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October 1861 October 1, 1861 - Another month has passed & we have not fought anything. Some of the boys are tight. J. Harris went to guard the Brigade Commissary took a canteen of whiskey along & got very tight. hired an old Irishman to take his place, so he left his gun &c came back to camp said that he had been guarding an old house all night October 2 - I am Corporal of the guard. Our Regt drew whiskey this morning We are out of provisions I made my dinner off of Irish Potatoes & will go to camp and get a few for supper B. McCluskey started home & took some letters with him for us. October 3 - I was released from guard at 8 oc this morn it rained all day so we didnt drill, Robt atarted t Rich mond two days ago Lieut Dean Bill Ellis & several other boys came to camp today We drew our money today 22 dollars each. October 4, 1861 - Only 230 men were out to drill this morning. Col Mott got mad & said that he would not drill such a squad, so he put some to cutting wood & turned the rest of us loose. I have been a little sick to day with flux... We are out of provisions.. October 5 - We got provisions this morning. We drilled as skirmishers this morn & evening. We were ordered to pack up & send all of our cooking utensils, and sick men back to the junction also 3 ment to wait on them. We have just got all ready to send off at six in the morning, nineteen of our company are sick & will go to the junction, We will keep a frying pan and camp kettle with us. Bryan has been out skirmishing says they met some pickits last night & had a little muss, one of our men was wounded , I expect that we will have a fight in a few days, Dr Hyer started for home this morning, October 6 - We awoke this morning at the usual hour loaded our wagon & sent it with the sick to the junction. our arms were inspected I then cleaned my gun & Pistol ihs is Sunday. I will go out to a wagon & get some chickens, ducks Butter &c & thin read a few chapters in my Bible. I then took a nap awoke and eat a very nice dinner we ate with the officers, I wrote a letter this evening, sit up late talking to Lieut Dean about home & better days. October 7, 1861 - Lieut Dean J Bony (& Pony?) started for home this morning We had Brigade drill received orders to take a Blanket & few cooking utensils & march towards Fairfax We started at 3 pm. D. Bowen is Colour Barrer We came through Fairfax at dark, it was raining very hard & we all got as wet as drounded rats. we halted four milse east of Fairfax, at an old out house twas still raining & very dark we halted in the road till we got some fire which tried to dry ourselves by, I pulled off my clothes, got them nearly dry then got some rails & folded my Blanket around me laid on them to keep outof the mud took a nap, awoke at 2 twas raining very hard & my fire was out, all the mess had deserted it I went to one of the houses found it 14 deep in Irishmen. but squeesed in, pulled off my clothes & dried them, now I will put themon & tumble in among the Irishmen. Who would not be a soldier. October 8 - We arose early this morning I had a Devil of a nap with the Irish. Capt Sam cooked an ash cake, Alfred made some coffee, I liked both very much for I had not eat any supper & was very hungry We started our march at 6. after going 5 ms we saw in a distance a yankey Picket saw 2 of our Pickets on a house top. they had shot twice at a yankey 3/4 of a mile off. We halted at Echois Creek struck fires, some body stoled our frying Pan, we had to bake Bread on a falked stick. We will never starve for want of cooking utensels, I am detailed on guard, three companies are sent out as Pickets. We crossed the creek on a log at 5 oc struck camp on a ridge, We only have 4 sentinels posted around our camp, all the lights were extinguished at dark. a dispatchh came from Johnson that he expected an attack before morning, October 9 - We awake this morning all right. Our company was ordered to go out on Picket guard. We left camp at 9 a.m. half our Company are held in reserve the remainder of us are stationed about in squads of from 4 to 8 under a non commitianed officer in our squad; are F Venn, L. Jackson & Sam Harris & Jacobs. We are in a half a mile of the the enemies Pickets & can see the smoke arise from their fires. we heard that they were consentrating in a mile & a half of us all last night. We supose that 5000 of of the enemy are in 1 1/2 mile of us. They killed one of our Pickets & wounded Two last night. I will now light my Pipe & extinguish my fire. October 10 , 1861 - I only slept 5 minutes last night. Robert