10. Civil War Diary Part X (Dec 1863 - Feb-1864)



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Dec 5th 1863, Saturday –


Am set to work vaccinating men + by night should judge I have vaccinated over 300 men. Was at this work steadily.


Dec 6th Sunday, Vaccinating men.


Dec 7 Monday, Vaccinating men


Dec 8 Tuesday – Dr. Pogue selects a very good house in town for a regimental hospital. Dr. Fitch, our citizen Asst. Surg. + our Hospital Steward Mr. Roseberry go thither. Dr. Progue + myself remain with the regt.


Dec 9th Wednesday. In camp


Dec 10th Thursday. In camp 18yrs. 6 mos. Old


Dec 11th Friday – Rations are improving.


Dec 12 Saturday - - - 24th Thursday. Camp on the hill


Sketching of Camp at Pulaski, Tenn
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Dec 25 1863, Friday. Christmas Day


This is my 3rd Christmas in the Army. A barrel of whiskey was issued to the regt. There is some merry making over this. The R.R. between Pulaski + Nashville is now so far finished that rations are plentiful. This road is a vital link in the movements of Grant around Chattanooga where the battles of Lookout Mt. and Missionary Ridge were fought, 32 days ago as it is a supply line to his army. Gen Dodge + the old 2nd Div. was given the task of repairing this R.R. from Nashville to Decatur + this was our share in the Chattanooga Victories.


Talk of reenlistment has been uppermost in the camp for sometime past. Today the enrollment books were opened for re-enlistment in the “Veterans”. The inducements are full discharge from previous enlistment, a bounty of $400.00 + Furlough for 30 days


I was promised a promotion in the line of my present service if I would reenlist. It appeared to be quite certain that the war would be over within a year or so. We had 8mos + 26 days on our old enlistment to serve anyway + the probability was that the heaviest fighting + marching would all occur within that time. I had also read considerably in medicine while in camps + thought of pursuing the study after the war, if I lived. Promotions in the line of medical service would be of value to me. So I decided to reenlist + today signed the roll for a new three years of service, unless sooner discharged. Am 18yrs, 6 mos. 20 days old.



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Dec 26th 1863, Saturday –


A large number of the men have reenlisted, enough to ensure continued existence of the regiment as a sharpshooting regt. Orders are received to send all our hospital outfit to the Division Hospital, retaining only one ambulance + driver + one small medicine chest, so constructed as to be carried by a strap over the shoulder. This chest contained tourniquets, bandages, lint, adhesive, plaster, lint and 15 or 16 bottles of the most used field medicines.


All nurses and hospital attendants + attachés were to be sent to their companies in the regiment and all extra pay for detached service was to me discontinued.


Dec 27th Sunday (in purple ink) Gen. Jos. E. Johnson assumes command of Braggs’ army at Dalton. Where it has been since defeated by grant at Chattanooga, Nov 23rd + 24th 1863.


Make a clean sweep of all our hospital stuff.


Pat Gary goes back to his Co. –Co. C. “Old Chawlie” + Jim get places as cooks in their respective companies. Neither of these two reenlisted. Old “Chawlie” has made considerable money selling pies + is anxious to get house with it. “Jack” secures a place in the Div. wagon Train as teamster, where he served out his remaining 8 mos. John Cave is retained to carry the medicine chest and as our Hospital Steward Mr. Rosebury is unwell. I am retained to discharge his duties + as he had not reenlisted to occupy his place, when his enlistment expires.



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Dec 28th – 1863. Monday


30 of the best shots in the regiment have been detailed + go to Athens where the 9th Ill. Lt. Col. J.J. Philips, Col. (???) old regt. were stationed to guard the bridge + R.R. crossing of the Tennessee river – Decatur in Ala is just opposite.


80 of our men, having the Henry Rifle are detailed as Body Guard to Gen. Dodge. These men are mounted + under the command of Capt. Ensign Conklin.


