Sweetman Diary

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 BGCOLOR="#000033" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>The Civil War Diary of Michael Sweetman</B></I></FONT><B>    </B><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U>They Were the 114th O.V.I.</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantrydiary_of_a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="114th OVI History"><U>114th OVI History</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id236.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Dyers"><U>Dyers</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roster"><U>Roster</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Battles"><U>Battles</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4c.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pictures"><U>Pictures</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Honor"><U>Roll of Honor</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vicksburg File"><U>Vicksburg File</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters Home"><U>Letters Home</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Obituary"><U>Obituary</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Descendants"><U>Descendants</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Accolades"><U>Accolades</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hard Tack "><U>Hard Tack </U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bugle Calls"><U>Bugle Calls</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id215.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="New"><U>New</U></A>   |   <A HREF="civil_war_diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moore 1862"><U>Moore 1862</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moore1863"><U>Moore1863</U></A>   |   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Moore 1864"><U>Moore 1864</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id242.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bean Letters"><U>Bean Letters</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id241.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mericle Letters"><U>Mericle Letters</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bowlin Letters"><U>Bowlin Letters</U></A>   |   <B>Sweetman Diary</B>   |   <A HREF="id269.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Diary of Geo. 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Michael Sweetman</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=385 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="0dd622d3.png"> <bR> <div> <I><B><IMG SRC="5d64b480.jpg" border=0 width="75" height="72" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="5d748480.jpg" border=0 width="72" height="72" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">   <IMG SRC="5d847470.jpg" border=0 width="71" height="71" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></div> <div> <I><B>The Civil War Diary of Michael Sweetman  </B></I></div> <div> <I><B>Co. K  114th O.V.I.</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Edited by Johnda T. Davis  </B></div> <div> Originally published by the Pickaway County Historical Society  Summer 1970</div> <bR> <div>      Recently women of the St. .Phillip's Episcopal Church were engaged in clearing out the house on Watt Street, Circleville which had been the home of the last two descendants of Michael A. Sweetman, once an attorney of this city. Among the contents of a desk were diaries and records of MI. Sweetman, which covered his period of service in the Civil War as well as for a few years thereafter. MI. Sweetman was meticulous in detail and gives a graphic picture of the life of the soldier in camp as well as in battle. Both MI. Sweetman and Manly Leiby, whose Civil War letlers home to Williamsport were published in Fall '64 and Spring '66 <U>Quarterlies, </U>were in the 114th 0.V.I. and it is interesting to compare their narratives. </div> <div>      A newspaper clipping found with the Sweetman papers, dated March 22, 1919, stated that M.I. Sweetman died after three months' illness of influenza-pneumonia in his 78<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" >th</FONT> year. . </div> <div>      "The parents of deceased, Michael Sweetman and Mary Howard, were natives of Ireland who emigrated to America, settling at Tarlton, Pickaway County, Ohio, where the subject of this sketch was born on October 4th, 1841; he was educated in the schools of the county and taught school previous to the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, entered the service under the Stars and Stripes in Co. K, 114 O.V.I.; on May 5th, 1875, he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of law in 1881, which profession he followed up to the time of his illness three months since, with the exception of several years when he was deputy county auditor, under the late F. M. Shulze. Deceased was an adept in the making of abstracts of title of real estate." His widow, Elizabeth Dunlap Sweetman and five children survived him. The children were: J. Howard Sweetman, Anne L. Owens, Mary Eakin, James, and Jerome. Howard Sweetman was a county surveyor in this county from his early manhood to his death approximately twenty years ago. Jerome died in Chicago. Mrs. Owens, after many years as a nurse in Chicago, returned to her native city and built the attractive brick home on Watt Street, where she and her brother James were living at the times of their deaths, their sister, Jane, having predeceased them. Michael Sweetman had no grandchildren, and the property of the last sister and brother was bequeathed largely to St. Phillip's Church. All this seems far-removed from the daily jottings of a twenty-two year old soldier in the Civil War.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>JOURNAL OF MICHAEL A. SWEETMAN</B></I></div> <div> <I>Marietta, 0. Nov. 14th, 1862</I></div> <div> <I>  </I><I>As this is the beginning of the first "journal" I have ever kept, it may not be improper to state a few of the incidents which tended to place the writer in his present position as soldier in the Army of the U.S. When the Southern people, with a spirit of ungratefulness which has but few parallels in history, fired on the old flag which had so long protected them and their interests throughout the world, and attempted to destroy the best government on earth, the people of the North rose up to a man and in the words of Jackson declared that: "The Union must and shall be preserved." Several calls were made by the Executive of .the Nation for men and means to preserve the Union and under the call of "Six hundred thousand more" I enlisted and am at this time a member of Co. K, 114th 0. V .1. I enlisted on the 13th of August, 1862, was mustered in on the l0 th of Sept. On the 19th of Sept. the Reg't left Camp Circleville</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>1</B></FONT><I> and went to Marietta. At the time this journal commences, I have just </I><I>returned to camp from home, having been home 8 days.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 15-     Started to Camp Marietta, having been home on an 8-days' furlough where I had a good time. Arrived in camp at 9 P.M. Nothing of interest occurred on the road except cheating the Conductor of his fare. -Nothing new today except being called up to roll call, it being the first time</I></div> <div> <I>for more than a week.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 16 -     A part of the boys started to church today but stopped at the Halleck House.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M, Nov. 17-     This has been a very rainy, disagreeable day. The camp is as muddy as it is possible to be.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 18 -     Still rainy and disagreeable. R. Howard, A. Evans and I were in Marietta today and I got my boots half-soled. R. Howard, P. Ike and I wanted to go to Harmar to a party but could not do "her". </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 19 -     Another rainy day. The camp is very muddy. Gus McAllister ran around this evening barefoot and the rest of us talked of old times and had an argument on the war. C. Cade and M. Leiby are sick.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 20 -     I was on guard today. The day was rainy and unpleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 21 -     I was in Marietta today with R. Brundige, C. Braceland, A. Shank, and G. Parker. The day was the most pleasant there has been this week. This evening a crowd collected around our quarters and wrestled and boxed for some time. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov, 22 -     Co. K went on drill today being the first time for a week. The morning was rather cold.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 23 -     A good many men 'went to Marietta today. Some got drunk and some of the companies fought at the Sigel House. There were about ten men in the guardhouse. Weather clear and rather cold.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 24 -     Today there have been various rumors in camp relative to marching orders. A dispatch was received ordering us t</I><I>o prepare for marching. Some say we are going to Vicksburg and some to Memphis. I suppose there is some truth in the reports and we will know in a few days.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 25 -     This has been a fine day and I spent it in posting accounts for the Captain E.. Marshall, Cy Hunsicker, John Hunsicker and I had a game of "Seven-Up". John and I were winners. Reports of leaving here are becoming more satisfactory. We are to go down the Ohio.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W.Nov.26 -     It snowed considerably today but the weather was not very cold. We expect to leave in a few days.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 27 -     This is Thanksgiving Day, Myself and a good many others were in Marietta today and some of us were very near getting into a fuss with two men, one of whom threatened to shoot, but did not do "her". Tonight there has been a debate and a good deal of gassing on the cause of the war. The debate was a perfect humbug.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 28 -     Today three days' rations were prepared and we are to leave Marietta in the morning for Memphis, which is now understood to be our destination.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 29 -     Left Camp Marietta about 10 A.M. and had gone but a short distance when we discovered the camp to be on fire. Co.'s H, E & K were ordered back and the fire engine came out from town, but not withstanding all ef</I><I>for</I><I>ts the barracks of six cos. on the left were destroyed. The fire originated in the quarters of Co. H. We then marched to the river, got on board the and started down the Ohio. We passed Parkersburgh and several towns and at five o'clock C. Clinch and I made our beds on the hurricane deck near the smoke stack and resigned ourselves to the arms of Morpheus.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 30 -     Waked up much refreshed by my night's rest. Traveled all day and arrived at Cincinnati about 8 P .M. The left wing of the Reg't got on board the Prima Donna and the right aboard the Duke of Argyl. One man of Co. B came near drowning. We made our beds in the engine room which we found to be a comfortable place.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 1 -     Waked up about 5 A.M. and after a good deal of moving about started at 12. When about ten miles from Cin'ti a boy about 17 years of age fell overboard and was drowned. His name was Jacob Cupp and he belonged to Co. H. We passed a good many towns and boats and got to Louisville at 12 at night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 2-     Stayed at Louisville until noon and then started. We went through the canal which took us about two hours. We then passed down the river and when opposite a town in Ind. saw a gunboat in the process of construction. When about 40 miles from Louisville we saw a fort and camp, but did not learn the name. Passed on and at 12 M. we stopped at Cannelton, Ind. for coal.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 3 -     Started from Cannellton at noon and when we had gone 50 miles saw a camp on the Kentucky side of the river .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 4-     About 6 A. M. passed the mouth of the Cumberland River where we saw some forts and the 91st Ind. Vols.. Arrived at Cairo at noon where we stayed a short time and then passed on down the river. Stopped a short time at Columbus, Ky. where we saw the anchors used by the "Rebs." to stretch a chain across the river. About 9 P.M. passed the far-famed Island No. 10.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>2</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 5-     Proceeded down the river, passed Forts Pillow and Randolph and arrived at Memphis at 8 P.M.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 6-     Stayed on the boat until noon and then marched through Memphis about four miles to camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 7-     This day passed without anything of interest. I was detailed as hospital guard and stood four hours Sunday night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 8-     We had the first battalion drill today we have had for some time. It was a poor affair and was reviewed by Col. DeCoursey, our Brigade Commander.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 9-     The first picket guards from our Co. were detailed today. Our camp is called Camp Oliver. We had dress parade today for the first time since we left Marietta.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 10 -     Today passed like most others in camp. We got forty rounds of cartridges to each man. We got three crackers to each man for this day's rations.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 11-     For the first time we were drilled in brigade drill. We were moved through Memphis to Fort Pickering, a distance of eight miles. We were commanded by Col. DeCoursey.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 12 -     Had battalion drill today under command of Col. DeCoursey.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 13 -     Had brigade drill under DeCoursey and were reviewed by Gen. W. T. Sherman. Nine regiments of Sherman's Division came to camp today H. and Orderly had a little breeze today but it did not amount to much.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 14 -      I was in Memphis today but did not see much of the city. In the evening it rained a little and K. and I undertook to draw from the commissary but could not do "her".</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 15 -     K and I went to Memphis and got some bread and cheese. This has been a wet disagreeable day. Some of the men went to Memphis for sleeping quarters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 16 -     Detailed for guard today but "played off'. Had general inspection and review by Gen. Sherman. Were ordered to have three day's cooked rations in our haversacks by 7 o'clock of the 17th.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 17 -     Had a part of our rations ready but did not go. Packed our dress coats to send them home.