came & brought us some coffee. Lieut Barksdale came to us at 2oc & stayed till day, Muskets are firing & drums are beeting at Falls church, Corp Gtreat? brought us some breakfast which was very gladly reveived We were relieved from our Post at 12 oc came to camp, some of Company D has taken our houses & stolen our tin Pan Coffee & frying Pan it is sprinkling rain the 11th Alabama Regt has come. we will go back to Centreville tomorrow Five men from each company went out scouting in front of our Pickets this evening October 11 - Our Scouts came in early this morning they went to Springfield & learned that it was visited by companies of yankeys every day and are camped in a mile & a half of there, the 11th Alab Regt has relieved our Pickets We started back to camp at 9 1/2 got here at 8 pm, We were very hungry & fatigued Add & Dave went to centreville got something to eat, October 12, 1861 - We had no Drill this morning, this is wash day. I sent all of my clothes out last week they have not come in yet Alfred & Sam have gone after them & I will have to get supper October 13 - We drilled in Brigade this morning. came back & shot our guns off. Cap Hardin Lieut Barksdale Black & I shot our Pistols at a target. I beat them The boys are fiddling and dancing to night as usual. I have read a few chapters in the Bible & rubbed my gun & Pistol October 14, 1861 - Our Regt sent some men to the junction to dry our clothing that is wet. We are not allowed to bring any to camp without an order from Col Mott, I wore a pair of new Boots on drill to Break them for Robt & blistered my feet. We are expecting to be attacked tonight at Fairfax, our Pickets were driven in if there is an attack, we will know it by a skyrocket being sent up at Fairfax the boys are dancing as usual I & Peter went out & got some straw for beds for tis Devilish cool. October 15 - We have passed the day as usual. Peter and I washed some clothes this evening. The wagons halled us some straw to sleep on,, We heard that they were fighting at Leesburg this morning. We sent our sick to the junction; I expect if there is a fight we will not have a hand in it. We receied orders to strike tents & fall back to Cub run at 2 oclock to night. We have struck tents loaded our wagon & are now waiting for orders to march October 16 - We left our camp last night at 4 oc. marched very slowly. came through centreville & camped at Cub run. Some of us took a little nap. We awoke at day light cooked a Breakfast. I do'nt feel well. I have a very bad cough. I think It will rain to day & get us wet. We left Cub run at 10 oc. this morning marched a mile west. Struck camp, the boys are busy making beds & fixing for grass for a bed, think I will have a nice sleep tonight Robert received his commission as Sergeon today. October 17, 1861 - Our Battalion Drilled to day as skirmishers,, orders are read for the guards to be very strict & for the field officers to examine all the ground near here in order to be ready for a battle. We elected Dean for our 2nd & Tyson for our third Lieutenant, Dr Hyer came to camp & told us that N. A. Hassell died yesterday morning October 18 - our arms were inspected this morning, We had skirmish drill this morning & passed the day as usual. Capt Hardin, I and several boys had a nice game of euchre? to night We have sent nearly all of our Blankets & clothes to the junction October 19 - It has been drizling rain all day & we have been sitting about camp waiting to hear the Ball open. I with four privates was detailed on Brigade Commissary guard. We have Three Prisoners. the Pickets bring them in frequently October 20, 1861 - I did'nt sleep very comfortably last night with only one Blanket, Byrd brought us our Breakfast this morning of Pickled Beef & Biscuit The first Pickled Beef that I ever saw I believe that it is mule. I bought some Apples & Smoking tobacco from a market wagon. Mr Falkner & Mr Hancock came from home, they passed us before we knew it, We were released from guard at an hour by sun We came to camp they have several letters for which they left at junction We will get them tomorrow. the say that 2400 Ton of frait is on the road for our company, We learned that the yankeys have fallen back Darn their cowardly souls, they are afraid to come when our eyes are open ready to receive them; maybe we can bag a few of them yet, October 21 - Dr & J. A. Matthews came to our camp last night, We were very glad to see them. they expected to get into a fight ,, But it is very doubtful, They will probably stay a week or Two, We drilled this evening. 