DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, January-October 1863

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Andrew F. Davis papers, January-October 1863

07_1863-01-18-Page 03

by 3 oclock P.M. it was falling in perfect torrents and so continued all night and by Friday morning had turned to sleet and by noon from sleet to snow and snowed until night. We had no shelter whatever and it rained so hard it was almost impossible to keep fires burning even when we had dry cedar rails to burn. I was on Picket that night and tried to make fires with rails but could not as they were too wet. So you can form some faint conception (but only faint) of how we spent the night. Our expedition whatever it was intended for was not completed but Col. Wagner who was in command sent a courier to Gen Rosecrans asking to be ordered back to camp and at 12 Oclock the order came and we started for Murfreesboro 13 miles and marched it without ever halting. Not one of the men but what was wet to the skin then on that was a coat of sleet and still on that one of snow. The whole face of the country was covered with water. the streams all overflowing and overrunning the road in many places and we often had to wade over knee deep for 3 or 400 yds at a time and just at dark we arrived at camp. But here was but poor comfort for many of the poor fellows for in place of finding dry tents to go into they found them floating in water and had to move them before they could rest any. Such was not the case however with me for my tent was in a dry place and the day before we started I had a fireplace built and when I got home I found a good fire burning and plenty of warm coffee ready made. That night I had the blues and promised the boys that if I lived I would not spend another winter in the service. Wonder if I will keep the promise, you say it is a disputed point whether we will be allowed to come home at the end of 4 yrs if the war is not over. The point is settled beyond dispute with the 13, 14, 15 & 17 Regts for they were mustered in for 3 years unless sooner discharged consequently they will be discharged at the end of that time war or no war but if the war was over tomorrow they could hold us the rest of the 3 years All the other Regts were mustered for 3 yrs or dureing the war so if the war was over now they could go home and I think they will be free at the end of the 3 yrs anyway, but some others think different. I have had more to do since the 1st of January than I have ever had during the same length of time since I have been in the service. So many of the boys being killed & wounded all of who had to have a complete report of their accounts with the government made out

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by 3 oclock P.M. it was falling in perfect torrents and so continued all night and by Friday morning had turned to sleet and by noon from sleet to snow and snowed until night. We had no shelter whatever and it rained so hard it was almost impossible to keep fires burning even when we had dry cedar rails to burn. I was on Picket that night and tried to make fires with rails but could not as they were too wet. So you can form some faint conception (but only faint) of how we spent the night. Our expedition whatever it was intended for was not completed but Col. Wagner who was in command sent a courier to Gen Rosecrans asking to be ordered back to camp and at 12 Oclock the order came and we started for Murfreesboro 13 miles and marched it without ever halting. Not one of the men but what was wet to the skin then on that was a coat of sleet and still on that one of snow. The whole face of the country was covered with water. the streams all overflowing and overrunning the road in many places and we often had to wade over knee deep for 3 or 400 yds at a time and just at dark we arrived at camp. But here was but poor comfort for many of the poor fellows for in place of finding dry tents to go into they found them floating in water and had to move them before they could rest any. Such was not the case however with me for my tent was in a dry place and the day before we started I had a fireplace built and when I got home I found a good fire burning and plenty of warm coffee ready made. That night I had the blues and promised the boys that if I lived I would not spend another winter in the service. Wonder if I will keep the promise, you say it is a disputed point whether we will be allowed to come home at the end of 4 yrs if the war is not over. The point is settled beyond dispute with the 13, 14, 15 & 17 Regts for they were mustered in for 3 years unless sooner discharged consequently they will be discharged at the end of that time war or no war but if the war was over tomorrow they could hold us the rest of the 3 years All the other Regts were mustered for 3 yrs or dureing the war so if the war was over now they could go home and I think they will be free at the end of the 3 yrs anyway, but some others think different. I have had more to do since the 1st of January than I have ever had during the same length of time since I have been in the service. So many of the boys being killed & wounded all of who had to have a complete report of their accounts with the government made out