CIVIL WAR JOURNAL OF JAMES B. LOCKNEY
WIS. 28th REGMT., CO. G
June 1865
Copyright © 1986, 1997-2010 [James
R. Shirey]. All rights reserved.
On board Steamer Continental.
At anchor in Mobile Bay
June 1st Thursday 1865
Last night we lay on the wharf & many were much troubled by the
Muskittoes (mosquitoes). I got a good supply of pickles in our tin pail,
some of which would have wasted had not the boys saved them. About 8 P.M.
I began to write so as to finish a letter I had nearly written. While
thus engaged our Brig. Commander Col. Cretz of 27th Wis Inf came to my candle to
light his pipe & he remarked about me writing home. To my assent he
remarked that I must let them know whither we were going & that I should
tell them the whole truth & nothing else. I was pleased at his
familiarity & said I would be very glad if he would tell me what place was
our destination, that as yet we were in doubt & in the dark whether we would
go to N.O. or Texas. He complied with my wish & said our Division was
ordered to go to Santiago, Texas. This was the first statement on this
subject so interesting to us, that I considered reliable or trustworthy &
was for the first time settled in my mind. We had ford hopes of starting
home soon, but now we feel resigned & ready. At most I hope we will
return in 45 or 60 days. I went about town some this morning for the boat
did not return till about 7 A.M. & it was near noon when we were ready to
start down the bay. I visited the market which was thronged at an early
hour by sellers & purchasers. Prices are high. Ripe blackberries
40 cts a qt. & for one large green cucumber was asked 25 cts. Old
Irish potatoes & new ones are in the market, also new & old
onions. The channel down the bay is very winding & is marked by piles
driven on both sides. We passed two strong water batteries, one mounting 8
& another 6 heavy guns. We found the steamer some 15 miles down the
bay waiting for us aground. The day was bright & we found the sun
quite hot. I mailed a letter & a [?] before starting. I feel
very well, thanks to God!!
Aboard in Mobile Bay
June 2d Friday 1865
Yesterday evening clouds gathered in the west before sundown & as rain was
threatened H. & I made our beds under a life boat as that would shelter us
some. This was unnecessary however, for the night was clear & starry
& moonlit. We had a good sleep & did not awake except to hear the
drums of 33
d Iowa beat roll call till the sun was an hour high.
The boat that took us down yesterday morning carried the 33
d Iowa
down but they stopped on the Pearless, alongside til P.M. today. The
Continental lay aground till about noon, though two boats worked long & hard
trying to pull her off. She lay about 12 ft deep, drawing 10 feet without
load. While trying to get her off our Regt. all moved on to the Peerless
& again moved back. This made much labor & the boys were kept
moving as Hinkley said 'six inches square of room, or surface to each man &
moving every 1/2 hour'. Last evening there was a scarcity of water, a canteen
full being issued to each man at 9 A.M, but this was not enough. After
dark more was issued. Some 30 to 50 large blocks of ice was brought down
on the boat yesterday & was loaded on to the Continental. While it was
loading & unloading, it was difficult to keep the boys from picking at
it. Dear Northland!!!! who would forsake thee for any southern
clime! Since thou hast all the four seasons in all their beauty &
perfection!! Ice sells here at 5 cts a lb. It is as cold as at home,
but wastes very fast when exposed. We got to Ft. Morgan about 2 P.M. &
anchored soon after. A boat came alongside with 100 bbls flour, bacon, & a
vast quantity of tack. About 4 P.M. the 33
d moved aboard, we
having the left & they the right hand side. Water is in great plenty
today. All the sick were sent to Ft Gains this P.M. I was sorry
Chas. Wiegert was not sent. Chas Finley, L. Bowers, & Layhee went from
our Co. They will all be discharged soon I think. I read or wrote
but little. How time flies! for this is the 2
d last day of my
29
th year. Day was bright & warm. All's well.
Afloat on Gulf of Mexico
June 3d Saturday 1865
Last night we lay at anchor at the mouth of the bay of Mobile. It was a
pleasant night, breezy enough to be pleasant & the moon gave a pleasant
light. We slept well. I rose about daylight. The horizon was
clouded, so that the sun rose many degrees--say 10--ere it was visible.
The air grew hazy toward noon & the heat of the sun was oppressive as no
wind was stirring. Because of one or two or a hundred causes, we were
delayed so we did not start till noon. Just before starting the guns &
accoutrements of those Co's above & on the upper deck were stowed away
below. This would guard against loss from such falling overboard if the
sea were rough & also the boys would have less to take care of. We got
water aboard to make coffee, but H-- & I gave ours away as he did not care
for it & I had some tea. Water was plenty all day. Capt.
