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Diary, Volume 3, January 16, 1865, to April 4, 1866.

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Jany 16. 65

Edwd. Everett is announced
in today’s papers as dead + a tribute
of respect the most honorably is paid
by the Prest. in the announcement
of the Sect’y of State.
He was the most distinguished
living citizen of the Country + his services
were many.
Can I ever forget the pleasure
the unmeasured delight with which
I read his addresses? And those Extracts, they
still impress me with the same force
as when from our room in
Cumberland Street I used to go to
the office each afternoon, having first
devoured 20 or 30 pages.
Delectable period.

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18th

Fort Fisher Captured + Genl. Butler
proved a military quack.
When Butler was explaining
before the War committee the utter
impracticability of taking Fort Fisher
by assault the guns were booming
a salute in honor of Terry’s triumph.
Thus they go. Now up now down.

Where is “Baldy.” His turn must come
next.

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March
8.

Ordered to report to the C.O. of
the 20th Army Corps for assignment
to duty.

10.
Gen. Wessels relieves me
in a complimentary order,
the band plays, and off I
go.

12.
Visit home + Portland.
Stay in Biddeford over Sunday
to my surprise.

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29th
Left B. on Monday morning—
reached N.Y. Tuesday morning
+ left the city at 12 p.m.
Passed thro’ Baltimore +
Fortress Munroe, City Point
Bermuda, Varina.
Reported to Gen. Weitzel’s Head
Quarters and was assigned to the
1st. Division, reporting to Genl. Wild.

31.
Gen. Kantz has relieved Gen.
Wild and another A.A.G. has
arrived senior to me. I shall therefore
be assigned to one of the brigades.

Visited City Point yesterday and made
full inquiries about Charley Granger.

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April
1

Am assigned to duty with
Genl. Thomas’ Brigade, the 3rd.
They are working on the left and
by night we can see [carrot: the] fitful flashes
and glare of the guns.
Sheridan crossed his cavalry
at Varina a few days since. Must
be on the extreme left now.

2nd
The firing is working up towards
us. In Fort Burnham this afternoon
with Sedgwick + Perkins + others. Enemy
in crowds on the parapet of Gilmer
looking at us. Some said they would
clear out tonight. I didn’t think so.
We are all ready for anything.
I feel as though the final struggle has
commenced.

We get good news from the
Petersburg front, our people
have broken the enemies [sic]
lines in several places.
They cannot possibly
hold so long a front, +
they cannot afford, I think,
to make their great fight
with a river, yes, two
rivers, behind them.
Tomorrow will be an
eventful day. I feel it.
Orders have come to assault
the enemy on our front at
four o’clock tomorrow morning.
The columns [carrot: to be] massed + in their
proper places will make it necessary
for us to turn out about 3 oclock.

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May 31.
on board Steamship
“Illinois” off Cape
Henry”

I am to resume my diary
again under circumstances the
most peculiar of my life.
The links must be
few + slight that connect
this account with that brief
one two pages back.
After that assignment
to Thomas’ Brigade came quietly
the great work of the war in
which the corps I was serving
with player some part.
On the morning of the 3rd.
of April we entered the

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Capitol of Rebelldom amid
the explosion of a hundred
magazines and a frightful
conflagration.
Then we occupied
Manchester where I had
the honor of raising the
Stars + Stripes over that
wretched little town for
the first time since the
rebellion began—a little
thing truly, but nevertheless one
creating a great hubbub, it
would seem; since hardly
a letter from my friends
fail of mentioning it.
save L. w – i – s –

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In Manchester we were stationed
two weeks. Then we marched
to Petersburgh changing camp
twice.
On the 29th April
I was ordered to report to
But, Brig. Gen. Jackson Comdg
2nd. Div for duty + at once
reported.
A few days after we
were ordered to vicinity of
City Point + one week
ago we set out on this
Texas Expedition.
This morning I sent
by mail letters to all my
friends—excepting L. for
whom all along I was
intending to prepare a
lengthy letter; but by some
unaccountable manner

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omitted it at last.
I am sorry; but
she shall read this journal
for a letter instead—and
that is the way I will
punish myself.
But wont that be
a punishment for her?

