Marches, Skirmishes and Battles
of the
4th Regiment, Texas Militia
between October 1861 to November 1865
1863
JANUARY 1863
Thursday 1 - News of the fight at GALVESTON. OLIVER OLIVE and GAXTON came in to camp today. Night ride horse hunting.
Friday 2 - GALVESTON retaken and in the hands of the Confederates. Various news from different parts. Our loss not yet given.
Saturday 3 - The particulars of the GALVESTON BATTLE. Our loss reported to be seventy-eight killed and wounded. The enemy loss not yet known. Heavy rain today. Health in camps good.
Sunday 4 - R. MONROE and Z. PERKINS came to camp today. No news today. The train don't run on Sunday. Drew rations.
Monday 5 - Nothing of interest today. The weather pleasant. Nothing from below.
Tuesday 6 - CAPTAIN LONG came to CYPRESS CITY today and COMPANY E on a bust. FLAVINS cut his arm today. SHARP furloughed today. No news from below. Boys all well. Our horses appraised today. My horse $75.00, rigging $25.00. JOHN'S horse $100.00, rigging $25.00.
Wednesday 7 - CAPTAIN LONG was in camp today. Nothing interesting from below. All well as common.
Thursday 8 - FRANK E. JONES came to camp today. But little news today, report that MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE was retaken by VANDORN of COMPANY FOUR. BR>
Friday 9 - ABBOTT, private in COMPANY K, died last night and was buried today. Heavy rain this evening. News from GALVESTON. Another Federal vessel has appeared off the harbor. Supposed to be THE BROOKLYN. Ten port holes on a side.
Saturday 10 - FRANK JONES came up from HOUSTON. He reports thirteen Federal vessels in sight off GALVESTON. A fight expected anytime. Health good as could be expected in camp. Weather clear and warm.
Sunday 11 - JOHN R. GEORGE and PHIPPS came up today from GALVESTON. No news from below, but two vessels in sight at GALVESTON.
Monday 12 - HEY and JACK DOSS came up today. Nothing of interest from below. The Abolutionists threw one hundred seven "booms" in the city off GALVESTON on Saturday without any damage to the city. A private died in COMPANY A, last night. He was buried today. Weather rainy.
Tuesday 13 - But little news today. Private in COMPANY H, died today. Weather rainy.
Wednesday 14 - Nothing of importance today. Rained all day today. JACK DOSS taken sick tonight. A norther this evening with heavy rain and so forth.
Thursday 15 - Weather clear and cold. Nothing new. No news from GALVESTON.
Friday 16 - The FIRST REGIMENT returned to camp today from GALVESTON. All worn out.
Saturday 17 - No news today. Weather clear and cool. Our horses gone. Health as good as common.
Sunday 18 - Heavy rain all day. Cool from the east. No news today. Seen HICKS and BILL SHARP.
Monday 19 - No news of interest today. Weather clear and cool and health as good as common.
Tuesday 20 - M.F. CARLOCK and NEAL CURNIE came to camp today. No news of interest. Weather fine and clear.
Wednesday 21 - No news today. Weather clear and warm. English vessel landed at GALVESTON today (so says the rumor). Some little excitement.
Thursday 22 - Nothing strange today. CARLOCK took leave of camp today. J. M. RICHTER furloughed and gone home. English vessel reported to have landed off GALVESTON and unloaded a small cargo of coffee.
Friday 23 - A report that SABINE PASS is recaptured with one hundred nine prisoners, thirteen guns, and one million dollars worth of property, captured by MAJOR WADKINS on the 21, Wednesday. Weather cool with some rain.
Saturday 24 - No news of importance today. Heavy rain, water getting up. BILL SHARP returned to camp today.
Sunday 25 - No news today. Health in camp good as common.
Monday 26 - News today of our victory at SABINE PASS. One hundred nine prisoners. Weather cool with rain.
Tuesday 27 - Our guys at ARKANSAS POST. News not reliable. Weather clear. No news of importance.
Wednesday 28 - The party at the city. No news of importance today. ELI HARDCASTLE came to camp. STONE in COMPANY F, was buried today. Weather fine.
Thursday 29 - Nothing strange today. All five companies left today for CAMP NAVASOTA.
Friday 30 - No news of importance today. ALBY and COPELAND came to camp today. News of the paymaster being in HOUSTON. BOYD died in COMPANY B, today.
Saturday 31 - Moved camp today across the river. No news of importance. Weather warm. PERKINS, BAILEY and NEWSOME went to new camp.
FEBRUARY 1863
Sunday 1 - No news today of importance. Preaching by PARSON BEASLEY, COMPANY D, from verse sixteen of ROMANS'. Weather warm and pleasant.
Monday 2 - News from home. All well. Nothing new. Many sick in camp. Weather warm and clear.
Tuesday 3 - Nothing new today. Our wagon came down for us today.
Wednesday 4 - Heavy norther with rain till twelve. Very cold. Hospital moved.
Thursday 5 - Took up our line of march for NAVASOTA. Weather cold and clear. Camped on CLEAR CREEK. Distance for the day march fifteen miles.
Friday 6 - No news today. Roads wet. Grass, retired. Weather cold. Traveled about fifteen miles.
Saturday 7 - Arrived at CAMP HAMPTON today. Paying off the soldiers. Plenty of money. NAVASOTA depot.
Sunday 8 - Making out the muster roll today. Great excitement, getting our" bunty".
Monday 9 - Finished the muster roll. Rode on train cars to MILLICAN. Ball at PELLUMS. All on bust. No one hurt.
Tuesday 10 - Returned from MILLICAN. All on a binge. Nothing new.
Wednesday 11 - Drew our money today. I received my furlough for ten days, ending February twenty-first.
Thursday 12 - Started for home today. Crossed the NAVASOTA RIVER. River at high water mark. Got my horse shod before at MILLICAN, cost $2.50. Dinner was $.50 cents, dram was $.50 cents. Stopped at CARSON'S all night, $2.50. Ferriage on the NAVASOTA $.25 cents.
Friday 13 - Crossed the BRAZOS RIVER, no ferriage. Dinner and fire at BREWERS. Rain. Arrived at home, found all well. No news.
Saturday 14 - At home and rested today. Handed over OLD LADY HENDERSON'S money, $60.00.
Sunday 15 - Went to church today. Sermon by PARSON STONE. Heard from camp that paroled men were exchanged for mercy. Going to quit teaching school. Going to the war.
Monday 16 - Rain all day. Visited, CLARKS & CLOUDS at night, very dark. Nothing new. Ground very wet and weather warm.
Tuesday 17 - R.ROGERS, TALLEYS, etc. nothing new. News from camp. Weather warm.
Wednesday 18 - CARTER, DAVIES & CLOUD, MRS. GRIFFINS. A party at MRS. GRIFFINS. No news. AKEN back from ARIZONA. JUDGE BEARD at SAN ANTONIO, a captain.
Thursday 19 - News that the BRAZOS RIVER is up, can't cross. Weather warm.
Friday 20 - Went to JOAB COTTON, MRS. CAVES, etc. NIXON came home today. Nothing new.
Saturday 21 - My furlough out tonight. Left home this morning. Came to the BRAZOS RIVER and could not cross. Went back to BREWER'S Plantation. Stayed all night, no charge. Weather warm, wind high.
Sunday 22 - Crossed the BRAZOS RIVER, thence to MILLICAN. Water high. Stopped with MRS. BASS. Charges $3.00. Ferriage, young ferry man, $.25 cents.
Monday 23 - Crossed the NAVASOTA RIVER, ferriage $1.35. Ferry over one mile long. Thence to Anderson fourteen miles. Thence to CAMP ODELL, two miles. Stopped at LINDLEYS. JR. DOSS sick, JOHN waiting on him. Various reports , nothing confirmed.
Tuesday 24 - Dinnered at EVES. Nothing new. Stopped all night with SHANNON. Nothing new.
