FEBRUARY
Saturday, February 1
Rained some. Is very muddy. Was no drill nor dress parade. Mr. Robert Hayes came to Camp to day. He says the folks is all well. S. Myers and L. N. Hayes and L. C. White is on camp guard to day. Snowed an inch last knight (sic). The company is on picket. Am on guard at the P. O. in Tennaly Mr. Hayes and M. P. Hayes went to Washington.
Sunday, February 2
Ground is froze in morn. Day is pleasant. A preaching tent was bought by the Reg at Pittsburgh, it arrived yesterday, it was dedicated in forenoon by A. M. Stewart and the Col. of the 93rd Penn Vol. Was prayer meeting at the Preaching tent at seven o'clock this evening. The ground is thawing some to day.
Monday, February 3
Ground is froze this morn. Snowed nearly all day. Pretty cold. Mr. Robt Hayes was at Washington. I. M. White and W. M. Martin is on guard. Wrote one letter to Hugh Ryan and one to John Martin.
Tuesday, February 4
Is a couple of inches of snow. Was Regimental drill and company drill in forenoon. Was dress parade. Mr. Robt Hays and I. N. Hays went to the 11th Reg to day. Wrote a letter to I. H. Cratty Washed one shirt, one pair of drawers, one pair of socks, one towel.
Wash Day in Winter Quarters
Wednesday, February 5
Pretty cold last knight (sic) Was regimental drill and shooting blank cartridges. I washed one shirt, one towel, one pair of socks. In afternoon was company drill and target practice, B.L.L. Christy was the best shot. Was dress parade when there was a sword presented to the Orderly of Company A. by the Company, which cost $35. Mr. Robt Hays and I. N. Hays returned from their visit across the river. He reports all well on that side,
Thursday, February 6
This morning Mr. Robert Hays took leave of us and started home, loaded with Likenesses and presents for the friends at home. Is raining and disagreeable. M. P. Hays, I. N. Hays and E. L. Hoon is on guard. Washed two shirts. Was dress parade. Drawed one pair of shoes. Wrote one letter home and one to G. Robison. Sergeant Brinker was appointed second Leftenant by the Colonel.
Friday, February 7
Was Regimental and Company drill in forenoon. Skirmish drill in afternoon. W. M. Martin and John Randolph is on guard. No dress parade. Wrote one letter to Madison,
White
Saturday, February 8
Samuel Myers, is on guard. Brinker is Lieft (sic) of the guard. Was Regt and Company drill in forenoon. In the afternoon I cleaned my old Harpers Ferry musket.
Sunday, February 9
Countersign was warsaw. Pretty cold. Guard is mounted at half past eight. L. C. White and myself is on guard. Am corporal of the first Relief. Was inspection at nine o'clock . Preaching in forenoon and afternoon. Prayer meeting at six o'clock in the evening. Was heavy firing heard here this morn. Great excitement here on hearing of the taking of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. All quiet on the pike. No dress parade.
Monday, February 10
Was very cold last knight (sic) and clear. I. M. White is on guard at the Gen. quarters. Was Regimental drill in forenoon. In evening skirmish drill. Dress parade in evening at which time Lieute (sic) Brinker was Presented with a Sword by the Company, it cost $16. Very muddy. Is a singing at the Preaching tent to knight. We are looking for the war to be over again the fourth of July next. This finishes.
Tuesday, February 11
Froze hard this morn. Was Regimental drill in forenoon. In the afternoon was skirmish drill. No dress parade. Snowed some in afternoon. Very disagreeable weather. Lieutenant Brinker came into camp drunk last night and raised a row with the Officers. He is put under arrest, we expect his sword will be taken from him. All quiet on the Potomac. 1862.
Wednesday, February 12
Snowed some last night. I. N. Hays, E. L. Hoon, M. P. Hays and Corporal.Kaltenbaugh is on guard. Snow all melted off. Was no drill of any kind nor dress parade. The Companies of the Regiment opened up the drains of their streets. Our Company carried brush from the woods and covered up the mud in the street. Is reported in camp of a victory at Elisabeth by our forces. Is prayer meeting.
Thursday, February 13
Is warm enough to go in shirt sleaves (sic). No drill in forenoon. In afternoon was skirmish drill. Dress parade in the evening. Great excitement in camp at hearing of the Victory of our troops at Elisabeth by the Burnside Expedition. The newspaper boys sold their papers on a double quick. They had not enough to supply the buyers. Reported that artillery is going across Chain Bridge
Entrance to Washington from the South
The famous “Chain Bridge”
Friday, February 14
Raining this morning. Is windy but pleasant. No drill in forenoon. Skirmish drill in the afternoon. Lieutenant Brinker Commanding. Wrote a letter to A. N. Martin sent one paper to Wm R. Philips. Dress parade in evening. S. Myers and W. M. Martin is on guard. Revelie at eight o'clock after that was roll call. Wrote a letter to J. W. Fletcher to night (sic). Split up kindling for morning. Read in bible.
Saturday, February 15
Guard is mounted at half past eight o'clock. A. M. White and L. C. White, is on guard at the General's quarters. Had no drill in the afternoon. Regimental in forenoon. No dress parade. Sent a paper to Wm R. Phillips, Received a letter from home and one paper from James Anderson. Snowed some. Heard the first sleighbells to day this winter. Is reported that Fort Donaldson is taken.