We left our anchorage
in Hampton Road about 10 oclock
this forenoon, passing Fort
Munroe on the right and
the Rip Raps on the left, the
band of the 8th N.J. CT on
the hurricane deck playing

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“Columbia’s the gem of the
Ocean – ”
Soon after I challenged
Gen. Doubleday to a game
of chess + after a severe
contest of an hour I
“resigned.”
Then we had dinner
and afterward I “turned in”
with “Tony Butler” whom I find
to be a fine manly fellow
and the book oin the whole
quite readable.
Hawkes gives me a copy
of Longfellow’s Psalm of Life which
we sing in the Even’g to the
line of “Cocha chi lunk” [?] +c.

The lost Pleiad has taken
off his gold lace. And yet
he is a good fellow.

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The boat swings but a very
little indeed now + then is
little chance to be sea
sick; the Capt however
assures me that there
will be a good opportunity
yet before we reach Mobile
Bay.
I am not anxious.
I bear in mind
the finely described experience
on ship board of Henry
Ward Beecher and I
am looking for the same.
May I never find it.

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June 1st.

Beautiful weather, sun
shining brightly and a
slight ground swell on.
Omitted tea last
evening; but took breakfast
this morning.
The Capt. says we passed
Hatteras about 4 o’clock this
morning.
We have now entered the
Gulf stream, something I
remember of in my earlier
school days as having been
laid down some where [sic] in
Mitchell’s, where I can’t say
neither what.
I am now disposed to
learn something of it, and
listen with interest to all

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the Captain’s statements.
Here they are
I. Gulf stream because
flowing from the Gulf
II. Course; along Atlantic
Coast as far as Cape
Race, then shoots across
trans into the French
coast somewhere + falls
down along the Spanish.
Consequently quick trips
are made when the
steamers going to Europe
get into the Gulf.
III. Temperature of water
very warm.
IV. Current runs from one

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to three knots.
V. Stream from forty
to seventy miles wide.
VI. Color of water black inkish –

* * *
The mare is in fine
condition this morning, the
swelling has gone down, and
now I am more hopeful
than ever of getting her
through safe.
But my advice is, if
you have a good animal
that you don’t want to
have spoiled never attempt
to make a sea voyage like
this with her.

“Tony” is a Good boy.

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Johnnie is not inclined
to laugh much this morning
at me for my sea sickness.
The poor boy is sick, himself

2nd.

Delightful weather. Excepting
the ground swell there is
nothing to give motion
to the ship beyond what
she would get in Saco
River.
I propose to Dr. Heichhold
that we take a trip together
over to Europe after campaigning

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it a while in Texas. He thinks
he will examine the map
to find the “B” line to
Brookville Penn, + take that
instead.
Gen. Doubleday fails to
meet me at chess as usual.

Capt. Kittredge loans me his
Bowditch and I read about
Decimal fractions + Astronomy.

We are now a little south
of the latitude of Charleston
and about two hundred miles
from land, the sea almost
as smooth as a mirror.
The ease with which I write
these memoranda proves the
steadiness of our ship.

Now for “Tony.”

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4th.

A wonderful voyage every one [sic]
says including the Capt.
I tried the hurricane deck
last night for a bed + found
it preferable to my state room.
Waking up early I noticed the
Capt. on the wheel house with glass
looking out for land, or rather for
white water.
Memory Rock was sighted
about 10 a.m. and from that
time until toward night we
were gratified with a panoramic
view of the Bahamas fringed
with the beautiful green.
Then “Isaacs” with the

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revolving light.
Capt. Hawkes and his 20 questions.

5th

We are now making for
Key West and are but a
little way from Havanna.
The weather slightly varied
today Already we have had
two furious rain storms accompanied
by an unusual amount of
thunder + lightning.

6th

We made up a consultation
game of class against Gen.
Doubleday this p.m. + beat him

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handsomely.
Passed “Dry Tortugas.” Genl. I.
says that at the beginning of
the war the government employed
slave labor paying the planters
for the same. That is the most
open support of the slave system
by the government that I ever heard
of.
Wilson after gazing at the
works for a long time though
it would be “rather hard on
a watchmaker to be confined
there and handle those large
stone.” “When he got out he couldn’t
set a main spring very easy I guess.
He’d have to commence on clocks
and work himself down gradually.
A very good beginning would be
one of those old fashioned seven
footer stand in the corner chaps

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with a suit of rooms in the
lower story.”

