Friday, 8th–I was on fatigue duty, hauling wood for the picket post out in an open field. General Hunter reviewed our brigade today and inspected Company E. It is reported that he is to take command of the Seventeenth Army Corps. All of us hope that it is a false report, for we do not [...]

8th. Lt. David relieved me. Went to company and returned. All busy at work. Got permission to remain at Dr. Peck’s till Sunday. Rode back very fast.

JANUARY 8th.—Dispatches from both Beauregard and Whiting indicate a belief of an intention on the part of the enemy to attempt the capture of Charleston and Wilmington this winter. The President directs the Secretary to keep another brigade near Petersburg, that it may be available in an emergency. It snowed again last night, but cleared [...]

June, Wednesday 8, 1864 I think today will be long remembered, a hard rain before breakfast, Mr. Rodgers arrived just after, and had almost pursuaded us to remain over until tomorrow, when Mr. Wilson came up and said it was impossible for him to remain, of course we could never venture without him, so we [...]

Jan. 8—Ride to Orange with Bro. Anderson. Ten Chaplains there. No regular meeting. Postoffice clerks offended. Some time before I had found a large amount of printed matter at the Post Office for my Regiment, which the clerks had neglected to send us from day to day. I wrote a note to the Postmaster and [...]

Thursday, 7th–Pleasant weather again after several days of cold. Our brigade now provides the provost guard for the city, which takes each regiment down town every fourth day. The work is thus becoming heavier for our brigade. All is quiet in camp.

7th. Regt. passed by to Strawberry Plains to turn over horses and equipments. Saw Col. Garrard and got his photo. Bade him goodbye. Gave me a compliment. Got relieved. Saw Miner–full of bombast and gas.

JANUARY 7th.—Gen. J. E. Johnston dispatches from the West that the meat is so indifferent, the soldiers must have an additional quantity of rice. Beef sells to-day at $1.25 per pound by the quarter. And yet an Englishman at the best hotel yesterday remarked that he never lived so cheaply in any country, his board [...]

Jan. 1, 1864—Turns exceedingly cold in p. m. Write for “Recorder” till midnight. Sunday, Jan. 3—I go to Regiment on picket. Prayer in Co. C. Jan. 4—Snows all day. In snow getting boards to cover my church. Jan. 5—Get three wagons to take my boards to camp. Rev. J. J. Hines, sent by Bishop Pierce [...]

January 6th. While in town I saw and bought a pair of kip leather boots. Keep them well greased. They are good for walking through snow and water as well as Virginia mud. Try to keep my feet warm and dry. The enemy is reported to be again making raids in this vicinity. The 3d [...]

Wednesday, 6th–The time for re-enlisting with the bounty expired last night at midnight. The boys who re-enlisted are now looking forward to going home on a thirty-day furlough in the spring.

6th. About quarters most of the day. Read in “Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.” Cold. Evening Dan and I went to Regt. Good time. Lost sugar. Back late. Little “taffy” and to bed.

JANUARY 6th.—Yesterday Mr. Moffitt, Lieut.-Col. Ruffin’s agent (commissary), was in the market buying beef for Gen. Lee’s army! And this same Moffitt was in September selling beef to the same butchers (as they say) at from 40 to 50 cts. gross, the impressing price in the country being 20 cts. On the 2d inst. Gen. [...]

January 5th. Cold with more snow. Detailed as guard with brigade teams going about five miles out on the Williamsport road for wood. Severe, cold weather. Wood choppers and teams must be kept well guarded. Rebel scouts and guerillas often reported in this vicinity. Wood must be collected for our camp. We pass most of [...]

Tuesday, 5th–The Eleventh Iowa went in today as a veteran regiment, for three years more if needed. Our brigade will also go in as a veteran brigade. It is quite stormy, with a wind from the northwest. I went on picket again, down on the river bottom, two miles below.

5th. Last day for re-enlistment. Most of the boys in favor. N. telegraphs that proposition has been accepted and regt. will be ordered home within fifteen days. Boys all excitement.

Scottsboro, Ala., January 5, 1864. Your brother no longer represents the Festive Mamaluke, but has returned from his paradise of fresh pork, cornbread, honey, milk, and horse, to his original heavy infantry exercise, his nix-Grahamite diet of army rations, to that headquarters of red-tapeism, a “permanent camp,” in short, to the elysium of the enlisted [...]

JANUARY 5th.—Bright, pleasant day. I saw a letter from Gen. Elzey to-day, stating that his command will probably soon be called out from the city on important service. What can this mean? And our iron-clads are to go below the obstructions if they can get out. Yesterday Mr. Good offered a resolution declaring the unalterable [...]

January 5th.–At Mrs. Preston’s, met the Light Brigade in battle array, ready to sally forth, conquering and to conquer. They would stand no nonsense from me about staying at home to translate a French play. Indeed, the plays that have been sent us are so indecent I scarcely know where a play is to be [...]

January, Tuesday 5, 1864 Still cold, cloudy and gloomy, has not moderated at all, it is real dangerous traveling, the ground covered with Ice. Eddie has on his new suit, ready to leave for camp. Mr. Alexander and old Mr. Jayson are going with him, and we are better satisfied—I would not have him stay [...]

Monday, 4th–An order was issued by the War Department cancelling the previous order giving the large bounties to soldiers for re-enlisting, but it is not to go into effect until midnight of the 5th inst. Re-enlisting is going on at a lively rate. Company E today secured the necessary number entitling it to be a [...]

4th. Enlistment question all the go. Maj. Nettleton gone to Knoxville with proposition and application.

“DALTON, Jan. 4th, 1864. “My dear Wigfall: “It is necessary to recruit this army promptly to enable it to hold its ground against Grant’s forces. Remember that it was unable to move forward even before it had been weakened by the defeat of Missionary Ridge, and Longstreet’s march into East Tennessee, and the enemy strengthened [...]

JANUARY 4th.—On Saturday, resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Senate complimenting Gen. Lee. This is his opportunity, if he be ambitious,—and who can see his heart? What man ever neglected such an opportunity? The weather is dark and threatening. Again the rumor is circulated that ex-Gov. Letcher is to be Secretary of War. I don’t [...]