 |
Wednesday, January 1, 1862
A very pleasant day. Had nothing to do for all day. At daylight
the band serenaded the Col. playing Home Sweet
Home & c. A dull time for me. Last year at this time I was
in Ohio, teaching school, now I am in the U.S. army,
Union Coast Guard at Camp Hamilton near Fort Monroe,
VA. I hope I shall be able to do something for my country
this year.
Tuesday, 2
On guard today, quite cold. Have word that we were all
going toward Yorktown tonight.
Friday 3.
Cloudy & quite cold today. At nine o'clock our reg't, 4
companies of the 20th NY and 3 companies of cavalry
started for Big Bethel. The infantry held possession of the
different roads and the cavalry went on, found Big Beth
deserted, but drew the guns of two masked batteries in the
rear of the town. Having thus found out the position of the
batteries, we all returned to camp just after dark. We
marched altogether about 20 miles. The roads sandy &
dusty.
|
Saturday, January, 4, 1862.
Today, Saturday, quite cold and rainy.
Sunday 5
Quite cold today. The Col. gave us a march of about five
miles, through the woods & c. A part of the way on the
double quick with our knapsacks. A little rainy towards
night.
Monday 6
A cold disagreeable day. It rained some last night and
froze as it fell. This morning the ground was covered with
ice. Did nothing today. Got a box from Charles Clark,
Boston.
|
Tuesday, January 7, 1862.
A pleasant day but quite cold. Nothing unusual occurred.
Wednesday 8
A very fine day. On guard; Countersign Ohio. Cloudy and
moderate in the night.
Thursday 9
Moderate, rainy in the forenoon.
|
Friday, January 10, 1862.
A little rainy this morning, pleasant the rest of the day. A
part of Gen. Burnsides expedition has got in.
Saturday 11
Another pleasant day. A few drops of rain. A part of Gen.
Burnsides expedition arrived here today.
Sunday 12
A very warm and pleasant day indeed, like spring. Gen.
Burnsides expedition sailed again this morning. At our
inspection this morning, we marched around the field 7
times. Was on guard, but did not get on till one o'clock.
Countersign, Lafayette.
|
Monday, January 13, 1862.
The wind in the south yesterday. This morning about five
o'clock it came around into the North. Quite cold and a
little rainy. Co. B went on the expedition yesterday or
started; Co. D has also gone.
Tuesday 14
Quite snowy & sleety last night. And very bad today with
a little rain.
Wednesday 15
A little rain today. Went on guard. Countersign, Oswego.
It rained some today. A very disagreeable day. Not very
cold.
|
Thursday, January 16, 1862.
A very pleasant day, but awful muddy. The relief was
divided last night so I only stood two hours in the night.
Got a box sent by Miss Ella Carhart, Belvidere, NJ. It was
started Dec. 5th but as the freight was not paid it remained
in Philadelphia and the offices there got a fire, so that
everything in the box was wet; the cakes & c. spoilt, but
the draws & c. was all right.
Friday 17
Today, Friday it was quite pleasant. Nothing done today.
The Colonel is away to Washington I expect.
Saturday 18
A little foggy today. On guard. Had four reliefs.
Countersign Warren. Had quite an easy time.
|
Sunday, January 19, 1862.
Quite a warm and pleasant day. Did not have any marching
of the reg't; only a slight inspection. Had no chance to
go to church. Colonel not home yet.
Monday 20
Very pleasant during the first part of the day. A heavy
thunder shower in the evening with lightning.
Tuesday 21
Another unpleasant day, cool & foggy. Went on picket
guard to Hampton bridge. Countersign Brandywine.
|
Wednesday, January 22, 1862.
Another cool and foggy day. Got along very pleasantly on
guard. Got home about ten o'clock. did nothing all day in
the way of drill. Got a box from Charles F. Clark.
Thursday 23
Cool and cloudy today. Snowed a little in the afternoon.
Friday 24
Cool and rainy. It rained about all day. Had to cook our
own dinner & supper for the weather was too bad for the
cooks. But we did it better than it had been done for a
long time.
|
Saturday, January 25, 1862.
Cool and cloudy. On guard today. Countersign Gates.
Quite a pleasant day.
Sunday 26
A very warm and pleasant day. The part of the reg't
remaining here went on a scout to Back River. I went on
guard again for another man as I wished to remain in
camp, not knowing but what my brother 1st mate of the
steam transport Matanzas might possibly come ashore to
see me. He did not come, I expect the vessel did not
remain in port long enough. The countersign was Morgan.
Monday 27
Quite moderate today and pleasant today, Monday. Went
and saw Lieut. Buttz of Belvidere NJ now in Harlan's
Penn. Cavalry. Had pleasant time.
|
Tuesday, January 28, 1862.
A warm and pleasant day. Drilled some during the day.
Had not much today. Got a letter from Belvidere NJ
(Helen Sharp).
Wednesday 29
A very pleasant day. Went out after wood. John McMahan
of Brooklyn NY but now in this company shot Michael
Dolen of the same place. Done in cold blood on account
of some old grudge. He was buried this afternoon, I was
one of the escort. The murderer made no effort to escape.
He had been on guard and just come off post.
Thursday 30
Cloudy and rainy. On guard. Countersign Lincoln. the
dead body was disinterred and sent home today, by some
of the 10th reg't in the ... .
|
Friday, January 31, 1862.
A tolerable pleasant day. Drilled in the afternoon a little
while.
Saturday, February 1
Quite a rainy and disagreeable day. Did not do anything
today.
Sunday 2.
Quite a pleasant day. A little cool, looks like snow. On
guard again. Countersign Crown Point.
|
Monday, February 3, 1862
Began to snow at about 7 o'clock AM. wind N.E.
Tuesday 4
A very pleasant and warm day. At last the paymaster has
commenced to pay us off. I got paid today.
Wednesday 5
Another lovely and warm day. Was on police today. Had
quite an easy time.
|
Thursday, February 6, 1862.
Quite cloudy and rainy today. Had nothing to do today.
Friday 7
Quite pleasant today. On guard again today. Countersign
Mansfield.
