An Artilleryman's Diary Part 42

Chattanooga, Monday, March 27. Two men took sick on guard last night, so I had to stand four hours. Our sick list is increasing a little, three men off duty from sore eyes. Fixed up our bunks in the forenoon, in the afternoon was detailed "daubing." We moved into our new home after supper. Six bunks put up each end of the house, which is 12 x 18 ft., but there are but fourteen in ours yet. Bunks made of shakes, no boards given us. Griff and I occupy the middle berth.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, March 28. Last night when darkness spread her protecting veil over us, Griff, D. Evans and myself started out and appropriated some of Uncle Sam's lumber for Uncle Sam's benefit, or at least his boys. Returned with enough to make our bunks. Makes no difference where we got them. Cloudy and rained a little this forenoon.

On duty all day with Sergeant Goodwin covering stables. Somewhat tired.

Have caught a bad cold, mouth and throat sore. Sergeant James and Van Brocklin taken sick very sudden about 4 P. M. James will not live long if no change takes place.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, March 29. Rained last night. Feel no better with my cold. Sergeant James some better this morning. All the men not on duty ordered out to police the country round. Was out with the crowd in the forenoon. Cleared and leveled off the ground in our front, forty rods around. This afternoon detailed with the house builders, put up the logs for Captain's house. Rained heavy toward evening. Houses shed rain well.

Chattanooga, Thursday, March 30. No rest for the wicked, for the present at least. Was on the inevitable detail as usual working on Captain's house. I and another man sawed out the door hole and corner blocks in the forenoon, roofed it and fixed ready to move into it in the afternoon. Rained till I was wet through before quitting time. Feel tired and somewhat sick from my cold. Dye finally reported from furlough, six days behind time. David Carpenter also joined us, having been relieved from duty at 3rd Division, 15th Army Corps headquarters.

He left the good old command at Pocataligo, and came via Savannah and New York. News is splendid all around, would like to have a little from home though.

Chattanooga, Friday, March 31. Felt much better after a good night's rest. A very cold morning for this season. Notified by Corporal Ray to get my breakfast early and go out to the hill to chop and load logs.

Gone all day. I found four letters when I returned, and in them I was surprised to find the familiar faces of Sisters Mary and Ellen. Look as they used to three years ago. I a.s.signed them a prominent place in my alb.u.m, which is a precious treasure to me.

[Sidenote: 1865 "April Fool"]

Chattanooga, Sat.u.r.day, April 1. This is "All Fools Day" as I was very forcibly reminded this morning by a cutting "April Fool." Many besides myself were victimized in camp. But there was no April Fool about the morning detail, and I must come on. Nailed shakes on the stables till dinner. After dinner, stable detail was not called out, but left to police camp. I staid indoors and wrote two letters which I ought to have done before, but could not find the time. Lieutenant Sweet's house finished to-day and they have moved in. Rumors of leaving are already afloat, generally the case when once we become comfortably established.

Good news and plenty of it.

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 2. A beautiful sunny day. On guard, but by virtue of a little blacking on my boots or something else, appointed orderly for the day, which is an easy thing. Carried down the mail and brought a little back. Had all the rest of the day to myself, which I pa.s.sed very pleasantly reading and writing. At evening I felt there was much happiness in this life if one is disposed to receive it.

VICTORY

[Sidenote: 1865 "Richmond Is Taken"]

Chattanooga, Monday, April 3. _Richmond is taken. Victory! Victory!!

Victory!!!_ After three years of long, anxious and prayerful waiting for this crowning news, it at last comes with the verifying signatures of A.

Lincoln, U. S. Grant and E. M. Stanton. It reached camp in the shape of an extra about 2 P. M. in but a few hours after it was known in Was.h.i.+ngton. And when it came I was hardly able to receive it, and I still could but fear of a contradiction that hithertofore has been so painful. Its effect on the camp was curious, each one moving briskly aglow with animation. Organized cheers is played out amongst old soldiers, but the broken, wild Indian-like whoops that pierced the air nearly all the afternoon would almost be considered terrific by "tame people". At 6 P. M. one hundred guns were fired from the surrounding hills. Each boom called forth a hearty response from the many tented hills and hollows of Chattanooga, and seemed to crush the last lingering doubt in every bosom. Who will dare doubt that the end is to be glorious?

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 4. The morning _Gazette_ gives nothing but a confirmation of yesterday's news. The day is pleasant and men to work the engine of war are still being transported Knoxville-ward. Lee now will look for a green spot in a Confederate oasis in which to rest his weary limbs, I suppose. It aint East Tennessee, Sir.

This afternoon orders came to draw horses and we thought of marching ahead, but were withdrawn, military usage. Some in camp are already discussing when they will get home by virtue of the "end of the war".

One-year men think we will all be home by July. Some veterans think "New Year's about the time." I wish they could all go when I go, but there is much to do yet, ere harmony and peace can be restored, and the soldier must do it.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 5. After reading the morning _Gazette_ to find the painful "no news", when we knew there were armies in commotion, the details came, and my lot was to police in front of batteries with thirty others, post teams hauling. Worked all day but n.o.body hurt himself. The mail has been very short for two or three days.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 6. Very rainy and wet. No duty till noon when orders came to draw horses immediately, so to-night we have one hundred and forty-five horses in our new stables. Rather a poor quality all through. Much curiosity is manifested by some as to what and where they are to be. Drivers are anxious to receive the best teams. They will not be apportioned till to-morrow.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 7. A very heavy rain fell all last night, accompanied with vivid lightning and heavy thunder, which scared our sentinel on the guns off his beat, piteously imploring the corporal in tears to relieve him if he had any sympathy for him, which is the cause of some merriment in camp this morning.