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 18 -     Today a man of the 1st Wis. Battery was injured by the premature discharge of a cannon. We had battalion drill and got along rather poorly.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 19 -     The day passed without anything of interest. Late this evening we got orders to have everything ready and be on the field ready to march at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 20 -     Went out for inspection at 8 A.M. Returned to camp and at 12 N. started for Memphis. Arrived there and got on board the steamboat Henry Von Phul. Started down the river at midnight. Passed Fort Pickering with its frowning battlements and bristling cannon and stopped at Helena, Ark. about daylight. On the way down the boys went for the sutler and took about $100 worth.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 21-     Stayed at Helena till dark and then started down the river. After going about twelve miles one of the boats was fired into at Pryor's Point, Miss.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>3</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I> </I></FONT><I> While at Helena I saw Alf Leist and some other boys of the 58th Ohio.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 22 -     A part of the troops landed at Pryor's Point and burned five houses. We then proceeded on our journey. About dusk two guns were fired from the Arkansas shore at our boat, doing no damage but causing a grand skedaddle. We went a mile further and tied up for the night on the Miss. side. I was sent out for picket.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 23 -     Went back to where we were fired into and destroyed a good deal of property but did not catch the men. Proceeded on our way and stopped for the night on the Louisiana shore.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 24 -     Started on the way and went about twenty miles down the river and stopped for wood. Here some of us went foraging and I got some molasses and sweet potatoes. Went on and about midnight stopped at Milliken's Bend, thirty miles from Vicksburg.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 25 -     Remained at Milliken's Bend all day, Some of the boys of the 58th O.V.I. came on board our boat. It was a very dull Christmas and very unlike those I had spent at home.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 26 -     Started this morning with a fleet of boats up the Yazoo, When about twenty miles up we landed and two or three regiments went out and had a little brush with the enemy. No one lost on our side and nothing gained. I heard a shell fired for the first time.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 27-     Left the river and marched about a mile and bivouacked for the night. There was some fighting in front.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 28-     Today the 114th 0. V .1. went into battle for the first time. We were marched in front of a battery and had several men killed and wounded. </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>4</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 29 -    Today we were marched in front of the enemy and fired about fifteen rounds. Serg't Holtsman and T. Morecraft were wounded. A Brigade charged on the Rebel works but was repulsed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 30 -     Did nothing today except watching the enemy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 31 -     Today a flag of truce was sent out to get permission to bury our dead. While it was out I went over and saw some of the Rebs" who did a good deal of talking but it did not amount to much. In the evening about sundown we changed our position, moving farther to the left. This closes the year 1862. One year ago I was contented and happy but where shall I be one year hence? God alone knows. </I></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>1863</I></div> <div> <I>T. Jan. 1-     The glorious New Year opened bright and glorious. We of the 114th O.V.I. lay in the woods opposite the Rebel works until ten o'.clock at night when we were called up and started for the boat on which we got a short time before daylight. I hope my next New Year may be passed at home in peace and happiness.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Jan. 2-     Remained on board the boat Pembina until the "Rebs". came close enough to fire on us when we cut loose and started, leaving the "Rebs." to the tender mercies of the gunboats, which soon made them "scud". Moved on down the Yazoo and a short distance up the Mississippi and tied up. James Davis of Co. K did this evening.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 3-     The boats moved up the river about thirty miles and stopped. It rained heavily all day and the weather was cold and disagreeable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 4-     The boats remained in the same place nearly all day. Nothing of interest occurred during the day.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Jan. 5-     Moved a short distance up the river. Nothing new, strange or startling occured during the day.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 6-     We moved a short distance up the river and stopped all day and night. During the night Thomas Morecraft of Co. K died on board the Von Phul from the effects of a wound received at Chickasaw Bluffs Dec. 29th 1862.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Jan. 7-     Remained at the same place until night and then moved up the Mississippi to the mouth of the White river</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 8-     Remained at the mouth of the White river all day. Nothing of interest occurred.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. J an. 9-     The fleet passed up the White river and passed through the cut-off into the Arkansas river, which we ascended about thirty miles and stopped at Fletcher's Landing.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 10-     The Brigade to which the 114th belongs left the boats and started in search of the enemy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 11-     The gunboats and land forces attacked the fort known as Arkansas Post and after a good deal of hard fighting took the place a short time before sundown, capturing five thousand prisoners, a large quantity of commissary stores, arms and ammunition. The 114th was not engaged in the fight.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Jan. 12 -     Nothing done today except a little moving around by the boats. The prisoners were placed on boats preparatory to moving them north.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 13-     Today I was detailed for picket and in company with several others stood about half a day awaiting orders. We were then dismissed. It rained heavily all day and I felt anything but pleasant. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Jan. 14 -      Companies F, Hand K left the Pembina and went on board the Lady Jackson which is for the time being the headquarters of Gen'l Osterhaus.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 15-     Remained at the same place all day. It snowed all the time and was extremely cold and disagreeable. During last night several of the boys had their knapsacks stolen.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Jan. 16 -      Nothing of importance done today. Towards evening we dropped down the river about a mile and tied up for the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 17-     Passed down the Arkansas river to the Mississippi and stopped at Napoleon. Saw some boys of the 30th 0. V .I. but none of whom I was acquainted.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 18-     Moved down the Mississippi a short distance and stopped at an island to get wood. Seven men of our Company deserted at Napoleon, namely: L. Morgan, W. Heft, A. Evans, P. Larkin, T . Plummer, W. Fisher and J. Niebaur.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Jan.19 -     Paul Ike and I went ashore and the boat left before we could get to her. However the boat Iowa soon came and stopped at the same place and we got on board of her. At this Island ( 82 ) several men of the 114th deserted.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 20-     Moved down about twenty miles on the Iowa and came to where the ~ Jackson was tied up. We then got on board and were glad to see the boys who thought we had gone.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. J an. 21 -     Passed down the river and stopped at Milliken's Bend.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 22 -     Went up the river a mile and got a load of wood.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Jan. 23 -     Left the boat and went up half a mile and encamped. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S.</I><I> Jan. 24~ Done nothing today of importance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 25-     R. A. Howard, myself and several others went on board the Lady Jackson as guards and went down the river. H. and I eat our beef and hard crackers  in sight of Vicksburg.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Jan. 26 -     Today we buried C. Clinch, a member of Co. K at Young's Point, La.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 27-     Detailed as picket guard and went about a mile from camp. H. were together and talked of old times.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Jan. 28 -     Put in a part of the day as picket and then went to camp. Nothing of interest occurred during our absence.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Jan. 29 -     This morning we heard the roar of cannon in the direction of Vicksburg but could not tell the exact point. Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Jan. 30 -     Nothing new in camp today. In the evening I was detailed for reserve picket and stayed out all night along with Captain Evans.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Jan. 31-     This closes the month of January .  I t was a dull day and appropriately closed a month of darkness and gloom.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 1-     E. Whisler came to camp from his home in Ohio, C. Cade returned from a trip up the river along with the sick and wounded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Feb. 2-     I was detailed for fatigue duty and went and worked on a levee south of our camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 3-     There was a rather sharp frost last night. Besides this nothing worth mentioning occurred.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Feb. 4-     Rainy and extremely disagreeable to day which compelled me to stay close to the tent.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 5-     Detailed for fatigue duty and worked on the levee one mile above camp. It did not amount to much as the water raised as fast as the levee.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Feb. 6-     This morning there was a considerable frost, but it became warm and pleasant during the day. Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 7-     Nothing new, strange or startling occurred to break the ordinary dullness of our camp. Weather warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 8-     H. and I went to the river today to hear some news but heard nothing. We looked at the raging Mississippi and wondered what the good people of a little town up in Ohio were at that time doing?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Feb. 9-     Detailed for fatigue duty but did very little. Weather- warm. River still rising.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 10 -     The weather today was warm and pleasant, but nothing new occurred to relieve the dullness of the camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Feb. 11 -     Today H. and I went to the river but heard no news. In the evening I did an hour's fatigue and H. and I went back to the river and saw about twenty men arrested for abusing a sutler .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 12 -     Rainy and disagreeable with nothing of interest occurring to relieve the dull monotony.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Feb. 13 -     Went on fatigue in place of A. J. Hoagland and worked on levee one mile above camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 14 -     Valentine's Day but in place of valentines we had battalion drill under General Osterhaus who praised our performance. During the night we had rain and heavy thunder .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 15 -     Today the 114th 0. 3rd Ky. and 49th Ind. got on board the Forest Queen and went down to work on the canal but on account of bad weather did nothing. The river rose three inches during the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Feb. 16 -     Rained heavily all day and we therefore did nothing more than was really necessary.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 17 -     Rained so much that a part of us left our tent and took refuge in an old shed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Feb. 18 -     Did nothing of importance today. Cloudy with a little rain.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 19 -     Today- the 114th went to work on the canal. I did not go. Weather clear and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Feb. 20 -     Weather warm and pleasant and nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 21 -     Today there was a thunderstorm and the lightning struck a tree not far from our Major's tent and also shocked a man in the 49th Ind. Volunteers.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 22 -     The 114th worked on the canal. The gunboats and batteries fired a salute in honor of Washington's birthday. Weather warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Feb. 23 -     Nothing of importance occurred today. Warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 24-     Today the right wing of the regiment worked on the canal. Weather warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Feb. 25 -     The left wing of the regiment worked on the canal today. In the evening there was a heavy thunder storm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Feb. 26 -     Rained all day almost without interruption. Nothing new or strange in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Feb. 27 -     Detailed for picket and started at 12 N. Stationed about a mile from camp. Cloudy and warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Feb. 28 -     Stood picket till noon and then returned to camp. Nothing new occurred during my absence.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. March 1 -     The left wing worked on the canal today. I did not go. Colonel Cradlebaugh arrived in the evening. A meeting was held and a good many of the officers made speeches and told a good many lies.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M March 2 -     Company K was ordered on a boat to go up the river to cut cane but for some reason the boat did not go. Weather warm and river rising.