Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, February 14, 1862

Left Camp Woodsonville, Ky., on our first march or counter-march, for two months all but two days remaining in this camp. Getting marching orders to our whole Western Army to right-about or counter-march to West Point, 20 miles down the Ohio river, below Louisville, going a march of 14 miles through mud and snow six inches deep, and encamp the night, not having our tents with us, on account of the roads being so bad that our baggage-wagons could not reach us; so we had to make ourselves as comfortable as possible by building square pens of rails, and sleeping on the tops of these pens, to keep us out of the snow and from the frosts of winter.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 10

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, October 17, 1861

Left Pittsburgh for Louisville, being ten days in Camp Wilkins, getting equipped and fitted out. Went on board the "Silver Wave" steamboat, and a short time after the front part of the hurricane deck gave way, letting many of our soldiers and musicians fall to the lower deck, hurting two men badly. We moved down the Ohio river three days and three nights, cheered from either shore by hundreds, and safely reached Louisville, Ky., on the 20th of October. Making a march of 625 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 9

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: between January 7 & 15, 1864

Corraling our horses and mules and leaving them in charge of the non-veterans, the regiment on the 8th of January, with drums beating, colors flying, and hopes beating high, march from Pulaski, Tennessee. Arriving at Columbia we take the cars for Nashville, where we remain in the Soldier's Home until transportation is furnished. Transportation being furnished we proceed by rail to Louisville, Kentucky, where we remain until we receive our pay and bounty-after which we cross the Ohio and take the cars for Springfield, Illinois.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 221

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: between January 19 & February 28, 1864

"Southward, ho! How the grand old war-cry
Thunders over the land to-day,
Rolling down from the eastern mountains,
Dying in the west away.
Southward, ho! Bear on the watchword,
Onward march as in other days,
Till over the traitors' fallen fortress
The stripes shall stream and the stars shall blaze,
And the darkness fly from their radiant van,
And a mightier empire rise in grandeur
For freedom, truth, and the rights of man.”

After mingling for a while so pleasantly with the good people of Illinois, enjoying their hospitality and receiving from them many words of cheer, we rendezvous at Camp Butler, February 18th. While here we add to our rolls a large number of recruits. Noble men they are who have been waiting patiently to arrive at the necessary age for a soldier. That period having arrived, they now seem to feel proud in their uniforms of blue. Colonel Rowett having been by special order, (contrary to his wishes,) assigned to the command of Camp Butler, on the twenty-second of February the regiment, under the command of Major Estabrook, takes the cars for Dixie. Arriving at Louisville, Kentucky, we receive transportation for Nashville. On arriving there, we are furnished lodgings in the Zollicoffer House. The regiment will long remember the accommodations received there at the hands of the government contractors. How the bristling bayonets clashed together at the entrance, and how they practiced their expert chicanery to work their egress therefrom.

Remaining here until transportation is furnished, on the twenty-eighth we proceed on our way to Pulaski, Tennessee. The trains running all the way through, we arrive in our old camp at five P. M.; all seem glad to get back; the non-veterans are glad to see us, and hear from their friends at home; and even the mules send forth their welcome.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 225-6

Fight at Perrysville, Ky.[Bragg] [De]feated.

LOUISVILLE, Oct. 10, P. M. Yesterday [morning] Buell attacked Bragg’s forces at Chaplin [Creek in] the immediate vicinity of Perrysville. A shor[t but] terrible fight ensued, when the rebels [broke and rap]idly fled over three diverging roads  southward.  [Our] forces are in close pursuit; and hope to bag the lot.  At last accounts Gen. Gilbert’s forces [were in] the rear of the rebels, and some distance [below them.]  Military exigencies require the suppression [of the] name of the place. No further accounts [of the loss]es on either side.

LOUISVILLE, Oct. 10.—Great anxiety [and excitement] exists here respecting the fate of [of our soldiers] in the pending battle. Capt. Aldershaw [is on his] way hither from Bardstown, with the re[mains of] Gens. Jackson and Terrell, and Col. Webster [of the] 18th.

Among the Perrysville casualties are, killed—Gens. Jackson and Terrill, [acting Brig.] Generals Webster and Lytle of Ohio; [Lieut. Col.] Jewett and Major Campbell of the 15th [Kentucky] cavalry.  Col. Pope of the same [regiment is] wounded.

There is no confirmation of the [death of Gen.] Sheridan.

Gen. Rosseau is reported slightly [wounded.]

Col. Woolford, of the 1st Kentucky [cavalry, af]ter five charges, took two batteries, [and the enemy] after hard fighting, were driven 8 [miles.]

The foregoing relates to Wednesday[’s fight.]

