(Editor’s Note: Benton Barracks was used as an encampment for paroled
Federal POWs released from the Confederacy, on the condition they would not
bear arms against Southern forces until the expiration of parole.)
Wednesday, July 1st, 1863
Saturday 4th
Sunday 5th
Monday 6th
Tuesday 7th
I feel much better this
morning. I feel a kind of lassitude or heaviness in my head, the effects of
opium administered in powders. Lieut. English taken to Post hospital.
Wednesday 8th
Quite a joyful time, the
news of Vicksburg being taken was read on dress parade and also of Lee’s forces
being captured in Pennsylvania[1].
We had some glorious cheering such as soldiers only can give.
(Editor’s Note: Grant ordered the attack on Vicksburg to be begun by
Sherman’s corps on the afternoon of May 19, 1863. Bombarded from land and sea
-- for Admiral Porter sent the Benton, Mound City , and Carondelet to shell the
water batteries and other places where troops might be resting -- the city took
terrible punishment for almost two months but finally could stand no more and
on the 3rd of July Pemberton raised the white flag of truce.)
Saturday 11th
Received orders to march
this morning. We got on board the Telegraph No. 3 and arrived at Columbus [KY]
about 11 o'clock at night.
Sunday l2th
Detailed on duty to
unload commissaries, encamped on the hills at Columbus alongside a Negro
Regiment. Not much like Sunday, all
hard at work.
(Editor’s Note: In August 1862 the proposition to organize Negro
regiments raised a storm of indignation in Congress but a few weeks later the
Secy. of War directed the Military Governor of the seacoast island to arm and
equip Negro volunteers not exceeding 5000 for guarding that region. By mid-1863
few of the thousands of freed slaves were in arms such prejudice against them.
But with the war assuming vaster proportions this prejudice gave way entirely
art when Lee invaded Pennsylvania the government authorized the enlistment of
colored troops in the Free-Labor States.)
Monday 13th
We are all up in line; it
is now 2 o’clock of the l4tn and we are laid in line, our equipments on and our
arms in our hands, expecting an attack every moment; some pickets have been
taken.
Tuesday 14th
Nothing serious happened
yet; we are in expectation of an attack; the town is all fortified,
cannon placed in all the streets.
(Editor’s Note: Brig. Gen. Forrest had operated boldly in the heart of
Tenn. At an earlier date he had attacked and defeated a small National force
below Nashville and left for further operations near Nashville and continued
movements there put National armies on guard throughout that section of the
state as well as in Kentucky.)
Wednesday 15th
On picket. I think
Forrest has concluded not to attack us. Captain Fulsom is officer of the day;
he says we are ordered to Clinton [KY].
We are relieved from picket at 12 o’clock to get a few hours sleep.
Thursday 16th
12 miles. This morning
we are striking tents; everything lain confusion. At 9 o’clock we started for
Clinton with the 24th Mo. inf., 2 pieces of Artillery, and a regt. of Cavalry.
We camped in a beautiful grove about half a mile from town. It is the prettiest
camping place we nave ever been to.
Friday l7th
In camp, Clinton. Moved
our tents, another alarm tonight at 9 o’clock. The pickets firing; nothing
happened.
Saturday 18th
Nothing of interest.
Will Larrimore, George Coffin and myself went out blackberrying this afternoon.
Sunday 19th
Our camp is christened
Belle Umbre; reports of a fight at Jackson and some talk of marching there.
(Editor’s Note: While Pemberton was vainly trying to hold Vicksburg
against Grant, Johnston remained near hoping to aid Pemberton by cooperative
movements farther downstream. When Vicksburg was surrendered, Johnston was
pushed back to Jackson and Grant sent Sherman to dislodge him. Sherman opened
on the doomed city on the 12th; misapprehension of orders on the part of one of
Sherman’s generals and tardiness of ammunition and supply trains caused the
Nationals a severe loss. The supplies finally arrived on the 16th and knowing
he could not stand against the Union general, Johnston fled during the night
hurriedly crossing the Pearl River, burning the bridges behind him. Sherman did
not pursue him far for his chief purpose was to make Vicksburg’s position
secure. For this purpose he broke up the railway in every direction and
destroyed everything in Jackson that could be useful to the foe. The place was
shamefully sacked by the soldiers and the capital of Mississippi, one of the
most beautiful towns in all that region, was totally ruined.)
Monday 20th
Washing some clothes
this afternoon; the scouts brought news of a force of Rebels 30 miles distant
and marching on this place.
Tuesday 21st
Cooking today; all quiet
in camp, company drill.
Wednesday 22nd
Received marching orders
this morning but could not get teams to haul our baggage. Lieut. Courtney
returned.
