Friday, 27th.—About 8 A. M., we were on train and started for Columbus, Ga. We had set Opelika as the place we would leave the train for home. There was no secret about it. It was the general talk, and at least half said they were coming. We talked to our officers, and some of [...]

Near Beaufort, S. C., January 26, 1865. We have had heavy rains and now very cold weather without being in the least prepared for it. We move tomorrow at 7 a.m. for the main land and forage. All tents are to be left behind “until they can be forwarded by water.” That seems to point [...]

26th. Thursday. Relieved by 1st Conn. Cold, some chess.

January 26th.–Clear and cold. No further news from the iron-clad fleet that went down the river. Beef is selling at $8 per pound this morning; wood at $150 per cord. Major Maynard, instead of bringing 120, gets in but 30 or 40 cords per day. I am out of wood, and must do my little [...]

Thursday, 26th–It is still clear and quite cool with the wind from the northwest. This is the coldest day we have had this winter here in the South, yet there is no ice even in a bucket of water.

Thursday, 26th.—We arrived at Selma some time after dark; marched to the steamboat that was in readiness for us, and got aboard. The weather was bitterly cold, but there being hospital stores and wood aboard, we soon had fires, but were ordered to put them out, which we did, but some of us soon had [...]

January 25th. All quiet since the last date. I am in the best of health, ready for duty at any time, and for any call. The general health of the regiment at this time is good. Company A ordered to Harper’s Ferry for provost duty under command of Lieutenant Kerr. Companies D and I to [...]

25th. Charge of picket. Bill Smith with me. Cold day. Very comfortable time.

January 25th.–Clear, and very cold. We lost gun-boat Drewry yesterday in an unsuccessful attempt to destroy the enemy’s pontoon bridge down the river. Fort Harrison was not taken as reported, nor is it likely to be. The rumor of an armistice remains, nevertheless, and Mr. Blair dined with the President on Sunday, and has had [...]

Wednesday, 25th–It has cleared off now and is quite cool. It does not take long in this sandy region for the roads to dry off, and in three or four days they will be in good condition. We expect to leave here soon. The men are becoming very restless, being at one place so long. [...]

Wednesday, 25th.—Got about twelve miles by day-light; don’t run at all hardly. (Thus abruptly ended my memorandum.) Some of us had decided that to fight and kill men under the present conditions would simply be murder, and that we would have no further part in it, and determined to go home, and this is why [...]

24th. Tuesday. In camp. Played chess with A. B. Read “Two Gentlemen.”

January 24th.–Clear and cool. It is now said Mr. Seddon’s resignation has not yet been accepted, and that his friends are urging the President to persuade him to remain. Another rumor says ex-Gov. Letcher is to be his successor, and that Mr. Benjamin has sent in his resignation. Nothing seems to be definitely settled. I [...]

Tuesday, 24th–It is still raining, which makes the fifth day of steady rain, and at times it comes down in torrents. We are very fortunate in having shacks set up on the top of the old fort where we are located, for if we were camping down on the level ground, we could not possibly [...]

Tuesday, 24th.—Left Meridian at 1 P. M.; at Tombigbee River, 7 P. M. Went on steamboat four miles to Demopolis. Took the train for Selma. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

23rd. Monday. Dan left us. He has been a brave and faithful soldier. It seems hard to lose him. He will make a splendid officer. Still rain and hail fall.

January 23d.–Foggy, and raining. F. P. Blair is here again. If enemies are permitted to exist in the political edifice, there is danger of a crash. This weather, bad news, etc. etc. predispose both the people and the army for peace–while the papers are filled with accounts of the leniency of Sherman at Savannah, and [...]

Monday, 23d–It is still raining, and our men have made a new landing within six miles of Pocotaligo. It is at one of the inlets which has a channel deep enough for small steamboats to come up. This will shorten the haul of our provisions about twenty miles—no small item in this land of sandy [...]

Jan. 21—Rain and sleet. Brigade goes on picket. Jan. 22—In camp. Rain. Jan. 23—Hear from wife. In trouble. God help her! Terrible cannonade on our lines till nine at night. Saturday, ride to McRae’s Brigade to see Coin, Jim and A. Davis. Preach on Sunday a. m. and pray with prisoners in p. m.

22nd. Sunday. Storm continues. Some snow on the ground. Worked on shelters for horses out of pine brush. Bosworth and Robinson discharged. Ordered to write of East Tenn. campaign, one chapter in the history of the 2nd Ohio.

January 22d.–Another day of sleet and gloom. The pavements are almost impassable from the enamel of ice; large icicles hang from the houses, and the trees are bent down with the weight of frost. The mails have failed, and there is no telegraphic intelligence, the wires being down probably. It rained very fast all day [...]

Sunday, 22d–A detail from our regiment was sent out along the road today to help the loaded wagons across the deep mud-holes, as they come through from Beaufort. It is reported that the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps have crossed into South Carolina and are floundering in the mud bottoms of the Savannah river.

Sunday, 22d.—Left Tupelo at day-light; ran very slowly. Stalled, and we had to walk half-mile. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

21st.—We hear nothing cheering except in the proceedings of Congress and the Virginia Legislature, particularly the latter. Both bodies look to stern resistance to Federal authority. The city and country are full of rumours and evil surmising; and while we do not believe one word of the croaking, it makes us feel restless and unhappy.