Last night as our band was
playing a brig under full sail
passed us on the left very
close, so that we could look
upon her deck. I could see
no one but the helmsman.
It was a fine sight.
Today the Wilmington, one of our
fleet passed us, by taking a track
closer to of the Reefs.

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8th. inst.

Reached Mobile Bay
today and anchored off
Fort Morgan.
Several ships had arrived
before us. The Thos A. Scott
had a mutiny on the
trip which was quelled
by the officer commanding.
Charges are preferred against
16 of them, many of whom
ought to be shot, and all of whom
will be imprisoned.
In the evening visited
Ft. Morgan.
The effect of shot + shell
could be noticed everywhere
almost.
And this is Farragut’s battleground.

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9th. inst.

Unwell + nearly wasted.
A mutiny occurred aboard
this ship today. Drunken Irishman,
one of the crew raises an axe
against 2nd. officer who takes it
away from him. Thereupon he
draws his knife and stabs the
officer in the thigh. The officer
escapes to his room from which
he issues with a revolver that
emisses [?] fire. The infuriated seaman
rushes upon him but is held back
by the 1st. officer. The Capt. appears
with a drawn sword + strikes him
in the face. The seaman turns upon
the Capt. but is intimidated by the
resolute tone with which he threatens
to sun him through and upon being
ordered to give up his knife

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throws it over board.
He is then ironed + gagged;
and will probably be put in
prison for two or three years if
not hung.

10th

We sail today for Brazos Santiago.
Sent letters home by mail this morning.
Also one to Jimmie which the
Pilot takes.

Began a course of study with
Johnnie today, in which he seems
to be interested.
Spencer’s book on Education
I find Extremely fine and enter-
taining.

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Sunday 11th

We passed the light at the
month of the Mississippi last
evening.
The Gulf is very smooth.

12th

Very rough + unpleasant day
Slept on deck last night.
Finished Prof. at breakfast
table.

13th.
Reached mouth of Rio
Grande about 8 a.m. today.
Gen. Steele is here. Wretched
place. We hope to get ashore in
fact, today.

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The Padre Island, 127 miles long
is owned by Singer brother of
the Sewing Machine man. Before
the war he had 60,000 head
of cattle. Reduced now to 3
cows + 2 bulls.
Stage fare to Brownsville $10
in gold.
At Matamoras can be
purchased all sorts of things
at wretchedly low prices—the
result of the sudden stoppage
of blockade running.

Spencer’s Education an excellent
book.

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14th.

A day of wonderful excitements.
This forenoon commenced fishing
for sharks and while we were
of dinner there was a bite.
The officers rush on deck +
there sporting about our stem
entangled in the line was
a fearfully large animal. Commence
pulling in. Proves to be a
tiger shark, ten feet long +
weighing about 500 pounds.
Not being experienced we try
to bring him to the deck but
his weight straightens the hook
and carries away the barb.
Thus we lose a monster.
This afternoon two negroes
fight and one bites off the
other’s ear. The disfigured individ [sic]
leers joyfully in the face of

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the Hospital Steward as he dresses
the wound evidently from
sheer enjoyment of the
attention he excites.
This evening a man
dies in the hold from
typhus and is buried
after the naval fashion
“committing the body to the deep.

15th.

After waiting 3 days for
a calm that every pilot
and every sailor told us
that would never come on
this coast, the sublime spirit
of energy has gone to work
today, the roughest day if
the three, and now we are

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in the midst of a rapid
debarkation of the troops.
A schooner has been warped
along side + by the aid of
two planks men are being
run aboard at the rate of
300 an hour.
A small steamer is to
tow them into Brazos.
Loaned Cronyn $40 to pay
his bills.

