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

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1864-03-08 -- 1864-03-09

It is raining in streams, and we have marched from our camp through all this rain to Vicksburg; we are thoroughly wet and very muddy, had considerable trouble in getting here finally pitched our tents then we struck them and marched on board the marine steamer “Baltic”, but they refused to keep us on this boat, after some argument however they took us on and we are here without any accommodations whatever, the officers are compelled to lie on the floor with their men and cannot have a chance of having their dinners cooked.  Pretty rough.  This morning I had a difficulty with one of my men George H. [name?], the baker, who was very much excited because he was relieved as baker and ordered to report to his regiment, in conversing with him he called me a liar,  I drew my sword on him and told him if he made the repetition, I would run him through.  He did not repeat it, he had the impudence to use the most contemptuous familiarity toward me.  (The above should be marked the 9th inst.)

Wednesday 9.  Took another regiment on board the fifth Minnesota Vol.  I was mistaken in the dates what I wrote as having happened yesterday occurred today.  The 8th inst we spent in camp.  I wish to say something of the beautiful grave yard at Vicksburg, there are some fine vaults in it, some are said to have contained costly coffins, and gold &co. which the soldiers took away.

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It is raining in streams, and we have marched from our camp through all this rain to Vicksburg; we are thoroughly wet and very muddy, had considerable trouble in getting here finally pitched our tents then we struck them and marched on board the marine steamer “Baltic”, but they refused to keep us on this boat, after some argument however they took us on and we are here without any accommodations whatever, the officers are compelled to lie on the floor with their men and cannot have a chance of having their dinners cooked. Pretty rough. This morning I had a difficulty with one of my men George H. [name?], the baker, who was very much excited because he was relieved as baker and ordered to report to his regiment, in conversing with him he called me a liar, I drew my sword on him and told him if he made the repetition, I would run him through. He did not repeat it, he had the impudence to use the most contemptuous familiarity toward me. (The above should be marked the 9th inst.) Wednesday 9. Took another regiment on board the fifth Minnesota Vol. I was mistaken in the dates what I wrote as having happened yesterday occurred today. The 8th inst we spent in camp. I wish to say something of the beautiful grave yard at Vicksburg, there are some fine vaults in it, some are said to have contained costly coffins, and gold &co. which the soldiers took away.