Saturday 8
Quite rainy today. Nothing unusual occurred.
|
Sunday, February 9, 1862.
No rain but cloudy. Did nothing today. Very nice and
warm toward night. Two contraband negro women came
in today.
Monday 10
Quite cold last night and this morning. It got quite moderate
by noon. On picket guard. Countersign "Italy". Did
not have any post till night then went over in Hampton.
On a double post, No 2, outside the Breastwork, quite a
dangerous one, but heard nothing. An old negro, six large
boys, two women and a baby came in today. The woman
that had the child had been severely whipped by her master
and three others, then she left. Her back was all cut to
pieces.
Tuesday 11
Today, Tuesday, very pleasant. Went to the camp of the
Mass 16 reg't to a class meeting. The first I have been to
since I left New Jersey. Had a very good time.
|
Wednesday, February 12, 1862.
Today, Wednesday, another warm and lovely day. The
blue birds are about singing merrily.
Thursday 13
Another warm and lovely day. Drilled a little. Gen.
Burnside has captured Roanoke Island.
Friday 14
Very warm and nice till one o'clock then it began to blow
and rain and continued stormy the rest of the day. On
guard again. Countersign Cairo.
|
Saturday, February 15, 1862.
Very stormy all day. Nothing new.
Sunday 16
A little more pleasant today. A little snow last night, a bad
night last night.
Monday 17
It rained most all day, very hard. On guard again.
Countersign North. I had a good place to stay so I was out
of the storm and my post was taken off at night.
|
Sunday, February 18, 1862.
Quite pleasant today. Went to the fort. Fort Donnelson on
the Cumberland River, Tenn. was captured last Sunday
with 15000 prisoners after hard fighting.
Monday 19
Quite rainy today. Nothing new.
Tuesday 20
Pleasant today. On guard. My post was taken off at nine
o'clock so I had a good night's sleep.
|
Friday, February 21, 1862.
A very warm and pleasant day. Nothing to do. Went and
saw G.C. Single of the Penn. Cavalry.
Saturday 22
Very rainy most all day, but moderate. On picket guard,
the outer one. Countersign Cumberland. Was in the grave
yard of the old episcopal church. Saw the grave of John
Goodwin born in Ramsgate, England.
Sunday 23
Also saw the grave of a man buried in 1701 aged 128
years. Moderate and cloudy today. Did nothing today.
|
Monday, February 24, 1862.
Pleasant but very windy. On police duty. Got a box of articles
ready to sent to D.V.C. Crate Hackettstown, NJ. It
contained two bricks from the old episcopal church at
Hampton, VA. Also two or three pieces of chinaware, a
marble urn, some shells & c.
Tuesday 25
Had nothing to do today but drill a little. A very pleasant
day.
Wednesday 26
On guard today quite, pleasant till five o'clock PM. Then
it began to rain and rained most all night. I did not suffer
any. Countersign Benton.
|
Thursday, February 27, 1862.
Very pleasant. Drilled some in the afternoon. Got a letter
from Wm. Y. Henry and daughter. Called on G.C. Angle
and the other Belvidere boys in the Penn. Cavalry camp.
Friday 28
Quite pleasant but a little cool. Mustered in again today
for another two months pay.
Saturday, March 1
Very cold last night and this morning. Otherwise quite
pleasant.
|
Sunday, March 2, 1862.
Rather unpleasant today, some rain. On guard today.
Countersign Roanoke. Some rain during the night.
Monday 3
Quite rainy today. Heard some very heavy guns from the
vicinity of Craney Island. It made the earth tremble here.
Tuesday 4
The company went on picket guard today. As my back
was rather lame I went on the sick list. Quite a pleasant
day.
|
Wednesday, March 5, 1862.
Another very pleasant day. On the sick list.
Thursday 6
Very nice and warm till noon then clouded up and snowed
quite hard part of the night. Wind North. On guard.
Countersign Jackson. Rec'd a box from Ella & Lou
Carhart & others, Belvidere, NJ.
Friday 7
Quite pleasant but a little cool & quite windy. Had nothing
to do for the day.
|
Saturday, March 8, 1862.
A very pleasant day. Did some washing. At about three
o'clock the reg't started for Newport News, arriving there
about dark. The iron clad steamer Merrimac had come
down from Norfolk, sunk the ship of war Cumberland,
fired a number of shots at the Congress, she surrendered;
and at night was set on fire. Both vessels were lying at
Newport News. We stacked our arms and slept in the open
air. About midnight the magazine on the Congress blew
up with a terrific noise.
Sunday 9
A lovely day today, Sunday. This forenoon witness the
naval battle between the rebel steamer Merrimac and the
U.S. ironclad steamer Monitor and Minnesota. After 4
hours fighting the rebels retreated. In the afternoon we the
20th NJ and others marched out to meet a land force, but
they did not come. Slept outdoors tonight.
|
Tuesday, March 11, 1862.
A pleasant day, Monday, but did nothing. The men fixed
up little shanties. A pleasant day Tuesday. The colonel put
me in charge of a house and two men as a guard.
Wednesday 12
Another pleasant day. In the same place. Nothing new.
About 200 men lost on our ships. The cap't and some 15
men were killed on board the Merrimac.
Thursday 13
Quite a pleasant day. Things the same.
|
Friday, March 14, 1862.
A little stormy today.
Saturday 15
Another stormy day.
Sunday 16
Pleasant today. Came back to camp Hamilton. Was glad
enough to get back.
|
Monday, March 17, 1862.
Another very lovely day. had nothing to do. Everything is
quiet.
Tuesday 18
Another fine day. Drilled from 6 to 7 and 10 to 12 AM.
And a battalion drill from 3 to 5 PM. We need it bad
enough.
Wednesday 19
Another pleasant day. Another battalion drill. A large
number of troops got here today. The 3rd ME is coming.
quite rainy tonight. The chaplain held a social meeting
this evening. I enjoyed it much.
|
Thursday, March 20, 1862.
Quite stormy today. Quite a good many troops landed
today. They all had the blanket tents. Each man carries
half of one. They do well on a march in warm weather.
