December 17th.–Warm and cloudy. Quiet below. The President was reported better, yesterday, to my wife, who called. It is said Gen. Cooper, R. Ould, etc. etc. have never taken their compensation in Confederate States Treasury notes, hoping at a future day (which may not come) to draw specie or its equivalent! It was reported on [...]
17th. Saturday. More good news from Thomas. Brigade officer of the day. Rode over to infantry. Received a beautiful pair of shoulder straps as Christmas gift–with a note from A. B.
Saturday, 17th.—This morning found us at Franklin, a badly demoralized army. 39th sent back to river. Soon Yanks came up.. Our corps in rear. Our brigade rear guard. Formed in line across the old battlefield at Franklin. Federal cavalry dashed after us, but a few shot from cannon sent them back. Then the retreat began, [...]
Saturday, 17th–Large details of men from our division were sent out to cut and prepare timber for the engineers to build a wharf at the landing so that the boats can be unloaded more readily. Several hundred of us were at work, some cutting the trees–tall pines, others cutting them into proper lengths, and still [...]
December 16th.–Clear and pleasant; subsequently cloudy and chilly. All quiet below, save the occasional booming of our guns from the iron-clads. The capture of Fort McAlister, Savannah, has caused a painful sensation. It is believed we have as many men on the Georgia coast as the enemy; but they are not the men of property–men [...]
16th. Got news of Thomas’ attack on Hood’s flank. Great rejoicing in infantry.
Friday, 16th.—This morning Brigade formed in line near where we were. I went to infirmary and was excused from duty. Brigade fortifying. 7. A. M., Heavy cannonading began and continued until 12 M. Federals charged right wing, but were held back. 3 P. M., Heavy fighting all round the line. 4 P. M., lines broken; [...]
December 16th, 1864.—We have had company today, ladies from town to spend the day. I have listened to many a bit of gossip and heard some laughable incidents related. Life is a complex problem; it is like a kaleidoscope in its changing scenes. On one side all is gay and bright and on the other, [...]
Friday, 16th–Left this morning at 8 o’clock for King’s bridge over the Ogeechee river at a point fifteen miles from Savannah, where we again went into camp. All the torpedoes having been removed from the river, small boats can now come up to the bridge and land. Two boats came up with mail and some [...]
December 15th.–Cloudy and cool. A dispatch from the West states that the enemy have made a heavy raid from Bean’s Station, Ky., cutting the railroad between Abingdon and Bristol, destroying government stores, engines, etc. Breckinridge and Vaughan, I suppose, have been ordered away. Dr. Morris, Telegraph Superintendent, wants to know of the Secretary if this [...]
Before Savannah, December 15, 1864. First mail goes in 15 minutes. Our 2d Division charged and took Fort McAlister, at sunset, the 13th—19 guns and 300 prisoners; lost 92 men killed and wounded. We will have Savannah, sure.
15th. Got horses shod. Cloudy. Saw F. again in my dreams. I wish I could be rid of this thought about such things. Could never live at home. Am better off here than I would be there.
Thursday, 15th.—Cannonading all around the lines. 2 P. M., heavy fighting on the left, which continued until night. Stewart’s Corps flanked and had to fall back, loosing some artillery. Brigade moved to left; being sick, was left in camp with several others. In short time, orders came for sick to move back, as left wing [...]
Thursday, 15th–The weather is fine—days warm and pleasant and nights cool. The Thirty-second Illinois arrived in camp at 11 o’clock with sweet potatoes, fresh pork and corn for our brigade. We are still lying in camp without rations. We had company inspection and drill for the recruits. The First Division of the Fifteenth Corps advanced [...]
December 14th.–Cloudy, and thawing rapidly. All quiet below. The bill to employ 40,000 negroes, as recommended by the President, for army purposes, though not avowedly to fight, has passed one House of Congress. So the President is master yet. There ought to be 100,000 now in the field. An effort will be made by the [...]
14th. Went twice to mustering officer without success. Finished “Dante” and “Dream Life” by Ike Marvel. Beautiful pictures of life, beautiful because so real. Good lessons. Had good visits with Easton and McBride. Clear.
Thursday, 16th.—Sick to-day. Yankees would not exchange papers to-day. Notes: This entry in the book is in sequence between the 12th and the 15th, so it was likely an entry for the 14th. After the fifteenth, there is another entry for the 16th. the picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.
Dec.14th 1864 (Washington) The City seems to be overflowing with people, rents are constantly rising and prices of everything raise in proportion. A person cannot find common Board now (meals only) for less than $25 pr month, and from that to $50 and $60. The Hotels here are now charging from $4.00 to $5.00 pr [...]
December 14th.–And now the young ones are in bed and I am wide awake. It is an odd thing; in all my life how many persons have I seen in love? Not a half-dozen. And I am a tolerably close observer, a faithful watcher have I been from my youth upward of men and manners. [...]
Wednesday, 14th–The capture of Fort McAllister gives us our first communication with the North since the telegraph wires were cut at Marietta, Georgia, on the 12th of November. We have no rations yet, but will have crackers as soon as our men can remove the torpedoes from the Ogeechee river, which is thickly laid with [...]
December 13th.–Cloudy and cold, but wind southeast. The sullen sound of cannon heard this morning as usual down the river. I hear of no active operations there, although the ground is sufficiently frozen to bear horses and artillery. Rumors of successes on the part of Sherman near Savannah are still in circulation. The rich men [...]
13th. Notice of appointment from Adj. Gen’l of Ohio as captain came. Went over to muster. No success. Several promotions.
Tuesday, 13th–We lay in bivouac all day. Our rations ran out today and no more can be issued until we open up communications with the fleet. To do that we shall have to open a way to the coast. Our men have foraged everything to be found. The only thing that we can get now [...]
December 12th.–Clear and cold. Ice half an inch thick. Gen. Longstreet is again in the old lines on this side of the river. The reconnoissance, however, is said to have been successful. Only a few were killed and wounded on either side. And Grant’s column was turned back from Meherrin bridge. Results of the movement [...]
December 12th. Report comes this morning that guerillas crossed Sheridan’s railroad last night and captured a train on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, near Duffield Station. They passed near our picket posts. Did not molest us, as we did not see or hear anything of them. Trains with passengers, mail, and supplies pass over this [...]