooges they agreed to cook for nothing

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

the boys are danceing & haveing a good time I sent some washing out by a coulered woeman. at 9 PM Capt Hubbard treated all the Co to an oyster supper & segares. when done the boys gave him 3 harty cheers as soon as the table was cleared off & then we enjoyed ourselves till 10½ oclock by danceing when we retired for the night.

Sat 5^th

Sunday            Our Co was detailed for picket. I was in Sergt Watsons squad & we were on duty to at Popes Corners & had a good time. I went with George Hawk to a private house and got dinner, which I done ample justice to for I was some hungry. we called in to a number of houses, with whome Hawk was acquainted. We called to Mr Forbles for a bout ½ hour & was introduced to his daughter Allice & I liked her appearance verry much she being the pretyest girl that I have seen in Frederick. We came to camp at 7 P.M. Great excitement in camp haveing received orders to cook 2 dayes rations & be ready to march. dureing the night it snowed about 2 inches.

Monday 6^th      It realy like winter this morning, the snow being about 2 inches deep & is quite cold.

Tuesday 7        Was on guard a supernumerary did not have to stand guard. received a letter from Tom Hart & answered it

Wensday 8^th    Our Company was on patrole duty down town I was in Sergt Edwards squad but he divided us in two squads Haskal Coats Aves Simons & my self went to geather & we had a good time went where we pleased & came when we got ready

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Thursday 9^th    Weather rainey, staid in camp all day wrote to Jane Hart & Almira Nugent

Friday 10^th      Rained all night & the mud is about ancle deep, all most impossable to get out doors. I wrote a letter to J L Hart Jane Hart & Sarah M Snover

Just got a letter from Jim Nugent all well at home. the evening passed away as usual with some cord playing some danceing a great deal of noise & after taps some of the boys presisted in makeing noise & the consequence was that Tom Cole & Charlie Hadie went to the guard house & took up their abode dureing the night

Saturday 11^th   Morning rather cloudy but but not cold with mud ancle deep. I wrote a letter to James H Nugent in A.M. the Orderly gave for orders for us to take particular pains in cleaning up for the inspector general was expected, but did not come.

Sunday 12^th     Our Company was detailed to on Provost Guard & we had a great time grub consisted of bread & cold boiled pork did not sleep any dureing the night the boyes raised Ned all night I had on the boxing gloves with John Hubbard Serl Picket Seym Beach, Abbert Bonner, Wallas Doge & all togeather I got waxed considerable, came off with my olifactory considerably skined also one cheek & with one black eye & my antagonist was not much better. But in the morning I found my self rather stiff about the arms & breast & so hoarse I could not speak.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Monday 13^th    Came off guard at 9½ oclock. the weather being some colder it dried the mud up some so we were able to get in camp without getting mud up to the___ a kne. Got some breakfast & then went to bed. I felt rather under the weather all day. in the PM about ½ the boys were tight

Tuesday 14      Still so hoarse I can not speak tryed to get a pass down town to get some medicine but no passes were given to any one. but after dress parade the Capt passed me out & I got some flax seed lemmon & some syrup & charly Rosenow made made some kind of a drink that tasted first rate. wrote to Sam Beach & to Hank Nugent

Wensday 15^th  Our Company was detailed on Picket duty & my squad went out to Popes & very good place for picketing. the women are verry clever. Capt Browns wife was thare from Baltimore & I like her appearance verry much. Received a letter from Jane came in camp at 7 P.M. & wrote a letter to Jane Hart

Thursday 16^th  Weather verry fair & pleasent. I was on guard was verry pleasent night. the moon shone verry bright. I stood three hours & called for the supernumerary. got a letter from Nancy Nugent

Friday 17^th      Weather fair & pleasent Staid in camp all day. Slept the most of the time

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Saturday 18^th   Weather rainey. Our Company was detailed for Picket, but on getting down to the Provost our Co had to stay on Provost duty & a madder set of men you never see. but we have nothing to do but keep our mouths shut & do our duty as a soldier of which I am hartily sick & shall be glad when I get through this war. I had a long talk with Haskal Coats about myne & Fathers affairs, which made me feel rather melencholy. It rained all day & night.

Sunday 19^th     Got in camp at 9¼ AM still raining but weather quite warm. I feel rather tired & sleepy but I must write to Nancie I got my hair cut & my face shaved by the barber in Co B. made arrangements to be shaved by the month & am to pay 50^cts per month. Staid in camp all day & felt rather lonesome. did not go to church on account of rain. took supper at Johnson had a good supper, which cheered me up some. In the evening Seym & I went in to Capt Hawleys quarters & had a good time playing the fiddle, Capt Hubbard was thare. wrote to Nancy received a letter from Ellen Phelps & one from

Monday 20^th    Rained all day. I stayed in camp all day. the mud is ancle deep & all most impossable to get arround. I received a letter from Ellen Phelps & Sallie Snover also one from Mary Phelps & Kittie Snover & a lock of her hair in returned for a picture I sent her. Great excitement about marching orders took supper at Johnsons & eat verry harty

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wensday 21^st

Tuesday          Still raining mixed with snow & mud in abundance Our Company was detailed on Picket & I was in the squad that went to the Eagle Hotel Joseph Topper proprietor. Sergt H. H. Edwards & Corporal E.V. W Moran in command of the squad. I took dinner & supper at the Hotel I think Topper a fine man for he used us firstrate & I shall remember him

Wensday 22^d   It has at last stoped raining & warmed up with a snow storm of about about ½ inch which made the mud still worse, so I had to stay in close quarters. took dinner to Johnsons, had a firstrate dinner & after wards I wrote a long letter to Sarah Snover & then cleaned my gun for pass time. We are anctiously waiting for the paymaster who we are looking for every day

Thursday 23^d  Was on guard arround camp No 2 3^d relief the weather was cold & disagreeable & plenty of mud which made it verry bad walking. But I managed to get along first rate & came out all right in the morning.

Friday 24^th      Came off guard at 9 oclock A.M. felt awful sleepy. went to bed & took a nap & got up at noon got a letter from Josie Jones a firstrate letter. I shall write to her to as soon as I can. it commenced snowing about dark & was quite cold. it put me in mind of a Wisconsin night. Received a letter from Almira Nugent & Sarah Snover in which they stated the snow was about two feet deep and was as cold as greenland. I took supper at Johnsons had a good supper

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Saturday 25^th   Weather damp & stormy snowed a little during the forenoon. Our Co was detailed on Patrole. I was in Frank Lees squad We arrested two of the Mass 12^th boys who were tight. we traveled the City all over, took dinner in an [?]ing saloon Frank treated the whole squad to dinner we had a little tussel with a Souave but came out all right

Sunday 26^th     Staid in camp all day felt some lonesome

Monday 27^th    Our Company went on Provost guard weather fair untill the evening when it rained some. Co C was on Patrole & they fetched in plenty of prisoners, for they are the meanest Co on the job. one Indiana boy was brought in drunk & was put in the black hole & soon after, three of the Maryland first Reg was brought in fighting tight & they were put in with one of the Indiana boy & they pitched on to him & kicked his head up awfuly before they could be stoped & the worst one was taken out & changed chained to a tree with a block of wood tied in his mouth & was kept in that position for six hours & then he was put in the dungeon all night without anything to eat. it served him right for he was a tough customer & a gritty fellow & as ugly as satan

Tuesday 28^th   Came to camp at 9 AM & was verry sleepy for I did not sleep a bit all night. I went to bed & slept till 2 PM. Got up to dinner & felt mean enough wrote a letter to Josie Jones, took breakfast at Jo Toppers had a good breakfast plenty of buckwheat cakes

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wensday 29^th  Weather stormy. Our Company was detailed on Picket Guard but in the morning we were marched up to the office & received our regular $26.00 from Uncle Sam & it made us feel first rate I paid up what little I owed so that my concience would be clear. I was in Sergt Watsons squad & Corporal Reed & Knapp, we stoped at Joseph Toppers but the Colonel came along & sent us up to a barn about 80 rods from there. we came to camp at 8½ oclock & the mud was deep enough to make good soft walking

Thursday 30^th  Raining like thunder & the mud is knee deep or less. I bought a set of pictures for which I paid $2.00 one they were the pictures of Gen.Hamilton. Col. Ruger Lieut Col Pinkney & Magor Crane. I wrote a letter to Almira Nugent & received one from Tom Hart & wrote one to W^m H Nugent. a number of the boys were some set up, but nothing searious Made arrangements to board to Johnstons took supper thare. I am to pay him $3.00 per week & he takes my rations at whole sale prices

Friday 31^st       Got a pass & went down town & bought ¼ ream of paper & packag of stamped envelops Seym was with me, fixed up my pictures to send to Jane. we I am going to send them in a box that Charly Bushy is going to express home. mud is still as deep as usual & no prospects of it getting any less. bought 2 quires of foolscap paper at Company F for 20 cents. Last night Pap Watson & Syrel Picket run the guard & got fetched themselves in the Provost guard house. I am sorry for they are both good fellows

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Saturday Feb 1^st          Weather Stormy. it snowed about 3 inches last night & it has the appearance of winter this morning, snow & mud mixed togeather In the after noon I passed out on Andrew Whitenecks pass, staid out about 1½ hours bought 1 ream of paper & $4.00 worth of postage stamps. bought a bottle of musalige fixed up my old letters & diary book to send to Jane. Sent her $10.00 dollars also wrote her a letter Warm through the day & the snow is about all gone & by the appearance of things we will need a canoe to sail arround our barracks. I sent Toms Jane & Jims likeness home for they were broke & it would spoil them if carried them arround

Sunday 2^d        Staid in camp AM went all day felt somewhat lonesome. wrote a letter to Jane Hart & Sarah Snover fixed up my old letters & old diary to send home. I expressed a package which cost me .25 cents, but I would not send have misst sending them to Jane for $5.00

Monday 3^d      Our Company was detailed on patrole guard. I was in Corpl Morans squad in the forenoon & in the afternoon I had charge of a squad myself & we went whare we choosed. we cleaned out two whisky shops, one was a Secesh hall & the other was a crib or in other words a house of ill fame. I received a letter from Jim. they were all well at home

