No. 19 Dauphine St., Saturday night, December 31st, 1864. One year ago, in my little room in the Camp Street house, I sat shivering over Tennyson and my desk, selfishly rejoicing over the departure of a year that had brought pain and discomfort only to me, and eagerly welcoming the dawning of the New One [...]
December 31st. This is the last day of the year. All is quiet at our camp on this high hill. Not very much snow or real cold weather. We manage to keep comfortable. At our reserve picket post we have built a large inclosure, made of logs and dirt, surrounded by small evergreen trees, a [...]
Guerrilla warfare in the American Civil War followed the same general patterns of irregular warfare conducted in 19th century Europe. Structurally, they can be divided into three different types of operations: the so-called ‘people’s war’, ‘partisan warfare’, and ‘raiding warfare’. Each had distinct characteristics that were common practice during the Civil War (1861–1865).
31st. Split logs and laid them up nearly high enough for comfort. Mustered. Very disagreeable morning. Pleasanter in the P. M. Cold night. Home letter. Upon the fly-leaves of the little 1864 war diary book are the following quotations from Dante’s Divine Comedy. The Cary translation was used. My references as to pages are to [...]
December 31st.–The last day of the year. Snowing and wet. Gen. H. Cobb writes that the existing Conscription Bureau is a failure so far as Georgia, Alabama, etc. are concerned, and can never put the men in the field. Wm. Johnston, president of the Charlotte (N. C.) and South Carolina Railroad, suggests the construction, immediately, [...]
Saturday, 31st–Still in camp and on short rations at that, the quartermaster having cut us down to one-half rations. We cannot understand why this should be, though there must be a good reason for the order. The fire department of the city came out this morning for inspection by General Sherman, and made a fine [...]
Dec. 20—Go to my Regiment near Petersburg. Dec. 21—Very rainy. Dec. 22—Our Division is ordered off. Dec. 23—Capt. Ardry and myself still in camp with the baggage. Both unwell. Dec. 24—Division returns late to camp. Sunday, Dec. 25—I preach from the song of the angels, “Glory to God, in the highest!” This was the last [...]
30th. Went to work cutting wood for quarters.
December 30th.–A clear night and frosty morning. We have no news except that gleaned from Northern papers. Gen. Hood is unable to cross the Tennessee River (now swollen), and would soon be attacked again by superior numbers. Congress was in secret session yesterday, probably perfecting the bill for the suspension of the privilege of habeas [...]
Friday, 30th–The Twentieth Army Corps was reviewed by General Sherman at 9 a. m. They came out with their flying colors and brass bands, making a big showing. But when there’s a fight on hand they are not as forward as they might be; it suits them better to garrison a place after it has [...]
29th. Field officer of the day. Moved over upon the Romney pike. Visited the picket line.
December 29th.–Rained all night; spitting snow this morning. Although Gen. Bragg announces that the enemy’s fleet has disappeared off Wilmington, still the despondency which has seized the croakers remains. It has probably sailed against Charleston, to co-operate with Sherman. Sherman says officially that he got, with Savannah, about 1000 prisoners, 150 heavy guns, nearly 200 [...]
Thursday, 29th–The weather continues pleasant but cool. The glorious old Seventeenth Army Corps was reviewed at 9 a. m. by Major-General Sherman. The corps performed nicely and looked fine considering the campaign through which they have gone, and also considering the fact that they have not yet drawn new clothing. We formed our lines in [...]
December 28th.–Rained all night; warm. A large stable burned down within sixty yards of our dwelling, last night, and not one of the family heard the uproar attending it. Gen. Bragg telegraphs the President that the enemy failed to reduce Fort Fisher, and that the troops landed above the fort have re-embarked. But he says [...]
28th. Moved camp upon a hill near by. Awfully muddy. Made a large fire.
Wednesday, 28th.—Passed through Tuscumbia. The next few days we were marching on, passing through Cherokee station, Barton’s station, Price and Vandorn’s fortifications, Iuka battleground, and on to Burnsville, Miss. Very cold; and so ended 1864. Alas, how many since thou begun, Have finished all, their races run; Their bodies lie beneath the sod, Their spirits [...]
28th.—A bright spot in our military horizon. The enemy’s fleet of more than thirty gun-boats made a furious attack on Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, N. C., on the 24th, (last Saturday;) they kept up an average fire of thirty shots per minute until night. On the 25th the attack was renewed, and on the 27th, [...]
Wednesday, 28th–It was cloudy with some rain, though it cleared off in the afternoon and turned quite cool. Things are very quiet in camp, and our duty is light; we do not have even picket duty, as the cavalry are doing that on the outskirts. Nearly all the citizens inside of our lines have taken [...]
December 27th.–A night of rain–morning of fog and gloom. At last we have an account of the evacuation of Savannah. Also of the beginning of the assault on Fort Fisher and Caswell below Wilmington, with painful apprehensions of the result; for the enemy have landed troops above the former fort, and found no adequate force [...]
27th. Relieved from picket and ordered to appear as witness in case of U. S. versus Seth Combs for desertion. Did what I could for him.
Tuesday, 27th.—Gunboat came up above Florence to try to break pontoon bridge, but batteries soon made it withdraw without doing any damage. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
December 27th.–Oh, why did we go to Camden? The very dismalest Christmas overtook us there. Miss Rhett went with us–a brilliant woman and very agreeable. “The world, you know, is composed,” said she, “of men, women, and Rhetts” (see Lady Montagu). Now, we feel that if we are to lose our negroes, we would as [...]
Tuesday, 27th–All is quiet. There is no news of any importance.[1] The Fourteenth Army Corps was reviewed at 9 a. m. by General Sherman. The troops looked fine. The Fourteenth is a good corps. I sent in my subscriptions today for three papers: the Missouri Democrat at $2.00 per year, the Theological Journal, $2.00, and [...]
December 26th –Raining–rained all night. The dark and dismal weather, together with our sad reverses, have made the countenances of croakers in the streets and in the offices more gloomy and somber than ever, foreboding evil in the future. No one doubts the evacuation of Savannah, and I suppose it must be so. Hardee had [...]
26th.—The sad Christmas has passed away. J. and C. were with us, and very cheerful. We exerted ourselves to be so too. The Church services in the morning were sweet and comforting. St. Paul’s was dressed most elaborately and beautifully with evergreens; all looked as usual; but there is much sadness on account of the [...]