Tuesday, September 6, 1864
Lay in camp. Troops visiting. had heavy rainstorm. Headquarters
had a jubilee. All felt pretty happy over the end of so long and
tedious a campaign. All hands are now busy making out reports
for operations of the Brigade during the campaign.
Wednesday, September 7, 1864
Everything remains unchanged. Corps said to be in march for this
place. Corps troops in by sun-down.
Thursday, September 8, 1864
All hands still busy making our reports of Brigade 'for the campaign'.
Troops comfortable in camp.
Expect to move tomorrow.
Friday, September 9, 1864
Brigade ordered to move into permanent camp. Move at 9 o'clock
a.m. and joined the division. Ground very rough and water is a
long way off from camp, but the ground is dry.
Saturday, September 10, 1864
Moved Brigade headquarters from town to the rear of the troops
of the Brigade.
Sunday, September 11, 1864
52d Ohio on picket.
Monday, September 12, 1864
No entry
Tuesday, September 13, 1864
William Price captured on Stoneman Raid. Information wanted by
his father.
Wednesday, September 14, 1864
No entry
Thursday, September 15, 1864
Much of the country marched over by this corps has been good fertile
soil. The general appearance is much better than any we have ever
passed over in any other part of the Confederacy, and more especially
this pertains to the country travelled over since we left Milledgeville.
The general surface is nearly as level as our Illinois Prairies.
The country is very sparsely settled and the plantations are all
nearly, or quite, new. Generally, there is about one good house
to every thousand acres of cleared land and the good house is
surrounded by numerous miserable little Negro juts; these generally
have the appearance of having been built haphazardly and anyway
without any particular regard to the system or order of arrangement.
And none that I have seen appear any more so than those on the
plantation of General Howell Cobb.
His plantation shows very little or no system of arrangement about
it at all. The fields are ill-shaped and triangular, when they
might just as easily be arranged in square lots and assume the
shaped task and beauty and add still more to the convenience of
cultivating. A person not acquainted with the southern style of
fencing would hardly believe me when I assert that the fences
are poor, and then tell him they are from ten to fourteen rails
high. The rails are so small that a fence with twelve rails is
nothing like to keep breechy stock from leaping it at any time
and place they meet it. I have not seen a staked and ridered fence
in all central Georgia. I am now near Louisville, Georgia, and
for the first time since our advent into this State, I must confess
that I am very favorable impressed with the appearance of the
country I am in. I have long years ago read much about the beautiful
Southern Plains. I still have those impressions, but am now on
a portion of territory which I am satisfied, if cleared up and
properly improved, would be beautiful. The soil also appears quite
fertile.
The country is interspersed with swamps. I a few days ago saw
a regular Tamarack swamp, a thing I had so often read about in
those un-ending books - Abolition stories - of which I have always
been so fond. Though I can't say that I always swallowed all the
hobgoblins that the world saw fit to publish, I nevertheless was
fond of reading them, and even now, I think that the only work
of any real merit I ever read on southern institutions was the
hated helper book, about which so much fuss was made in Congress.
I happened to be fortunate enough to get hold of one of the original
copies of that book and read what I believe to be the best compilation
of statistical records and good logical reasoning that I ever
read within the folds of so small a book. Every proof was ready
and correct. Every comparison was a true one and drawn correct
and fair. Even the most radical southern man can't deny the force
of the argument, or in and satisfactory manner, refute it, and
that, more than any other, is the cause of such an intense hatred
against that most valuable production (slaves). What adds still
more to the force of this noble little work is its origin from
the Carolinas, the most treacherous of all the sister states of
our old Federal Union - but to return to my starting point again,
this country is most abundantly supplied with every variety of
domestic eatables and forage for animals. If any considerable
portion of the Rebel Confederacy is as well supplied with subsistence
as the part we have travelled over during the Campaign, it must
necessarily require a long time to starve them into complete submission!
However, coffee and even sugar, are very scarce in this country.
The people here have been so long without coffee that they have
learned to do without and say now that they get along very well.
