August 22, 1863
And fine day. But rather warmer today. Some more of the boys that had furloughs come back today. I wrote a letter to Henry today in answer to one that I received from him and mother. I also [answered] Mary Janes letter & wrote to William in the same sheet. Evrything is quiet. Goes on right. I sett up about evry third night. There is four volunteers evry night. There is two that has to [be] waited on, one has his arm off & he has the fever. Also he is verry bad off. He will die, I think. The other one is shot through hand. He is doing well. Have to pour a pint of water on the wound evry quarter hour & that is all, so he don’t take much care. I have set up a number of times. Do many little things around the ward for the boys that can’t help themselves. There is only three in our ward that has to be waited on.
August 23, 1863
And fine day, pretty warm. This being Sunday, we had the usual inspection. Also the usual sermon. But I didn’t attend for church was called before we got through dinner, so late was dinner. Then I wouldn’t go. It was about 1 oclock when we had dinner. I finished reading my testament through today. Mother will be glad when she hears it. But at the same time, I might have read it through several times since I have been in the service. I still keep studying tactics. I am getting along well with them. I can do much better at it than at grammar, for I am more conversant with it of late & my mind is turned in that direction more.
August 24, 1863
And fine day, quite pleasant today. The fellow that had his arm taken off and has been sick [with] the fever for three week died about noon today. He died verry easy without a struggle. But Oh, what a condition he was in. Nothing but skin & bone. It is a hard sight. I didn’t notice a man much dying on the battlefield but this looked hard. He being a German & Roman Catholic he had the Priest in to see him some four or five times and just before [he] died he came again and administered the last tribute. He went through different motions &c to numerous to mention. But it seemed to have the desired effect. It was verry soluemn and impressive. There were quite a number of his friends in to see him. If he had been under the care of Doctor Crall (our doctor), I think he would not have died for he has had several bad cases and they got through all right and didn’t [get] the fever. He uses water on the wounds. But the other fellow Downs don’t believe in. He poltices instead of water. And I believe that is what caused his fever, then death.
There is a sutler shop opened this morning in the yard, he having built a shop. It comes verry handy for the boys, if he will sell as cheap as out in the town.
August 25, 1863
And fine day. Nothing of consequence transpired. I had a pass today. Went out an hour or so after supper. We had a number of showers today, a verry hard one while I was out. Come verry near being wet to the skin, got a little so as it was. We have had so much fine weather of late that I almost forgot to mention it.
August 26, 1863
Fine day. Quite cool. I slept with two thicknesses of blanket over me and about half the day could wear my coat without being uncomfortable at all.
August 27, 1863
And fine day. Our ward & Ward F can’t get passes today nor no more till we find out and bring notice to the Head Doctor who it was come in through our ward. There is one man pretends to know. He will divulge the secret I guess, although he & some of the boys are a little ornery. And he, to Plague them a little by keeping them in, won’t tell till he gets ready. The boys really abused him and commenced on him before they had a right & that had its influence so he wouldnt tell till he got ready. And I don’t blame him much.
August 28, 1863
And fine day. Had several little showers today. We get no passes today. The boys are getting somewhat excited about it in both wards. The Doctor says unless we get the rouges we can’t have a pass for 60 days. That they must stop running the guard and coming into the back windows & the 2 rogues belong to neither ward that are being punished. But they come into our ward window on purpose to throw it on us. The Guard couldn’t tell which of the two wards they come into so Ward F comes in for a share. I have told the Boys repeatedly that they hadn’t ought to go out there nor allow others to & we got blame for it many times when the boys come from other wards & went out on purpose to keep the guards from coming into their ward to look them up. Thereby they would miss punishment and blame. But our boys darned anybody that would inform on any soldier going out the window. They were so short sighted that they couldn’t see what it would come to. But I thought that they couldn’t always break the rules and not be catched. I tell them they brought it on themselves & laugh at them while they curse all and evrything. Oh I will be glad when I get out of the service just on that account.
The news in the morning paper is cheering. I buy a paper every morning. Gilmore [Union General Quincy Adams Gillmore] has taken Forts Wagner & Sumpter [Sumter, at Charleston, South Carolina]. The work has begun in earnest. Sumpter is crumbling to the ground. I wrote a letter yesterday to Sarah & John & the day before a letter to Amos and the day before one to Mary.110
August 29, 1863
And fine day. Rained a little towards night. A shower only. The boys got passes today. The fellow that knew one of them fellows that came into the ward through the window went and reported him so they put him in the Guard house and they put another fellow in. But some say he is not the right one. But let them fix that as they may. We get passes again. And some of the boys that made so much fuss about it didn’t want to go out then. But that is human nature. Some more come back that have had furloughs. But none of the boys are getting furloughs. They are waiting till after we get pay which we expect about the 10th of next month. I hope so at least for I want to stay till I get it, before going to my Regt.