Thursday 23rd
Up at 2 o’clock this
morning, everything packed up, start off half-past six, pass through Dublin
[KY] 12 o’clock, Mayfield [KY] 6 p.m., marched 22 miles. Camped on a creek,
half-mile from Mayfield, all timbered country. In Mayfield there were several
Union flags waving; the people seemed glad to see us.
Friday 24th
18 miles today. Up by 4
o’clock; get breakfast, load our tents, 7 o’clock all ready, 11 o’clock we
leave, pass through Mayfield, reach Farmington [KY] 2 o'clock, the [illegible]
were holding a caucus; our cavalry took all their horses and. brought them
along, camped on the Black River [KY].
Saturday 25th
Very muddy, marched 9
miles. Been raining all night; ordered to strike tents, the order
countermanded, started at about 11 a.m., arrived at Murray [KY] 3 p.m., town
mostly deserted. A Court House turned into a stable; the Union flag was torn
down this morning by Guerillas, the people are mostly Secesh, camped here, a
nice place, plenty of water.
(Editor’s Note: Secesh - secessionists; confederate sympathizers were
carrying on guerilla warfare against Union troops in their vicinity.)
Sunday 26th
Sunday, good breakfast,
fried bam, onions and chicken. Camped in town [Murray] today. This evening
detailed on picket, 9 contrabands come through the lines.
Monday 27th
Congersville, Tennessee.
22 miles. Relieved this morning at 5 o’clock, Commence our march 7 o’clock
a.m., passed through a small town[2]
in the afternoon. Camped at 3 o’clock 6 miles from Paris [TN]. Commenced a
backward march at 10 p.m., marched 6 miles and camped on a small stream [TN].
Tuesday 28th
3 p.m., great
excitement, pickets fired into by Guerillas, one horse lost. Regt. called out
in line of battle as skirmishers, started our march half past 4 p.m., marched
16 miles, camped at 10 p.m. by a small creek, crossed the Tennessee line back
into Kentucky.
Wednesday 29th
6 miles. Left Camp at 1
p.m., passed through Boydsville [KY] and camped at 4 p.m. by a small branch,
water very bad. Rained all night.
Thursday 30th
12 miles. Left camp 9
a.m., marched through a very hilly country and reached our camping place 3
p.m., two wagons upset; it is raining very hard.
Friday 31st
Left camp at 5 p.m. and
marched 3 miles to Camp Beauregard, passed through Felicianna.
Saturday, August 1st, 1863
At Camp Beauregard,
several deserters came in today from the rebel army.
Wednesday 5th
30 miles. Left Camp
Beauregard on (or?) Gilmore [TN] and passed through Jacksonville where a young
lady played some beautiful music. The weather was extremely hot. I was on
prisoner duty and thus escaped the heat of the ranks, 2/3 of the men gave out;
arrived at Elm (?) City 6 o’clock.
Friday 7th
On private guard, the
cavalry brought some prisoners in.
Sunday 9th
A Cavalry and Inf. Scout
went out and brought in a rebel Adj. (?) and 2 Guerillas.
Tuesday 11th
Relieved of guard this
morning to go on a scout, Co. C and Co. E., Capt. Brown in command. Camped this
morning at an old Mill (?); get supper at Kenton (?) Farm (?), marched 2 miles
after supper, 13 miles today.
Wednesday 12th
30 miles. This morning
commenced our march at 4 a.m., marched to town of Rutherford [TN], found no
Guerillas [illegible] found lots of [illegible] about 1 mile [illegible]
engaged [illegible]
Thursday 13th
Left Rutherford before
daylight, eat breakfast at Ben Harris’s and up on to Kenton [TN]; rested here
an hour or two, marched through the Obine[3]
Bottoms, crossed the river on a ferry and camped about 2 miles over the river
at the house of an old Secesh, marched about 15 miles.
Friday 14th
Started at daylight this
morning, eat breakfast at Troy [TN], marched along and eat dinner at the house
of a Camelite (Campbellite), preaching first, ate dinner -- afterwards, they
have lost 20 niggers since the war broke out; reached Union City [TN] 4 p.m.,
marched 13 miles.
Saturday 15th
Guard inspection this
morning [illegible] to the creek, roads
[illegible] very stiff after the [illegible]
Sunday 16th
Sunday. Chaplain
preached the 2nd time since [illegible]. It’s rained very hard this evening,
very warm.
Tuesday 18th
On picket, the Guerillas
snap (?) [illegible] killing
[illegible]
Saturday 22nd
The weather has been
extremely hot for two weeks. Benjamin F. Collins of Co. H. died today. [Union
City TN]
Sunday 23rd.
On fatigue; this morning
building stable for the Major, this afternoon a man by the name of Roe died of
Co. B. Chaplain preached this evening to a large concentration.
