Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Howard's Corps - Newton's Division - Wagner's Brigade
John Baer
We have a segment of John Baer's war diary that begins with the entry below from July 8th. John writes frequently, and these will all be posted with any appropriate background details in blue.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIARY ENTRY - Friday, July 8th, 1864
"Had the appearance of rain send my book on a flying excursion and it did not return until Sunday so that I did not take any notes. Still, for exercise, I took an occasional walk on Market Street to note the ingenuity of the Yankee. At one point I see a Yanky with some little pancakes sitting in the broiling sun, calling on passers by “here is the place to get your cakes and butter only three for a dime”. Another has cakes and honey, and still another with molasses biscuit and butter at the extraordinary price of 25 cents apiece. Everything else in proportion.
In circulating about among friends I was forcibly impressed with the sense of misery. I was crossing a branch that runs through the camp - I saw three men, pictures of misery, lying under the foot log in the mud and water with their clothes on. Such scenes are common all over the camp, new attend each call and come back to camp to die before the next call.
In our end of the camp is another organization - an organization of the Children of God. At dusk, in the evening, and at 11 o’clock on the Sabbath, songs of praise can be heard swelling on the air from hundreds of voices. The voice of deep and earnest prayer can be heard above the din and confusion of camp."
----------------------
-- This is a bit confusing as this Friday entry has notes about the weekend - perhaps it was finished when his diary was returned on Sunday.--
By this time John has been in the Andersonville Prison Camp (also known as Camp Sumter) for several days. He notes in the second paragraph the abject state of many of the prisoners; around 100 per day are dying in the camp at this time.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta Campaign
On the 5th, Howard's corps had been involved in a running engagement near Pace's Ferry on the Chattahoochee River, near the modern town of Vinings, GA. They did not get across the river, but took about 100 prisoners. They remain here for the next few days. On the 9th, Newton's division is sent to support cavalry where a crossing of the river and a lodgement on the other side has been accomplished. In several areas the Union forces have crossed the river.
More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXVIII, Chapter L, Part V, Correspondence, pp. 65-102.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. pp. 168-169.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, pp. 404-407.
- Battles and Leaders of the Civil War, Retreat With Honor, pp. 310-313.
- Decision In The West, The Atlanta Campaign of 1864, Albert Castel, pp, 336-341.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 600-608.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 536-541.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: JULY 13TH
No comments:
Post a Comment