Sorghum molasses has taken the place of all sugar for sweetening.
Sweet potatoes are the most plentiful article of vegetation. Eternal
thousands of bushels can be gathered here any day. Corn is also
quite plentiful. Wheat is rather scarce.
Corn is the principal bread stuff used in the South and always
has been, so the people experience very little inconvenience by
the absence of wheat and flour. Stock and poultry is also abundant.
Many thousand head of cattle have been taken up on this expedition,
and thousands of hogs are killed every day for the use of the
army - a great deal more than there is any real need of, for the
subsistence of the men. I think it quite a fair estimate to say
half the men of this army live on chicken, turkeys and geese.
it is amusing, even to an old soldier, to see the column of troops
pass by and nearly every man have a chicken or turkey on his back
for his supper, for when he arrives at camp. Then besides those
chickens, and etc., which the men carry, large foraging parties
are daily sent out, who kill hogs and sheep, and gather wagon
loads of sweet potatoes and bring them to camp each night for
issue to the commissary, so that our men live like fighting cocks!
No army ever lived better than ours, since the first day of last
January.
This raid will cost the rebels millions of dollars. We passed
a single plantation this morning where we saw burnt over $350,000
worth of cotton. That is not an exception. Millions of dollars
worth of cotton go that way every day along our route of march.
(The preceding essay was written in continuous, uniform longhand
by Captain Burkhalter on the diary pages starting with Thursday,
September 15, 1864, and continuing until Sunday, October 9, 1864.
There are no more entries until Monday, October 31, 1864.) Except
this entry:
Wednesday, September 21, 1864
Chester and Uncle Tom left today. They said they wanted to look
for the rest of their family.
Monday, October 31, 1864
Detailed four companies from 86th Illinois for picket. To camp
five miles from Kingston on the Kingston & Rome Railroad.
Tuesday, November 1, 1864
No entry
Wednesday, November 2, 1864 Monday, November 7, 1864
Thursday, November 3, 1864 Tuesday, November 8, 1864
Friday, November 4, 1864 Wednesday, November 9, 1864
Saturday, November 5, 1864 Thursday, November 10, 1864
Sunday, November 6, 1864 (no entries for these dates)
Friday, November 11, 1864
Cartersville, Georgia. Detailed two commanding officers, 8 sergeants
and 17 corporals and 74 men and one captain - Officer of the Day
- and posted as follows:
1 C.O. 3 sgts 6 Cpls and 25 men at the foot bridge.
1 Sgt 3 Cpls 12 men. Railroad bed.
1 Sgt 3 Cpls 12 men. At the ravine.
1 C.O. 3 Sgts 6 Cpls 25 men at Canton Road.
Saturday, November 12, 1864
Detailed 2 C.O.'s - 8 Sgts 17 Cpls and 74 men from the 85th Illinois
for picket along the Etawah River at Cartersville, Georgia.
Posted as follows: 1 C.O., 2 Sgts 6 Cpls and 25 men at the foot
bridge.
1 Sgt 3 Cpls and 12 men at the railroad bed.
1 Sgt 3 Cpls and 12 men at the ravine.
1 C.O., 3 Sgts, 6 Cpls and 25 men at the Canton Road.
Sunday, November 13, 1864
marched from Cartersville to Ackworth. Destroyed railroad from
Cartersville to Allatoona, then marched to Ackworth and camped.
52d Ohio furnished one company for picket and 86th Illinois furnished
two companies for picket. Weather pleasant.
Monday, November 14, 1864
Marched at daylight and arrived at Atlanta, Georgia about 1 P.M.
Found the city on fire. Scenes of Moscow (War of 1812 when Napoleon
was in Russia) appear revived. Everything has the appearance of
an ocean of fire. On picket - one company of the 22d Indiana.
Wednesday, November 15, 1864
Atlanta is still burning. Large fires are all over town.
Broke camp at 11 o'clock in the morning and marched four miles
east of Decatur, near Stone Mountain. Was very dark when the Brigade
got to camp. The march was awfully tedious during the evening,
with a long wagon train in the way. No picket.