Tichenor went off on the Peerless last night & it was expected he would be
back early this A.M. but he did not return when we started. It was
supposed he was sent for orders as to our destination. Two vessels went
out last evening & two others loaded with troops started at the same time we
did. We have about 50 cartridges each, & as many more are taken along
in boxes. The surface was very smooth at the time we started, but the wind
blew gently out in the wide Gulf. This was partly caused by the speed of the
boat, she making some 12 miles an hour. About 5 P.M. we saw many porpoises
playing near our ship. Earlier we saw small fish--perhaps flying fish,
gamboling nearby. Our course is between ssw & sw. I feel well.
On the Gulf bound for Texas
June 4th Sunday 1865
Last night was clear & moonlit, & a breeze blew that greatly increased the pleasantness
of our situation. We passed the mouths of the Mississippi about 11 O'clock P.M.
While passing, a supply of fresh water was taken in for the use of the troops.
I & many others were awake & we saw the lighthouse at Pass L. Outre--I think-- perhaps
10 or 12 miles distant. For several hours after I lay awake busy with thoughts & roving fancies.
At last I fell asleep & did not wake till about sunrise. The surface this A.M. was very
smooth & the air close & rather oppressive, but during the P.M. a pleasant breeze blew &
continued till night. The ship rocked a little P.M. more than we thought it should in so
quiet a sea. Still it was so little as to be pleasant than otherwise, & no one was made
sick by it. We were out of sight of land all the day & the watery waste all around us afforded
a beautiful view of the horizon. Again we saw porpoises & little fishes that would appear to
fly several rods, nearly on a level above the water. Generally the waves did not roll or rise
more than 12 or 18 inches. Water was divided one in A.M. & coffee was made for the troops twice,
but as it cooked in the same boiler or tank in which our salt beef was cooked last evening,
it was not liked by the boys. The beef was very salt[y] & horrible stuff to have to eat & many
threw theirs overboard to soak. We passed many sail vessels three being in sight at one time
in the P.M. We passed a small brig a short time before sundown that was bound in the same
direction. She bore the British flag. There were about 10[?] men aboard & as many women,
1/2 of them white. They cheered us heartily, especially the colored ones.
Afloat on Gulf of Mexico
June 5th Monday 1865
Last evening Lt. Hopper [of] Co. A came aloft where we are & passed an hour with us in familiar converse.
I was writing my daily record when he came, so he facitiously remarked about my history of the war &
his wish to have a copy when it will be published!! After this we exchanged remarks about a few of
our chief historians & literary men as Bancroft, Everette, &c. He said if W. Irving lived he would
like to have a history of the War written by him. I expressed my opinion of J.T. Hualey [?] in regard
to his abilities as shown in his 1st vol. of the present War. This was the first time he & I had any
familiar converse, on any subject. I think he is a person of temperate & regular habits & of good
principles. He was I believe a farmer & teacher before he enlisted.
When the brig bearing the English flag passed us I was a little surprised to hear every one ask "To
what nation the flag belonged?" From the first I thought it was some of the kinds of flags used among
the British Marine, but I was mistaken in thinking it was the Union Jack. This made me think how little
we know as a people of critical or exact knowledge, though on general subjects better informed than any
other people. We kept steadily on our way all last night. The sky was clear. A gentle breeze blew
constantly. The moon set in clouds that rose in tiers along the horizon & behind such the sun rose this morning.
All day a steady breeze blew & our ship rolled more than any time before. This continued all day,
increasing toward night. A few of the boys cast up some of the contents of their stomachs.
This A.M. bacon that was rather poorly cooked was distributed in our Regt, but that I got--in fact all
of it--was so fat & repugnant that I could not touch it. Though much against my wish I felt compelled
to buy a breakfast ticket for $1.00. Many of the boys did this today & yesterday. I felt well all day.
Afloat on Steamship off Santiago Harbor, Texas
June 6th Tuesday 1865
Our ship kept steadily on her course last night & early this morning we saw the
light house lamps glimmer in the distance. We reached the anchorage ground
about sunrise when the anchor was dropped & so we floated all day. The day
was bright & the sky clear, a pleasant lively breeze blowing all day. We
put our tents up for a shade & thus we lay lazily all day. Some read,
while others passed the time playing cards. I ate nothing since breakfast
yesterday & I felt quite hungry. I tried to buy a ticket for that meal &
failed. I could not eat the fat palboiled bacon that we drew yesterday for
the sight almost sickened me, so I hoped to get dinner, but there was such a
rush that I failed this time again. After 1 P.M. I ate a cracker & soon
after that I got a quart of soup & four or five cold boiled potatoes which I ate
with another cracker. This was the hardest trial I ever had for something
to eat for almost every time the fates seemed against me. I had strong
longings for the end of soldier life for money often will not get what one wants
to help him to live. What a yearning one has for the time of plenty to
come when plenty to eat & to do will come with every day. What a
feeling of envy one has toward the hands of the boat who have such a great
plenty of good food to eat regularly as we had long ago. They also have
shelter & a place for their things with work every day. But "In God is our
Trust"
We saw perhaps 40 vessels lying at anchor to the south of us, perhaps
at the mouth of the Rio Grand River. Near the entrance to harbor here is a
wreck of one of our vessels. A part of her engine is to be seen above
water. She was wrecked about a year ago. During the day the 33d
Iowa & four of our Co's went ashore on a small steamer.
