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A. L. Peel Civil War Diary Adjutant, 19th. Mississippi Regiment September 1861 September 1, 1861 - I am Corporal of the guard to day & have several Prisoners, feed Two of them on Bread and Water, a Catholic preached to day in our camp, and told his Brother Catholics that while they were Soldiers they were allowed to eat meat on Frydays,, I have read a few chapters in the Bible,, September 2 - We drilled this morning as usual. Leut Dean & I went to the Depot this evening got Two fine water melons Col Mott helped us eat them I bought a kit of mackerel & a pair of Pants. One of the Mott guards died last night & was buried this evening, Capt Martin drilled us like thunder this evening. September 3 - We drilled to day as usual. We bought an old gobbler and I cooked him it was my first attempt at a Turkey. Mr Dean took dinner with us; Col Motts Lady came up on the cars this evening & is in camp September 4, 1861 - We have passed the day as usual, I baked some ginger cakes did very well for my first attempt, I wrote a letter home, September 5 - We drilled a little this morning, it commenced raining & we came back to camp, We have been lyin in our tents all day I have been reading my Bible & sleeping thinking of home &c,,,,,. Dave & I went out and pressed some corn for supper. We heard that the confederates had taken possession of St Joseph Misouri & that they are fighting &c,,,. September 6 - I awoke this morning & parched some coffee before Breakfast, & then we had no Shigar so we could'nt drink any. darn our commissary he will starve us if he can, We made a brundrie stew for dinner. We heard that our troops had taken possession of Falls hill & were Bombarding Arlington hights yesterday, Two men died in our Regiment today one of the Mott guards & one of the Springport invincibles September 7, 1861 - no entry and date not listed in diary September 8 - It rained this morning. We had no drill, I & a few boys went to the Depot this evening, I returned & found Allen Talbot at camp I was truly glad to see him he told me of his being wounded at Manassa, he is well again. orders were read this evening to strike tents and clean our camping ground tomorrow. I have neglected to wash my clothes to day & will have to go dirty a while September 8 (repeated) - This is Sunday, We struck our tents this morning & had a general cleaning up. I & my mess mates went over in a field & got some Planks from a Barn and mate a floor in our Tent tacked a Blanket over some straw & made a ver nice Bed. We went and took a nice bathe in the creek & feel very nice. Two men from our Regt were buried today one of the McClung Rifles & one of the Mott guards, Parson Medders, preached a sermon but we all were at work as we usually are on sunday so we did'nt attend, September 9 , 1861 - We drilled as usual, A half dozen ladies came to camp in a wagon, one of the Davis guards died last night & was buried this evening,.. September 10 - Some boys came over from the 11th Regt to day. Capt Scraggs took dinner with us. September 11 - I am Corporal of the guard & have five prisoners, one arrested for mutiny, Gen Johnson came by with his staff, in front of the Brigade it is raining & I expect will be a bad night September 12, 1861 - It rained last night I moved the Prisoners over to an old house We were not relieved this morning & Stood Twice as long as usual I went to the 2nd Regt & saw A Talbot we had a very social chat. Billie & Elie Peel are out in the country sick his mess mates have not heard from them since they left September 13 - We drilled in companies this morning. A man came up with things to sell the soldiers took his horse out turned him loose September 14 - This is Saturday, wash day. I cooked & let Capt Sam wash. L. B. McClusky came from home to see his sick brother he brought the boys some letters & brought a few sweet potatoes he took supper with me. September 15, 1861 - This is Sunday, Alfred is sick Capt Sam cooked Breakfast for my mess I fried some Potatoes & they were very good We had inspection of Arms & general cleaning up, W. H. Fox came over & spent the day with us D. Bowen & Lu went out in the country and saw Lieut Dean he is quite sick N. McClusky is recovering F.? B. McClusky is with him. Capt Scrugs will start to Richmond tomorrow the boys will send by him far a great many things. Mr gains was buried September 16 - We drilled this orning in company, I hoisted our Flag out to wun, it is stained, I got dinner some of the boys went to see Lieut Dean he is quite sick. We were ordeered t cook a days rations. We heard that the yankeys took Mantsonshight But we took it back the fight ended at twelve to day and commenced last evening. McCluskey came in this eve his Brother is getting well, September 17 - It rained to day, I have been in my tent & about camp all day I read my Bible this evening. Capt Hardin wants Pryor Add & I to teach the Company Bayonets exercises September 