Thursday, November 17, 1864
Marched at seven o'clock. Passed through Lithonia and tore up
about 2 1/2 miles of the track of the Atlanta & Augusta Railroad.
The country is very fair for rebeldom. Camped at Camden Station.
had three companies on picket taken from 125th Illinois.
Provisions are apparently short amongst the people.
Friday, November 18, 1864
Marched at six in the morning from Camden Station. Crossed the
Yellow River and moved along the railroad. Tore up some three
miles of track southeast of Covington, then moved on and crossed
the Alcoby River and camped for the night. No pickets tonight.
Saturday, November 19, 1864
Broke camp at Alcovy River and marched southeast on the Milledgeville
Road. Passed through Newborn and halted for dinner about two miles
south of town. Moved on and marched nine miles. Camped one mile
north of Shady Dale. Three companies of the 10th Illinois were
detailed for picket. Troops have plenty to eat. Forage off the
country.
Sunday, November 20, 1864
Marched at seven in the morning in the direction of Eatonton and
camped within two miles of town. Posted four companies on picket
from the 22nd Indiana. Caught a rebel officer who said he was
on the retired list and out of service.
Monday, November 21, 1864
Marched at six o'clock this morning and took the road to the right
of the main road, to Eatonton, and crossed Murden Creek on the
bridge at the Mill, then turned back to the Milledgeville Road.
Weather is terrible, with much rain. Three companies on picket
from 85th Illinois.
Tuesday, November 22, 1864
Lay in camp south of Cedar Creek all day. Weather rough and cold.
Much trouble about captured stock. Ayers arrested and released.
Picket: two companies from the 52d Ohio.
Wednesday, November 23, 1864
Marched at six a.m. and brought up the rear of the entire army.
Weather quite cold. marched about twelve miles and camped near
Milledgeville.
Picket: two companies from 22d Indiana
Order of March
22d Indiana
110th Illinois
Train
85th Illinois
125th Illinois
Rear Guard
86th Illinois
52d Ohio
Thursday, November 24, 1864
Marched from near Milledgeville through the city and crossed the
river. Bivouacked about one hour and then marched in a direction
nearly east about eight miles and camped for the night in a nice
pine woods. Supposed to be Thanksgiving Day.
Picket: three companies from the 86th Illinois.
Order of March
85th Illinois
22d Indiana
125th Illinois
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
Friday, November 25, 1864
Marched at six a.m. Moved along rapidly until we reached Buffalo
Creek, where we found the bridge burnt and were delayed about
five hours waiting for pontoons. Passed a dismal and dreary-looking
swamp. Camped for the night on Key Creek.
Picket: four companies from the 125th Illinois
Order of March
22d Indiana
125th Illinois
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
Saturday, November 26, 1864
Chester and Uncle Tom came back during the night. They looked
as if they had walked over half of Georgia, seeking me. Re-engaged
Chester at $10 per month and found.
Marched from camp on Key Creek at daylight. Reached Sandersville
and found Wheeler's Cavalry (Rebel) about three thousand strong,
who tried to resist our progress. But they were dispersed and
with little loss to us. Sandersville appears to be a small, rather
well- located place of two hundred houses. It has a nice courthouse,
though small.
Picket: the whole regiment
Order of March
125th Illinois
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
Train
86th Illinois
22d Indiana
85th Illinois
Sunday, November 27, 1864
Paid Uncle Tom six dollars.
Marched at four o'clock in the direction of Louisville, on the
Louisville Road. Camped on Williamson Swamp Creek for dinner and
again moved forward. Crossed Oguchee Creek and camped about a
mile from Louisville, Georgia, for the night.
Picket: five companies from the 52d Ohio
Order of March
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
22d Indiana
125th Illinois
Monday, November 28, 1864
Marched at six a.m. in the direction of Louisville and arrived
within one mile of town and found the bridge burnt. This delayed
our progress across the swamp of Rocky Comfort Creek. Halted for
dinner, while the 3rd Division repaired the crossing, preparatory
to entering Louisville.