Wednesday 25 - Thence to MADISONVILLE eight miles. Thence to TRINITY RIVER sixteen miles, thence to THOMAS six miles. TRINITY RIVER was high. Various news. Meeting with the Cherokee boys. Heavy rain. Roads muddy.
Thursday 26 - Thence to CROCKETT nineteen miles. Overtaken the Company at CROCKETT. All on a bust, nearly. Some news. Man from VICKSBURG, good news. Thence to camp one and one half miles.
Friday 27 - Thence to camp ten miles. All in good spirit. LEUT. TROTTER came up with the company. No news of importance.
Saturday 28 - Thence to CANADAS thirteen miles, thence to camp one mile. Nothing new today. BROTHER JOHN and POSEY gone to GRIFFIN, TEXAS.
MARCH 1863
Sunday 1 - Crossed the NECHES RIVER today. Thence to camp three miles. Camped at ELI H. BAXTERS.
Monday 2 - Thence to ALTO is six miles, thence to camp is seven miles. Taken dinner with F. L. LITTLE. Weather fine. Camped on the ANGELINA RIVER. Nothing new. All well.
Tuesday 3 - Rested today. CAPTAIN FORD came to camp. SPRINGER, PERKINS and HARDCASTLE came to camp today. Weather fine and river falling.
Wednesday 4 - Thence to DOUGLAS four miles, thence to CAMP WALNUT CREEK is five miles. Roads bad, weather cool.
Thursday 5 - Thence to NACOGDOCHES town ten miles. Old stone fort erected in 1719, right in town. The frost thick on the bridge. Cheering news, some rain, weather cloudy.
Friday 6 - Thence to MELROSE nine miles, thence to camp four miles. CAPTAIN ROGERS from CAMERON on the stage. Nothing new today.
Saturday 7 - Thence to ROACH CREEK eight miles and thence to camp four miles. D. P. MOORE came up today. Nothing new, all well.
Sunday 8 - Thence to San AUGUSTINE ten miles and thence to BOLIVAR SNIBLETTS was eight miles. No news today. Some of the boys came up today. Nothing tonight.
Monday 9 - Thence to camp is thirteen miles. Nothing new. Running fight at PETERSBURGH, VIRGINIA. Norther blowing today. CAPTAIN W. W. FORD came up today.
Tuesday 10 - Thence to the town of MILAN ,one mile, thence to SABINE town ten miles, thence to SABINE RIVER. Crossed over into LOUISIANA, SABINE PARISH. BROTHER JOHN and MAT POSEY came up today. Rain tonight, no news.
Wednesday 11 - Nothing new today. Traveled six miles today and camped. Weather clear with cool mornings.
Thursday 12 - Thence to MRS. BRANCH is twelve miles of hilly road. A letter from COLONEL ROBARDS. No news today of interest.
Friday 13 - BILL EVANS accidentally cut today with butcher knife. Roads bad. Long leaf pines, no settlements, camp was twelve miles.
Saturday 14 - Thence to camp fifteen miles. Met our rail cars. Various reports.
Sunday 15 - Thence to CARRELL JONES twelve miles. RAPADIES BAYOU. Heavy rain. Three horse races. Nothing new in the piney woods yet.
Monday 16 - Thence to camp is twelve miles. COLONEL RILEY and DR. FARMER passed camp today. No news. Still in the piney woods. Roads very bad. Taking the ring road.
Tuesday 17 - Thence to RAPIDES BAYOU is five miles. Camp and rumoring fighting at FORT HOUSTON. Two gunboats passed up the river. Preparation to capture them. Weather is warm. Sugar mills and dunes. Adjutant Line passed us today. No news from TEXAS. WILLIAM RILEY on route for OPELOUSES.
Wednesday 18 - Thence to camp thirteen miles. The finest farms and pretty yards I have ever saw. DAVE MOORE, BILL HENDERSON came up today. No news, weather warm. Sugar mills as plenty as houses. Traveled all day in the canes and the fires rare.
Thursday 19 - Thence to camp on BAYOU BEUFF is twelve miles. CAPTAIN LONG came up today. Says he ate dinner with six Yankees that came over, taken a herd and gone home. COLONEL RILEY passed us today. The railroads thirty-five miles long, two trains are running, the distillery gone and good riddance. No news of importance, weather is warm.
Friday 20 - Thence to camp is fourteen miles. J. T. DOSS came up today. The depot and steam boat. No news today, weather warm. Fine farms and sugar mills at BAYOU BEUFF.
Saturday 21 - Thence to CHERRYVILLE is four miles, thence to DANIELS Distillery is seven miles, thence to camp is six miles. Distance for the day is seventeen miles. No news today, warm weather. All on a bust tonight, dinner with COMPANY.
Sunday 22 - Thence to HOMERVILLE is one mile, thence to camp is fourteen miles. A. HARDCASTLE left behind. Heavy rain, French settlement. Slept in a house tonight.
Monday 23 - Rested today. No news. Heavy rain, rise in the BAYOU BEUFF.
Tuesday 24 - Thence to camp is twelve miles, no news today, cool wind. Bayou high and roads muddy.
Wednesday 25 - Thence to Washington six miles, thence to OPELOUSES six miles, thence to camp two miles. Various news today. Crossed the railroad. Weather fine in prairie country.
Thursday 26 - Thence to camp ten miles. Prairie country. Wrote home today. Nothing new. Weather rather cool.
Friday 27 - Thence to VERMILLIONVILLE, twelve miles, thence to camp two miles. Camped with THIRD REGIMENT. No news today. Some rain in this morning.
Saturday 28 - Thence to camp ten miles, at the long bridge. No news today. Weather warm, rain this evening. JOHN DONALDSON sick with measles, BUCK WESTBROOK sick with the measles.
Sunday 29 - Thence to camp is fourteen miles. News of the capture of THE DIANAH, Federal boat one mile off IBERIA. Heavy norther blowing. No news today.
Tuesday 31 - IBERIA, SAINT MARTIN'S PARISH, LOUISIANA, thence JEANETTE, SAINT MARYS PARISH, is twelve miles, thence to camp three miles. News of the capture of the Yankee's gunboat DIANAH confirmed. Weather clear and warm.
APRIL 1863
Wednesday 1 - Thence to camp near FRANKLIN is ten miles. No news today, weather fine. Wrote to BROTHER Z.C. WILLIAMS. All farms, low flat country.
Thursday 2 - Thence to CENTERVILLE is six miles, thence to camp six miles. All on a bust, horse races, etc. No news today. Weather clear and oranges growing, beautiful gardens and shade trees.
Friday 3 - Thence to CAMP HUDSON is eight miles. No news today. Weather a little warm. Payroll. Men drew their money.
Sunday 5 - Nothing extra today. Went to the bay, fine sight.
Monday 6 - News of the PORT HUDSON fight by M. D. OLIVER. We are successful; two boats sunk, three boats captured. Weather fine. Dinner today, dress parade, etc. in the evening.
Tuesday 7 - MAJOR HAMPTON came to camp today. No news today. Dress parade, battalion drill, etc. Weather warm and clear.
Wednesday 9 - Nothing new today. SARGENT MAJOR McMANN came to camp today. COLONEL RILEY gone to FRANKLIN. Weather pleasant and clear. Rode down to the bay. CAPTAIN LONG very sick.
Thursday 9 - Orders to march at 12 o'clock today. The march dusty. CENTERVILLE is twelve miles thence to CAMP BRISBANE is four miles. Yankees said to be landing at the bay.
Saturday 11 - COLONEL GREENS skirmishing with the Yankees. Our march to CENTERVILLE is five miles. Leaving camp at 12 at night. Standing the horses. CAPTAIN McCOWAN taken prisoner today, no news.
Sunday 12 - Skirmishing today below the fortifications. Heavy cannonading this evening. CAPTAIN CUGHTY (?) wounded in the knee. COMPANY E, on picket. Some picket fighting.
