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This section contains excerpts from the Notebook and Diary of Charles N. Hammond, over the period from 1861 to July 1st, 1863. During this time he was serving as a Federal soldier in Tennessee. The little pocket diary, leather-bound, from which these items are copied, is the property of the Charles N. Hammond heirs, of Jackson, Tenn.5.14It has the characteristics of a genuine first class historical document and is in very good condition. It bears the signatures of both Royal C. Hammond, who evidently first used the little book for some accounts, then passed it to his brother Charles. Both men were soldiers from Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and were in Tennessee with the Army of the Cumberland under the command of General William S. Rosecran in 1862 and through to the end of the war.
Another brother, Edwin O., was in 1864 with the U.S. Army around Chattanooga, and in one letter was referred to as ``being with Sherman (General William Tecumseh Sherman) in Georgia''. He was injured and bore an injured arm until his death years later. He served with the 45th Ill. Infantry Regiment at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta and March to the Sea.
Dates in the pocket notebook under consideration vary from April 24th, 1861 until July 2, 1863. The diary part evidently is from April 10th until July 2, 1863. During this time the Federal troops were preparing for the ofensive which drove Bragg and the Confederates back to Chattanooga. The earlier notes are those of Royal C. Hammond.
Edna C. Hammond, Charles' wife, wrote at the close of a copy of the diary notes of this notebook the following: ``The above is all that is left of Charles diary, of which he had several books. The little book I copied this from was the only one that the fire did not destroy when our house burned. The ones we lost were full of incidents, and much more interesting than the one we have.''
In 1864, we have other letters of Charles from near Chattanooga where he was serving with the 1st Regt., U.S. Volunteer Engineers, Company G, Army of the Cumberland. Some letters were written to Miss Sophronia (Phronie or Fronie) Hale, a cousin who lived in Bath, Summit County, Ohio, from whence the Ward Kingsbury Hammond family had moved to Jo Daviess County Illinois in 1846. Charles was born June 25, 1835 according to his diary, and would have been ten years old when the family left Ohio for Illinois.
The numbering was done by this author as a device for accurate recording. The pages in the notebook were unnumbered. Added commentary is italized to avoid confusion with the actual text of the diary.
Chas. N. Hammond
Co. B., 4'' Batt
Pioneers
Franklin5.16
| Sacs | Wt. |
| 17 | 1953 |
| 15 | 1632 |
Arithmetic is the art of Makeing calculations upon quantities by means of numbers.
Thompsons - the Science of Numbers
April 24th, 61
16 sacks weighing l,953. lbs.
April 25th, 15 sacks weighing 1,632
3,585
80 lbs. Beef
245 lbs. Pork
217 lbs. H. Bread
31 Qt. Beans
39 lbs. Rice
23 lbs. Coffee
1 l/2 lbs. Tea
59 lbs. Sugar
4 gals. Vinegar
5 lbs. candles
7 qt. salt
15 lbs. soap
10 Veg.
1 Gal. Syrup
S. Bread 244
Same items as above, varying quantities
Same items as page 7, varying quantities
Same items as page 7, varying quantities
No year date is given for these pages of rations, but it appears in the hand of Charles N., who was a member of Company F. in Danville, Kentucky, and later. We presume the year to be 1863.
Presumed to begin April 10, 1863, a continuation of other notebooks
April 11 Was on guard over the comissary stores. Nothing of importance transpired. A heavy rain at night.
April 12th Sun. 12th P5.21. Went over to camp. Recd. a letter from Roll. I heard a good sermon by the Chaplain, which reminded me of my obligations to God. Came back to our tent and helped the boys eat some pancakes.
M. 13th Went over to camp and signed the pay roll. Helped clean out the timber in the Ft. and fix a table to eat on, and at night sat around and ate supper as big as anybody. A letter from Eliza.
T. 14th Commenced making a platform for the seige Guns but were driven in by the rain which continued most all day. 96 (His 96th Illinois Inf. Regt.) was out on picket and one of the boys was killed.
W. 15 Drizzly day. Fixed the platform for the gun and hewed some timbers for sleepers. At dinner with the 92nd and took a cupplement with Co. F.
T. 16 P. and warm. A letter from H. L. Hewed timber.
F. 17th Went to camp and got greenbacks. Ate dinner there and had a good time with the boys. F.& S. [Friday and Saturday] we worked on the fort. A few tools came for us and one oven was commenced for the corps. Nothing of note transpired.
