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

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1864-03-28 -- 1864-03-29

Monday 28  We are camped in a corn field, and the little rain which fell last night made the ground so wet and sticky that it is not possible for a person to walk a few yards in it without having several pounds of mud sticking to his boots.  Some prowling rebels on the opposite side of the river shot at some of our men who were fishing, but fortunately did not hit any one.  The rebels are imitating the Russians in their retreat to Moscow, and are destroying cotton, forage and everything which may be of use to us.  A majority of the plantations in this country are deserted by their white inhabitants, who formerly lived in great splendor on them, they were once little gardens of Eden where happiness sat quietly enthroned till the demon of secession changed them into deserts, where want and misery now hold forth these rebels in defiant mockery of law.  Some of our gunboats and transports arrived today, the large boats did not make their appearance, I fear they cannot come on account of the rapids, in case they do not come, we must have more small transports, else we must march to Shreveport, which is not preferable.

Tuesday 29  This is a section frequented by storms, it blew a tremendous gale all day, and the dust and cold caused by it were , to say the least, very disagreeable, for this reason I remained in my tent all day.  A spirit of jealousy is apparent between the Eastern and Western troops, the latter do not admire the former and vice versa.  I do not love to see it, yet I feel as if our Western soldiers are superior to Eastern, and shall continue to do so, till I am otherwise convinced.

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Monday 28 We are camped in a corn field, and the little rain which fell last night made the ground so wet and sticky that it is not possible for a person to walk a few yards in it without having several pounds of mud sticking to his boots. Some prowling rebels on the opposite side of the river shot at some of our men who were fishing, but fortunately did not hit any one. The rebels are imitating the Russians in their retreat to Moscow, and are destroying cotton, forage and everything which may be of use to us. A majority of the plantations in this country are deserted by their white inhabitants, who formerly lived in great splendor on them, they were once little gardens of Eden where happiness sat quietly enthroned till the demon of secession changed them into deserts, where want and misery now hold forth these rebels in defiant mockery of law. Some of our gunboats and transports arrived today, the large boats did not make their appearance, I fear they cannot come on account of the rapids, in case they do not come, we must have more small transports, else we must march to Shreveport, which is not preferable. Tuesday 29 This is a section frequented by storms, it blew a tremendous gale all day, and the dust and cold caused by it were , to say the least, very disagreeable, for this reason I remained in my tent all day. A spirit of jealousy is apparent between the Eastern and Western troops, the latter do not admire the former and vice versa. I do not love to see it, yet I feel as if our Western soldiers are superior to Eastern, and shall continue to do so, till I am otherwise convinced.