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Tuesday 4^th     I laid abed rather late for I was out rather late on patrole & was quite tired wrote a letter to Jim Nugent in the forenoon & in the afternoon I got a pass to go down town to get my boot fixed, but could not the shoemakers were all so busy. Came back to camp at ½ past 3 oclock PM, then went back with the orderly and a squad of eight men after Mart Carr who was taken with a fit occasioned by drinking liquor we carried him on a litter. in the evening I had a dance in Co B

Wensday 5^th    Our Company was detailed on Provost Guard. I was put on guard on a post whare I had a good time setting by a fire place & in the night I came to camp to sleep, which was much better than staying thare without any sleep. thare was an old woman by the name of Obrien put in the room with me that had just come from Boliver Hights Va. She tell some rather hard yarns about the Secesh She sayes they are hard up for something to eat. I hope that is so. yesterday afternoon the Va 1^st Reg came in town & the Colonel came & got some of our men to help guard them for they were about ½ drunk & was not able to guard them selves thare is also a battery of 6 guns stationed in the barracks ground. they came in night before last & they are now practicing & drilling & every voley voley they fire makes the old shanty gingle

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Thursday 6^th    Came off Provost Guard at 10 AM was detained about 1 hour longer than usual on account of disposeing of about 30 prisoners belonging to the Maryland 1^st Regiment they were sent to Hancock escorted by a company of the Michigan Cavelry Nothing of note occured. the weather was quite warm & pleasent over head but the fairness over head caused it to be verry disagreeable under foot. in the afternoon I wrote a letter to Tom Hart in answer to one I received a fiew days ago. in the evening a squad of boys went out to a dance. Seym Beach is rather under the weather

Friday 7^th        I was on guard on post No 1 the meanest post on the whole job, but I guess I attended to my business as well as the best of them The orders are was verry strict. I had to stay at the guard house all the time only while I went to my meals. I received a letter from Charles Phelps

Saturday 8       Our Company was detailed on Picket Guard but I did not go because my being on guard last night excused me. Came off guard at 9 AM & went to bed & slept till one oclock when Seym Beach woke me up to go to dinner. Got up washed myself eat my dinner & felt a goodeal better wrote a letter to Charles Phelps & sent him a Clipper also sent one to Father with the news in of the capture of Fort Haney on the Tenesee River & 60 pieces & 18 canon guns. the boys have just come in from Picket & West has brought his fidel & Seym is playing the fiddle.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Sunday 9^th       Weather fair & warm with plenty of mud on hand. In the forenoon Sergt Lee & my self went down town to church. we went to the Methodist Church in AM & we took dinner at the Eagle Hotel. I had a fiew words with a Mass 2^d boy but nothing searious. from thare we went to Widow Linsly & spent the afternoon thare playing checkquers & talking to a couple of young Ladies that came in, names I did not learn although I had a good lively time with them & at 4 oclock we went to camp being in fear of going to the guard house but we came in all right. in the evening I wrote a letter to Ella Spencer

Monday 10^th    Went down town on a pass to get my boots mended & I also went to the postoffice & bought $1.50 worth of postage stamps. then I rambled arround town till 3 oclock when I came to camp. nothing of importance occured untill about 8 oclock when Charly Rosens & I went down & bought an evening paper. a subscription was raised to buy Smith a fife & $5.00 was verry soon raised. I gave 25 cents. Received a letter from Sarah Snover & from Sam Beach.

Tuesday 11^th   Our Company was on Patrole. weather fair in AM but about 11 oclock it commenced snowing & snowed till about 4 PM. the City was verry quiet our squad did not arest but 1 soldier in all day. I reced a letter from Jane Hart. they were all well at home

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wensday 12^th  Snowed a little dureing the night but this morning is bright & clear. quite warm dureing the day & is still warm. the Co made Old Smith a present of a fife which cost eight dollars & Smith in return brought in 3 kegs of beer & the boys are haveing a great time drinking beer & handleing the dumb bells. wrote a letter to Sarah Snover & Jane Hart sent Sarah a Frank Lesly and Nancy Nugent a Harpers weekly

Thursday 13^th  I was on guard on No 5 & countersign was Jerico & I found it verry disagreeable standing guard for it was so muddy & bad traveling. Received a letter from W^m. H. Nugent

Friday 14^th      Came off guard at 9 AM & felt verry sleepy for I did not sleep a bit last night. Our Company was on Provost Guard but I had a good time. every thing seemed so quiet I wrote a letter to W^m H Nugent & Truman Phelps

Saturday 15^th   It commenced snowing about 9 oclock & snowed right smart all day, which makes it look something like winter, but still it is not cold. the Company came in from guard about ½ past 9 & brought in the news that one of our police shot one of the home brigade & he died in about 15 minutes. it appears that the Policeman arrested one of his Company & he other came to he and one more came to take him away by force & drew a revolver. at that the policeman hauled his shooting iron fired the ball entered his right breast & lodged in his lungs. it is a sad affair for it will

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

make a great maney enemyes & thare is not the best of feelings existing between us now War news are verry favorable. the takeing of Roanok Iisland is confirmed & that fort Dolandson is being stormed & prospects fair for its being taken which I hope well will happen soon. I rather think that the rebbles are getting about all they can attend to about now. I guess that they will repent get paid for the Bull Run affair as well as Balls Bluff I hope the time will come when I can have a chance to draw a sight on one of the blood hounds to pay them for stripping and bayoneting our wounded at the Harpers Ferry fight.

Sunday 16^th     Weather fair & warm. I went out in a squad for the purpos of going to church, but Hamilton & I went by our selves & went to mrs Linsly & had a good time. took dinner thare & had a firstrate dinner. A couple of young ladies by the name of Kate & Anna Beufetter. I like their appearance verry well & I also think Mrs Linsly a verry fine woman

Monday 17^th    Our Company was on Patrol duty & I was in Corpl. Dodges squad & we keeped on the travel all day & it rained like fury all day. Good news from Fort Donaldson Our troops has taken the fort with 15,000 prisoner

Tuesday 18

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Tuesday 18^th   Weather quite warm. Edward Hamilton & myself got a pass & went down town. I bought a shirt & nectie, for which I paid $2.00 we then went to Mrs Lindsly & spent a couple of hours in pleasent conversation & Miss Kitty Boofetter came in which was the subject of considerable sport. The news was confirmed about the takeing of fort Donaldson with Gen Johnson & Gen Floid, Pillow & Buckner. Buckner & Johnson are considered the best fighting men of the South. It is the general opinion that Secesh is about as good as whirped, which I hope is the case

Wednesday 19^th          Weather verry stormy. it rained & snowed all day. I stayed in camp all day & had the blues. but I got a letter from Almira which cheered me up a little news came that Gen Prices army had been taken, but I do not know how much truth thare is in it, but I hope it is so. Report sayes that we are to be provost guard for three months more but I hope it is not so for I am tired of this kind of business. I had rather go further South whare thare is some secesh, for I should like to draw a bead on at least one of them Almiras letter stated that they had so much snow that it was all most impossable to get arround, while here we have not had 4 inches of snow at once but any amount of rain & mud. it has been the worst winter that I ever saw it being continualy wet under foot which makes it verry disagreeable for us poor soldiers, but we have good health

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Thursday 20^th  Our Company was on patrole & I was in Sergt Watson squad & Corpl Dodge. we were on the main street & I was envited to take supper at Mr Schales & as a matter of course I was not fool enough to refuse it I had a good supper. I think they are fine folks & they used me firstrate. I spent a couple of hours thare in friendly conversation. Our squad came in camp at ½ past seven & about ½ of our squad was fighting drunk & made an aff aufull fus but there was no fighting done. I received a letter from Jane Hart & one from Nancy Nugent. they were all well at home & doing well.

Friday 21^st       I was on guard on post No 3 arround the camp It was rather disagreeable but thare was no chance to back out. the weather was rather cloudy & windy. I did not sleep any during the night. About 4 oclock PM the flagstaff was raised in about the center of the square & the starspangled banner was unfurled to the breese & the band struck up the tune of the Starspangled Banner, which seemed to put new life in the boys, who seemed determined to cheer the flag as long as they could hallow.

Saturday 22^d   Came of guard at 9 oclock AM went to my quarters & went to sleep slept till noon then I got up and eat some dinner then I climed to Hascal Coats bunk went to writeing to writeing, wrote a long letter Jane & one from to Nancy A Nugent. Got a pass & let Coats go out on it. The cannons has been booming all day more or less all day & the Stars & Stripes are waveing from nearly every housetop in the City a line filled with flags was strung from the flag staff to the officers quarters which made it look rather picturesque

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Sunday 23d     I passed out with a squad to go to church with Hamilton but instead of going to church we went to Mrs Lindseys. the old woman was not at home but her daughter Emly Jane was & three other girls came in and spent the day with us & the concequence was we had a good time came home at 4 oclock.

It is now raining

Monday 24^th    Our Company was on Provost guard but was relieved at 9 PM by a Company of the Maryland first Regiment. Great excitement in camp about marching to Harpers Ferry which I guess is the case, for we have our napsacks packed & 40 rounds of cartriges in our boxes. It is now 10 oclock & I am all ready for marching. the wind is blowing a perfect hurricane. It is the opinion that we are going to cross the river at the Ferry & thence to Lees Burgh & Winchester & then Ho! for Menassus I hope we will have a chance to give the devils fits

Tuesday 25^th   Tattoo beat at 4 oclock for us to be up & ready for to march by six oclock & as a matter of course we obeyed. we got on board of the carrs at 8 oclock & at 2 PM we found our selves on our old camp ground at Sandy Hook & during the afternoon thare was about 5,000 more troops came in. Col. Gearys men crossed during the day & we have some batteries on the side of the river & got them planted in good positions for to cover our troops while crossing the river we managed to get a tent & plenty of straw & the same four went in to geather again. our genl is rather hard. I got wrote to Jane during the evening.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wensday 26^th  Found my self all right at tattoo with the exception of a bad cold. In the AM Seym & I went down to the Ferry to see how they got along with the bridge. they were building a pontune bridge & I think we will cross this afternoon or early in the morning & I think the bridge is a good thing & rumor states the rebbels are throwing their forces in on the other side of the river & bound to give us a warm reception & I think they will be warmly met by us for the carrs a fetching in troops here at a good rate. at 12 AM we struck tents & marched for the crossing, each with a days rations in his haversack, which consisted of 4 hard crackers & a little piece of pork. We crossed the pontoon bridge at about 3 oclock AM & marched about 2 mile back of the ferry & took up our abode in some deserted houses which afforded us good quarters for the night. we were hard up for something to eat but the boys managed to capture some Secesh gees & hens wh relished verry good.