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July 1.
8 a.m.
This is a good time to
commence my Journal again,
after the hurricane and storm
of yesterday.
On the 17th ult. [?] not being
able to wait any longer we
had on baggage tossed into
a Mexican Lugger and with
the parting injunction of the
General to pitch Head quarters
a mile and a half from land
we “let go our weather [?] plumage.”
Great experience that getting over
the bar [?] tho’. Just as we were coming
upon the bar [?] the skipper jumps up
and declares that he does not know
the channels. At which remarkable
saying every one looked at his
friend. Some of us suggested that

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he might have done better if
he had considered that matter
before starting. But rather than
meet the fate of the poor fellows
in the Schooner who were wrecked
on Padre Island the day before
we decided to “buff up” and
wait for some one [sic] to go in whom
we could follow.
So we took a sail of
half an hour during which
time poor Hawkes in the bottom
of the boat became very sick, and
very unreconciled to our condition.
At last another lugger appeared to
be making for the entrance. So
following her we at last made
a landing.
Selected a place for Head
Quarters to the right of the 1st [?],
and put up half a dozen tents.

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Hawkes, a prime fellow, gets
something in the way of a
lunch + we enjoy it. Open
my case of claret + find
it as good as any
we had on the steamer.
Out medicine during
the voyage to prevent sea
sickness was champagne cock
tails [carrot: and claret punch] with ice something that
is unknown to this climate.
An excellent preventative for sea
sickness + the only thing that
seemed to revive poor Johnnie.

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Next day General comes ashore
+ scolds us all for not having
his tents fixed right.

Dull place for
several days during which time
I work at my office, no one
troubling me.

Finally Gen. I. is appointed
Post Commandant of Brazos Santiago,
and I go down to take the
position of Post Adjutant.
A very good home for
my office + quarters; but not
much of anything in the way
of books + papers.
Open a set of Post
books which with the books for Div.
Head Quarters keep me tolerably
busy.

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Gen. Weitzel comes finally—
with Wheeler a full blown
Lieut. Col. and a Major for
the 1st. Div. – Brownson having
become disgusted and resigned at
New Orleans.

Then Sheridan comes down
with his staff.

Then this violent storm
of yesterday comes throwing
of over piles of boards on the
poor fellows whose tents happened
to be pitched near by—
burying some of them who after
being dug out have to be
carried to the hospital so

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injured are they. The steamers
at the wharves put out to have
themselves + the poor little buggers
are tossed about like so many
paper boats in a tub of water.
Every encampment is six inches under
water in an hour + the night becomes
a horrid one for men + officers.

10th.

Gen. Jackson having been
relieved from duty as Port
Commandant at Brazos
Santiago, orders were issued to
march to Ringgold Barracks.
The 3rd Brigade is already at
White’s Ranch and the 2nd.
will march there today.
We go forward tomorrow
morning.

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Green of the class of ’63 comes
to see me before going home
–having resigned—and we
chat about college matters sitting
in the little cupola
on the top of my office.

11
This forenoon after packing
a goodly portion of our
luggage on the “Cora” which
is to sail up the Rio Grande
to Ringgold Barracks, we
set out for White’s Ranch
with our horses and the
light wagons. We ride
along the beach was

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delightfully cool + refreshing.
At Clarksville we visited
General Stack [?] whom Weitzel
pronounced a “institution.”
We found him with his
paraquet on his finger and
much more taken up with it,
tan with us, his go callers.
We crossed the Rio Grande
and visited Bagdad, Mexico, and
dined at Madame Champlain’s
I propose to fall back on the
[carrot: evening [?]] that dinner whenever we
get an half rations.
It was overpowering.

Returning we reached White’s
Ranch after dark and turned
in early.

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12
Began the March this
morning at 5 o’clock
and came into camp
at 4 p.m., command
thoroughly exhausted and
regiments knocked to
pieces. A very injudiciously
arranged march.

13
Marched as much
this morning and
reached Brownsville

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about 8 o’clock p.m.
On the way we
passed over the
battlefield of Resaca
de la Palma where May
charged.
He must have
gathered his horses in
the woods and charged
right up the road; for
it is the only places where
horses could be worked
everything else being thick
chapperal [sic].
At Brownsville
we pitched Head Quarters
in the square near Fort
Brown.

Very dusty + disagreeable.

