Monday. Turned out at 4 o’clock & got breakfast—the orders being for our Reg. to take the advance & start at 5. Only four passes to be given to a Company to ride on the teams. We marched through Franklin without stopping there, & halted at one o’clock under some wide-spreading oaks 3 miles below Franklin. The forenoon was very hot, & the road dusty. Have had but 3 rests in the 15 miles. Many men fell out & I for one did not wonder at it. I was tired myself, & gladly heard the word “halt.” Started again at 3 & marched through Centreville, & to a fine smooth field a mile beyond (3 miles from last halting place) where we halted for the night. Having two hours of daylight, many of the officers & men took a good wash in the bayou. Had fresh beef & pork for supper, which was cooked & eaten in good season. We are camping 6 miles from Franklin, & about 22 from Brashear, which place we expect to reach by Wednesday noon. As I write this (7 o’clock) the 41st have just dashed by towards Centreville, & the report is that the train has been fired on this side of Franklin, & several of our men killed. [Read more…] about May 25, 1863
May 24, 1863
West Point
Dear Father,
Your Sunday letter was received on 21st. inst. There is nothing new. Examination commences week from tomorrow. There are two Maine men on the Board of Visitors, Rufus Dwind of Bangor and Hon. J.H. Goodnow of Alfred. He tried to get the appointment for his son. I suppose you know. How long is Catharine going to stay at Malden?
The Lieut. Colonel of 8th. Regiment has resigned. Do you think there is any chance for William to be made Major? I hope so.
Your Aff. Son, Malcolm McArthur
P.S.-The Standing for April has been made out. I came out in Math 54, in French 45, in Drawing 11; have 13 demerits for month.
Malcolm McArthur to his father, Arthur McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]
May 23, 1863
Headquarter’s Eleventh Corps. Near Brooke’s Station, Va.
Dearest,
I told you in yesterday’s letter that Miss Lizzie came from Washington with us. Yesterday Charles took her to Falmouth to see Fredericksburg and the troops on the way thither. She thinks she had a fine time notwithstanding the roughness of the roads and of the carriage. Last night we gave her a tea party, inviting all the ladies and a few gentlemen. […]
Oliver Otis Howard to his wife, Elizabeth Ann Waite [Oliver Otis Howard Papers]
May 22, 1863
Friday.
Started at 6 a.m. & after marching a mile were ordered to put two men with each wagon, & having thus “deployed” our Company, Lt. J., Capt. Wood, & myself got on a baggage wagon, & “took it easy.”
The plantation where we camped is the largest we have seen, having immense fields of corn & cane growing, all of which is growing well, the negroes having remained till now on the place; but this morning, they are joining in the “Exodous,” leaving home for they know not where. There are said to be more than 200 teams loaded with negroes in our train, & nearly 100 Army wagons. Many of the negroes, male & female, are on foot, & there are constant acquisitions, making to the train.
Stopped at noon in a beautiful oak grove on the border of the Teche, & cooked dinner. Here for the first time a party was detailed to drive in cattle to be slaughtered for rations, a thing that ought to have been done all along. The Col. being unable to ride on horseback on account of a fall yesterday, gave up his horse to me for the afternoon, Lt. J. starting with his little mare. The Quartermaster states that there are now 400 wagons in the train, which must be near 4 miles long. The ride across the prairie this afternoon was a delightful one, & I was even better pleased with the Country than with that on the march up. Halted about 5 o’clock, & the fresh meat—beef & mutton—coming in early, the men had ample time to cook a good supper. Slept finely on the ground. Heard heavy guns in the night in what we supposed to be the direction of Port Hudson.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
May 21, 1863
Spent the day as usual.
I got a letter in evening from Mullen.
Hot and sunny.
May 20, 1863
Wednesday.
Got up this morning & went down to the bayou to wash, & came back pretty well tired. Ate a light breakfast, & spent the forenoon in the house. Feel pretty well, but quite weak. At noon, orders were given to be ready to march at 4 o’clock. At some roast pig at dinner, with good relish.
