Jan 1, 1864: (Keokuk) The good people intended giving the soldiers an oyster supper this evening, and the boys are trying to get their stomache’s in shape to hold a large ration.

Jan 2^nd: (Keokuk) Fire in town on the corner of 3^rd and Johnston Street. Some property destroyed.

Jan 4^th: (Keokuk) The surgeon of the 23^rd called to see me. He was on his way from down to the regiment.

Jan 5^th: (Keokuk) J. H. Davis of my company got a several days furlow for home. He lives in the south side of Wayne County. It will take him 2 days to go and 2 to return. He thinks a short stay is better than none at all. Wrote home to the folks.

Jan 6^th: (Keokuk) The weather very cold. Letter from home.

Jan 12^th: (Keokuk) Haven’t written any for a few days, waiting patiently as could be expected under the circumstances for an order to move. Received a letter from M. Christopher enclosed $16.00 some money due me. Wrote home again.

Jan 13^th: (Keokuk) Wrote a letter to M. Christopher.

Jan 16^th: (Keokuk) J. H. Davis returned from his visit home. Stayed over time, but don’t count, he is here to answer to his name.

Jan 17^th: (Keokuk) Having plenty of time – wrote home.

Jan 18^th: (Keokuk) Got my medical certicates made out and signed.

Jan 19^th: (Keokuk) A reception and dinner for the 2^nd and 7^th Iowa Infantry. They veteranized and are on their way to the front again. The dinner was served in the dining hall of the 1^st Ward this hospital. They was a lively lot. I met two of the 7^th boys at the hotel this evening and they were taking on considerable corn juice. They told me they would be commissioned on their return and it was making them feel good. I am afraid I had to fib to them to get away.

Jan 20^th: (Keokuk) Got a letter from home, but will not answer it until or before I start south.

Jan 22^nd: (Keokuk) Paymaster came today and will commence paying troups in hospital here.

Jan 23^rd: (Keokuk) Received a letter from Anna. Went to the doctor’s office and he said he was going to send 75 convalescence with me to the front, which makes it very nice for me. I will get my transportation furnished free.

Jan 24^th: (Keokuk) It is warming up some and rather pleasant after the extreme cold. I and G. W. Erwin went to church at 11 o clk. Wrote a letter home, possibly the last from here. Erwin and I went to church this evening. I first Sergeant Dennis and Corporal Erwin very agreeable gentlemen while rooming with me. Dennis’s wife visited him a short time in October. She was a very fine lady.

Jan 25^th: (Keokuk) Making preparation to start tomorrow. I will express a few things home to Anna. My regiment, is on the coast in Texas at Indianola on Matagorda Bay – will take me several days to get there.

Jan 26^th: (Keokuk) Will not get off today as expected. It always takes time.

Railroad - Civil War
From: Library of Congress

Jan 27^th: (Keokuk) Called on Captain Dwite quartermaster this fore noon and got transportation and rations as far as Cairo, Illinois. This afternoon got my squad in line, marched down to the river crossed over the ice to Hamilton. While waiting for train to arrive I could notice that quite a number of the squad of seventy-five had taken on more whiskey than they could conveniently carry. Some rather tipsy and inclined to hunt for trouble. When the train arrived, got them aboard and off for Decatur, Illinois.

Jan 28^th: Had some trouble with the muzzle loaded whiskey ammunitioned lot last night. They stopped the train twice, I had to order the arrest of any person pulling the bell rope. On our way to Decatur to Hamilton the rations had to be transferred. 2 soldiers was detailed to see to it but when we arrived at Decatur, there was neither rations or 2 soldiers. They had failed to obey orders. They will get into trouble and they have only themselves to blame. The boys will have to do without anything to eat until we arrive at Cairo. We stopped a short time at a hotel at Decatur waiting for train, but got off about daylight. Before I left Keokuk some soldiers came to me and asked me if they could not go with us to different point in Illinois. I told them it was all right with me if the conductor of the train did not find them out. I had the names of all in my charge. When the conductor came through they would ask how many men I had in charge. I would tell him the number and show him my transportation. Then the question would be is there any more on than I had transportation for for I would tell him to count them. As soon as he would commence counting the boys would raise the yell, and they would quit, finding business in some other part of the train. One soldier got off down in Egypt. He told me he had not seen his wife and their children for 2 years. Asked me to let him stop off for 5 days. He said his wife lived in a small town and near the railroad tracks. I told him if he would run the risk and not let the provo marshal get him, I would let him off. When we got to the station he came and bid me goodbye and I told the guard to let him off. His wife saw him step form train, and she and the children met him. The boys on the train swung their hats and gave a yell. They said it was good for the eyes to see and old soldier and family meet. We arrived at Cairo this evening and went to the barracks. The men could get rations and a place to stop.