Thursday 27    We were routed up at 4 oclock & ordered to fall in without our knapsacks & accordingly done so it being as dark as Egypt & mud about ancle deep for it had rained all night, but towards morning it cleared off cold & after standing in line for about an hour the order came forward march, heading towards Charlestown, but we did not march more than ¼ mile before we halted & stood about an hour when the order came about face & we marched to our quarters again where we rested about 1 hour when we were ordered to fall in with our knapsacks on & took our abode as pickets in a house not far off & 2 PM ordered to

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

fall in which we did with right good will & marched about 80 rods & campt on a beautiful side hill decending to the south east. we pitched our tents in good shape & have secured plenty of straw for to sleep on. We are on the verry spot whare our boys had the fight last fall & the trees are well markt up with ball holes. report sayes that we have now on this side of the river about 40,000 troops & I cannot give any idea how much artillera thare is but I know thare is a good maney pieces & they have got them planted in good positions. I think it would take as much as 10,000 Secesh to make an impression on us. I & A Secesh soldier has just come in on a good muel & give himself & mule up & he sayes that Secesh troops are concentrateing at Winchester & intend to give us a warm reception & I think they will be warmly met. the country is splendid as far as the eye can reach. The Mishigan Cavelry captured 3 Secesh cavelry men horses & all & one of the men a Captain & last night in less than one hour after we was in Dixie Co A boys who was on the advance captured 3 horses, the men run & left them, went to bed at 7 & slept verry well, excepting I was troubled with the cramp in my legs. I was so hoarse in morning I could not speak

Friday 28         Revealle came at 4½ AM & we were ordered to be ready to march at 5 but we did not go till about 8 the Michigan Cavelry went in the advance the Mass 2^d next our Regt next with a battery of 4 guns & we were put on quick time for Charleston & arrived at 10½ AM but no Secesh troops were to be seen they haveing left at the appearance of the Cavelry

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

but not untill 30 of them were taken prisoners & 2 six horse teams loaded with flour were makeing their way for Winchester whis about 20 miles from here & were taken & sent the Ferry. Col Gordon of the Mass 2 was in command of the expidition. we also seiged a gristmill full of flour about 1,500 barrels. thare was scarcely a white person to be seen in the streets the men haveing all gone to war & the women were affraid of us & kept hid, but the negroes appeared to be delighted. I was talking to what I supposed to be a free white man, for he was of a lighter complexion than my self, but to my supprise I found him to be a slave his mother was about ¼ negro & his Father was his master. his Father had 6 children by his wife & five by his slaves. We layed arround in the streets till about 9 oclock PM when orders came for us to take up our qrs in the different churches for the night. But about 1 AM Gen McClelland & Staff passed by us also Gen Banks & Gen Hamilton & we came to a present as he (they) passed us & Gen McClelland took of his hat as he passed us. he is a noble looking man as well as young. he has such a winning look about him that a person canot help loveing him. Co G B K took quarters in the Presbyterian Church which we found verry comfortable all excepting sleeping & thare is was so much noise that we could not sleep nice & as far as victuals were concerned we had but little but the boys managed to steal some gese chickens & sheep so we came out all right

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

The rebbles fired at a train of carrs at the Point of Rocks but did no damage. too balls passed through one of the baggage carrs & a battery & troops was immediately sent thare & silenced them.

Saturday March 1       I am sitting by the stove in the Presbyterian Church writeing this diary. my Co has gone on Picket but I have such a cold I cannot speak above a whisper & I did not go. The weather is fair this morning but cold. last night was verry cold & windy. I went in to a negro hut this morning & washed my self. they told me that they could not get either shugar molasses coffe or tea since last spring. I one of the negroes to show me the spot whare John Brown was hung thare was nothing left but the hill of ground left whare his scaffold stood the tree that he spoke under had been dug up & carried off root & branch & ground was plowed up. the spot is just east of the church I am now in. I also saw the spot whare [Cook & Coppie?] got out of jail the night before his their execution.

3 P.M. I have just been rabling arround the place a little & find it to be off about 2,000 inhabitants (when they wer at home but they are all mostly gone) & is situated in a little valley & surround with a handsome country & in the surrounding country can be seen the handsome mansions of the planters. I also visited the cimatrees & saw the grave off Ross who was taken prisoner at the battle of Bollaver hights in Oct last. then I saw the Mass 12^th & Indanna 16 Regs pass through town towards Winchester. at sundown we were mustered in for pay by Company & about 7 oclock I went to bed. I slept with Gilbert

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

March 1862     Ferris. he is a fine little fellow I then went to sleep.

Sunday 2^d        I slept firstrate & feel much better this morning. the weather was splendid but about 9 oclock it commenced snowing & snowed till about 4 oclock A.M. Nothing of importance took place. I received a letter from Jim Nugent & one from Ella S Spencer & I immediately answered Jim. went up stairs & sleped firstrate

Monday 3^d      Stayed in Church all day. nothing of importance occured excepting the Michigan Cavelry captured 150 lbs more of flour. Our Company went on Patrol & provost guard. I did not go for I had such a cold that I could not speak loud & consequently I was excused. Slept up stairs & Seym & I dubled up. it rained all night

Tuesday 4^th     Morning clear & cold. the forenoon was quite dull I was rather on the sick list. Seym & I went & took a look at the Episcopal Church it is a splendid building & richly finished with a splendid organ in it. the Isles wer carpeted & the seats nicely cushioned but Company F & I & C were in thare & had been quartered for nearly a week & they made a rather hard looking place of it. I should think it rather humiliating for the rebbels to see us destroying their churches but it serves them right. they have no business to be Secesh. Co B K & the other companies left about 3 oclock towards Winchester. Canonadeing could be heard in the distance & is believed that they are fighting at Winchester. I received a letter from S. L. Hart & one from Sarah Snover & answered Sarahs

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wednesday 5^th            Weather verry pleasent & has the appearance of spring. I did not sleep but verry little last night, haveing a severe atack of the diarreah. about 2 PM about 20 of boys were ordered get their knapsack on & one dayes rations in their haversacks & report sayes that they were going to destroy a distillery off about four miles from here. nothing of importance occured I wrote a letter to Tom Hart & one to Eliam J Reymond

Thursday 6^th    Orders came for us to be ready to march at 7 AM with one days rations & we started at about 9½ AM. I felt verry much under the weather haveing been sick for nearly a week. we marched towards Winchester & Hamiltons whole Brigade followed. it consisted of the Wis 3^d, NY 9^th, Penn 29 & Indiana 27^th regiments at about 12½ AM we passed through a little town called Smithsville dis from Charlestown 8 miles. I should judge by the appearance that thare was a gooddeal of union feeling existed, for the ladies looked upon us with a smile & not as though they thought us savages. we co we camped about out of town in a little piece of woods which is a verry good spot. I saw five Secesh prisoners which the Mich Cavelry boys had taken & they wer smart looking fellows & appeared rather jubilant over their fate, more so than I should if I were a prisoner in their hands. Thare was a negro boy about 18 years of age come in our Co & wanted go with & of course we took him to help cook. the country through we passed was good & had all the appearance of wealth.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Friday 7^th        I laid a bed untill about 9 oclock for I was rather under the weather. But when I did get up it was quite pleasent & warm Nothing of note occured to my knolledg for I laid arround most all day. I believe thare was an attack expected for all preparations were made & the guards were doubled

Saturday 8^th     everything passed off quiet during the night & morning again made its appearance bright & clear, also quite comfortable. I went up to the hospital & got some medicine for was quite unwell. But Seym went to Johnsons & bought me some tea & butter & I made some tost & tea & made out quite a meal & felt better. Seym is a good fellow & uses me like a brother I went to bed at 8 PM feeling much better

Sunday 9^th       I woke up at revalee & felt first rate got up & eat my breakfast & then came inspection of arms & during inspection I heard fireing of guns as at a distance as if a slight skirmish had taken place, but no notice was taken of it & after inspection was over I went to writeing a letter to Jane & had got too pages written when the order came fall in, fall in quick with your arms & equipments on, for the enemy is upon us & our Company fell in in a hurry & about 4 or 5 Companies formed a line & was put on a double quick. Col Ruger at the head & away we went through the mud, over fences & through the woods, for a distance of about 5 miles in the direction of Winchester, but no enemy could we see, but the cause of our alarm was simply this

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

a scouting party of the rebble cavelry 15 in number made a charge on our outer pickets & too of the Indianna 27^th who was on the outer picket left their post & went about one mile from their line to a farm house & while thare were attacked & one of them was killed & the other was taken prisoner & the rebbels had one horse killed & one man wounded in the affair. So after reconnoitering the vacinity pretty thouroughly we returned to camp, at about ½ past 3 PM being somewhat tired & verry hungry. So after devouring a plate of beans & meat a cup of coffee & hard crackers innumerable I proceded to finish my letter to Jane & done so, then wrote the above

Monday 10^th    Orders came at ½ past 3 AM to be ready to march at day brake, but we did not march till about 8 AM. the whole Brigade marched at about the same time. It was raining & we found the roads verry bad, so we kept in the fields as much as possible. we marched I should think about 4 miles. the about 200 of the Michigan Cavelry passed us soon after we started & kept the advance. We camped in a piece of woods near a little town called Bunker Hill. It is near whare the Wis 1^st regiment had a small fight last July. The portion of country through which we passed is rather uneaven & not of the best quality off land. We pitched our tents about 1 PM & found that Gen Williams & Gen Shields divission were within 3 miles of us & the gen opinionion

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

that we would soon march on Winchester & at about 2 PM orders came for us to have 3 dayes rations cooked & be ready to march at daylight & our cartridges were examined and all the poor ones (for thare was some) thrown away & good ones put in their place & all necessary preperations made for a march & a fight. Capt Hubbard was not with us, he haveing gone to Washington on some business for the General & Lieutenant Shepard was in command & I think he would make a verry good Captain. it is now after tattoo & the wind is blowing very hard & I must go to bed for I am on guard & am supernumerary & am liable to be called out at any time.