Shall put my pack on the team, & try to march with the Company, but expect to get pretty tired, as I feel quite weak. Had a vomiting spell after dinner, & being offered a horse, concluded to ride. We left camp at 3 ½ o’clock, and reached Barre’s landing at 8. The men made coffee by the fires of the 26th Me. that had been encamped there two days. I camped down without eating or drinking anything. Walked the last two miles, letting Capt. Gilman ride. We are to march to Brashear City, & expect to be about 8 days on the route. Are ordered to start as early as six every morning, & march about 15 miles a day, stopping ten minutes each hour, & two hours in the middle of the day.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
May 19, 1863
Tuesday. Got up before roll call this morning, & feeling much better than I did last night. Took my third blue pill & went out & took my morning wash, ate only gruel for breakfast. Took a dose of salts by the Dr’s advice, & kept [to] my room most
Of the forenoon. Still feeling pretty well. Wrote a letter to Mother, finished Nellie’s, & put in a short acc’t. of Edwin Young for Pamelia, inclosed all in the same envelope, addressed to Nellie. Mailed Holbrook & Staples final statements to Adj. Genl, Washington. We expect to leave this place for Brashear City tomorrow. George went out this morning & brought in a fine roasting pig, which he soon dressed, & Betsy the Col’s Cook roasted nicely. My appetite for roast pig is strong, but shall not indulge it to any great extent, as my diarrhea still continues
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
May 18, 1863
Monday. Ate a very light breakfast & only flour gruel for dinner & supper. My diarrhea continues, & have felt sick at the stomach this afternoon. Took a couple of opium pills, & just before supper a small blue pill, the first I ever took I think. Commenced a letter to Nellie but felt hardly well to finish it. Took another blue pill about dark, & went to bed & slept soundly.
Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]
May 17, 1863
Headquarters Eleventh Corps
My dear Mother,
It has been a warm pleasant day. We have had services at out Hd. qrs., as usual. The Band of the 33d Mass which plays so beautifully was in attendance. Rev. Mr. Warren of the Christian Commission officiated who has been laboring in the hospitals many of which – in fact all the General Hospitals of the Army – are located in this vicinity. The General Hospitals have all the worst cases of sick and all the wounded except such as have been conveyed to Washington – farther North. They consist of a large encampment (like a brigade) for a Corps. The Hospital tents are some 20 by 12 feet or perhaps larger.
These in this vicinity look very neat & comfortable. Otis intends visiting our Corps hospital this P.M.
We had the great rarity of two ladies at services and at dinner today. Mrs. Genl. Barlow and Mrs Parker wife of Lieut. Parker of the Regular Army. Mrs. Parker was an acquaintance of Mrs. Barlow – and stays with Mrs B in a house not far from here although Lt. Parker belongs to another Divn. & another Corps. He gets Leave to visit his wife often now that we are doing but little. I think you will remember Gen. Barlow who now commands one of our Brigades and was formerly Colonel of my Regiment, 61st N.Y. –
was with us at Fair Oaks. He is a brave & good officer. Mrs. B. is a very smart woman. She reached the Antietam battle field, the next day after the fight and was in time to take care of her husband who was wounded very severely. […]
Charles Henry Howard to his mother, Eliza Gilmore [Charles Henry Howard Collection]
May 16, 1863
Limington
Dear William,
I have written to you but once since you left home. I am alone this afternoon, and it very quiet, so I will write a few lines.
Mrs. L.W. Rounds of Malden wrote to Catharine and gave her an invitation to visit her in the month of May, which invitation she has accepted, and started upon her journey this morning, to be gon a fortnight.
Malkey writes he expects to be on his way home in five weeks, it is not probable that he will be at home again for some time, can you not make your arrangements so as to be at home, this summer? If it is only for a short time, it would be very pleasant, for you both and all of us.
I do not see any prospect of the war being ended. There are awfull battles, without any decided victory. Do you think we have one great, good man in the country? (I mean “among the powers that be”) it seems to me that each one is seeking his own individual interest and honor and not that of the nation. […]
Your affectionate Mother
Sarah Prince Miltimore McArthur to her son, William McArthur [McArthur Family Papers]