Monday 13 - M. D. DIVER of COMPANY B, wounded on the head this morning. Skirmishing till twelve. Thence to FRANKLIN. Some skirmishing. Burned the bridge. Relocated back below FRANKLIN.
Tuesday 14 - Before we march for the battlefield, battle open at sunrise. Heavy fighting until nine or ten o'clock. Skirmishing till two in the evening. COLONEL JAMES RILEY was killed. A good many wounded. We retreated to JEANENETTE.
Wednesday 15 - COMPANY E, ordered to CAMP PRATT, thence back to IBERIA. Heavy skirmishing all day.
Thursday 16 - Thence back to CAMP PRATT. Ordered on picket, all came up to the bridge. Hearing fighting today in IBERIA.
Friday 17 - All the cavalry on picket this morning. The retreat to the bridge, burning the bridge, the fight at the bridge, our loss two men with several wounded. Our retreat in the night.
Saturday 18 - March to OPELOUSES is twelve miles, thence back four miles. No fighting today. Heavy rain at night. Dusty.
Sunday 19 - Rested all day today. Rain in the morning. Camped at the bridge. No fighting today. News is that "ORLEANS" is taken by the Confederates.
Monday 20-Change our course today. Marched through the prairies. Some picket fighting. No one hurt on our side. Weather is warm. No news today.
Tuesday 21 - Scouting today, this morning. Found three Yankee deserters, no fighting today.
Wednesday 22 - Marched to MONTOU BAYOU today, thirty-five miles from VERMILLIONVILLE. Seen no Yanks today. Some dissatisfaction within our troops. Camped for the night. Seen better bread.
Thursday 23 - Crossed the MONTOU BAYOU, came through the prairie twenty miles and camped. Killed a beef and no bread to be had. Saw no Yanks today. Some horses stampeded.
Friday 24 - Thence to KULKASHEW twenty miles. LAKE CHARLES and prairie flat. Met trains of negros going to Texas.
Saturday 25 - Crossed the KULKASHEW BAYOU thence in the piney woods. Alligators, etc. distance of fifteen miles. News of reinforcements. Weather warm and pleasant. Camped on the west fork of the KULKASHEW RIVER.
Sunday 26 - Rested today on the west fork of the KULKASHEW. Rain this morning and eight Yankee deserters came into camp today. No corn for our horses in a week or more. In the open piney woods.
Monday 27 - Marched today through the woods. An old by-way. Rain till twelve o'clock. Country low and wet. Our mail came.
Tuesday 28 - Yet in the piney woods. No news today. Weather fine. No bread in camp for several days. D. P. MOORE was thrown from his horse today, but not hurt but a little. Nothing but beef and sometimes a little parched corn. All have the diarrhea.
Wednesday 29 - Marched the six miles this morning and ordered back to NIBLETTS BLUFF. Marched twelve miles, camped, drew flour. No news today. Heard that LOUIS BLACKMON was dead. Weather warm. Starvation.
Thursday 30 - Thence to NIBLETTS BLUFF is sixteen miles. Saw many immigrants. Drew flour and sugar today. The steamboat, FLORIDA from TEXAS. No news today. Weather warm. Drew corn. Our horses all got down.
MAY 1863
Friday 1 - Marched from the Bluff to the spring two miles, camped. A negro was hung today at BLUFF. No news from the east. Drew flour and meal. No corn in camp. All well.
Saturday 2 - Wrote home today. Rain this evening. General parade today. New orders. No news. Wolf hound shot today, COMPANY K.
Sunday 3 - From GUM SPRINGS to camp is three miles. Rested after part of the day. No news. Weather warm. Some little sickness in the Regiment.
Monday 4 - Rested today. A report of BRAGG'S AND LEE'S victories. Weather warm. Corn for our horses, some little grub.
Tuesday 5 - Rested today. COMPANIES, C and K ordered to the KULKASHEW. The news of BRAGG'S victory in TENNESSEE. News of the TEXAS recruits.
Wednesday 6 - Moved camp today two miles. One Yankee deserter came to camp. PRYAN'S REGIMENT from GALVESTON came in today.
Thursday 7 - No news today. Weather uncommonly cool for this season of the year. Some sickness in camp. The SECOND LOUISIANA, ordered to hunt the Conscripts of LOUISIANA.
Friday 8 - Two Yankee deserters came in camp today. No news of importance today. Weather cold.
Saturday 9 - JIM BAILEY and T. J. OLIVER came to camp today with our cooking vessels and wagon. M. A. POSEY supposed to be killed and ALISEN and PRICE taken prisoner. But little news of importance. The fight in COMPANIES, A and B.
Sunday 10 - Name of this camp, W. RILEY. No news today. Some sickness in camp. Learned of the death of HUGH STEVALL. Drew some blankets today. Weather warm and pleasant.
Monday 11 - Various reports in camp, nothing reliable. Some sickness in camp. Weather warm. A report of ALEXANDRIA, being captured by the FEDERALS.
Tuesday 12 - COLONEL HARDEMAN came to camp today. No news, weather warm. WILSON'S Battery from TEXAS, four pieces, another one expected tomorrow. Crops in Texas look flattering. No news today.
Wednesday 13 - No news today but rain. Some paroled men coming in. Weather is warm.
Thursday 14 - News from FRANKLIN and NEW IBERIA. Paroled men coming into camp today. Rained in the night. Wrote home today. Some sickness in camp.
Friday 15 - No news today of interest. Some of the paroled men keep coming in. The Federals are twenty miles above ALEXANDRIA. More Troops from TEXAS landed at the bluff today. Weather warm.
Saturday 16 - Prisoners from the Federal hospital, FRANKLIN. Various news. CAPTAIN ALEXANDER passed. CAPTAIN J.H. LONG sent to NEW ORLEANS and others.
Sunday 17 - WILEY ELLIS was in camp today. Two Yankee lieutenants was marched in to camp this evening as prisoners. Marched from Camp RILEY today all four miles. No news in camp today of importance. Weather warm.
Monday 18 - Marched fifteen miles today through the piney woods. Yankee paper in camp. No war news in the paper. Weather fine. No news today of importance. The NEW YORK TIMES.
Tuesday 19 - Thence to the KULKASHEW BAYOU fifteen miles, crossed, thence to camp two miles. CAMP COON. Various reports, weather pleasant.
Wednesday 20-No news of importance today. Fight in COMPANY K, and both the boys badly hurt. Weather warm and pleasant. Camped on MIDDLE BAYOU.
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Thursday 21 - Picket sent out commanded by LT. TROTTER and no news today. Grass fine. Marched twenty miles or near so. Some rain this evening.
Friday 22 - Rested today till twelve o'clock thence moved camp three miles. Heavy rain. Marched at twelve o'clock at night taking the ring road. Heavy cannonading to the east. We marched all night for twenty miles.
Saturday 23 - Thence all day to the Catholic Church of twenty miles. Companies C & H came up the ring.
Sunday 24 - CAPTAIN FORD'S squadron ordered to OPELOUSAS. The negros preparing to rise. Taken one Yankee negro and eight or nine other negros and brought them to jail. Finding arms, etc. in the hands of the negros. Various reports. Distance from the Catholic Church to OPELOUSAS is twelve miles. We are under the command of MAJOR BUSH
Monday 25 - Scouting up to WASHINGTON, six miles. Meeting CAPTAIN THURMAN of THIRD REGIMENT and MAJOR BURNS of GAINS' ARKANSAS REGIMENT. No news today. Returned to OPELOUSAS six miles and it was twelve miles for the day.
Tuesday 26 - From OPELOUSAS to VERMILLIONVILLE is twenty-five miles. No news today. Meeting PARSON JONES at the bridge. Weather cool in the mornings. Roads very dusty. Country looks desolate with little farming going on. GENERAL MORTON overtaken the Federals and captured some officers and a few negros.
Wednesday 27 - The Brigade came up to VERMILLIONVILLE with some Yankee prisoners. CAPTAIN FORD'S SQUADRON ordered up to OPELOUSAS. March at four o'clock. Arrived at OPELOUSAS at twelve in the night.
