Thomas Wright's Diary

December 1862

22,December 1862

Been kinda cold an wet pass few days. We been drillin, an mostly doin nothin. Bein a Pioneer not much ta do. We pull no extra duty, so drill take care of the doghouse. Make sure my an Leonard stuff stay dry. Leonard well, he does the same.
(Doghouse soldiers called tents doghouses.)

Told Leonard I missed the fellas over in company K. He winked at me, nodded say yeap even miss some that fatigue work, at times. Lan sakes never thought I would miss, fatigue work. Least ya stayed busy. Gather firewood, whatever else the camp needed. Leastways fella stayed busy, may bitch about it. Had somethin ta do pass time.

Well just heard tattoo, best get my self ready fer sleep.

                                 23, December 1862

Still no letter, from Betsy or Ma. This sends fear straight ta the bone. They doin fine, could they be hurt or dead? My this troubles me ta no end. Figure if mail went ta K Company, Theo make sure I gots it. Leonard been gettin mail. Almost Christmas, ain't never been away from home, this time a year. Hurts not havin a letter from home ta read. Think I best go ta the Sutler see about some tobacco maybe some other thins.

(A Sutler was a authorized merchant on post in camp, even traveled with the Army. He sold things deemed not necessary to the soldiers. Tobacco, cigars, candy, clothes, hats, kitchen items, sewing needles, buttons, pins, dried fish, canned sardines, other canned food, alcohol, just about anything a soldier would need.)

Well I gots some, candy, pipe tobacco, sardines and some whisky, not supposed ta get that. Bein Christmas an all each enlisted man gots four ounces. Save mine till tomorrow, an a couple pickled eggs. Make fer a right nice supper fer tomorrow. Still, a might worried about home.
Best get some rest tattoo done played.

                            24, December 1862

Christmas Eve, ya hear men singin, most the bands have been playin durin the day. Camp seems happy, yet it's not, feel almost a sadness in the air.
Might just be me, still feels lonely in Camp. Most us Pioneers we been playin checkers ta pass the time.
Me an Sam traded dime novels, he got my copy of A Forrest Spy, I got A Story of the Oregon Trail.

The Sutler had nothin new, least got somethin ta read. Even if it only last a day. We gathered ta make supper, Leonard and Sam myself an Pete. We messmates. We cut the hair off removed the dirt from that stuff they call pork, cut it up and some tatters threw it in boiling water. Laid some sticks across the pot ta soften up that hardtack. Me an Sam shared our pickled eggs. Leonard an Pete had sardines. Plus coffee, guess a right nice meal for the Army.

We stayed up ta about ten, I drank half my whisky ration fer Christmas, have the other tomorrow night. Well past time fer sleep, best get some.

(Hardtack was a form bread hard like a cracker, about 3inches long half inch thick. The men steamed or soaked it in coffee or water. To get it soft enough to eat. Salt Pork, was smelly kind of a blue color extra salted meat, it had hair dirt and other things left on it. The men preferred it over salted beef, that could of been anything from the cow.)

                     25, December 1862

What a day, had my sardines an hardtack fer supper. The other Fellas ate they meal tagether was not in the mood. So I just sat under the doghouse ate, had my last touch a whisky. Might lonely no letter ta read, hell not even an old one ta look over again. Camp is a might down, they a tryin ta be joyful an all. I can feel the worry the want we all have ta see home. The worry will we see home our wives, girls, family again.

Even the bright cheerful music the bands have been playin, seem ta brin a fella down. Christmas in Camp far from home, furthest I have ever been.
Don't even think aunt Ems place was this far away.
Least Ma was still close, sure wish her or Betsy would write. Me an Leonard shared Pete's whisky ration he don't drink, so he let us have it. Right nice a him. Make sure he gets some my candy.

We made a toast ta a long life after the war be over. Bein lonely an tired we both decided ta sleep early.

                         26, December 1862

Orders came in pack be ready ta move! One last entry. Don't no where exactly, we goin. Just we a goin!

I know I promised no history for a while, it would all be Thomas. I wanted to add a few things about Sutlers most of you won't know. If you have heard of them, only been in movies. The officer says he charging to much or don't sell his men alcohol.
Just want to give you a little info on them.

First off all Sutlers were licensed by the Army to sell on camp or post. Most followed the Army when they moved. If you think about it they were the first PX or BX for the Military. Post Exchange or Base Exchange.

Enlisted men were not allowed to buy strong alcohol. Doing so would cause loss of license.
Basically they were a general store.

All prices had to be posted, the prices were determined by a council of administration, made up of three officers plus a fourth that was secretary. The Commanding officer had no say.

The Sutler was subject to Military regulations. He was responsible for the maintenance of the area if it was building or a tent.

The Sutler was charged 15 cents per month for each man stationed at the camp or post. This money went  to a fund, to help widows and orphans of soldiers. It also helped the deranged officers and soldiers discharged without a pension. At larger Forts or Posts, it help pay for the school, purchase of books for the library and maintenance of the band.

This gave him exclusive rights, to extend credit to the soldier. That could be only one half his monthly pay. He was third on the payout on payday. Debts do the Government or the laundry came first. This system did give the soldier a little money at pay.

Sure you had corruption, but that would also include the officers on the commission. A lot of soldiers felt the pain of pricing, the sword of prices had two edges. The commission probably got kick backs or lower prices, if allowing higher prices.
The Sutler was needed, his goods were needed plus that 15 cents a month was needed. Good or bad the system was in place.

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         29, December 1862

My dear Betsy,
I take this time ta write, ta tell ya I love you dearly more than yesterday or the day before.
Thins have gone terrible wrong. They done called us ta the front. We are the reserves so ya know thins are bad. Told Leonard ta make sure this gets ta ya an Ma, tell her I love an miss her deeply.

Your loving
Thomas

Thanks all for reading wanted to get this out yesterday, well bonus chapter today. Hope you all enjoyed. Comment and vote please.