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. March 3 -     Company K got on board the </I><I>Fanny Bullit</I><I>t and went up the river three miles to Pawpaw Island to cut cane.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. March 4 -     Cut cane till noon then came back to camp. River still rising. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. March 5 -     The 114th finished its portion of the canal today. I was sick all day and did not leave camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. March 6 -     I did not feel well today and consequently did nothing. During the night there was heavy rain with thunder and lightning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. March 7 -     Today the 114th got orders to have everything packed and be at the river at daylight the next morning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. March 8 -     Got on board the boat </I><I>Spread Eagle</I><I> and about three o'clock started up the river to Milliken's Bend. In the evening a storm arose and we had to remain all night on the boat and I almost froze.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. March 9 -     Today the regiment went into camp. I felt rather sick and did nothing but get a few boards for a bed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. March 10 -     Sick all day and did nothing. My journal is here broken off as for the next fifteen days I was delirious and at one time my life was despaired of, but through the blessing of God and the efforts of kind friends, especially E. Marshall and G. Owens, I recovered my reason and health.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. March 25-      I again resume my journal after an interval of fifteen days, during which time I was sick and delirious. To God and kind friends my thanks are due for the change I have undergone in health during the last few days. Weather warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. March 26-      Improved a good deal in health. Weather warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. March 27 -     Answered to roll call for the first time in fifteen days. The officers and men had a game of football. Cloudy but rather warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. March 28 -     Went out on the levee today and saw Gen'l. Ellet's fleet of Guerilla boats. Health some better .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. March 29 -     Today I saw J. W. Schoch, an old schoolmate of mine who is now in the Marine Brigade and belongs on board the Autocrat. He looks well. Weather cold and disagreeable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. March 30-      Nothing new today. Weather cool to be pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. March 31 -     today passed without anything of interest and closes the month of March, 1863.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 1 -     All Fools Day and I poor fool, am in the army and encamped at Mil1iken's Bend. The weather was warm and my</I></div> <div> <I>health is considerably improved.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 2 -     Went to the hospital as usual this morning. The day was warm and pleasant.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. April 3 -     Spent the day, which was warm and pleasant in selling lemonade in co-partnership with E. Marshall.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 4 -     Weather warm and pleasant. Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 5 -     Today I was assigned to convalescent hospital. I spent apart of the day making out descriptive rolls. Our reg't. started on a march to Richmond, La. leaving the sick behind. P. Ike, E. Marshall and myself came near being arrested as deserters for leaving the hospital. This is Easter Sunday, but how unlike some others I have passed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 6      Spent the day very pleasantly on the hospital grounds.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 7 -     Today P. Ike and I made two trips to the Sutlers </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>6</B></FONT><I> and got some stuff on which we made a little money.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 8 -     Nothing new today. P. lke, C. Cade and I went again to the sutlers.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 9 -     Heavy firing was heard in the vicinity of Vicksburg but we were unable to ascertain the cause.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. April 10 -     C. Cade and I went to the boat </I><I>Minnehaha</I><I> and got some bread.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 11 -     The day passed without anything of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 12 -     Today we were reviewed by Adj. Gen'l. Thomas. Rainy and disagreeable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 13 -     P. Ike and I went to the sutlers today and had a big "bust". Weather rainy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 14 -     C. Cade and I went to the woods and got some honey from a bee tree.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 15 -     This morning C. Cade and I got some honey which we sold for $2.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 16 -     C. Cade and I went down to a pond where we saw a very large fish but could not get it.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. April 17 -     Last night there was heavy firing at Vicksburg caused by the gunboats and transports running the blockade. I have not heard the result. E. Marshall, C. Cade and I started to the reg't. and at the time of writing this are five miles from the hospital in a farmhouse.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 18 -     Left our quarters and marched about six miles and at 2 P.M. stopped in what had once been a tavern on the line of the railroad. Devastation marked the way. During our stay there was a heavy thunder storm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 19 -     This morning some artillery men came along with some mules and we got to ride fifteen miles. We passed the home of the Rebel Gen'l. Holmes. We over- took apart of the reg't. a little before dark on the bank of a bayou and stopped for the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 20 -     This morning we crossed the bayou and came up with the reg't. We then went to Carthage and after resting a short time went on about four miles to the plantation of Judge Perking which we found in a state of ruin. We are now on the site of an old Rebel camp and entirely out of "grub."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T . April 21 -     Spent the day in camp without any- thing of special interest transpiring. Weather cloudy with some rain.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 22 -      Nothing new in camp. At 8 P.M. we got orders to be ready to march in twenty minutes but for some reason we did not go.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 23 -     This morning we got on a barge but we were not taken down the river as we expected. We stayed on the boat till evening and then went back to camp. During the night five transports ran the blockade at Vicksburg. One of them came down in a sinking condition.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. April 24 -     Nothing of interest occurred in camp today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 25 -     This morning the 114th 0., 49th Ind., two Cos. of cavalry and a section of Lamphere's Battery left camp and marched ten miles to Lake St. Joseph. We had a bridge to build across a bayou.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 26 -     Moved on and came in sight of a small</I></div> <div> <I>party of "Rebs." who fled at our approach and a few shots from our guns.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 27 -     This day was spent in building a bridge across a bayou.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 28 -     Today we started out and when about a mile from camp heard Rebel cannon. Our forces went back about five miles and fired a few shots when the "Rebs." skedaddled. As I had no gun I remained with the knapsacks.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 29 -     Marched to the river and got on boats to go to Grand Gulf which the gun- boats were bombarding. Left the boats at 3 P.M. and marched three miles down the river .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 30 -     Got on the boats which run past Grand Gulf last night and went down the river to Bruinsburg where we landed. Marched nearly twenty miles during the night and at three A.M. started up the enemy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. May 1-     Today there was a hard-fought battle in which the Union troops were victorious, taking a large number of prisoners. The 114th made a grand charge and was complimented by Gen'l. Osterhaus. In Co. K we had one man wounded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 2-     Marched to Port Gibson today and encamped for the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 3-     Marched twelve miles and encamped at a place called Willow Springs.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. May 4-     Stayed in camp all day without any thing of interest occuring. In the evening I was detailed for picket.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 5-     Remained in the same place till sun down when we started and marched ten miles to the town of Rocky Springs.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. May 6-     Stayed at Rocky Springs all day. Co. K on picket.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 7-     Remained at the same place until noon and then marched about seven miles and encamped. Weather cloudy and rather cool.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. May 8-     Stayed in camp where nothing of interest occurred.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 9-     Today the Division was reviewed by Gen'l. Grant. Weather warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 10-     Left camp at 8 A.M. and marched ten miles and went into camp. Nobe Brundige, myself and some others killed a hog.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. May 11 -Remained in camp all day. Part of Sherman's Division passed us and took the front.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 12 -     The 114th were rear guard today. We marched ten miles and camped in a cornfield.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. May 13 -     Marched all day and part of the night and arrived at Raymond, Hinds County, Miss.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 14 -     Stayed in Raymond all day and received several papers from home. Heavy rain all day.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. May 15 -     Marched eight miles from Raymond, formed in line of battle and slept by our arms. Our pickets were fired on in the evening.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 16 -     Moved up about five miles where we met the "Rebs.", estimated at 40,000. We had a severe battle in which the Union troops were victorious and the proud hosts of "Secessia " were completely routed. We pursued them to Edwards Depot where we stopped for the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 17 -     Moved on to the Rebel works at Black River from which we drove the Rebs at 11 A.M. They retreated across the river and burned the bridge. In the charge the 114th was exposed to a heavy fire and had four men killed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. May 18 -     Crossed the river and moved on towards Vicksburg arid stopped six miles from town in an old rebel camp. T. May 19 -Moved up close to the works and were fired on by shell and grape by the Rebs. E. Whisler of Co. K was struck by a piece of shell but not seriously injured.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. May 20 -     This day was spent in sharpshooting on both sides. J_____ of Co.__  was killed by a sharpshooter this morning. No one was hurt in the Reg't during the day. </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>7</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 21 -     The 114th went up towards the works to support the sharpshooters in case of a Rebel charge. I trained during the day and we got very wet. In the evening we returned to our old stopping place. The sharpshooters prevented the Rebels from working their guns.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. May 22 -     A general charge was made by our whole line with very little gain on our side. Col. Cradlebaugh was badly wounded. A good many men in the reg't were wounded and killed. Among the latter were G. Towers and T. Parker, two of the best soldiers in Co. K.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 23 -     This day was spent in sharpshooting and cannonading. There were four men in the Reg't. wounded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 24 -     Today we moved our camp a short distance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. May 25 -     The 114th was ordered to Warrenton and got there at 4 P.M.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 26 -     Stayed at Warrenton all day. B. Schoff of Co. A was killed while out foraging.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. May 27 -     The day was spent in camp without anything of interest occurring.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 28 -     Today I was on picket and wrote several letters. Weather warm and musketoes plenty.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. May 29 -     Stayed in camp today. Nothing of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 30 -     Today was like most others in camp, rather dull. Our mess made a seine and caught some fish.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 31-     Today the 60th Ind. Reg't. came here from Perkins' Landing, having been chased by the "Rebs."</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. June 1-     J.T. Parrett and I bought some canned fruit and had a good time generally.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 2-     More pleasant as it rained a little last night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. June 3-     I did not feel well and was excused by the surgeon.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 4-     Nothing new in camp. Weather warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>June 5-     Two large guns were taken from the gunboat Tuscumbia at this place.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 6-     Weather warm. Co. K was sent out as reserve picket in the evening. I got sick during the night and returned to camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 7-     Heard firing at Young's Point and it was reported that our forces captured 3000 Rebels. Weather extremely warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. June 8-     Various rumors reached here relative to the fight at Milliken's Bend. None as satisfactory as the first report.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 9-     A large number of nigger women and children came in on the boats from Grand Gulf.