Huntsville, Sunday, Feb. 21. Weather a little milder. Milton Hungerford and I attended the Methodist church in the forenoon. Service in the Battery in the afternoon by agent of Christian Commission. Mail arrived. Received a long looked for letter from Hannah. Twenty-one days on the road.
Huntsville, Monday, Feb. 22. All the house on foraging detail. T. J. being unwell, was excused, so he stayed at home to take care of family. Train in charge of Lieutenant Jenawein travelled in southwesterly direction fifteen miles. Walked most of the way. Jerked our corn from a five hundred acre field. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions' train out storing corn at Madison Depot. Returned by sundown, awful tired, and with severe sore throat. Evie was mounted and procured four chickens and a hog in exchange for coffee. Also got a mutton for shebang.
A salute of thirty-six guns was fired by the Battery during our absence in honor of Washington's Birthday. Sorry that I was not present. At night a grand ball was to be held by shoulder straps in town, but they failed to find but four ladies to join in their festivities. They ended in a drunken carousal, their maniac yells rending the midnight air. The enlisted men met with better success I understand, and had a gay time. They could not obtain the liquor owing to the restriction on trade. When will such corruption among military men be stopped?
Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 23. To-day we were all on guard again, having had but three days' rest. I was third relief. P. Green for misdemeanor (noticed by none but ——) at guard mounting was put under guard, and sentenced to hard labor digging stumps for five days, a piece of cruel despotism and tyranny. Lieutenant Hood returned, having come in charge of a squad of infantry recruits. Ours were left in Camp Randall. Sergeant Hamilton had a recruiting commission for the 36th Infantry with good show for commission. Throat swollen and very painful. Caused a heavy fever and it was difficult to keep moving on my beat.
Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 24. Weather once more very mild and pleasant. Laid in tent all day. Throat pains me severely. Tonsils much swollen. Did not go out to drill, equipments enough having been received, the standing gun drill instead of squad, much more profitable especially for the recruits. A skirmish is reported having occurred at Whitesburg with the 4th Minnesota Infantry and others, killing four, wounding fifteen. Two infantry regiments started to their support. Artillery ordered to be in readiness.
1864 Camp Medicine