Civil War Blog

Friday.  A beautiful day after the shower of last night.  Had Co. Drill this forenoon & Batt. Drill, inspection & dress parade in afternoon.  Spent most of the day in reading Darby’s description of Louisiana, a book published in 1816, which I found in the house.  Several of the boys went up the bayou (Courtableau) & got a couple of hogs for the Company.  But little meat is issued by the Commissary,–about half rations of fresh, & a very little of salt port—no salt beef.  The balance is made up by the men themselves, shooting their own cattle & hogs in the woods.  Double rations of salt were brought in the train, for this purpose I presume.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Wednesday.  Had a Batt. Drill of an hour just after breakfast.  The men did admirably, making few mistakes in the movements.  Spent most of the day on my quarterly return of Camp & Gun Eq[uipment] for the last quarter.  Intend to finish it up tomorrow, if possible, & have it off my hands.  Had a very slight shower yesterday & the clouds this p.m. look like rain.  A smart shower would be very acceptable; have had no rain to speak of since the heavy shower at Franklin.  The weather in the middle of the day is quite hot but we get a fine S. W. breeze every afternoon which is quite cool & refreshing.  Yesterday our “Cavalry” under Lt. Putnam started with a provision train for the front.  His Company is made up by details—Baker, Blanchard & Ramsdell going from our Company.  Just before night a soldier belonging to the 1^st La. came in with torn & soiled clothes, saying that he was fired upon by the rebels five or six miles up the bayou & escaped by running his horse into the bayou, & then when his horse got stuck in the mud, taking to the woods & after a roundabout journey, reached here.  He said there were both cavalry 7 infantry, & he observed among them several prisoners.  We suppose them the have been Dr. Jordan 7 four men who started with him this morning for head quarters.  As they must have been some distance behind the train that started yesterday, they could easily be captured by any small body of guerrillas.  The Col. at once sent notice of the affair to Col. Chickering at Barre’s landing.  Worked on my Qu[arterlyl] Return till about midnight.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Monday.  No orders to move have yet come, & we are still encamped where we stopped Saturday night.  No salt meat of any kind has been issued to the men for several days & but short rations of fresh, but the boys have.  Made up the deficiency in the last by “detailing” swine in the neighborhood of the city.  Spent most of the day in reading.  In afternoon had a Reg. inspection of arms & ammunition, & a dress parade at 5 ½ o’clock.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Saturday.  Turned out & got breakfast before daylight, but did not start till after sunrise.  I staid behind nearly two hours making a descriptive list of Edwin Young, & writing a letter to secure lodgings & board for him at Brashear City, where he is going.  He has never entirely recovered from the sickness he had at Baton Rouge, & now has a chronic diarrhea that is reducing his strength.  He might get a discharge if the Medical Director were here, or even our own Surgeons, I think, but nothing can be done as things are.  After getting through with Edwin I mounted one of the Chaplain’s horses & rode on in company with him after the Reg. but did not come up with it till we got to Washington—five miles from Opelousas.  Here the Reg. turned into the woods but the side of the road & stacked arms.  We hear today that Commodore Porter is at Alexandria with a portion of his fleet, & that we hold the place.  We are to stop here till the arrival of a large provision train from Barre’s landing on the Atchafalaya 12 miles from here.  We are to go to guard the train to Alexandria, about 90 miles from Opelousas.  Just before dark we marched through the streets to a fine smooth field in the suburbs & encamped for the night.  The officers lodged in a fine house that had been deserted by its late rebel occupant, (Dr. Prescott) & where we found beds & mattresses to lie upon.  A well of excellent water was found in the yard & fence rails afforded fuel.  Much of the splendid furniture of the house still remained, defaced though, by rude hands.  A large lot of valuable books lay scattered about the house, exposed to mutilation & plunder.  Had a good night’s sleep & did not turn out till after sunrise.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Thursday.  Got into line about 6 ½ o’clock passed through Vermillionville (about 24 miles from New Iberia) & to a beautiful grove on the plantation of M. Mouton, father of Gen. Mouton of the rebel army.  Lt. J. & I took dinner in the mansion with Col. J. & his staff, Col. of the 114^th, & some other officers—each contributing something for the table—the dishes being found in the house.  The men were allowed to help themselves to sugar, ad libitum, & did help themselves to geese, chickens &c. about as they listed.  Started again at 1 ½ p.m. & marched some seven or eight miles & camped.  Plenty of fresh beef was soon brought in by the hundreds, & frying pans were in great demand, & in constant use till late in the evening.  Lt. J. & self slept on the ground—most of the men pitching their tents.  Many of the men are pretty footsore but I have stood the march well.  The weather has been cool & comfortable.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]