Half the 3rd ME reg't arrived today. On guard.
Countersign St. Lawrence.
Friday 21
Quite pleasant but a little rain in the eve. The company
my brother is in arrived this afternoon. I had begun to
think they had got lost. I had my brother, Hannibal
Johnson & Charles Gardiner, old schoolmates, stay all
night with me. I got a good supper for them.
Saturday 22
A pleasant day, got a good breakfast for my friends. Was
over to see them again this afternoon. Saw my old school
mate Gorham Johnson, he is captain of a company. Saw a
number of other school mates.
|
Sunday, March 23, 1862
Another very pleasant day. Another lot of steamers &
steamboats loaded with troops have arrived. My brother
and cousin George Hubbard with two others came over to
see me.
Monday 24
A tolerable pleasant day. Had drill as usual. The troops are
already advancing and others continue to come. This eve.
called on Rev. Mr. Whittaker of Belvidere, NJ, he is chaplain
to the Harlan's Penn. Cavalry. Had a pleasant interview.
Tuesday 25
Quite a pleasant day. On guard, countersign Huron. Had
quite a good time of it. Quite busy times. Troops are taken
right up to Hampton and landed. A large lot of canal boats
are here loaded with wagons.
|
Wednesday, March 26, 1862.
Not quite so pleasant today, a little cool with a little snow
toward night. Gen. Wool & staff reviewed all the troops in
his division today. I should think the line two miles long,
about 6000 cavalry & infantry. Attended a prayer meeting
in this camp in the eve.
Thursday 27
A very pleasant day. A great deal of business going on in
the vicinity. Unloading transports & c. Had some drill in
skirmishing today.
Friday 28
A very pleasant day. Had a pass to go to Hampton to see
my brother. Saw him and had very pleasant time.
Witnessed a brigade drill and saw four regiments on dress
parade. Another large lot of troops arrived today. Most of
them were landed at Hampton.
|
Saturday, March 29, 1862.
Quite a pleasant day. Had to police the streets. Did not
have a great deal to do.
Sunday 30
Rather stormy today. Was on guard today. Countersign
Cumberland. My brother Edwin came over and staid all
night with me.
Monday 31
A very pleasant day. Exchanged our old muskets for the
long Enfield rifles. Got another two months pay today.
Sent an allotment ticket of ($12.00) twelve dollars to my
sister Mrs. G.G. Stinson, No. 79 payable in New York.
|
Tuesday, April 1, 1862.
A pleasant day. I should have put down that I sent the
allotment ticket to my sister today as I did sent it this
afternoon.
Wednesday 2
Another pleasant day. More troops arrived. Nothing else
new. Gen. McClellan is here.
Thursday 3
Another pleasant day. The troops around Hampton broke
camp and advanced today toward Yorktown. There were
other troops ahead at or beyond Big Bethel.
|
Friday, April 4, 1862.
The troops around Hampton advanced today instead of
yesterday.
Saturday 5
Pleasant day, a little rain last night. Heard heavy cannonading
from Yorktown all day. It was from our gunboats
engaging the enemies batteries.
Sunday 6
A lovely day. A little rain last night. Heard more cannonading
today. Had a short sermon from our chaplain
today on the parade ground. And prayer meeting in the
evening.
|
Monday, April 7, 1862.
Rather cool & cloudy today. Drilled considerable. Nothing
else of importance occurred today. Rained in the afternoon
and evening.
Tuesday 8
Quite rainy part of the day. On guard. I have been off
eight days. I have not been off so long before since sometime
last fall when I had a sore throat. Countersign
Galena.
Wednesday 9
Quite rainy today. Most of the company on picket. Had a
quiet time in camp.
|
Thursday, April 10, 1862.
A little rain & snow this morning, but the day turned out
quite lovely. Today I am 29 yrs. old. It does not appear to
me that I am so old. Time flies swiftly.
Friday 11
A lovely day. The Merrimac and several other rebel gunboats
were in sight all day. Sometimes quite near: In the
Roads. One of their steamers captured two or three small
schooners that lay near Newport News. A few shots were
fired from each side, when they retired. The Roads were
full of schooners (transports) in the morning, but they got
outside in a hurry.
Saturday 12
Another lovely day. The rebel boats in sight all day, but
not so near, off by Craney Island. We did not know but
what they would fire some shells into the camp. So we
packed up our knapsacks so as to be ready.
|
Sunday, April 13, 1862.
Another lovely day. Nothing unusual occurred today. No
signs of the Merrimac and her consorts.
Monday 14
Another pleasant day. Had quite a long drill. Everything
quiet in this vicinity.
Tuesday 15
Still another pleasant day. We get six hours drill per day.
It is quite wearisome as there is so much sameness about
it.
|
Wednesday, April 16, 1862.
Very nice weather. Drilled in the forenoon. About 11
o'clock suddenly felt quite sick. Got excused from afternoon
drill. Took some pills at bedtime.
Thursday 17
Fine weather. Physic made me feel weak today. Got the
captain to excuse me. At dress parade, we had orders to
have our breakfast at four o'clock tomorrow morning,
knapsacks packed, to be ready for marching at 4 1/2
o'clock. I think it is a knapsack drill.
Friday 18
Had breakfast early, got on the march at about five
o'clock AM. Went out 1/2 mile beyond New Market
bridge. The Col. Maj. & Adg. had horses but about a mile
from Hampton we halted. The horses were at loose to get
a little grain. The col. could not get his and had to walk
the rest of the way, five or seven miles; we were all glad
of it.
|
Saturday, April 19, 1862.
Very pleasant today till about 3 PM, when it began to rain
a little. On guard. Countersign Santa Cruz.
Sunday 20
Rather cool & rainy. Considerable rain last night.
Monday 21
A pleasant day, nothing unusual occurred today.
|
Tuesday, April 22, 1862.
Another pleasant day. Had to drill.
Wednesday 23
Went on picket. Very pleasant till nine o'clock PM. Then
it blew up quite cool. Heard considerable heavy firing
from Yorktown. Only had to stand 3 hours. Countersign
Springfield.
