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

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1864-01-22

Friday 22  We had no train from the east and no passenger train from the west, the former did not arrive on account of a part of the rail road being destroyed near Chewalla. The rebels are getting bolder every day in the vicinity of this rail road, they know as well as we that we are going to leave here soon and therefore they intend to do us all the harm they can before they go. Last night fifty rebels crossed the road about half a mile west of us. I feel bad enough about it yet it cannot be helped, I have not a sufficient force here to station my men along to the crossing place. We received orders to day to prepare ourselves for long marches and considerable fighting, we are to leave our baggage at Memphis, and take several pairs of shoes and socks and 120 cartridges per man. It still remains unknown where we are going and a great many surmises are being made by the officers and men. Some predict that we are going to Texas, others say we are going to Mobile, or perhaps through the state of Louisiana. Many of our officers and men predict a severe campaign, I do not intend to borrow trouble on its acc. but to do my duty as it comes, then I think many of those lions in the way will mysteriously disappear. The officers of this command met and made arrangements for a party on next Monday evening. Some discussion took place.

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Friday 22 We had no train from the east and no passenger train from the west, the former did not arrive on account of a part of the rail road being destroyed near Chewalla. The rebels are getting bolder every day in the vicinity of this rail road, they know as well as we that we are going to leave here soon and therefore they intend to do us all the harm they can before they go. Last night fifty rebels crossed the road about half a mile west of us. I feel bad enough about it yet it cannot be helped, I have not a sufficient force here to station my men along to the crossing place. We received orders to day to prepare ourselves for long marches and considerable fighting, we are to leave our baggage at Memphis, and take several pairs of shoes and socks and 120 cartridges per man. It still remains unknown where we are going and a great many surmises are being made by the officers and men. Some predict that we are going to Texas, others say we are going to Mobile, or perhaps through the state of Louisiana. Many of our officers and men predict a severe campaign, I do not intend to borrow trouble on its acc. but to do my duty as it comes, then I think many of those lions in the way will mysteriously disappear. The officers of this command met and made arrangements for a party on next Monday evening. Some discussion took place.