-
-
A. L. Peel
Links
to A. L. Peel Diary
-
May/June1861
-
July
1861
-
August
1861
-
September
1861
-
October
1861
-
November
1861
-
xx
-
2nd.
Diary-May/June 1861
-
2nd.
Diary-July 1861
-
xx
-
Jan./April
1863
-
April/May
1863
-
June
1863
-
July
1863
-
August
1863
-
September
1863
-
October
1863
-
November
1863
-
December
1863
-
Last
Roll
-
**
-
Dr.
Robert H. Peel's Letters
Peel
Family
-
Information
Page
-
Civil War
Regimental Histories
Confederate Letter
August 4th. 1863
A
Union Letter
about
the
Bloody
Angle
Union
Regiments
93rd
Pensylvania
-
at
Spotsylvania
|
A.
L. Peel
Civil
War Diary
Adjutant,
19th. Mississippi Regiment
December
1863
Tuesday
December 1, 1863 - Half of our
men were awake at a time all last night, it was very cold a very
heavy frost fell. the ground has been frozen all day. Our Right
wing was relieved at 9 a.m. by the left wing, came back to our Breastworks.
The Col H, I & S, Sgt Maj & myself made a Bivouac & are sitting
by a bright fire to night.
Wednesday 2 -
We
moved at 3 o'clock this morning, 5 miles to the right, halted awhile and
came back to the Plank road Went 7 miles towards Chancellerville
captured a few prisoners, the enemy went back across the river, We came
back in rear of our fortifications and are now in camp. I'll go to
sleep.
Thursday 3 -
Friday, December 4, 1863 - We
took up our march at 4 o'clock this morning got to our old camp near orange
at 9:00 a.m. distance 12 miles our wagons came up this evening, We
pitched our tents cooked rations the first I've eaten in 24 hours
I have only eat once in every 15 or 24 hours during the week past.
Friday 4 - I
took a detail and cleaned the bushes & brush from the front of my quarters.
We have orders to keep two days rations on hand R. W. Phipps received
his commission as major of this Regiment.
Saturday 5 -
I
performed my regular daily duties. Adam is sick. We have to
cook, wash &c for ourselves We get along very well without his
(Adams) Service We received intelligence of Longstreets defeat, Lou
Aleiander is again appointed Commissary Sergeant.
Sunday 6 - The
day passed very dully by, there was no preaching nothing to make the pretty
day interesting, I performed my regular routine of duties It is now
midnight I got too cold to sleep, got out of my bed of leaves and
have kindled a fire, This wicked war has cheated me out of much sleep.
Monday, December
7, 1863 - I
sent up a good many applications for furloughs. have spent the day
as usual I don't like to cook Somebody stoled my Skillet &
Pot, so I have to borrow. I am sitting in my tent by a bright fire
have just been thinking of the gloomy State of our country.
Tuesday 8 -
nothing
of interest has occurd today.
Wednesday 9 -
This
has been a very pleasant day, We heard that Chalmers gained a victory in
Miss - Tomorrow is set apart for fast day, Sam Pryor has a large hunk of
Beef tonight preparing for the occasion, I think that he might fas more
than one day.
Thursday, December
10, 1863 - Today
is set apart by the Governor of Georgia as a day of humiliation fasting
& prear. Pryor & I fasted but the remainder of our mess did
not. Morison gave us a Sermon for the occasion.
Friday 11 - Capt
Dean & I went to Orange the village is crowded, Lt Bowen arrived
from Miss. lost many letters that were sent by him and had to leave
a box of clothing on the road. We hear very bad news from Miss relative
w, its not prudent to say who.
Saturday 12 -
This
has been a very rainy bad day I've passed it as usual I heard
some very good music tonight one of Mahones Brigade with his Banjo.
Sunday, December
13, 1863 - This
has been a very dull and quiet Sabath with me We had no divine service
I took a long nap my mind is troubled about news from Miss - I can
hardly think of anything else, What is this world coming to.
Monday 14 - Dr
Sharp and I have been hard at work all day building and getting boards
for a Stable, I administered the oath of commission to Rev Morrison as
chaplain of this Regt he is a cleaver & good man but is not very popular
with the soldiers
Tuesday 15 -
I
worked on my table awhile today I performed my regular daily duties,
Wednesday, December
16, 1863 - I
attended a party in Orange last night didn't enjoy myself as well
as I might have done if &c, I completed my Stable all except
covering it today. my hands are very sore my pony and I had
a fight this evening, he kicked me and I beat him with the c?
cable?
