Civil War Blog

Misc Manuscript Coll

March 19, 1863

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Thursday.

The men awoke pretty well rested, but many of them rather foot-sore.  Spent the day quietly in camp, getting rested.  This march was altogether the hardest we have ever had, & was no doubt designed partly as a “toughener” for others that are to follow.  A long train of empty wagons followed us up yesterday, & turned off toward the river a little to the rear of the spot where we formed in line & brought out 100 bales of cotton which they carried to Baton  Rouge on acct. of Government.  It would probably have seen been burned by guerillas had it not been secured as it was.  Some think that the sole object of our move was to secure this cotton, & perhaps it “paid” aside from the discipline the men received.  A company made up by details from all the companies of our Reg. & commanded by Capt. Wood, was sent this afternoon to Baton Rouge to bring up all the men of the Brigade that were left behind either sick in tents or hospitals that may now be able to march, & all stragglers that are there.

Sergt. Chapman & two men went from our Co.  The man have got pretty well rested today, & by another day will be all ready for another March if wanted.  Through the goodness of God my health & strength have been continued to me, and I have borne the fatigue of our marches as well as the strongest man of my company.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscript Collections]

March 16, 1863

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Monday.

Soon after breakfast our Reg. moved back a few rods into the woods to dryer ground, where we pitched our shelter tents, & [illeg. word] out our clothes to dry, & had a general cleaning up, & an inspection of arms & ammunition.  At 3 P.M. packed up & marched about ¾ mile to a field not far from the river, where our Brigade pitched their tents & spent the night.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscript Collection]

March 12, 1863

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Thursday.

This has been an idle week, thus far.  The first of the week we were ordered to pack up all extra clothing, keeping in the knapsacks only great coats, blankets & one pair stockings.  We boxed up the rest of the men’s clothing & stored it, with the officers’ baggage at the Brigade Commissary’s.  Drew shelter tents, one for every two men, one piece to be carried in each knapsack.  We have been waiting orders to march, probably toward Port Hudson.  The hospitals have been cleared to a considerable extent, by sending a large number of the patients to New Orleans.  Day before yesterday (March 10th) Lt. R. started for N.O. with the following men of the Co. who were thought by our surgeons fit candidates for the change: O. Booker, Alb. Brown, S. S. Buzzell, Ellis, Ham, F. Holbrook, C. H. Huston, C. E. & D. Skillin, Badger, Baker & Turner.  Turner met with an accident by the careless handling of a pistol.  It went off & the ball passed through his leg below the knee.  He will not probably be confined very long.   Besides these, Varney, G. F. Davis, & J. M. Wing were sent to N.O. from the Gen. Hospital, making fifteen from Co. H that have gone there, besides Lt.  R.  A few will have to be left in camp when the troops march—probably fifty or more from the Reg. who are too weak to carry the load required but am not quite sick enough to go to the hospital.  The Adjutant is to be left in care of the camp during our absence.  We are ordered (& have been for two days past) to keep two days rations cooked, & in the haversacks.  Have been writing a letter to Pamelia informing her that we are under “marching order,” & shall keep it open till we are ordered to fall in.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

March 6, 1863

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Friday.  Rainy all day.  Now drill after the Sergeants’ drill in morning.  Finished & mailed a letter to Pamelia in forenoon.  In afternoon a mail arrived, but most of the letters were old ones, some written in January.  I rec’d none.  It is said there is another mail in N.O. that will be up in a day or two.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

March 5, 1863

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Thursday.  Had morning drill from 7 to 7.45—then from 9 to 11.  In afternoon, the whole  Brigade marched to Camp Banks to be reviewed by Genl. Augun.  We though[t] our Brigade made quite a decent appearance, tho’ one Regt. Was not able to bring out more than about 200 men—a whole Co. being out on picket, & other men on post guard.  Our actual strength now, we suppose to be about 300 men besides commissioned officers.  These frequent reviews & inspections are supposed to portend “a move,” in some direction.  The forces here have been increased of late by the arrival of  Cavalry & Artillery, besides which several mortar vessels have come up the river within a week.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

March 3, 1863

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3-3Tuesday.  This morning at 7 o’clock Gorham H. Gould died at the Reg. Hospital.  He had been there nearly all the time since we arrived here, & had been brought almost to death’s door, but three weeks ago appeared to have taken a new lease of life, and gained rapidly, for a week or more, & I had great hopes of his ultimate recovery.  After a few days, however, he began to fail again, & has gradually wasted away.  He was buried this afternoon not far from Mitchell & York.   Being Officer of the day I was not able to leave to attend his funeral.  Lt. Jerrard has given up today, & this evening has gone into town with strong symptoms of measles.  He will stay at the house where his brother, J. F. Jerrard boards, & will thus be more comfortable than he would be either in quarters or hospital.  We have looked anxiously for the mail today, but for some reason it is kept back.  We are to have a Reg. Inspection tomorrow at 10 A.M.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

 

March 2, 1863

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3-2Monday. Finished & mailed letter to Mother.  Spent forenoon in making “Final Statements” & “Inventories of effects” of York & Mitchell.  Del[ivere]d one copy of each to the Adjutant & mailed one to the Adj. Genl. at Washington, keeping one myself.  We also rolled up the clothes in snug packages, to send home.  Shall wait a few days, & if the three men that have been recommended for discharge get their papers soon, shall send the things north in their care—if not, shall have to send them by Express.  In  afternoon had a Batt[alion] Drill.  No mail has come up, but as it has reached N.O. it will probably reach us tomorrow.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

 

February 28, 1863

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2-28Saturday.  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]

 

February 27, 1863

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Friday.  Soon after the death of the man mentioned above, another in the same Co. was taken suddenly sick in his tent, & in a few minutes he too died.  During the night two others died in the hospital, making four in one night.  Truly, “in the midst of life we are in death.”  Had a drill this forenoon—target practice.  I was too busy writing to go out.  Our Co. were thought to have made as good shots as any in the Regt.  I have written & mailed letters today to Mrs. Mitchell, & to Lyman Tyler, of Bangor, an uncle of Mitchell, giving them an account of his sickness & death.  Have also written to the Med. Director of the Chesapeake Genl. Hospital, requesting him to inform me of the dates of  Gardner & Wiggins decease, what effects they left, and what disposition was made of them.  Wrote to sister Sarah today, & inclosed a short note to her husband.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

 

February 26, 1863

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Thursday.  W. A. Mitchell, of Kenduskeag, who has been in hospital since the middle of January, died last night at 8 o’clock.  He has been sinking fast for a week, having been unable to keep any food down, & having no appetite.  We buried him by the side of York this afternoon.  Thus three of our Co. have passed away since we came to this place, & men of the other Co’s are dying daily.  About 6 o’clock this evening a member of Co. K, who has been unwell for some time, while going from his tent to his officer’s quarters fell suddenly, & expired in a few moments.  About an hour after in passing the tent I saw them nailing him up in his coffin—so suddenly do men die here, & so hastily are they made ready for the grave.  This P.M. a boat arrived from N.O. bringing another mail.  No letter came for me, however.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]