George R. Gear Diary, 1864
Friday, January 1, 1864.
Remained in Zollicoffer House Nashville until noon; then removed to Rock City Hospital. A very cold day. About 5 o'clock PM embarked on a steamboat. Ran down to Clarksville Bridge and then laid up till morning.
Saturday 2
Reached the mouth of Cumberland about 5 P.M. The river a beautiful rapid, narrow stream. Passed Fort Donelson about 11 A.M. A very strongly fortified place. A cold disagreeable day. In consequence of ice in the Ohio, went to Cairo instead of Cincinnati as intended.
Sunday 3
On board the boat all day Very much crowded and uncomfortable. Snow all day. Got on the cars about 5 P.M.
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Monday, January 4, 1864.
Reached Vincennes about 10 P.M. Hindered often by ice and snow. Comparatively comfortable in the cars.
Tuesday 5
Stopped at Seymour 2 or 3 hours. Cars ran off the track about 15 miles from Cincinnati. Detained about 3 hours. No one hurt.
Wednesday 6
Arrived at Cincinnati about 3 A.M. A bountiful breakfast awaiting us at Palace Garden. Marched through the city. Regiment behaved splendidly. Went to Camp Dennison.
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Thursday, January 7, 1864.
In Camp Dennison barracks. A very cold, cheerless place. Anxiously waiting for paymaster
Friday 8
"Nary" paymaster yet. Very tedious, disagreeable time
Saturday 9
Paid off in the evening. Went to Milford and staid over night.
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Sunday, January 10, 1864.
Staid in Milford all day. Attended church at Methodist church.
Monday 11
Furloughed for thirty days.
Started home on morning train. Arrived at 10 P.M.
Tuesday 12
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Wednesday, January 13, 1864.
Wrote to Mr. Plant
Thursday 14
Wrote to Mrs. L. and G.
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Monday 18
Wrote to L. Received letters from Aus. and "The Squire"
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Tuesday, January 19, 1864.
Wrote to G.T.
Wednesday 20
Went in the evening to Lower Newport.
Thursday 21
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Friday, January 22, 1864.
Returned to Marietta.
Saturday 23
A letter from Mrs. L
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Thursday, January 28, 1864.
A letter from G.
Friday 29
Took the boat for McConnelsville. A very pleasant day.
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Tuesday 2
Started home after enjoying an exceedingly pleasant visit.
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Wednesday, February 3, 1864.
Wrote to G. and brother. Rec'd letter from M.D. and Hiram.
Thursday 4
Friday 5
Visited at Mr. L. F. Adams. A pleasant visit.
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Wednesday 10
Left home for Camp Dennison. Arrived about 7 P.M.
Thursday 11
Remained in camp. Wrote home and to M.L.
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Friday, February 12, 1864.
Left camp early in the morning. Took boats at Cincinnati for Nashville. Left C. about sundown. A pleasant day.
Saturday 13
Arrived at Louisville about daylight. One half day passing through the canal. Ran down to Connelton and took on coal.
Sunday 14
Service on board the boat by our new chaplain, Rev. Rosseter The lower Ohio a majestic river. Arrived at Smithland about 11 P.M.
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Monday, February 15, 1864.
Ran up to Fort Donelson. A beautiful day and evening. Wrote to sister and to E.R.
Tuesday 16
Ran to Clarksville and laid up for the night. Clarksville a pleasant once thriving business place situated on a high bluff. A railroad bridge across the Cumberland at this point
Wednesday 17
All embarked on one boat Got off the boat and marched around the shoals. Passed [?] bluffs. The Cumberland a winding, narrow, beautiful stream. Lay up 12 miles from Nashville.
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Thursday, February 18, 1864.
Arrived at Nashville about 8 A.M. Went to a Hospital Building near the depot. Building formerly used as a Medical College
Friday 19
Still in Hospital Building, waiting for transportation 43d and 27th arrived.