Thursday
17 - nothing of interest transpired
today. the weather is rainy & bad, I promised to send a pony
to Miss Home but will not.
Friday 18 - The
weather is still very cold. I have performed my regular daily duties
Saturday, December
19, 1863 - I
loaned my pony to W. Young to go to the 42 Regt There is of interest.
Sunday 20 - This
has been a very quiet day We had no preaching our Chaplain
ought to be put in the guard house if he dos'nt preach to us these pretty
days, The men have built a Chapel and our man wo'nt preach
Most of Chaplains are worthless, I wish that Rev Duke were here
Monday 21 - Sharp
& I finished our Stable today. I have been quite busy making
various & sundry reports. I have to read orders every evening
on Dress parade and don't like it this cold weather
Tuesday, December
22, 1863 - Nothing
worth writing has transpired
Wednesday 23
- We had Regimental Inspection
this morning it was very cold work
Thursday 24 -
Sam
Add & I built a Chimney to my tent Mahones Brigade got various
& sundry drinks & Eatables for Christmas, Col Hardin got
his furlough our Sutler (Shertzinger) invited me to orange to spend
Christmas with him
Friday, December
25, 1863 - I
went to Orange this morning, Robbers had robbed Shertzinger of every
thing that he had & tore his Tent down he lost $2000, I came
back to camp got very cold riding & in building a fire I liked
to have mashed my finger off put myself under influence of chloriform
Saturday 26 -
I
have stayed close in camp today, we only get a quarter of a pound
of beef I fear that we will Starve if our rations are deminished
any more, guards brought two men to Maj Phipps for attempting to
rob a Sutler in Mahones Brigade, he sent them to Genl Mahone,
Sunday 27 - We
drew nothing but Flour from the Commissary so we have only some bad bread
to eat A Colonel in Gordons Brigade was knocked from his horse and
robbed by Soldiers last night This army is disgracing itself or the
mean men are disgracing it.
Monday, December
28, 1863 - This
has been a wet and cold day, I have eat nothing but bread today,
am distressed about our Commissary Department
Tuesday
29 - I have been busy making
out Reports to day - drew no rations don't like that way of doing
- Some robbers robbed the Commissary dept in orange, Add returned from
the country, left Wil Young with his Sweet Heart,
Wednesday 30
- A new order came granting furloughs
allowing 4 to every Hundred men for duty Dr Peel Capt Dean &
Jno McKie will start Home early in the morning - Pryor is going out to
where Young is to a frolick
Thursday, December
31 - Now old book we part and
maybe forever. You have been a faithful constant and watchful companion,
you have been careful to record most every deed of mine since we met.
you have been my greatest confident, you have often relieved my memory,
I know that I will miss you but we must part.. May God grant me the
glorious privelage of meeting you at a far happier day in the future when
our country will be free and independant Good by.
Adjt A. L. Peel 19 Miss
LAST
ROLL - A. L. Peel
|
Memoranda from the back of A.
L. Peel's 1863 Diary - He is clearly distressed about
news from home:
December 11, 1863 -
I have heard bad news that Shocks my every nerve, I feel Sad, restless,
disappointed and Surprised, my feelings are totally inexpressible
Look back to the days of our earliest youth when we were playmates, then
you were so pure, so innocent and unassuming; yes - until late I looked
upon you as the brightest of the fairer sex, I esteemed you for all
that makes woman lovely, was proud to remember you as my old playmate and
eagerly looked forward to see you complete your book of life without a
single stone on its many pages. But oh what a mistake, and great
God what a shock to me to hear of thy disgrace; why was it not death instead
of such disgrace Why were you chosen for such a victim, were you
so blind; or am I so desieved in woman I am not only disappointed
distressed and restless, but I am puzzled to know where to look for pure
virtue, or is there such a thing; is it not a mere word of flattery to
the human race, no- my own bosom teaches me that there is such a thing,
the shame that I feel for you is proof enough, would that I could have
prevented your great fall to low degredation, providence has after all
been mindful enough to take your angel mother to his happy home, so that
she could not suffer the torture of Ten Thousand deaths by your disgrace,
- oh woman why are you thus so weak and foolish, Why have you stooped
so low and endured so much to distroy the brightest gem of the human race.
See what you have done to lower your sex. Were it only the distroying
of your self I could look at it as the falling of one, Time alone
can rub out the dark Stain of your sex, While you are past all hope
your name will ever be associated with the lowest darkest disgrace, I can
only say to the God who sayeth its never to late to repent, have mercy
on you. |
|