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. June 10 -     S. Brundige and I went out about four miles for blackberries. We got a few and saw two or three good-looking women.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 11 -     During last night there was a heavy rain with thunder and lightning and the day was cool and pleasant on that account.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. June 12 -     Nothing strange in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 13 -     Nothing new, strange or startling happened.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 14 -     Today I was detailed and sent to guard a "corral" of mules.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. June 15 -     A Brigade of Eastern troops crossed the river to this side and shortly after recrossed. Heavy firing was heard in the direction of Vicksburg and reports came that the place had surrendered, which proved to be false. I won 25 cts. from J. Hoagland on the report.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 16 -     Dull and uninteresting as most days are in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. June 17 -     Detailed for guard and watched mules all day. A scouting party went two miles down the river. Saw no "Rebs" but got apples, pears, etc.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 18 -     Without much interest, this day passed. A mail came but I got no letters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. June 19 -     Wrote a letter today. Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 20 -     Dull and uninteresting, the day passed a good deal like its predecessors.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 21 -     The Sabbath Day but how little it is respected in the army. What is now going on in Williamsport?</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. June 22 -     I got some berries and made pies. For the first time in my life I ate roasting ears in June.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 23 -     There was nothing to relieve the monotony of camp today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. June 24 -     Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 25 -     Did nothing today except baking a few biscuits.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. June 26 -     Played a little "seven up" with some of the boys and got seven glasses of beer and paid for four .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 27 -     Detailed as camp guard and got along very well.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. June 28 -     Without much of interest this Sabbath Day passed.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. June 29 -     This morning at 3 o'clock we were called in line. The cause was a report that 1500 mounted infantry had crossed Black river .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. June 30 -     Did nothing but loaf around camp. We were mustered for pay.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. July 1-     Nothing new today except a little fight between J. T. Parrett and M. S. Leiby.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>8</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#660000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I><B>  </B></I></FONT><I>Neither were hurt. I made some biscuits.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 2-     Went out to a picket post to trade for some things brought in by the country people. Got a few cucumbers and saw</I></div> <div> <I>a very strong but honest Secesh woman.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. July 3-     This night at twelve o'clock if Vicksburg is not surrendered I win half a dollar from C. Cade. I won the money.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 4-     The Glorious Fourth, the anniversary of the birthday of a nation. It was made still more glorious and memorable by the surrender of Vicksburg. I was detailed for guard duty. E. Whisler , one of the best men in Co. K died and was buried, making three men from the Reg't in one day.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 5 -     Went to the hospital and got a pill and some check powders. In the afternoon I wrote several letters.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>9</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. July 6-     The day was spent in making preparations for leaving this point.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 7-     Slept nearly all day from the effects of opium.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. July 8-     Dull and uninteresting in camp. Nothing to stir the almost stagnant blood in one's veins. Weather warm and sultry.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 9-     Another day passed and another short twenty-four hours added to the list of time I have served in the Union Army.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. July 10 -     Large numbers of "Rebs" from Vicksburg who have been paroled passed through here on their way to their distant homes in Louisiana and Texas.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 11-     Passed outside of the picket lines and got corn, peaches, and tomatoes. The "Rebs" still continue to pass through here on their way home. Happy fellows! Going to see home and friends once more.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 12-     Still more of the paroled defenders of Vicksburg passed through Warrenton today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. July 13 -     Nothing new today. In the evening the steamboat Omaha came down and a part of the articles at this post were put aboard.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 14 -     This morning the 114th got aboard the Omaha, started to Vicksburg and got there a little before noon. A. J. Hoag- land and I got off the boat and went through the town, which proved to be a hard old place.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. July 15 -     Went to town with C. Cade and also went to view the Rebel works at the upper end of the city.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 16 -     M. Leiby and I went to the works back of the town and saw where the 114th made the charge on the memorable 22nd of May.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. July 17 -     I was detailed for guard and performed the duty assigned me.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 18 -     Today the Reg't. was paid which brings our payment up to July 1.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 19 -     Detailed for guard. Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. July 20 -     I did nothing except going a mile to a sutler's for some cheese.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 21 -     I along with most of the Reg't. was detailed for fatigue but I did very little work. I t is the second anniversary of the battle of Bull Run and the Union Army is in better condition than it was on the evening of July 21st 1861.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. July 22 -     The regiment again went to work at the hospital.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 23 -     Again on fatigue but did very little. Sam Brundige and I bet $5.00 on a certain passage in Kulp's letter which appeared in Circleville Union last Spring.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. July 24-     Today I slipped off from fatigue. Saw John Row of the 58th O.V.I. now on the gunboat </I><I>Great Western</I><I>.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 25 -     On guard today. At 4 P.M. the reg't. moved down the river one mile to where the Division was encamped. At 9 :35 P .M. Joe T. Parrett, one of the best men in the Co. breathed his last. Poor Joe! We did you adieu in this world hoping to meet you in abetter . His parents live in Williamsport, Ohio.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. July 26 -     Today we consigned the body of poor Joe to the silent dust. We buried him near the river a short distance below the Vicksburg Foundry and placed a board on which his name was cut at his head to mark the resting place of as noble a man as ever fell in his country's cause. During the night it rained heavily.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. July 27 -     Today we were told that 5% of the regiment was entitled to furlough. There were two in our Co. We drew cuts and the lucky ones were G. Leist and J. Baughman.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 28 -     S. Brundige and I went to town and Sam got so sick he could scarcely get back. In the evening it rained.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. July 29 -     Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. July 30 -     J. Baughman and G. Leist got their furloughs and started home. There was a mail and I got a letter and two papers.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. July 31 -     On Brigade guard and wrote two letters. Weather extremely warm.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 1-     On guard till noon, then relieved. In the afternoon it clouded up but rained little.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 2 -     Today I went to the Catholic Church in Vicksburg. There was a tolerably large congregation, mostly Yankee soldiers. In the evening an old mill which was occupied by "Nigs" burned down. It is said that two live and two dead negroes were burned.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Aug. 3-     E. Morgan and I got a pass, went to town but saw nothing.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 4-     Went down the river one mile to the Marine Fleet. Saw J. W. Schoch who looked well. In the evening there was a mail and I got three letters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Aug. 5-     The </I><I>T. J. Pattin</I><I>, a Muskingum river boat which used to pass our camp at Marietta, passed here today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 6-     I was on dress parade, being the first time for me since we left Memphis. There were about 50 minutes on parade.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Aug. 7-     Detailed for guard and sent with four men to the Division of Commissary.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 8-     Stayed on guard till noon and then came to camp. In the evening the First Brigade of Osterhaus' Division started down the river .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 9-     Went to church today. There was a good congregation, mostly soldiers, some citizens and a few good-looking ladies.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Aug. 10 -     Detailed for guard, but not being present, C. Morehart went in my place, for which I paid him 25 cnts. and promised to go in his place.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 11 -     Went to haul rations in place of C. Morehart. In the afternoon went to the landing for ice. Had inspection by Capt's. Foster and Milligan.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Aug. 12 -     A good many names were taken for sick furloughs but for some reason they were not approved.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 13 -     The first anniversary of my enlistment Four of Co. K got furloughs viz. S. Brundige, R. Brundige, W. Manly and J. Bowsher. The regiment got aboard the Marine boat </I><I>Diana</I><I> and about dark started down the river .</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CORRELATION OF TIMES AND PLACES IN THE DIARY</B></div> <div> The editor has marked two maps with numerals to indicate the spots mentioned in the Diary. Map A is copied from "Never Call Retreat" by Bruce Cat ton. It shows the events from the time Sweetman enlisted (N 0. I) till the 114th reached Helena, Miss. (N 0. 8). Map B is copied from Map 134 in the Atlas of American History, James Truslow Adams, editor. It is numbered from No.6 when the boats reached Memphis through No.25, the last entry for this portion of the</div> <div> diary.</div> <div> I. Enlisted Aug. 13, mustered Sept. 10, 1862. At Camp Circleville until Sept. 19, 1862.</div> <div> 2. At Marietta Sept. 19- Nov. 29. Down Ohio river by boat.</div> <div> 3. Arrived Cincinnati Nov. 30.</div> <div> 4. At Louisville Dec. 1.</div> <div> 5. At Cairo Dec. 4. Near Cairo was a major Union navy yard.</div> <div> 6. Passed Island No.10 and reached Memphis Dec. 5.</div> <div> 7. Moved eight miles from Memphis to Fort Pickering. Encamped here from Dec. 11 to Dec. 20.</div> <div> 8. Back up the Mississippi to Helena on boat Dec. 21.</div> <div> 9. Friar's Point is the correct name for Pryor's Point where Sweetman says their boat was fired on Dec. 21 and where five houses were burned in retaliation on Dec. 22.     .</div> <div> 10. Back down the river to Milliken's Bend Dec. 24. 11. The 114th moved up the Yazoo river and took part in the battle of Chickasaw Bluffs Dec. 29.</div> <div> 12. Having failed at Chickasaw Bluffs and Hayne's Point, the regiment moved back down the Yazoo to Milliken's Bend, then up the Mississippi above Vicksburg Jan. 3.</div> <div> 13. Still proceeding north up the Mississippi, the boats reached the mouth of the White river J an. 7 & 8, 1863.</div> <div> 14. Boats passed up the White river, through the cutoff to the Arkansas river, which they ascended for</div> <div> thirty miles, J an. 9-10.</div> <div> 15. Successful attack on Arkansas Post J an. 17.</div> <div> 16. Back down the Arkansas to the Mississippi, then down again to Milliken's Bend.</div> <div> 17. Arrived at the Bend Jan. 21. Worked here on canal above Mil1iken's Bend until April 17.</div> <div> 18. In camp between Vicksburg and New Carthage April 20 -29.</div> <div> 19. Passed through Grand Gulf to Bruinsburg April 30. 20. Victorious encounter with "Rebs" May 1.</div> <div>      21. Marching and camping en route to Raymond, Mississippi, south and east of Vicksburg. Arrived there May 13.</div> <div> 22. Battle of Black River Bridge May 17. The regiment is approaching Vicksburg from the east, having made a half-circle from the west side of the Mississippi down to Bruinsburg, then overland north on the east side of the river .</div> <div> 23. Charge and fighting at Vicksburg May 22-24.</div> <div> 24. Moved down the river to new camp at Warrenton, Miss. a few miles south of Vicksburg. Stayed here until July 14 when returned to Vicksburg.</div> <div> 25. Left Vicksburg to go down the Mississippi August 13.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="62d7b1e0.jpg" border=0 width="635" height="798" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Map A</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="62f7b1e0.jpg" border=0 width="635" height="798" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>MAP B</B></div> <bR> <div> Part II of the Sweetman Diaries covers the period from mid-August to the end of 1863. After the fall of Vicksburg the 13th Army Corps, of which the 114th OVI was a part, was sent by General Grant along with other units to report to General Banks in New Orleans. The 13th was under the command of General Ord. At conferences in New Orleans between Admiral Farragut, General Banks and others of the Department of the Gulf, it was decided that the next offensive should be against Mobile, Ala. However before they could get started on their plan of action "for reasons avowedly political rather than military", the Government in Washington ordered instead an attempt to plant the flag at some point in Texas.