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A. L. Peel Civil War Diary Adjutant, 19th. Mississippi Regiment August 1861
August 1, 1861 - Sgt Black arrived this evening with our Tents, We hardly had time to stretch them before dark, & it rained very hard before we ditched around them; so we had to sleep on the wet ground I do'nt feel well to night. August 2 - Cousin Elie & Billie came over to see us this morning the first time I have seen Billie for many years The 17th Regt moved on towards Senterville this evening, I have seen two other Regts marching in that direction wouldn'nt be surprised if they wanted to fight. I wish we were where we could get better water. there is so much filth in the creeks & springs are scarce August 3 - We drilled like the mischief to day. Add went out & got some butter, eggs & honey. we made it all disappear very rapidly. We have orders to get up & commence packing, ready to march, I dont know where, August 4, 1861 - We packed up & Marched off from Bull run this morning, to find a better camping place will go 4 miles south of the Junction, it is very warm we arrived at 11 a.m in an old stubble field will camp here Peter & I soon found ourselves in the shade but had to leave to stretch Tents. The sick boys all got in to night This is sunday, we always have work on the sabath. generally have to rub our guns, we had dress parade this evening August 5 - We had a drill this morning. Some of the boys went to the creek & bathed. Some of them braged about the nice dinner they got in the county guess it was very good, wouldnt object to a little myself. had some very tight orders read this evening, August 6 - We have past the day as usual. think I'll start Capt Sam out to get something eat soon, Rone went out & got some chickens & Potatoes I wrote a letter, wish I could get one from home, August 7, 1861 - Drilled a long time this morning Pryor went over to the 11th Regt Said he got a good dinner, some of the boys went to the Depot & ate a water melon, how I would like to get one, August 8 - I am Corporal of the guard to day & there are a good many Irishmen under arrest, I wrote a letter home to day, Would like to see them all down there. August 9 - I went to the Depot to day with Sgt Black we had some clothes washed there was nothing there that I wanted. I rubbed my gun nife & Pistol this evening. it is very warm, August 9 (repeated), 1861 - Add & B. Dean went out in the country & got some good things to eat, they were gladly received. I wrote a letter Home, dont know why they do'nt write oftener, sent some letters to Lu at Winchester. August 10 - I & R. young went to the 11th Regt to day & took dinner with Fox. got Turkey suip and Dumplings, came back & went to to the Creek & bathed, the damn Leaches bother a fellow mightily. I saw Two ladies from Mississippi they came up to see their sons. August 11 - Nothing of importance has transpired to day. I washed some clothes this evening & read the Bible &c. August 12, 1861 - We drilled to day as usual We heard that there was a fight at Lee's Burge yesterday I dont expect it was much of a one, would like to hear the results of it, August 13 - Alfred went out & got us some chickens, Eggs, Beans, &c, guess we will have a nice time for awhile. Black, Pryor & I went down to the creek took some paper bathed & wrote a letter home, it is raining to night, the wind is blowing like the mischief August 14 - We have passed the day as usual, There was as soldier buried near our Camp today Member of a South Carolina Regt. Dr Antony of Byhalia came to our camp this evening & brought the boys some letters Our Major is promoted to act as Col of another Regt. we hope that he will stay there, August 15, 1861 - Fox came over tho see us this morning & took dinner with us, we had a xocial talk of the good time we would have if we were at home, I & Peter read the Bible this evening & discussed religious matters, We had a Sermon tonight from a Baptist. August 16 - One of the Warren Rifles died last night with Measles was buried to day. I am Corp of the guard to day it is very wet & drizly I do'nt like the idea of sleeping on the wet ground, darn this way of guarding a Regt out here where it is alll a motter of form. I must get to the guard house,, Lu came this evening, I ate a Water melon August 17 - One of the Avent? Southrons died last night August 18, 1861 - This is Sunday, I rubbed my gun this morning but it rained so that there was no inspection. it has been raining all day. I have writtern two letter, We had bacon & dumplings for dinner, I read 3 chapters in the Bible, one of the Soldiers who August 19 - It is still raining it is very bad for the boys who have the measles, We ate a water melon it was splendid but not enough for Eight hungry soldiers, Capt Haymer arrested & whipped