Tuesday 11^th   I was called out at 2 oclock AM & stood 2 hours. We struck our tents at 9 AM & marched at 10 towards Winchester. we passed Bunker Hill soon & found the roads very mudy. It was nothing but soldiers as far as I could see both ways. When we came within about 6 miles of Winchester we heard distant canonadeing but light it proved to be a slight scirmish with the rebbels pickets & I believe thare was no one hurt at about 4½ miles from Winchester we camped for the night or at least I suppose so for the guards are thrown out & I am sitting on my knapsack beside a little slippery elm tree. our situation is in a piece of woods & it puts me in mind of Wisconsin I should think that thare is within sight of me some 10,000 troops Report has just come in & it is affirmed that McClelland marched in to Menassas

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Yesterday the rebbles left on double quick with out makeing any resistance & I think that they will leave Winchester in about the same way or else we will haye have a rather hard fight. the day has been beautifull & the country through we passed today is as a general thing is handsome & looked like good land. I must stop for our teams have come I must look out for my tent. Went to bed at about 8 oclock PM & slept good untill about 2 oclock when we were ordered to be ready to march by day light.

Wensdy 12^th    I find my self seated on a rock about 1 mile from Winchester towards Strausburgh This morning at day light we were all drawn up in a line of battle & started for Winchester we marched in the center & thare was battallions on both sides of us & in the rear, our Regiment being in the advance. within about one mile of the City we discovered a fortifycation & rifle pit. Co A & B were out as skermishers the army halted untill the skirmishers went up to the works & found it evacuated & about that time the news came that the City was evacuated so we marched in & through the town without any molestation. thare was some union sentiment manifested by the ladies & in one place thare was too union flags & they looked as though they had been packed away in close quarters for they were all wrinkled up. It appears that thare was about 10,000 Secesh here last night, but when the skirmishing was going on they left on double quick for Strausburgh. they had 30 pieces of artillery and the citizens sayes Gen Jackson left

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

as though he was in a hurry. It is now just 11 AM & as pritty a day as I ever saw. it is bright & sunshiney & quite warm. Just right to lay & sun our selves it is spring in shure enough. our flag (ie) the flag of the Wis 3^d waved over the out side breast works at about ¾ past 9 AM. It now 7 AM I am in my tent & have had a sleep & feel first rate. It is a splendid moon light night. Report has just come in that Gen Rosencrans & Gen Banks have or did take Strawsburgh last night & that Gen Jacksons retreat is cut off & surrounded. about 1 hour ago 4 of our Companies were called out on a double quick to help the Michigan Cavelry of out of a scrape which it is was reported they had got in to. It appears that Gen Col Ashleys (Rebble) Cavelry had surrounded 2 or 3 the companies & they were haveing a tough time of it but our boys have come back without haveing any fun & the Mich. Cavelry captured 20 men & horses & 1 Capt & 1 Lieutenant. As near as I can find out thare has been about 50 prisoners taken in this vacinity today Gen Jackson carried off about 100 Union men out of this & a number have been hid in sellars for about two weeks, but when we came through town & played the Star Spangled Banner they ventured forth. Charly Bushy & my self went out & examined some of the rebbles fortifycations & saw whar they had an 84 pounder mounted, but a negro told us that they took off last night in a hurry. We went to a barn & got some straw & we got some dinner, for which I paid twenty five cents & they told us thare that

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

salt sold at $1.00 per lb. & coffee $1.25 per lb. & calicos was from 50 cents to $1.00 per yd butter is from 60 cents to one dollar per lb & the cause is that they cant get any salt to salt it. eggs are from 35 to 45 cents per doz & every thing is in about the same style except flour which is from $5.00 to 6.00 per bbl. the country arround is handsome & the land is rich. Thare was in all independent of Bankes force about 30,000 troops. Winchester is a place of about 10,000 inhabitants & has but 2 principal streets. the buildings are of ancient architecture, but denote wealth & ease it is now after taps & to bed I must go I thought this morning that by this time a number of us would be among the dead, but it I am glad it is as it is

Thursday 13^th  Was woke up by the revalee at daylight to fall in at roll call & found it a verry pleasent morning. In PM I went down to a brook & washed my self in company with Wal Dodge & Ira Prouty. we had to take our guns for self protection but we came back safe. arrangements were made to for Seym to come in our tent & Ben Robie left, so Seym is now with me. Andrew Whiteneck & Eliam J. Raymond came from Frederick City. our Cavelry has had some fun today passing a shots back & forth with the rebble Cavelry but nothing searious occured. thare was some Picket shooting going on last night three shots were fired at last night Capt Hammond but none of them took affect. We found one 32 pounder that the rebbles had burried.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Friday 14^th      At 4 oclock AM we were routed up to get our breakfast and be ready to march at 5, but when five came we had not had our breakfast & so we had to go without any, but I hung on my haversack thinking I had something to eat in it but I found on examination after traveling 2 or 3 miles that it contained nothing but my cup knife & fork & 1 hard cracker. We marched out about 6 miles on the pike towards Strawsburgh, when we were ordered to halt & took up our position behind a stone wall. And one object was to help about 300 of the Michigan Cavelry to take about 500 of the rebbel cavelry that had been annoying our pickets. Our plan was for one Regiment to hide themselves behind a stone wall on both sides of the road & the Cavelry throwed divided them selves in three squads, one squad to the right one to the left & a small squad to go up the road & engage them & then retreat supposeing they would follow & when they came up to us we were to fire on them & the Cavelry to close in the flanks & surround them, the morning being verry foggy & being a good time. But it appears that they (the rebbels) knew our plans & they did not bite, but on the contrary they had just such a trap for us, but they were not smart enough to get us in them & when we found out their position, we were formed in line of battle with Co. A on the right & Co B on the left deployed as skirmishers & in that position we advanced on them some of the Cavelry being on the line of the skirmishers & soon we heard fire some 300 shots were fired in all & not one of our boys were hurt but three of the rebbles bit

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

the dust. It (we) was discovered that thare was too maney men for us for they had both infantry & artillery & we were 7 miles from any of our forces & might get badly cut up. so we returned to camp & arrived thare at about 11½ AM & I found that I had a pretty good apetite for my breakfast. Seym went to Johnsons & bought us each a pigs foot for dinner a cup of coffee hard bread & fried pork with a segar for a desert & I assure you I felt better then than I did when the balls were flying arround me, although thare was none that came verry close to me. At about 3½ PM we were visited by the Massachusetts 10 Reg Col. Leonard. they marched in our camp & halted & gave Col. Ruger 3 lusty cheers. they are a splendid regiment

Saturday 15^th   Weather rainey. I was on guard & found it rather disagreeable standing guard in the rain. I was on guard in the 2^d relief & we went to work & built a shanty for a guard house. I was relieved on Saturday morning. One Company was on Picket guard.

Sunday 16^th     Came off guard at 9½ AM went to work & cleaned up my gun & fixed it in good shape for service & then I went to sleep & slept for about 2 hours when the boys came in & woke me up nothing of note occured.

Monday 17      Weather quite cold & windy stayed in my tent most of the time. We went out & drilled in skermish drill in AM. I got a paper from Mary Phelps & wrote to her immediately

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Tuesday 18^th   Weather beautifull & warm & has the appearance of spring. In AM I went down to the brook & had a good wash, which made me feel much better. at 10 oclock AM we had a batallion drill & after that I wrote a letter to Josie Jones. Gen Shields Divission marched towards Strawsburgh. his Divission is about 13,000 strong with about 40 pieces of artillery. It is rumored that our Divission is going to Centerville soon. Had a batallion drill in PM

Wensday 19^th  Weather fair & warm. had skermish drill in AM & batallion drill PM. Could hear heavy fireing in the direction of Strasburg supposed to be fighting thare bought a Harpers Weekly & a Frank Lessley to send home.

Thursday 20^th  I was awoke by the drum beating the revalee & of course I had to turn out to roll call & answer to my name. It rained all day & during the night it wound up in a snow storm. Seym was on Picket & had rather a disagreeable time I staid in my tent all day hovering arround a kettle of coals, which kept us quite warm.

Friday 21^st       The morning was storming & verry disagreeable thare being about of 1 inch of snow. I turned out & answered to my name & then went to bed & stayed thare till about 10 oclock when I got up & drank a cup of coffee & two hard crackers & then my self Leonard J B Geris & Ben Gerry went down town & Lieut Shepard bought me a pair of boots for which he paid 6 dollars. I shall not forget his kindness

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Saturday 22^d   We received orders at 4 oclock AM to be ready to march at 9 AM & when Col T. H. Ruger gives an order it must be obeyed. So we started towards Centerville (or at least I supposed so) & after marching about 2 miles we came to a halt & let Gen Williams Brigade pass us & Co K, G & B were [?] put on the rear guard under Major Crane & the roads were awful bad & we did not get to our Regiment untill about 11 PM & I was most tired out for I had just put on a new pair of coarse boots On comeing to the Reg we found some coffee waiting for us but was not able to get any straw & the concequence was we slept verry cold. We had traveled about 17 miles

Sunday 23d     We struck tents about 6 oclock AM & started on our journey & came to the Shanedoah River whare we found a pontoon bridge & after we had crossed the river about 1½ miles word came that the bridge had boke down & drownded a span of muels so we halted & had to stay thare about 9 hours & traveled We passed over the Blue Ridge mountains in what is known as Snickers Gap & whare we crossed the river it was known as Snickers Ferry. it is in the verry spot whare the Rebble Johnsons army crossed when he went to Menassas & caused us to loose that battle. The country thorough which we passed as a general thing is good.

Report came about the time we camped (which was 4 oclock PM) that after we left Winchester that Ashleys Cavelry dashed in thar suposeing that thare were but few of our troops thare, but he found out his mistake for he had forty of his men

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

killed & forty taken prisoner & a number wounded. we halted at about 4 oclock in a piece of woods & a nice place to camp with plenty of straw to sleep on

Monday 24^th    I slept well last night. at 5 AM & order came to march & leave our tents. So we started towards back towards Winchester with the whole brigade. We arrived at Winchester at 6 PM & I never was so tired in my life for we marched 28 miles & carried our napsacks on reaching our stoping place we found that we had to sleep without our tents which was not verry comfortable for the night was quite cold.

