Thomas Wright's Diary

January 1863

4, January 1863

The main Army is in pursuit of the Rebels, the Pioneers and support troops remained behind.
Some of us took ta fixin the Ford others buried the dead. I worked on helpin find wounded a clearin a path for gettin the wounded out. Some been stuck laying in the mud and cedar trees from day one.

While helpin with the wounded, I saw a bloody an sad sight. Poor drummer boy, with our Brigade cryin like a small child. Seems he couldn't take more of the holdin down those wounded as the Surgeon cut a limb off. I held him an we both sobbed, an grieved. I watched as he went back into the Surgical Tent. I stayed an helped those poor youngsters, pile those arms hands feet legs up ta be buried. Must a been close ta thousand.

5, January 1863

The Ford finished up, rear elements came in from Nashville. Ta help out here, we are headed ta Murfreesboro. Where the Main Army is. Hope we gets some needed rest, beer or a whisky be nice. Finally a letter! Betsy an Ma wrote some letters! They both fine! Leonard say see told ya, mail just ain't caught ya yet! The bands are playin evenin music, they playing Home Sweet Home. Might pretty it brings back memories of the night before the battle though, same thin played on the 30th.
Told Leonard I was headed ta sleep. Tattoo just played. Best sleep some.

7, January 1863

Took little over hour, ta march ta Murfreesboro.
We got camp set, made ourselves a little place ta sit an eat, relax before bed. Me Leonard an Pete joked some, while we fixed our uniforms, darned a few socks. Didn't much want ta write it down, Sam he didn't make it out of the fight. One less messmate, think we all three miss him. Strange how ya use ta fella an suddenly he is gone. Other than settin camp not much else happened.

Supper we had beef, who knows what part it was.
Took one bite sat it aside had the tatters an hardtack some coffee. Leastways the pork tastes close ta pork, that beef downright awful. Been havin troubles with night scares. Keep seein those days of battle, Sam bein tore asunder by cannon shot, why they was nothin left of him. Those faces of thum Rebs I know I must a killed. I almost fear sleep. Why did I live the rest like Sam those Rebs die? Poppy dead, who knows where uncle Thom is? Far as I know he is in Virginia.

Betsy I miss you so, I miss Home ta be home with ya an Ma. The old place tendin ta the farm, your coal hair tan eyes that smile. I fear that I may never come home, unlike uncle Thom I see no thrill in battle. Only thrill I get is after the fight to still be breathin an walkin.

9, January 1863

Not much of a day. Heard tell they goin ta build a fort here. Not real sure if it true or not. I must write this down while I remember it, keeps fergettin ta. Wounded fella from Tennessee, I helped get out the cedar stands. I asked him why he was fightin? He say ifin ya all stayed up north, I wouldn't be fightin. I asked what ya mean? He coughed a touch, Yank he say when ya came here ta Tennessee, well couldn't let ya just dance on in.

Don't think I could myself it was my home or Kentucky. Pete ain't been actin right of late, think that Battle got ta him, just takin it differently. Leonard well he just tries ta take it all in stride. He say battle just a flash in the pan. Long as ya live one march closer ta home. My thinkin is he just might be right.

11, January 1863

Sunday, no drill goin inta town, got some barter goods, like a real meal Leonard came along with me. Folks weren't real friendly guess us Yanks aren't real welcome. Had a change a heart, when I bartered our supper with some coffee. We both had real beef an eggs, biscuits some grits. After we gave a dollar fer some whisky. That wasn't really allowed. Ya know sometimes regulations need broke. We got back just as tattoo played.

12, January 1863

Saw Theo taday, him an K company doin fine. He looks even more tuckered than befer. Still Theo grand smile, shook my hand we talked like friends not officer an enlisted man. He say got a letter from Buffalo, Tuey is doin good works fer a Blacksmith. Hopes the war ends soon wants ta come back ta Kentucky live close ta Theo.
He stayed long nough ta have a coffee, had ta leave. I hope Theo makes it home, hope me an Leonard an Pete make it also. Sardines an hardtack fer supper. Don't think I want company tanight just sleep.

14, January 1863

Talk was right, our General fer the Brigade is workin on plans fer a Fort. Well this Drill an waitin can get ta ya, I say let's get started. Thinkin I might just try an get back ta K Company. Ifin we don't get started ta workin on this War! Don't like that battle stuff, it is needed ta win this here War! Dinner well, we managed ta requisition some eggs! Don't know how Pete got thum? Don't care, he did not say. Think maybe he scavenged them, well stole thum. Eggs Hardtack an coffee. Sent a letter off ta Joe, Ma an Betsy.

That took care some time had on my hands. Washed the awful smell out a my haversack. That salted meat, leaves behind might terrible smell. Still smells not near as bad. My messmates are great two fellas we take care each other share what few pleasures we have. We decided not ta pick up another one. The fear of another dyin just won't leave. We sent a letter off ta Sam's wife back in Harrison Ohio, Pete he wrote it. He has better word skills. We three decided what we wanted ta say. Pete or one us wrote fer him, Sam could not read nor write.

22, January 1863

We started on this here Fort, least we be busy. Well, we ain't started yet. Start tomorrow, took a look up at the stars yesterday befere sleepin. Thought a spell, those bright dots of light. They don't set me ta wondering anymore. How many they is, why they there an all. Just dots same dots I seen at home, I sees here. Namin our dead Child Star why that was just stupid, of me. Tired lonely an done, miss my Betsy an home.

Thanks all for reading. Between battle and the waiting between battles, not moving Drill down time. Food that wasn't the best. How these men managed was certainly more effort than it is now.