Jan 29^th: (Cairo, Illinois) Sent part of my squad up the Cumberland River on their way to the front. Got transportation and started down the river this evening. I lost part of my squad this morning, but I find when I started that I had gained more than I lost. There are always soldiers at the different points on their way to their regiment. Often they will stay quite a time at one point, quite often then are not sent forward rapidly as they should. No person to look after them, and get transportation for them. And often find furlough men without a cent of money on their way to their regiment. Such fellows are very willing to fall in with a squad so they can get their transportation and rations without trouble to themselves.

Jan 31^st: (Memphis, Tennessee) Landed my squad at the barracks where they find very good rations and well cooked. I gave them the privilege of the city but not stay away long at a time from the barracks.

Feb 1^st: (Memphis, Tennessee) The boys are enjoying themselves today. The 2 soldiers that neglected to change the rations on the way to Decatur came up today and they wanted me to take them in my squad again. I told their guards to take them to Fort Pickening that I could not trust them. The guard told me as soon as the train pulled out and left the, they tried to sell the rations. They expected to have a good time. But they were arrested by the pro marshal and sent on under guard. All soldiers not in charge of a commitions officer is sent to the fort, and they have no privilege until they are sent on to their regiment.

Feb 2^nd: (Memphis, Tennessee) Got transportation to Vicksburg and will start down today. Leaving some and taking other in their place. Found a member of Company A of our regiment. He tells me he is out of money and out of rations in fact is having a hard time getting to the regiment. I will take him along.

Feb 5^th: (Vicksburg) Arrived here this evening. Went to the barracks and found the same treatment we received at Memphis. Which is good.

Feb 6^th: (Vicksburg) The city much cleaner than it was 6 months ago. Don’t see dead carcasses lying in the hot sun and the dreadful stench. Everything in the shape of filth is buryied or burned. My feet has swollen very much and I went to the hospital and the doctor examined them. They said it was dropsy. I was given some medication to bath them in, and returned called at headquarters and got my papers which will take us to New Orleans. My squad has increased to 150. Got aboard boat this evening and moving down the river.

Feb 8^th: (On Board Boat) We find a great deal warmer weather then when we crossed the Mississippi at Keokuk a few days ago the ice was 2 feet thick. Here today it is flowers and blossoms, green grass and green forest, everything has the appearance of summer. On our way down we passed Port Hudson, Ellis Cliffs, Natchez and today Baton Rouge.

Feb 9^th: (New Orleans) Arrived here this fore noon. We marched to the cotton presses and turned the command over to the officer in charge. Was informed that probably would get off tomorrow evening again. I went to Strongs Lodge and stayed all night.

Feb 10^th: (New Orleans) Meet Morrison Collins of my Company. He is on duty at the commissary department. He and I made a trip through part of the city. The city is much lower or at least the same than the watter in the river. The river is held in its channel by a very wide and high levee. The waste watter from the city runs through and drains into Lake Ponchertiarn. We got aboard the George Peabody for Passcannalla, Texas this evening.

Feb 11^th: (On Board George Peabody) We stopped sometime at Fort Jackson and arrived at the mouth of the Mississippi at about 8 o clk a.m. We were just sitting down to breakfast when we struck the Gulf of Mexico. At the table there were 13 commition officers. And excuses to leave the table came thick and fast until all had left but I and one other. And it did not affect us in the least. There are about 500 troups aboard of which a large majority is sea sick.

Feb 12^th: (On Board George Peabody) We see the blue above the watter beneath. Saw some flying fish and a few porpoise, a large fish with a nose very much like a hog. The weather is fine, sunshine and calm. The troups aboard is getting over their sick spell and say their feeling fine.

Feb 13^th: Arrive this afternoon at Passcanalla, and part of us were transferred to a coast boat. The others would continue on their way to Brownsville, Texas. We found it anything but pleasant getting from one boat to the other. The transfer was anchored some distance from shore and George Peabody could not cross the bar, and the old gulf would not be still. One boat would go up while the other would go down and they they would jam together. When they would move apart on a regular seesaw. We came up the mouth of the bay past Fort Espuranza to Decroes Point and landed about sun down. The soldiers was to receive rations from the commissary here. 3 of us however had quite a time before we got anything. The cook on board seemed to be terror stricken when the captain of the boat was around. In fact the Captain looked as mean as a man as ever walked the deck. But we got our suppers when he got out of sight. We spread down our blanket in the cabin and went to sleep.

