August 1862

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1

The weather is very warm. Today I feasted on potatoes, onions, Tomatoes, pie, cake, & soft bread. Total expense $1.05. our regt is out on extra duty. Some signs of a retreat.

SATURDAY 2

All is quiet here at Harrisons Landing. The weather is very hot. At night it looks like rain.

SUNDAY 3

Divine servis at 9 A. M. I was not able to attend so wrote a few lines to mother. P. M. it rained & cooled off the air.

MONDAY 4

Corporal E. T. McCutcheon is promoted to Seargent & Privates Hugoboom & Presser to Corporals. H. met his office with segars (cigars)

TUESDAY 5

Early this morn heavy cannenadeing was heard at Malvern Hill. 12 A. M. report is that we have drove the Rebs. Last night I was very sick.

WEDNESDAY 6

I am growing weaker evry day. have no apetite. At 5 P. M. We had Division drill two hours. Then the long roll beat & the boys marched to Malvern hill 8 miles.

THURSDAY 7

during the night they came back four miles & camped. Now the Rebs hold Malvern hill. Evry day seems to be warmer. At night Seargt Savage came back from home.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8,1862

Today I reported to our new Dr. & he gave some medicine, which made me light as a brick. At 3 P. M. our Regt came in, some of the boys were sunstroke rd).

SATURDAY 9

The mornings are cool and pleasant but in the midle of the day old Sol gives us fits. Today Corp Van Vlack & Manhart returned from the Hospitals & home.

SUNDAY 10

Revelee at 3 A. M. Divine servis at 10. After dinner the Band boys started for home. At dark Peter Boardway came back loaded with nice things.

A. M. our tents were struck knapsacks packed & sent down the river. There is signs of a skadaddle. evry ½ hour a gun was fired & at dark a salute of 24 guns to commemeorate (commemorate) J. Bucannons (?) Death.

Today roll call evry hour so that we will be ready at any time to march. But no orders came. At 2 P.M. a heavy storm of wind. At 9 Capt W. came back.

At 6 A. M. Lieut Darby & Seargt Rader returned. Seargt Rader is raised to Seargt Major. My health is better than it has been for a long time.

Today I feel worse. The weather is not very hot. There is signs of our not leaving here today. McAid is proved to be a traitor.

Today signs of a general Skadaddle, the Drs. are sending off the sick & by meanes of Capt. W. I was permited to go. We had to walk to the boat. We left

Some time in the night. And got to Fortress Monroe at 10 A. M. Breakfast 8 A. M. Soup, tea & two crackers. Dinner & supper at 6 P. M. Junk of Bread & tea.

Today we fared about the same. Layout at anchor until afternoon, then went up to Crany (Craney) I. (Island) & a lonely place it is too. There is (are) two or three Regts. of Contrabands camped here.

We bathed in the Salt water, took our breakfast at 8 A. M: poor bread & sweetened coffee. D. at 2 P. M. poor soup, slice of bread & a cup of sweetened tea S. hard tack & tea.

The Dr. came around for the first time to see what aild (ailed) us poor devils. The food is about the same.

The weather is cool and the river breeze is quite refreshing. A new Dr. came around today. Medicine, opium pills & cough syrup.

Today 250 more sick came on the Island. The Darkeys are building an oven so I guess we will have better bread.

At dinner time it rained quite hard, our tent is furnished with a nurse. his name is Mr. Clark.

Today the Dr. sent Wick & I to the Diarrhoea Ward. the tent is not near so pleasant & the Co. is not as agreeable, but I guess they can stand it with us.

Today saw a big Buck Darkey whiped. He did not seem to mind it much. guess he thought green hand at it.

The Contrabands received clothing from u. S. They seemed very well pleased with them.

At 1.1 A. M. the bell wrung for divine servis Whereupon all of the nurses run with their dishes for dinner.