1st. The “Long Roll” was sounded at the Ninth Wisconsin headquarters for an April Fool. Another dark rainy day. Read “Ivanhoe” and issued rations.

31st. In the morning read in “Ivanhoe.” Learned to play whist, pleasant game, but unprofitable as all cards are–will not allow myself to play. Rainy and cool.

30th. Sunday. Brigade review, Second Ohio Cavalry, Ninth Wisconsin Infantry and Rabb’s Battery practiced with guns. Helped foot up officers account with Q. M. Received and answered a good letter from Fannie.

March 29th. Had a good bath in the creek, and washed my clothes–new experience. Very warm and sultry.

28th. No letters for poor me. Read the latest papers. Rode over with Nettleton for the mail. The boys set the prairie on fire in several places, making one of the grandest sights I ever saw. Slept last night out of doors on the ground with Nettleton.

27th. News came that the staff would be paid off. All went to the Fort to sign pay-rolls. Returned to dinner. Rode the Major’s horse. Saw a tame buffalo. Quite a curiosity. Sergeants receive only $17 per month–a joke on their extra stripes.

26th. Played several games of chess and read. Helped in the Q. M. department.

25th. Commenced reading Scott’s “Ivanhoe.” Delighted with its principal characters, Rowena and Ivanhoe.

24th. New recruits came, so I moved over to the Major’s quarters. Played chess with Nettleton.

23rd. Read the papers received in the morning and wrote home. No preaching.

22nd. A report circulated that we are to be among the regiments disbanded. Hope not true–prefer to see the thing through without re-enlisting. After all would like a short furlough. Dealt out the bacon. Got a good piece of beef for myself. Heard the wolves howl during the night.

21st. Went out with a detail of twenty privates and two sergeants to cut wood for the regiment. Had twelve mule teams. Drew twenty-two loads. Saw a long overland train bound for Humboldt with crackers. Another train coming loaded with nine yoke of oxen. One wagon had 17 yokes stuck fast in the mire of [...]

20th. Found the books in use, so busied myself in writing to Fannie Henderson.

19th. Detailed to take charge of twenty men to chop and draw wood for Second Battalion. Went out about two miles west by the creek. Sawed, chopped and helped load eleven or twelve loads. Had a good detail and first-rate time.

18th. Ruled the blank abstract provision return book–nineteen pages. Wrote to Ella Clark.

17th. Wrote home. Helped weigh out beef.

16th. Sunday. Helped clean up in and about the quarters of Co. “H.” Heard the Chaplain preach from “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap.” Used strong language against the drunkenness and profanity of officers especially, and of the men. Spoke of the increase of immorality–sad, but true.

March 15th. Wrote to Sarah Felton and was on duty at the commissary.

14th. Mail came. Letters from Fannie and home for me. Numerous papers came, Independent and Lorain News. Girls at Amherst.

13th. Saw the boys jay-hawking from countryman who had apples, chickens, eggs, etc. They stole half he had. Read a chapter in Beecher’s “Letters to Young Men.”

12th. Finished letter to Fannie after work done. Then took mail to post-office and helped get supper. Mail leaves Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Sunday, 11th. Issued rations. Wrote a letter to Theodore and read some. Commenced a letter to Fannie. Helped bring wood.

10th. Finished our march to Fort Scott. Strong wind in our faces–great dust to trouble us. Had colic most all way. Thunderstorm during the night. Encamped near the Ninth Wisconsin a little beyond the village.

9th. Left Butler at 8 A. M. Major Wilson of our regiment marched the rest of the distance to Fort Scott, under arrest by order of the General for drunkenness. Rode by the side of Nettleton. Crossed one of the branches of the Osage, Marais des Cygnes, very swift. Great time crossing with the mules [...]