S. 19 Went to camp to hear a sermon from our Chaplain, which was good and weighty. A letter from E. O.5.22
George F. Milton5.23
M. 20th Worked on the Ft.
T. 21st Rained P.M. We short of provisions but got a supply in the evening.
W to S. 25 Things went on as common. Recd a letter from D. Hi.5.24 & Mother. Hired a cook Friday 24th for .25 per mo. each.
Sun. 20th Recd a letter from H. and heard a good sermon from our chaplain.
M. 27th Commenced improving the fort walls. Took a swim in the evening for the first time. A driving storm at night.
T., April 28 Warm. Climbed the platform tree and took view of the surrounding country. Rain.
W 29 Worked A.M. P.M. it rained.
T. 30th National Fast Day. Sang in the Golden Choir then went over to the Regt. and saw the boys in their dog tents. Afterwards I went up on the pinnacle and took a view of the surroundings. Had most P.M. and wrote a letter for Jno. (John)
May F. & S. l & 2 Things run as usual. Robt. (? ) came with a letter from Dug and took wash with us.
Sun 3rd Rained in the morning, went to the woods and sat down by a stump and mused. Heard two sermons preached over to the Reg. Had some pie plant for supper.
M. 4 Hot A.M. and rained P.M. Helped get up wood for camp cooks.
T. 5th Laid platform. Some of the boys went after boards and were arrested. Saw a fellow labor with a mule in the mud.
W. 3 Rained and was cold. Went over to Reg. and got a letter from Doc.
Th. 7 it rained all day.
F. 8 P. and cool. Went over to town and helped tear a building down. Had some secesh5.25 strawberries.
S. 9th Worked on fort A.M. P.M. rested at will. Took a wash in the evening with the goys. Letter from Millie.
May Sun. 10th Pleasant. Had inspection then went to preaching. Enjoyed solitude in the evening and as I was meditating an old man came near and as he tho't, worshipped in secret. I interrogated him afterward and found him to an old M.E.5.26. Had quite a chat with him.
M. 11th Worked in the Ft.
T. 12th Washed my coat and two shirts. Va. war news exciting.
W. 13th Laid platform.
Th. 4th Went to town with others, after a big tent, but it was spoiled and we bro't a load of boards and fixed our tent. Went to the Sutlers and got a lb. of peaches for .20.
F. 15th Prunes and I went after some brush brooms, then staked latrines.
S. 16th Tinkered around the Ft. A.M. P.M. went to see the artillery shoot at a target. Took a wash and bought some chees over in the camp. Hiram came from N.5.27 and stayed with me.
Sunday 17th Went to camp and back with H. Then went to church in F.5.28 and saw a lot of secesh gals. Back to Reg. and at dinner. Stayed for preaching and came back to go on guard till 12 at night.
M. 18 Went over to camp. Helped the boys fix their tent and with H. went on the big Hill; worked P.M.
T. 19 Built Merlins A.M. P.M. went to the Reg. and H. came back with me. We climbed the tree in the Fort and he had his mark.
W. 20-22 Worked on fort building Merlins and sodding traverses. Went to Reg. on 22nd and sang with the boys.
S. 23 Had nothing to do and went to the Reg and on to the river for a swim, then to see my cousin.
S. 24 We had a sermon and inspection, then went to Reg. and heard two sermons.
M. May 25 Laid sod A.M. and lounged the rest of the day.
T. 26 Went to the woods and got some brush to make a shade. We went to a house and got some buttermilk and some that not. Had some bread in it for dinner. Signed the payroll and went to the Reg. Boys most all on picket.
W. 27 Lounged, took a swim and went visiting. A shower of dust and a sprinkle of rain toward night. Thunder.
T. 28 Sprinkled some and rained at night. Drilled some and lounged rest of the day.
F. 29 Rained some and at night we had thunder shower. Recd. two mos. pay P.M. and went over to the Reg.
Sat. 30 Was on guard. Arrested a fellow belonging to the 121st Ohio for shooting at a secesh. H. and Jno. came over in the evening.
Sun. 31 The guards were brought up before the Rules and accused of stealing whisky, but no one knew anything about it. Preaching and inspection A.M. P.M. went to 96th, heard a sermon and attending a prayer meeting in the evening which resulted in good to me.
M. 1 Moved the Abattis farther from the Ft. After we had gone to sleep orders came for us to prepare to march on the morrow.
T. 2 Up at three and made ready. Started at 8:30. Had a rough time. Rained. Arrived at 5.29 after sundown and waited some time for our stalled team, but it was fast and I had to go back a half m. after my knapsack. Pitched our dog tent for the first time and crawled in about 10 o'clock. Heavy thunder shower at night and the wind play hob with our tent. Word came that the Rebs pitched in at F5.30 after we came away and were nicely whipped.
