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

Transcribe
Translate

1864-02-23 -- 1864-02-24

Tuesday 23.  I have neglected my journal for sometime and therefore may not give the exact dates of several occurrences.  The men of co. F. of our regiment who were captured a short time since by the rebels near Montgomery’s plantation have returned to us, having been recaptured by the Marine fleet, with the rebels who had them in charge, they feel exceedingly glad over their good fortune.  They say the rebels treated them very well, and shared whatever they had with them.  They were on their way to Richmond but as good fortune would have it they did not get many miles on their journey.  They were retaken on the Mississippi river near the Yazoo.
Wednesday 24.  The reconstruction question is claiming a good deal of attention in the state of Tennessee, come of its citizens demand pay for their slaves before they will consent to abolish slavery, others are more liberal and say, if the government is to reimburse loyal owners for their slaves, it ought to do so for everything which loyal people lost in this war, and which the Confederacy state from them; if men can not let their slaves go free and heartily support the president’s plan of reconstruction without slavery, I say they should not come back until compelled to do so by force of arms, in my opinion owners of slaves have no right to claim payments for their property since they have nursed the fatal institution which has been the cause for this war, and so much suffering.

Saving...

Tuesday 23. I have neglected my journal for sometime and therefore may not give the exact dates of several occurrences. The men of co. F. of our regiment who were captured a short time since by the rebels near Montgomery’s plantation have returned to us, having been recaptured by the Marine fleet, with the rebels who had them in charge, they feel exceedingly glad over their good fortune. They say the rebels treated them very well, and shared whatever they had with them. They were on their way to Richmond but as good fortune would have it they did not get many miles on their journey. They were retaken on the Mississippi river near the Yazoo. Wednesday 24. The reconstruction question is claiming a good deal of attention in the state of Tennessee, come of its citizens demand pay for their slaves before they will consent to abolish slavery, others are more liberal and say, if the government is to reimburse loyal owners for their slaves, it ought to do so for everything which loyal people lost in this war, and which the Confederacy state from them; if men can not let their slaves go free and heartily support the president’s plan of reconstruction without slavery, I say they should not come back until compelled to do so by force of arms, in my opinion owners of slaves have no right to claim payments for their property since they have nursed the fatal institution which has been the cause for this war, and so much suffering.