Monday 24th
Attended the funeral of
Chesterfield Roe this afternoon. A great change in the weather; it is cold
enough for overcoats. [Union City TN]
Wednesday 26tn
Detailed on picket last
evening; relieved at 4 p.m. this day, 1 Corp. and 14 men, 2 contraband came in.
Sunday 30th
On picket. 2 Corp. and 9
men. Nothing of importance transpired. Capt. Johnson officer of the Guard.
Countersign Gettysburg parole. Meade.
Monday 31st
Gen. Smith here today
reviewing us. General Inspection by a United States inspecting officer, gave us
fits generally.
Left Camp Beauregard on
the 5th of this month, arrived at Union City the same day. We made one small
scout, passed through two or three towns. Shot one Captain, wounded a
Lieutenant, captured a few Guerillas and returned to Union City after traveling
73 miles. There have been over 2000 people taken the Oath during the month and
a good many joined the home guards. Col. Fox aid Lieut. Courtney have both gone
home. We have taken a good many prisoners during the month.
Friday, September 4th, 1863
3rd Relief 1. J. Allen, Co. E.
2. John Sharer -
3. F. M. Abney -
4. W. Anderson -
5. E. Beckham –
Detailed on guard tonight
to guard prisoners, report of beer attached (?), removed prisoners to Stockade,
over forty prisoners, 2 Capts. and 2 Lieutenants. Capt. Richardson’s sister
here today from Columbus [KY], relieved of guard at 9 o’clock p.m. Col. Fox
left for St. Louis.
Sunday 6th
This morning Chaplain
Newman preached in Camp; he preached in town after dinner. The Chaplain of the
24th preached for us tonight.
Monday 7th
The cars out today the
first time for a week; the Rebel prisoners removed to Columbus.
Wednesday 9th
A man by the name of
Pepperdine died in the Hospital this evening, a member of Co. H.
Friday 11th
Chaplain Newman preached
twice today.
Saturday 12th
Picket guard.
1st
Relief Corp. Armstrong, Co. D
2 Weaver E.
3 Henry F.
Tuesday 15th
General Inspection today
by Lieut. Hanson, Ast. Adj. General
Wednesday 16th
On picket
1st
Relief, Wm. Larrimore,
E. Co.
2nd Aron Petefish
3. J.A. Barr, 24th
Friday l8th
Clearing of the ground
for picnic.
Saturday 19th
On guard at picnic
today, a perfect [illegible], received orders to march with three days rations
tonight, marched through Jacksonville and camped at 12 o’clock p.m., marched 10
miles.
Sunday 20th
Commenced marching at 6
a.m., passed through Dukedom [TN] and camped on a small creek. Cramped (?) all
the horses we could find, marched 20 miles, Capt. Catlin in command.
Monday 21st
Left Camp at 6 a.m., the
men all mounted themselves except thirteen, took several shot guns and rifles
from the [illegible], marched 20 miles. Camped on the [illegible]
Tuesday 22nd
Last night after camping, 13 of us went 7 miles on a scout, captured 1 rebel soldier, one horse and one mule; we left camp this morning at 4 a.m. and met some forces at Bucksnort, from Paducah. We marched on to Paris, a distance of 20 miles; the rebels all skedaddled.
Wednesday 23rd
On Provo Guard at Paris, part of our Regt. and some of the 4th Miss. Cav. went out on a scout this morning, ran the rebels across the Tenn. River.
Thursday 24th
25 miles. Left Camp at Paris this morning, marched on until 12 o’clock when our Co. was fired into; we were [illegible] out in line of battle, continue our march at 2 o’clock, camp at 7; start again at 12 o’clock p.m.
Friday 25th
This morning we made a [illegible] with Co. E & F at Huntsville [TN], about 3 o’clock continue our march at double quick, reach McC(?) Moorfield at 8 a.m., the Rebels six miles ahead of us, camped here all day, marched 15 miles.
Saturday 26th
Left camp this morning at 4 a.m., marched 20 miles and camped on the south [illegible] of the [illegible]
Sunday 27th
Left camp this morning at 1 a.m. (?)[illegible] camped at a Secesh [illegible]
Monday 28th
Took the cars, Ill. Central, at [illegible] 4 p.m., passed through Centralia [TN] , reached Odin [TN] at 2 p.m., changed cars and reached Mitchell [TN] 6 p.m. where we again changed cars from the Ohio and Miss, to the Louisville, Chicago, and St. Louis; left Mitchell at 12 p.m. and reached New Albany 6 a.m., crossed the river to the land and marched from there to Louisville, a distance of 4 miles; caught up with the rest of the Regt. Col. Fox had dress parade this evening.
Wednesday 30th
Still at Louisville, troops come in continually, dress today
[illegible] passed along [illegible]