"Last evening came what they call a northerner – it was the most disagreeable word I ever felt."

Feb 14^th: Arrived at Indianola this morning and got off the old dirty coast boat and marched up the bay to New Indianola meeting our regiment and escort to another regiment that had veteranized. They will go down on the boat we came up on. Our regiment goes as far as the boat landing and will return. We found a very fine camp – dry and grassy. This part of the coast was very low and the land lying back from the coast as far as I can see is very level. Looking from here toward Port Lavacka. Hundreds of cattle can be seen grazing on the short grass and they seem to do well on it this time of year.

Feb 17^th: (Indianola, Texas) I was detailed for picket last night. Last evening came what they call a northerner – it was the most disagreeable word I ever felt. The fore noon of yesterday was fine, but last night was one of the most disagreeabe I ever passed on picket. Our port was up the bay and near it, and we had the full blast from the north west. It was not cold enough to freeze watter but could successfully chill to the bone.

Feb 18^th: (Indianola, Texas) The troups have plenty of beef and oysters. Plenty of cattle on the plains or prairies and oysters out in the bay. The boys takes a boat and a rake made for the business, and go out and rake up bushels of them. They eat them raw and fried and every other way – to suit their taste.

Feb 19^th: (Indianola, Texas) Made out my papers to appear before a board of enquiry (as to my leave of absence).

Feb 20^th: (Indianola, Texas) Appeared before the board to and submitted my papers and was ordered to report for duty, and hope I can get my pay when the paymaster makes his appearance. Another cold blizzard today.

Feb 21^st: (Indianola, Texas) I have caught cold and am not very well.

Feb 22^nd: (Indianola, Texas) W. H. Clancy of our company was captured to day. He was detailed to help bring in cattle. Part of the detail made their escape. Those captured was taken to Port Lavacka. Sick today.

March 9^th: (Indianola, Texas) Have been sick since the 22^nd and cannot walk without assistance. Ordered to move from here. Jared H. Davis and R. G. Browning helped me on board a boat. Jared will go with me. Browning will march with the regiment. The boat is crowded with refugees mostly woman and children. They are following the army to be fed. They claim they are destitute – nothing to eat and but little to wear.

March 14^th: (Espuranza) (Matagorda Island) The whole outfit sick soldiers and refugees was landed here today. Jared got a tent and set it up and we are doing the best we can under the circumstances. We are camped near Fort Espuranza. This Fort commands the entrance to Matagorda Bay. It was built by the rebs but was taken by our troups on their arrival here. It is very pleasant and when the sun shines, it is very warm. I heard the doctor tell the captain that there was 99 chance for us to die than to live.

March 14^th: The regiment is in camp out on the island and we are going to move out today, Jared and I. (Can’t write).

March 20^th: (Matagorda Island) Got so I can walk around again. A storm came up last night and blew down a number of tents. I walked out to the shore to see the gulf. It takes it some hours to calm down after the storm. I was resting and trembling. When two waves would come together, the watter would fly high in the air.

March 21^st: (Matagorda Island) The surgeon Dr. Corwell advised me to resign, said it would take me months to get able for duty and possibly not at all if stayed in this climate. The trouble is chronic diarrhea, jaundice and general disability.

March 22^nd: (Matagorda Island) Got my papers written out for a discharge and signed by regiment officers.

March 24^th: (Matagorda Island) Examined by the Division Surgeon, and got my papers as far as division head quarters. (Very sick)

March 27^th: (Matagorda Island) My discharge was handed to me by the Colonel this evening. As soon as I can get a boat I will start for New Orleans.

March 28^th: (Matagorda Island) The regiment was paid today, but I will not get nay pay until I arrive at New Orleans. Several of the boys got up a supper for my benefit and also present me with a small, but a very fine $3.00 knife for which I am thankful. I have been treated very kindly by the company. If I had had the same treatment by the Colonel, I would think much better of him.