Various rumors are circulating of [a fight] yesterday, (Thursday) said to be [favorable to the] Federals but are traceable to no [authentic source.]  At headquarters, 11 o’clock Friday [morning,] have received no advices from the [battlefield later] than Wednesday evening.

Our force in that fight was about [15,000 infantry,] 8 batteries of artillery, and 2,500 [cavalry, but were] reinforced toward the close of the [engagement.]  The rebel force has not been [estimated.]

Thursday morning we occupied [an advantageous] situation on all sides of the enemy. [Our troops are] in high spirits and are confident [of victory.]

Our loss in killed and wounded [in the] battle was 1,500.  The enemy’s loss [is considered] much greater.

The 10th Ohio lost 282 killed [and wounded] yesterday.

Company B. Capt. Farman [of Pope’s regiment] mostly from Louisville lost in [killed and wounded] all except twelve men.

SOURCES:  The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, October 18, 1862, p. 2, the right side of the article was caught be the seem of the bound newspaper volume and partially torn from the binding I have had to reconstruct the article by using articles from the Muscatine Weekly Journal, Muscatine, Iowa, Friday, October 17, 1862, p. 4, the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Saturday, October 11, 1862, p. 2 and The Rock Island Argus, Rock Island, Illinois, Saturday, October 11, 1862, p. 2.  The missing or illegible words from the Union Sentinel article appear in brackets.

George L. Stearns, writing from Nashville, Tennessee, September 5, 1863

Left Louisville on Friday morning and arrived here at 6.30 p.m. Have seen Governor Andy Johnson. He is well disposed, understands the subject, and will co-operate and advise me. His aid will be very valuable. From him and others I got the following information. For years a large number of persons in this state, many of them wealthy slaveholders, have entertained feelings hostile to slavery, but did not dare to share their thoughts with any man. Many were afraid to think on the subject.

SOURCE: Preston Stearns, The Life and Public Services of George Luther Stearns, p. 309

Diary of Captain Luman Harris Tenney: Sunday, June 4, 1865

Reached Louisville before noon. Overtook the Columbia. Our boat the Prima Donna. Slow time getting through the canal at Louisville. Columbia went over the falls. In evening had some music and rehearsal by Barnitz. Good.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 166

Major-General Henry W. Halleck to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, October 16, 1863 – 9 p.m.

WASHINGTON, October 16, 1863 — 9 p.m.

Major-General GRANT,

Cairo, Ill.:

You will immediately proceed to the Galt House, Louisville, Ky., where you will meet an officer of the War Department with your orders and instructions. You will take with you your staff, &c., for immediate operations in the field. Wait at Louisville for officer of the War Department.

H. W. HALLECK,    

General-in-Chief.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 30, Part 4 (Serial No. 53), p. 404

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 25, 1862

Many severe things are alleged against the President for depriving Beauregard of the command of the Western army. It is alleged that Bragg reported that the enemy would have been annihilated at Shiloh, if Beauregard had fought an hour longer. Now, it appears, that Bragg would have annihilated the enemy at Perryville, if he had fought an hour longer! And just at the moment of his flying out of Kentucky, news comes of Beauregard's victory over the enemy in the South. Nor is this all. The enemy some time since intercepted a letter from Beauregard to Bragg (a copy of which was safely sent to the government here), detailing his plan of the campaign in the West, if he had not been unjustly deprived of the command. But Bragg chose to make a plan of his own, or was directed to disregard Beauregard's advice. No one doubts that Beauregard's plan would have been successful, and would have given us Cincinnati and Louisville; but that of Bragg, as the one sent him by the government, has resulted in the loss of Kentucky, and, perhaps, Tennessee!

Brig.-Gen. Edward Johnson is recommended by Gen. Lee for promotion to major-general, and to be placed in command of the army in Western Virginia.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 175

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 3, 1862

Gen. Wise was countermanded in his march against Williamsburg, by Major-Gen. Gustavus W. Smith. He had 2700 men, the enemy 1500, and he would have captured and slain them all. Gen. Wise was the trusted and revered Governor of Virginia, while Smith was the Street Commissioner in New York.

A strong letter from Vice-President Stephens is published today, in which it is successfully maintained that no power exists, derived either from the Constitution or acts of Congress, for the declaration of martial law. He says all punishments inflicted by military governors on civilians are clearly illegal.

There is a rumor that we have Louisville, but it does not seem to be authentic. We have nothing from Lee, and know not exactly where McClellan is.

Many people thought the President himself would take the field. I doubt not he would have done so if the Provisional Government had continued in existence until independence was achieved.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 163

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, July 22, 1865

Weather quite pleasant today. Our regiment was paid off this afternoon, and we received our discharge. This makes us free men again and we at once left Camp McClellan for town. I went to the Davis House and stopped for the night. Mr. Hatch came to Davenport for a load of us.