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14
At Brownsville still.
This evening we visited
the Fandango, where
Great [?] Philbrook and
with whom I talked
over the strange sight.
Saw quite a number
of Costina’s men there.
The Senoritas were
ugly looking and their
dancing did not
impress we as unusually
graceful.

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15
Changed camp today
to the other side of
the town to avoid the
dust.
Spent most of the
afternoon procuring a
guide.
Succeeded at
last. Bade goodbye
to Wheeler + Lacey
and issued orders for
the march to begin
at three o’clock tomorrow
morning.
For the last two mornings
I have been to market

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for our mess buying
chiefly vegitables [sic]. I
had a great experience
with the Mexicans.

16
Started this morning of
three—passed Cortina’s
camp.
Three crosses in
the road marked the
graves of murdered men,
the inscription on each

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beginning with the
curtaining pater nostra [?]
+ ave maria.
A wolf sprang out
of the thicket in front
of my horse as I
was riding along.

17
Today the command arrived at
Sante Maria where we left as a
garrison of the place one (1) company
of the 45th regt. USCT, Capt. Paul
Commanding.

19th.
Reached Edinburg today
where the Head Quarters of the 2nd.
Brig. with the 41st. regt USCT and eight
(8) companies of the 45th. rgt. USCT

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were left as garrison.
July 20th encamped on
Ranche Tabasco. Had a novel
time chatting with the Senoritas
they in Spanish + I giving them
Such words to pronounce as “Mississippi.”

21st.
Reached Las Cuevas Rock today.
+ stationed there as garrison one
(1) company of the 45th regt. USCT.
Capt. E. F. Brown. Comdg.

22nd
Arrived at Ringgold Barracks,
where are now stationed as the
Garrison, Head Quarters of the Division
with the 8th regt. USCT + the 29th regt
USCT.

24th.
Today the Head Quarters of the 3rd.
Brig. with the 31st. USCT and the 116th

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USCT were moved to home and now
form the garrison of that place.
The distance marched (approximation)
from Brazos Santiago to Ringgold Barracks
one hundred + fifty (150) miles; from
Ringgold Barracks to Rome fifteen (15)
miles:- total one hundred + sixty five
165 miles.

August 9th

I have got quite out of the habit
of this diary business.
Is it worth while [sic] to preserve
one’s thoughts on paper? Some of
them, possibly.
If a war should be waged
in Mexico what a demand there
would be for ice?
It is worth while [sic] to study
wars financially—to find out what

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productions were in demand, how high
the prices for each rise—at what
stage of the war they began to
fall—how long after the wars
gold remained up— + in others
words to analyze wars with sole
reference to trade, + compare the
analyses. If there is not an
agreement it should be traceable
to plain causes such as a difference
in climates of the theatres of war +
consequently [carrot: a difference] in requirements of the
troops, and the duration of the war may
possibly be a cause, or its intensity,
or the difference as regards parties involved,
in respect of means + importance.
* * *
Major Glazier is here, having
joined the staff.

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Our mess is getting to be an
institution. I am quite an householder.
I was alone at first. Barden
+ Engleblom were envious of my enjoyments
And so came in.
Now Major Glazier has come +
Wardsworth has joined us for a time,
too. So that I have charge of quite
a family. There are eleven mouths in all to
be fed. I have already made several
flank movements on the Enemy question
+ hope to become something of a caterer before
the season has passed.

Aug. 20th. Sunday

Have been under the weather several
days. Am gradually righting
myself.
Glazier sick. He is
a strong man, Later [?] at college
after graduating 5th. man.

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Wardsworth has gone.
My clerks are ordered away.
General + I will have
to shoulder most of the work
ourselves now.
How drudgery like it
is to put up packages +
address them carefully
writing “Official Business”
on the back or after you
have written a long letter
to be obliged to sit down
+ make four or five
copies of it.

Chum says the truth. More
babies will be the death of
Lizzie + Mrs. S.
I shall have to come
out a little stronger on
that subject, I see plainly.

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Lizzie’s last two letters received four
days since were excellent.
How finely selected were
the extracts. Just what I wanted [?].
What a help she will be!
(humbug) not she but my talking
so –

Johnnie is constantly talking
of the good times we will have
when we go home.

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