Thursday.
Very cloudy today has been threatening rain. Staid in tent most all day. Fixed up my saddle. Was over to the 5th in afternoon, played a few hands of Whiskey as were of the usual Quartette!
April 15, 1863
Wednesday. Started on the march up the bayou about 7 o’clock towards New Iberia, towards which the enemy are retreating. About 60 prisoners marched with us under guard of a Co. of the 26th Me. We marched till between 11 & 12, when we halted at Harding’s planta[t]i[o]n, the junction of the road with the straight road from Franklin. Here our Reg. rec’d orders to return to Franklin to do provost guard duty, while the rest of the Brigade pushed on in pursuit of the retreating rebels. We halted an hour for dinner, then marched back by the shorter route, & reached Franklin about 3 p.M. Pitched our tents on the sidewalk, in front of a fine house standing back from the street. Cooked our supper & [two illeg. words]. Just after dark the 3 Cos. That were left at Brashear city marched up the street in command of the Major. They came be steamer to the place when Weitzel began the fight on Sunday, about 12 miles below here, & marched from there this afternoon. They left Brashear Tuesday afternoon.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection
April 14, 1863
Tuesday
Today all has been hustle and expansion preparing for a march – went to [illegible] drew 5 days rations. […] Got every thing packed ready for moving. Was over at 5th several times.
April 13, 1863
Monday. The Laurel Hill ran in to the landing, & skirmishers were sent out, who soon fell in with the enemy, & we then first heard the crack of rebel muskets.
From our boat there seemed to be a pretty sharp skirmish going on, but as we were a mile distant, could not see much but the smoke of the guns.
Our big guns soon sent some dozen shells into the woods to the N. of the landing where the Laurel Hill was lying, & seen the firing on shore ceased. Probably there was only a small force of rebels.
We landed about 8 A.M. My Co. the first of our Reg. to go ashore (only the 7 right Cos. Having come from Brashear City)—we soon marched up through a rough road through the woods & cane brakes, to a plantation about a mile from where we landed. [Read more…] about April 13, 1863
April 12, 1863
West Point.
Dear Father,
[…] How do you get along with your business, is money scarce?
I was very glad you had heard from Charlie and that he was teaching. I like that business better than being a salesman.
I have been very anxious all this week to hear from William, we heard Monday that an attack had been made on Charleston but no particulars and did not hear any tell yesterday. The gunboats had made an attack on Fort Sumter. The land forces had not done anything then. This week we shall hear news, good or bad.
William, I know will distinguish himself if he goes in to the Battle, he is a good officer.
Mother has not written me for some time. I shall write as soon as I can get time.
Your Aff. Son, Malcolm McArthur
Malcolm McArthur to his father, Arthur McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]
April 11, 1863
Saturday. Had Co. inspections at 7 o’clock. A. W. Lovejoy, who arrived yesterday morning from B. Rouge, was taken back in an ambulance, with several other men, to the hospital at Bayou Boeuf. Took his gun & equipments with him. Shores is to stay here in convalescent camp—he took Lovejoy’s half of a shelter tent. Wyman is determined to go with the Co., tho’ he is not very strong. Troops are going across the river all the time, & we are waiting orders to “fall in” for the same purpose. Just before noon the Col. sent our last payrolls to be signed by the men. He all of our Co. sign who are with us, & returned the rolls to the Col.
At 2 o’clock fell into line in marching order, and soon after marched down near the boat landing, stacked arms, & here I now write (3 ½ o’clock). The Reg. are lying & sitting on their knapsacks, while others are embarking & we don’t know as we shall be called for till night. About sunset made fires & got supper, then pitched tents & turned in. At 10 o’clock were roused from sleep & ordered to embark. Seven companies from the right (the other three Cos. In Laurel Hill) went on board the gunboat where we found only room to sit down on our packs. I got a leaning place & slept quite comfortably till morning.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
April 10, 1863
Farmington
Dear Brother Otis
I write you tonight in preference to Frank and Charles to both of whom I believe I owe letters because Guy is here and I know you will wish to hear about him!
He came up last Tues from Bruns. with Ms. Patten. The next day we went to a “sugaring off” at Mr. Titcombs and he had plenty of maple syrup. He went to school one day with Frankie and Otis Sargent and has played with them a good deal. He has worked for me two hours upon different days at 6 cts. per hour piling some dry store novel and shingles. […] Guy wants to get enough to buy a drum but he put 3 ct. in the contribution of the L.S.
[…] We have seen the order for you to change to the 4th Corps. but are entirely ignorant of that command and hardly know whether to congratulate you or not. All western troops lacking in discipline and cleanliness we fear. As I hear of the gathering of these mighty hosts to battle, I feel we need a real fast. I hope we will have the monthly letter. […]
Your Aff. Bro., Rowland
Rowland Howard to his brother, Oliver Otis Howard [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
April 9, 1863
Dear Guy,
A very poor sketch of the Head Quarters tent. You will see the foundation is of logs but you cannot see the beautiful moss between them; and you cannot look inside and see very nice stove, table, desk, bed, carpet new chairs and other things. I wish you could look in. We moved here last Tuesday. The privates came before us and fixed my tent very nicely. They are almost all Germans. Mr. Whittelsey has now come to us. Yesterday we all went to a review of a very large number of men. I think some 60,000 or 70,000 men. [… It took a very long time for them to march past the president. There were two little boys, sons of the President, at the river, one of them was but little younger than you and rode a very handsome pony. I think he borrowed the pony. He rode about as well as anybody I saw. I should have liked to have had you there.
[…]
Your affectionate papa,
O.O. Howard
Oliver Otis Howard to his son, Guy [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
April 8, 1863
Wednesday. No beef has yet arrived for the Regt., & only pork & bread enough are on hand for the day, so at present two days cooked rations are out of the question. Sent for storage the box of Co. cooking utensils & my large mattress, so that we now have nothing on hand but what we are to take with us when we march. A small mail arrived from N.O. bringing Northern dates of the 26th of March, but there was nothing for me from home. Rec’d notice from the Marine Hospital, New Orleans, of the death there, on the 27th of March, of Stephen S. Buzzell, of consumption, & of the discharge from service of Albert Brown, on the same date, on surgeon’s certificate of disability.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
April 7, 1863
New York No. 4 West 39th St.
My dear friend.
To convince you how utterly impossible it is that my affection for you should diminish even for an instant – I sit down to answer your welcome letter the moment it is read.
You have frightened me by writing that “raids are being made almost daily on both sides.” We have felt so comfortably about you while you were in Washington that I hoped you would stay there until you came home – Oh dear! Don’t get shot!
[…]
Friend [illegible name] to Thomas Hubbard [Hubbard Family Papers]