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

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1864-01-29

Friday 29.  A great many of our men were drunk today.  I saw more drunken men today than I ever saw before, one reason of this is the soldiers have been away from town where they could get anything to drink and now they think they ought to satisfy their appetites in this particular.  Another reason is they have just been paid have plenty of money and do not fully understand what to do with it.  I sent $1093 to the city of Muscatine Iowa for my men, immediately after they drew their money, some in my company have not sent any money home, nor do I think they will from money now in their possession for Memphis is one of the fastest cities in the world and a man’s money goes off like smoke almost before he is aware of it.  Some married men, soldiers who have large families at home whom they are bound to support, and who are perhaps today anxiously waiting for the money of their father and husband, seem to have forgotten that they have any one in the world who has an interest in their earnings save themselves.  They not only lose their money, but their moral integrity, and nobleness of character, which their friends expect them to guard and to return as pure and upright as they saw them last at home, but alas, how many men suffer moral shipwreck in this war.  I spent a pleasant evening with Miss Carrie E. Martin at her boarding place Mrs. Cliffords.  Had music and interesting conversation.

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Friday 29. A great many of our men were drunk today. I saw more drunken men today than I ever saw before, one reason of this is the soldiers have been away from town where they could get anything to drink and now they think they ought to satisfy their appetites in this particular. Another reason is they have just been paid have plenty of money and do not fully understand what to do with it. I sent $1093 to the city of Muscatine Iowa for my men, immediately after they drew their money, some in my company have not sent any money home, nor do I think they will from money now in their possession for Memphis is one of the fastest cities in the world and a man’s money goes off like smoke almost before he is aware of it. Some married men, soldiers who have large families at home whom they are bound to support, and who are perhaps today anxiously waiting for the money of their father and husband, seem to have forgotten that they have any one in the world who has an interest in their earnings save themselves. They not only lose their money, but their moral integrity, and nobleness of character, which their friends expect them to guard and to return as pure and upright as they saw them last at home, but alas, how many men suffer moral shipwreck in this war. I spent a pleasant evening with Miss Carrie E. Martin at her boarding place Mrs. Cliffords. Had music and interesting conversation.