Dec 29th Tuesday - - in camp. Wintry Weather.


Dec 30th Wednesday – In camp. Some of the men sew on “Veteran Stripes” i.e. 2 stripes diagonally on the forearm sleeve of the Coat. One stripe to be added for each 5 yrs. of Service.


Dec 31st 1863 Thursday, In a snowy camp.


Jan 1st 1864 – Friday


Today I am ordered to accompany Dr. Pogue + some 8 or 10 others on a trip to Athens. Some 30 miles south, to examine + reenlist men there. The day was very warm + bright + we started out in light clothing.


At Elk River we were detained several hours because the bridge being gone + the river high, we had to wait for ferriage by the one small scow which was used there for a ferry. This was in use now crossing a herd of beef cattle + swine. Finally we got across + pushing on arrived at Athens late at night. A warm rain came up. We had to secure forage for our hourses + it was toward morning before we slept.



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Jan 2nd Saturday -1864-


The work of examining + re-enlisting occupied most of the fore-noon + made it late for our start to return to Pulaski. The rain continued + the mud was deep + sticky. We got thoroughly soaked. A little after Noon a “Northerner” came up. The wind changed suddenly to the North. The clouds assumed a white appearance. A heavy white mist drove rapidly on over the ground. The raindrops changed into sleet + then into ice. The wind blew fiercely. The mud began to congeal on the surface. Our horses hoofs break through the crust + made our going very slow. The frosty air chilled us through. Our soaked clothes began to freeze + finally became stiff as sheet iron, except at joints where movement kept the ice broken.


There was no houses in sight. The heavy Timber + in some spots the timber was magnificent – moaned + shook in the wind. Night came on rapidly + darkness settled down. We lost the road + got off into a kind of trackless lowland.


Two of our number began to show signs of freezing. They were sleepy + had to be held to their saddle. The horses showed weariness + the situation began to look serious. We had no means of kindling a fire. Matches were soaked with our clothing.


Suddenly away in the distance, across the swampy expanse, a light dimly shone out of the mist + darkness. We did not know whether friend or enemy owned it, but we pushed slowly toward it. We were



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So fortunate as presently to stumble into a road + to find that we were approaching the light. It proved to be a picket fire on an outpost of the 4th Ohio Infy. Who were in camp near the R.R. guarding it. We were halted + taken in to their camp. After proving who we were, the 42nd boys provided us with hot coffee + hardtack + gave us a place at their fires. We all got thawed out, though the 2 worst ones had to be lifted from their saddles. Thankful for escape we went to sleep.


Jan 3rd 1864 – Sunday


The 42nd Boys gave us a soldiers breakfast + our horses being cleaned + fed – we resumed our journey over ice + snow. We crossed Elk River + arrived at Pulaski before noon


Jan 4th Monday. Most everyone is getting ready to go home on Furlough. Rations are abundant. We have flour, bread + even pie + cake where the cooks know enough to bake it.


Jan 5 Tuesday – In camp


Jan 6 Wednesday – In camp waiting


Jan 7 Thursday– Still waiting orders for furlough.


Jan 8 Friday – Hear that we are to start on the 10th


Jan 9 Saturday – Orders to march for Columbia tomorrow.


Jan 10 Sunday – At noon today we start for home on furlough via Nashville. The men take arms + accoutrements. It is a warm + foggy day. We take the splendid paved highway for Columbia, Tenn. miles north, where we are to take cars for Nashville. The 50th Ill. Infy. “The old Blind Hall” are just ahead of us. Our men “whoop em up” + try to get past. A race occurs full of “Whoops”



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(Continued from page previous) yelling, screaming + chaffing are continuous. At dark the two regiments halted for rest + supper. After supper it was decided to slip past the 50th, march all night + get to Columbia ahead of the 50th, take the train there + beat them home.


They however has suspected some such move + had men out watching us. The moment we fell in to resume the march, they fell in + with many a cheer + derisive yell, pulled out into the road ahead of us. All night we kept trying to pass them but all to no use. The 50th kept ahead + in the gray dawn of the 11th we both passed through Columbia.