The Doctor gave me a chance to go on guard if I chose, instead of going to the Regt. But I choose to go to my Regt after being paid. I may have done wrong to myself in refusing for it is a good place here. But I think of the boys in the field and the hard fare & hard times they have. And that I ought to be there to share it with them and in some ways make it easier on them. And being a noncommissioned officer, if it is of the Lower Grade, it will have it influence. And by such staying away others will be kept that would not. I don’t mean to convey the idea that I have any influence. But I think it is the other way with me. At least if I should have any influence, I would be as much surprised as when I got the menial office that I now hold. The office is only a secondary consideration in my estimation.
In a letter I have from my Co. I find there are many of them taken prisinor that were not wounded. There were two that died from their wounds & 8 wounded, also Lieut A. A. Kidd. 6 were missing or taken prisinor rather. 2 of them were slightly wounded. The others had nothing the matter but fatigue and that was so with all of them that got away. I guess there is not much sympathy for those that were taken prisinor that were not wounded.
August 30, 1863
And fine day. Quite cool, cold enough for frost last night I thought. But I don’t know as there was any. The boys get passes and all goes on right. I expected a letter today but didn’t come. I havn’t had one for near a week. Think is time. We are to be mustered tomorrow. Most of us for 4 months pay. I for one have $52.00 due from my Uncle.
August 31, 1863
And fine day. We were mustered today. All went off right. And we soon expect to get our pay. There is a number of the boys off one way and another. Some has overstayed their time on furlough. This is the last day of the summer months & I expect in one year to be in the State of Wisconsin on my way home from the Capitol, that is if I am permitted to live so long.
September 1, 1863
And fine day. Still continues cool. They are fixing to send of a lot of fellows. There is as many as 30 in the guardhouse. All of those will be sent and a number from the wards, probably me. For I refused to go on guard, choosing to go to my Regt when I got my pay. They are drawing clothing, fixing to go. The fellow from my Co that has been in the guardhouse for near a month, he is going for he has to
go for his misdemeanor or he wouldn’t have went. I think he never would volunteer to go. I would have went if we had been paid, although my head is not quite well. So I concluded to stay.
September 2, 1863
And fine day. The boys started at 10 A.M. today for their Regts. 76 in number, they made considerable noise & threats. Many apparently much chagrined at the having to go. At last they started. After dinner we commenced signing the payrolls. I have signed it. We expect to have our pay by the 10th next.
I started a letter to Mother today and a daily paper to Henry. The paper had a long argument in it on the Slavery question which I thought he would like to read. Our sutlers shop comes verry handy. I frequently indulge in a few cents worth of what I now call luxuries (viz Tomatos & onions &c) which we get verry reasonable, for which I pay cash, a thing that verry few of the boys have now. I still buy a paper evry morning. The only one that buys papers in our ward now. I expect evry morning to hear of the city of Charleston being in flames, but it don’t come yet.
September 3, 1863
And fine day. I had a pass today. Was out a couple of hours and while out I got my hair cut & a shave and hair cleaned. All of which I paid thirty cents for. I took my old hat out and expressed it home, it having the ball holes in it that gave me my wound. I received two letters today. One from Mother and Sarah and one from Minnie Spander in answer to one I wrote her some time ago. I feel in a verry good humor this evening having got two letters.
September 4, 1863
And fine day. Nothing worthy of note transpired. All I want now is to have my pay & then be sent to the Regt. I want to see the Boys, it will seem like going home almost. I am anxious to go when I get paid. We expect it soon about next Tuesday they say. Our Surgeon in charge has been assigned to duty elsewhere & Dr Betton been appointed in his stead which seems to please most of the folks working here. They didn’t like old Curtis as they called him. They thought he was to tyrannical. But I thought he done first rate. I guess the truble was he made evry one do his duty. And some didn’t like to be made to, and they raised a howl. And most people is apt to believe an evil report about a man sooner than a good one. I don’t or can’t find any fault now the way things is carried on. But at first I felt inclined to find fault more than otherwise. But I begin now to see I was wrong.
September 5, 1863
And fine day. Cool and pleasant with nothing transpiring unusual except scrubbing. This being Saturday, they get ready for Sunday morning Inspection which is as sure to come as day itself. I have taken some cold, by getting my hair cut. Some says it is by getting whiskers out (by the way of a joke) but really my face is just about as free from whiskers as when I left home.
September 6, 1863
And fine day. Verry. We had the usual Sunday Inspections. And church service. Our new Surgeon in charge give church passes to all that want to attend church out in the town. But some of the boys come drunk on such passes. They get them, they tell the Surgeon, to go to church. But alas, if they do, they visit some grog shop afterwards. I repeatedly have to receive jeers and scornful looks from many in my opposition to them. But I have give up saying anything, for it don’t do any good as I can see. The majority & a verry large one too of this ward has been under the influence of whiskey many times and there is one Orderly Sergeant that is drunk two thirds of the time and I am ashamed to confess that he belongs to the Badger state.
September 7, 1863
And fine day. But no pay yet. Now they say we get it Wednesday. Well twill surely come soon. I have mailed a letter to Henry today. Also one to Lucretia, she having got home and wrote me to that effect. So I answered it right of. I also got one from Caroline. I received two & mailed two. I was much surprised as well gratified to hear from her when writing from home.
