Civil War Diary (cont.)
April 7 - I have got to the regiment at last and found all boys well, they are going into the rifle pits tonight. It has been a pleasant day.
April 8, 1865 - I went on guard last night and this morning went out in the rifle pits and stayed until 4 this p.m. then came into camp and wrote a letter to Lucy. There was the heaviest cannoning at Spanish Ft. a little while ago that I ever heard and has not eased yet.
April 9 - After the boys came from the pits last night we got orders to march with one days rations and 50 rounds of cartridges. We started about 10 o’clock and marched 3 miles toward Spanish Ft. and got orders to come back. We got back a 2 o’clock and went to bed and did not get up until almost noon. We found out that Spanish Ft. had surrendered with 28 guns and 2,500 men. 8:00 p.m. we have taken Ft. Blakely this afternoon with 1,500 to 2,500 prisoners. There was not many lives lost, I have not heard yet how many. The mail came in today but I did not get any letters from home. I heard from Burt’s letters that Aunt Lois is dead.
April 10 - This has been a very pleasant day, have orders to march at daylight but did not get started till 9 o’clock marched 4 miles and camped at 10 1/2 o’clock in a very pleasant place. We heard that Richmond was taken.
April 11 - Have been in camp all day it has been very warm. I washed a shirt and a pair of socks. Heard this afternoon that Lee had offered to surrender on condition that we would pardon several of the leading officers.
April 13 - We left camp the night of the 11th at 7 o’clock and marched all night and got on the boats in the morning. We landed about 6 miles below the city and marched to within 2 miles of it and went into camp. I was detailed immediately to go on guard, after standing an hour and a half, the orders came to move into the city, the guards taking the advance. We got in about 9 o’clock and the General relieved us guards and sent us for the regiment. Found the regiment but our company had gone on guard so Bill and I went on a stoop and went to bed. We went into camp about 9 o’clock this morning and went to fixing up our tents. We had got the tent about half done when I was detailed for guard again. There was 3 men detailed to guard a main house and property. It is a good place and I hope we shall stay here. We heard yesterday that Lee had surrendered with 31,000 prisoners and the rest of the army was ordered to disperse.
April 14 - Camp 21st Iowa 8 miles from Mobile. We left Mobile yesterday at 5 p.m. and marched to this place and we got here at 8 p.m. This morning we went to building breastworks, I worked upon them this forenoon. We had no rations this morning so there was 150 men detailed out of the bridgade to go out and forage rations. They got some corn meal and bacon and this afternoon our rations arrived. This has been a very pleasant day.
April 17 - This has been a very pleasant day. Day before yesterday we got a big mail, I got 6 letter. I went on picket yesterday, got official news of Lee’s surrender and today heard that Johnson had surrendered. I wrote a letter and one today and tonight. There is a rumor that Forrest has surrendered and Galveston also and I hope it might be true.
April 17 - This had been a very pleasant day. There were 300 prisoners taken on the river above Blakely yesterday. Heard that Dick Tailor had surrendered. Had company inspection and tomorrow there is going to be regimental inspection.
April 22 - This has been a very pleasant day. We had to go up at 10:00 and go out and reinforce this pickets. Had to retreat, lay in line of battle all night. Came back to camp a 7 o’clock and it began to rain and rained most all day. At 11 we went out again and stayed 2 hours, we heard that Lincoln and Seward were assassinated. We hat it raining in our tent today and I made a ring this afternoon.
April 24 - Yesterday I was on picket and came up this morning. There was a gun fired every half hour yesterday and from 12 till 1 every minute to pass the death of Lincoln. This has been a very pleasant day, had some milk for breakfast and some eggs for dinner and some green peas for supper. Made a table today and got mail, I got 2 letter one from Aunt Lucy and one from Lucy.
April 25 - This has been a very pleasant day. We got some brush to put over our tents and some logs to side our tents. Had some green peas for dinner. Burt and I washed some clothes this afternoon and I wrote a letter to Lucy. We heard that a Rebel ram came down Red river and went by New Orleans before anyone knew what it was, have not heard wether it got by Ft. Phillip and Jackson or not. We heard hat Seward was not dead and was expected to recover.
April 26 - This has been a very pleasant day. Heard that the Rebel ram that ran by New Orleans rat out into the Gulf and was so closely pursued by one of our gun boats that it had to run into shore. They blew her up and ran into the woods only one man captured. We’ve raised our tent today and made a bunk.
April 28 - I t has been cloudy today and rained a little. I made a ring and a pair of drawers. I traded some tobacco to a citizen for some peas and onions and Walter went out and got some dew berries and we had a splendid supper. I wrote a letter to Saphrina yesterday and went on fatigue.
April 29 - This has been a pretty warm day. Have not done much today, have not felt very well. Went and picked a few berries this forenoon. Clint came this afternoon. The pay master is here and I expect we will be paid before long. Tomorrow is muster day. I am going on guard. Our things that were left at Dauphin Island got here today. Heard that General Mowery had surrendered with 5,000 men.
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