March 29^th: (Matagorda Island, Texas) Making preparation to start home today. John Fulton went down to the quarter masters and got my transportation for one as far as New Orleans. Several of the company will send money home to fathers, mothers and wives. Total amount $645.00. Bid the company good bye at 1:30 o clk. Came down to the Fort got in a small boat and went out to the ship, Platoon, and got aboard. Started out and in to the gulf about 4 o clk. I find but little accomodation on board. The berths all taken mostly by women going to different parts of the country. Some as far north as Ottumwa, Iowa. They claim destitution and unsettled conditions of the country the cause of their exodus from their homes. I did not get aboard soon enough to get a berth and I will have to take my blanket to the forecastle in the sailor cabin to sleep.

March 30^th: (On Platoon, Gulf of Mexico) Since we started until this evening the weather has been fine but wind is coming up and is blowing very hard and the ship is pitching fearfully. At supper I found it any thing but pleasant, if the dishes had not been stationary they would surly slid all over the cabin floor. The coffee did not want to stay in the cups and in most cases would not stay in the stomach. Well I guess I will have to lie down. I am getting sick.

March 31^st: Sick, sea sick, can’t sit or even hold my head up and the wind still blows.

April 1^st: (Platoon, Gulf of Mexicos) Getting better this morning and the wind still blowing. This afternoon wind going down and I after some trouble and with the assistance of one of the soldiers got on deck and watched the old gulf. The ship just acted like two boys taking a long board, put it on a large log, one on each end and commence going up and down. It is something as a side boat. Occcasionally the watter would run over the front of the boat when a long wave would strick it. Came up through the south west pass into the Mississippi about 4 o’clk and into smooth watter would run over the front of the boat when a long wave would strick it. There is something the matter with the masthead of the ship since it has calm down. They cannot use the sails we are going very slow. Well we can now get a good nights rest and eat our supper with some comfort. The passengers came out on deck and all engaging in the pleasant evening.

April 2^nd: (Platoon, Mississippi River) Still fine this morning. Saw a man start up the levee in a two horse buggy, and he drove off and left us. The wind is coming up and the sails will help the speed of the ship. One large ship passes us. The Evening Star on her way to New York via Havana, Cuba. She was a fine boat and ran very fast. An officer on board had a microscope and we put in our time surveying the county, rice fields, orange orchards and fine plantations. Saw the homesteads of the Slidels and cemetery where some of them were buried. Passed English turn where the battle of New Orleans was fought between General Jackson of the American army troups and General Peckinham and the English forces.

April 3^rd: (New Orleans) Arrived here last evening, but did not get off until late. We had to wait until we could get our baggage taken to the hotel, or Strongs Lodge. You pay 50 cts for bed, and you can go to a restaurant and get as little or as much as you please for a meal. The company gave me $25.00 to buy them stamps. I went to the post office and bought them, put them in a large envelope and directed it to Captain Littell as requested. Went to the paymaster but did not get any pay. Met Morrison Collins of our company again and we took the town in as he calls it.

April 4^th: (New Orleans) Went to the paymaster and drew pay $889.83. Went and bought a trunk and a suit of clothes for a change and 11 yards of delarin for Mother, 33 yards of lawn for Anna and my two sisters (Tabitha and Rachel). Then put the time in looking over the town. Went out to the cemetery, which is a very fine one. The rich people have tombs of marble and rock and are not buried in the ground. Saw the tomb of General Bauregards wife. Saw the potters field where hundreds of unknowns and the very poor are buried. The street car runs out there. Collins and I went to the cotton presses and in the evening went to some places of amusement. When we returned to the lodge I bid Collins goodbye, expecting to start home tomorrow.

April 5^th: (New Orleans) I and Sergeant Blackburn of Company E of our regiment concluded to go as far as St. Louis together. We had some trouble to get a boat we concluded not to wait for a government transport but pay our way. This afternoon we concluded to go on the boat Pauline Carroll, got our baggage on board and ourselves.

April 6^th: (Aboard Pauline Carroll) Quite a number of passengers aboard. Both civil and military. Two marine officers on their way home on leave, they are a gay outfit, also 3 gamblers of the avaricious kind. When they can get any person to play with them, they generally succeed in getting their money. They are a tough shipment of useless humanity.

April 7^th: This morning at the landing Natchez. Putting off some goods and taking on some. Started up about 9 a.m. Passed Grand Gulf near sundown. It commenced to rain and get very dark. Saw what they call a Jack O Lantirn. The boatman tells me they are frequently seen here this kind of night.

April 8^th: Arrived at Vicksburg last night and still here this morning. Some troups came aboard. General McArthur was on the a short time, the General in command here. His staff came aboard and filled up with liquid refreshments. They had some trouble with a dispatch bearer from Memphis, and they was to blame. If they had been at their office instead of here half drunk the trouble would not occurred. Started up at 2 p.m. Passed Sherman’s canal and our old camp at Youngs Point and Millikens Bend and the battleground of June the 7^th last.

