WELCOME TO SALLY’S DIARIES:
Well the old saying “big things come in little packages” pertains to this diary. It belonged to a soldier in the civil war but not sure of his name or his regiment. I believe he is in Tennessee at the time he keeps this diary. There are only handwritten diary type entries from January 1st to January 26th but what he wrote on that last entry took me by surprise, and I quote….
“January 26th, 1864. The orders is that we leave today. Every is ready to press aboard the cars. They have commenced to fire the town. The orders is to the contrary but it is almost impossible to prevent the soldier from doing it. The cars are ready too. We are aboard and we are loading packs for A ___ton. The town Is pretty much all afire only a few houses left.”
I tried to find out what town was burnt down during the war and in Tennessee on this date but had no luck. After those 26 days of entries he does have handwritten things on many of the other pages but they have to do with just miscellaneous notes, numbers, names, etc. On five of the pages he has written a letter to his sister Sara.
I believe he might have ran the general store or outpost while in camp. And also on the inside front cover is a drawing (which is a bit smudged) and it looks like a building with a sign and other buildings around it. Wish there were more entries or I knew more about our author. I’ve taken several of the other diary entries and quoted them here…..
1864
“January 2nd, Today it is cold as ever. Hardly possible to wait on customers. I have hugged the stove all day. Talk about the sunny south. Today it is one year since I was discharged from the N. T. (or possibly N. L.) _____ did not think then I would be in Tenn. in one year. Have had no disturbance today. Everything quiet. Saw a pair of Rebs today. No prisoners under guard. Hope it will always be the case.”
“January 4th, This morning it is storm, rain and hail. Business has been good tonight. Have $2.02. Nothing of note has occurred. It is now decided that the regiment will start in a few days for town for the purpose of recruitment. ¾ having enlisted in the veteran hospital corps. How soon it will return to the ____I do not know, not in some weeks. We expect to follow them.”
“January 5th, Cold as ever. William left this morning for Memphis. He will be absent two or three days. He has gone for goods. I did not expect such weather as we are having. I hope to night I might bunk in alone. While I am writing there is one genuine specimen of a southern darky sitting on the same box by me and another opposite. They are ___fellows.” (On the 8th he said their was new of guerrillas being near. More reports that they are leaving camp but nothing final yet.)
“January 16th, Today the lines are closed so that the citizens can cum in and consequently trade. Was not quite as good, still it pretty good. The report came that 13 brigades of rebs were within a few miles of us but I presume this was no truth in it. Still it was necessary to be on the guard. It is pretty dull here. Everyday the same. I do not quite like it.”
“January 20th, Another fine day and everything quick. Trains heavily laden with military ____ are passing continuous. They are from Corinth. (?) It is to be evacuated so they say. We shall leave soon I suppose. Business has been growing dull compared with some days….”
“January 21st, Trains are still passing through loaded with freights which is being removed from Corinth. The prospect is that we shall soon be underway for what point I know not. …..” (He says the rails have been tampered with by the Rebs.)
“January 26th, The orders is that we leave today. Every is ready to press aboard the cars. They have commenced to fire the town. The orders is to the contrary but it is almost impossible to prevent the soldier from doing it. The cars are ready too. We are aboard and we are loading packs for a ______. The town Is pretty much all afire only a few houses left.”
I tried to scan as many pages as I could not just for the contents but also because of the condition which is poor. The back cover is torn, in fact the entire cover is worn and torn. Many of the pages are turned up and bent. Some smudges and foxing, etc. Please keep the condition in mind when purchasing. The diary measures about 2 1/4” x 4”.