An Artilleryman's Diary Part 35

[Sidenote: 1864 Camp Rumors]

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 20. To-day is ration day and we begin to feel the effects of the blockade. Only half rations of everything except hard-tack. No salt. Heavy trains of supplies are being taken north every day from Allatoona. The winds, I guess, waft the tidings of n.o.ble Morton's election in Indiana with 4,000 majority to us. Hope it is true.

The Indiana soldiers in camp here seem highly elated. Band played till after midnight last night.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 21. After dinner our Platoon harnessed up three teams to a wagon to go after brick for chimneys. Before starting Dan Goodwin brought a big mail from town in which were seven for me.

Hailed a lot of stationery sent by Evie. Read my letters on my way after brick. Went about three miles from camp. When we returned found Lieutenant Simpson and fifteen of the boys gone to Nashville for horses to fill up the Battery. Marching rumors again afloat. All convalescents not able to march ordered to Chattanooga. Dan went out of our tent, five out of the Platoon, leaving me a team to take care of until they return.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Oct. 22. A council was held this morning to know whether we should put up our chimney or wait to see whether we would leave. Decided to do all we could for our comfort, and let marching take care of itself. By night we had the satisfaction of sitting by a fire and knowing that the chimney smoked out of the right end.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 23. The forenoon was occupied by grazing horses, etc. The afternoon, in writing. The prevailing topic is marching, when and where. It is supposed we will join our Corps. Logan's headquarters reported at Cedar Mountain in northern Alabama. Details are still at work on the defenses. Double lines of palisades are set on the crown of the hill. The timber all felled on the mountains in our rear.

Park at Brigade headquarters made a strong artillery position. We can now successfully resist ten times our number.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 24. Was on detail to go on a two days'

foraging expedition but Charlie Pickard took my place, and both were better suited. Wrote to John in the afternoon. No mail or news whatever.

We are fast becoming accustomed to this state of things.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 25. On guard to-day. Drew half rations of everything except hard-tack. Had no corn for horses. Took out sacks as we went grazing. Husked some in a field where a woman swore in a terrible manner, made a desperate onslaught on us with words, but I got some corn. Forage train returned into camp 4 P. M. Charley brought in two ducks, and a lot of sweet potatoes.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Oct. 26. A windy, cloudy day, indications of rain. When we came in from grazing, found mail awaiting us. Received a good home letter. Several through trains from Chattanooga pa.s.sed to the front last night. Late this evening a portion of the 48th Indiana started for Resaca by rail. Rebs tearing up the tracks again.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Oct. 27. Rained all night and cloudy through the day. Grazed forenoon as usual. Wrote to sister Hannah in the afternoon. A small mail received. None for me.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Oct. 28. Weather is most beautiful. Health excellent. Plenty to eat and not too much to do. Consequently the day pa.s.sed off very pleasantly, playing chess and reading papers about a month old, but new to us. Notified at retreat to prepare to go foraging to-morrow morning.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Oct. 29. Rolled out early, fifteen of us going foraging to load fourteen wagons from division train, all going for corn for the battery regiments at Cartersville. 6 A. M. an escort of seventy armed infantry came along and all unarmed men turned back, including Battery detail. None of us sorry. Arrived in camp in the afternoon, and built corn crib. We have the satisfaction of knowing that our "cracker line" is once more in running order. Trains have been pa.s.sing every half hour through the day. An unexpected order was very quietly received 5 P. M. from Major s...o...b..and, Corps chief of artillery, ordering us to turn over our horses, guns and necessary equipments to the 12th Battery, take their guns in exchange, and hold ourselves in readiness to report at Chattanooga immediately.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Oct. 30. A very beautiful Sabbath spent in the usual commonplace way. Grazed in the forenoon. The afternoon occupied in writing to Brother John. Walked to town in the evening. No mail or news, although trains are pa.s.sing in great numbers.

[Sidenote: 1864 The "n.i.g.g.e.r Question"]

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 31. Weather still continues enchanting. All quiet. Expecting the 12th Battery down after our horses. Invoices taken of ammunition, cannoneers and equipments, preparatory to being turned over. Mustered for pay at 12 M. Four months' wages now due us. We hope we will receive it soon. In the evening a general discussion took place on the "n.i.g.g.e.r question", politics, etc. All agree on "Old Abe" for president. Further than that we cannot go. I was in it on the start and was getting earnest. When everybody began talking together, I pulled in my teams and retired.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Nov. 1. In the forenoon we went out grazing about two miles to a clover patch. In the afternoon on detail for beef.

12th Battery took twenty-three of our best horses and six sets of harness. They bring their guns down to-morrow. A large mail came to camp 4 P. M. I received five good letters, doing me much good, one of them from my old messmate Evie. He is now enjoying the sweets of private life "ad libitum". The forage train that started out yesterday morning not heard from yet. Fears entertained of their safety. Three of our wagons with it.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Nov. 2. A very severe night. Rained and stormed continually. The day not much better. Should have stayed in doors, if I was not on guard, which is not at all pleasant. Lieutenant Simpson and boys returned from Nashville, failed to obtain any horses.

Had a rather hard trip throughout. Nothing new. Much speculation as to our destination.