I bought some clothing this afternoon, the first citizen's suit which I was permitted to wear in four long years. I also bought a good watch for $50.00, which with my clothing, $41.50, amounted to $91.50.

The Sixteenth Iowa arrived this morning from Louisville, Kentucky. The men of our brigade, on being discharged, seem to be scattering to the four ends of the earth; even the boys of Company E, after bidding one another farewell, are going in all directions.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 289

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, July 11, 1865

Troops are leaving daily for their homes. The boys are all active in getting everything squared up with one another before leaving for their homes. We get passes to the city as often as we can, to buy things we want before leaving the army for good. The boys are getting small photo gems taken to exchange with one another; I have already received over sixty in exchange.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 287

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, June 28, 1865

We still have brigade guard. There is a great deal of dissatisfaction in the veteran ranks on account of their not having been discharged yet. The Indiana troops are finding the most fault, as they can almost see their homes just across the Ohio river, but dare not cross over. They have been making an effort through the Louisville papers to get General Sherman to tell them why they are not being discharged. Sherman answered them also through the press, assuring them that the Government will discharge them just as soon as it can get to them.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 284-5

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, June 24, 1865

Weather pleasant. The Fifteenth Iowa received their pay today. I received a pass, and in charge of four boys of the company spent the day in Louisville. The city is patrolled by large numbers of provost guards and I had to carry my pass in hand all the time. I bought some clothes and several articles to take home. My bill came to $26.40, as I spent $8.50 for a pair of pants, $9.00 for a jacket, and $3.75 for an album, besides other articles.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 284

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Thursday, June 15, 1865

The men found so much fault with our camp on the low ground and made so much complaint about it at headquarters that our division was ordered to move to higher ground. We moved today to a large piece of sparsely-timbered land, high and rolling, where we will have a fine camp. It is about two miles south of Louisville. The Fourteenth Army Corps and one division of the Twentieth Corps, with the exception of the eastern men in these two corps, have arrived at Louisville.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 283

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Monday, June 12, 1865

The boats ran all night, and we passed Cincinnati about 1 a. m. At daylight we landed at Ornod, Indiana, remaining there about two hours, till the fog lifted. We arrived at Louisville about 4 p. m., and disembarking, marched out about eight miles below town where we went into bivouac. This is a miserable place for the troops to camp, being very low, the next thing to a swamp, and heavily timbered; we cannot remain here long without its resulting in a great deal of sickness.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 282

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, June 13, 1865

We had a thunder shower early this morning. The Eleventh Iowa signed the muster rolls this morning and we expect to get our pay in a few days. The Army of the Tennessee is in camp in and around Louisville. The veterans are becoming very much dissatisfied, as they were expecting to be discharged as soon as the war was over, but there is no sign of their being discharged very soon; besides that, we are kept in ignorance of it all, not knowing what they are going to do with us. Some of the boys think that we shall be sent down to Texas on duty, while others believe that we shall receive our discharge within a month or six weeks.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 282-3

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Saturday, June 10, 1865

We had a heavy thunderstorm and rain early this morning, which made it very disagreeable for us on our open coal cars. We arrived at Parkersburg on the Ohio at daylight and left the cars. We cooked and ate our breakfast and then at about 8 o'clock went aboard the transports, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon we left for Louisville, Kentucky. The Eleventh Iowa and the Thirty-second Illinois Regiments are on board the transport “Empress.” We have a fleet of five boats, which besides the “Empress” are the “Nord,” “America,” “Revenue” and “Edinburgh,” the headquarters boat. All the boats are heavily loaded and we are crowded, but it is much more pleasant than in the open coal cars, and while the sun is hot, it is not so oppressive as on the railroad.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 281-2

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, June 6, 1865

We received orders to leave for Louisville, and drawing four days' rations turned over to the general quartermaster our regimental teams and wagons. We expect to start in the morning. The Third Division of our corps started this morning, while the First Division left yesterday morning. The troops are leaving Washington as fast as the railroads can furnish cars; they even bring in all the open cars not in use and crowd the soldiers onto them until there is no standing room. Large numbers of soldiers have already left for their homes, while others are going to different cities to remain in camp for a while.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 280

Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Wednesday, June 7, 1865

The First Brigade of our division left at 5 o'clock this morning for Louisville. Our brigade left camp at 3 o'clock this afternoon and marched to the Baltimore & Ohio station, where we boarded the cars. We were put on open coal cars, and there were so many to the car that we could not lie down and straighten out.¹

_______________

¹ It was nothing short of disgraceful for the Government to treat the soldiers that way after the war. The War Department should have taken more time to move the soldiers from the city. — A. G. D.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 280-1