Thursday 28 - Our company boys came in today from above and rested up. Twelve of us. One negro taken from jail, brought to camp under guard. Various reports. Rested today. Some little scouting.
Friday 29 - Thirty men on scout today after Jayhawkers and Conscripts. No news today. Received a letter from home dated the 15 of April but little news. I rested in camp all day. FRANK JONES and men came in today.
Saturday 30 - BANKS defeated. Rumors today. No scouting parties. Resting in camp. Weather fine.
Sunday 31 - Marched from OPELOUSAS to the Regiment Camp all twelve miles. No news today. Weather warm. Received G. C. CLOUDS letters.
JUNE 1863
Monday 1 - STONES' REGIMENT came to camp today. WALLER'S BATALLION came also. One battery marched at four o'clock in the evening. Camp for the remainder of the night at VERMILLION BAYOU distance is twelve miles.
Tuesday 2 - Rested in camp today. Drew ammunition. News from PORT HUDSON that H. FAVORS and J. L. MERCER were ordered under arrest. Weather pleasant. All the paroled men ordered to CAMP PRATT. Talk of an exchange.
Wednesday 3 - Marched to CAMP PRATT, all fourteen miles. Twenty-two Yankee prisoners taken at PATTERSONVILLE. No news today. Weather dry and dusty and hot. Heavy cannonading in the east during the night.
Thursday 4 - Thence to JEANESNETT, sixteen miles and camped for the night Received a note from R. L. HILBUR. PATTERSONVILLE burned by the Federals today. Weather dry. Our pickets reports "ORLEANS" in the hands of the Confederates. Camp on the BAYOU TECHE.
Friday 5 - Thence to camp near FRANKLIN on the TECHE is fourteen miles. A citizen killed by one of the soldiers in FRANKLIN today. Weather warm and pleasant and dry.
Saturday 6 - Thence to FRANKLIN, two miles and thence to CENTERVILLE, six miles and thence to CAMP BRISBANE four miles and on picket duty at BURWICK CITY at twelve miles. No news. COMPANIES, E and I and K.
Sunday 7 - On picket again this morning. There is a Yankee camp across the bay. The Yankees fired some cannons this morning. Came back to CAMP BRISBANE at fourteen miles. Eating plums. Weather warm and dry. A soldier was killed by the Federals at the bay this evening by a shell. One of WALLER'S BATALLION
Monday 8 - Rested today in camp. Various reports in camp. WOOSTER brought his horse in camp. Weather hot and dry. Health good in camp as common. A torpedo exploded today wounding three men. One died tonight.
Tuesday 9 - Moved camp today one mile. General inspection of arms by OCHITTRIA. No news. Lost my haversack & this book but found it again.
Wednesday 10 - Rested today. BLUNT, RITCHTER, EICKMAN and others came in to camp today. ELBERT CARTER came in today. I heard from home. All well. No news. Weather pleasant.
Thursday 11 - Moved camp today to CENTERVILLE, two miles, thence to camp four miles. Wrote home today. Weather warm. THADDEUS G. MOSS is new recruit. No news today and weather warm.
Friday 12 - Rested today in camp. DR. FARNES was in camp today. Various reports. Health good as common.
Saturday 13 - Rested today. ELI HARDCASTLE came in to camp today. I met GARDNER of COMPANY E today.
Sunday 14 - Rested today. Sermon by PARSON JONES today. Weather fine and warm. MR. BOWLES and E. HARDCASTLE left camp headed for Texas this morning. No news, health not as good as common. COLONEL HARDEMAN very sick today.
Monday 15 - Moved camp from CAMP HUNTER up the Bayou five miles. No news today. A little sick today but weather fine and pleasant.
Tuesday 16 - Rested in camp today. No news today. Weather fine and warm and health of camp good.
Wednesday 17 - Ordered to march down the bayou. Marched four miles then cantered three miles and camped for the night. Some little rain. Various reports from the bay.
Thursday 18 - Rested in camp today. Z. PERKINS, FLETCHER and GRANTHAM and WESTBROOK came in camp today. No news. Weather fine tho' rather hot.
Friday 19 - Rested today. CAMP, CROSSON, OLIVE and NEWSOME came off in picket today. No news today. Weather is warm and clear.
Saturday 20 - Rested today in camp. No news in camp. Weather warm.
Sunday 21 - Ordered up at one o'clock this morning. Left camp at daylight to FRANKLIN, ten miles, thence to CENTRVILLE, six miles, thence to PATTERSONVILLE, seventeen miles. The Yankees fired one shot at us this evening; stampeded the horses, some lost but no one hurt.
Monday 22 - Rested today below PATTERSONVILLE' till night thence crossed the CHASSEBAH BAYOU at dark. Walked down to the bay.
Wednesday 24 - Rested today. Our horses came to us today. The negros and prisoners passed us today.
Thursday 25 - Our horses came to us this morning. We marched forty miles. All worn out.
Saturday 27 - Rested till one o'clock or two, and thence to DONALDSONVILLEE, five miles. Up all night. Attacked the fort before day. Our losses heavy.
Sunday 28 - Repulsed this morning with a loss of thirty killed and one hundred wounded and taken prisoners. Rested until 2 o'clock. Marched up to a village on the BAYOU LAFOUCHE. MAJOR HAMPTON came in.
Monday 29 - Rested today at HOMERSVILLE. Various rumors in camp. WELLS in COMPANY F, 3 rd Regiment died tonight. Weather warm. Drew some shoes for the company today. Our cooking vessels came in. Wrote a letter home today
Tuesday 30 - Rested in camp today. WILLIAM WELLS in COMPANY F, THIRD REGIMENT, was buried today in the HOMERVILLE CATHOLIC CHURCH, yard today. CAPTAIN C.M. GARNER and JOHN HUNT came in camp today. There was three more sworn in today and COMPANY E was sent out to reconnoiter today.
JULY 1863
Wednesday 1 - Rested in camp till night. Our COMPANY and COMPANY D, on picket duty. Came out to the MISSISSIPPI RIVER and 3 boats passed us, no firing.
Thursday 2 - COMPANY E works to plant abating fires on two transports.
Friday 3 - I was sick today. Not on picket. Shell from the sugar house. Heavy rain in the timber. DOSS and MOORE gone to the hospital.
Saturday 4 - Shell out of the sugar house again today. A fire by COLONEL MAJORS was ordered on the BAYOU LAFOUCHE Camp in a beautiful yard. Firing down at the FORT BUTTS.
Sunday 5 - Rested today. L. T. TROTTER came from over the river today. Weather warm.
Monday 6 - Rested in camp today. No news and weather warm.
Tuesday 7 - COMPANIES E, H & A on picket today. Nothing extra. False alarms as no Yankees could be found.
Wednesday 8 - Still on picket. No news today. More firing of the picket from the sugar house.
Thursday 9 - Relieved today at 9 o'clock. No news. All quiet on our lines of picket
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Friday 10 - Received the sad news of the death of BROTHER Z. C. WILLIAMS. Wounded May 12, 1863. Preparation for battle this morning, but no one hurt. PARTE and PRICE came in off GRAND LAKE picket.
Saturday 11 - COMPANY E on picket again. Some little picket fighting. False alarm, but no one hurt
Sunday 12 - Some picket fighting this morning. Reinforcements came. No one hurt.
Monday 13 - Fought the battle of BAYOU LAFOUCHE. Taken a good lot of prisoners and all their grub, arms, flags, four pieces of artillery. LT. TROTTER* wounded, GRANTHAM wounded. Wired in sixty wounded and dead.
Tuesday 14 - Rested in camp today. A report that VICKSBURGH was taken. PORT HUDSON, also. Heavy rain in camp tonight. No Confederates news in camp. Weather warm and damp.
Wednesday 15 - COMPANY E on picket. Night retreated ten miles distance and was ordered back on picket again. No enemy to be seen.
