Acton Memorial Library
Civil War Archives

October 28, 1864

About the same records day by day. Feel pretty well. Stunning news of exchange - drew a little meat yesterday feel that I am growing poor very fast and weaker. Our rations very small not sufficient to satisfy me at all.

November 3

Cold and wet - commenced to rain yesterday, not one moment's comfort night or day.

November 23

Very cold - two days and not a mouthful of rations issued to the Camp. - One hundred and fifty died last night in the hospital and camp from cold and hunger.

November 24

Thanksgiving drew for rations - one pint of meal and little salt, some meal, rice and salt last night after fasting two days. Had good dinner to-day of rice, sweet potatoes and turnips. No thanks to the Confederate Government either.

November 27

Commenced to parole in hospital last night and in the Camp to-day. Very careful not to take any except 1864 those who will never be able to do any more fighting.

March 1, 1865

From the last date to March 1st, 1865, my diary was neglected for various reasons among which are that I had no paper to write on and I had made up my mind that the chances were against my ever getting out and that whatever I had written would never get to my friends. How I got through the winter, I hardly know. I suffered from cold and hunger more than tongue can tell and was sick and bereft of reason for a while. Florence Prison was cleared of Prisoners sometime in February with the exception of some who were not able to be moved - among which I was one - the guards were gone and the gates open, finally we were put in box cars and taken to Wilmington, N.C. and passed inside our lines on March 1srt 1865.

A few more entries in the diary given a brief account of him on his home passage to Annapolis, Md. and getting paid off and furlough home. Starting for home March 14th, 1865.