At anchor off Brazos Santiago
June 7th Wednesday 1865
We expected to go ashore last evening but were disappointed in this, so we lay
as usual on the poop deck. The early part of the night was bright & clear,
but we were early waked by rain sprinkling our faces & just about daylight heavy
clouds overcast the sky & ere long rain fell plentifully for about two hours.
All had cause to rejoice that we were not so crowded as we were yesterday, for
as it was our situation was not an enviable one. Gradually the storm wore
away & toward light the sun shone bright & pleasant. I had some practice
in stratagy this morning in which I was defeated, but I will be better prepared
next time. I got a ticket for breakfast, but as the boys began too soon to
gather round the cabin door word was given out that there would be no breakfast
for such so I & some others went back to the clerk & got our money back.
Thus was the crowd scattered, but soon after the same tickets were sold again
but I was too late to get one this time till all were out. Thus I lost
breakfast. After awhile I went to the bow of the boat where I had a
monstrous charge, greater surely than any I ever made upon the field of battle.
I met one of the boys of the ship who said he would sell me a loaf of
bread for $1.00. This I gladly accepted though it weighed but about 1 1/2
lbs. I ate a part of this for breakfast & some more with a qt of soup 10
cts worth for dinner. I mailed 3 books home, leaving them in the clerk's
office. Sea was rough all day. Saw many sailboats & some pelicans.
All's well.
Aboard & Ashore
June 8th Thursday 1865
Last evening looked like rain so I slept in the hold of the vessel for I did not
like to risk being waked by the rain pattering in my face. Yet was I
luckily disappointed for the night was dry & breezy throughout. It was a
breezy place where I lay, but extremely filthy for the boys were crowded in it
so long & it was not washed out as the upper deck was daily during the trip.
In spite of all the attacks & desperate charges made by Graybacks fleas &c. I
slept soundly till daylight. One of the first things I did was to examine
my clothes in search of the enemy & I found him both large & small in his many
fastnesses & great was the destruction that I wrought. The day was
bright & hot & our ship rocked & pitched greatly, borne as she was on the bosom
of the agitated waters. I was one of a fatigue detail to load rations on
to a small brig that was tugged out & anchored alongside. I worked about 2
hours, when others relieved us. After she was loaded many got aboard &
there they lay furiously rocked on the little craft for many a long hour till at
last long after M. the tug came & brought her through the passage which was too
difficult for her to venture alone. Later the tug returned & we that
remained got aboard. Such a run & hurry I seldom saw & though the sea
continued rough not a person was hurt nor a thing lost in making the
transfers. The tide ws out & as the water is very shallow, we had some
fears of getting aground as she subbed very hard two or three times. Still
she kept on her way & we soon reached the landing & tied up alongside the Alice
Dell over which we passed. We camped on a low level strand on which not a
tree or twig grows. Fronting the Gulf are many high banks of dry white
sand. Our flag floats free, & near by is a line of works. The [? ]
ing gun was fired at sundown.
Texas
Camp on Brazos Santiago Isl.
June 9th Friday 1865
Last evening as soon as we got our straps off there was a general advance made
toward an old campground about 1/2 mile distant. There each one got the
best pieces of boards that he found & each bore a heavy load back with him.
We got enough to set our tent & about 1/2 enough to cover the place on which we
slept. About dark [?] Bluhm, H--, & I went to the water nearby & had a
wash, & we swum some. After this I went to the bakery & tried to buy some
bread, but as the establishment is a small one, adapted to the wants of a few
Regt, they would not sell me any. One of the hands--a soldier-- told me
the country for 60 miles back is adapted only to grazing, not being at all fit
for farming. He said the only timber was Chaperelle. He told me the
people here were lawless as could be, three being arrested lately for murdering
a man--to which they confessed-- & all the money they got --that being the
object-- was $4.00 He said much jealousy existed among the Royal Party in
Mexico composed as it is of four parts, viz the French, Austrians, Belgians, &
the Mexicans that favor the empire. The opinion of many was that if a
demonstration of support was made in favor of Mexico by U.S. that Maximillian
would flee from the country & thus would end Napoleon's Pet Empire. How
much I wish to see it end in ruin most complete. There is a line of stages
running between this place & Brownsville some 28 or 30 miles distant. Some
of our officers have been at Bagdad in Mexico at the mouth of the Rio Grand
River. There was Inspection in light order this P.M. Capt. Williams
had charge of it. I worked 2 1/2 or 3 hours on my gun & yet it was not fit
to be seen. I sold some paper & envelopes today. Edw. B. Smith sold
some also. There was a scarcity of water for our Co. because of slight
mismanagement. On the boat I mailed a letter & three books. The day
was bright, a breeze blows constantly.