</div> <div> In Battles and Leaders of the Civil War , Vol. IV , p. 346, we find the explanation for the seemingly aimless and frustrating experience of the 13th Army Corps during the months of September, October and most of November. Like the army in the old nursery rhyme, they simply walked up the hill and down again. General Banks at once concentrated his troops on (Bayou) Teche for an attempt by moving directly west across the prairie by way of Niblett's Bluff. However , it did not take long to realize that to march an army three hundred miles across a barren country , with no water in summer and fall, and plenty of water but no road in the winter and spring, was really not to be thought of, especially when the column would have to guard against an active enemy on its flank and rear during the march and to meet and overcome another at its end."</div> <div>      In September an effort to broach Texas coast by</div> <div> sea had failed miserably at Sabine Pass. Now that marching overland west from the Teche country had bogged down, General Banks resolved to try again by sea. The 13th Army Corps was selected for an attempt at Brazos Santiago at the mouth of the Rio Grande. As Sweetman reported they encountered a severe "norther" in the Gulf, in which men, animals and transports suffered greatly. The 114th did not participate in the fighting which drove the Rebel forces to retreat to the mainland. Sweetman's "outfit" continued its monotonous routine in camp -picket and guard duty, drill and dress parade.</div> <div>      The editor has made no effort to condense the diary. Only by reading the successive entries of "nothing new or interesting happened in camp today" can one appreciate the boredom and frustration of the common soldier, who did not know where he was going, or when, or why. It is surprising that morale was as high as it seems to have been at least Michael Sweetman does not seem to question or complain.</div> <div> Part I of the diaries concluded with the regiment going on board the Diana 1. to proceed down the Missisippi. They had participated victorious battle for Vicksburg in May and since that time had been in one or another of the camps in that area.</div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Aug. 14 -     At 8 A.M. arrived at Natchez, the nicest town I have seen since I left Ohio. Bought some watermelons and got a drink of good spring water. Left Natchez at noon. At 5 P.M. a barge which the Baltic was towing was broken in on by waves and partially sunk. Tied up on the Miss. side and removed the freight to the Diana's barge.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 15 -     Started on our journey at daylight. Passed Port Hudson, Baton Rouge, Donaldsville and several other towns and at 9 P.M. stopped at Carrollton, 8 miles above New Orleans.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 16 -     The Reg't disembarked at noon and moved I Y2 miles on the famous Shell Road and went into camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Aug. 17 -     Today fixed up our tent. G. Parker and I went into Carrollton in the evening. Weather rainy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 18 -     E. Morgan and I went to the outskirts of New Orleans. 2.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Aug. 19 -     Nothing of importance except a great deal of rain. In the evening I was detailed for guard and went with three men to the depot at Carrollton to guard some wood.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 20 -     Relieved at 3 P.M. and returned to camp. As usual it rained today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Aug. 21 -     This evening R. Hinton, A. J. Hoagland and I went to Carrollton and from there to Lake Pontchartrain where we took a salt water bath and then a supper at a restaurant, for which we paid 40 cts. each. Maj. Lynch came to the reg't and brought a 2nd Lieut. commission for R. L. Row.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 22 -     This day one year ago I was at a war meeting in Gregg's Woods.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>3</B></FONT><I>  and today I am with the remnant of the 114th. at Carrollton, La. The .13th Army Corps was reviewed by Gen'l. Banks.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>4</B></FONT><I>. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 23 -     R. L. Row, H. Kulp, A. Getz and myself went to New Orleans and oysters, beer etc.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Aug. 24 -     A. Hinton, E. Morgan and I went to town and I left my watch at a jeweler's to be repaired.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 25 -     I went to town this morning and got my watch. In the evening E. Morgan, J. Hoagland, R. Hinton and I went to town but saw nothing of importance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Aug. 26 -     Stayed in camp and therefore saw nothing of importance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Aug. 27 -     Detailed for camp guards. and got 3rd relief.</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>F. Aug. 28 -     Came off guard at 8 A.M. and G. Parker, R. Hinton, J. Hoagland and I went to New Orleans. Parker and Hinton had a pass and Jack and I came near going to the guard-house for want of one.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 29 -     The 13th Army Corps was again reviewed by Gen 'I. Banks. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Aug. 30 -     R. Hinton and I went to Carrollton but saw nothing interesting. </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Aug. 31 -     C. Cade started home, having been discharged. I sent a letter and a few things with him. Was detailed for guard. In the evening got orders to be ready to march.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 1-     Came off guard at 8 A.M. Orderly Blair, E. Needham, J. Hoagland and I went to Carrollton in the evening.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Sept. 2 -     Stayed in camp all day and consequently saw nothing of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 3-     Today passed with very little of interest. There was a mail and I got three letters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Sept. 4 -     Today the 13th Army Corps was reviewed by Gen'l Grant. In the evening Gen'l Grant's horse threw and severely injured him. 6. We got orders to march tomorrow.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 5-     Our marching order was countermanded and in the evening we got orders to be ready to march which were again countermanded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 6-     At 6 A.M. the 4th brigade started, marched to Carrollton and got on board the Atlantic, went down and landed at Algiers where we took the cars for Brashear City. I had a position on top of a car along with a part of Co. K. We saw two women along the road who were decidedly Union. At 12 Noon we stopped and got off the cars at Bayou Boeuf 8 miles from Brashear City.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Sept. 7 -     Moved one mile from the railroad and camped. Morgan, Parker, Hoagland and</I></div> <div> <I>I were put in Co. B. I was detailed for guard and got 1st relief.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 8 -      Came off guard at 8 A.M. and spent the day in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Sept. 9 -     Notihing of interest occurred in camp today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 10 -     One year ago I was called on to mourn the death of the one most dear to me</I></div> <div> <I>on earth, my dear brother John. He was called away from this world of sin to I trust a world of glory. This is the</I></div> <div> <I>first anniversary of my being mustered into the U. S. service.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Sept. 11 -     This morning we left our camp and marched to Brashear City where we arrived about noon tired and hungry. One year ago the 114th was mustered with over 960 men; today we have not 100, including officers.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 12 -     A flag of truce came: to the opposite side of the Bay. With this exception nothing of special interest occurred.</I></div> <div> <I> </I></div> <div> <I>S. Sept. 13 -     Detailed for guard but hired J. C. Craiglow to take my place for 50 cts.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Sept. 14 -     Today passed like most others in camp without anything of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 15 -     Had Co. drill in forenoon and inspection in afternoon. In the evening there was a mail but I got nothing.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Sept. 16 -     E. Morgan and I went to town but saw nothing at all interesting.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 17 -     Today I was detailed for guard and got the third relief.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Sept. 18 -     Came off guard at 9 A.M. E. Morgan and I went to town in afternoon.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 19 -     One year ago I donned my first suit of "sky blue" and made my first march to Chillicothe.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 20 -     Today we had our usual Sunday inspection and nothing else of special interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Sept. 21 -     One year ago we were in Camp Marrietta and were called out to repel a Rebel attack which was a hoax. Today we are miles from there and in the enemy's country. At 8 P.M. a fatigue party went to unload a train of cars at the depot. I was one of the 96 engaged.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 22 -     Nothing of interest in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Sept. 23 -     Lieut. Haigler of Co. D returned to the Reg't. having been home on furlough.</I></div> <div> <I>Strange to say there is no noticeable change in his whiskers.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 24 -     Without anything of special the day passed. In the evening we got orders to be ready to cross the Bay at 1 P.M. tomorrow.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Sept. 25 -     Got ready to march and at 3 P.M. crossed on the boat N. W. Thomas. We then marched about two miles and camped in a large field.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 26 -     I went foraging 7. and got some peanuts and sweet potatoes.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Sept. 27 -     The 1st Div. was inspected by Gen 'l Ord</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>8</B></FONT><I>. S. Church of Co. K returned from Ohio where he had been after conscripts.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Sept. 28 -     Nothing new today. In the evening it began to rain and continued to rain all night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Sept. 29 -     The day was rainy and disagreeable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Sept. 30 -     Still rainy and in the evening it became too cool to be comfortable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 1-     This day passed without anything to break the monotony of camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Oct. 2-     On guard duty today. I write this at 12 P.M. by the light of a fire on the post. We got orders to have two days rations and be ready to march tomorrow.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 3-     Started at 6 A.M. and marched west. Passed through a small town called Pattersonville and also saw the wreck of the gunboat Cotton: After marching 15 miles we encamped on the bank of Bayou Teche.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 4-     Started at 6 A.M. and pursued our course. Passed through Centerville and at 3 P.M. encamped within one mile of Franklin. This is my birthday and I am now 22 yrs. old.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Oct. 5 , -     left camp at 6 A.M., passed through Franklin, marched 13 miles and encamped in a small strip of woods on the Bayou Teche. Were paid and I recevied $27.80. </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>9</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 6-     Started at 5 A.M., passed through the village of Geniretta (?) and after marching 8 miles encamped. Several of us killed a very nice hog. At 7 P .M. I was detailed and sent with eight others to guard the property of a widow lady' who has a son in the Secesh army.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Oct. 7-     Stayed till noon when three of us were sent a mile down the Bayou by Gen'l l Lawler to guard another widow's property. We returned at 4 P.M.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 8-     Still on guard at the same place with out anything of special interest occuring.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Oct. 9-     Relieved at 7 A.M. and started after the Brigade which had moved two hours before. Passed through the towns of New Iberia and St. Martinsville and overtook the Brigade in camp shortly after dark, having marched 20 miles. Gen'l Banks passed us during the day.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 10 -     Started at 6 A.M.. and after marching 12 miles, encamped in the woods three miles from Vermilionville.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 11-     Remained in the same place all day. A mail came in containing a lot of papers and Rep. tickets.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Oct. 12 -     Detailed for camp guard and had the 2nd relief. In the night it rained heavily.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 13 -     Today we held our election.</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>10 </B></FONT><I> S. Church, J. H. Holtsman and R. Hinton were Judges and R. S. Low and myself were clerks for Co. K. Brough got 12 votes and Val (landingham) 1 in Co. K. In the regiment Brough got 73 votes and Val 21.</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > (This was the election for Governor of Ohio. The candidates were John Brough and Clement Vallanding ham, with John Brough the winner. - Ed.)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Oct. 14 -     Had Brigade drill in forenoon and at 3 P .M. I was detailed for cattle guard and got the 2nd relief.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 15 -     Stayed on guard till 4 P.M. when we were relieved and returned to camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Oct. 16 -     Nothing new or strange in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 17-     Nothing of interest today. It rained a considerable shower during the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 18 -     Went on picket at I P.M. along with 49th Ind..