Thursday 24
A very pleasant day.
|
Friday, April 25, 1862.
Had to drill. Pleasant day.
Saturday 26
Quite rainy and cool.
Sunday 27
Still quite rainy and cool.
|
Monday, April 28, 1862.
Cool and stormy.
Tuesday 29
Pleasant.
Wednesday 30
Mustered in for another two months pay. On guard.
|
Thursday, May 1, 1862.
Quite pleasant.
Friday 2
A fine day, had no drill. Regiment went on picket.
Saturday 3
Quite pleasant and warm On guard. Countersign Newport.
|
Sunday, May 4, 1862.
Still rather rainy.
Monday 5
Not very pleasant today.
Tuesday 6
Pleasant day, matters as usual. Everything packed up
ready to march.
|
Wednesday, May 7, 1862.
Another pleasant day. Did nothing today.
Thursday 8
Made a start today, got part way to the fort and came back
to take all we had. After a great many halts got to the fort,
and about dark embarked on board of a canal propeller
and canal schooner. Staid on board all night, came back to
camp the next morning.
Friday 9
Fine day, was detailed for guard. The brigade left for
Norfolk this evening. The guard was left behind. Felt
quite sleepy and unwell. Norfolk is reported as evacuated.
|
Saturday, May 10, 1862.
Another fine day, the troops did not get landed on the
other side at Willoughby's point till early this morning.
Last Wednesday the President reviewed our brigade.
Sunday 11
A very fine day. The wounded from West Point and
Williamsburg began to come into the Hospital which is
adjacent to our quarters. I assisted all day in attending the
wounded.
Monday 12
More wounded came in. 250 in all. Worked all day very
hard in attending the wounded. Was glad of the opportunity
to assist my brother soldiers who were wounded. It was
a sad sight; some had lost their eyes, arms, legs & c.
Some through the groin and hip.
|
Tuesday, May 13, 1862.
A fine day, went to the fort with all our baggage, put it on
board a steamboat after dark. There were about 130
wounded secesh prisoners brought into that hospital.
Wednesday 14
A little rain today. Got to Norfolk at about six o'clock
AM. Went about the city and sold some old NY Heralds
for secesh money. Towards noon went out to the camp at
the entrenchments, carried the flag through the streets.
One lady, from a window waved her handkerchief, at
another place on a stoop a woman veiled her face and
turned her back to us. After we got to the entrenchments,
two miles off, had to come back to the fair grounds 1/2
mile from the city in another direction.
|
Friday, May 16, 1862.
Rainy today, some got their tents up; but there were a
plenty of secesh barracks, first ones, some some of us
staid in them. Detailed for guard. Countersign
Washington.
Saturday 17
A little pleasanter today. Toward night, took a walk and
got some roses, very pretty.
Sunday 18
A very fine day. Broke camp and went back to the
entrenchments.
|
Monday, May 19, 1862.
A fine day, a heavy shower toward night.
Tuesday 20
Another pleasant day. All day at work fixing our tent. Got
a letter from my brother near Richmond.
Wednesday 21
A very fine day. Still continue to fix the tent. Nothing
unusual occurred.
|
Thursday, May 22, 1862.
Another pleasant day in the forenoon. Rained all the afternoon.
On guard. Countersign Florida.
Friday 23
Quite rainy today. Matters all quiet along the lines.
Saturday 24
Pleasant day. Matters as usual.
|
Sunday, May 25, 1862.
On guard today. Picket. Countersign Suffolk. Had a nice
lot of strawberries.
Monday 26
Rainy today.
Tuesday 27
Pleasant in the afternoon. Went into the city. A free negro
from Baltimore shot Corporal Hogan of Co. C. In the
evening a lot of the men went down and maltreated every
nigger they met. A number killed and wounded.
|
Wednesday, May 28, 1862.
Very pleasant in the forenoon but rainy in the afternoon.
On picket guard. Countersign Cairo. One year ago this
morning left New York.
Thursday 29
Pleasant but hot. Nothing new. One year ago this morning
arrived and anchored off Fort Monroe.
Friday 30
Pleasant till about five o'clock. One year ago today landed
at Fort Monroe. At five o'clock this eve. a thunderstorm
set in. On picket.
|
Saturday, May 31, 1862.
After six o'clock AM hot and pleasant. The thunderstorm
continued all night. I never saw such a severe one. It
seemed like one continued flash & peal.
Sunday, June 1
A very pleasant, but hot day. On home guard. Countersign
Roanoke.
Monday 2
Still pleasant but hot. Nothing new.
|
Tuesday, June 3, 1862.
Very pleasant but hot. On home guard. Countersign
Madison.
Wednesday 4
Very rainy. Sent A.C. Hawel, Vienna Warren Co. New
Jersey a five dollar U.S. Treasury note payable in New
York City, NY 54307, Series 22. Letter C. issued Mch
10th, 62. J.D. Potter saw me enclose the bill and give it to
the post master.
Thursday 5
On guard today. Countersign Clay. Cloudy but no rain. A
very comfortable day.
|
Friday, June 6, 1862.
Rainy weather today. Nothing new. Good news from
McClellan's army, they whipped the rebels. A good many
lost on both sides. It is also reported that Bureaugard's
army is scattered.
Saturday 7
Very pleasant till evening when we had a thunder storm.
On guard again today. Countersign Jackson.
Sunday 8
A very pleasant day. Nothing unusual happened.
Happened to let a man go past without examining his pass
very particularly, so the Office of the day put me in the
guard house as he happened to see me.
|
Monday, June 9, 1862.
Rainy today. On guard at the upper end of the
Breastworks. Countersign Vicksburg. It is a shame to any
Colonel to have such a place to keep human beings. A
magazine 12x4 ft. ten or twelve crowded into it and no
good ventilation.
Tuesday 10
A pleasant day, nothing unusual happened. Have a slight
attack of diarrhea.
Wednesday 11
A pleasant day, had a pleasant time on picket.
Countersign Macon.
|
Monday, June 9, 1862.
