An Artilleryman's Diary Part 28

Sultry and cloudy. Health is good, but felt dull. Eyes pain me considerable. Advance of the 17th Corps, 4th Division, arrived and camped near our old camp on Russell Hill. Corps is to rendezvous here, reorganizing before they take the field. No train expected from Nashville for two days. A bridge is to be repaired, an unwelcome occurrence in these exciting times when all are breathlessly waiting for news. Five companies, 59th Indiana, went to relieve the 13th Illinois to go home. Expiration of term.

Huntsville, Friday, May 20. On guard, third relief. Gave the day up willingly for its duties by lying low all the time not on post, which was rather monotonous. No papers or mail. Large party went out on pa.s.s this afternoon with Sergeant Hauxhurst to visit friends in 14th, 17th, and 33rd Wisconsin Regiments.

[Sidenote: 1864 A Camp Pond]

Huntsville, Sat.u.r.day, May 21. Mail distributed, giving me three fat letters which did me much good. Good news from Sherman. Boys busy in the afternoon damming up the creek in front of camp to make swimming pond.

Had a refreshing bath in the evening.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 22. Inspection 8 A. M. Attended Sabbath school.

Soldiers' cla.s.s large and interesting. Before returned to camp, listened to an eloquent and scientific discourse by Dr. Ross, Presbyterian Church. Wrote letters in the afternoon. Very warm. Traded sugar for milk. Made a fine bread pudding for dinner, great rarity for soldiers. A train of thirty cars loaded with "grey backs" captured by Sherman pa.s.sed North; very dirty and filthy-looking clothes.

Huntsville, Monday, May 23. Very warm, sultry day. Performed the pleasant task of signing pay roll, expect a month's soon. Change getting low on all sides. Heavy columns of troops arrived all day. Leggett's Division, 17th Army Corps expect to reorganize ere leaving for the front. I antic.i.p.ate that we will soon be relieved to join our Corps in the front with gallant Sherman, who is doing much. Expects to be in Atlanta by the first of June. Terrible uncertainty hangs over Grant. A heavy mail arrived this evening. I received two good ones from T. L. and E. L. 63rd Illinois returned from veteran furlough.

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 24. Our quiet camp is very busy to-day by the bustle occasioned by the presence of the 17th Corps. Wagons driving in hot haste, drums beating, bugles blowing, etc. The boys as of old are doing steep jay-hawking, breaking into gardens, cheating sutlers, etc. A long march has invariably a demoralizing effect upon troops. Guards stationed on every corner. Blair has ordered our Division to the front.

Smith telegraphed to Sherman for orders. Paid off 4 P. M., $52.00. The rest of the day was spent very busily, settling debts and crossing out old scores, trading, etc.

Huntsville, Wednesday, May 25. The 17th Corps took up the line of march early this morning but did not get under way, all of it till 11 A. M.

They go back towards Decatur, supposed to cross the river for Rome. As they marched out with bands playing and colors flying, it was a grand sight, and to any man an incentive to patriotism to watch the firm, measured step of thousands of brave men, marching cheerfully to the hardest of deaths, many miles away from home and its endearments. As they march through this traitor land, do not their hearts beat quick as they think of those behind. Would that they could but behold the cheerful and willing countenances of those they love this morning as they left Huntsville to seek the foes of this country. Wisconsin, my beloved State, has many interests centered in the 17th Corps, six regiments true and brave. Their moving eased our minds as the probabilities of our moving thereby lessened.

The guards that were posted at every corner were relieved, and the by this time quiet 3rd Division allowed to go at will and come when they pleased. They carry themselves as honorable men with but few exceptions.

On guard, first relief, after returned. At 10 A. M. went up town. Sat for half a dozen photographs.

[Sidenote: 1864 Allotments Home]

Huntsville, Thursday, May 26. Felt quite unwell. Have a very severe cold and bad headache. Expressed $40.00 home in J. Lester's package. Battery drill of two hours this morning, first since we reached this camp. Long list on extra duty this afternoon for absence at roll call, etc. The looseness in which things were allowed to run in camp for the last week will now be overbalanced by unscrupulous severity. Good news from Grant read anxiously 9 P. M. from the only paper received in camp.

Huntsville, Friday, May 27. Suffer a severe cold. Dull, cloudy day. Lay in my bunk most of the day. Expressed $40.00 of my money home per J.

Lester to-day. Went to town afternoon, received my photos.

Huntsville, Sat.u.r.day, May 28. A hot day. On detail to go outside pickets after wood. Reported in town 8 A. M. to go with division train. Train did not go, waited to see brigade guard. Loaded with forage and returned to camp. Drew two new mule teams to draw battery wagon and forge.

Glorious news from Grant--within a day's march of Richmond.

Huntsville, Sunday, May 29. A calm, quiet, Sabbath day. Company inspection 8 A. M. 9 A. M. had to go on post. Could not go to church, but enjoyed myself well. Wrote home in the afternoon. Camp very quiet, boys mostly gone out. My musings were undisturbed. In the evening a bevy of staff officers visited camp, but were so beastly drunk as to be unable to carry themselves with propriety, racing their horses after negroes, etc. Their conduct would be disgraceful to a private. One of the staff officers of Sherman among them. Such are the examples our superior officers set before us. Can we expect anything but demoralization?

Huntsville, Monday, May 30. A very warm day. Mail train did not come in last night. The camp is anxious for news. 12th Battery veterans arrived 11 A. M. in gay colors. Expect ours daily. 13th Indiana Cavalry equipped as infantry, without horses, arrived from Nashville, and gone to relieve our Division at Madison Station. More expected soon when we will go to the front.

