Civil War Diary (cont.)
Sunday, September 25 - The weather has been very pleasant, there was a boat came up today it brought up the mail. There was 300 men aboard going up to Duvols Bluff to work for the government. I was on fatigue today.
September 28 - This has been a very pleasant day, but it rained very hard yesterday afternoon. There was a boat came down yesterday and 2 came up today. This forenoon I was on fatigue and this afternoon I helped split out some boards and make a table. There was a funeral in the 7th Mass. Battery this afternoon. I wrote a letter this evening to Lucy.
September 29 - I have been at work today splitting boards to fix up the tent and we got it partly sided up.
October 1, 1864 - I went on guard yesterday morning it rained very hard all the forenoon and all last night and some this morning. There was a mail come this morning I got a letter from Saphrana.
Washington Hospital, Memphis Tenn., October 30, 1864 - It has been a long time since I’ve written any in my diary. I was taken sick the first of the month and have not been able to write until now. I went into the hospital the 9th and stayed until the 19th at which time the regiment left St. Charles and I was sent here. I started in the morning of the 20th on the steamer Emme and arrived here the 23rd. There was a man died here last night and one the night before.
October 31 - This has been a very pleasant day and I have felt pretty well. There was a man died here this forenoon and we were mustered for pay this afternoon.
Washington Hospital, November 13, 1864 - It has now been thirteen days since I’ve written any in my diary because there has been nothing much to write. The Illinois and Indiana boys that were able went home the 4th of the month to vote, on the 8th we had election and signed the payrolls. I was very sick that day with the ague so that I was not able to go down and vote. We drew clothing the 10th.
November 14 - There was nothing transpired today, but this evening the malitia had a torch light procession and had the circus band play for them. It looked very nice and the music was splendid. I feel a great deal better today than I have for a long time. There was a man died in the ward this afternoon he was a German, he had been sick a long time and suffered a great deal for the last few days. He was the fifth one that had died in the ward since I came here 3 weeks ago.
Sunday, November 20 - This has been the first pleasant day we have had for about a week. I and several others applied for a furlough last Monday and they came the day before yesterday. I had the ague that day. Yesterday Goldes was here yesterday, he just came from home and brought alot of things for the regiment. I got a box of things that was sent from home. Weekes brother-in-law came here yesterday, he is going to take Weeks home tomorrow. I shall wait till the last of this week if I do not get paid before and if I do not get it by that time I shall go without it. Gus and Hamer are waiting for the same purpose. The state agent says that he thinks we will get it this week without doubt.
November 26, 1864 - Got my furlough came onboard the Cliffton at 2 1/2 o’clock. There is part of the 6th Tennessee Calvary coming on this boat, they are going to Padesea.
November 27th - Started this morning at 4 o’clock, it has stopped raining and the weather is fine.
November 28th - Cairo, Ill. - At the soldiers home, we arrived here at 4 p.m. Hamer had to go to the hospital, Gus lost our furloughs while going to get transportation and had to get passes off the Commander of the post. We are to start at 2:00 a.m.
Elkader, December 1 - I got home this afternoon at 3:00, had a very pleasant trip from Cairo to Prairie Dushine.
February 22, 1865 - It has been a long time since I have written any in my diary. I started from home the 13 and arrived here at St. Louis the 16th. Went to my brother-in-laws house and was taken sick the next day and had to come here to the hospital. I wrote a letter to Lucy this afternoon.
February 27th - It has snowed quite hard all day but has melted nearly as fast as it fell. I am considerable better than I was when I came here. I’ve been to Reeses twice since I came here and Saphrana has been here once and we went to see Mary King.
February 28th - This is a very dark cloudy morning, looks as though it was cold snow. Today is muster day and the ward master says we will be payed today. 7 p.m. we were mustered and signed the payrolls but got no pay. It cleared off this afternoon and was very pleasant. I wrote a letter to Lucy tonight.
March 1, 1865 - I got a pass this morning and Emily was here and I went home with her and stayed till most night. The weather was very pleasant this forenoon but this afternoon it clouded up and looks like rain. I borrowed a book of Scotts poems off Emily today.
March 4, 1865 - This has been a very pleasant day. There was a celebration in honor of Abe Lincoln in the city. The men in the hospital were paid today, I did not get paid. Reese moved his family into the barricks today, I wrote a letter to Burt today.
March 6 - This has been a very pleasant day. I wrote a letter to Uncle Jim and Aunt Lucy and expressed a trunk and a box to Uncle Jim. I reported for duty this morning and expect to start for Mobile tomorrow or where ever the regiment is and I expect they are at Mobile.
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