Sunday, 17th–It is cloudy and quite cool. There was some rain today, but toward evening it cleared off and became quite pleasant. I attended church at the Sparks schoolhouse, where the few members of the Christian church in this settlement have organized a church. They have prayer meeting and communion every Sunday at 10 o’clock, [...]
Saturday, 16th–It is clear and quite cool today. My brother John and I went up to Tipton this morning. Things are pretty lively in town; but there are not many of the veterans in today. I went to the harness shop and bought a saddle as a present to father. I called on Mrs. Willey, [...]
Friday, 15th–It is cloudy and quite cool. I harrowed all day, and I think that it is the last day’s work that I shall do on the farm for some time, unless this cruel war soon comes to a close. There are two families in this locality who are Copperheads and opposed to the war. [...]
Thursday, 14th–Another cloudy, disagreeable day! I drilled in wheat all day and Kelley did the harrowing. The boys with the measles are getting along fine and will be well in a few days if they don’t take cold.
Wednesday, 13th–It is cloudy and very cool. I helped father put in his wheat today, harrowing all forenoon and drilling in wheat in the afternoon. James Kelley, a soldier of the neighborhood, home on a furlough, came over to help me out for a few days.
Tuesday, 12th –It rained almost the whole day; it does look as if it would never quit raining. I gave father $110.00 today, to keep for me until I return from the war. That makes $360.00 altogether that I have placed in his hands to put out on interest till I return. There is nothing [...]
Monday, 11th–It was rainy all day, but I went to farming this morning for the first time for nearly three years. As the boys are all sick and as it is impossible for father to hire help even for a few days, I made up my mind that it was my duty to help father [...]
Sunday, 10th–It is still raining; there appears to be nothing but rain, rain! I went to meeting again this morning, and accompanied Mr. Sparks home for dinner. Jason Sparks is going to enlist and return with us to the front. In the afternoon we all went to attend meeting at the Inland schoolhouse, but the [...]
Saturday, 9th–It is cool and quite pleasant. I stayed at home all day and did some writing (brought my army diary up to date). The farmers are still lying by waiting for the weather and the ground to get fit for seeding. There is no news of any importance from the army.
Friday, 8th–Another wet day and I stayed at home all day. It is so lonesome that I almost wish I was back in the army; although if I did not have to go back, I could enjoy myself a great deal better. May God hasten the day when this cruel war will be fought to [...]
Thursday, 7th–It rained all day, and I remained at home. As the boys are all down with the measles, I am helping father with the farm work between showers.
Wednesday, 6th–I went to Tipton to attend the celebration of the 6th of April, the day on which two years ago we fought the battle of Shiloh. I went with a team, taking a load of the young people of the community with me. The roads were awfully muddy and once we stuck in the [...]
Tuesday, 5th–I took dinner at Mr. Curtis’s today, and had a fine dinner. Two other soldier boys were there, Mr. Curtis’s son, Homer and Thomas Fossett, both of the Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry. The citizens in and around Inland are very loyal, and the vicinity is well represented in the Eleventh and Twenty-fourth Regiments.
Monday, 4th–It rained all last night and nearly all day. I attended a party this evening at Mr. Fossett’s and we all had a fine time which passed off very rapidly. There were fourteen couples present. I remained over night with my old bunk-mate, James. I enjoyed my visit with him, talking over the times [...]
Sunday, 3d–I went to our church again this morning, it being the day for preaching. In the evening I went to see a young lady friend.
Saturday, 2d–They had a very cold winter here in Iowa and the ground has been frozen so deep that it is slow in thawing out. Farmers, as yet, have sown but little wheat, but they have everything ready to push the seeding as soon as the ground will permit. It is quite pleasant today, but [...]
Friday, 1st–The same old thing over and over. I almost wish myself back in the army; everything seems to be so lonesome here. There is nothing going on that is new, and there is no work of any kind.
Thursday, 31st–I went to a party this evening, given in honor of the veterans, over at Mr. Hatch’s, on Yankee Street.[1] There were not many present, but all enjoyed themselves. I found a new road to travel, a mile from this place—if all goes well. Things are very quiet in this settlement, but almost every [...]
Wednesday, 30th–I remained at home all day. Times appear to be very dull and lonesome. My brothers are having a siege of the measles. I am thankful that I have had them, for measles in the army causes more soldiers to be discharged for disability than anything else. I long to see this cruel war [...]
Tuesday, 29th–I attended a supper this evening given for the veterans of my company, at the home of Mr. J. W. Stanton on York Prairie. On account of the bad weather, dark night and muddy roads, there were not many there, but we had a fine supper and a pleasant evening with friends.
Monday, 28th–I went to Tipton on horseback today, accompanied by John D. Moore, who enlisted in Company E of the Eleventh Iowa Infantry. All of the Inland boys who went before have re-enlisted as veterans, and four or five others besides John Moore are going to enlist in our company and go to the front [...]
Sunday, 27th–I went with father to meeting today, in our old church at Inland, and attended the Communion of the Lord’s Supper with the Disciples. They have no minister at present, but meet every Lord’s Day to break bread. It rained nearly all day.
Saturday, 26th–The friends of the boys in our company gave a dinner for us today at Mr. Ray’s, and father took me over. It was a cold, cloudy day and the roads were muddy, but all the friends came out and gave the boys a warm greeting—and a fine dinner we had. We all enjoyed [...]
Friday, 25th–I remained at home all day visiting and talking over some of my experiences. One change I find in myself, and that is the discomfort in sleeping in a warm room, as the custom in the homes is, for it is more than two and a half years since I have slept that way.
Thursday, 24th–I went to Mr. Elseffer’s and spent most of the day there, taking dinner with them. Lewis Elseffer is a member of my company and was detailed as clerk in corps headquarters, thus could not return with us.