Rainy today. On guard at the upper end of the
Breastworks. Countersign Vicksburg. It is a shame to any
Colonel to have such a place to keep human beings. A
magazine 12x4 ft. ten or twelve crowded into it and no
good ventilation.
Tuesday 10
A pleasant day, nothing unusual happened. Have a slight
attack of diarrhea.
Wednesday 11
A pleasant day, had a pleasant time on picket.
Countersign Macon.
|
Sunday, June 15, 1862.
A very warm day. Toward night the wind came out of the
Northward suddenly and fiercely. And began to rain.
Monday 16
On guard again. Quite cool and very pleasant. Had orders
in the afternoon to carry our rifle to a support on shoulder,
which is not in the rules & regulations. So I disobeyed
and carried it at a right shoulder. The officer took of post
at 3 1/2 o'clock, put me in the guard house till nine
o'clock PM. Then I was to go on post, but I told him I
was sick, so I went to my quarters.
Tuesday 17
Warm & pleasant. Matters as usual.
|
Wednesday, June 18, 1862.
A very warm day. Showers toward night. Last Monday, a
negro was caught going out with letters to Richmond. He
had had a market pass but lost it.
Thursday 19
Quite pleasant today. Nothing today. Matters as usual. A
heavy shower in the afternoon.
Friday 20
A very pleasant day. On guard. No countersign. Camp was
moved today to a point of land near the fair ground. Had
to take our knapsacks with us.
|
Saturday, June 21, 1862.
Very pleasant last night. Very warm today. Had a long
march into camp. Very hard job to carry our knapsacks.
As soon as we got in went to work to fix our tent in good
order.
Sunday 22
A very warm and pleasant day. Nothing unusual.
Monday 23
On guard again on the breastwork. Hospital stations. A
good time. A shower in the afternoon.
|
Tuesday, June 24, 1862.
Cloudy and cool, a heavy shower this morning. Thunder
& lightning all night, but not much rain. A shower this
evening, Heavy one.
Wednesday 25
Thunder & lightning most all night. Cool and pleasant this
morning. Sent eight dollars to Mr. A.C. Howell, Vienna,
Warren Co. NJ.
Thursday 26
A pleasant day but quite warm. Nothing to do. Matters as
usual.
|
Friday, June 27, 1862.
Very warm day. On home guard. Got along quite well.
Countersign, West Point.
Saturday 28
Cloudy, but very pleasant. Matters as usual.
Sunday 29
Inspection this morning at six o'clock AM. Had a little
march. Had some heavy rain. Went and got some wild
plums.
|
Monday, June 30, 1862.
Very warm today, a slight shower. On home guard.
Countersign New Madrid.
Tuesday, July 1
Pleasant today. Matters as usual.
Wednesday 2
Quite rainy today. Nothing new. Went to town. Saw nothing
unusual.
|
Tuesday, July 3, 1862.
Quite rainy today. On picket guard, acted as Corporal.
Countersign Winchester. Got along well.
Wednesday 4
Cloudy today, but no rain. Nothing new in the camp.
Everything quiet. I trust that another Anniversary will see
everything quiet and prosperous.
Thursday 5
A very pleasant day, rather warm. Was made corporal
today. I don't expect it will last long. For I am not rough
and profane enough to suit some of the officers.
|
Sunday, July 6, 1862.
A very pleasant day. Did not get a chance to hear preaching.
Nothing unusual occurred.
Monday 7
Pleasant day, very hot. Not but a very little wind stirring.
Felt very unwell. Headache caught cold. Very warm last
night.
Tuesday 8
Warm today, but a pleasant breeze. Felt quite unwell.
Detailed for guard. Was in charge of 9 men at the south
end of the breastwork.
|
Wednesday, July 9, 1862.
Was very feverish all night. Came into camp early got a
ride. Felt tolerable comfortable today. Very warm, but a
fine breeze.
Thursday 10
Another pleasant day. A heavy shower in the evening. Had
a chill all the evening, then a fever.
Friday 11
Had no rest at all last night, was very sick. Felt a little
better today. Quite warm today, a pleasant breeze.
|
Saturday, July 12, 1862.
Another pleasant day, quite warm. Feel quite well, went
out on dress parade. The chill came on about nine o'clock.
I was quite sick.
Sunday 13
A pleasant day. Did not go out on inspection. Felt quite
unwell. Had a hard night of it. Quite warm today. Took
some pills.
Monday 14
Pleasant day. Quite warm. Feel a little better. Took large
doses of Quinine to keep off the chill tonight, but it did no
good.
|
Tuesday, July 15, 1862.
Another fine day, pleasant breeze. Felt bad all day. Still
take Quinine.
Wednesday 16
Another fine day. Quite warm. A tremendous heavy thunder
shower last night. For a long time it was one continuous
peal of heavy thunder & flash of lightning. Felt quite
well.
Thursday 17
Quite pleasant today. My chill is broke for I had none last
night. I am so glad to get over it so soon.
|
Friday, July, 18, 1862.
A damp disagreeable day, some rain. Was corporal of the
home guard. Got along first rate.
Saturday 19
A pleasant day but cloudy. I and another fellow went and
got some blackberries. After we eat all we wanted and
picked our dishes full, we hid them and took a walk. We
saw two churches and two old school houses. And a few
dwelling houses, very common ones.
Sunday 20
A very pleasant day but a little cloudy, had no inspection,
was glad of it.
|
Monday, July 21, 1862.
A pleasant day, had a slight shower. Nothing unusual
occurred.
Tuesday 22
A pleasant day, quite warm. Went and got some blackberries
and some apples. The colonel passed me out.
Wednesday 23
On guard today. Cloudy. Some rain in the evening. As all
passes were stopped had to pass a good many out.
|
Thursday, July 24, 1862.
Quite pleasant today. Had considerable sleep today.
Nothing unusual occurred today.
Friday 25
Very pleasant today. After dress parade, had a march in
line of battle and a charge at double quick.
Saturday 26
A hot day, took our tents down and the floor up and
cleaned all about it. Nothing else unusual occurred.
|
Sunday, July 27, 1862.
