Albert Husted Diary, January 1, 1863-Febryuary 28, 1863
Fri. Jan. 2
Sergt. Nimmons died of Typhoid Pneumonia at one o'clock this morning. I go to Aquia, Creek and get a coffin,
Sat. Jan. 3
Visit Aquia Creek twice, for the purpose of sending the body of Sergt. S. home. Send by Express (Adam's). Cost $29 1/1, "Boxes for the boys begin to come in finally.
Sun. Jan. 4
"Officer of the Guard" today
Mon., Jan. 5
Active operations in drill commence. Squad drill from 7 to 8 A.M. Com. from 9½ to 11. Battalion from 1½ to 3.
Tue. Jar. 6
A little rain.
Wed. Jan. 7
Clear and cold. The papers tell us of two great victories for our arms in the west at Vicksburg and Murfreesboro.
Thurs. Jan. 8
5th. Army Corps reviewed by Gen'l. Burnside. Day fine but cold-ground frozen. Eleven of our Co. sent on Picket at 7½ A.M. Squad drills discontinue.
Fri. Jan. 9
Get a "Pass" and visit Lt. Jas. Rodgers, Falmouth. At the 124th. N.G. learn that J. Burhans was sent to Wash. -- sick with fever-- about three weeks ago. Not been heard from since.
Sat. Jan. 10
Capt. makes another trip for his "L. A. G". He again fails to connect. Rains steadily from 12M. till night. Write to Mother.
Sun Jan. 11
Officer of the Guard. Not very hard work. Corp. Sprague made Sergt. J. Burnham made Corp. Private McGovern joins Co. Capt. K. is examined by Surgeon for "Disability". Lungs pronounced sound.
Mon. Jan. 12
(No entry)
Tue. Jan. 13
Capt. K. concludes he must give up "Drilling." I conduct two Col. drills. Tonight call on Lieut. Downing - find him down with cold. Receive paper giving notice of the death of J. R. Sprague at Washington, D. C. Thus they go, only one- but still going.
Wed. Jan. 14
Men at work on our "Church." Flag-staff put up; Roads fair and drying, but signs of a storm. Very warm tonight, I have attained to the unusual weight of 161 pounds avoirdupois.
Thurs. Jan. 15
No drills. 'All sick in hospital sent to Wash. Things look like a move. Some think we are going to Baltimore - some "On to Richmond." Nobody knows. This afternoon got my "box." Find it a fat one and everything right and ???????.
Fri. Jan. 16
Have a big dinner, turkey, mince pie for all from home. Lieut. H. Downing dines with us. About noon we receive orders to "move" tomorrow morning. At 3 P.M. a new flag from Mrs. E. Corning is presented to the Reg't by Mr. Griffin.
Sat. Jan. 17
No move today - order now is to go at 1 P.M. tomorrow. Troops are stirring all about us and it is evident that a general is about to be made. Tonight Dr. Willard of Albany takes tea with us. Cold and freezing.
Sun. Jan. 18
This morning the order to move is "suspended for 24 hours." Weather fine but cold. Write letter to Prof. Jewell. Dr. Willard takes tea with us again.
Mon. Jan. 19
Clear and cool. The orders to move is still further suspended for 24 hours. Write letters to brothers Edwin and George. Tonight the Capt. and Lieut. are out - playing cards - so have the tent to myself. Bad habits seem almost a necessity - to
Tue. Jan. 20
Cloudy. Officer of the Guard. At 10 dismissed guard - take down flag - pack up. At 12 M. Regt. "falls in" - fall out - wait till 4 P.M. - move out slowly about two miles, and encamp in the woods. Rain sets in soon after dark.
Wed. Jan. 21
Rained all night, but we kept dry and warm. We pack up in the rain at daylights, and then move out into the road and wait till 10 in the mud. March 3 or 4 miles and again encamp in the woods at 1 P.M. Mud very deep - artillery unable to get through.