Tuesday 25^th   Found my self verry stiff & sore with a number of blisters on my feet but notwithstanding after breakfast Bushey Beach & my self started for the battlefield & the sight was the worst I ever beheld the dead men & horses were laying in every direction I think I saw as many as 200 dead rebbels laying on a space of ten acres of ground & the piece of woods they were in was litterly torn to pieces with cannon & rifle balls. It was estimated that thare was over 500 rebbles killed & 300 wounded & 400 taken prisoner & we lost about 80 killed & 100 wounded & 95 taken prisoner. at about dark the order came to sling knapsacks & we started for Strausberg. we marched about 12 miles & layed down side of the road & slept till after daylight on the ground and we had nothing to eat but but some salt pork & hard bread. The weather was fair & warm during the day but at night it was cold & frosty

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Wednesdy 26^th We started on our journey early in the morning & marched to within about one mile of Strausberg & camped over night. I was on guard & was verry tired & foot sore. at 10 AM the

Thursday 27^th  long roll was beat & we was ordered to rows without our knapsacks for it was reported that the Rebbels had made an attack & we was going to have a fight shure. but on our ariveing near whare the enemy was suposed to be, they was not thare so we camped in a piece of woods & a nice place for a camp the teams came up to us at about 8 PM & we set up our tents & I borrowed a kettle of the Mass 2 & I went to work cooking chickens & turkeys, of which we had a plenty for Bushey Leonard & myself had been out on a forageing expedition & captured all we wanted to carry. Sam Beach had been out in the morning & got a nice fat turkey & at 10½ PM we eat our supper & I assure you we enjoyed it, for we wer verry hungry. Strausberg is a small place & about 12 miles from Winchester & about ½ way from between those too places is a little town called New Town. The road is first rate, being a turnpike & verry smooth. it is the road that the rebbels drew 14 locomotives over from Winchester to Strausberg in order to get them on the Richmond & Wheeling railroad. The weather was ver quite warm & the road dusty. Sumer birds of every variety could be seen & heard & I saw flowers in bloom on the sides of the mountain, which made me think that spring & sumer was upon us

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Friday 28^th      I slept firstrate last night & feel verry well this morning. the weather is quite warm & pleasent & we have had another good meal of chickens & got enough left for dinner, our teams & knapsacks haveing come up & we was comfortably provided for. Gen Shields was slightly wounded in his left arm at the Battle of Winchester & the following is a list of the Regiment engaged in the battle 84 Penn, 110 Penn, the 4^th Ohio 8^th Indiana 13 Do 14 Do 1 Va & Michigan Battery & Downs battery of parrot guns. one thing I noticed on the battle field was that the most of the rebble canteens were filled with whiskey and gun powder, in order as I suppose to make them fierce. the weather has quite warm & pleasent today & I have enjoyed my self verry well resting. I wrote a letter to Sarah Snover & sent her a song called Dixie for the Times I drew a new pair of shoes.

Saturday 29^th   Weather fair & pleasent in AM, but in the PM it snowed a little & was quite unpleasent I staid in camp all day & made some bags to carry shugar salt & coffee. Our tent has in come to the conclusion to board our selves & have lived verry well. I received a letter from Almira & they are all well we had an undress parade at 4 PM.

Sunday 30^th     It rained untill about 4 oclock PM & about that time our regiment went on Picket guard we went about 2½ miles from camp & I was on the first relief. thare was no excitement during the night excepting that Frank Lee shot at either a real or an imaginary rebble & the reserved was called out & great excitement prevailed for a fiew minutes.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Monday 31^st    I slept in a barn the latter part of the night & took solid comfort. The morning sun rose bright & clear & it was a handsome day being quite warm. last night was the first night that I was on outer picket excepting when we were on the Potomac River at camp Jo Holt. I cant say as I like the business at all for I found it rather disagreeable standing perfictly still for about 1½. my position was behind a little cedar tree & it was a good spot for I could see every thing that was going on & I could not be seen. we were relieved at 4 oclock PM & went to camp by the railroad on foot & found our tent all right.

Tuesday April 1^st        I slept firstrate last night. at roll call we were ordered to be ready to march at 7 AM with two days rations in our haversacks. at 10 we started on the pike west & passed through a village called Wood Stock or place of about 2,000 inhabitants & about 9 miles from Strausberg. We got sight a fiew rebbles on the east side of Woodstock & our batteries fired on them & they fired on us but hurt none of us. we soon put them on flight & followed them in hot persuit. they fled & burned their the bridges on their retreat. We were so close upon them that we saved our new bridge which they had set fire to the rebbles made a halt on the other west side of Edinsburg & burned both the railroad bridge & the bridge on the pike & they fired on us with their artillery but our batteries soon silenced them they used fuse shells mostly & the most of

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

of them burst in the air. one burst over the Penn 29^th Regt & killed one man. it tore his head all to pieces & as we marched along past him & saw his brother standing beside him I thought it was rather careless business shooting in that style. dark came before we were able to fix the bridge & get across so we had to camp.

Wensday 2^d     Soon after roll call the rebbels commenced throwing shells over in our camp so we were ordered to move back in an other piece of woods out of range of their guns which we done with pleasure. We went to work & made us a kind of a shanty out of rails & pine boughs. we slept without tents last night & it is rumored that we will not have our tents again. I left my overcoat & guess I have lost it. in the afternoon Charlie Bushey & my self went out & looked arround & we got whare we could see some rebbles & we saw Col Ashley on his white horse & we also saw some fine looking chickens but had no way of catching them, so we came to camp & Seym Beach, Corp Ed. Moran & myself went & got each of us a chicken & cooked them for supper. thare was more or less artillery shooting all day but no damage done on our side.

Thursday 3^d    The weather is splendid & quite warm. I layed arround the shanty all the AM haveing nothing to do. In the PM I washed a shirt for the lord knows we it kneeded it & after I got through my washing Joseph Goldsborrough William T Leonard & my self went out on a foreageing expedition & we captured a nice fat

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

sheep & cooked some for supper. we also got our eyes on a bee hive, but was not situated to capture it, but come to the conclusion that we would come again. as usual thare was considerable fireing during the day of both artillery & infantry but I do not know the result.

Friday 4^th        Weather fine. I arrose bright & early Charlie Bushey Joseph Goldsborough & my self started for our beehive. we took a tin foil & rubber blanket & marched up to the hive a distance of about 3 miles. we took the hive in a little piece of woods & smoked them out with leaves & then took out the honey about 10 lbs. & got back to camp at about 9 AM & found a breakfast of mutten & fresh bread & coffee & putting our honey with it we lived made out a good breakfast for our appetite is was good. I received a letter from David Jones & immediately answered it. Our tents came in the PM but we could have them

Saturday 5^th     About 4 AM I was awoke by the rain pouring down on us & we found that a bough house was rather a poor thing in a rain storm. Seym & my self arrose took up our bed & walked over to our neighbour Blakes shanty which was made of boards & afford us a shelter & about 10 AM it stoped raining so we managed to get our blankets dry & about 2 PM we succeedded in getting our tent & we got a lot of pine boughs for in the absance of straw to sleep on & we found it a verry good substitute. in PM we had a general inspection of arms & knapsacks & we underwent a close examination. at 9 AM we retired & went to sleep

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Sunday 6^th       Weather fair & pleasent & at 9½ AM we had Company inspection. after that I wrote a long letter to Jane Hart It was a lonesome day to me.

Monday 7^th      Nothing of importance occured. I staid in camp all day was rather unwell with a cold & in the PM it had the appearance of a storm

Tuesday 8^th     I it commenced storming in the fore part of last night & it stormed all night It was about half snow & half rain & I was up & down all night with the diareah & coughed all night last night & in the morning I went to the doctors & got excused from standing guard & got some medicine but laid abed all day could not eat anything for I was sick to my stomache. in PM the rebbles threw some shells in our camp but did no harm excepting to make the Pennsylvania 29^th leave on doublequick.

Wensday 9^th    Was sick all night & had a goodeal of running out to do. It stormed all night & is still storming now at 2½ PM. Our Company has just gone on Picket guard. I am excused by the doctor & I have got a good fire & like this better than I should standing guard in this storm

Thursday 10^th  The sun arose bright & clear & thare was about 3 inches of snow on the ground. I received a letter from Sarah Snover & Jane. I also received 3 news papers. In Sarahs & Janes letter I received the awfull inteligence of the death of my dear brother William Henery. He was a member of the 10^th Regt. Wis. Vol. Co. C under Capt Richardson. he was 2^d Seargent & died in the hospital at Nashville Tenn with the scarlet fever. he had been

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

sick but a short time & died without a struggle I took the mail & went down to whare the boys were on Picket & distributed the letters. Matty Northam had 2 from his brother

Friday 11^th      Simon & he also spoke of the death of Henery One of the Indianna boys got shot while on Picket, in the thy, but thought he might get well. he belonged to the 27^th Regt. We were called out in line at 5 oclock PM & the that was read was that thare had been a heavy battle at the Pittsburgh landing on the Tenasee river & that our troops wer victorious & that Gen Sidney Johnston was killed & Beaureguard lost his arm & the loss was heavy on both sides we took 4 pieces of artillery. got our pay 26 dollars

Saturday 12^th   Weather fair & warm. I was verry much under the weather. I made aplication for my discharge. I received a letter from Mary A Phelps also one from Charles & Truman Phelps & one from Louisa E Bishop & imediately wrote to Mr & Mary Phelps. Oh! how I should like to be at home now.

