Capt. Isaac Winslow Case

Monday.  A. M. Bean called this morning with his Description List, which had been made by Orderly True.  His clothing account was entered as $39.05.  If it is not correct it will be rectified when we get the clothing book.  He with nine others of the Regt. has re-enlisted for 2 years, their time to commence from the date of muster out of the 22^nd.  They are to have two months furlough from the 15^th of July.

[Capt. I. W. Case died very suddenly at nine o’clock P.M. July 6^th after making this last entry in his journal, congestive chills were the cause of death.  His age was forty years.]

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscript Collections]

Tuesday.  Received a letter from Pamelia dated June 15^th.  All well at home.  Bless the Lord, O my soul, & all that is within me, bless his holy name.  She had received the two letters written at Algiers, 7 knew that we were here before Port Hudson.  Went out to the 3^rd Brigade Commissary, to draw rations for the 3^rd, 4^th, & 5^th [illeg. word]  Only a part of the articles we wanted were on hand, so we waited for teams to come from the landing, & at length, got nearly all except rice & beans.  Issued the rations in the afternoon.  Some new recruits came in toward night, whom we shall have to draw for tomorrow.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Tuesday.  This morning Sergt. North brought in the muster & pay rolls, having filled up to of them yesterday.  I completed … one for him, & he took the whole back to the Regt. to finish.  Lt. Truworthy  who started on Sunday for Baton Rouge for the last rolls had not returned this morning, & we fear something has befallen him on the way.  10 o’clock.  The “storming party” has just got into line to be reviewed by Genl. Banks.  I do not go out, as I cannot obtain a horse this morning.  The commissary has brought in the balance of the three days rations, & has issued them to the companies, & all appear to be well satisfied with their share.  In afternoon[!] wrote a letter to Pamelia stating how I am situated, & what the “storming party” hope & expect[!] to do.  Carried the letter, with sever other home letters, to Lt. Jerrard, who will forward it if I do not survive this attack.  Also gave him the certificates I made on the 28^th about ordnance, ord. stores, & Quartermaster’s property that I am responsible for, so that if I am not alive to settle my co. business, he may be able to do it without loss to my family.  I trust that a kind Providence will spare me to do this business myself, but think it wise to entrust it to someone who will feel interested to have it done correctly.  Lt. Brown went on to the Regt., says it was mustered for payment.  Capt. Wood has gone over this evening.  At dress parade the Capts. Were directed to see that the companies get through with breakfast by 6 o’clock tomorrow.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Monday.  Went early to Col. Berges’ quarters, for the morning whiskey ration for the men, but the Col. said there was but little left, & I need not issue any today.  The men were much disappointed.  Spent all the forenoon in getting three days rations from the Brigade (3^rd) Commissary.  The three days extend to Thursday night.  Met Genl. Banks while going out to the commissary.  He is to review the “storming party” at 4 ½ P.M.  At that hour both Battallions came out under their commanders, & formed in line, but after waiting till after 6 o’clock it was announced that Genl. Banks was unwell & not able to review them, but that if able he would review us at 10 tomorrow.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Thursday.  Capt. Wood, Lt. Brown & self reported for duty in the volunteer camp at 9 o’clock.  Built a tent of reeds, bought provisions of commissary, & had dinner cooked by Lt. B’s boy. Lt. Phillips of the Me. 12^th dined with us.  The volunteers do not seem to report very fast, nor is anything doing at organizing.  Serg. Mason of Co. “F” reported in [the] afternoon, making the aggregate from our Reg’t. nine.  Had a very quiet comfortable night in our new tent.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Sunday.  Turned out about 1 o’clock A.M. & got into line.  We supposed that we were to make another Sunday attack but after moving out by Gen. Banks; Headquarters to the road leading into the place of last Sunday’s battle we filed to the left instead of the right, & pursued the main road to the east till 9 o’clock, when we halted at a little stream some six or eight miles out on the road to Jackson.  Here the provision trains came up bringing cooked rations.  Stopped & ate a hearty meal, probably for breakfast & dinner together.  We have with us the 12^th Me., 90^th, 91^st, & 131^st N.Y. & 1^st Louisiana with several field pieces & a small cavalry force.  Where we are bound we know not. Supposed to keep off reinforcements for the enemy in Port Hudson.

Our mail reached us while halted for dinner.  Got a letter of June 1^st from Pamelia..  All well at home at that date.  I thank my Heavenly Father for all his mercies.  After eating moved up a hill beyond the stream, & filed into a field on the right of the road, 7 stacked arms.  The men lay down & some of them got asleep, when in about an hour the order came suddenly to “fall in.”  [Read more…] about June 21, 1863

Thursday.  I omitted to record above that a flag of truce was sent in yesterday, asking leave to bring off the dead & wounded that were left in the field Sunday.  The Ambulance Corps was engaged in it all the afternoon.  The number  brought out is set by them at from 120 to 240.  None of them appear to have counted them—only two were found alive.  The rebs. came out & assisted in collecting the bodies.  God grant that we may not be called into another Sabbath fight.  When will our Generals learn to observe God’s day?  Col. P. said this morning that no regiment of our Brigade volunteered last night.  Very quiet about camp all day.  Wrote a letter to Pamelia this P.M. giving a short account of our two scenes of peril, the night’s skirmish in the brush, & last Sunday’s battle.  Carried the letter out to the Col.’s quarters & it is going to the landing tomorrow.  A mail leaves N. Orleans June 21^st, & I hope my letters will get there in season for it.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Sunday.  We then moved by the new road that had been dug by the sappers & miners, the bullets whistling round us all the way.  Were ordered to fix bayonets & charge upon the breastworks—had ravines & ridges to cross all full of brush & timber—almost impossible to crawl up—but after a hard scramble got to the place where the charge was to commence, but by this time four or five Reg’ts. Had got mixed up, & there was so much confusion that it was impossible to form a line (the 22^nd was less confused than the other Reg’ts.).  Moved farther to the left to get more out of the way of the sharp-shooters, & got as good a cover as we could.  Here we lay till the middle of the afternoon, the sun beating down terribly, & the bullets constantly whistling over & among us.  While lying here, Corp. A. Haskell was struck in the breast by a bullet, making a flesh would.  Sent him out to the Hospital.  (Boker had been hit previously by a buckshot.). Ivis, Allen also had a slight wound made in a toe.  These were all of Company “H” that were struck, though several escaped as by a miracle.  In [the] middle of [the] P.M. companies “h” & “E” took position in ravines where they were better sheltered, & we lay till about 9 o’clock, when we were ordered back to camp.  The Reg’t. formed out near the bridge on the main road, & moved into camp.  Lay down, & slept soundly till morning.

Diary of Isaac Winslow Case [Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection]

Saturday.  Had baked beans for breakfast which were much relished by us all.  One of Co. “A” came in this morning, & reports that the nine other missing men of their Co. are all alive & near the enemy’s breastworks, but have had nothing to eat since yesterday morning.  He is going to try to get back to them with some provisions.  A small mail came in just after breakfast, containing three letters from home (from Father, mother, & Pamelia, all dated May 25^th).  I thank our heavenly Father that he has preserved the lives & health of all the loved ones at home, & give them all things needful for their comfort & happiness.  May he grant that we may all meet again on the shores of time.  All but one of Co. “A”’s men have just got in safely.  Came out this morning in command of the picket guard.  Sharp musketry firing all the forenoon.   About need the cannon & mortars began to work, & the sounds indicate that the batteries are busy on a considerable portion of the line.  Whether the general bombardment has begun, I cannot yet determine (1 o’clock).  [Read more…] about June 13, 1863