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

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1864-03-18 -- 1864-03-19

Friday 18. Visited my German friends in town who were glad to see me, and with whom I had a very social time. I was the means of the saving a lot of sugar (24 hhgds [hogsheads]) for Mr. Imhoffer, a swiss Isrealite but a good union man, the father-in-law of Mrs. Nicolas. This evening an old locomotive and two open cars, which were found here, and had been sent out twelve miles from here today, with troops, returned, the men report that they ran into a rebel camp, and saw several hundred confederate advancing towards them, our men retreated, and came to camp without the loss of a man. this rail road runs but 14 miles from here to some large plantation, for the purpose of bringing in their sugar and cotton, it is constructed of wood with an iron covering for the rails. The locomotive is mostly made of wood. The entire road is said to be owned by a rich planter. Chaplain Evans and I took a walk this evening and had a long interesting talk  with each other. It is said that Banks will be here in a few days with an overwhelming force, then we will move onto Shreveport, and clean the rebels out there.

Saturday 19. This was rather a dull day, nothing of any importance occurred today. The people as a general thing are anxious to take the oath of allegiance to our government. Most of my men have made acquaintances with German families in town, and are making themselves quite at home with them, the people are glad to see them.

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Friday 18. Visited my German friends in town who were glad to see me, and with whom I had a very social time. I was the means of the saving a lot of sugar (24 hhgds [hogsheads]) for Mr. Imhoffer, a swiss Isrealite but a good union man, the father-in-law of Mrs. Nicolas. This evening an old locomotive and two open cars, which were found here, and had been sent out twelve miles from here today, with troops, returned, the men report that they ran into a rebel camp, and saw several hundred confederate advancing towards them, our men retreated, and came to camp without the loss of a man. this rail road runs but 14 miles from here to some large plantation, for the purpose of bringing in their sugar and cotton, it is constructed of wood with an iron covering for the rails. The locomotive is mostly made of wood. The entire road is said to be owned by a rich planter. Chaplain Evans and I took a walk this evening and had a long interesting talk with each other. It is said that Banks will be here in a few days with an overwhelming force, then we will move onto Shreveport, and clean the rebels out there. Saturday 19. This was rather a dull day, nothing of any importance occurred today. The people as a general thing are anxious to take the oath of allegiance to our government. Most of my men have made acquaintances with German families in town, and are making themselves quite at home with them, the people are glad to see them.