DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1861

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1861-06-03 -- 1861-06-04

Mon. 3. 
It is really impossible to write amid the great noise that continually prevails in our camp. We were exercised a little in the manual of arms, yet our officers generally stand beside us with Hardee's Tactics in one hand and a musket in the other, they drill us thus now, and so, the next time, we are compelled to learn and to unlearn at the same time. many a veteran shakes his head at this foolery. I am anxious to make some proficiency in military tactics before I return, but I am afraid it is impossible.

Tues. 4. 
We received the sad intelligence, that Judge Stephen A. Douglass, the great leader of the Northern Democracy died yesterday, some of the flags are at half mast. We had a regimental parade, the governor and other distinguished men being present, the parade was made partly to pay funeral honors to St. A. Douglas; it began to rain furiously as we started to return to town, we were thoroughly soaked, and waded knee deep in limpid mud, by the time we entered our tents, we felt mean, and this was the more aggravating because we have no change of clothing, one of my comrades pored water onto my pants and I did the same to them and thus we washed them and permitted them to dry on our bodies.  Toward evening it cleared off nicely.

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Mon. 3. It is really impossible to write amid the great noise that continually prevails in our camp. We were exercised a little in the manual of arms, yet our officers generally stand beside us with Hardee's Tactics in one hand and a musket in the other, they drill us thus now, and so, the next time, we are compelled to learn and to unlearn at the same time. many a veteran shakes his head at this foolery. I am anxious to make some proficiency in military tactics before I return, but I am afraid it is impossible. Tues. 4. We received the sad intelligence, that Judge Stephen A. Douglass, the great leader of the Northern Democracy died yesterday, some of the flags are at half mast. We had a regimental parade, the governor and other distinguished men being present, the parade was made partly to pay funeral honors to St. A. Douglas; it began to rain furiously as we started to return to town, we were thoroughly soaked, and waded knee deep in limpid mud, by the time we entered our tents, we felt mean, and this was the more aggravating because we have no change of clothing, one of my comrades pored water onto my pants and I did the same to them and thus we washed them and permitted them to dry on our bodies. Toward evening it cleared off nicely.