 ,December 1 Our cavalry Brought in about 500 head of cattle this morning & attempted to swim them across the Bayou & lost 100 of them December 2 The News Reached us today that General Banks has been successful in Texas [Likely referring to the Battle of Brownsville; Source: Wikipedia] December 3 The cavalry captured about 30 more Rebs Near Camp Pratt: one Coln [Colonel], one Major, one Lieut[enant].  December 4 Peter Wilkes Reported to the Company today which surprised us, as it has been 6 months since we heard from him. [Peter Wilkes enlisted 18 Aug 1862 at Watkins, NY, in Company B, NY 161st Infantry Regiment when he was 21 years old; mustered in on 9 Sep 1862 as a Private; he was absent sick at Elmira NY no date listed; on muster roll in December 1862; at New York City Hospital from June 1863 through October 1863; on Company muster roll 31 Dec 1863;mustered out with the Company on 20 Sep 1865 at Fort Jefferson, FL with the rank of Private. Source: http://ancestry.com] December 5 Co. B & H [were] Relieved at the Wharf at New Iberia & Reported to New Iberia. December 6 This is a very pleasant Sabbath. Everything is quiet in camp. We have but very little to do. December 7-9 <no entries>  December 10-11 <no entries> December 12 There is not[thing] unusual going on in camp. Our mail arrived today & Brought me 3 letters from wife, Father and Ann [perhaps this was Charles' sister Adelia Ann] December 13 Today I have written one letter to wife & mailed it December 14 161st Regt went out with forage train. P. Wilkes , G N. Wright & myself confiscated one Duck, one chicken & one sheep and a canteen full of molasses. [G. N.Wright enlisted 11 Aug 1862 in Elmira NY, age 24; mustered in 9 Sep 1862 as a Private; mustered out with the Company at Fort Jefferson FL on 20 Sep 1865. Source: http://ancestry.com] December 15 Today we are on picket. We had our poultry for Dinner. In the afternoon some cattle made a Descent on our post.  December 16 We [were] Duly Relieved this morning & came in Camp & [drew] one Days Rations of flour & made flapjacks for Dinner. It has Never Rained harder than it Does Now 4 p.m. December 17 Our mail came this evening while I was Busy Baking some flapjacks for supper. I received Adelia's pictures [Charles' younger sister Adelia Ann may have married Isaac B. Haines around this time]. December 18 161st Regt went after forage again today. 3 of us got one Scoby [Muscovy] Duck, 2 chickens & a quarter of fresh pork. December 19 G. N. Wright went on picket today. Peter & me cooked our Duck & took Wright's Dinner out to him. We had a very lively meal. December 20 Peter is on Camp guard today. This is a very pleasant Day. December 21 Half of Co. B is Detailed for guard Duty. Our Duty is very hard at present.  December 22 Today I am on camp guard. Peter Wilkes was sent out with the forage train. December 23 We [were] Duly Relieved this morning & had our Ration of Whiskey & quinine. [Quinine was used as a preventive treatment against Malaria and mixed with whiskey to disguise the bitterness.] December 24 We had general inspection today & tonight the officers of the 161st Regt [are] Nearly all of them as Drunk as a pack of fools December 25 I am on picket today can hear the officers & men in camp a frolicking & Raising old Ned [an old folk name for the Devil] Instead of tending to their Duty. December 26 We [were] Relieved from picket at 9am. December 27 Last night we had a outrageous Rain Storm. We [were] Nearly flooded in our tents.  December 28
161st Regt was sent in front this morning to garrison the the fortifications for the next 24 hours. December 29 We [were] Relieved at ten am & Returned to our miserable old camp Near New Iberia. The Roads [are] very muddy December 30 The weather became extremely cold last night from which we almost suffered alike. December 31 It continued cold yet the ground has frozen very hard, something that has not been seen in this state before since 1830.
1 Comment
Ted McElroy III
5/30/2016 10:26:32 pm
" raising old ned". Ha, love it. Leave a Reply. |