The forenoon spent in dividing horses to the different platoons.

Afternoon they were a.s.signed to the men. Our teams are composed of good horses, but the cannoneers' horses are the leavings, and a very poor-looking set. We drew them by lot, and I drew a bony plug, not yet of age, I should judge. Corporal Parish has a.s.signed me to No. 3 on the gun. My duty will be to "tend the vent." I would rather have another number as it is a heavy responsibility in action.

Chattanooga, Sat.u.r.day, April 8. A nice sunny day. Everything looks very pretty, the little birds chirping a merry welcome to spring. On guard.

Received two letters. Artificers busy painting carriages of the Battery.

Ordered to have an inspection by Major Mendenhall as soon as ready.

Orders have been received to consolidate the 3rd Battery entire with the 6th Battery. Men looked for daily. 8th boys are afraid they will have to go back.

Another big batch of news to-day. Phil Sheridan has whipped Lee himself, capturing eight generals. Hopes to compel surrender, but I think he is too confident. Some in camp go so far as to prophesy a formidable movement of 6th Battery on Madison, Wisconsin, soon.

[Sidenote: 1865 "John Brown" and "Dixie"]

Chattanooga, Sunday, April 9. Notwithstanding a night as delightful as could be imagined, to-day it rained nearly all day most desolately. Had to ride to the river to water twice, got well soaked every time. We have to go over a mile on account of steep banks. Wrote home. In the evening the spirit moved all in our house and we had singing in variety, good old orthodox hymns mixed in with "John Brown" and "Dixie" most irreverently. It seems to relieve the spirits, but I do not know but it is wicked.

Chattanooga, Monday, April 10. Wet and muddy day, but no one knew it for we had such good news. 11 A. M. a bit of paper no bigger than my hands was distributed with the words

"Lee has surrendered his army on terms which I dictated."

U. S. Grant.

It was enough.

1 P. M. the cannons spoke in thunder tones. Two hundred guns fired in rapid succession, around us on all sides, which mingled with the huzzahs of troops, reminded me very forcibly of more stirring scenes which I have witnessed. G.o.d grant that we may know no more such. How the thought of peace and tranquility throbs in each soldier's breast when he thinks of the home and a.s.sociates he left so reluctantly to follow the path of duty, soon to be restored to him. No wonder his spirits should be exuberant, aye, even intoxicated with delight. But pen and paper is altogether too tame on such occasions. I'll write no more.

Chattanooga, Tuesday, April 11. Lee has no doubt surrendered! but it did not stop detailing in camp. I was one of the lucky ones to report to the Inspector General (a man from each Battery) 8 A. M. And we went to work on a miniature "Dutch gap ca.n.a.l", two large ponds of stagnant water lying between the camps were to be drained and carried off to the river.

And by supper time we had the satisfaction of knowing that it was not a failure like Butler's, but carried off ague and diarrhea with a rush. Am a little tired but do not regret the labor bestowed.

Chattanooga, Wednesday, April 12. Another of the many rainy days that we have to experience in this country, a continuous stream poured down all day. Had to water the horses twice, doing which I got thoroughly soaked each time, but it would not be military to change.

Received letters from home stating they had their wheat all in. Here the trees are not in leaf yet, although spring has opened six weeks ago.

What little farming is done here goes on very leisurely, while Wisconsin gives the husbandman but a short season, and he must go at it with a rush. So give me the cold regions, that demand energy, in preference to the balmy South that cultivates sluggish habits after all. This is a great cause of the backwardness of Southern agriculture. As long as the one-horse shovel-plow, made out of a crooked stick works, why should they ask for better, they think. But the day of reformation is at hand.

Progression has vindicated her rights by the b.l.o.o.d.y hand of war.

Chattanooga, Thursday, April 13. A sunny day, but Chattanooga is sick with its nature element, viz mud, thick and thin, wherever we go. On duty all day. Did not work hard. Took our horses out grazing, outside the picket this afternoon. Rather small picking. Gathered a beautiful bouquet of delicate spring flowers, violets, forget-me-nots, sweet williams, etc. I wish I could carry them to mother's sick room. Track out of order somewhere. No mail. Six men from the works reported to Captain Hood, formerly 3rd Battery men.

Chattanooga, Friday, April 14. On guard once more, and eight hours more of the rebellion to be trod out by night. The day is very pleasant.

Grazed my horses and Griff's as usual. Men are scarce to take care of all the horses. Those not on duty drilled an hour, foot drill, in the morning.

12 M. Another salute of two hundred guns fired in commemoration of raising aloft the stars and stripes on the ruined walls of Sumter, where four years ago to-day the heroic Anderson was obliged to pull it down by the traitorous crew. To him is the glory of replacing the good old ensign over that work that now lies in ruins, the fate of all treason.

The soldier heart swells with the same emotion as now stirs the bosom of our n.o.ble President and great Beecher. G.o.d bless them and our Country.