Thursday 16 - Retreated this morning down the BAYOU LAFOUCHE to THIBEDOUX is thirty miles. Some rain all in a stretch.
Friday 17 - Our company left THIBEDOUX. Marched to the railroad station. Overtaken the command, saw R.G. HILBURN. No news in camp. Weather warm. Distance from THIBEDOUX to the railroad station is twenty miles.
Saturday 19 - From BURWICK CITY to PATTERSONVILLE is ten miles. Drew clothing and shoes. Wrote home today. GENERAL LEE had captured WASHINGTON, the Federal capital. No particulars given.
Monday 20 - From PATTERSONVILLE to CAMP BISLAND is five miles and thence to CENTERVILLE, five miles, thence to camp is three miles. A row in COMPANY K and COMPANY E all on a bust. A letter for LT.SLICK COMPANY G. He escaped from the Yankees. COLONEL HARDEMAN and ADJUTANT HEART gone to TEXAS.
Tuesday 21 - Thence to FRANKLIN three miles and thence to JEANESNETT is twelve miles, thence to camp two miles. No news today. Health in camp good as common. J. ALLEN and T. J. DONALDSON came to camp.
Wednesday 22 - Thence to NEW IBERIA nine miles, thence to SAINT MARTINVILLE, nine more and to camp two miles. A dispatch from CAPTAIN RATLIFF giving the news of the fall of PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.
.
Thursday 23 - Thence to camp twenty miles. No news today. In the prairies again. Some rain in the evening. Weather warm and roads very dusty.
Friday 24 - thence to OPELOUSAS twenty-five miles, thence to WASHINGTON, six more, thence to camp three miles. Roads dusty. No news today.
Saturday 25 - Rested in camp today. No news. Weather pleasant. Making out muster rolls.
Sunday 26 - No news of reliability today. Heavy rain this evening. No newspapers. Health in camp not very good.
Monday 27 - Rested in camp today. No news of interest today. Some sickness in camp. Weather rainy. GRANTHAM, BLUNT, SAXTON, HART, FAVINS all came into camp today.
Tuesday 28 - I went to OPELOUSAS today. Had my horse shod before noon. No news today. Weather warm. THADDIOUS, GRASEN, MOSS came into camp. Some rain this evening.
Wednesday 29 - J. W. GRANTHAM started home today on sixty days sick furlough. Received a letter from home today. No news. Weather pleasant. JOHN FAVINS horse died today. T. G. OLIVE dismounted today.
Thursday 30 - J. H. ALLEN,SECOND CORPORAL and A. L. BLUNT, PRIVATE, COMPANY E. was discharged today. Finished the muster rolls today. No rain today, no news in our papers. Weather pleasant.
Friday 31 - Moved to camp today nearly two miles nearer WASHINGTON. GREEN, CHAUDOIN sent to the general hospital. MAT LOGAN snake bit. Reading of general orders.
AUGUST 1863
Saturday 1 - Our company ordered to WASHINGTON as Provost Guards to reinforce COMPANYD. Drew our money today at CAMP MOUTON. I drew $128.00, JOHN drew $96.00. No news in camp. DAVE MOORE went to the hospital today. Weather warm with small shower.
Sunday 2 - Rested in camp today. No news. Weather warm. J. H. ALLEN left for TEXAS this morning. Wrote home today. Sent the" BRAZOS home".
Monday 3 - J. PATE came up today. No news. Weather warm. LT. MOREAU with fifteen men ordered to OPELOUSAS for police duty.
Tuesday 4 - M. C. MOORE and W.S. PHIPPS came in today from TEXAS. No news of interest. Met with GEORGE McKNIGHT of RUSK, TEXAS of WALLER'S BATTALION.
Wednesday 5 - No news today. Weather fine. ALEXANDRIA, NEW TOWN, the riot in NEW YORK. Received a letter from home.
Friday 7 - I and the boys ordered from WASHINGTON to OPELOUSAS to join the company. No news today. Weather warm with some rain.
Saturday 8 - COMPANY D and E of the THIRD REGMENT, came to OPELOUSAS tonight on a scout. JOHN and ten or twelve out of our company went with them. Two sugar wagons passed here today on their way to ALEXANDRIA.
Sunday 9 - A fight with the Jayhawkers. One man killed and two wounded, two or three horses killed. Dispatched our reinforcements.
Monday 10 - COMPANY E returned back to town of OPELOUSAS to Provost duty. No news today. The weather warm. H. FAVINS came to town this evening. Z. PERKINS taken sick and gone to the hospital.
Tuesday 11 - J. DOSS and S. P. RITCHEY came to town today from IBERIA. No news. Some sickness. Weather warm. Another fight with the conscripts.
Wednesday 12 - No rain. Took two wounded men from the conscripts; head wounds. Some news from the east of the river. The road to CAMP MOUTON eight miles and back. Zero regiment wins near OPELOUSAS.
Thursday 13 - Wrote home today but little news. DANIELLS came in today. DANIELLS BATTERY passed up country with six guns and 2 caissons.
Friday 14 - Weather very warm. Quite a stir in town. No news of interest. Heavy artillery going up the country. Our sick doing well. New ones repenting over duty.
Saturday 15 - GENERAL GREEN was in OPELOUSAS today. No news. Weather warm. Some rain in the south-west. COLONEL McPHAIL gone back to WASHINGTON. Quit the Jayhawkers.
Sunday 16 - Various rumors from men that should have crossed the MISSISSIPPI RIVER. Weather very warm. GENERAL SILBEY came to OPELOUSAS today. CAPTAIN WEST was in town today. No news of interest from the bay; all quiet.
Monday 17 - One of the SECOND LOUISIANA was shot tonight at DR. TAYLORS by an unknown person. JOHN and ten others of COMPANY E. was sent out to get the body of the man. Heavy rain this evening and no news.
Tuesday 18 - JOHNSON of SECOND LOUISIANA was brought to town today to the hospital The boys returned from DR. TAYLORS. No one was hurt.
Wednesday 19 - The brigade was ordered off today. No news. Weather cool for this season. Drew rations today. JOHNSON of SECOND LOUISIANA, died today and buried. No news of interest.
Thursday 20 - Various rumors today. Many officers connected with the court martial came in today. Weather warm. CLARK'S BATTALION passed here this morning with music.
Friday 21 - A. LOUIS from MILLICAN, TEXAS, GEORGE HASWELL from HOUSTON, and SMITHE from LAGRANGE, TEXAS arrived here today. But little news of interest. Mr. HORNISE of OPELOUSAS shot a son of JUDGE OVERTON'S this evening. Supposed to be a mortally wounded. GENERAL WALKER arrived here today. Weather warm.
Saturday 22 - HORNISE was put in jail. JUDGE OVERTON'S son died last night, about nine o'clock. Some starting rumors today. They need confirmed. Weather warm.
Sunday 23 - MASTER OVERTON was buried today. A grand funeral procession. Sermon by PARSON BRADLEY from the fifth chapter, verse fourteen of Ephesians. A good many present.
Monday 24 - I was in WASHINGTON today. No news today. T. B. FISHER and JAMES S. WADE was put in jail for disobedience of orders. Stay in but a short time. SMITH died in the hospital today. He belongs to the SECOND LOUISIANA CAVALRY.
Tuesday 25 - No news today. Weather cool for the season. SMITH, SECOND LOUISIANA was buried today. R. MONROE ordered down to IBERIA to wait on LT. TROTTER. J. S. WADEMAN with TROTTER.
Wednesday 26 - I was in WASHINGTON today. Drew rations. Some news. Weather dry and dusty. Wrote to JOHN B. WILLIAMS.
Thursday 27 - No news today. Weather warm. The row with CAPTAIN TUNNY; returning his confiscated bottles but only whiskey in them.
Friday 28 - No news today. Most of COMPANY E on a bust, wanting to fight. A heavy thunderstorm with heavy rain.