Sunday 13^th     Weather quite pleasent in AM. I sat and wrote nearly all day. I wrote a letter to Louisa Bishop Almira Nugent & James Nugent. We had inspection of arms this AM & this PM we were drawn up in line & listened to a prayer from our old Chaplin (Father Mathews) Seymour & Charly is on guard to day the mail has just gone out & we sent six from this tent four of them were mine It is now about 4 oclock & it has just commenced to rain. It rained a little during the night but cleared off some  time during the night

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862

Monday 14^th    I staid in camp all day wrote a letter to Tom Hart. it was quite warm & about 4 PM thare was a little cannonadeing & our regt was called out & formed a line of battle so as to be ready for an action. what the cause for an alarm was I did not know but after standing thare for about 15 minutes we were marched to our quarters & dismissed. I fell in the ranks but was so unwell that I had to fall out again

Tuesday 15^th   Found it rainy at roll call & it rained till about 11 AM. it did not rain hard & was quite warm immediately after dinner we were ordered to fall in & found that it was to clear off the brush from arround our camp grounds

Wensday 16^th  It rained a little dureing the night but the morning is bright & warm & has all the appearance of nice weather. every thing went along as usual untill about ½ past four when orders came to cook up one days rations & be ready to march in one hour, but the hour came around & we all still ready, our knapsacks pact & one days rations in our haversacks. we have had a little cannonadeing today as usual but cannonadeing has become a seckoned nature to us for we have more or less of it every day. Some of our forces took 56 horses & 68 men & 3 lieutenants & two wagons. they were a company of Ashleys Cavelry. they were on Picket & our boys surrounded them

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Thursday 17^th  At 3 oclock AM we were called up to be ready to march at 4 AM with one additional ½ days rations in our haversack. Our forces had been moveing all night at at least so reported & I was up dureing the night & I could hear the rattle of artillery & waggon as they rattled along over the stony pike. The day dawned bright & fair. the Regt left at ½ 4 AM but I staid behind not being able to travel & carry my knapsack. I did not like to be left behind but could not help my self. in a fiew minutes after the Regt left Ed King came & detailed me to help take care of the sick in the Hospital. thare was four sick men Hary Parker being one of the number. It is now about ½ past 8 AM & as I sit here writeing I can hear the distant roar of cannon & judgeing from the sound I should think that they were haveing a lively little skermish & perhaps at this moment some of our the boys of our company is among the dead or wounded but I hardly think it is so for thare is a large force ahead of them. Report sayes that it is the main object of the day to drive the rebbles across the Shanadoah river & save the bridge, for it is a trick of the rebbles to every bridge as soon as they cross them. But I am off afraid that they have failed to save the bridge for I can see a black smoke riseing in the distance & about the place whare I think the bridge is. Mount is jackson is the place whare it is thought the rebbles will make a stand. 9 PM I am sitting in

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Thursday 17^th  the Hospital attending on the sick & it is a branch of business I do not like. I have been down to Edinburg this PM & bought a chicken & a lof of bread for the sick boys for which I paid 25 cents each. the weather is verry warm. I saw peach trees in full bloom. Edingburg is a small place of perhaps 300 inhabitants & is situated on the north branch of the Shanadoah River (or Stony Creek) it is quite a pleasent place & the inhabitants appeared verry civil. While I was in town I heard that our forces had driven Gen Jackson six miles beyond Mount Jackson & that they were still in persuit, Gen Shields being on the advance, & I also heard that they had saved the bridge across the Shanadoah river & that they had taken 40 prisoners & killed 15 & com near being captureing Gen Ashley but he was dressed in privates clothes & was in company with a lieutenant who was dressed up verry nice & our boys supposed the lieutenant to be Ashley & captured him but the supposed private made good his escape & who was none other than Ashley. It is also reported that the rebbles burned a little town on the road & also burned over 100 carrs 10 of them being locomotives & on our troops comeing up to the town saw a squad of rebbles & threw some shells among them & finished burning up the place entirely. Our boys has too sleep on the ground tonight without their tents for the

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Thursday 17^th  tents are here but I suppos I we will follow up the Regt tomorrow, as the boys did not take but 1½ days rations with & they will be out tomorrow at noon. The time drags along rather slowly as I sit here alone with the sick & they asleep & all either groaning or snoreing. I feel as though I should like to be at home among my friends & relatives. How I should like to supprise them to night by stepping in the house & calling them up & have them fly arround & get me something to eat. And oh! with what pleasure would they do it. I think it would be an agreeable supprise to them as well as to my self, but such is not neither can it be so I might as well stop museing on that subject & with patience for the time to come & that I hope will be soon for my business is in rather a bad situation thare havent no one to attend to it. For my brother William in whose hands I left it when I came away enlisted in the 10 regt wis Vol & he left the business with Charles Phelps of Appleton & the last accounts I had from him was that he was verry sick & not expected to live & William Henery like many other noble men laid down his life for his country. he is now among the dead & I hope & trust his spirit is in a far hapier world thare & that we shall again meet & happy togeather again as we have once been

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April, 1862

Saturday 18^th   I sat up last night all night with the sick & amused my self in company with some others aplaying….

The morning was rather chill & cloudy with the appearance of rain. In the PM our teams came back & reported our Regt 7 miles beyond Mount Jackson

Sunday 19^th     It rained more or less all day but not verry heavy. I sat up all ½ the night & John Tolle sat up the other ½ & it rained all night. a team came for the Hospital things about dark & so we packed up every thing ready for morning

Monday 20      This morning bright & early the team was loaded up with every thing that belonged to the Hospital, not leaveing even rations or eats for the sick. So I succeded in getting another tent & getting the sick in it & had to take my blankets for them to sleep on, which leaves me minus of a bed tonight. Consequently I shall have to sit up all night. This PM I went in persuit of an ambulance & doctor to come & take the sick to a Hospital & I traveled about 7 miles but could find no one & it rained all the time hard it has rained all day & this PM in perfect torrents & it is raining still (9PM). One of our teams came from the regt this PM & reports them about 30 miles from here. Poor fellows how they must suffer in this storm without any tents & a number of them without over coats.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Tuesday 21^st    We commenced fixing up to follow the Regt soon after daylight & one team was to go & take the sick back to woodstock to a hospital & I had to go with them & when we got thare I could not hopsital but one belonging the Mich 1^st Cavelry & they would not take them thare so after looking arround it was agreed by the Provost marshall to see that they were taken back to Strausberg that PM. So we returned back to the old camp ground & found every thing gone excepting one load of stuff for our team. my gun, cartrige box knapsack & all was gone. So on I started scarcely able to walk I such a lame back & my head ached & the fact of the business is I was sick, but I over took the teams at Edingberg & kept up with them till about 2 oclock PM when I stoped to get something to eat & then the teams got so far ahead of me that I could not over take them so I trudged along I passed Mount Jackson about 4½ (pm) It is a little place place of about 800 inhabitants & is 7 miles from Edingberg & situated near the north branch of the Shanadah it is thare the rebbles burned about 90 carrs & one locomotive. they had just built a splendid Hospital thare too large buildings being completed & the third one nearly finished. I passed along without stopping thare hopeing to get to New Market that night but could not I had to stop to a hous about

 

————————————————————————————————————

April 1862

Tuesday 21^st    too miles out of town to a mans by the name of Hashburger & he has a son in the army by the name Samuel. I got supper & the breakfast thare, but had to slepp on the floor beside of the stove.

Wensday 22    I started on after the Regt bright & early & on reaching New Market I fould Co A thare acting proud as a matter of course thare I found out that our Regt had turned to the left & went over the mountains & they were about 10 miles ahead.

The country through which I passed from Edingberg to New Market is splendid & especialy between Mount Jackson & New Market the sight was handsome, to look off down in the valey & the peach trees being in full bloom. I keep up a march at the rate of 2 miles per hour till I reached the summit of the blue ridge & then going down the mountain I made little faster progress & found my self at the foot of the mountain at abouty 12½ PM. thare I found a neat looking residence & I went in the house & thare I found three nice looking young ladies, so made arrangements to get some dinner & too times was announced as being ready & after quite hearty I found my self feeling much better I rested till 3 PM & then started for my Compy which I acertained was about 2½ miles ahead at a bridge across the south branch of the Shanadoah & I reached thare about 4 oclock & found the boys all feeling firstrate with plenty to eat & drink & especialy to drink for a number of them was about half tight

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Thursday 24^th  I staid all night with the boys at the bridge. I slept in a barn with Seym & slept first rate. It snowed & blew all night & in the morning it rather dubious. I had not a blanket with me every thing being with the teams so I concluded to go & hunt up house hold furniture so I started & it storming like fun. I got back to Mrs Roads (whare those pretty girls) lives & engaged my board thare a day or too untill this storm is over or untill I feel some better. So I went & got my fixins & got back here about dark it was still raining hard & rained all night. I slept in a good feather bed.

Friday 25^th      It is still raining & by all appearanse it is going to rain for ever. but I am luckey for I have a good place & the people are verry kind they appear to have some common sense, although they claim to be Secesh & I suppose they have a right to be what they please. they have too sons in the army one in Ashleys Cavelry & one in Johnsons army. I hear that our company is going to the Regt to day. I must write a letter to Sarah & Jane today. I have written to Sarah & Jane & sent it by Lieut Giddings to the Regiment. Our boys was relieved about 2 PM by a Lieutenant of the Illinois 39^th & our boys went to the Regiment & left me here to come come when I got ready & I dont think I shall be in any hurry for I am not able to be in camp such weather as this is although it has stoped raining. still it is cloudy & has all the appearance of more rain. I retured at 9 PM.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Saturday 26^th   I arros at 6½ feeling verry well although I did not rest as well as I did the night before it still has the appearance of rain & I shall not go to the Regiment till it clears up if I have to stay here a week. Our Companies left the bridge that they were guarding yesterday afternoon and joined the Regiment at 3 PM I heard that our regiment was going to have a fight so I gathered up my farming impliments & started to after paying my bill which was too dollars. I had traveled about 1 mile when I met one of our Regt comeing & he said that the Regt was comeing back and going to New Market so I turned back & started back. we got to the top of the mountain & stoped to the summit & got some supper & just as we got through supper the Regt came along, so I fell in & went along. we camp at the foot of the mountain & camped it being about 2 miles from New Market Seym was behind, being sick, but came up with the teams

Sunday 27       Struck tents at 7 AM & started on our march I got my knapsack & cartridge box carried for I was unable to carry it Seym also had his carried & we both had a pass to remain behind if we could not keep up. So after the Regt had passed New Market about 3 miles we (Seym & I) fell out & went in to a house to get some milk. So we had some bread & milk for dinner, which relished verry well & we then trudged along till we was somewhat tired & stoped in a house & called for some supper we got after a time after supper

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April 1862

Sunday 27^th     we traveled along & came to whare the Regt was encamped, which made 19 miles we had traveled that day & I found out that we were within 1½ miles of Harrissonburg in Rockingham County. the country through we passed was handsome & land rich & thare are lots lots of rich planters with large houses & farms. the weather is quite warm

Monday 28^th    I laid a bed quite late being some tired but after a while I arose & washed up & found the morning a splendid one. I had one cup of coffee for breakfast & then I went & washed a shirt & then had some dinner, then I went Seym & Charlie went & had a wash all over & felt some better. I drew a new pair of pants & a new coat.

