Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Wagner's Division - Lane's Brigade
Sherman moves toward Atlanta to begin his march to the sea. He orders railroad destroyed around the city and also back toward Chattanooga.
Troops are coming in from west of the Mississippi. General Schofield places some of his troops at Johnsonville to protect the town, and moves to return to Pulaski to take command of his remaining troops and Stanley's corps. General Thomas is working to coordinate the placement of the various divisions, as he is ordered to go over to the offensive as soon as possible.
The Confederate army under General Hood is completely across the Tennessee River at Florence but has not moved very far forward as of yet. Union forces are deploying to try to detect Hood's movements.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - November 7th to 10th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, November 7th, 1864
Orders to move at daylight, but it rained all night and continued raining during the forenoon, and we were only going to take up positions on the line - we remained until afternoon when we struck tents and moved headquarters to town. The troops camping a short distance out bordering on the suburbs of the city.
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DIARY ENTRY - Tuesday, November 8th, 1864
This is the day of the Presidential contest - the date that decides the fate of free government. The day on which the people will declare that the Federal Union must and shall be preserved by the re-election of Abraham Lincoln to the Presidential chair. The day is one of doubt and uncertainty to Peace men. Little Mac will turn out to be a “mackeral” - if he is not already in salt water, he will get badly salted. Intimations that the non-veterans of the company are to be mustered out.
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DIARY ENTRY - Wednesday, November 9th, 1864
Rained occasionally during the day, turned cold at night and cleared up. Railroad bridge having washed out, we had no mail and consequently no news. Considerable excitement in town, consequence of a large body of rebel cavalry being reported in vicinity.
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DIARY ENTRY -
Thursday, November 10th, 1864
After breakfast, I went over to the regiment where I was informed that the papers of discharge of the non-veterans of the company had arrived, but that we could not be discharged on account of the clothing book being left behind - that being necessary for the settlement of accounts with Uncle Sam. Got a couple of muster rolls and some Lafayette papers and returned to headquarters, there to learn by rumor that the company was to be sent back to the regiment. If rumor speaks truth in this instance, I would like to express my opinion, if I could do so without getting angry. I am sure it would not flatter the boyish pride of certain Shoulder strap gentry should they be so unfortunate as to be compelled to give me a hearing - which they most certainly have to do should they provoke my ire sufficiently to get me started. Rank will hardly prevent me from speaking truth should circumstances require it.
I have almost arrived at the conclusion that the Paymasters are an imaginary set of beings. For nearly two months we have been looking for the advent of one, and have frequently heard that he is near at hand - even at the door awaiting admittance - but as yet he has proved a delusion, and our anxious watchings have all been in vain. He is looked for about as anxiously as the non-veterans look for the expiration of their terms of service.
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The rules around the discharge of John Baer and others in Company A are not clear but he is ready for release as a "non-veteran" whose enlistment has expired. It appears that the rumor he heard would result in his being kept in for the duration, thus his ire at the news. This is on top of the frustration of not receiving timely pay again.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part III, Correspondence, pp. 678-739.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 184.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, p. 622-623.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 111-112.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, p. 641.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 642-643.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: NOVEMBER 14TH
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