DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Narrative of the western theatre in the American Civil War, 1880s

Transcribe
Translate

Narrative of the western theatre in the American Civil War, 1880s

56_Narrative Page 56

at night meet and make trade of coffee for tobacco
Ft Hill blown up June 25" by John A Gagans division
how things were inside provisions became so scarce that flour was $1.000 per barrel meal $140 per bush molasses $12 per gallon beef $2.50 per lb
The citizens dig holes in the banks to live in

(newspaper clipping)                                                CONFEDERATE DISCONTENT.
It is the continual dropping that wears the stone at last.  The Confederates are brave.  Day and night for six weeks they have held the intrenchments against all assaults.  Day and night the terrible storm of shot, shell and minie bullets has swept over them.  The Confederate cannon have been dismantled; they have seen their comrades blown into the air; they have lived on one-fourth rations, and have had little sleep. Physical strength is failing, ability to endure has gone, hope of relief faded. They have little confidence in their commander. The inevitable hour is approaching.  Every soldier knows it just as well as Pemberton.
It is a curious letter which Pemberton receives June 28, dated "In the trenches" and signed " Many Soldiers". Thus it reads:
"Everybody admits that we have all covered ourselves with glory; but alas! alas! General, a crisis has arrived in the midst of our seige.  Our rations have been cut down to one biscuit and a small bit of bacon per day - not enough scarcely to keep soul and body together, much less to stand the hardships we are called upon to stand.  We are actually on sufferance, and the consequence is, as far as I can hear, there is complaining and general dissatisfaction throughout our lines.  We are and have been kept close in the trenches day and night, not allowed to forage any at all, and even if permitted there is nothing to be had among the citizens.

Saving...

at night meet and make trade of coffee for tobacco Ft Hill blown up June 25" by John A Gagans division how things were inside provisions became so scarce that flour was $1.000 per barrel meal $140 per bush molasses $12 per gallon beef $2.50 per lb The citizens dig holes in the banks to live in (newspaper clipping) CONFEDERATE DISCONTENT. It is the continual dropping that wears the stone at last. The Confederates are brave. Day and night for six weeks they have held the intrenchments against all assaults. Day and night the terrible storm of shot, shell and minie bullets has swept over them. The Confederate cannon have been dismantled; they have seen their comrades blown into the air; they have lived on one-fourth rations, and have had little sleep. Physical strength is failing, ability to endure has gone, hope of relief faded. They have little confidence in their commander. The inevitable hour is approaching. Every soldier knows it just as well as Pemberton. It is a curious letter which Pemberton receives June 28, dated "In the trenches" and signed " Many Soldiers". Thus it reads: "Everybody admits that we have all covered ourselves with glory; but alas! alas! General, a crisis has arrived in the midst of our seige. Our rations have been cut down to one biscuit and a small bit of bacon per day - not enough scarcely to keep soul and body together, much less to stand the hardships we are called upon to stand. We are actually on sufferance, and the consequence is, as far as I can hear, there is complaining and general dissatisfaction throughout our lines. We are and have been kept close in the trenches day and night, not allowed to forage any at all, and even if permitted there is nothing to be had among the citizens.