Sunday, February 16
Last night was about the coldest this winter. Is an inch of snow on the ground. Sun shines out very warm. Was inspection this morning. Was preaching at eleven and at three. Afternoon sermon by Chaplain of the 98th N.Y.V. Was prayer meeting at half past six o'clock. Is reported our troops has taken Winchester and are in possession of Boling (sic) Green. And have taken Fort Donaldson. Is a big move being made this month.
Monday, February 17
Recd letter from I. H. Crotty (sic sp Cratty). Snowing, sleeting and raining all day. No drill of any kind nor dress parade. Wrote a letter to F. Garwick. Sent a paper to W. R. Phillips. Was a singing at the Preaching Tent to night (sic). Was a spetial dispach came to Col Rowley this evening that Fort Donaldson was taken; and our loss stated to be 5000 men When the news came they fired a salute at the different forts here, and was great cheering.
Dispatch Bearer From The Painting by Gilbert Gaul
Tuesday, February 18
Ground slippy (sic) this morn. I. N. Hays, M. P. Hays. and E. L. Hoon is on guard. I. M White, L. C. White, W. M. Martin and Samuel Myers-got their Likenesses (sic) taken at Tennally. Wrote one letter to Jos Millison. No drill nor dress parade. Was reading in the preaching tent to day and to night. Gets very muddy in the evening. Captain of Co. E. was Officer of the guard Patterson, All quiet about Tennally.
Wednesday, February 19
Rained all day. The Company went out on picket guard. I did not go out. Wrote a letter home. Is reported that Fort Donaldson is retaken by Beauregard. It is not generally believed. O. Lieutenant Colinel (sic) Kinkead is Officer of the Grand rounds. Was no papers in camp. am cook. Have fresh beef , and bread, and coffee. This finishes.
Thursday, February 20
Muddy and windy. Wrote a letter Jas Anderson. Sent a paper to Wm. R. Phillips. Sent one paper home. Was no drill nor dress parade. Ar (sic) cleaning up the streets this evening.
I. M. Hayes is cook. Is great and glorious news in the papers. They state that the two Prices and staffs are captured. We are all pleased with the way the war is carried on.
Friday, February 21
Ground froze this morn. Was Regt drill in the forenoon. Company target practice also. Sent one paper to Wm R. Phillips. Was skirmish drill in the afternoon at three. Was dress parade at five o'clock. Was a temperance meeting to night. Was three speeches made on the occasion. All quiet about Tennallytown. This finishes this line.
Saturday, February 22
Jeff Davis inaug Pres of the S. Confederacy. Rained some, is very muddy. The Regt was formed in line in the forenoon and fired thirteen rounds to celebrate the Fathers of our Country's Birthday. Was dress parade. Am corporal of the second relief Is a signal up on the Virginia (sic) side of the Potomac this evening. Is orders for the men and officers to stay in camp for twenty four hours. Lient Day is Lient of the guard (sic).
Sunday, February 23
Guard mounted at half past eight. I. M. White, L. C. White is on guard. The company reports for grand guard. Was inspection of arms. Preaching at eleven. Recd one letter from I. W. Fletcher from Whitestown. Preaching at three. Prayer meeting to night. Paris was the countersign last night. Is very muddy. Two recruits came for Com D.
Monday, February 24
Foggy and muddy. Is quite a storm of rain and wind blowed the preaching tent down & c. Wrote one letter to W. C. Martin. Captain McLaughlin went home on a furlough of seven days. The sutlers tent blew down and the likeness establishment blew down, and several other shantys went down. I. N. Hayes is cook. All well in camp at present. All quiet on the Potomac at present.
Tuesday, February 25
Day is clear and muddy. Was Brigade drill in the afternoon. Was four Regiments on the field. Lieutenant Louder one of Pecks aids fell, and got very muddy. Recd a letter from
Alice Martin, We had quite a time last night, with E. L. Hoon. Was no papers in camp today so we got no news. To night is clear and pretty cold.
Wednesday, February 26
Cloudy. M. P. and I. N. Hays, E. L. Hoon on guard. The Brig of five Regts was took out this forenoon to see the drumming out a soldier of the 62 New York Reg for deserting; letter D was branded on his hip. Was Brigade drill in the afternoon. Bo (sic) a paper. Nashville in our possession is confirmed, Dress parade just after Brigade drill. High winds, not very cold. I. M. White is cook to day for the mess. Nothing more at pres (sic).
Thursday, February 27
John Randolph is on guard. Got my likeness taken a at Tennallytown and sent to Alice A Martin. Got orders to march to night taking 100 rounds of cartridges to each man. Company skirmish drill in forenoon. Am cook. Gen Keys Division was is to be in Washington tomorrow morning at six o'clock, and all the artillery belonging to it. The Brigade is to be formed at Peck's quarters to night at twelve o'clock, our Regt on the right We had everything packed up for starting. Have four days rations cooked.
Friday, February 28
The orders was countermanded. Very windy yesterday and last night. Pretty cool. Was inspection of knapsacks, arms &c this forenoon and also mustered in for pay by Capt, Morris A of General Peck's staff. J. Kaltenbaugh is Corporal of the 1st relief. Very windy and cold. Recd a letter from home. Dress parade at five o'clock. I. N. Hays is cook. We still keep everything in readiness for marching. Col Kinkead musters in for pay the 55'th N. Y. V.