I had a pass today but didn’t use it. That drunken Sergt that I spoke of yesterday tried to have me go out with him. But no. I could read him. He knew I had money and when he got me into some saloon or shop he would either want me to treat him or he would treat and then leave me to pay it. I have been fooled more than once that way by fellows having no money. And if a fellow goes out and buy a few apples or peaches there will be, perhaps, be a dozen soldiers standing and all looking askance at you. And most certain some will say: Say Billy (or who ever it may be) aint you going to treat. Then if I shouldn’t treat, they would commence some redicalous and make game of a fellow on the streets. This is one reason why I don’t go out knowing what bad repute the soldiers have got into this town. There has several scandalous affairs transpired in this town by the soldiers. And I can’t blame them for they certainly have cause to complain.
September 9, 1863
And fine day. The cool weather continues. There has been a change in the Surgeons. The Surgeon that was in charge of the hospital (Curtis) & the surgeon of our ward has gone to Charleston or rather Morris Island and Downs, the surgeon of the other side of the ward has taken charge of this side. The boys don’t like the change but most of them has got well or nearly so, they don’t want much attendance so don’t make much difference.
September 10, 1863
And fine day. A surgeon from Headquarters is here examining all the Patients. Those that are hearty and well evry way are put down for the Regt. But those that are invalids are put in the Invalid Corps.111 Some for the first & some for the Second Battalion & those that are not well of course remain till well. I being one of the latter on account of the heat hurting my head. He put me down for to stay here till cool weather. But I thought if I took a notion which I am somewhat likely to, that I might go before that time. I wrote a letter to Sergt F.A. Boyanton in answer to one I got some time since. One of the Ind. Boy got a letter yesterday. It stated that we were going to have a Brigade flag presented to the Brigade on 17th of the month & a picnic if the Johnys didn’t truble them.112 They expected President Lincoln would be there. But I hardly think it. I expect they will have a great time. I would like to be there. I hope they will enjoy themselves well.
September 11, 1863
And fine day. We got our pay today. I got mine in full $52.00. But after getting it I couldn’t get out to express it home. They let nobody out whatever. I judge from that that they are going to send some off, probably tomorrow. Many of the boys vow they will break guard. But that is rather dangerous buisness.
September 13, 1863
And fine day. We had no Inspection today. Church service as usual. But by some fellow from the country from the way he spoke, I thought he was a Methodist. Gave a verry good discourse. Quite different from the Chaplains reading Sermons. He spoke offhand and may [many] said they wished he was the Chaplain. They liked him well.
September 14, 1863
And fine day. Had a little shower about noon which made the air cool. This morning they are around notifying the boys that are going to their Regts. Dr Patterson, knowing that I wanted to, told the Surgeon in charge and he sent for me to come up. He wanted to see me. I went, found Patterson at the door to introduce as one volunteering to go. He received me verry kindly and complimented me for so doing. He put my name down. I gave him $50.00 to express home to Henry & told him I wanted to draw some clothing so he had the clerks fix it so I could get some. Many others wanted clothing, but they could not get it, I being the only one out of some 70 that they would let have [any] and they accommodated me in evry way they could, I being the only one volunteered. I drew to 2 pairs of drawers & 2 shirts & pair of socks.
At last about 10 A.M. they got us together and all ready in the front yard. And with giving us one thing and another kept us there till near noon when they gave us a lunch of bread & butter & hot coffee. After fooling around an hour or so waiting for the train we marched out to the depot. The cars soon come & we got aboard. Great time shaking hands and cheering & many acted verry unkind towards the doctors, blackguarding them & the hospital and evrything about it. But I felt quite different. I considered I had been taken care of and well treated in evry respect as much so as could be expect
ed.
At last the cars start & such yelling that old depot never heard before or the town either, for they was at it ever since they come out of the door of the hospital & kept at it till we got to the Provost Marshall in the city which is a large 5 story brick building. They put us up in the fifth story and there they kept yelling and the Bottle was passed pretty freely as it had been since out of the hospital yard. Here we had to stay till five oclock. Before this time arrived, another crowd numbering about the same came in from some hospital in the City & and some of them as well as many of our boys got pretty tight by this time & got to scuffling & playing and hollowing. We were so thick in the room that you could stir us with a stick. Their fun soon turned into a fight & the guard at the door yell for the sargeant of the guard. He come up but the Boys took him off the drunk man so he went and got a number of guards, the officer of the guard coming along. They come up & the Sergeant took hold of him again and some of the rough started again. But the officer, nothing daunted, drew his sword and told them to stand back or he would cut them down and ordered his men to load, which they done. But while the officer and guards were engaging their attention, the Sergeant got the drunkard down the stairs. When the officer drew his sword, whiskey Bravery soon wilted & would have submitted to most anything. So they soon got kind a civil.
Four Years With the Iron Brigade Page 30