April 9^th: Stopped several time for wood on our way up. From the way the mate of the boat talked to the deck hands a person would come to the conclusion that all semblance of manhood had disappeared from them. If two mates of a boat are not the most abusive and profane persons that breaths I do not know where they can be found.

April 10^th: Last night a soldier got up in his sleep and fell over board. He was on his way home after serving 3 years. He and another comrade were sleeping on the cabin deck and near my out side state room door. He comrade tried to catch him, but failed to so. His body was not found. A sad affair if nothing had happened him at the farthest, it would been but a few days he would been with families and friends at home. Passed Helena, stopped but a few minutes.

April 11^th: Arrived a Memphis last night and started up this morning. Passed Fort Pillow saw some of Forest Rabbit Cavalry on the bluffs not far from the fort we heard that Forrest was concentrating his cavalry some place in the vicinity. And the captain of the boat is on the look out for trouble. I notice he is running close to the west shore. Possibly Forest intends making a raid on Fort Pillow, we passed however and are not molested.

April 12^th: Passed New Madrid at 7 a.m., Hickman at 109 a.m. and stopped a short time at Columbus, Kentucky and arrived at Cairo at 3 p.m. Most of the soldiers and passengers landed here, there has been all the way up more or less soldiers and officers aboard. Some of the officers is at the bar singing, "Will drink stone blind." If they don’t quit soon they will get too blind to get off. We started up the river for St. Louis at sun down.

April 13^th: Last night at 10:30 p.m. the boat struck a sand bar and in trying to get off the rudder was broken. After some hours they succeeded in getting off and landed and tied up on the west side. Got the Damage repaired and started at 12 n today. Arrived at Cape Girardeau at 3 p.m. and took on some passengers. Some young men came aboard. I suppose some was never on a boat before, when supper came they could not order what they wanted to eat from the bill of fair. They would wait until they saw other passengers ordered then they would say I will take the same he does.

April 14^th: This morning at eight a.m. at Benton Barracks, and at St. Louis at 10 a.m. I bid Sergeant Blackburn goodbye, he is a fine fellow and a good man to travel with. He had several hundred dollars, taking home to the families of his company as well as myself. We have between us about $3300.00 and all in green backs except $500 which I have in a draft. We roomed together on the way up and did not spend much time out side of the cabin. After night he goes to Kansas City and Omaha. I took a cab for the Everett Hotel – got dinner. Sent an order for my baggage to be transferred from the Pauline Carroll to the Warsaw. Got aboard the later at 3 p.m. for Keokuk. The boat is very much crowded but I succeeded in getting a room.

April 15^th: (Aboard Warsaw) At Quincy, Illinois 12 noon and at Keokuk 9 p.m. Came to the Duning Hotel for the night.

April 16^th: A man of company A of our regiment, sent some money by me requesting me to express it to his wife from here, which I did this morning. Had my baggage sent to the depot, took train and arrived at Ottumwa. Got on stage for Drakesville and arrived here at sun down, making eighteen days from Passcanall, Texas. The distance from Passcanall to New Orleans 550 miles, from New Orleans by river to St. Louis 2100 miles, from St. Louis to Keokuk 200 miles, from Keokuk to Drakesville 75 miles, total 2925 miles. I found Father and folks well, but Anna and Ida had gone to Wayne County.

April 17^th: Father and I went to Drakesville. Saw Hamilton Drake and he cashed my draft of $500 for me. William Hail told me that himself and wife is going to Centerville tomorrow and that I could ride that far with them on my way to Wayne County.

April. 18^th: Came as far as Centerville with Hail today, and stopping at hotel for the night.

April 19^th: When I got on stage today for Corydon. I found two of my company on their way home on furlough, I. E. Orven and George Munden. We arrived at Corydon in the evening. I met W. M. Rankin and I rode out with him to where Anna was stopping at G. W. Morgan and wife, her sister. On her folks Robert Gray place in Warren Township—arrived here at 9 p.m. and found all well.

April 20, 1864. To day will end this diary. It will take a few days to distribute the letters and money sent by me from members of the company to their families. And after that a horse harness and wagon to buy, house and fencing to repair. In fact commence where I left off July 26, 1862.

In this sketch I have tried to get the exact facts as it occurred. Possibly at sometime it will be read by some one long after the writer has answered to the last roll call.