Tuesday 29^th   Weather fair & warm. I was quite sick in the forenoon, but I felt better towards night. Nothing of importance occured. we had dress parade at 5 PM

Wensday 30^th  Weather fair & pleasant we had general muster. I felt unwell all day we had [?] guard.

Thursday May 1          It rained all last night & nearly all day today it appears as though it would never stop raining I laid a bed all day nearly being quite unwell.

Friday 2           Orders came last night that hereafter we must get up at daylight & get all our accoutrements on & be ready in case of an attact consequently orders were obeyed. this morning was quite foggy but it cleared off at about 10 AM & seems like a fine day Austin came from Frederick

 

————————————————————————————————————

May 3^d 1862

Saturday 3^d     Weather quite pleasent & warm the Company came in from Picket about 2 PM all sound. I slept rather poor last night, being quite weak & nervous & was rather unwell all day today. I bought $1.00 worth of postage stamps & a picture of Gen M^cClelland for which I paid $1.00 I will send to Jane tomorrow morning. thare are a good getting sick in this camp I do not know the reason, for we have good water & a good camp ground. Capt Flood of Co C & Capt Limbacher of Co F came to the regt with a lot of new recruits.

Sunday 4^th       Weather fair & warm, but cool nights. I wrote a letter to Mary Phelps & one to Jane Hart I have been verry much under the weather today. no appetite to eat anything & nothing to eat unless a fellow is like a hog. every thing was verry quiet in camp as usual untill about 4 PM when orders came to spring to arms. then all was confusion & excitement orders then immediately followed to pack knapsacks & strike tents & in less than 25 minutes every thing was loaded up & the Regt in line of battle. Then came a lull in the grand hurrah everything remaining quiet for about ½ hour when orders came to march & the Regt started in the direction of Harrisonburg. I remained with the teams, not being able to carry my knapsack & cartridge box, but supposing the teams were going to follow the regt Uncle Tait & I started along at a slow pace towards the Regt. but on traveling about one mile we came up to the Regt which had stacked arms & were makeing preperations

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

April May 1862

to cook some supper, our whole Brigade being in the immediate vacinity & engaged similarly. When we came to the Regt we learned to our chagrin that the teams were going back to Newmarket a distance of 18 miles. So back we started & on getting to the old camp ground, we found the teams had left, so on we traveled & overtook them about 5 mile from camp. we traveled about too miles further when we Tait & myself made a dash for a house to stay all night not being able to travel any further. And on gaining admittance we found it to be a negro habitation, but every thing being neat & clean. they free negroes, so we got permission to lay on the floor (which had a carpet on) before the fire place. thus we pass the night resting verry well. but we was occasionaly waked up by teamsters comeing in dureing night for thare was a continual rattling of wagons all night.

Monday 5^th      I awoke at daylight & after arrouseing Tait we started on after the teams. I found my legs verry stiff & sore. after traveling about 4 miles we stoped to farm house & obtained a bowl of new milk & fresh bread which we relished & after paying for it we started on & after traveling about 4 miles more we stoped again & got a good breakfast, haveing all the eggs & new milk we wanted also a good cup of coffee with plenty of applesauce

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 5, 1862

Monday           And we don the breakfast justice, if not the breakfast, we did our selves. after breakfast we layed down on the floor & had a good sleep, which refreshed us amazeingly. then we payed our bill & started & over took the teams (which had stopped) within 3 miles of New Market. We had not been thare more than ½ hour when our Regt came up & halted for supper, our whole force being on the march this way, excepting Shields Divission, which is about 12,000 strong. The cause of our makeing this backward movement, I cannot tell, all kinds of rumors being in circulation. After supper was over the word forward march was given & on went our Brigade the teams following close the rear. we passed through town & went about 1½ miles beyond when then camped for the night & stop and after getting some supper went to bed.

Tuesday 6^th     About one oclock last night (or this AM) we were routed up with the pleasant orders ringing in our ears to cook breakfast & one days rations & take 2 more days along & be as quick as possable. all hands were turned out supposeing we had to go sick & well, but on geting through we learned that the sick was to stay behind. the Regt left about ½ past one AM & went over the mountain in the same place we went over about too weeks ago. It is now about 11 AM Seym is here with me.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Tuesday 6^th     Remained in camp all day nothing of any consequence occured. in PM W^m Freeman & I started out to get some milk some cows that was in a lot. but they were so wiled that we could not get any whares near them. so giveing that up for a bad job, we started to the nearest house to buy some, but no go thare was no milk thare. So away we went to an other house about a mile distant & across what is called Smiths Creek which we had to cross by walking a log about 20 feet from the water, but we got across all right & succeded in getting 5 quarts of new milk for which I paid 50 cents. then we started for camp in a new direction expecting to find a bridge to cross on, but not so we had to ford the creek which nearly up to our crotches, but we came out all right & got camp in good condition So we had some boiled rice & milk for supper which [?] we retired at 9 PM. the weather is fair & warm

Wensday 7^th    I arrose about 8 AM & found the sun shineing warm & beautiful & it might be called in reality a May morning. I had some coffee & a piece of cold boiled beef for breakfast which I had carried in my haversack for nearly a week. a morning paper came with the account of the evacuation of Yorktown & at 10 AM Capt Bests battery fired a salute of 34 guns

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Wensday 7^th    & the bands down town played all the National airs they could think of and more too. at about noon Seym Freeman & Goldsborrough went in persuit of some rations being verry scarce in camp & within an hour they came back with a nice young hog nicely dressed & forthwith proceded to cook some, which relished verry well.

Thursday 8^th    Morning fair & beautifull. I did not get up till quite late. nothing of note occured The Regt came back from over the mountains at about 4 PM.

Friday 9^th        Everything quiet. the weather quite warm to day is the warmest day we have had this season by odds. I wrote to Thomas Sullivan & Sarah M Snover

Saturday 10^th   Weather fair & warm everything remained quiet till about 4 PM orders came to strike tents & get 2 days rations in our haversacks. After getting everything ready to march we had to lay out doors all night expecting to go every minute. I in co with some others that were on the sick list had to do without our blankets as our knapsacks were on the wagon & could not be got. I found it rather rough sleeping without any shelter over us and no blankets, but the night being quite warm I managed to get along verry well

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Sunday 11^th     The morning was beautifull & warm & about about 10 AM orders came for our Company to march so on we went. I took my own time & traveled as I choosed & rested when I pleased. We arrived at Mount Jackson at about 2 PM a distance from Newmarket of 7 miles We rested thare about 15 minutes & traveled on the roads being awfull dusty those that marched in the rank looked more like a lot of negroes than than anything else. We arrived at Edingburg at about 5 PM & camped just south of the berg. we pitched our the tents on a side hill in an orchard & it is a verry handsome spot. we got plenty of straw so we slept firstrate. one of the Mass 2 boys was shot night before last while traveling along the road in company with too others. it was supposed he was shot by a citizen.

Monday 12^th    The morning is beautifull & I feel verry well we are expecting the regiment along every minute. The cavelry has just brought in a rebble lieutenant. I should like to hang him. we stayed in camp till about 4 oclock PM when orders came to strike tents, which we done & traveled till about dusk, when we came up to the Regiment it haveing passed along in AM. So we made arrangements for staying all night & had just got layed down when orders came for the teams to hitch up & travel along. I was with the teams so was Frank Lee & Barry Gerris. So on we traveled till we came to within 6 miles of Strausberg when Frank & I went in a house & layed down & slept till daylight.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Tuesday 13^th   Frank & I slept till about sunrise & then arose washed our selves & traveled on & after traveling along for about 2 miles we stoped in & got some milk & had some bread & milk for breakfast & traveled along till camp up to the teams which was one mile north of Strausberg. at about noon the regiment came up to within ½ mile of Strausberg & halted & about 5 oclock PM the teams were ordered to the regiment & so we pitched our tents & went to bed in good season & slept verry well. It commenced raining about 9 PM & rained all night.

Wednesday 14^th          It is still raining & it comes down in perfect torrents & has rained hard all day & it is about 1 PM & by all appearance of things it is going to rain all day. our tent is full of water & I rather guess that we will have rather a damp time sleeping tonight

in PM Seym & I went and got a bundle of hay which made us a good bed & we slept firstrate.

Thursday 15^th  it stoped raining dureing the night but it looks rather dubious. but it did not rain till towards night when it commenced raining again & it now has the appearance of raining all night. nothing of importance occured I wrote a letter to Jane.

Friday 16^th      Weather still cloudy with an occasional shower. I layed around all day not haveing life enough to stir. I received a letter from Jane which cheered me up some. I wrote to Jane & Sarah the weather has the apearance of clearing up tonight. tomorrow I have expect to go before the examineing board.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Saturday 17^th   Weather fair. at about 2 PM I went before the examining board & the old doctor said send me home. Our (Terwillgher's & Hines) were signed & started for the Company to get our final statement. We found our Company about 4 miles from town on the line of railroad running from Strausberg to Washington. they were in a nice place for to camp but were with out tents & provisions. So Terwillgher & I went to a house & stayed all night.

Sunday 18^th     Weather fine. we got our breakfast & then lounged arround all day waiting for the teams to come but night came & no teams & our papers could not be made out till the orderlys books came.

Monday 19^th    Weather fair & warm. again we waited till all most night without without geting any thing to eat excepting what we could pick up among the citizens & that was but little for they had none to spare, but the tents & provission came about 4 oclock PM & our papers were immediately made out but not in time for us to get to town so we had to stay all night.

Tuesday 20^th   We got our breakfast & started to town bright & early & arrived all safe at about 7½ AM & our papers were immediately put under motion

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Wednesday 21^st           It rained some dureing the night but at 8 AM it was bright & clear & lounged arround all day waiting for my papers to come, but I hear nothing from them. the time seems verry long

Thursday 22^d  Weather fair & warm. Sergt Edwards & my self went down to the Shanadoah river & had a good swim & wash, which made me feel firstrate. I laid arround all day waiting for my papers, but heard nothing from them. I do not write, for I want to take take them by supprise at home

Friday 23^d       Weather fine & warm. hear nothing from my papers, the time seams long laying around doing nothing. everything passed along quiet as usual till about 5½ PM when orders came for the Regiment to fall in under arms, for the rebbles had pitched in to Co G & the boys were haveing a hard time of it & the Regiment was going to help them the report came that Co G was all killed or taken pisoners also one of the Indianna 27 Companies. Lieut Shepard went with the Regiment although he was rather unwell. I am in his tent & am going to sleep on his cot tonight. it is now 9½ PM thare are too of the teams going with one days rations. I should like to be with the boys, but am not able. Terwillghers papers came today but not mine. Bot Langstap started for home to day. Corp Gerris & Albert Banier were taken prisoner yesterday afternoon

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

Saturday 24^th   We struck tents at 2 oclock AM & started the train in the direction of Wichester & arived thare at about 4 PM. we then halted & unhitched our teams & made preparation to stay all night. at dark our Company wagon came up Seym, Raymond & Lieut Shepard was with it & the report is our forces is catching fits. we slept under the wagon.

