Friday, 24th. Got the morning reports and combined them. Helped pitch the tent and clean up. Turned very chilly–appearance of cold weather. News of a fight, Black and Cooper, few particulars. 200 prisoners and 4 cannon. During the night three or four inches of snow fell.

Thursday, 23rd. Bill and I did some washing. Johnson, Co. E, invited us to dinner–pork and crackers. Made inquiries about Sheldon. Found he had not sold his pony–never found it. Claimed he sold it to get “poker money.” Said he went immediately to playing poker with Co. F after leaving here. They said it was [...]

Wednesday, 22nd. After breakfast went out on Culver’s horse foraging with Spurgeon and Bushnell. Got some apples and a sheep. At one house where we stopped, two sons were forced into the army. The people felt very badly. The old lady, 70 years old, prayed very earnestly and loudly for mercy and protection–quite touching.

Tuesday, 21st. Spurgeon went out with forage detail. Bill Smith lost $15. Circumstances as follows: Capt. had given him some money to pay the boys. We lay on the blankets conversing when Sheldon came up, and Bill pulled out his money and paid him. He had showed me the money a little while before. All [...]

Monday, 20th. In the morning watered my horse and cleaned up his feet. Capt. N. told me something very acceptable from Col. Ratliffe. Read the Lorain News and Cleveland Herald. In the P. M. wrote to Fannie.

Sunday, 19th. Fed when out two or three miles. Got some apples. When we reached Heron’s division, I called at his quarters and inquired if he could give the Capt. any information. Very pleasant. Stylish. A fur coverlet, neat stove and desk, cigars and very fine dress. Said that the rebel pickets were within a [...]

Saturday, 18th. Lay about two or three hours, then went into camp on the rise near the spring. Marks of a large rebel camp. At noon orders came for the Capt. to go with 50 men to Bentonville, to learn locality and number of the enemy. I went. Started about dusk. Called at a house [...]

Friday, 17th. Aroused at 3 A. M. Killed a calf for breakfast. Quite a time trying to kill a pig. Marched at sunrise. Whole command gone from old camp. Rear guard. At noon arrived at Kritsville. Stayed till 10 P. M. Marched again at 10 and moved till near morning. Lay down a few minutes [...]

Thursday, 16th. Spent the day reading various nonsensical books. Rather a lazy day on the whole. Capt. Nettleton returned. Whole detachment ordered to “Hazel Hollow” on picket duty. Six miles, advance guard. Slept in a vacant house. Quite a confab with a Kansas Lieut.

Wednesday, 15th. Paymaster started for the fort–9th Kansas and 3rd Wis. escort–made the picket detail. Man wanted to buy salt at most any price–the article is very scarce.

Monday, 13th. Made the detail to go for forage in charge of Sergt. Smith. Went along in wagon. Got some cabbage and talked with some women while the boys loaded oats. Oh what suffering and misery this war is making. But there is an end to be gained at all hazards. Were it otherwise it [...]

Sunday, 12th. Cleaned my revolver and dried my cartridges. Indians had preaching by their Chaplain. Seemed good to hear singing and preaching even in an unknown tongue. Took a bundle of letters to headquarters. Smith went with me, a right good fellow. Went to spring and bathed.

Saturday, 11th. Up before sunrise and got roasted potatoes and honey for breakfast. Marched at sunrise. Passed Wier’s and Cloud’s Brigades at five miles–and Schofield’s. Encamped at Ferguson Springs, eight miles from Cassville. Arrived at 3 P. M. Feasted and rested.

Friday, 10th. Sky clear and quite cold. Lieut. Spencer and I issued a good amount of clothing. About noon orders came to march. After a hurried dinner, saddled and lay about until most sundown. Rear guard. Had to wait till every wagon had started. Very dull business; probably the advance guard was in camp before [...]

Thursday, 9th. Orders came to be ready to march at 7 A. M., we to draw our pay before starting. Hastened breakfast and we were paid during the day. Awful wet and muddy, cold and chilly. Wore overcoats and shivered. Delayed the march. In the evening a Kansas officer of the day became frightened and [...]

Wednesday, 8th. Commenced drizzling in the morning and kept it up all day. I was detailed to act as Sergt. Major, which pleased me much. Went with picket detail and reported to Stewart at Salomon’s headquarters. Went down and saw Battery boys, and Archie, Reeve, Brooks, and Mason. Good time. In the P. M. Major [...]

Tuesday, 7th. Commenced a letter to Fannie after the morning work. Went to the river and washed some shirts with Sergt. Smith, Co. K., a boy whom I like much from short acquaintance. Mail arrived about noon, letters from Fannies A. and H., Sarah Felton, Fred and George Ashman. Went to 9th Kansas surgeon to [...]

Monday, 6th. Got all ready to start. Ordered to lie still for a day or two for train supply to arrive. Went out on forage detail under Welch and Shattuck, four miles, got plenty of sweet potatoes and apples and honey. Sergt. Smith, Sturtevant and I got up a good meal. Had a good visit [...]

Sunday, 5th. In the morning rode about town and visited the different places of interest connected with the battle. Went into the stable where the Dutch were confined. At noon, after a hearty meal got up by us non-commissioned officers, started south. Capt. Seward came on and took command. N. officer of the day. Encamped [...]

Saturday, 4th. Rainy and cold early. At sunrise got in sight of the enemy at Newtonia. Got batteries and men into position and fired upon them. The scene of the cannonading of our troops and the enemy was grand. The enemy in force are massed behind a fence and upon the plain near the woods. [...]

Friday, 3rd. Was going to the river to wash when I was detailed for picket guard. My first experience. Reported with 14 men. Relieved 12 on the Granby road and stayed there till 10 P. M. Drawn in to go with command. Whole body moved at 12. Got ready and fell in. N. gave me [...]

Thursday, 2nd. Renewed our march without breakfast. Scoured the woods for our old friends. Took five men and acted as skirmishers. No bird discovered. Reached camp in the P. M. Heard the boys relate their stories about the fight. Somewhat tired.

Wednesday, 1st. Up at 5 o’clock. Commenced work at 5:25. Divided into three reliefs. I took charge for four hours. Boys went for provisions to a house three miles and got some breakfast at an empty house. Kept at work–after breakfasting at 10–till noon. Then marched homewards. Bivouacked 2 miles west of Carthage. Slept with [...]

Monday, 29th. Spent some time mending up my old clothes. After watering my horses had a visit with Trotter, taken prisoner at Fort Gibson–some interesting facts. 3,000 of the enemy, poor arms and worse clothes, frightened to death for fear of attack. Went out in P. M. for forage, 4 miles–corn. Saw a pretty, modest [...]