</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Oct. 19 -     Stayed on picket till 10 A.M. when we were relieved and returned to camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 20 -     The regiment was detailed for picket and I went with the rest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Oct. 21 -     Stayed on picket till 10 A.M. and came back to camp. We got orders to march at 6 A.M. tomorrow but for some reason the order was countermanded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 22-     Stayed in camp without anything strange occurring. In the evening we got orders to be ready to march at 6 A.M. W. Larrick, S. Huse and I had a little game of ""chuck" </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>11 </B></FONT><I>and made .05 each.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Oct. 23-     Started on the march and traveled 13 miles. The day was rainy and disagree- able. We encamped for the night at Carrion Crow Bayou.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 24-     Started at 6 A.M. and marched to Opelousa, a distance of 12 miles. There was a slight frost this morning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 25 -      Detailed for picket and got on post with F. Larrick, J. Avis and S. Ingram. I wen t 1 1/2 miles and got some sweet  potatoes.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Oct. 26 -     Relieved at 10 A.M. and returned to camp. Had inspection in the evening and got orders to be ready to march at 7 A.M. tomorrow morning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 27-     Started at 7 A.M. and marched back the road we came and encamped in the same place we occupied on the night of the 23rd.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Oct. 28 -     The 114th started and marched back to Vermilion Bayou, arriving at 2 P.M. I was detailed for guard to alarm the camp in case of necessity.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Oct. 29 -     Came off guard in the morning and the day passed without anything of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Oct. 30 -     Nothing strange in camp. I wrote a letter to Mother.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Oct. 31-     Like most others this day passed with out anything interesting.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 1-     Dull and uninteresting like most others in camp. How unlike the Sabbath days I used to pass in Ohio. In the evening we got orders to march at an early hour tomorrow morning.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 2-     Did not leave camp. The day passed without anything of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 3-     Left camp at 6 A.M., marched 16 miles and stopped at Camp Pratt, 5 miles from New Iberia. This is an old Rebel camp and there are wooden barracks which were used to shelter the Rebs, the destroyers of our country .I was detailed for picket soon after our arrival.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 4-     Came off picket at 9 A.M. and returned to camp. Several men came up from the convalescent camp, also W. Manly who had been home on furlough.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 5-     Rainy and disagreeable all day. We got a mail and I received two letters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 6-     Detailed for picket and was posted back with three men on the railroad 1/2 mile from camp.</I></div> <div> <I>     </I></div> <div> <I>S. Nov. 7-     Relieved at 9 A.M. In the evening we marched to New Iberia.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 8-     Started at daylight with the Division and marched to within 4 miles of Franklin.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 9-     Left camp at 6 A.M., marched 25 miles and went into camp near Pattersonville.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 10 -    Left camp at 6 A.M. and marched 8 miles to Berwick City.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 11 -     Remained in camp all day. During the night there was considerable frost.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 12 -     A part of the 1st Brigade got on a steamship and left for -to me -parts unknown.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 13 -      Detailed for Brigade guard but traded with W. Larrick and went on picket. This is the anniversary of the birthday of poor dear John.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 14 -     Came off picket at 8 A.M. and returned to camp. It is now just one year since I last saw home and friends.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 15 -     Nothing today except Brigade inspection on which I did not go.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 16 -     Like most other days in camp this passed without anything of importance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 17-     This day like its predecessor passed without anything of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 18 -     Left camp at 6 A.M. and crossed to Brashear City on the boat Southerner and went into camp in the eastern part of the town.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 19 -     E. Morgan and I went into town and got some oysters. W. Wyman and W. Rudolph had a little "knock" in which Rudolph came out second best.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 20 -     Nothing of interest occurred today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 21 -     We got orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 22 -     Left Brashear City on the cars at 7 A.M. and arrived at Algiers at I P .M. where we went into camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 23 -     At 12 Noon I was detailed for guard and got the 1st relief. E. Marshall of Co. K returned to the regiment.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 24 -     Came off guard at noon. J. Bowsher re turned to the Co., having been home on furlough.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 25 -     Stayed in camp today. With the exception of a little drinking</I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>12  </B></FONT><I>nothing happened of interest. .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 26 -     Thanksgiving Day and we spent it in camp without any turkey or other "fixins".</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 27 -     Detailed for guard and got the 3rd relief.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 28 -      Came off guard at 8 A.M. Got orders to be ready to move at 6 A.M. tomorrow.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 29 -     Got on the boat E. L. Clark but did not start till after dark.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 30-     Went down the river and out on the Gulf, where we had a considerable storm. I with most others got seasick. In the evening we saw a vessel at some distance.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 1-     Kept on on nearly a due West course, but did not see any vessels.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 2-     Came to anchor this morning near Pass Cavallo at the entrance to Matagorda Bay. Left the boat and got aboard the Corinthian and moved in near the shore when we took yawls got closer and finally waded ashore where we got a little after dark.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 3-     Moved about Y2 mile and went into camp. Rainy in the evening. This peninsula is known as Decrow's Point.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 4-     Nothing new in camp except our first dress parade on the soil or rather the sand of Texas.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 5-     A good many of the boys were arrested for killing sheep. We had battalion drill.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 6-     Had regimental inspection today. Nothing else of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 7-     Nothing today but drill and dress parade.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 8-     Had inspection of quarters today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 9-     Nothing worth noticing occurred.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 10 -     Had battalion drill along with the 16</I><I>th</I><I> O.V.I.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 11 -     Detailed for guard and sent to Gen'l Lawler's </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>13</B></FONT><I> Headquarters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 12 -     Today a flag of truce came in on a boat and a large number who went to the beach were arrested and made to drill four hours. I was among the number but soon "skinned out".</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 13 -     Had Co. inspection in the morning and in the evening signed the pay rolls.</I></div> <div> <I>Weather windy and cold. Co. K. went fishing and caught some nice fish.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 14 -     We were paid this morning. We received a mail and I got two letters.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 15 -     This morning I was detailed and sent with three men to guard commissary stores.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 16 -     Remained on guard till evening when we were relieved. Weather windy, cold and disagreeable.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 17 -     Nothing of interest today. Weather cold and windy.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 18 -     Wash-day. In the evening we had drill along with the 16th 0. V .I.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 19 -     Nothing of interest occurred today.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 20 -     The Sabbath Day -Dull and dreary like most others in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 21 .-     Nothing new in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 22 -     Nothing new, strange or startling in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 23 -     Dull and uninteresting like most other days in camp.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 24 -     Christmas Eve -What are the folks at home now doing? We have some whiskey  just for Christmas.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 25 -     Today we had our Christmas dinner of roast beef and potatoes. J. Shanahan and E. Throne of Co. E. had a fight.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 26 -     There was nothing of interest occurred today. Weather rainy and cold. During the night it was windy and very cold.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 27 -     Another Sabbath Day in the army. I put on some new clothes I drew yesterday .14. Weather windy and cold.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 28 -     I was detailed and went for wood.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 29 -     Dull and uninteresting as most days in camp are.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Dec. 30 -     Nothing new today. In the afternoon the regiment was detailed for fatigue on a boat. I was on the 3rd relief and did not have to work.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 31 -     The last day of 1863. I spent it in the "purp" </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>15</B></FONT><I>  tent along with the rest of the boys, it being too cold to stir out.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>FOOTNOTES FOR SWEETMAN DIARY</B></div> <bR> <div> 1.     The Diana was one of four Ilght-draught gunboats built In 1862 and sent down the Mississippi to the assistance of Union troops      In Louisiana.</div> <bR> <div> 2.     New Orleans had been taken by Admiral Farragut In April, 1862. From May 1, to November the city and Its environs were under command of General Ben Butler, whose rigid control made the city safe for Union soldiers.</div> <bR> <div> 3.     Gregg's Woods was located just south of Clrclevllle and was a favorite spot for picnics and rallies.</div> <bR> <div> 4.     General Nathaniel P. Banks had succeeded General Ben Butler as Chief of the Department of the Gulf on November 9, 1862. This area Included the Teche country and the La Fourche. The latter area, the fertile land lying between the Mississippi and Atchfalaya rivers was of great strategic value. It was also the stepplng-off place for the proposed march over the prairies to Texas. The 114th was only one of many units sent here after Vlcksburg had fallen.</div> <bR> <div> 5.     Guard duty was assigned by the first sergeant of each company. After inspection they were sent to their respective posts. Duty was for twenty-four hours. Details were arranged so that each member stood guard only two hours out of every six. -Common <U>Soldier In the Civil War </U>-Bell Irwin Wlley Book 1, p. <U>46.</U></div> <bR> <div> 6.     General Grant had come to the area to confer with General Banks.</div> <div> After this accident he was forced to use crutches for many weeks and even In October had to be carried by his men across places which were not safe for horseback.</div> <bR> <div> 7.     "The most common method of supplementing army fare was by</div> <div> foraging, which usually meant drawing on Rebel civilians, without measure and without price. If the despoiled owner denied being a Rebel, as he often did, then a receipt might be given and the responsibility of proving loyalty and obtaining compensation placed on the unwilling provider. As a rule, however, receipts were given only when provisions were taken by authorized foraging parties."</div> <div> A year before Sweetman had come Into this Louisiana area, a Union captain wrote home from the same spot, When mealtime comes I seat myself on a log or a pumpkin and devour the richness of the land. For we forage here; we go without hard tack and salt horse for the present; we live on roast pig, turkey, geese, chickens, beef and mutton; as for hoecake and sweet potatoes, they are nothing." -Common Soldier in the Civil War -Bell Irwin Wiley Vol. 1, <U>pp. 233-235.</U></div> <bR> <div> 8.     Gen'l. Edward O.C. Ord had been sent to New Orleans after the</div> <div> fall of Vicksburg In command of the 13th Corps to report to Gen'l Banks.</div> <bR> <div> 9.     Soldiers were mustered for pay every two months. During most</div> <div> of the war privates received only thirteen dollars a month; after the final raise In May 1864, this came to sixteen dollars. Pay was commonly tardy, sometimes more than six months late.</div> <bR> <div> 10.     Clement Valladlgham was the notorious Copperhead who ran for the office of Governor of Ohio from his refuge In Canada. John Brough ran on the Union Republic ticket, winning by a majority of 61,920 In the citizen vote and 39,179 In the soldier ballots. Carl Sandberg In The War Years recounts the story that on the night of the <U>election, President Lincoln </U>wired Brough at his office In Cleveland repeatedly to Inquire the majority he held. When Brough's reply, that It was over 100,000, went to Washington at five o'clock, the reply flashed back "Glory to God in the highest. Ohio has saved the nation. A. Lincoln."</div> <bR> <div> 11"'. ..the most common dice game seems to have been chuck-a-luck, also called sweat, which was a banking contest played by rolling three dice on a board or cloth marked off Into numbered squares. This game became so popular In Grant's army during the early months of 1863 that soldiers gave a water-surrounded retreat opposite Yazoo Pass the name of Chuck-a-luck Island." <U>Ibid</U> Vol. 1, p. 250</div> <bR> <div> 12.     