Saturday 29 - Cheering reports of recognition and LEE'S victory in VIRGINIA. Weather cool. Court martial progressing slowly. The SECOND LOUISIANA CAVALRY passed through OPELOUSAS today. Cook of the SECOND LOUISIANA CAVALRY is in jail.
Sunday 30 - Church in town today. Some rumors this morning. Yankees marching on MUNROE, LOUISIANA. Weather very cool for this season. Some little drunkenness today.
Monday 31 - Mustered by MAJOR LASURES today. Made out the monthly report. Weather cool. News of LEE'S big fight still rumored in the papers here.
SEPTEMBER 1863
Tuesday 1 - GENERAL SCURRY arrived in OPELOUSAS today. No news of interest. Weather cool. Made out the muster rolls, ready for payment.
Wednesday 2 - No news today. I drew grub at WASHINGTON today. Heavy firing on the MISSISSIPPI RIVER today. Weather cool and clear. PERRY of TWENTY-EIGHTH LOUISIANA REGIMENT, died in the hospital today. GENERAL GREEN arrived in OPELOUSAS this morning.
Thursday 3 - G. W. PERRY of COMPANY I TWENTY-EIGHTH LOUISIANA REGIMENT, was buried today. We fired a volley over his grave. No news in town today. Weather clear and cool.
Friday 4 - COLONEL MAJORS command passed through OPELOUSAS today. More rumors. A military ball was given in OPELOUSAS tonight by CAPTAIN J. W. WEST, GENERAL GREEN, GENERAL POLINAE, and other officers. W. R. SCURRY left OPELOUSAS for TEXAS today. Weather clear and cool.
Saturday 5 - W. W. FORD left for TEXAS this morning. No news today. All quiet. Weather clear and cool. The court martial adjournment till Monday at ten o'clock.
Sunday 6 - No news at all today. Preaching in town. Weather dry and dusty. I learned where ENGLESON and BILL HILL are, MRS. HENDRICK is dead.
Monday 7 - No news at all today. Dull times in OPELOUSAS. Weather warm. A drunken spree in the grocers today. GENERAL SIBLEYS trial over with today.
Tuesday 8 - No news today. Weather warm. The court martial still going on; some other cases in second session. Pay day today with us. I drew $64.40 and JOHN drew $48.40.
Wednesday 9 - Big ball at WASHINGTON tonight. LT. MOREAU went to the ball. No news today. Church still going on in OPELOUSAS. Weather dusty and dry. SPURGHTS BRIGAIDE passed through OPELOUSAS today on route for ALEXANDRIA.
Thursday 10 - Drew rations today at WASHINGTON. No news. Letters for COMPANY G. Weather cool and dusty. The court martial over with.
Saturday 12 - No news today. Weather hot and dusty. Preaching in town tonight. General drinking. Row in town tonight.
Sunday 13 - Preaching in town today. Some two or three of COMPANY E, professed religion. The prayer meeting at the court house. No news in town today. The SABINE rumor.
Monday 14 - The train from NIBBLETTS BLUFF confirming the report capturing the Federal gun boats at SABINE PASS. News of recognition again. Nothing official though. Weather warm. Commencing moving the OPELOUSAS Hospital today.
Tuesday 15 - the rumored fall of CHARLESTON in town today. Weather warm. Some rain today. D. P. MOORE and J.H. ALLEN gone out to private houses. Young MURPHY buried today.
Wednesday 16 - Drew grub today. The ball in WASHINGTON. I and JOHN and LT. MOREAU was invited. Fine time. Some rain this evening. Received $45.00.
Friday 18 - Weather very cool for the season. Boys spending the last night in OPELOUSAS drinking all night. MOUTON'S BRIGADE passed through OPELOUSAS today. No news today. PHIPPS and SPRINGER came in today. Received orders to leave OPELOUSAS this evening.
Saturday 19 - All drunk this morning. Pressing accounts of the Yankees coming. Moved up to WASHINGTON, six miles. Rumors all over town, nothing reliable.
Sunday 20 - Rested today in camp at WASHINGTON. Many rumors for ALEXANDRIA. Good many of the boys sick. Removing the hospital from WASHINGTON to ALEXANDRIA. LT. H.G.CARTER relieved from Provost duty in WASHINGTON.
Monday 21 - I was in WASHINGTON today and COMPANIES E and D marched from WASHINGTON today. Weather cool and we marched twelve miles and camped on bayou water, the report of Recognition and the armistice (In a horn).
Tuesday 22 - Arrived at CAMP CANE. No war news. Reports still come of the armistice. Weather cool. Camp on the ATCHOFALA BAYOU, distance travel fifteen miles. Some cannonading on the river this evening.
Wednesday 23 - No news today. Weather cool.
Thursday 24 - Numerous reports today. R. L. HILBURN came to our camp today. LT. MOREAU came in this evening. D. P. MOORE went to the hospital.
Friday 25 - No news today. Weather pleasant. Z. PERKINS and J.M. DOSS was sent to OPELOUSAS today.
Saturday 26 - COMPANIES B, E and F on picket today. Cross the ATCHOFALA BAYOU on picket. Its twenty-four hours and no enemy in sight. Returned to camp.
Sunday 27 - Preaching by PARSON JONES from the tenth chapter of St. Mark.
Monday 28 - Orders to be ready to march at sundown. Cross the bayou at midnight. Rested till daylight.
Tuesday 29 - Marched to the Yankee camp. The battle commenced at noon in the day. Drove the Yankees from their camp. Taken two pieces of artillery, six ambulances and other tricks, five hundred prisoners. Raining all the time. Walk back to camp. Muddy and mucked up shoes. Many men gone out on the march.
Wednesday 30 - Rested in camp today. Rain all day most.
OCTOBER 1863
Thursday 1 - Finished crossing over the bayou this morning. The prisoners marched for ALEXANDRIA this morning. I wrote home today. Weather clear and cool. LT. TROTTER died today.
Friday 2 - No news today. Weather clear and cool. LT. CARTER, COMPANY D left for TEXAS this morning. Heard from LT. TROTTER, not expected to live. LT. TROTTER is dead.
Saturday 3 - The news of LT. TROTTER'S death. No news today. Z. PERKINS gone to OPELOUSAS. Move camp up the bayou three miles today. Some of the boys from the east side of the river. Some rumors.
Sunday 4 - A report of BRAGG'S victory over BOZINCONANZES town. No particulars. Weather fine. Bayou low.
Monday 5 - No news today. Weather fine. Health improving in camp. LT.TROTTER'S effects were sold today. THIRD REGIMENT moved up to LINSPORT.
Tuesday 6 - Orders to march. Taken the line of march at three o'clock. Marched on till seven at night. Camped for the night. Distance of march fifteen miles. JOHN WILLIAMS and FRANK JONES left for OPELOUSAS this morning. The news of BRAGG'S victory over BOZINCONANZES near CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.
Wednesday 7 - Marched to MOUNDVILLE fifteen miles. Camped at twelve o'clock. No news of interest. Weather rainy in the morning. Cleared off fine and clear with high winds.
Thursday 8 - Marched from MOUNDVILLE to WASHINGTON, three miles, thence to OPELOUSAS six miles and thence to CROW BAYOU, twelve miles and camped for the night.
Friday 9 - COLONEL HARDEMAN and ADJUTANT HEART came in camp today. At twelve o'clock orders to go eight miles to reinforce COLONEL MAJORS. Camped for the night in line of battle.
Saturday 10 - At twelve o'clock today the FOURTH TEXAS REGIMENT moved down two miles, COMPANIES, E and D skirmished until night. I was put on picket with ten men but was relieved at eight o'clock by STEPHENS of COMPANY I, The Regiment camped until three o'clock.
Saturday 11 - At half pass three we marched for OPELOUSAS, twenty-five miles. The citizens preparing to leave. The excitement high. The Yankees coming. Marched to MOUNDVILLE and rested until four o'clock in the evening. Marched to MRS. WEBBS' and camped for the night. PARSON JONES was buried today.
