DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-01-20

Wednesday 20  Early this morning I sent two companies and three teams in charge of Lieutenant Kenedy to Reeve’s on the road to Bolivar to get corn.  The expedition returned this evening, and the lieutenant reports that the roads are in very bad condition, that the men of his command fired on several guerrillas, but did not get any of them.  He says, the rebels have a regular commissary depot, at Reeve’s plantation, consisting of meat, molasses, salt leather &c.  He brought in three loads of good corn.  We had quite a debate on the system of foraging, some officers contended that it would be perfectly right to take everything in the country that is of value to us, without remuneration to the owners, even destroy that which we could not take, and which would be of use to the rebels.  Others took a more humane view of the matter and argued that it would be better for our cause not to disturb anything anywhere, thus get the favor of the people.  If the practice of foraging is allowed to the men, it is as a general thing abused by them, and we make more enemies than friends, inflicting punishment upon many persons who are innocent.  I have issued an order forbidding men to go out of the lines under any pretense whatever.  It will not do to permit the men to roam about whenever & wherever they please.

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Wednesday 20 Early this morning I sent two companies and three teams in charge of Lieutenant Kenedy to Reeve’s on the road to Bolivar to get corn. The expedition returned this evening, and the lieutenant reports that the roads are in very bad condition, that the men of his command fired on several guerrillas, but did not get any of them. He says, the rebels have a regular commissary depot, at Reeve’s plantation, consisting of meat, molasses, salt leather &c. He brought in three loads of good corn. We had quite a debate on the system of foraging, some officers contended that it would be perfectly right to take everything in the country that is of value to us, without remuneration to the owners, even destroy that which we could not take, and which would be of use to the rebels. Others took a more humane view of the matter and argued that it would be better for our cause not to disturb anything anywhere, thus get the favor of the people. If the practice of foraging is allowed to the men, it is as a general thing abused by them, and we make more enemies than friends, inflicting punishment upon many persons who are innocent. I have issued an order forbidding men to go out of the lines under any pretense whatever. It will not do to permit the men to roam about whenever & wherever they please.