Wrote to mother, E.K. and Newton.
Saturday 20
Left Nashville about 9 A.M. Ran very slowly. Box cars, sixty in a car. Reached Pulaski about 2 oclock, Sabbath morning.
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Sunday, February 21, 1864.
Marched to Prospect Station. Joined by our old men, swelling the Regiment to over 900. Camped by the fort.
Monday 22
Marched to Athens, Alabama. Passed over a poor section of country. Camped outside the town.
Tuesday 23
Moved camp to the south side of town. Athens a pleasant well built little place of 1200 or 1500 inhabitants.
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Wednesday, February 24, 1864.
Took a ramble in the grave yards. One of them very dilapidated. Observed an extraordinary culoquium on one tombstone. (Attended prayer meeting at Methodist Church in evening.)
Thursday 25
Friday 26
On provost guard. First train came in from Nashville.
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Saturday, February 27, 1864.
Train load of pontoons came down. No mail.
Sunday 28
Attended church in morning at Presbyterian Church. A first rate sermon. Service at Methodist church in afternoon by our chaplain. Preaching in evening by chaplain of 9th Illinois.
Monday 29
On grand guard on Buck Island Road. A very rainy, dismal night.
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Wednesday [March] 9
Started on a foraging expedition. Went out about fifteen miles on the Florence road and camped over night. Set the darkeys at work cooking for us.
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Thursday, March 10, 1864.
Went to a mill in Big Creek 8 miles from Athens. Returned to camp about 5 P.M.
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Sunday 20
Preaching by our chaplain. Attended prayer meeting in evening at Father Malone's.
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Tuesday, March 22, 1864.
Snow fell to a depth of 2 or 3 inches. Received marching orders at 7 P.M. Marched to Decatur 15 miles. Arrived about 4 A.M. Laid down in the snow and slept. Snow fell 10 inches deep at Decatur.
Wednesday 23
Crossed the river on a pontoon bridge. Marched to a muddy field behind the breastworks. Decatur a dilapidated little village. Lay all night behind the breastworks.
Thursday 24
Marched back to Athens. Arrived about 1 P.M. Glad to get back to camp.
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Monday [April] 11
Taken sick with a chill succeeded by fever
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Tuesday, April 12, 1864.
Entered Hospital
Attacked with pneumonia
Wednesday 13
Our Regiment left for Decatur. Left in 50th Ills. Hospital.
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Saturday 16
Disease reached its crisis. Turned favorably. Very sick. Under care of an excellent surgeon. Good care all the time.
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Thursday 28
Went to Decatur to our own Hospital. A very rough ride in the ambulance across the swamp.
Friday 29
A heavy thunder storm accompanied by a fearful gale of wind. Hospital tent blew down. Fortunately did not get wet
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Saturday, April 30, 1864.
Attack on the picket line with musketry and cannon. A force sent out and rebs skedaddled.
Removed to Post Hospital. No surgeon or nurses to care for us.
Sunday, May 1
Regiment left on a march. Matters arranged somewhat Nothing provided for us to eat all day. A moldy cracker and a cup of tea at night. No doctor came around and no medicine given.
Monday 2
Two men died of their neglect. No nurses. Scarcely anything to eat.
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Tuesday, May 3, 1864.
Starvation fare
One more died.
Wednesday 4
Still starvation. A man with small pox in our ward. Surgeons examine him and don't know it to be that disease, although evident to us all.
Thursday 5
A visit from a lady of the Sanitary Commission. She was very indignant at our treatment. Musty hard tack for dinner. Small pox man removed finally
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Friday, May 6, 1864.
Matters greatly improved in the eating line. Beans, sourkraut, and rice for dinner. Another man died.
Saturday 7
Sunday 8
Heavy firing on the picket line. Everything got in readiness for an attack. I left the Hospital and went inside the breastworks. Convalescent camp moved in. Joined them. A very busy exciting day. Houses torn down to give free range. New fortifications thrown up.