Sunday 12 - Marched from MRS. WEBBS' at three o'clock to OPELOUSAS at eleven miles then turned back three miles and camped for the night. Heavy rain and thunder at night. Reported the enemy falling back.
Tuesday 13 - Rested in camp today. Regimental drill, reading orders and no news of interest. Weather clear and cool. Prayer meeting tonight. F. S. WADE and WINFRED BAILEY under guard for disobedience of an order.
Wednesday 14 - Marched from camp at twelve thirty to OPELOUSAS, three miles, thence to LITTLE CROW BAYOU. COMPANIES E and F on picket. Some little firing on both sides but no one hurt.
Thursday 15 - Picket fighting this morning at daylight with heavy skirmishing until ten o'clock. Three men in COMPANY I was wounded and three men in COMPANY H was wounded. J. MULDER'S WIFE was killed by a shell. Our forces fell back to OPELOUSAS. COMPANIES G and B on picket. LT. HENRY came in this evening. No news of interest today. Weather clear and cool.
Friday 16 - Rested in camp today. Formed line of battle till night. The camp on the same ground. The official dispatch of BRAGGS victory on the twenty-seventh of September was sixteen thousand prisoners taken, seventy-three pieces of artillery, all his ordinance train, small arms by the thousand. Cannonading our pickets. JOSEPH MULDER died.
Saturday 17 - Rested in camp today until near night. Our pickets was driven in. We formed line of battle. In lines until dark, then camp for the night. Rain in the night. BILL HUGHES, COMPANY D came in this evening. No news today.
Sunday 18 - Rested in camp today. No news of interest. Preaching in camp today by BIGGER. Staff prayer meeting at night.
Monday 19 - FOURTH REGIMENT, on picket this morning. Skirmishing in the evening. BARNEY McDONAL was killed, COMPANY B and BILL MORGAN of COMPANY H was killed. ZELNER of COMPANY D was wounded and two others. The enemy masked a battery on us, shell us sometimes. No one was hurt from the battle.
Tuesday 20 - Relieved from picket today, came to camp and rested all day. One battalion of Infantry came from GENERAL WALKERS' DIVISION. No news in camp.
Wednesday 21 - The enemy advanced on us this morning. Heavy skirmishes with the FIFTH TEXAS DIVISION. TALLEY was killed, some few wounded. COMPANIES E & F on picket. T. I. DONALDSON fired on some one, some person, while on post. No news today. Command above MUNDVILLE.
Thursday 22 - COMPANIES E & F on picket. Lay in camp until evening. The Yankees try to cut our picket off. They skedaddle to WASHINGTON. Stood picket in town. One of ROUNDTREES' men was killed on picket. Rain in the night.
Friday 28 - COMPANIES E & F relieved. Weather cool and rainy. Our march to camp very cold. No news today. Roads muddy, camp dull. Various reports in camp. Clouds cleared away at night.
Saturday 29 - Marched from near BIG CANE, today. No news today. Weather cool. HALL new recruit, came in today. CAPTAIN LONG and JIM LONG came to camp. Letters from home. Some firing below. No news from the Yankees today.
Sunday 25 - Marched ten miles up BAYOU LANUSE. No news today. I wrote again today. Weather cool and cloudy. CAPTAIN LONG taken command of COMPANY E today. Roads muddy.
Monday 26 - Marched up to BAYOU BOEFF. Meeting with WALKER'S DIVISION. Saw CULLIN BLACKMON. No news today. Weather cool. Citizens trying to leave. Times stirring. I was on guard today.
Tuesday 27 - Marched from BAYOU BOEFF to EVERGREEN. I. J. STOVALL was in camp today. Marched from EVERGREEN to BIG CANE, marched at dark, arrived BIG CANE at ten o'clock at night. Weather pleasant. JOHN DOSS and F. S. WADE gone on a scout with McANALLY and others. Some rumors in camp today.
Wednesday 28 - Rested at BIG CANE bridge today. Weather warm. NEW ORLEANS paper of twenty and twenty-first but little news. Sent back to EVERGREEN for rations.
Thursday 29 - Rested at BIG CANE VILLAGE today. No news today. Weather cloudy and warm.
Friday 30 - Marched back to EVERGREEN fifteen miles. Heavy rain with wind and cold from the north. Little news today.
Saturday 31 - Rested in camp at Evergreen. No news today. Making out the monthly reports.
NOVEMBER 1863
Sunday 1 - Preparing to march up the country. Turned back. Marched back to BIG CANE VILLAGE, fifteen miles. BROTHER JOHN sent his horse and saddle back to camp. No news today. JOHNSTON RITCHE came in today. BILL SPRINGER, GEORGE CHAUDOIN & T. B. FISHER started home today.
Monday 2 - March from BIG CANE VILLAGE to OPELOUSAS, thirty miles and thence to camp three more. Met BROTHER JOHN in OPELOUSAS. No news today. Weather warm and pleasant
.
Tuesday 3 - March down on the Yankees camps this morning with three thousand men. Fought the Yankees. Drove them from their camp. Taken some six hundred or eight hundred prisoners. Two killed and many wounded. I do not know our loss. We then retreated back to our camp near OPELOUSAS BAYOU. The Yankees reinforced and pressed our retreat. Captured some prisoners. We brought out one or two cannons.
Wednesday 4 - COMPANIES E & F fought on picket. The flag of truce passed from the Confederate and was accepted by the Federals. The Yankee officers passed through our picket lines. The Federal pickets fired on the flag of truce as they passed down. The Federals commenced others retreat tonight.
Thursday 5 - COMPANY E advanced this morning to BULL BAYOU. Found the enemy had retreated in the night. Found their picket's on CARMEN-CROW BAYOU. Heavy rain today. COMPANIES E & F returned to camp. No news. JOHN left for the hospital at OPELOUSAS
.
Friday 6 - The FOURTH TEXAS CAVALRY was ordered down on picket. Found the enemy near VERMILLIONVILLE. Went off the main road, bought corn. Camped for the night. Captured a negro man and also recaptured a Federal soldier that had escaped from near WASHINGTON, trying to get back to his command. No news today, weather warm.
Saturday 7 - The FOURTH REGIMENT, TEXAS CAVALRY on picket down near VERMILLIONVILLE, this morning. Found the enemy's picket. Sent out scouts. Formed the regiment to receive a charge from the Yankees. Was then ordered back to camp at CHINESE GROVE. Four Federals charged five of COMPANY H and COMPANY H fired on them, killing one, wounding one horse, wounded one man and captured a Federal horse and rigging. Our picket charged through VERMILLIONVILLE.
Saturday 8 - Moved camp today below the bridge on CARMEN-CROW BAYOU. CAPTAIN THURMAN sent back six prisoners today. Weather fine. No news today. J. M. RITCHEY left for home this morning.
Sunday 9 - BROTHER JOHN, GEORGE COPLAND AND G. I. OLIVE came in camp today. Rested in camp today. No news. Weather clear and cool. MAJOR LASURES gone to OPELOUSAS
.
Wednesday 11 - The Yankees advanced this morning. We saddled up at eight o'clock. Went down and formed MAJOR'S BRIGADE and the SEVENTH TEXAS. Skirmished with the Yankees, they fell back. Burned all the corn cribs on the road. Yankees lost five men killed and some wounded. WILL'S of SEVENTH TEXAS, died from his wounds.
Thursday 12 - Rested in camp today. Our picket taken six Yanks today. No news today. Weather clear and pleasant. D. P. MOORE received his furlough today. DR. MARY and the hospital came in today. Wrote home today.
Friday 13 - D. P. MOORE left for TEXAS today. COMPANIES B, E, G and H, on picket today, on the command of CAPTIAN GESIKER, Captain of COMPANY G. Some little firing on the picket line. No news today. Weather clear and pleasant.
Saturday 14 - Nothing extra on picket today. Yankees quiet. No firing today. The Yankees trying to fix a trap to bag the Rebels. Relieved by CAPTAIN WIGGINS of SEVENTH TEXAS CAVALRY. Returned to camp. Some rumors from the east in camp today.