June 11th 1864, Monday –


Just north of Columbia flows the Duck river – This we hoped to reach first, but the 50th held their own, Seized the little flat boat used there for a ferry + we had to camp + wait for there to cross. So they got the first train + beat us North. Finally crossed + camped.


Jan 12th 1864.Tuesday –


Today we had to march 8 miles up the track to get our train + then Camp over night. Very cold about midnight.


Jan 13th 1864 – Wednesday


Today we are put on board some freight cars, moving very slowly. We arrive at Nashville late in the evening, marched across the city to the Louisville + Nashville R.R. station. Here we are placed on freight cars again + about midnight we pull out slowly for the North -



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Map of Nashville –
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Map of Louisville –
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Furlough Jan 26, 1864, Tuesday.


Jan 14th 1864, Thursday


Jogging slowly on – the train moving at a walk sometimes. Passed through –


Jan 15th 1864. Friday –


Arrived at Louisville, KY – about noon. The regiment was marched to a large brick building some 2 miles out of town called “Park Barracks” and there encamped. I received $300.00 pay here ie 15mos pay. From Sept 30th 1862 to Jan 1st 1864


Jan 16th 1864 – Saturday. In camp Park barracks, visit the city ____


Jan 17th 1864 – Sunday. In camp Park Barracks. 18yrs, 7mos old.


Jan 18 1864, Monday


Today march down the Jeffersonville depot + take passenger coaches for Chicago. It is late in the evening when we get started out. Travel all night. The officers take rooms at the Sherman House.


Jan 20th 1864 – Wednesday


Am employed at the Colonel’s room in Sherman House making out furlows.


Jan 21st 1864 Thursday – making out furloughs.


Jan 22nd 1864 Friday – complete furloughs + take 11pm train on Rock Island R.R. at the little old depot for Sheffield, Ills.


Jan 23rd 1864 Saturday –


Arrive at Sheffield 6A.M + go to my uncles. At the old house 2 years, 4 mos, + 23 days ago + found all well. (sept 30th 1861)


Jan 24th Sunday – went to church. 25th M, 26th T, 27th W, 28-T, 29-F, 30-S, 31-S, Feb 1st Monday, 2-T, 3-W, 4-T, 5-F, 6-S, 7-S, 8M, 9T, 10W, 11T, 12F, 13S, 14S, 15M, 16T, 17W, 18T, 19F, 20S, 21S, 22 Monday.



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Furlough Out Feb 27th 1864 Report at Joliet 1864


Feb 27th 1864 – Tuesday, 24W, 25Th, 26th Friday. At home, Sheffield Ills, on furlough. In Louisville, Ky. I purchased a very fine military coat + a belt, which I wore at home with great pride.I also bought home a relic of the war in the shape of a sword + scarab captured at Iuka, Miss + bought to Corinth where I got possession of it + kept it to bring home. At home we had merry times, parties +c here I met


(in red ink) Feb 23rd, 1864, fight at Tunnel Hill, Ga – between U.S. advance + C.S. Cavalry.


Feb. 27th 1864 – Saturday


Ordered to report to regimental Hdqrs. at Joliet, Ills


Map of R.R. from Rock Island to Pulaski captioned:

Map of Furlough route home + back. It is about 750 miles from Pulaski, Tenn. to Sheffield, Ills.


(In red ink on boxes, right side of page) Feb. 25th 1864. Davis of Johnson’s Divs of Corps. Met Stewarts + Breckenridge’s Divs of Corps at Mill Creek Gap today + at Rocky Face Crafts + Baird’s Div’s met Hindman + Stevenson’s Divs. The confederates held their ground.


Feb 26th 1864 Dug Gap held by assaulted by a Texas brigade + abandoned.



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Map of Chicago –
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Timetable of Trains and Through Car Service –
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