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Monday, May 9, 1864.
Another attack upon the picket line about 2 o'clock in the morning. A large force at work all day tearing down buildings and fortifying.
Tuesday 10
All manner of wild rumors. Signal cannon fired in the morning. All formed in line behind the breastworks. Rebs. didnt come.
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Friday, May 27, 1864.
Blair's force 15,000 strong passed through Decatur.
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Friday, June 17, 1864.
Left Decatur on the train, en route for the Regiment. Passed through Huntsville at twilight. A beautiful place.
Saturday 18
Arrived at Chattanooga at 7 A.M. The railroad passes over a beautiful wild mountain country between Bridgeport and C. Ascended Cameron Hill and took a view of Chattanooga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. Exceedingly beautiful scene.
Sunday 19
Arrived at Big Shanty, Georgia, about 2 P.M. Rejoined my Regiment. Advanced our lines about 1 mile
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Monday [July] 4
Charged the enemy's work at Ruffs Mills and drove them. Lost 1 killed 45 wounded in our Regiment
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Friday [July] 22
Fierce battle near Atlanta. Repulsed the enemy. Lost 120 men in our Regiment.
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Wednesday [August] 17
Left camp, took cars for Marietta and entered Hospital there. Opened a new church building for a Hospital. About 100 inmates.
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Tuesday [September] 13
Left Hospital at Marietta, and en route for my Regiment. Arrived at Atlanta about 6 P.M. Went to Soldiers Home and staid over night.
Wednesday 14
After running around nearly all day trying to find some way to get to the Regiment at East point, finally got aboard the train about 5 P.M. and reached East Point about sundown
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Tuesday [September] 20
Regiment left and went to Atlanta to clean up ground for a Hospital for Army of Tennessee.
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Wednesday, September 21, 1864.
Moved camp to Atlanta. I walked down on the railroad.
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Tuesday, September 27, 1864.
Entered Regimental Hospital. Disease—continued fever and general debility.
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Tuesday [October] 4
Reg't left on a march. I was sent to General Hospital Army of the Tennessee at Atlanta
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Monday [November] 7
Returned to Regiment. Paid off.
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Saturday [November] 12
Left camp and marched to Kennesaw Mountain and commenced tearing up railroad. Worked till eleven at night.
Day's march 7 miles.
Sunday 13
Got up at 4 o'clock and tore up road till daylight. Marched to camp six miles and took breakfast. Were then ordered back. Marched to Marietta and were there stopped by Gen. Sherman and turned on the road toward Atlanta. Marched to within three miles of Atlanta and camped for the night. This days march 28 miles
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Monday, November 14, 1864.
Started about 7½. Got on the wrong road. Marched about 6 miles and then came up with our Division, camped south of Atlanta.
Tuesday 15
Left camp about 9 A.M. Moved eastward. Waited until 2½ P.M. for supply train after marching about one mile. Train very slow. Passed a bad swamp. Didn't come up with the advance. Marched at intervals all night. Days march 11 miles.
Wednesday 16
Marched until about 8 P.M. Stopped for supper. Started again and marched till 2 o'clock. Lay down and slept one hour. Went then two miles farther and took breakfast. Day's march 24 miles.
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Thursday, November 17, 1864.
Started about 7 A.M. Passed through McDonough and on to Jackson. Regiment on Provost Guard. Very fatiguing march. Distance 19 miles. A good night's rest for the first time.
Friday 18
Went to Ocmulgee River. Rested about 3 hours. About dark crossed the river and marched 2 miles through mud and darkness. Day's march 11 miles.
Saturday 19
Started at 8. Passed through Monticello a nice little country town. Plenty of forage. march 13 miles
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Sunday, November 20, 1864.