Commissary whiskey was sometimes available on holidays. Sweetman's only mention of It was on the eves of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Another soldier once analyzed commissary whiskey as ".bark juice, tar-water, turpentine, brown sugar, lamp-oll and alcohol." <U>Ibid</U>. Vol. 1, p. 253.</div> <bR> <div> 13.     Michael K. Lawler, Brigadier General.</div> <bR> <div> 14.     The first clothing and uniforms Issued the Union soldiers were inferior In quality. After long campaigns and weeks of marching, many soldiers were ragged and barefoot. Later In the War the quality of shoes and uniforms Improved.</div> <bR> <div> 15.     "After the first year of the conflict the standard field habitation of the rank and file was the shelter or dog tent. This ordinarily was a two-man dwelling made by buttoning together the half shelters carried by the occupants as standard equipment and stretching them over a horizontal pole held In place by two upright sticks, or more commonly by muskets stuck Into the ground with bayonets fixed. Ends were left open or draped with blankets or coats."<U> Ibid</U> Vol. 1, p. 56.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> FINAL NOTE</div> <div> Final note: The map appended to Part I of the Diaries In Fall 1970 Quarterly Map B, P. 15 shows the progress of the 114th. Starting at <U>Vlcksburg </U>on August 13, they went down the river, crossed by rail to Brashear City and started their Slow trek north and west up Bayou Teche. They reached the farthest point at Opelousas on October 24. They stayed In that area only two days then retraced their route back to Brashear City. They were next sent by way of the Gulf to Matagorda Bay, Texas, where the Year's end found them.</div> <bR> <div> drowned in crossing a bayou. Monday and Tuesday of that week were rainy and cold, with a real Texas "Norther" blowing, but they marched on through the rain to a point about six miles from Ft. Esperanza. They did not receive their tents until Wednesday evening, a full week later than they had been struck. The tents were pitched (in some haste, I would surmise) and they were promptly inspected by Brigade Inspector Capt. Milligan. The next morning they had their first dress parade "on the Island."</div> <div> It seems that this Island must have been Matagorda Island. Ft. Esperanza was at the extreme east top of the small island and subsequent entries in the month of March refer to building a fort at their camp. Fortifications and breastworks were constructed during the rest of the month.</div> <div> On Sunday, March 27, Sweetman drew his pay, the munificent sum of $26. Thursday, March 31, carries this entry, "Had a review by Gen'l. Dana. Windy, dusty and disagreeable. Apart of the 'nigs' at the Fort mutinied last night."</div> <div> April started out in the same old monotonous pattern. Evidently the weather was improving, for Sweetman and some others went twice down to the Gulf to bathe. On April 15, he wrote, "Manly Leiby came to the Co. I got some papers from home. (This was the Manly Leiby whose letters were published in the Quarterly. Since Leiby's home was in Williamsport and since there are other references to Williamsport in Sweetman's diary, I am beginning to believe that the Sweetman family were living in that village at this time, instead of in Circleville, as I had previously taken for granted.)</div> <div> On Sunday, April 17, the peaceful pattern broke up. We shall let Michael tell us:</div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April l7 -     Had Co. inspection at 9 A.M. In evening got orders to be ready to embark at an hour's notice. Wrote a letter to mother and got one from Alice.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 18 -     Left our camp at I P.M. and went to Fort Esperanza. Apart of the reg't. got aboard the Crescent and left a little after dark. The remainder got aboard the Warrior and slept all night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 19 -     The Crescent with the right wing aboard left at daylight and we stayed on the Warrior. Saw the large Columbiad at the Fort fired.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 20 -     Started at daylight on board the St. Mary along with the 34th Iowa. Steamed close along shore and near dark stopped a short time in sight of Galveston. A woman from our boat went aboard the gunboat and the yawl came near being crushed by the wheel.</I></div> <bR> <div> (Ed, -Now that last sentence is something! Webster defines a yawl as a ship's small boat; a jolly boat. I presume that the woman was going from the St. Mary to a gunboat when the yawl in which she was riding was nearly crushed by the wheel of one boat or the other, but how did a woman happen to be on a troop ship and why would she go abroad a gunboat? Sometimes Sweetman's cryptic sentences give me sleepless nights!)</div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 21 -     Moved on and passed a lighthouse on a bar 90 miles from land. What a desirable location. No cause for jealousy no other boats to fight. The children for there were children there likewise a man and a woman.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. April 22 -     Crossed the bar at South West Pass a little after sunrise. Went up the river, passed Forts Jackson and Philip and arrived at N(ew) O(rleans) just at dark. Got off the boat and stopped in an old yard.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 23 -     Detailed for fatigue and worked on the boats. A great many men got drunk and tore things generally. At 5 P.M. the reg't. got aboard the John H. Groesbeck along with the 16th 0. V .1. and remained at the wharf all night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 24 -     Moved slowly up the (Mississippi) river during the day and night but saw nothing of interest.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. April 25 -      Reached Baton Rouge at 8 A.M. but did not stop. Went on and while passing Port Hudson G. Michaels and T. Morton had a "breeze" in which Tommy used a knife but neither were (sic) hurt. Passed on and went in to the Red river at 11 P.M.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Sweetman does not mention it, but his boat passed Williamsport, La. just before they left the Mississippi to enter Red river. I am glad that the sleeping boys from our Williamsport did not see the namesake of their faraway home.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 26 -     Went on and reached Alexandria at dark, at which place we found the whole army. Saw Nels Nonnan, formerly of Williamsport, now in 89th Ind. Got off the boat a little after dark. I was sick during the night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. April 27 -     Moved about 4 miles and went into camp, the 114th in the front.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. April 28 -      The "rebs" drove back our cavalry and, we went out and formed in line of battle. Co. K went out and skirmished and heard a few balls but no one hurt. The troops in the rear became excited and there was near a skedaddle. We fell back 3 miles and formed another line. I had a heavy chill during the night. .</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F, April 29 -     Stayed in same place all day without anything of interest occuring.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. April 30 -     Went one mile from camp and lay there till evening when we returned.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. May 1-     Stayed in camp till noon when we went out and relieved the 16th 0. V .I.  I had a heavy chill and fever last night and got some quinine. I wrote a letter to sister Jane.</I></div> <bR> <div> Fighting in this particular area was sporadic and somewhat futile for both sides. The Union forces had nearly penetrated to Shreveport, but had retreated, almost with victory in sight. There were two reasons for this, unknown both to the Confederate army and to the common soldier in the Union army. Orders had come to Gen'l. Banks from the newly-installed Commander of the Union Army, General Grant, to join in a combined movement early in May of all the armies between the Mississippi and the Atlantic. The second reason was the trouble the Union Navy, after they had advanced up the Red river beyond Alexandria, found themselves in deep trouble. The river had not risen to the expected height and boats were grounded in the shallow water and harassed by hit-and-run attacks by the Rebels from the banks. Only the engineering genius of a certain Col. Joseph Bailey saved them from being completely destroyed. Col. Bailey built dams and wing-dams to narrow and raise the depth of the channel so that all but five of the vessels escaped.</div> <div> "On both sides, the unhappy campaign of the Red River raised a great and bitter crop of quarrels." So states Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Vol. IV. From one Union standpoint, it was successful in that the Confederate forces lost a great deal of cotton, most of it destroyed by their own army by order of Gen'l. Kirby Smith, at least $60,000,000 worth. The cotton seized by the Union army was turned over to the quartermaster and by him to the special agent of the Treasury designated to receive it. All the cotton seized by the Navy, however, was adjudged prize of war, sent to Cairo for sale and the monies distributed according to statute. This difference, naturally enough did not make for good feeling between the two branches.</div> <div> But let us return to Michael Sweetman, feverish and shaking with malaria, never knowing from which side the Rebel forces, who were operating in this area almost like guerilla troops, would attack.</div> <bR> <div> <I>M. May 2-     Stayed till noon when we came back and after dinner started on a reconnaisance, found the Rebs and had a skirmish. The Rebs fired a few shells but hurt no one with them. Moved back a mile and bivouaced for the night. I had a heavy chill.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. May 3-     This morning I was sent back to camp</I></div> <div> <I>and from there to the hospital and after a great deal of trouble was sent to Post Hospital.</I></div> <bR> <div> Sweetman was in the Post Hospital or the "Soldier's Rest" (probably a convalescent home,) until Monday, May 9, when the latter closed. He went back to the hospital and was sent to the Provost Marshall's, where a great many came in from his regiment. Evidently the army was congregating at this point to go on board the transports to carry them back down the Red to the Mississippi. Facilities were being dismantled and destroyed. The last night and day 'before, Sweetman went on board the Time and Tide was spent, as he says in his laconic way, "on the porch of an old house." Still sick, he went on board to wait until the 13th before moving out. Presumably, the delay was caused by the low water, as they started the next morning after he had reported that the river had risen six inches. On the way down, they saw something of the burning of Alexandria, for which Gen'l. Banks had come in for great criticism. Their progress was very slow and they were fired on by the enemy from the banks almost every day, although Sweetman does not report any casualties.</div> <div> At last, on May 16, they reached the mouth of the Atchafalaya and moved up that river six miles where they again were caught up with the army. On the 18th, Sweetman reported the fight at Yellow Bayou. According to Battles and Leaders, "the rear guard under Mower had rather a sharp encounter with Wharton and Polignac on Yellow Bayou, the Confederates losing 452 killed and wounded to our loss of about 267."</div> <div> On May 19, Sweetman reported "A great many men and teams crossed on abridge of boats." The same CoI. Joseph Bailey who had saved the Navy above Alexandria, now devised a plan by which ships were maneuvered crosswise the Atchafalaya, here between six and seven hundred yards wide, so that the entire army, with equipment, crossed the river in one day. Gen'l. Banks always claimed that this was the first time this had been done, but it had been done on the Mississippi at Port Hudson the year before.</div> <div> The Time and Tide now reversed itself and went back to the Red River, out into the Mississippi, and up to Mogranza, the now familiar camp of the regiment. While the Union was in control of the Mississippi, the degree of control was precarious, and camps were installed all along the river for patrol.</div> <div> Here in Morganza (which lay, as best I can figure out, since I have not found it on a map, about a day's journey by boat, south of Baton Rouge) the 114th stayed, doing nothing much, until May 29, when they received orders to have on hand two days' ration and be prepared to move at a moment's notice. Sweetman's entry for Monday, May 30, reads, "Left camp at 5 A.M., moved out in a westerly direction and marched 18 miles. I gave out and rode in a wagon." (Evidently he was still suffering from the effects of the attack of malaria he had had.) The next day they turned around and marched back ten miles and Sweetman was sent back to camp. By Thursday, June 2, everyone was back at camp. There didn't seem to be any reason for the trek -they seemed not to have encountered a single Rebel nor fired a single shot.</div> <div> Again for quite a spell nothing happened, except that it rained and rained and rained. The rain did not preclude inspection which was carried out even in downpours. On June 16, Sweetman reported that he was paid $52 (for two months) and sent $50 home. On Sunday June 19, Sweetman said, "Drew clothing. I got pants, blouse, shirt and bought shoes for $1.00." The rest of the month continued as uneventfully, Sweetman's one fatigue duty consisting of unloading hay from a barge.</div> <div> July started out well. The very first day Sweetman wrote an order and "got 9 Ibs. of ham" and the next day he reported that, after weeks of no mail from home, he received three letters and a package of papers. They moved two miles down the levee to another camp. Boats passed at fairly frequent intervals, going either up or down the Mississippi freely. There was no action -except "Our cavalry had a brush with the Rebs. Result to me unknown." Somewhat wistfully he reported that "E. Needham and G. Meakin returned to the Co. having been home on a 40-day furlough."</div> <div> There was activity in the area, however. On Tuesday, August 2, his entry said, "Some men went out for lumber but were driven back by the Rebs. Lt. Shirley was captured on the opposite side of the river." The only active element in the camp of the 114th was the "musketoes" which were extremely active in the rainy, muggy weather. On Sunday, the 21st, Sweetman wrote, "Co. inspection at 9 A.M. Whiskey was issued and H. Peters and W. Bowles became obstreperous. Bowles was slapped by the Cap't. A mail came and I got a letter from Doc Downing." The next day he wrote, "Two years ago I attended a war meeting in Gregg's woods. Many a one who was there at that time has since gone to 'that bourne (from) whence no traveler returns." On Thursday of that week, he said, "Nothing new, strange or startling; quaint, queer or</div> <div> comical."</div> <bR> <div> On Monday, the 29th, Sweetman's diary said, "The Democrats meet in Chicago today to nominate a man for President. I hope a good man will be chosen and that he will be our next President."