W. 3 Pleasant. Stayed in camp. Went to 96" camp and saw the boys5.31. Felt rather down in the stomach.
Th. 4 Had Batt. drill A.M. Then I went with Lindsey after mulberries. P.M. we moved our camp nearer water. Rain at night.
F. 5 Rainy. Felt very dull. Laid in the tent most of the time. Got some sage and made some tea.
S. 6 Went to 96th and H. came back by way of Cousin Mich's with me. The latter cut my hair and came along with us. H. ate dinner and went back.
Sun. 7 Drill and inspection A. M. P.M. went to 92nd and heard Rev. Cartwright preach. Then there was an cracker, butter and molasses with J. R., then J. C. gave me some cheese and gingerbread.
S. 13 Helped police the grounds and went to see H. but he was gone. Sent off 3 letters.
Sun. 14 Sung in the Golden Choir. Had inspection and went to meeting. A sermon and prayer meeting.
M. 15 Skirmish drill A.M. Went to the Reg. and H. came back with me and bought some butter and cheese of our Sutler. Let him have $5.00.
T. 16 Short drill A.M. and a wash before dinner. Sung a little with Cousin Michigan. Got some apples and stewed.
June 17, 1863. Wed. 5.32 On guard. Cos. D. and B. started at 4 o'clock for Pie Town or Nolensville. Sprinkled some. Arrived before dark. Bought a pie for supper and stood guard 2 hours. Slept in the same Church that we did when out before.
Th. 18th Bought another pie and ate with some crackers and cheese for breakfast. When we were ready we marched to Mill Creek where we were to fix a bridge, but the lumber did not come and we couldn't do much with it. Lounged around, took a swim, then went for mulberries with Petebone; got a cupful and stewed. Saw the boys after sheep. They killed one, hid it and at night brot it in and salted it. Slept in an old house.
F. 19 Went into the water twice. Braced the bridge and covered it with brush and dirt. The boys hooked some meal, got caught and took it back. Started home at 4, got into Pietown, rested and ate, then started on and arrived in camp at 10:305.33.
S. 20 Day passed as usual. Got some apples and stewed, mended my shirt and wrote some.
Sun. 21 Inspection A.M. Went to hear H. B. Cartwright P.M. and got some papers5.34
M. 22, June 1863 On guard. Went to 92 and got more papers for distribution and scattered them among the card players who took eagerly. Orders P.M. to go to Mill Creek again, but when we were nearly ready the move was put off till morning.5.35
T. 23 Orders for the whole army to move toward M5.36. My shoes were about gone and I rode and drove a four mule team part of the way over an awful crooked and rough road. Camped in a wheat field about 5 ms. from M. Got a satchel full of apples on the road. Slept with Pete under the wagon.
W. 24 Had some apples, potatoes, tac and sowbelly for breakfast. Hitched up and waited for orders. Commenced raining in the morning and rained all day. Went into an old building where there was cotton and fell asleep. Was awakened and we moved about a mile, then waited till dark for orders and camped. Slept in the wagon. Rained all night.
Th. 25 Rain most all day. Moved to Murfresboro and put up 2 miles out on the Nashville Pike. All of the able ones started for the front about 2 P.M. My shoes were so near "done gone" that they left me behind and we pitched our tent beside the R.R. Very muddy. Saw a horse killed in M. by falling over a bank.
June 25, 1863 My 28th birthday. Tho't about greens for dinner, but had to eat hard tac and sowbelly. The boys nearly all went to the front but I was Shoeless and had to stay. Went over the river for water. Put up our tent beside the R.R. and the corp. and I had some bread, ham and tea for supper.
26th Rained off and on all day and night. Went to the H. 5.37to fine Jacob5.38, but he was gone to Nashville. Wrote a letter and roved around the place.
S. 27th Rainy. Helped get rations to take to the front. Most of the boys went to the Co. Took swim in Stones River.
Sun. 28th Rain and sunshine. Read, sung, and strolled around.
M. 29 Boiled some rice for breakfast. Ate and started down toward the river and came across the 96th which brot in some prisioners. The boys were all right. Got them some water and they went back to the front. We moved our qrs. to the fort P.M. Rained hard. Had to hunt for the camp. Reloaded our traps after dark for a trip to the front on the morrow.
T. 30th Finished loading and all but one team started. I stayed behind to get some shoes but could not. Started about noon and after numerous stopings got out to the picket line thro' which we could not pass till tomorrow's train. All my traps. except gun and rubber being on the advance wagons I was bro't down to ``short rations''. Paid my last cent for bread and ate for supper, then crawled into an old shed and slept very comfortably.