18, 1861 - We had Company drill this morn, rested on the road side & saw the 3rd Brigade leave for Swan Creek under Whitings command We were ordered to pack up and be ready to strike tents at 2 p.m. after we had finished packing, The orders were countermanded. We were ordered this evening to keep our tents hoisted from Revalee till retreat & to keep fires in front of our tents during the night, also to be very careful to cook our food dun & make suip twice a week, The 3rd corp of company H, was reduced to ranks for refusing to obey orders. I read a few chapters in my Bible. one of the Prisoners got out of the guard house & was caught again, he is on double duty September 19 - I am Corporal of the guard have three Prisoners I have spent a dull day. My hungry mess mates did'nt sae me any Breakfast or dinner so I had to eat the scraps September 20 - S. Camol of D Rite Rifles died last night with fever The wagons are halling the wood off. I suppose for the sick. I guess that we will march today, some of us went to the creek & bathed. I washed some clothes We received orders this evening to cook a day rations; The boys are busy cooking & packing their clothes & utensils We are to go to Centerville September 21, 1861 - We arose at 4 oc this morning, struck tents at 5, loaded the wagons & took up our march for centreville at 6. the sick are left in Lieut Peels care several are left to wait on them, The Marshall Riflemen are the rear guards. Several wagons got stalled one broke down. I saw a georgian who was six ft. & eight in high, We came through centreville saw some Prisoners. We halted & struck camp 1 1/2 miles east of centerville it commenced raining before we stretched our tents, we will have a very wet & disagreeable night R. Aiken will stay with us to night We feel very soar & tired after our march of 15 miles, We will make some coffee & go to sleep, September 22 - This is Sunday, I slept very cold & badly last ight I awake feeling quite bad this morning I think that my leg is effected with rheumatism, We cooked some Breadfast and cleaned up our quarters Lieut Barksdale myself & some others went out Chinkapin? hunting & got a good many. We heard the Cannon Booming towards Washington. Some of the messes could'nt bring their cooking utensels & provisions so we fare quite scantily. Bob & J Aiken & Haynes are staying with us till teir Tent &c comes. September 23 - We had skirmish drill this morning, our mess cooked all the provisions we had for the Co some of the boys went out in the country & got Dinner, We got some Beef & Flour this evening, September 24, 1861 - We had skirmish drill this morning. sent back to Bristoe & got our tents B. McCluskey came. he speaks of going home soon I wrote a letter home September 25 - We had Brigade drill to day. We got some apples. Irish potatoes & shugar &c We got some polls & forks & made soe Beds, a good many boys are on double duty for being absent from drill, I read a few chapters in the Bible, September 26 - We had Brigade drill Five Brigades advanced near the Potomace our Drummer heard their drums at 4 oc. So he had revalee a good deal earlier than usual. We are ordered to cook 3 days rations & keep our haversacks filled ready to march. September 27, 1861 - We commenced cooking early this morning. We put Peter to cooking Potatoes the rest of us cooked Bread Meat &c Our uniform came this morning, also a Barrel of Whiskey for our Company a good many of the boys are very tight young & Pryor are quite merry. they have gone to bed singing Pryor is talking of Mollie I wish that she could see him September 28 - Mr R. Dean came to camp this morning says that Aron is no better & that he will get a furlow of Thirty days, Newt McClusky went to Bristoe, some of our sick boys came in this evening fit for duty, We are ordered to keep our haversacks packed with 3 days rations, We heard that the yankeys made our troops retreat from Falls Church to Fairfax,, I have heard cannon constantly firing all day. I guess that there is a fuss fight or a foot race some where, We have been from home 4 months to day September 29 - We had Brigade drill as usual. Court martial is in session. Bill Ellis is promoted flag barer. the Captains are ordered to select guides & colour guards, a good many of our boys are tight, Two sergeons are appointed in our Regiment temporarily It is very cool the wind is blowing, has blown Two Tents down the boys are all hudling around fires talking of what tight times we will have in winter I have but one Blanket I gave one to Alfred. September 30 - Our Brigade formed a line & was reviewed this morning, Robert came from Bristoe & brought the convalescent boys with him. Tom Canters negro stole, or pressed a horse & left last night. Thom is looking for him. I got two letters today as this is Sunday I will read a few chapters in my Bible, We had frost last night. I slept very cold, Alfred came with Robt he is well. I will fold my blanket around me & go to sleep. |