Thurs. Jan. 22
Camp in the woods. Rained nearly all night and the greater part of the day. We remain quietly in our tent. Weather moderate. Some of the men begin to feel the exposure.
Fri. Jan. 23
Foggy in the mornings clears about noon. The whole brigade went out this morning to build corduroy roads that the artillery and baggage mat get back to their camps. This afternoon the trains commence the backward movement.
Sat. Jan. 24
Cloudy. Soon after 12 M. the bugle sounds "Strike tents." We find the roads much improved but still bad for wagons. Reach our old quarters between three and four find out tent up and things in fair condition. Our closets are gone but the logs and chimney remain.
Sun. Jan. 25
Clear and warn. Spend the day reading, resting and getting some things into shape. Tonight most of the Co. sign the returned Payrolls. Lieut. Kidd send in his resignation - is to occupy a Majority in a Cavalry Regt. - offered by Maj. Sprague.
Mon, Jan. 26
Clear and hot. No drill. Men and officers busy themselves in fitting up their tents and quarters. Roads still very bad. Capt. Kimball applies for 20 days leave of absence.
Tue. Jan. 27
Rainy, not much doing. All waiting to be paid. At 7 P.M. Co. marches to Brigade headquarters and receive pay up to Oct. 31. All who were mustered at that time and who are with us now require Pay - the others not. Change all clothing.
Wed. Jan. 28
Rained most of the night, and till 12 M. Afternoon and evening snowing. - Rather a gloomy day. Amuse ourselves reading, telling stories etc. Tonight we wait anxiously for mail, but it don't seem to come.
Thurs. Jan. 29
Closing exercises and Reunion at normal school. A very snowy windy night. About four inches of snow. Day clear but windy. Distribute drawers to men. Col. orders that three men from each Co. who have not been sick be given 15 days furlough.
Fri. Jan. 30
Clear. Snow melting. Lt. Kidd receives his discharge.
Sat. Jan. 31
Clear and warm. Roads exceedingly muddy. Kidd leaves at 8 A.M. for home. At Dress Parade my promotion to 1st. Lieut. announced. Sergt. R. G. Warner to 2C Lieut. Write letters tonight to Mother and D. H. Cochran.
Sun. Feb. 1
Fair. Co. inspection at 10. Regimental at 10½. Prayer meeting at 2½. Tonight we agree with "Andy" for $5.00 per month and with Grayson for $3.00. Grayson to be allowed to wash for the men to bring his pay' up to$----
Mon. Feb. 2
Fine day. - Weight without overcoat 169 pounds avoirdupois. Call on Lieut. Downing.
Tue. Feb. 3
Snowed a little in the morning. A very cold windy day. Officer of the Guard. Tonight Capt. Kimball. receives a furlough for 20 days. We have written up the Co. books to date.
Wed. Feb. 4
Capt. Kimball left for home at 8 A.M. He wishes me to keep both our cooks - he paying half their wages. I assume command of Co. and take charge of Co. papers.
Thurs. Feb. 5
Snow in morning - hail at noon and rain tonight. "Inspection" postponed on account of weather. Regt. receives orders to " be in readiness" with three days' rations to support a Reconnaissance in force now being made to Rappahannock Station.
Fri. Feb. 6
Mild rain till 3 P.M. Tonight clear and cold. Been. In tent most of the day. Nothing further from the Reconnaissance.
Sat. Feb. 7
Clear and mild. Not much doing. Gen'l Hooker does away with the "Grand Divisions". Receive letter from brother Calvin. Write to brother Luther.
Sun. Feb. 8
Clear and warm. Camp quiet. Prayer meeting in Chapel at 2 P.M. Troops moving to Aquia Creek by railroad. Co. Inspection at 9½ Reg't at 10. Men draw their rations of "Soft Bread."