</div> <div> The Democrats chose General George B. McClellan with George Hunt Pendleton candidate for Vice-President. Lincoln's partner was Andrew Johnson. After an exceptionally bitter hard-fought campaign, the Lincoln-Johnson ticket prevailed, receiving 55.09 percent of the four million votes cast. Sweetman had been an ardent partisan of McClellan's, writing on Sept. 8, "The glorious news of McClellan's nomination reached here today ."</div> <div> On September 15 he wrote, "McClellan's letter of acceptance reached here in the newspapers. It is highly satisfactory and with Mac for President there is hope for the country. Under Linclon there is none." There was some political activity in camp-resolutions prepared favoring McClellan.</div> <div> On October II, the regimental election was held with these results: "No. of votes -352; Union 247 Demecrats 105. Pickaway County No. of votes -118 ; Union 74, Democrats 44." On national election day, Tuesday November 8, he reported, "Election Day. Nothing exciting. Some hard talk by Cap't Bury who said, "He would give $20 to see the McClellan men in a line and would like to march them outside the lines and turn them over to the 'Rebs.' Time at last sets all things even. I voted for M. Mac's vote in reg't 105; Lincoln's 297.</div> <div> Except for politicking, November was as uneventful as the previous months had been. They had guard and picket duty, some short forays out of camp. On one of these a party of 1200 left Morganza after dark and marched to the mouth of the Atchafalaya, reaching there at 3 A.M. The "Rebs" shelled some of the troops and on the next day there was some skirmishing, but they marched back to Morganza, arriving there at I A.M. "tired, hungry and dirty ."</div> <div> On October 4, Sweetman "celebrated" his twenty</div> <div> third birthday, if going down the river for four boatloads of lumber constitutes a celebration. When, the next month, General Lawler celebrated his birthday with a party, Michael was one of forty men-assigned to guard the party, although it turned out they were not needed.</div> <div> The men were mainly engaged in building up their camp. In addition to the lumber, they made at least two trips down-river for bricks and Sweetman tells of building a chimney (single-handed?) and of working on a company cook-house. Once in October, Sweetman reported, " A flag of truce came in and two of the "Rebs" shot their Lieut. and came into our lines." Also in that month, the 16th, their companions for so many months, started home.</div> <div> November followed along. On the 8th they had a little excitement -"The 114th, 24th Ind. and 50 cavalry went to Gunica (?) Bend on the Ohio Belle. Went back five miles, captured two "Rebs", cattle, sheep and chickens. Got back to camp at 10 P.M." On Thursday, the 17th, Sweetman wrote, "Rainy. Dress parade in the evening and Ser'g. Holtsmall reported Ed Marshall for disorderly conduct in the ranks. The Col. sent for Ed and talked to him like a dutch (sic) uncle to a sick monkey ." (This was probably Col. Maynard Ed.)</div> <div> At last, on November 21 there was a major move. After six months at Morganza, the regiment left on the Ohio Belle to go up river .</div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 21 -     The cavalry left at 8 A.M. for Baton Rouge by land. Relieved at 9 A.M., returned to camp and at 4 P.M. the reg't got on board the Ohio Belle for White River after a stay of six months at Morganza. Met J. C. Swan at Gunica. </I></div> <div> <I>T. Nov. 22 -     Got to Natchez at 8 A.M. and nearly all the boys left the boat and went up in town. Left at 12 noon and at dark passed Rodney. Pushed on and at daylight were in sight of Warrenton.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 23 -     Passed Warrenton and reached Vicksburg at 8 A.M. and saw John and George Row. Crossed the river to coal and visited a negro school taught by two good-Iooking white women. Finished coaling, recrossed the river, stayed about 5 miles, and started up the river just at dark.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 24 -     Passed Lake Providence just at daylight. Kept on and stopped for the night at Gaines' Landing. Met boats Tom Jones, Stella, No.4 and was passed by Continental at 2 P.M.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Nov. 25-     Left Gaines' Landing at daybreak; moved on, passed Napoleon and arrived at the mouth of White River at dark. Disembarked and lay on the ground at night.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 26 -     Put up our wedge tents and fixed as best we could.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Nov. 27 -     The Laurel Hill came up with Gen'l. Lawler and staff aboard. Two mails but no letter for me. Wrote a letter to mother. The Cos. of the regiment were consolidated, K and C together to be known as Co. C. Jim Hintoll to be mustered out.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Nov. 28 -     The consolidation of the 114th and 120th progressed but not quite concluded.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Nov. 29 -     Pickets were furnished by our regiment.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>W. Nov. 30 -     Hoagland and Hunsicker started home on a thirty days' furlough. Sent a letter and a few articles by Henry </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(Hunsicker- also from Williamsport -Ed.)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 1-     Built a house of poles. Had a dress parade in connexioll </I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times New Roman" ><I>(sic)</I></FONT><I> with 120th.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>F. Dec. 2-     Worked some more on the house. Got a letter from Jane. The order of consolidation was read on dress parade by Adj. Petty. Col. Kelly preached to the regiment until we were disgusted with his foolish talk.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 3-     Built a chimney to our house, daubed it and made it quite comfortable. Dress parade in evening.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>S. Dec. 4-     Got a letter from Ira Hoover which I answered.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>M. Dec. 5-     Done some more fixing of our house in the way of smoothing up.</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>T. Dec. 6-     Received marching orders at 4 P.M. Got on board the Chouteau (?) along with 83rd O.V.I. at 10 P.M., started down the river for Morganza.</I></div> <bR> <div>      The trip back was uneventful. They had been absent from Morganza only sixteen days. Presumably the only accomplishment of that period had been the consolidation of the regiment, which I am sure the "boys" of the 114th must have considered could have been done just as well in their old quarters at Morganza. As it was, they left the quarters they had been "fixing up", went up the river to a camp with no facilities, started to "fix it up", only to return to Morganza to the location where the 16th had been -again without facilities. The next day after they arrived they started again this time building a log cabin. Even in Louisiana, December along the Mississippi can be damp and cold without shelter .</div> <div>     The men who were to be mustered out gathered at Morganza and started for home. The 114th had another short excursion down to the Atchafalaya and back. Christmas wasn't much at Morganza, but Sweetman did not complain. He wrote: " A very pleasant Christmas. Had a dinner of roast beef, potatoes and onions. At 8 P.M. the picket line was attacked; the regiment fell in but did not move out. A good many shots were fired but no one was hurt." They managed to get their tent-house done, having the good fortune to get lumber from the buildings left from a convalescent hospital when the soldiers there were shipped home. On the 30th, Sweetman gleefully reported, "In the night there was a heavy storm but our tent stood firm." His last sentence in 1864 was, "Nothing special howbeit it is New Year's Eve."</div> <div>      That might very well sum up all of Michael Sweetman's year. Nothing special: dampness, discomfort, monotony and malaria -that was 1864 for Private Sweetman of the 114th O.V.I.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> A PERSONAL NOTE FROM THE EDITOR</div> <bR> <div>      As usual, the French have a precise phrase for an experience or sensation common to all. I tis "deja vu", meaning "already seen". It describes the sensation everyone has had at one time or another that "I've been here before" or "I've already seen this spot" or "I've done this thing before". Years ago, when I was editing the Leiby letters. -those letters Manly Leiby wrote home, describing the discomfort and depression of his service in the Louisiana swamplands -those letters gave me the distinct sensation of "deja vu". Again, since I have been working on Michael Sweetman 's diaries, that impression has been heightened until I seemed to smell the dank odor of rotting vegetation, to feel the oppressiveness of the hot, humid air, to see the black waters of the channels and the clouds of mosquitoes.</div> <div>      Then, two days after I had typed the above copy, it suddenly came to me why all this scene had been so vivid. I had been there. I had seen the army encamped in Louisiana swamplands. I had talked with homesick Pickaway County boys m Alexandria, Louisiana.</div> <div>      In June 1941, some of the units of the Ohio National Guard were on Maneuvers at Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, Louisiana. Colonel Harry Jackson of Circlevi!le commanded a medical unit there. It was necessary for my husband to have Colonel Jackson's signature on a legal paper. We drove down to Alexandria and on into New Orleans.</div> <div>      We approached Alexandria from the northeast, our road -a rather narrow one -driving straight through sandy forests with no sign of habitation for miles until occasionally we saw a clearing with an unpainted shack and a few scrawny chickens scratching around a dooryard. There were numerous signs warning travelers of the livestock on the roads. They were needed : there were no fences and razor-backed hogs were numerous, as were the almost equally razor-backed cattle.</div> <div>      The sky was overcast, the air heavy. Rain seemed imminent. In fact every day we were in the state; if it was not raining, we knew it might rain the next minute.</div> <div>      I do not remember much about Alexandria nor of  the entrance to the camp, except that it was wellkept and substantial. We were directed to drive back to the extreme rear of the camp where we would find Colonel Jackson.</div> <div>      I shall never forget the reception we had when we arrived where the soldiers were situated on a little knoll slightly elevated from the sea of red clay mud around them. Some of the Circleville boys had been in my music classes in the Circlevi!le schools -others from out in the county knew neither of us, but that meant nothing. We were from HOME. They crowded around the car, they stuck their headsin the window and</div> <div> shouted questions or yelled wisecracks over the heads of their fellows. When my husband returned, mission accomplished, they still pressed up to the car, loath to have us leave.</div> <div>      We drove on to New Orleans through swampland. Here the road was a little wider, fortunately, for it was bordered on both sides with wide channels of black water, clogged with water hyacinths. The trees in the swampland were almost black-green, festooned with moss, with the grey and white skeletons of dead trees providing accent. As promised, it rained. How it rained! Almost it seemed that the torrents could force our car off into one of the black canals. Again there were no houses or dwellings for many miles. We were alone with the darkened sky, the powerful rain, the desolation. It was a distinct relief to both Ohioans when we saw the first indications of the city ahead.</div> <div>      That was as unhappy an afternoon as I can rememher. The oppressive weather, the dismal scenery , the homesick boys I'd seen in Alexandria -all combined to make me less than a gay companion.</div> <div>      And now, looking back, I realize tha t the reason I had "forgotten" this incident for so many years was simply that it was too painful a recollection. It was only when I read about the 114th O.V.I. at Alexandria that slowly the scene that day in June, 1941 at an army camp, named ironically for a Confederate general, evoked the atmosphere that Manly Leiby and Michael Sweetman described. This had been buried deep in my subconscious mind for thirty years.</div> <div>      You see, one of the boys who had been in my music classes, the one who hung on to the car the very longest -was one who did not come home to Circleville from World War II. His name was William Pyle.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantrydiary_of_a.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="114th OVI History"><U>114th OVI History</U></A>   <A HREF="id208.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roster"><U>Roster</U></A>   <A HREF="id196.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Battles"><U>Battles</U></A>    <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4c.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Pictures"><U>Pictures</U></A>    <A HREF="id169.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Roll of Honor"><U>Roll of Honor</U></A>    </div> <div> <A HREF="id139.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Vicksburg File"><U>Vicksburg Documents</U></A>       <A HREF="id184.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Letters Home"><U>Letters Home</U></A>      <A HREF="id200.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Descendants"><U>114th Descendants</U></A>   </div> <div> <A HREF="id149.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Obituary"><U>Obituary</U></A>    <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Accolades"><U>Accolades</U></A>   <A HREF="id120.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hard Tack "><U>Hard Tack</U></A>   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry4d.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bugle Calls"><U>Bugle Calls</U></A>   <A HREF="diary_of_a_union_soldier__elias_d__moore_114th_ohio_volunteer_infantry.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Related Links</U></A> </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U>back to home</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div>   <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/regsign.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> Sign my Guestbook </A> --- <A HREF="http://www.toolzone.com/isuite/bin/registry.cgi?UID=TZ096430&APPID=GuestSign&LANG=english"> View my Guestbook </A>  </div> <bR> <div>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://pub15.bravenet.com/counter/code.php?id=176950&usernum=1214804337&cpv=2"></script>   </div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U><IMG SRC="0781e240.png" border=0 width="30" height="36" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="They Were the 114th O.V.I."><U></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>