1 July Parched corn for breakfast and as I ate tho't of the stories I'd heard about Rebs eating the same kind of grub. 2 men gave me some bread and coffee. No train today and we have to wait.5.39 Went to town with the Sutlers for goods.
In these same days of July, Lee's Army was marching toward the North to meet with Gen. Meade's forces in the Battle of Gettysburg. In Tennessee the fighting was light in July of 1863, but by outflanking Bragg's Southern forces Rosecran forced Bragg to abandon central Tennessee, and he retreated all the way to Chattanooga, where major battles were fought by these two armies Sept. 20-21, November 7th, and November 23-25. After leaving Murfreesboro, the Federals were on the move for several days in heavy rainfall. Their next camping ground was at Tullahoma, former headquarters for the Rebel Army.
Oh! Won't you come my sister dear and take a sail with me;
My boat is laying just out here
And only waits for thee;
She is the nicest little boat upon the Tennessee;
She's got the sweetest name afloat; I named her after thee.
Chorus:
Then take a sail my sister dear,
And down the stream we'll glide;
You'll never feel the alightest fear While I am by your side.
This song, in the handwriting of Charles H., was perhaps a camp
song of the soldiers serving in Tennessee.
| One Dress Coat | 6.71 |
| One OverCoat | 7.20 |
| One pair pants | 3.03 |
| two prs. drawers | l.00 |
| 1 Prs. shirts | 1.76 |
| 2 Prs. socks | .52 |
| 1 Pr. Shoes | l.94 |
| 1 Hat with trimmings | 1.87 |
| 1 Pr. Pants | 3.55 |
| 27.58 |
| For relief of widow | 1.00 | |
| Pkg. envelopes | .25 | |
| Orange .10 Lemonade. 05 | .15 | |
| Pie .20, Apples .05 | .25 | |
| May 1 | l/2 quire paper | .20 |
| May 2 | Lemonade | .05 |
| May 15 | Peaches (l lb) | .30 |
| May 15 | Cheese, l/2 lb. | .15 |
| Milk | .05 | |
| June | Cook | .25 |
| June | Cheese .30 Potatoes. 25 | .55 |
| June | Pie .10 B.Milk ,10 | .20 |
| June 10 | 3 pie | .40 |
| June 15 | Cheese | .25 |
| June 16 | Cakes and crackers | .10 |
| June 17 | Pie 20 (Pietown) | .20 |
| June 18 | Pie 10, Milk 5+5 | .20 |
| June 19 | Pie 10 | .10 |
| June 20 | Paper | .25 |
| June 23 | Cakes | .05 |
| June 26 | Stamps | .30 |
| June 28 | Bread | .25 |
| June 30 | Pie and bread | .25 |
Money spent since March 29th .62
Note Paper .10
Wrappers .05
Boots tappen and one patch .60
April l, Halter [or Hatter] .50
Laws of Life .45
This page in handwriting of Charles N. Hammond, is evidently a list of letters written by him during the time he used this notebook as a diary, April-June, 1863.
1863
Wrote to S. [L?] at Franklin [Tenn.] April 14,
Roll [Royal C., brother] " April 12
Doc. " April 19
Goodsell " April 20
E. O. [Edwin O., brother] " April 20
Mother April 25
Hi [Hiram?] May 4
M. K. [Merwin K., brother] " May 6
O. W. [Orson W., brother] " May 7
Roll & S. May 10
[S. may be Susan Irwin, who Roll later married.]
Millie May 15
Mother May 25
Doc, Roll & S. June 13
Phillip June 14
Millie June 14
Mert [Mercy J. Hammond] " June 16
O. W. June 20
E. O. June 22
Carrie from Murfreesboro June 26
[L. Carrie Hammond, wife of brother Julius A. Hammond]
This page used variously for food distribution, etc., but one list in the handwiring of Royal C. may be a list of squad members or men on an assignment with him.
| Holkamp (Hotcamp 1 Tent 4 |
| Shannon |
| Jelty |
| Sullivan |
| Tellford |
| Perkins |
| Huntsman |
| Gammon |
| McCarty |
| Guild |
| Pulham |
| Reid |
| Ro [Royal C. ?] |
This page contains what appears to be a warranty statement of supplies received by Royal C., and signed by him.
April 24th, 17 sacks potatoes weighing 1953 lbs. [Signed R. C. Hammond]
April 25th-15 sacks potatoes weighing gross 1632, [Signed R. C. Hammond]
The remaining notebook pages were used for various ciphering problems and divisions of rations.