Huntsville, Tuesday, May 31. Went out on drill this morning on the outskirts of town under Lieutenant Clark two hours. When we returned to camp we found our veterans direct from home. The reunion was very cordial, and to see faces that had been to Wisconsin, brought us nearer to the absent ones. The remainder of the day was happily spent in asking and answering questions, with incidents and anecdotes. Visited Christian Commission rooms in the evening, borrowed Jessie Fremont's _Story of the Guard_, and read it with interest. No news from the contending foes.

Huntsville, Wednesday, June 1. No drill. General policing. Veterans were a.s.signed to platoons, giving about thirty-six men to a platoon and three corporals. Very crowded. Seven men in our tent and mess. On guard as supernumerary. Lieutenant Clark left on evening train for Louisville with his wife, she going North in expectation of our moving.

Huntsville, Thursday, June 2. A warm sultry day. Did not go out drilling. No mail, but big news from Sherman. Feel dumpish.

Huntsville, Friday, June 3. Cloudy, rained most of the day. Three regiments of the 2nd Brigade came in and went into camp on their old grounds. The railroad is now guarded from Stevenson to Flint River by new troops, dismounted cavalry.

Huntsville, Sat.u.r.day, June 4. Very wet, most of the day. Damp, drizzly day. On detail in the forenoon, hauled water. Hon. John Y. Smith, former state historian of Wisconsin, is supplying us with records of the 6th Wisconsin Battery. Filled out my certificate of membership. Sent it home.

Huntsville, Sunday, June 5. Company inspection at 8 A. M. Lieutenant Hood and four of the boys as escort went to Whitesburg on a visit. Did not feel well this morning, vomiting and headache, rather dyspeptic, must be more careful as to diet. Fine wheaten bread and meat improper diet, but it is all we can have.

[Sidenote: 1864 Camp Conversions]

E. W. E. and myself took a most pleasant walk to the graveyard. Walked among the dead of the time that knew peace and tranquility, and others whose lives had been wrecked by the cruel hand of war. The towering marble erected by loving hands marked the resting place of one, while the rude pine slab denoted where the other lay far away from his native home and kindred. Did not attend service during the day, but attended the army church with Cousin Griffith. Listened to an excellent and liberal sermon from post chaplain, urging the importance of cultivating religious principles, none other is genuine. Six soldiers were baptized after service and the sacrament administered to a large circle of soldiers. There were none others present. Reached camp by 10 P. M. Found a long interesting letter from brother John awaiting me.

Huntsville, Monday, June 6. Very warm day. Went out drilling in the morning. Lieutenant Clark maneuvered us in the streets, coming into battery on the square, crowding citizens, and making ourselves generally ridiculous. 80th Ohio returned to Scottsboro.

Huntsville, Tuesday, June 7. Showery again to-day. Camp is still afloat with a loose report of moving in some indefinite time to some indefinite place. To-day Louisiana and the lower Mississippi is the theme. On guard, second relief. Health better. A squad of eight men under Sergeant Dixon went as an escort to a picnic party composed of "shoulder straps"

and Southern ladies, to Bird Spring, six miles distant. Returned 6 P. M.

Had a good dinner, champagne in plenty and dancing. Enjoyed themselves well although they went as menials.

Huntsville, Wednesday, June 8. Exceedingly heavy rain, completely inundating our camp, which lies in a poor locality for wet weather.

Several of the boys attacked with ague, and more will follow if this weather continues.

Huntsville, Thursday, June 9. Detailed to go after clothing this morning. Returned by 11 A. M. Clothing issued in afternoon. Still showery and cloudy. As seen by general order, General Logan is a.s.signed to the command of all the railroad line from Nashville to Stevenson, which relieves Smith from his line.

Huntsville, Friday, June 10. Abraham Lincoln nominated for the presidency by the Baltimore convention, and Andy Johnson for vice-president which gives satisfaction to the large majority in the army. _Hurrah for Old Abe._

Drilled under Lieutenant Hood. Condemned horses turned over. Drew rations, "hard-tack" instead of flour. What does it mean? "Grant Negro Minstrels" set up in town, many boys visited.

Huntsville, Sat.u.r.day, June 11. Health very good. Eyes troublesome. Times dull. Weather wet and muddy. News of several desperate engagements reach us but none decisive, except Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley. A regiment of 100-day men pa.s.sed this morning to Decatur, Alabama. Had a rich dish of raspberries for dinner, earliest of the season.

Huntsville, Sunday, June 12. Inspection of transportation at 6 A. M. by Division quartermaster. Mounted artillery inspection by Captain Dillon 9 A. M. I was not required to fill detachment, therefore attended church.

Listened to Dr. Ross, a peculiar discourse on "What is Man". A train containing three hundred prisoners pa.s.sed North this afternoon under guard of 15th Indiana. Orderly arrived from Logan, reports him wounded twice, but still commanding, the bravest of the brave, in the very front, sleeves rolled up as usual. Attended evening service at post chapel with Cousin Griff. Good sermon, but did want a good letter waiting my return as last Sunday.

Huntsville, Monday, June 13. Cloudy! Rainy! Muddy! Are we never more to have sunshine? I would wish that some of this would fall on the parched cornfields of Wisconsin. But still it is very nice here, keeps the air cool and is G.o.d-sent to our poor wounded in the front. Received a keg of b.u.t.ter from our homes, i. e., Griff, Evie, D. J. D., Bailey and myself.

b.u.t.ter very acceptable and quite an addition to our unwholesome fare. On guard, first relief. Stringent orders in regard to skulking, etc. read to us this evening from Sherman. Took a long and pleasant walk with G.