Acton Memorial Library
Civil War Archives

July 4, 1864

The day has at last come and I must spend it here. Some sad attempts to get up an explosion to make a noise. We can hurrah all we like. Sick man shot last night, three feet from dead line. Diarrhea worse to-day - rations of very poor meal and little bacon - no salt.

July 6

It has been all the absorbing topic for a month that we are going to get out of here between the 7th and 27th of this month. I hope and pray it may be so but as the time draws near the prospect does not brighten much. My Diarrhea better. Cooked rations Prayer meeting near my tent this eve. Seemed real good.

July 7

Cars puffing all day loaded with women and children and most everything else from Atlanta. Good news from there - talk of taking us further south.

July 8

Another crazy man taken to nutity and swallowing in the mad and filth.

July10

Lonesome Sunday - More prisoners, Rations raw meal and very poor at that, no wood or salt.

July 11

Six raiders hung inside the Stockade, horrid sight. At the falling of the drop, the rope of the leader (knicknamed *orseby) broke and he came to the ground. The fellow had to go through the ceremony again. It was a sad sight to recall but I hope they got no more than they deserved. Hichcock Co. C. died last night.

July 12

One pail of mush to last eighteen men twenty-four hours - meat rations grow smaller.

July 14

Rations of mush again and a little meal - have not a bit of wood or saly. Dutch Capt. scared again, about a brake.

July 17

Cool and pleasant-went out to Dr. to-day. Saw Gen. Winde* review the troops here - walked last night until eleven 0'clock thinking of home. Rations of Meal and a little Molasses, no salt or meat. Emmonds of Co. K. died. An account is here given between these dates of rumors of a Cavalry raid on prisoner's liberating Rumors of parole and exchange and of about the same treatment and rations.