Passed through Hillsboro. Marched through a fine rolling country. Plenty of forage. Chickens, corn meal, potatoes etc. Day's march 16 miles. Rained all night
Monday 21
Rear guard. Rainy day, awful roads. Marched abouy 5 miles before dark. Went ahead 2 miles and lay down at night. Talked with an old slave that came from New York 7 miles.
Tuesday 22
Started about 4 A.M. Reached camp about 7, stopping for breakfast. Marched to Gordon Station, 9 miles. Days march 12 miles
Tore up Railroad evening
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Wednesday, November 23, 1864.
Lay in camp all day in pine woods
Thursday 24
Marched 10 miles, and tore up railroad. Passed over pine country
Friday 25
Marched about 7 miles. Still in pine country. Camped at Toomsboro
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Saturday, November 26, 1864.
Marched 9 miles in morning Lay up till about sundown Then passed over 3 miles of swamp and crossed Oconee River. Marched 2 miles father and camped.
Days march 14 miles.
Sunday 27
Marched about 5 miles camping for the day about 11 o'clock A.M.
Monday 28
Marched 16 miles. Came upon a road passed over the previous day by a portion of the [?] and 14th Corps. A weary day's march A warm day
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Tuesday, November 29, 1864.
Rear guard. Marched 15 miles, camping about 8 o'clock. Passed a bad swamp after dark. Still warm. Frogs croaking.
Wednesday 30
Arrived at the Ogechee about 3 P.M. Lay up till dark for the pontoons to be laid. Then crossed the river, at Sebastopol.
Day's march 11 miles. A very swampy country
Thursday, December 1
Tore up railroad in morning. Then marched 7 miles and camped near Burton Station Passed Sherman's Head Quarters.
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Friday, December 2, 1864.
Marched to Millen 12 miles Crossed swamps. Passed over a good country. A fine depot at Millen. Stockades for our prisoners.
Saturday 3
Tore up railroad in morning. Then marched 9 miles to Scarboro.
Sunday 4
Marched 17 miles. Good roads. Spanish moss. Camped about sundown.
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Monday, December 5, 1864.
Went up in the morning to tear railroad. Ordered off soon to reinforce 2nd and 3d Brigades, the line of battle rebs having made their appearance. Went into line of battle. Rebs soon skedaddled for their works. Company on picket
Marched 9 miles.
Tuesday 6
Regiment went back to tear up railroad. Company on picket. Plenty of mutton.
Wednesday 7
Rear guard. Traveled over a bad swamp, 3 miles, after dark. Camped at 12 P.M.
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Thursday, December 8, 1864.
Rear guard again. Marched 12 miles. Passed through Marboro Station. Camped about 8 o'clock Heavy guns heard at night.
Friday 9
Division in advance. Our Regiment guarding train. Fighting in front. Explosion of torpedo. Marched 13 miles.
Saturday 10
Moved up to within 4½ miles Savannah Went into position. Crossed the canal. Threw up works after night.
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Sunday, December 11, 1864.
Lay in the trenches all day. In plain sight of the rebs. Shelling on both sides. One man killed in our Regiment. Relieved at sundown by 14th. Went 2 miles to rear and camped.
Monday 12
Marched 12 miles through a poor pine country. Recrossed the canal.
Tuesday 13
Lay in camp all day. Nothing to eat. Unhulled rice issued in evening News of the fall of Fort McAllister and opening of communications
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Wednesday, December 14, 1864.
Started on a foraging expedition. Crossed the Ogechee about dark Marched 7 miles and camped for the night. Met our forage wagon at night.
Thursday 15
Went about 14 miles. obtained forage started back and marched 7 miles. Passed Midway Church.
Friday 16
Marched into camp 15 miles. Ordered back immediately to tear up Gulf and Atlantic R.R. Went to river, 6 miles and camped.
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Saturday, December 17, 1864.
Went to Midway Church 15 miles.
Sunday 18
Marched 20 miles passing through Walthourville, a neat little town wholly deserted.
