Acton Memorial Library
Civil War Archives

Aug. 14, 1864

Have a head ache - good many reports of parole and exchange which keeps up the courage of the men. It being Sunday, I have to lie in my tent and think of home. No tongue can tell how I long to be there. The deaths the past week will reach about one thousand.

Aug.16

Have a good appetite and exercise enough ro make me feel well.

August 17

Drew some bacon, with our rations to-day - the first in a week, feel as well as when taken prisoner.

August 18

Sick all day - taken diarrhea, about two P.M. - very bad, bad headache and some fever - better towards night. Rations of bacon and bread - got plenty when we work out but in camp the rations are very small.

August 28

Have been outside to work all the week and my Diary has been quite neglected - felt well physically. The mortality is greater now than ever before from one hundred to one hundred and fifty die daily. It is shocking and in my Regiment many of my comrades are going and I see daily others fading and wonder who will be next. My health good = work just enough to give me an appetite and get enough to eat with the extra rations such as it is. The rations in Camp are very small so that a man can easily eat all he gets for twenty-four hours at one meal. Gen. Howell and Gen. Cobb and Gen Winde* rode past us yesterday. I spoke to Winde* Have got our blanket tent raised up and bunk in it (we stole the boards though) so it is quite comfortable. Now got me some pants made of some bags so I won't be naked just yet.