DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1863

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1863-12-28

This meeting proved one thing very conclusively to me, and that is there is no unity of feeling nor of action among the officers of our regiment.  We commenced all right and great hopes were entertained that our officers would prove very social towards each other but it has turned out to be otherwise than was anticipated.  I never saw a set of officers of any regiment, I am sorry to say, who entertained so little sociability among themselves as ours do.  

Monday 28  We learned this morning that General Forrest and his entire command had crossed yesterday at Lafayette, where he rested for several hours, took dinner, destroyed a short distance of the road, built a bridge over Wolf River and attempted to capture a train but did not succeed.  His expedition turned out just as I expected it would.  Forrest has outgeneraled us again, he is too smart for our generals.  He is said to have a train of fifty wagons with him and 2000 head of cattle.  Where is our cavalry?  Why don’t they pursue him?  I was officer of the day today.  My brother Henry sent a keg of butter about 80 #s to Middleton, but it was not put off there.  I fear it is lost, value $30.00.

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This meeting proved one thing very conclusively to me, and that is there is no unity of feeling nor of action among the officers of our regiment. We commenced all right and great hopes were entertained that our officers would prove very social towards each other but it has turned out to be otherwise than was anticipated. I never saw a set of officers of any regiment, I am sorry to say, who entertained so little sociability among themselves as ours do. Monday 28 We learned this morning that General Forrest and his entire command had crossed yesterday at Lafayette, where he rested for several hours, took dinner, destroyed a short distance of the road, built a bridge over Wolf River and attempted to capture a train but did not succeed. His expedition turned out just as I expected it would. Forrest has outgeneraled us again, he is too smart for our generals. He is said to have a train of fifty wagons with him and 2000 head of cattle. Where is our cavalry? Why don’t they pursue him? I was officer of the day today. My brother Henry sent a keg of butter about 80 #s to Middleton, but it was not put off there. I fear it is lost, value $30.00.