Monday 19
Regiment tore up railroad. Went foraging myself 16 miles. Plenty of sweet potatoes, molasses, sugar etc.
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Tuesday, December 20, 1864.
Marched 3 miles toward the river, turned round and marched to within 3 miles of Midway Church Day's march 24 miles.
Wednesday 21
Marched to our old camp 24 miles.
Thursday 22
Lay in camp all day
Cold day
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Friday, December 23, 1864.
Still in camp.
Saturday 24
Moved into Savannah and then out 3 miles on Thunderbolt road. Day's march 13 miles.
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Memoranda.
S. N. Maxwell
Depot Quartermasters office
No. 8 South Gay St
Baltimore
W. H. C.
7th W.V.Vols.
2nd Corps Army of Potomac
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Memoranda.
Letters Received.
Feb 21 From mother and E.B.
" 25 " G.
Mar 2 " Bosworth
" 4 " sister and E.A.
" 5 " E.K.
" 8 " mother.
" 11 " sister.
" 15 " mother
" 17 " M.L.
" 20 " E.P. and Newton.
" 22 " mother.
" 26 " G.
" 27 " E.K.
" 28 " E.A.
" 29 " A.L. and E.B.
" 30 " sister
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Memoranda.
Letters Written.
Feb 11 Wrote to M.L.
" 15 To sister and E.A.
" 19 " mother, E.K. and Newton
" 23 " sister.
" 24 " A.L., Geo. T.
" 25 " H.P.
" 26 " G.
" 27 " E.B., and M.D.
March 1 " mother
" 2 " Wm C.
" 4 " sister
" 7 " E.K. and E.A.
" 8 " Chas. Merwin
" 11 " mother.
" 16 " sister.
" 17 " Mrs. L.
" 21 " mother.
" 25 " sister.
" 26 " Newton
" 28 " E.K. and G.
" 30 " K.C. and E.B.
" 31 " Mother and E.A.
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Memoranda.
Letters Received.
Apr. 9 Sister
" 10 Merwin
" 22 E.B.—K.C.—L.S.
" 22 E.A. mother
" 27 M.D. and Mrs. L.
" 30 Maxwell.
May 24 Sister
" 28 Mother and Hiram
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Memoranda.
Letters Written
April 1 M.L.
" 2 E.P.
" 7 Sister and J.H.G.
April 16 Mother 1 by [?]
" 18 Mother
" 21 Sister
" 23 Mother.
" 26 Sister
" 29 Mother
" 30 K.C.
May 2 Sister.
" 5 Mother.
" 12 Sister
" 13 E.B.
" 14 A.L.
" 15 Mother
" 16 Maxwell.
" 17 E.A.
" 19 L.S.
" 21 Sister and Merwin
25 Mother and Jno. Stewart
28 Sister.
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Memoranda.
Letters Received
June 2 Sister
" 6 Mother
" 8 Sister
" 13 Mother.
" 20 Two from E.B.—two from E.A.—G.—E.P.—J.P.—Max— Tenney—Merwin— A.L.—M.L.—L.F. Adams— K.C.—E.K.—7 from mother and sister.
" 21 L.S.
" 29 Mother.
July 2 Mother
" 8 Sister
" 11 Sister—E.B.
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Memoranda.
Letters Written
May 30 Mother
" 31 Hiram
June 2 M.D.
" 3 Sister
" 7 Mother
" 9 G.
" 12 Sister
" 14 Mother
" 20 Sister.
" 21 K.C.—G.
" 22 Sister. Mother
" 24 Sister
" 25 Mrs. L.
" 27 Mother.
" 28 E.K.—E.B.
" 29 E.A.
" 30 E.P.—Sister
July 7 Mother
" 8 Maxwell
" 11 Sister
" 12 M.L.—Geo. T.
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Cash Account. January.
Letters Received
July 12 G.
" 14 Mother
" 23 Mother—G.—E.B.