Another hot day, but a pleasant breeze. On picket guard at
the hospital. In the night while asleep, a lot of cats got in
the house and got a fighting, woke us all up, we did not
know what was the matter at first.
Monday 28
A hot day. Came off guard. Had nothing to do today.
Matters as usual.
Tuesday 29
Quite hot, but a fine breeze. Got a pass and went to
Newport News but did not get started till 3 o'clock from
Norfolk. Arrived at Newport News at six. Went up to see
Lieut. Lawrence of the 9th NJ, but he was not there, he is
still at Newbern. I staid all night with Wm. Hawkins.
|
Wednesday, July 30, 1862.
A pleasant day, cloudy most of the time. Slept on the
feather bed first rate. Had a fine supper & breakfast. Left
Newport News a 8, arrived at Fort Monroe at 9 o'clock.
Went into the fort then over to camp Hamilton. There are
about 30 hospitals there. Did not look natural there. Took
dinner with the Co. H. 99 NY V. Left the fort at five,
arrived at Norfolk at little past six. Got to camp all safe.
Thursday 31
A pleasant day, cloudy, rain toward evening.
Friday, August 1
On home guard today. had a pleasant time. Nothing
unusual occurred. Countersign Savannah.
|
Saturday, August 2, 1862.
A pleasant day. A little rain toward night. Went and got
some blackberries. (I made a mistake) there was no rain.
Sunday 3
Pleasant till toward night then some rain. Had a company
inspection. Made a visit on Mr. Hilliard a union man from
N. Jersey, had a good time.
Monday 4
A pleasant day, quite hot. A heavy shower toward night.
|
Tuesday, August 5, 1862.
A pleasant day. On guard. Nothing to do till night. Then I
had three men to keep guard on the road. Countersign
Winchester.
Wednesday 6
A hot day. The long roll beat last night all turned out and
got most to the plank road, when the alarm was found to
be false. Very warm today. The regiment got in line in
four minutes after the long roll beat.
Thursday 7
Another warm day. Expected trouble in the city this night.
At dress parade, the Colonel gave us a short drill in street
fighting.
|
Friday, August 8, 1862.
A very pleasant day. Nothing occurred last night. Went
and got some blackberries today.
Saturday 9
Did not feel well today. Matters go on as usual.
Sunday 10
On guard. Countersign Lexington. A great many men
were allowed to pass out. A heavy shower in the evening.
|
Monday, August 11, 1862.
A pleasant day, very warm. Cooked for the tailor today. A
heavy shower toward night.
Tuesday 12
Another very warm day. Took dinner to those men who
were out on picket from my tent. I had to do it or they
would have went without dinner. Got wet coming in.
Wednesday 13
A very pleasant day. Was detailed for picket. Guard was
mounted at dark. Countersign Trenton.
|
Thursday, August 14, 1862.
Got along well last night. Slept most of the time, quite
warm today. Got back to camp about ten o'clock.
Friday 15
A very pleasant day, yet we had a little rain toward night.
The paymaster got along today after expecting him for a
long time. Got all my money. Took no allotment ticket.
Saturday 16
Quite cool today. A great many of the men run past the
guard and went to the city. Detailed for guard. Felt
unwell, symptoms of chill & fever. Countersign New
Orleans.
|
Sunday, August 17, 1862.
Cool today and pleasant. Went to the doctors. He sent me
to my quarters.
Monday 18
A pleasant and cool day. Had a hard fever. Felt very bad.
Head felt very strong. Felt a good deal sick to my stomach.
Tuesday 19
Felt a little better. No fever.
|
Wednesday, August 20, 1862.
Improving a little. No appetite. Pleasant day. Our Lt. Col.
C. Halliday died this morning at five o'clock.
Thursday 21
Quite well today. The Lt. Col. was buried today with great
pomp. He was a free mason, a great many officers were
present. Went on guard this night at the gate although I
am not off the doctor's list.
Friday 22
A pleasant day. Felt quite well. Countersign last night was
Beaufort.
|
Saturday, August 23, 1862.
A cool day, a little rain. Nothing unusual occurred.
Sunday 24
A cool and rainy day. Matters as usual.
Monday 25
A little rainy and cool. Was detailed for guard.
Countersign Mexico. Had a good nights rest, till four
o'clock the next morning.
|
Tuesday, August 26, 1862.
A very pleasant day, rather warm. Matters as usual. Got
off guard this eve.
Wednesday 27
A tolerable pleasant day, nice & cool. Cooked today.
Thursday 28
Cloudy a little rain toward night. Detailed again for guard.
Two corporals that were detailed were drunk. Countersign
Monterey.
|
Friday, August 29, 1862.
Pleasant, quite warm. Nothing unusual occurred.
Saturday 30
Very cool in the morning. Matters as usual. A little cloudy.
Detailed for guard. Countersign Baltimore. Got the gate
guard.
Sunday 31
A pleasant day. Cooked for one of my mess. Mustered in
again for another two months pay. I suppose it will be a
month before we get it.
|
Monday, September 1, 1862.
A pleasant day. A shower toward night. Blowed quite hard
in the night and rained.
Tuesday 2
A fine day, but very cool indeed in the morning. Detailed
for guard, got the first relief from 6 to 10 PM, had 8 hours
to sleep. Countersign Monitor. Got along very well.
Wednesday 3
A very fine day indeed, but quite cool this morning and
last night. On duty all day.
|
Thursday, September 4, 1862.
Very cool last night and this morning but warm during the
day. Hear bad rumors about our army before Washington
and my heart aches and I tremble for my dear country. If
the South gain their independence I don't care about living.
Friday 4
A pleasant day. Cool nights & morning. Detailed for
guard. Got the gate. I was to go on picket but changed
with Neville. Worse news today. I am so impatient and
angry at the ways things are managed. With so much
money and so many men at command, it is shameful to
think that the south are not conquered long before this.
Saturday 5
A very pleasant day. Got along first rate last night.
Countersign Charleston. About noon got very feverish, it
lasted hours and then began to perspire.
|
Sunday, September 7, 1862.
A very pleasant day. Got pills last night from the Doctor.
