22nd Maine

[Louisiana] Wednesday.  Sat up till about 2 o’clock this morning preparing the packages of money that the men wished me to send home for them by Express.  This morning went down in town & put the money in the Express office—five packages, amounting in all to $1932–$275 of it for men out of the Col. & the balance, $1657, for the Officers & men of the Company.  I sent $200 of my own money to Pamelia in the package to Father—Lt. R. sent $202—Lt. J. $200 to his wife.   Sent $464 to Hon. Isaiah Stetson, of Bangor, to distribute for men belonging to several towns.   Sent $785 to H. K. Dexter, E. Corinth, including $202 for Lt. R.–$210 for Dr. Huckins, & $45 for two men of other companies.  I was glad the men sent so much home, for it will do the families a great deal of good.  Several send their money by mail, & I think there will be at least $1800 sent by us all.  This afternoon have been arranging my Clothing account.  Corp. Spooner began to cook for us today, as our darky[!] cook has disappeared.  Put a letter in the mail for Pamelia, & inclosed a note to Father, informing him of the remittance by Express.  This afternoon while on Batt[alion] Drill, as the Co. were firing blank cartridges, Ellis Smith carelessly discharged his gun with the muzzle close to Corp. Jordan’s head, the powder & wad being blown into the flesh, making quite a wound, though if properly cared for it will not be likely to prove very severe.  It is very wonderful that more accidents have not happened from the carelessness of the men, while using ball cartridges.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Mss. Collection]

[Louisiana] Monday.  Got to work on Clothing return in morning, when the Colonel came in with our Co. pay rolls which I had made out the last of December, & said the men must sign them as soon as possible, as the payment was here ready to pay off the reg. immediately.  Sent out for the Company to come in from drill, & spent the forenoon in getting them to sign.  Lt. R. then took the rolls & went out where Lt. J. & some of the men were on picket—got their signatures, & returned.  I then went down to the hospital & had the sick men sign.  All were able to do so except York, who was too feeble.  I found Gorham Gould much better, & contrary to my expectation, able to sign his name.  While in the room with Gould a young man by the name of Bragdon of Dover, belonging to Co. I was taken with an epileptic fit, and died in a few minutes.  Thus suddenly our men taken away.  May we all give heed to the warning, “Be ye also ready.”  I found Corp. Varney, who has appeared lately to be gaining, feeling very much discouraged about himself.  I have always felt much interest in him, & have had strong homes of his recovery, but fear that in his present despondency the case is at least a doubtful one.   I also found Albert Brown taking a discouraging view of his case—said he was growing weaker, was losing his appetite, & that his diarrhea had set in again.  I wish to do all I can for the comfort of these sick men but can be but little in their present situation.  If they could have the care and the little luxuries that they would have at home I believe they would get well—as things are here their cases are discouraging.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Mss. Collection]

[Louisiana] Thursday.  A very cold raw day—have found it hard to keep comfortable in the tent, even with our little cooking stove.  Finished my Ordnance Return.  In afternoon there was a short Batt[alion] Drill—our Co. out with the Lieuts.
This evening a small mail arrived—but there was no letter for either of us Officers.  The letters for our Co. were nearly a month old—few of them having been mailed later than the 8th of Jan.  There must be another mail soon, I think.  Poor John Loud gets sad news—the death of his mother.  He is one of the best of boys, stead, moral & amiable, & had a very warm affection for his mother, who is spoken of as having been worthy of his deepest love.  I remember seeing her for a moment as the cars were moving out of the depot at Newport—had a few words with her & her husband, & as we moved away, her last words to me were, “Take good care of Johnnie—he is a good boy.”
May the loss be the means of bringing him to the Savior, & may he find him a present help in his affliction.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Mss. Collection]

[Louisiana] Tuesday.  Clear & cold.  Had a Reg. Inspection at 2 o’clock, P.M., by Lieut Brown, of Gen. Grover’s Staff.  He inspected arms, knapsacks, tents, & company & Reg. Books.  Have been busy making up Quarterly Return of Ordnance Stores, & have completed it tonight (now about 11 o’clock).  Attended prayer meeting this evening—a very good meeting.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Mss. Collection]

[Louisiana] Sunday.  A mild showery day—no military exercises & no public religious services in the day time.  This evening we had a good prayer meeting in the Quartermaster’s tent.  The time was very fully occupied & all seemed happy to be there.  The tent was full, & I hope the meetings this week will be more fully attended than they were the last.  We hope to have the Surgeon’s tent for the meetings, as it will accommodate more than any other on the ground.  Wrote letters to the fathers of Levi Gardner & Robert F. Wiggins, who died at Chesapeake Gen. Hospital in December.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Mss. Collection]

[Louisiana] Had the monthly Regimental Inspection at 10 o’clock—inspection by the field officers of the Regt., and not “by one of the General’s staff,” as we expected  The men appeared better than on any other occasion of the kind.  In the afternoon the tents 7 grounds were minutely inspected. After this I went down to see our sick men in the Hospital—found them all apparently improving except Gorham Gould.  He had evidently failed since I last saw him—his mind has been wandering at times for a day or two, though he recognizes me & talked quite rationally a part of the time.  He told me what I had never suspected, that he thought he experienced religion when seventeen years old, but of late years he had gone far astray—said he was ashamed of the bad language he had indulged in.  He told me his mother & sister are Christians, & no doubt are praying for him.  I told him I had long prayed for him, that if it was God’s will he might be restored to health, and if not, that he might be prepared for death.  I presented his case at the prayer meeting this evening, asking the brethren to remember him at the throne of grace.  May the Savior manifest himself to him, and if he has ever been a child of God, may he be brought back to the fold from which he has wandered so far, and if he has never been born again may he be led by the Spirit to cast himself wholly on the mercy of God and find true joy and peace in believing.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

[Louisiana] Wednesday.  Rec’d a mail from the North.  Had a letter from Pamelia, written in journal form from Jan. 1st to 9th, on which day it was mailed.   All at home were well and prospering—the Good God be thanked for his mercies and loving kindness.  May I be more devoted to his service, and live more to his glory.

Evening.  At 12 o’clock our Brigade (1st) under command of Col. Wilson formed in line in the road between the camp & the river, & marched through several streets of the town, & out to the field opposite to our old ground, Camp Banks.  Here we marched in review in columns of companies before Gen. Grover.  After this Review was over we returned through the streets down by the Penitentiary, & thence back to camp, arriving about 5 o’clock.  Our Reg. had only about 400 men out including officers—the other Regts. Having a few more each I should think.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]