" 25 Sister—E.A.
" 28 Sister
" 31 E.B.
Aug 1 Mother
" 6 Mother
" 13 G.—M.L.
" 15 Chas. Merwin.
" 23 Sister
Sept 17 E.A.—E.B.—G.—Jno. St.
Max.—Hiram—3 from
mother,—2 from sister.
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Cash Account. January.
Letters Written.
July 13 G.—E.B.
" 14 Mother—J.P.
" 15 A.L.
" 16 Mother—Merwin
" 23 Sister
" 24 G.
" 29 Mother
Aug 1 Sister and E.B.
" 2 E.A.
Aug 4 Mother
" 8 Sister
" 11 Mother
" 20 Sister—Mrs. L.
" 21 G
" 22 M.L.
" 23 Mother.
" 29 Sister.
Sept. 5 Mother.
" 13 Sister
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Cash Account. February.
Sept. 19 E.A.
" 20 Mother—Wm C.
" 25 E.P.
Oct 10 Mother—Sister
Nov. 9 Mother—Sister—M.L.
Mrs. L.—E.B.—E.A.
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Cash Account. February.
Sept 16 Mother
" 18 Jno. Stewart
" 24 E.A.
" 26 M Sister
" 27 G.
" 29 Hiram—Merwin
" 30 Mrs. Cadmon—Merwin
Oct. 1 Mother—Box Express
" 10 Mother
" 12 Sister
" 14 Maxwell—E.B.
" 24th Mother
Nov 8 Mother—Maxwell
" 9 Sister—M.L.—G.
Al. Thomas
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Cash Account. March.
[all stricken]
Due W. A. Snodgrass 1.00
" Jno. Pfeiffer 25
" Wm Pfeiffer 2.00
Mar 31 " 5.00
" Due
Elisha Kennedy pay day 10.00
Due E. O. Hurd 5.00
March 27
Due from Jacob Gilcher on pay
day for a ring $1.00
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Cash Account. March.
[stricken]
Mar. 24 Paid Wm Pfeiffer 1.00
" 25 " " .35
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Cash Account. June.
Debts Due Pay Day.
Paid
To Elisha Kennedy for a watch 10.00
" Wm Pfeiffer, borrowed money 5.65
" Capt. E. O. Hurd " Paid 5.00
" Wm S. Morse " " 5.00
" Wm Snodgrass " Paid 1.00
" John Pfeiffer " Paid 25
" Chas. Reynolds Paid 6.00
" Sutler Paid 2.00
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Cash Account. June.
Debts Due Me Pay Day
[stricken]
Paid Wm Pfeiffer 1.00
June 20 leaving him
due from me 4.65
[figures]
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Cash Account. July.
Shirts
Drawers
Mosquito Bars 36
Wash Basins 27
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Cash Account. July.
Stork
Sullivan.
Sorrel.
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Cash Account. September.
Stork.
Sullivan.
Summerfield.
Pitcher
Hatchet
Nutmeg grater.
22 Due
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Cash Account. October.
Articles Broken—12 plates—2 mugs—
1 Chamber Pot.
Single
[figures]
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Memoranda.
List of Rebs
39th Ga
39 Ga. J. Crawford
W.R. White 30 Ga.
27 Basins.
[?]blankets 44
Urinal Glass 1
Buckets 2
Spittoons 6
Pillows 5
Pillow Cases 5
Sheets 15
DATABASE CONTENT
| (15356) | DL1570.002 (2) | Diaries | 1864 |
Tags: Atlanta Campaign, Death (Military), Destruction of Land/Property, Fighting, Food, Hospitals, Illnesses, Marching, Payment, Railroads, Religion, Rivers, Ships/Boats, Weather
People - Records: 1
- (3310) [writer] ~ Gear, George Rufus
SOURCES
George R. Gear Diary, 1864, DL1570.002 (2), Nau Collection
