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

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1864-02-08

Monday 8.  Having nothing of any special importance to relate, I will describe an incident which took place in my company while at Pocahontas Tenn. and during my absence from it a Middleton Tenn.  Lieutenant Jos. Mayer of my company, who is using every means to injure me, undertook to exhibit his spite towards me by having the photograph of my company taken, with him at its head as its commander.  Acting Lieutenant Frank S. Köhler was in command of the company at the time, and although he did not approve the scheme did not have the moral courage to oppose it.  The company was assembled and the photograph was taken as desired, and a number of the men purchased it, and sent it home.  This Lieutenant Mayer considered a decided triumph over me, of which he boasted and is still boasting, but in the eyes of all honorable men and the best men of the company he has lowered himself very much.  A number of the men did not at first understand the object of this movement but they do now, and despise him for it.  He spend considerable money in treating the company to beer &co, that is, he promised to pay for their drinks but up to this date he has not done so and I fear he will forget it entirely.

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Monday 8. Having nothing of any special importance to relate, I will describe an incident which took place in my company while at Pocahontas Tenn. and during my absence from it a Middleton Tenn. Lieutenant Jos. Mayer of my company, who is using every means to injure me, undertook to exhibit his spite towards me by having the photograph of my company taken, with him at its head as its commander. Acting Lieutenant Frank S. Köhler was in command of the company at the time, and although he did not approve the scheme did not have the moral courage to oppose it. The company was assembled and the photograph was taken as desired, and a number of the men purchased it, and sent it home. This Lieutenant Mayer considered a decided triumph over me, of which he boasted and is still boasting, but in the eyes of all honorable men and the best men of the company he has lowered himself very much. A number of the men did not at first understand the object of this movement but they do now, and despise him for it. He spend considerable money in treating the company to beer &co, that is, he promised to pay for their drinks but up to this date he has not done so and I fear he will forget it entirely.