Sunday 25^th     In the morning just daylight we heard the reports of guns & soon after thare was a perfect roar of musketry & then we hitched up our teams in a hurry & started for Martinsburgh & orders came to hurry up as fast as possable, for the rebbles were upon us & thare came verry near being a stampede or in other words a seckond bulls Run. we passed through Martins Burgh about 12 M. & halted about one mile this side of town & unhitched our teams & let them eat, but we had scarcely got them off the wagon when we could hear the roar of cannons & we hitched up again & started for Williamsport in Md a distance of 12 miles & on comeing to the river we found the watter very high & nothing but one old scow to ferry our things across. the teams could ford the river with the empty wagons & they immediately commenced crossing our force was trying to keep them back till we could get our train across. we had at least 300 loaded wagons. at about dark Frank Lee, High Brigs & my self got us a horse a pice & swam the river. I saved my knapsack & all my things but some one stole my gun & cartridge box out of my wagon, but I guess I shant have

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

May 1862

to pay for them. after we came across the river we (ie) Shepard, Lee, Raymond Freeman & my self passed through town & hunted up a country residence to stay all night & we found a good place & got supper, & then layed down a carpet to go to sleep

Monday 26^th    I found my self feeling verry well but awfull stiff & sore. In the morning I went down to the river to see how things looked thare & found what was left of our Regiment on this side of the river & a good teams had got a cross & a good maney wer in the river the horses being drownd or at least a large number of them, but everything was working well. I layed around all day resting for I was so lame I could hardly walk & towards night went down to the river again & found all of our Regiments train on this side & thare was a large amount of wagons & comissary stores on the other side yet. our Regiment & our brigade took up quarters in a piece of woods just in the rear of the town in a verry nice spot. the report is that Gen Shields & Gen Dix & Freemont was in the rear of the rebbles & giveing them fits. I wrote a letter to Jane. I slept in camp

Tues 29^th         I feel verry lame & sore in the morning early I went & carried Leonards knapsack to him in the hospital. he is sick with the billious fever. Seym is detailed as nurse

 

Amount of butter sold

Mr Cole 10 lbs. Mrs Haskins 30 lbs.

Mr Scott 5½ lbs Sam 17½ lbs. 4½ lbs

Mrs Carter 8 lbs.

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Letters Received                                 Letters Sent

May 27^th  Sarah M Snover                  May 16^th          Jane M Hart

                                                                     27^th         Do

 

Amount of dry goods bought since Nov 1^st 1868

            Kept by Mrs J. B. Nugent

One pair of shoes for myself

One pair of shoes for Johnnie

Twelve yards of red flannel

Six yards of toweling

Two spools of thread

Two yards of red flannel

One belt ribon for myself

Two spools of thread, buttons for aprons

Twelve yards of gingham

Six yards of cloth at $1.50 per yd

Twelve yards of dress goods .50 pr yd

Dress lining, cambric, and buttons

and thread for dress, dress guarde

Hats for the boys

Scarf's for the boys. Slippers for myself

Cloth bought of Alf to the amount of ei

Shoes bought of Mrs Ballou

One pair of drawers for John got at

Nugent & Collins store

Two pair of shoe strings bought at N & C's

Over shoes. pants & lining $4.50

            Feb 20^th 1869. Dry goods

One hat 4.00 buttons .50 thread .80

 

Sep 8^th Mary Mead commenced work Sep 8^th at noon

"          ½ day lost

14        ½ day lost/23 ½ day lost

24        1 day  "     29 ½ day lost

25        "          "    30 1 day lost

26        "          "    sick 1 day lost with a cold went home

                        next day & Elle stayed, lost sick 2 days with Ersepelas

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

Letters Received                                                         Letters Sent

1862

March  4^th        Sarah Snover               131                  4^th        S. L. Hart                        121

"          14^th      Almira Nugent            132                  4          Eliam J Reymond        122

"          19        Wm H Nugent            133                  9          Jane M Hart                 123

"          "          Truman Phelps            134                  13^th      Almira Nugent 124

April    4^th        David Jones                135                  14^th      W^m H Nugent            125

"          9^th        Sarah M Snover          136                  17        Mary A Phelps 126

"          7^th        James H Nugent          137                  18^th      Josie Jones               127

"          12^th      Mary Phelps                138                  21^st      Truman Phelps 128

"          "          Charles & Tn Phelps   139                  "          Jane M Hart                 129

"          "          Louisa Bishop             140                  23^rd      Sarah M Snover 130

"          "          Truman Phelps            141      April    9^th  David Jones                        131

"          13^th      S L Hart                      142                  10^th      Jane M Hart                 132

"          24^th      Sarah M Snover          143                  12^th      Mary Phelps             133

"          "          Jane M Hart                144                  "          Charles Phelps             134

"          29^th      Riley Bishop               145                  13^th      Almira Nugent 135

"          "          David Jones                146                  "          Louisa E Bishop 136

"          "          Jane M Hart                147                  "          James H Nugent 137

May     2          Julia F Marshall          148                  14^th      S L Hart                        138

"          "          Do                               149                  25^th      Sarah M Snover 139

"          "          James H Nugent          150                  "          Jane M Hart                 140

"          3^d         Mary A Phelps            151                  29^th      David Jones               141

"          5          Charles Phelps            152                  "          Jane M Hart                 142

"          8          J L Clement                153                  30^th      Riley Bishop             143

"          "          Tomas G Sullivan       154      May     2          Julia F Marshall          144

"          "          Sarah M Snover          155                              James H Nugent 145

"          14^th      Louisa E Bishop         156                  4^th        Jane M Hart                 146

"          "          James H Nugent          157                  "          Mary A Phelps 147

"          16^th      Jane M Hart                158                  7^th        T F Snover             148

"          20        Sarah Snover               159                  8          Charles Phelps             149

"          "          Almira Nugent            160                              J L Clement                      150

"          21        Jane M Hart                161                  9          Sarah M Snover 151

"          "          Sarah M Snover          162                  "          Thomas G Sullivan           152

"          "          Julia F Marshall          163                  14^th      James H Nugent 153

"          27        Sarah M Snover          164                  "          Louisa E Bishop 154

                                                                                    15^th      Jane M Hart                 155

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

1862 letters received from the 1^st of January 1862

letters received up to this date,                                   Letters sent up to this date

Jan       2^d         Jane Hart                     97        Jan       2^d         up to this date                 87

            3          Jane Hart                     98                                Jane Hart                        88

            "          W H Nugent                99                                W H Nugent            89

            7^th        S L Hart                      98                    7          S L Hart                        90

            8^th        Almira Nugent            99                    8^th        Almira Nugent 91

            9^th        S L Hart                      100                  9^th        S L Hart                        92

            10^th      W^m H Nugent              102                  10^th      Sarah M Snover 93

            "          Jane Hart                     103                  "          Jane Hart                        94

            "          James H Nugent          104                  11^th      James H Nugent 95

            12^th      David Jones                105                  14^th      W^m H Nugent            96

            15^th      Jane Hart                     106                  15^th      Jane Hart                        97

            16^th      W^m H Nugent              107                  16^th      W^m H Nugent            98

            17^th      Nancie Nugent            108                  19^th      Nancy A Nugent 99

            20^th      Ellen Phelps                109                  20^th      Ellen Phelps             100

            "          Mary    do                   110                  22        Sarah M Snover 101

            "          Sarah Snover               111                  28^th      Josie Jones               102

            24^th      Josie Jones                  112                  29^th      Almira Nugent 103

            "          Almira Nugent            113                  "          W^m H Nugent            104

            "          Sarah Snover               114      Feb      1          Jane Hart                        105

            28        W^m H Nugent              115                  "          Sarah M Snover 106

            30^th      S L Hart                      116                  4^th        James H Nugent 107

Feb      2^d         James H Nugent          117                  6^th        S L Hart                        108

            7^th        Charles Phelps            118                  8^th        Charles Phelps             109

            10^th      Sarah Snover               119                  9^th        Ella Spencer                       110

            "          Sam Beach                  120                  12^th      Jane Hart                        111

            11^th      Jane Hart                     121                  "          Sarah M Snover 112

            14^th      Truman Phelps            122                  13^th      W^m H Nugent            113

            "          W^m H Nugent              123                  "          One Valentine

                                                                                                author unknown         114

            19^th      Almira Nugent            124                  19^th      Almira Nugent 115

            20^th      Jane M Hart                125                  20^th      Jane M Hart                 116

            "          Nancy Nugentq           126                  "          Nancy A Nugent 117

            28^th      Sarah Snover               127                  27^th      Jane Hart                        118

March  2          Ella Spencer                128                  2          James H Nugent 119

            "          James H Nugent          129                  9^th        Sarah Snover             120

                        S L Hart                      130

 

————————————————————————————————————

 

                        John B Nugent                        Dr

Jan 1862                                                          $          cts

            2^d         to cash received of Picket                   25

            14^th      to cash borrowed of Leonard              15

            16^th      to cash got for postag stamps             25

            23^d       to cash for                                      26.00

            29^th      to cash got of Uncle Sam               26.00

            "          to cash got of Thompson                 5.75

 

                        Samuel H. Collins commenced geting milk

            of J. B. Nugent friday April 17^th 1858

                        and gets two quarts every day.

April    22^d       Three lbs of butter 30^cts per lb got of Mrs Price

            26^th      2¾ lbs of butter

May     2^d         1 lb of butter

"          7          1 lb of butter by guess

                        By 50^cts in cash at Menaska

                        By 1.00 in cash

July                 3¾ lbs of butter

"                      1 lb of butter

Sep      15        1¾ lbs of butter

 

 

                                                                        boys coats Johns shirt

                                                                        my dress

                                                                        quilt

SOURCES