The Day the Regiment Marched Off
The regiment arrived at Jerseyville about sunset. The word had gone out, all through the country, that Fry's regiment was leaving for the front, and the country people had come to town, from miles aro…
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Military service
One threshold, met from more than one vantage.
Stories from inside it
Just a Long, Crooked Ditch
I have to admit a feeling of disappointment in that first trench. I don't know what I expected to see, but what I did see was just a long, crooked ditch with a low step running along one side, and wit…
When I'm Happiest I Am Dreaming of You
Another banner day. Got four letters. Hooray! Also a box of candy from Paris on which it said it was sent by order of Miss Bess Wallace, Independence, Kansas City, Missouri. It was grand candy too and…
Carrying Coffee Across the Line of Fire
May 28, 1863. There was too much going on yesterday for me to write any more. Dow's Brigade was not forgotten. Soon after noon it went through the woods to the open space beyond, and was soon in the …
The Picture in My Left-Hand Pocket
Your grand letter of Dec 26 came last night and of course I was as happy as a kid with a bonbon, I am so glad you had a happy white Christmas. It is a good omen I'm sure and I sincerely hope that "flu…
My First Day Up Near the Guns
August 13th, 1915. A lot of cavalry men are up trench-digging and I have had my first experience of being up really close to the firing-line. It doesn't take one long to get from here to the thick of…
The First Time Under Fire
I will say here that the extent of wild shooting done in battle, especially by raw troops, is astonishing, and rather hard to understand. When we fell back to our second line at Shiloh, I heard an inc…
The Long Nights in the Fever Tents
I now approach a painful period of my army career. I just lay there, in a hot tent, on the sand,--oh, so sick! But I fought off going to the hospital as long as possible. I had a superstitious dread o…
Why I Went
To be perfectly frank with myself and with the reader I had no very lofty motives when I took the King's shilling. When the great war broke out, I was mildly sympathetic with England, and mighty sorry…
I Won't Tie You to a Cripple
I have just finished the Regimental Banquet. It was a very solemn affair. Colonel Klemm made us a speech on our duties to God and country, and Lieutenant Colonel Elliott made one on the duties of an a…
The Night I Left It All Behind
August 19, 1862. HUDSON CAMP GROUNDS. I have enlisted! Joined the Army of Uncle Sam for three years, or the war, whichever may end first. Thirteen dollars per month, board, clothes and traveling expe…