Had a fever about noon which lasted a short time. The
steward Mr. Smith said that I had better come into the
hospital which I did in the evening.
Monday 8
Another fine day. Took pills last night, operated well. Had
a slight chill & fever.
Tuesday 9
A fine day, another chill today. Showery toward night.
|
Wednesday, September 10, 1862.
Quite pleasant today. A little rain. Had a chill as usual.
Thursday 11
Rainy today. Another chill which makes me feel badly.
Friday 12
Still rainy, another chill, a slight one.
|
Saturday, September 13, 1862.
A little rain. A chill.
Sunday 14
A fine day. A slight chill.
Monday 15
A very pleasant day, quite warm. Had no chill. Felt quite
well.
|
Tuesday, September 16, 1862.
Another beautiful day. Had no chill today. We have another
physician, he is assistant. Saw him today.
Wednesday 17
Another pleasant day. Feel better. Although I am very
weak. The new Doctor does not think best to give much
medicine. So I am not taking any.
Thursday 18
A pleasant day. By my own request I was discharged from
the hospital. Nothing new. Only good news from
McClellan's army.
|
Friday, September 19, 1862.
Moved our tents this forenoon nearer the point. I had to
help and it was a hard job for me. Got permission and
went down the creek to Mr. Hilliard's; who came here
from New Jersey, a few years ago. He and his wife are
nice people. Staid all night.
Saturday 20
Rained last night. Some rain today. Went to a secesh
house and bought some nice large pears as big as my two
fists. They grow on dwarf trees. He had a great lot of
them.
Sunday 21
A little rainy today. A very dull day to me. Had nothing to
read.
|
Monday, September 22, 1862.
A pleasant day. had a slight chill.
Tuesday 23
A fine day. Went on guard, yet I did not feel well, but I
got along very well. Countersign Lexington.
Wednesday 24
A pleasant day. Took the chills about 12 o'clock PM. In
the evening threw up a large amount of bile. Had a bad
time of it all night. Had a shower toward evening and
rained considerable during the night.
|
Thursday, September 25, 1862.
A pleasant day, felt quite unwell.
Friday 26
Everything the same today as usual.
Saturday 27
Nothing new. A little rainy this evening.
|
Sunday, September 28, 1862.
A little rainy this morning. Inspection this afternoon. Feel
very weak.
Monday 29
A pleasant day. Got permission from the captain &
colonel to go to Mr. Hilliards down Tanners Creek two
miles and stay a week, but his daughter came home with
her husband and took their spare room. But I staid there
this night.
Tuesday 30
This forenoon went to Sergeant Dix's place up the creek a
little ways. He has charge of the Creek patrol. By his invitation
I took up my quarters with him for a week.
|
Wednesday, October 1, 1862.
Thursday 2
Friday 3
|
Saturday, October 4, 1862.
Sunday 5
Monday 6
A fine day, went to the city and then came to the camp.
Had a fine time with Sergeant Dix. Pleasant weather all
the time. Made myself useful as possible. My health
improved a good deal. Rec'd a box from H.C. Davis
Rockport, NJ. Some nice butter & c.
|
Tuesday, October 7, 1862.
A very lovely day, on home guard. Countersign Rome.
Got along very well. Yet I did not feel very well. A slight
diarrhea.
Wednesday 8
A very pleasant day. Don't feel very well.
Thursday 9
Another fine day. Feel a little better.
|
Friday, October 10, 1862.
Pleasant weather. Feel very poorly, bowels out of order.
Had a good appetite yesterday and I expected I eat a little
hearty. A little rain toward night.
Saturday 11
Quite rainy after part of the day. On guard. Got along
quite well. Wind N.E. commenced with a thunder shower.
Countersign London.
Sunday 12
A cold rainy N.E. storm all day. Got along tolerable well.
|
Monday, October 13, 1862.
Still rainy & disagreeable. Nothing new.
Tuesday 14
A little more pleasant today, yet wind continues N.E. and
a little damp.
Wednesday 15
Quite a good deal more pleasant. Wind still N.E. but no
rain. On home guard. Got along well. Countersign
Suffolk.
|
Thursday, October 16, 1862.
A pleasant day. Nothing to do and nothing new.
Friday 17
Another pleasant day, matters as usual.
Saturday 18
Nothing unusual today. Pleasant weather.
|
Sunday, October 19, 1862.
We have very cold nights. A very pleasant day. On guard.
Countersign Atretam. Heard the Norfolk church bells ring.
I thought of home how glad I would have been to be
there to church a little while.
Monday 20
Got along well on guard last night. A fine day. Matters as
usual.
Tuesday 21
Another pleasant day. Got a pass and went to the city.
found nothing there to interest me much. Got a good dinner,
that was all of any account.
|
Wednesday, October 22, 1862.
Another beautiful day. Nothing to do, time passes slowly.
Thursday 23
Still very pleasant. A little windy. On guard. Had charge
of three men out on the road. Countersign Manassas.
Friday 24
Quite cold last night. But I had a shelter, a fire and a plenty
of blankets so I got along well. Another lovely day.
|
Saturday, October 25, 1862.
Quite a pleasant. Was busy writing letters and copying an
acc't of a few articles I had sold. About nine o'clock PM
Co C & D began to pack up for a march. They started
about 12 o'clock for Deep Creek, 8 m's from Norfolk.
Sunday 26
Quite a rainy & disagreeable day, had to go on guard. At
dark the rest of the regiment started for Deep Creek. It
was very muddy in some places, but most of the way the
sand was a foot deep. It rained frequently for a few minutes
at a time. I put my rubber blanket over my shoulders,
knapsack & all, so all my body part was kept dry. Had a
heavy march and a hard time but got along quite well.
Monday 27
A little pleasanter today. Arrived at Deep Creek at about
12 o'clock last night. Got quarters in a stable. Slept in my
wet pants and socks.
|
Tuesday, October 28, 1862.
A very fine day. to accommodate the 1st Sergt. I went on
picket guard as Sergt. only had a corp & 6 men and went
about 1/2 a mile. Got along first rate.