a negro for selling Whiskey to the soldiers, We eat another melon this evening, it is still raining we had no drill so I took a nap & awoke and read a chapter in the Bible August 20 - it rained last night. my tent blew down. I did'nt awake up untill late, we all got out & stretched it & slept till morning. It bids fair to see pretty weather to day, the clouds are scatering and the sun shining occasionaly & I am able to eat my allowance of fat meat & bread and hope you are enjoying the same blessing We had corn for dinner I took on a good bate of it, then read a few chapters in the Bible, We drilled this evening the first time in a week, on account of bad weather, August 21, 1861 - I was sick last night but awoke this morning feeling very well. the weather is clear I am Corporal of the guard have Two men on double duty. I bought some Pies, & Honey from an old hoosier. I reported a sentinel for leaving his Post Without permission. We took up Three men for Whiping a negro. An old man & old lady and Three young pretty ladies dressed in moaning came out to our camp this evening, But I was too sick to enjoy seeing them. I have been quite sick all night August 22 - I was releaved from guard this morning at 8 returned to my tent & found Lu, Pryor, Peter, B young all sick Durley returned from Winchester this evening, he looks very bad We eat a Water melon at dinner it was very good I took a nap awoke and read the bible, I have been bothered a great deal for a few days, A Soldier of the 2nd Miss Regt was buried here this evening, it is raining & will be a wet night August 23 - I am not well this morning Add & Pryor went over to the 17th Regt. they returned this evening said that Elie & Billie were both sick I am feeling very weak I read a few chapters in the Bible & then took a long nap August 24, 1861 - I awoke this morning feeling very bad & took some medesin & read a few chapters in the Bible We have been playing cards in my tent all the morning I intend to put a stop to it, We eat 2 Water melons this eve I had a tooth drawn Five ladies came to out camp August 25 - This is Sunday We rubbed our guns & accouterments and cleaned about our tents ready for inspection, a soldier from the 1st Regt was buried this morn onr in the Springport invincible died this morning & will be buried this evening. Fox came over & took dinner with us I read several chapters in the Bible Nolton left our mess this eve & joined no 5. Two more soldiers were buried near our camp this eave from the 11th Regt. August 26 - I went on duty to day & drilled like thunder Sam, Add & I went about a mile after straw to put in my tent, could'nt get any so we cleaned all the straw out & will spread our blankets on the groud. Cap Sam & Alfred concluded to invent something to eat & when it was made they called it a Pudding,, And after eating it we all thought that it deserved the name given it. A Soldier from the Alabama Regt. was buried here to day, Dave Bowen & a good many recruits came today. We were very glad to see them, they brought several trunks of clothes, some letters and eatables &c We are all in high spirits We have got no letters before in Three weeks, August 27, 1861 - several Irishmen got to fighting last night & a double guard was ordered to arrest them. they were all drunk Col Mott threatened to kill one if he resisted at all, we were ordered to load our guns Black & I offered our service & we had to stand & guard them all night we gagged all of them Col Mott made them get some large sticks of wood and drill in a squad with it all day using their wood as arms, our recruits think that is a devil of a way to do. We had Pudding & milk & Peaches for dinner to day C Bowen will sleep with us to night August 28 - It is raining this morning We had no drill, D Bowen Leut Dean Tyson R. Dean & I went over to the 11th Regt Elie & Billie Peel are sick & have gone out in the country to stay till they get well. I wrote a letter this evening August 29 - It was raining this morning when we got up. So we did'nt drill any. the Prisoners were moved to an old negro's house last night Pryor was Corp of the guard & caught a very bad cold & came back to camp very mad as usual, A Company of negroes came in this evening to throw up a batttery to protect the Bridge. August 30 - It is still raining Mr Dean went out to the Battle Field. J. Bowen went to the Junction to get a discharge for H. Garett & got some letters out of the office. We had a Pudding & Peaches & milk for dinner, I wrote two letters, our new Recruits think this is a great life but they will soon learn better August 31 - R. & A. Dean, Tyson & I went over to the 11th Regt nearly all the university grays are sick I bought a bushel of Peaches & some roasting years A member of Davis guards died last night was buried this evening. |