Sunday 15 - Rested in camp today. No news of interest. Weather fine. No news from pickets below. All quiet today.
Monday 16 - CAPTAIN THURMAN captured VERMILLION BAYOU. Dress parade at three o'clock. Marched from CARMON-CROW BAYOU at four o'clock. Marched to VERMILLIONVILLE, twelve miles, to the Bayou two miles and camped in the Yankee camp. Yankees left this morning for parts unknown.
Tuesday 17 - Rested in camp today at VERMILLION BAYOU. Our pickets caught three wagons loaded with cotton. Two Yankee wagons and teams and twenty-one prisoners today. No news today.
Wednesday 18 - Fourth regiment checked today down to camp PRATT'S, COMPANIES, A, E and F, still on picket today. Some little firing down with the enemy.
Thursday 19 - COMPANIES A, E and F are still on picket today. Some little firing this morning. No news today. We was relieved at dark. Rode back to camp on VERMILLION BAYOU. Arrived at one o'clock. No news today. Weather cloudy.
Friday 20 - The SEVENTH CAVALRY was surprised at daylight this morning at Camp PRATT while on picket. Seventy-five or one hundred men was captured by the Yankees. No news today. The weather cloudy with some rain. Cold wind from the north.
Saturday 21 - No news today. Colonel HAMPTON gone to OPELOUSAS today. Weather fine and no news from IBERIA.
Sunday 22 - Moved camp today up at GOVERNOR MORTON'S bridge. Crossed the BAYOU VERMILLION on an old ferry boat and a piece of bridge. No news in camp today. The weather clear and fine. No news from the Yankees.
Monday 23 - Rested in camp today. No news. Rained today and heavy rain at night. Was detailed today to go to TEXAS.
Tuesday 24 - COMPANIES A, E and F, on picket today. I and CAPTAIN STEPHENSON of COMPANY A, LT. TAYLOR of COMPANY F, left camp this morning, thence to OPELOUSAS, twenty-five miles, thence to WASHINGTON, five miles. Weather cool. A negro was shot tonight by picket while trying to steal a horse.
Wednesday 25 - LT. TAYLOR went up to the train this morning. No news. Heavy frost tonight.
Thursday 26 - Left the brigade train this morning. Came to old CAMP MOUTON one mile from WASHINGTON. No news today. Weather cool and clear. Ice and frost this morning.
Friday 27 - Came to OPELOUSAS this morning. The news of BUCKNER'S and BRECKENRIDGE flight at KNOXVILLE,TENNESSEE. Came to HOLIENS. Weather warm and cloudy with rain
.
Saturday 28 - Rain until twelve o'clock today. Rested at MR. HOLIENS. Went to OPELOUSAS this morning. No news today. No new orders for me, yet.
Sunday 29 - Rested today at HOLIENS. No news. Weather clear and very cool. No orders for me yet.
Monday 30 - Rested today at HOLIENS. Weather clear and cool. The exchange of prisoners has been agreed upon. To commence in a few days and the Yankees on another raid today. No one hurt that I heard from.
>BR>
DECEMBER 1863
Tuesday 1 - Conscript day in OPELOUSAS. No news today. No orders for me yet. Still at HOLIENS.
Wednesday 2 - Rested at HOLIENS today. No news in OPELOUSAS. No orders.
Thursday 3 - I went to WASHINGTON today. No rumors. Weather fine and warm.
Friday 4 - Came back to camp today. JOHN and J. DOSS gone down with a flag of truce.
Saturday 5 - Rested in camp today. JOHN AND J. DOSS returned, back from the Yankee camp. The exchange of prisoners agreed upon, commissioned officers and all. No news today. Preaching today by PARSON RIGHT.
Sunday 6 - Preaching today by PARSON RIGHT. No news today. Weather fine and pleasant. LT. TAYLOR, COMPANY F, came in today. Health in camp good as common.
Monday 7 - Preaching again today. No news. Our orders came in today. Preparing to start. Rain tonight.
Tuesday 8 - Left camp this morning for TEXAS. Came to RIGGOLEA'S for dinner, six miles. Charge free. Thence to a Frenchmans' of twenty-two miles. Charge two dollars. Weather cool and roads wet.
Wednesday 9 - Thence to the MENTAU is eight miles. Ferriage fifty cents and to MIRY Ferry fifty cents and to MR. J.CIVIAL all fifteen miles. Distance for the day is thirty-three miles. Weather cool.
Thursday 10 - Thence to the KULKASHEW is twenty miles. Ferriage fifty cents, and to DUVAL is fourteen miles. Roads wet. No news. Weather cool.
Friday 11 - On board the boat, FLORIDA, from DUVAL'S to NIBLETT'S BLUFF is twenty-four miles. Got on the boat at two o'clock and to ORANGE is eighteen miles. Weather cloudy. Saw V. M. CARY, COMPANY C, FOURTH TEXAS CAVALRY.
Saturday 12 - Arrived at BEAUMONT at two o'clock. Some rumors in town. Weather pleasant. Small pox raging in town. Too late for the train. Stopped at MRS. TRUES.
Sunday 13 - News from GENERAL BRAGG. CAPTAIN FISHER, CAPTAIN THURMAN, LT. McQUIRE came to BEAUMONT today. Weather pleasant.
Monday 14 - Taken passage on the NEW ORLEANS & TEXAS RAILROAD. Left BEAUMONT at midnight. Run to LIBERTY by Daylight. One thirty-two pounder rifle canon put on the train at BEAUMONT. Shipped for MATAGORDA. Received transportation from the quarter master.
Tuesday 15 - Thence to HOUSTON is forty miles. Stopped at the FANNIN house. No news.
Wednesday 16 - Shipped for MILLICAN today. The norther came to MILLICAN all eighty miles. Meeting old friends, weather very cold.
Thursday 17 - Thence to the BRAZOS RIVER. No charges. Thence to Colonel EVANS at thirty miles. Stopped all night and no charge.
Friday 18 - Thence home at twenty miles. Found all well. No news. Weather very cool.
Saturday 19 - I saw BILL WATSON & MATT POSEY today. No news. Weather clear and cool. I was at WATSON'S Mill today.
Sunday 20 - Went over to MR. DONALDSON'S today and thence to ROLIN McKINNEY'S. Stopped all night. Saw W. W. LONG.
Monday 21 - Went to ALLISON, thence to MUDELNOY and to JOHN BEALS. Weather cold. Thence back to MRS. PEEPLE'S.
Tuesday 22 - Thence to DOSS'S. Give up the fifty dollars and thence to WEBBS and thence to H.VERNON'S, thence to MARTHA SPRINGER'S, thence home. Went to the party at BILL WATSON'S.
Wednesday 23 - Started from home at twelve o'clock and thence to SAN ANDERS' eighteen miles. Stopped all night with DAVICE. Mailed my letters. Weather cool.
Thursday 24 - Thence to CAMERON is twelve miles. Seen PIKE of COMPANY D. No news today. Made my report to CAPTAIN FISHER. Weather pleasant. Came home fifteen miles. Settled with JOHN BUCKHOLTS. Times dull in CAMERON.
Friday 25 - Christmas Day. I went to TALLEY'S quilting today. Had a party at night. Weather warm. I saw D. P. MOORE. No news.
Saturday 26 - Slept until twelve today. Some rain. Rain in a norther at night. Very cool. No news today at home.
Sunday 27 - Rested at home today. Weather clear and cool. No news.
Monday 28 - Meet at CEDAR CREEK. Five of COMPANY E repented. Ready to march for camp. The party at WATSON'S.
Tuesday 29 - Rested at home today. J. M. RITCHEY came to see me today. No news of interest.
Wednesday 30 - Went to CAMERON today. Weather cold. Norther at night with snow.
Thursday 31 - Remained at the hotel today. Snow four inches deep. Weather very cold. No news today. Cloudy.
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