Wednesday 29
Another lovely day. Everything quiet. This place, Deep
Creek, contains 50 or 75 houses, mostly old ones, a store
grist mill, blacksmith shop & c.
Thursday 30
Another fine day.
|
Friday, October 31, 1862.
Still continues very pleasant, nothing new. Was mustered
in again for another two month pay. I hope that we will
get it soon.
Saturday, November 1
Still very pleasant.
Sunday 2
Another lovely day. Had inspection and a march with
knapsack of about 2 miles. Went on picket at the two
bridges. Had a fine time, a plenty of sweet potatoes &
persimmons.
|
Monday, November 3, 1862.
It still continues very pleasant. Countersign last night was
Seven Piernes. Everything quiet.
Tuesday 4
Another lovely day. Everything quiet.
Wednesday 5
Still very pleasant. took dinner to two men from my tent
who were on picket. Got a fine lot of persimmons.
|
Thursday, November 6, 1862.
Quite cool today, some appearance of a storm.
Friday 7
Quite stormy today. Quite a snow storm last night, the
ground was all covered this morning. But it soon disappeared,
some rain today. On guard today, home guard.
Countersign Highband.
Saturday 8
Not very pleasant today. A little rain.
|
Sunday, November 9, 1862.
Very pleasant and warm today. Matters as usual.
Monday 10
Another fine day.
Tuesday 11
A very pleasant day.
|
Wednesday, November 12, 1862.
A lovely day. This evening started on a march; don't
know where we are bound. But hear that it is to be an
escort for a man to take a sketch of the country. Got started
about 11 o'clock with three days provisions and one
team. 4 companies under command of Cap't. McIntyre
Co. D.
Thursday 13
See Map Took the road along the Dismal Swamp Canal; arrived at
the half way house at 4 o'clock this morning. The house is
half in VA & 1/2 in NC. Laid down and got a little sleep.
At 3 1/2 o'clock PM started for South Mills. Got there
about dark, made a short halt and traveled till 12 o'clock.
Put up in an unfinished church.
Friday 14
Continued the march, went near the Camden Co. Court
House, then past Currituck Co. Court house to another
church where we stopped for the night.
|
Saturday, November 15, 1862.
Still pleasant yesterday. Had to sent to camp for more provisions.
The extra team overtook us about ten o'clock. At
night we got to Great Bridge 9 miles from camp, put up at
a large deserted house. I caught fire around the chimney.
Just after we got well fixed and came near burning us out;
but it was soon put out.
Sunday 16
Got into camp today about noon. Not so tired as I expected.
Feet got quite lame, carried my knapsack till yesterday
noon when we put all of them in the wagons.
Monday 17
Quite pleasant.
|
Tuesday, November 18, 1862.
A little cloudy but no rain. Part of Co. K started off this
eve. on another sketching expedition.
Wednesday 19
Quite pleasant today. On picket guard at the RR station.
Countersign Norfolk.
Thursday 20
A little rain in the night. Quite rainy at the middle of the
day. Most of the reg't all except those on guard went to
Norfolk in the cars to a general review.
|
Friday, November 21, 1862.
A pleasant day.
Saturday 22
Rainy.
Sunday 23
Pleasant.
|
Monday, November 24, 1862.
Cool & cloudy.
Tuesday 25
Rainy. Matters as usual.
Wednesday 26
Cloudy & cool.
|
Thursday, November 27, 1862.
Cloudy.
Friday 28
Snow last night about an inch deep. Quite cold.
Saturday 29
Quite pleasant today.
|
Sunday, November 30, 1862.
A pleasant day.
Monday, December 1
Rainy day.
Tuesday 2
A pleasant day.
|
Wednesday, December 3, 1862.
Rainy day.
Thursday 4
Very pleasant. Got a pass and went to Suffolk. Saw Lieut.
Butter & his father who had just arrived from New Jersey.
Also saw Chaplain Whittaker and all the Belvidere boys,
all were well.
Friday 5
A very rainy day. Staid indoors all day.
|
Saturday, December 6, 1862.
Very pleasant & quite cool. At night started for the cars
but got left.
Sunday 7
Very pleasant but quite cold. Very cold last night. Arrived
in camp at noon.
Monday 8
A very pleasant day but the ice last night froze 1/2 inch
thick. On guard today. Countersign City Point.
|
Tuesday, December 9, 1862.
A lovely warm day not quite so cold last night.
Wednesday 10
Very pleasant today. Quite cold last night.
Thursday 11
Still pleasant.
|
Friday, December 12, 1862.
The weather as fine as ever.
Saturday 13
Sunday 14
|
Monday, December 15, 1862.
Tuesday 16
Wednesday 17
|
Thursday, December 18, 1862.
Friday 19
Saturday 20
|
Sunday, December 21, 1862
Monday 22
Tuesday 23
|
Wednesday, December 24, 1862.
All along back since the 12th the weather has been very
fine. Nothing unusual has occurred. Today bought two
fine hens and several other things for a Christmas dinner.
Thursday 25
A very fine day. I roasted my chickens very nice. had a
fine dinner.
Friday 26
Very pleasant today.
|
Saturday, December 27, 1862.
Rainy today. On guard.
Sunday 28
A fine day.
Monday 29
Still pleasant.
|
Tuesday, December 30, 1862.
Still quite pleasant. Nothing unusual.
Wednesday 31
Another pleasant day. On guard at the camp. Quite a cold
day & night. I can hardly realize that another year had
passed away. Although my surroundings have not been
pleasant or agreeable, the time has passed away very
quickly indeed. I have had a very little pleasure; and have
had to endure many unpleasant things from my companions.
The society that I have had to be in is so far different
from what I have been used to, that I find it very disagreeable.
If I had good society or could mingle with a little
once in a while, I could get along more happily. Yet I will
live on in hope, wishing that I may be free from this
before the close of another year. My patriotism is about
worn out, seeing how matters are managed in Washington
DC. I don't see as we are making much progress towards
crushing this rebellion. It might have been long ago if it
had been properly managed. Well good by, Old Year. God
grant that my sins of omission & commission may be
buried in oblivion.
|
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