Saturday. A very rainy night, & this morning it is pouring steadily, with very heavy thunder. Cleared off about noon & we had the Reg. mustered for payment & their arms & equipments inspected. After the muster I went down into town & spent the rest of the afternoon.
Last evening I made out “Certificate of Disability” for Private Ham, S. S. Buzzell, & C. H. Houston, with a Discharge, & this forenoon they went before the “Examining Board” of Surgeons, & were all recommended for discharge—Ham for “Hereditary Phthisis Pulmonalis”—Buzzell for “Heart disease and Chronic Diarrhea”—Houston for “Varicose Veins & right knee injuries in service.” The papers will go to New Orleans, & if approved then will be returned, & discharges for the men be made out. Corp. Varney, who has been in the Genl. Hosp. two weeks has also been recommended for discharge, for “Phthisis Pulmonalis,” & his papers forwarded to N.O. I have long felt satisfied that these four men would not become fit for duty again during our term of service, if ever, while if they go home soon a part of them at least bid fair to regain tolerable health which I think they never could do here, but would be likely to waste away & die like others when have been sick like them. It is Saturday night, the last day of the month & the last of “winter,” but it seems little like winter to me. The weather now resembles that of June at home,–the grass is growing rapidly, & the trees are putting forth their leaves.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]