Camp 28th, Wis
Brazos Santiago Island
June 10th Saturday 1865
I think few fell in as good & natural a state of health as we did a year ago, or
most times past. This is our third day off the boat & yet we have not
drawn any rations & our Co drew none during the last days on the boat. For
this reason nearly every one is hungry. The boys run to the sutter shops &
buy some crackers at 50 cts a lb, those are poor things & money does not go far
or amount to much when so invested. Yesterday I got 25 cts worth of those
& I spent as much more for poor trash of candy hearts. I felt in want of
something to eat & knew not what else I might buy. I was on guard today &
I went to the bakery to try to get a loaf of bread to buy, but as usual I
failed. I used entreaty offering pay at the same time, but in vain.
I then went out of camp among the shops & what few houses there are near the
landing determined to get my dinner at the eating house where some get meals for
$1.00 each if I could not get something to eat elsewhere. I saw a member
of 46th Colored Regt on guard at the bakery & he told me to go to Co
C. & the Orderly Sergt might sell me some. In going through the Regt I
found some eating dinner--fresh fish & hard tack. I asked them to sell me
a dime's worth, & they gave me what made very nearly enough for my hunger.
They were willing to give me more, but this I declined. I afterward bought
a loaf for which I paid 20 cts. I found some studying the Old Elementary
Spelling Book & I saw that books are used in nearly every tent. I never
saw quarters kept cleaner or arms so bright, nor brass shining as among the
blacks. The 46th U.S. was first known as the 1st Ark
& was organized at Helena in 1862 when we were there. I asked one how he
liked being a soldier. He said he liked it well & that if he could get in
a Col. Cav. Regt. he would never leave the army. Happy Boy --thought
I --how much you differ from m[e?]. Capt. Tichenor joined us today & more
troops came. No mail. Rations were drawn P.M. I am well.
Camp 28th, Wis Inf.
Brazos Santiago, Texas
June 11th Sunday 1865
For the first time in some months
I was on guard last night. The wind blows constantly, & the roar of the
waters has a sort of mournful sound, as if in regret for the many noble true &
brave as well as the countless lovely ones who have fallen a prey to his
heartless fury. There may be 'music in its roar' but certainly I think it
very sad & wailing & scarcely to be enjoyed except perhaps with dearly loved
ones near & then to me the company would be the chief charm or source of
pleasure.
Capt was officer of the day today. I asked him
for a requisition for some flour, but though he did not refuse it, yet I did
not get it. He said there were three mails for us at Mobile. When he started
out of this he got his share, but started too early in the morning to be able to
bring it. What a treasure of Love are we prevented from enjoying by the
non-receipt of those missiles of good will, those messengers of Joy.
The day passed drearily for there is little to read except a few trashy novels &
those I have no inclination to read. I feel but little inclined to write
during the day, for I am too much troubled with the feeling of hunger to think
of much else. The nights are too breezy to use a candle, so we sleep most
of the time that is dark. Capt. said he heard 30 or 35 vessels were
loaded with troops on the Atlantic Coast destined for the trans-Miss. Dept. &
that some had already reached Mobile Bay. We hope those will relieve us.
Water is in reasonable supply, but still much want is felt.
General Remarks for June
I heard from home but twice during the month, the latest being
5th inst. The news was as good as could be desired. All well &
prosperous. Crops were much in need of rain in May till a rain fell &
again at the time of last writing the growth of crops was retarded by the dry
weather that continued. The negro troops from VA that we heard would
follow & relieve us came & having after long waiting, disembarked at Brazos
Santiago & after suffering severely by the short supply of water, they have been
sent to various places, but still are we not relieved. Our hopes have
often been high by reason of rumors & statements in circulation most of which
had more or less shadow of probability, but thus all seems to have been mere
illusions, for we see no more prospect of going now than was two or three weeks
ago. It seems orders were issued to discharge first those troops mustered
in on or before Oct 1st. By some blunders & ignorance or callousness on
the part of somebody--our first Col. Lewis among them--we come in the 2d
class--those mustered after. I have become reconciled to the hardship of
the idleness & discomfort of such a way of living & wasting so many of the best
days of our lives, for the simple reason that fretting will not help us.
Our latest papers are of 19th. N.O. & 10th N.Y. Gold recps at about 1.35 &
fluctuates but little. We continue at Peace with foreign powers..
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