The bridge was repaired tonight and all passed over.
Picket: 110th Illinois and the whole regiment.
Order of March
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
22d Indiana
125th Illinois
86th Illinois
Tuesday, November 29, 1864
Idle this morning. visited the town and found much of it burnt.
has the appearance of having once been a very pleasant little
place. Has a good but very old fashioned __________(left blank
in original manuscript)
All the train of this and the 20th Army Corps is coming in. Also
the 20th Corps troops.
Remained for the night.
Picket: 86th Illinois: ten companies.
Wednesday, November 30, 1864
Mounted a company of scouts equal to one man for each company,
under the command of Captain Jo. Harbor. Attacked by a force of
Wheeler's Cavalry and fought them most of the day. Foraging party
had a hard fight with cavalry. Picket: 52d Ohio.
Thursday, December 1, 1864
Yesterday was rather an eventful day. Had considerable fighting
with Wheeler's Cavalry. Supposed to have been about three thousand
men and were strung all along our front. Annoyed our foragers
and captured some of them. Captain Powers was taken prisoner and
made his escape after narrowly avoiding Death. His guard was evidently
instructed to kill him, but the guard lost heart and told Captain
Powers that the proposed killing would not have to be reported,
therefore Powers was spared.
A foragers' party had three general, pitched battles and came
off victorious each time and finally managed to reach camp with
a loss of but six or eight men out of the entire detail. marched
at eight o'clock in the morning, in the direction of Birdsville.
It is very warm, so much so as to be uncomfortable in the sun.
division detailed as Train Guard, as the column is about seven
miles long. 3rd Division in the advance, usually never very slow,
detain us much. Picket: 125th Illinois
Order of March
52d Ohio
22d Indiana
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
Train and Guards
85th Illinois
125th Illinois
Friday, December 2, 1864
Marched at 8 a.m. in the direction of Millen. Were detained some
by swamps, which had to be bridged, for the train. This required
some little time and much stoppage. Camped for the night near
Buckhead Creek with the 20th Army Corps.
Picket: 85th Illinois - whole regiment
Order of March
85th Illinois
86th Illinois
125th Illinois
110th Illinois
Train Guard
52d Ohio
22d Indiana
Saturday, December 3, 1864
Marched at 8 a.m. in a direction nearly due north about three
miles, then turned east. Weather is pleasant. Crossed two creeks
this morning. Found bridges burnt. First was Buckhead Creek and
the second was White Oak swamp creek.
Picket: 22d Indiana - six companies
Order of March
125th Illinois
22d Indiana
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
110th Illinois
Marched in the rear of train. Left camp at 12:30 p.m. Passed through
Habberston and moved towards Jacksonboro. Camped for the night
in a beautiful pine grove. Country is not very good on this route;
better country on the left. Picket: 86th Illinois
Order of March
22d Indiana
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
52d Ohio
Train Guard
125th Illinois
85th Illinois
Monday, December 5, 1864
Marched at 7 a.m. in the center of the train on the Savannah Road
and River.
Picket: 86th Illinois - six companies
Order of March
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
85th Illinois
125th Illinois
Train Guards
52d Ohio
22d Indiana
Tuesday, December 6, 1864
Marched at 6:30 a.m. from Buck Creek post-office on the main Savannah
Road. Proceeded about seventeen miles. Road good, except a few
small swamps in the way during the forepart of the day. Found
the road obstructed and camped for the night.
Picket: 52d Ohio - six companies
Order of March
52d Ohio
85th Illinois
125th Illinois
22d Indiana
Train Guard
86th Illinois
110th Illinois
Wednesday, December 7, 1964
Marched as rear guard. Moved out of camp at 10 a.m. had bad roads
in the forepart of the march, but during the latter part of the
march, the road was excellent. But we encountered many trees that
had been fallen across, to impede our progress. However, after
the trees were removed, we moved right along. Reached camp at
9 p.m.
Picket: 125th Illinois
Order of March
110th Illinois
22d Indiana
86th Illinois
52d Ohio
Train Guards
85th Illinois
125th Illinois