Mon. Feb. 9
Clear and warm. Regt. inspected at 10 A.M. by Capt. Seymour of 14th. N. G. Co. reported in very good order. Troops continue to move down the railroad.
Tue. Feb. 10
Clear and very warm. Troops still moving off. Make out discharge papers for Sommers and J. E. Sturdevant.
Wed. Feb. 11
Rainy. Make out discharge papers of Mackey. Receive and distribute clothing. Write letters to Brother and Lieut. Warner.
Thurs. Feb. 12
Cloudy. Slight rain at night. Regt. leaves camp for Picket Duty at 8 A.M. We bivouac in the woods as reserve. Lieut. Downing having resigned leaves for home.
Fri. Feb. 13
Very fine day. We pack up for duty at 8 A.M. Nothing of interest occurs. The day is passed rather leisurely, lounging, reading and visiting the posts. Sextons returned tonight.
Sat. Feb. 14
Clear and warm. Regt. relieved at 9 A.M. and again ------ in reserve. In the afternoon I visit a little and talk with the inhabitants - the poor whites. All are quite ignorant - unable to read - opposed to the war.
Sun. Feb. 15
Rain. Regt. has a muddy tramp back to camp. Reach it at 12 Midnight. Receive notice of death of Geo. McBlain in Douglas Hosp Feb. 11.
Mon. Feb. 16
Fine day. Busy writing up books and business. Sent Dis. lists of Thom Cogswell and Burgess. Sent Dis. list and final statement of Geo. McBlain to Adj. Gen.
Tue. Feb. 17
Snowed all day - about six inches deep tonight. Write letters to R. G. Kimball, Mother and Mary Prince.
Wed. Feb. 18
Rained nearly all day. I think it is the worst storm of the winter. Snow does not melt much. Have spent the day mostly in reading. This is a very severe night far the Army.
Thurs. Feb. 19
Stopped raining at 7 A.M. Cloudy day. Not much doing. Mud very bad. Grease my boots. Fix the table. Write letter to F. S. Jewell. Receive letter from Warner. Lake awash. Change H. clothes.
Fri. Feb. 20
Clear but very windy. All the chimneys smoke. Can get no potatoes. Can get no onions. Can get no Bread. Can get no Rice. Can get no nothing much but Hard Tack, Pork and Sugar.
Sat. Feb. 21
Clear and windy - tonight cold. Nothing doing. Write letter to R. Goodwin. Study tactics little.
Sun. Feb. 22
Heavy snow storm during last night and up to 12 M. today about nine inches fell. Weather cold and windy. Not thawed any today out doors and not very much in our tents. Freezing cold tonight. No bugle calls have been sounded.
Mon. Feb. 23
Clear but cold - thawed a little. Sleighs would seem pretty well. Telegraph to the sister of Michael Gaffrey informing of his illness.
Tue. Feb. 24
Clear and a little warmer. Roads quite muddy. Receive blank muster rolls - Getting ready to make them out. Private Rowley relieved from "Extra Duty" as Teamster.
Wed. Feb. 25
Clear and mild - snow melting. Michael Gaffrey died this morning. Worked all day on Muster Tolls. Tonight we receive notice a large force is "in front" and we must be ready to move at a moment's notice.
Thurs. Feb. 26
Wet, rainy mild- snow melting. Work all day on Muster Rolls get them ready. Bake out Monthly Return. Tonight call on Dr. Townsend and make arrangements for the Funeral. Talk with the Dr's a little - first time I have spoken to a women in six weeks.
Fri. Feb. 27
Clear and warm snow disappears. Gaffrey buried at 3 P.M. Sent Inventory of Effects and Final Statement of Gaffrey to Adj. Gen. Thoroughly compare Muster Rolls.
Sat. Feb. 28
Clear and mild. Co. inspection at 10 A.M. Musters by Col. Rice at 9½. Discharge papers of Mackey and Marchley received. Notice of Leeks discharge received. - Letter from Capt. Kimball.