Monday, 14th–This morning was cool and pleasant. We started early and marched five miles, going into camp a mile south of Atlanta. We tore up the railroad tracks through Atlanta and burned all the public buildings. There was a fine large station here, and a splendid engine house, but both were burned. Very few citizens [...]
November 14th.–Clear and cold. Lincoln is re-elected, and has called for a million of men! This makes many of our croaking people despondent; others think it only a game of brag. I saw the President to-day in earnest conversation with several members of Congress, standing in the street. It is not often he descends from [...]
14th. Monday. Lay in camp. Wrote home, to Sarah and Ella Clark.
November 13.—The “military situation” seems very much the same. Some cheering intimations from Georgia. Hood has made movements on Sherman’s flank, and Forrest upon his rear, which it is thought promise most valuable results, but nothing final has been yet accomplished, and we may be too sanguine. General Price is still successful in Missouri. In [...]
White Hall, two miles west of Atlanta, November 13, 1864. We made 15 miles to-day very easily. Coming through Atlanta the smoke almost blinded us. I believe everything of any importance there is on fire. Understand that all the large buildings are to be burned. Tremendous smoke also rising over the site of Marietta. It [...]
Sunday, 13th–We started early this morning for Atlanta and after marching twenty miles went into camp for the night. A detachment of the Twentieth Army Corps is stationed at the railroad bridge crossing the Chattahoochee river. They will soon destroy the bridge, and also the track clear to Atlanta. All is quiet in the front. [...]
13th. Sunday. Reconnoissance by all cavalry to Cedar Creek. No enemy. Very cold.
Saturday, 12th–Our corps marched out on the railroad between Marietta and Big Shanty and tore it up, burning all the ties and bending the irons. The iron rails were thrown into the fires and then twisted up. The last train went North about noon, and no more mail will be sent out from this part [...]
November 12, 1864. The Rubicon is passed, the die is cast, and all that sort of thing. We to-day severed our own cracker line. At 11 a.m. ours and the 17th Corps were let loose on the railroad, the men worked with a will and before dark the 12 miles of track between here and [...]
November 12th. After an all night’s ride, arrived at Baltimore this morning. Marched through Pratt Street to the B. & O. station, Camden Street. Up to this time nothing special occurred to make mention of. All are anxious to reach camp. Leave Baltimore tonight.
November 12th.–Bright and pleasant. The rumor is revived that Mr. Seddon will resign. If he really does resign, I shall regard it as a bad sign. He must despair of the Republic; but, then, his successor may be a man of greater energy and knowledge of war. We are destitute of news, with an awful [...]
12th. Saturday. Gen. Rosser attacked 1st Conn. on reconnoissance. 2nd Ohio charged to help them. Both driven back after several charges, in some confusion. Brigade out and drove rebs back–at Shells–hand-to-hand encounter–charge after charge. Col. Hull killed. Drove rebs over the creek, four miles. Rebel brigade came in rear and picked up many stragglers. 2nd [...]
November 12, 1864. Warped and put in dresses for the loom. Oh, this blockade gives us work to do for all hands!
Nov 12—Arrange to get Capt. Moore’s body up the Valley. Quarter-master gave me a wagon, team and driver. The Colonel of my Regiment detailed a man to assist me. Army was retreating. We pushed on to the grave. It was now dark and snowing. There were two graves! The good man living near by told [...]
Nov. 2—Preaching every night in Lutheran and Methodist Churches. At 11 a. m. a few penitents at prayer meeting. Nov. 3—I preach in Lutheran Church at night. Rain. Nov. 4—Wind and rain Regiment goes on picket. I get a furlough of 30 days from 17th instant to visit my family and attend my Annual Conference. [...]
Friday, 11th–All is quiet in camp. We have company drill twice a day now for the purpose of drilling our conscripts. We received orders that the last mail would leave for the North tomorrow morning and that all who wanted to write farewell letters home would have to attend to it before that time. The [...]
November 11th.–Clear and pleasant. All quiet. No doubt, from the indications, Lincoln has been re-elected. Now preparations must be made for the further “conflict of opposing forces.” All our physical power must be exerted, else all is lost. Mr. Sparrow, Louisiana, chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, introduced a measure, yesterday, in the Senate, [...]
11th. Friday. On picket in P. M. Letter from home. Rebs around.
Thursday, 10th–All is quiet in camp. I borrowed $25.00 from William Barrett until next pay day. Several trains came in from the North this morning. We received a large mail. All men unable to stand the march on our Southern expedition are being sent North. Each regiment will be allowed but one wagon, and the [...]
November 10th.–Warm; rain and wind (south) all night. Quiet below. One of the enemy’s pickets said to one of ours, last night, that Warren’s corps had voted unanimously for McClellan, and that New York City has given a majority of 40,000 for him. This is hardly reliable. Mr. Foote offered a resolution, yesterday, condemning the [...]
10th. Thursday. Pleasant morning. Clear and mild. Moved back 2½ miles into camp.
Headquarters Military Division of the West, Tuscumbia, November 10, 1864. General J. B. Hood, …………….Commanding, &c.: General: General Beauregard instructs me to say that he desires you would instruct Generals Wheeler and Roddey to furnish as early as practicable the number of scouts they have employed, where operating, how employed, organized, and supplied with provisions, [...]
Wednesday, 9th–It is still raining. I went out on picket this morning. We received orders to be ready to move at a moment’s notice, for the purpose of tearing up the railroad tracks. Citizens all around Atlanta, hearing that the Yankees are going to leave the place, are coming in larger numbers to go North. [...]
November 9th. The election passed off very quiet yesterday. No trouble. Great rejoicing over the re-election of Honest Old Abe. We feel that it was a great victory, and do believe that the war will soon be over. Allowed to go home for a short visit. Ordered to assemble at the camp on tomorrow night, [...]
November 9th.–Rained last night; clear this morning, and warm. All quiet below, except the occasional bombs thrown at the canal by our iron-clads. The press is mostly opposed to the President’s project of employing 40,000 slaves in the army, under promise of emancipation. Some indicate the belief that the President thinks the alternatives are subjugation [...]