10 of our boys are detailed to throw up a Breastwork, October 22 - This has been a very dreary rainy day. Add & J Matthews have gone to Warrenton Add has a bad cough. We heard that 10,000 yankees attacked 3000 Mississippians at Leesburg & were whipped our boys took 500 Prisoners 3 of our company are detailed to cook for them, I have written two letters, my old lady (Dave) is Sick with the jaundice. Frank Govan came to our camp from Leesburg. gave us a discription of the battle they had there yesterday. two of the companies from the 17th Reg brought the Prisoners 500 in No to the stone house October 23, 1861 - Billie Phillips & several other members of the 17th Regt. came to our camp & stayed till evening. We talked of the battle at Leesburg I am glad that our boys have redeemed their characters as soldiers. Capt Hardin, Hancock & Falkner went and saw the yankee Prisoners. Some of our sick boys started to Warrenton. I read a novel this evening. October 24 - It has been very windy & cold all day. Lu & Black are a little sick. I commenced to write a letter but our company was ordered to cook rations to go out on Picket guard. We started at 4 oc pm. marched about three miles. I have 3 men at my post namely W. Young, P. Jenkins, & Clemens. we are in sight of our camp & have a view of our army, it is a pretty sight the old fields are white with tents. We have quite a cool time to night. Bill & Peter will keep guard until 12 oc. And Clemens & I will keep guard till daylight. October 25 - Bill & Peter cheated us last night, they only sit up until 11 oc & the we had to sit up till day. We got Breakfast at a house near our post Peter & I came back and recorded the conversarion we had with the Host & Hostess. Pryor & Black brought us some dinner chestnuts Apples &c We were relieved from guard at dark. returned to camp & learned that our Regt will have to go on Picket guard tomorrow I feel very much fatigued so I will write a letter & go to sleep (* It ain't so Dutch - Peter) October 26 - We arose earlyer than usual this morning , our arms were inspected. We cooked provisions & fixed two Blankits each. Mc kneel came from Warrneton just as we started, brought me a knife & a cap which was sent from H. S. Miss. Messrs Falkner & Hancock bid us a goodby, they will start home to day, We came 5 miles north of Centreville & are now waiting for Col Mott to tell us where to camp. he had gone out to station some Pickets. I have just eaten my dinner and am sitting on my blanket by a tree We sun built bush huts & fires I drank a cup of coffee and went to sleep October 27, 1861 - I rose quite early this morning had quite a bad rest last night. it drizzled rain all night I built a large fire eat my Breakfast &c As this Sunday I ought to read the Bible but as I have none I will read a norvel. This is a beautiful day. I would like to spend a few hours at my old Homestead. I took a nap & when I awoke Black had bought a nice fat Pig which we Barbequed elegantly. After dinner our Three Companies were called into a line & orders were read to us, Bill, Black & I then cut two or three Trees down made a fine log heep fire & fixed our Bush hut finely We then took a nice supper We have fared as well so far as in camp. But I guess we will be put on posts tomorrow. October 28 - We had a very nice Breakfast this morning. Two Companies were sent out on posts, our Co. will remain here. Cannons are booming fast in the direction of Gainsville I expect that somebody is hurt. I played a few games of Euchre . took dinner and a Smoke, The boys are all Scattered about with their Blankets stretched on the ground playing cards, mostly draw Poker at Five Cents anty. We cut Two Trees down & made a fine fire, eat supper & will go to Sleep. October 29 - We left home 5 months from to day & have not Bagged a single yankey yet. We are out of provisions but I guess that we will go to camp this evening. The boys are grumbling and abusing the Commissary. A Regtcame to relieve us and we left at 3 & got to camp at 4,oc our sick are getting well, they have bought some chickens &c for us, The Irish got drunk & pitched into R.T. Bowen and T. Carter knocked them down but the officers interfered and prevented our boys from getting into them October 30 - We had company drill this morning. I wrote a letter, Our knapsacks &c came from the junction, Some of the boys have lost some things, I'll bet that we will not Send our Baggage off any more. I have warn one suit of clothes 5 weeks expect I'll catch cold by putting on clean ones, October 31 - We formed a line & Col Mott called our Pay role guess we will get our money soon We had no drill to day. |