9 P. M. the forage trains came in, and all rumors as to being captured a canard. Ordnance taken off, much of it.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Nov. 3. Another very cold raw day. 12th Battery took six more horses. Lieutenant Jenawein detailed on duty with the 12th Battery. Boxes made to pack up the harness.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Nov. 4. Sergeant Sweet returned to the Battery this morning and resumed his duties as orderly. Weather continues very cold and disagreeable. All we can do is to keep warm. All the loose stores belonging to the Company boxed up to-day. The remainder of the Division is making preparations for a severe campaign, only two wagons to a regiment. We may be lucky in being counted out after all. It is expected that the columns will move through the Confederacy and emerge on the other side, and rest on the Atlantic coast. I would like to be with them. The sights and satisfaction would amply repay the fatigue and hards.h.i.+ps.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Nov. 5. A pleasant day once more. Camp somewhat astir this morning from the fact that Lieutenant Simpson read dispatch from s...o...b..and last night directing him to go to Marietta and draw horses if possible to enable us to take the field, but it was again countermanded before any harm was done. He went to Allatoona in the afternoon to inspect their guns. Trains pa.s.s in plenty but no mail.

Infantry turn over all their wagons but one to-day. Drew rations for those in hospital. It is to be broken up.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Nov. 6. Cold, disagreeable and rainy. Ordered to prepare for inspection, but were visited by the paymaster before it came off, a welcome visitor too. Paid us for July and August. Tickets were circulated this afternoon for the election next Tuesday, none for Iowa County. I wrote off such, and wrote a letter to John.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Nov. 7. A fine day. Health good. Received letter from home. On duty in the afternoon. No news. Trains pa.s.sing in great numbers, taking stores to the front. Artillery and wagons, etc. to the rear. Walked to town in the evening. Met Mother Bickerd.y.k.e on the hospital train going North after supplies. Shook hands with her and had a motherly chat. n.o.ble soul. Thy memory will remain bright when that of traitors and rebels lies mouldering in oblivion. Thy smiling face is a cordial to the lonely soldier, better to the aching heart than money or medicine.

[Sidenote: 1864 A Vote for Lincoln]

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Nov. 8. To-day is the day granted Americans to exercise their highest rights as members of a republican government, the right of suffrage, each man having a voice in the choice of his ruler.

And thanks to the just laws of Wisconsin, this right is not withheld from us while far away from home battling for the right. And the issue is understood in all its momentous importance. Shall this Union be preserved, the war prosecuted to a successful end, with honest Abraham at our head, or shall we resign our object after such a sacrifice already offered to the faction that seek to place McClellan in office.

After duly qualifying the judges, Lieutenants Simpson and Jenawein and 1st Sergeant Sweet, and clerks G. Dalrymple and Q. M. Sergeant Sweet, the polls were opened at 9 A. M. and voting was soon over with. I cast my first ballot, a straight through Union ticket. I am seven days too young, but I voted with a clear conscience, thinking I had earned my right. 2 P. M. the polls were closed and votes counted, giving the glorious result of seventy-five for Lincoln with "nary one" for "little Mac". This made me feel proud of the command to which I belong. It shows the true principles. On guard. Weather raining. 14th Army Corps marched in from Kingston. Camped 2 P. M. to allow the men a chance to vote.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Nov. 9. Misty and damp night. Caught a bad cold on guard. 12th Battery took guns to town this morning, leaving them there for us, and took ours off in exchange. All our harness is boxed up. The infantry have struck tents, turned them over and expect to start on the morrow. 14th Corps lay quiet all day. Trains are being loaded with camp and garrison equipage, contrabands and refugees. From all appearances this line is to be abandoned, and Sherman is about to strike a telling blow upon the Confederacy. My knapsack is packed and I await orders.

WATCHING HOOD

[Sidenote: 1864 A Busy War Town]

Enroute, Thursday, Nov. 10. A bright and beautiful day. On detail after rations in the morning. Cartersville presenting a very busy appearance, filled with teams. Our troops turning camp and garrison equipage over to be sent. Refugees of every age, color and description are on every corner. Now that a general abandonment of the line is apprehended all are anxious to avoid further misery in the Confederacy. Returned to camp to eat a hearty dinner, and then broke camp and went to town. Did not get loaded till 9 P. M. Everything put up in the smallest s.p.a.ce. After we had filled our corner, several families of negroes and refugees stowed themselves away. Horses sent by land in charge of Sergeant Keeler.

Chattanooga, Friday, Nov. 11. Spent the night in broken slumbers stowed away in the smallest imaginable s.p.a.ce under a caisson, very cold.

Daylight found us near Dalton. Stopped an hour to await trains. Several more families of refugees stowed their baggage away under our carriages.

Boys procured whiskey on Simpson's order, several becoming gloriously tight. 11 A. M. ran into another train, throwing one car off the tracks and frightening several women. Lots of the boys jumped off, slightly injured, but not seriously. The road along here has evidences of Hood's depredations, for miles bent rails, etc.

2 P. M. we entered the "Hawk's Nest", Chattanooga, busy as ever. Mule teams and refugees so thick we could hardly move. Here we stopped, having no orders to go farther. Simpson telegraphed to Major s...o...b..and.

Had we the orders we would have gone to Nashville 5 P. M. but as it was we must lay over. Met four recruits at Ringgold, took them along. Two of them brothers to our 1st Sergeant and Quartermaster, four of them together now.