Thanks to Rick Biagi of Co. H for the following:
John Larson
Co. C, Second Wisconsin Cavalry
John Larson enlisted and was mustered in for 1 year on
June 4, 1864. At the time he was 28 years old, married and a farmer. He had blue
eyes, sandy hair, light complexion and stood 5' 7" tall. He lived in
Tafborn, Grant County and was credited to Patch Grove, Grant Co.
Diary of John
Larson, 1865
born March 11, 1835, enlisted Jan. 4, 1864 and sent into
service December 20, 1864
This is copy of John Larson's Civil War diary was copied by Hulda Larson
Almskaar on March 20, 1983 from the diary, at that time owned by Verna (Mrs.
Glen) Larson. It was later owned by Rose Backlund Coles. She gave it to Dennis
W. Larson of Lynnwood, Wash., along with John Larson's two Bibles and a photo.
Dennis has donated a copy of this diary to the U.S. Army Military History
Institute in Carlisle Barracks, Penn.
Later Kay Larson of Bainbridge Island, Wash., copied Hulda's copy on March 1989
and put it on a computer.
The fly page
reads:
John Larson -
Co. C. 2nd Wis. Cav.
Memphis, Tennessee 1865
Alexandria,
Louisiana
January 1865
Griarsons rail
1 Sun We had a grand New Years breakfast we was guarding
prisoners to day
2 we camped at Bauton to night we was guarding prisoners to day
3 we was guarding prisoners to day
4 we was guarding prisoners to day
5 we got to Vicksburg with the prisoners it rained hard all
day we went out to the 4 mile bridge & camped i traded horses to
day igot a cream colored horse
Vicksburg
6 we lay still at the 4 mile bridge to day
7 we lay still to day waiting for a boat
8 Sun we had inspection to day
9 it rained to day Vicksburg on the Miss. river
10 we lay still to day
11 we are still waiting for a boat
12 we got on the boat Vicksburg
bound for Memphis the boat started 10 pm
13 we are goin toward Memphis to day
14 we are going toward Memphis it is warm and pleasant
15 Su we got to the White river 4 pm we run up river 14 mile
to get coal we started 1 pm from White River Arkansas
16 we got to Helena Arkansas 6 am we started form Helena 8 am
our boat got wrecked 8 pm we lost 15 horses no men lost the lost
horses were all from Co. C
17 we got to Memphis 6 am & got up to our camp at 8 am I got 4
letters from home no. 46 & 48 & 49 and i got one from Lars which had one
in from Care
Memphis
18 wrote letter no 3 to day I drew a jacket & pair of pents we
bot a barrell of potatoes to day
19 I was on detail to day i reported to the brigade headquarters
& was relieved i went to town bot this book came to camp & copied
from a sheet or paper into this book from the 1st of January up til now
20 we drew ration to day i wrote 2 letters from Oniel to day
21 cleaned my arms to day I was detailed camp guard at 4 pm to day
22 Su i was on guard duty to day there was 2 inspections to
day but i did not have to go out for i was on guard our barrell of
potatoes all gone i drew a hat & 2 pr of socks to day
23 t snowed last night it is cold to day i got letter no 3 to
day i wrote no 4 to day i got letter from Bit Brown in mine from
home I went out on a scout for 2 or 3 hours
24 I turned over my carbine 2 sing & cartridge box & screw driver
& brush wiper
25 i was on detail to go to town with corell horses
26 i was detailed for guard at the brigade headquarters i guarded
some cord wood i burned all i wanted of it then i came home at noon
without orders a scout started out 4 pm to day
27 I was on detail after a load of wood to day
28 i was on detail standing guard over our horses last night i
mended my pents & some other things to day
29 Su I read 12 chapters in the psalms of David i commenced
letter no 5 to day i was detailed for guard headquarters to night
30 i stood guard last night from 10 pm till 2 am i rec'd letter no
4 to day i finished my letter no 5 to day & wrote one Rosette &
Dim Parker
31I stood picket to day on the horn lake road drew a carbine to
day A. Parker drew rations to day I fired one shot at a light in the
night it proved to be a woman
February
1I come of from picket this morning 8:30 am i weighed 162 1/2 lbs
to day i went on picket at 6 pm to night on the Rolls road
2I was relieved this morning at 7 am it rained last & today
too i went on picket to night at 5 pm on the rolla road
3 I was relieved this morning at 6 am i slept some to day
rainy
4 cloudy I was on detail to patroll the road between Memphis &
Rolly we started at 4 pm & was relieved at 6 pm
5 Su i was on inspection to day cloudy & windy rain
some more last night
6cloudy & windy to day i was on patroll guard on the rolla road
to day when i got to camp at night there was a letter for me it was
no. 4
3 Days Scout
7 pleasant day I wrote letter no 6 to day i started out
on a scout at 3 pm we crossed the Wolfe River after dark we passed
through rolla & Union depot we marched till 12 at midnight I got
a hatchet to day
8 cold and windy
we passed through Oaklen then we took another road back we struck then
southward i captured a clarnett to day
9 we got 2 prisioners to day clear & pleasant we
crossed Wolfe River on a bridge then we struck on to the State line road
we came thru Germantown we go to Memphis 1 am at night
10 clear and pleasant i wrote a letter to Teressa McIntosh to
day i drew rations i cleaned my carbine same day i bot some tobacco
to day
11 clear & pleasant I was on detail to cut sleepers to lay for
the barricks for our Co.
12 Su clear warm & pleasant I was put on Inspection then
I went to town to meeting Co C drew 35 new horses to day
13 I was out on patroll to day on the pigeon roost road It rained
a little to day
14 It rained to day there was 4 days scout went out to day
15 I was on picket on the Hemendy road to day cloudy
day i had the Ague to day
16 pleasant and sunshine i come home from picket about 10 am I
wrote letter no 7 received no 5
17 I was on picket on the Hemendy road to day pleasant I had
the Ague to day i came to camp at night the 21 days scout came
in this morning The 4 days scouts came in to night 2 deserters come
in to day
18 pleasant day we moved into the Barricks to day i
took some Medicine to day pills and quinine Parker & me made our
bunk to day
19 Su had the ague to day pleasant day 5 new recrutes
come to Co C to day
20 pleasant day warm i took some quinine i got a 2
dollar order from the sutler to day i got letter no 6 to day & one
from Teressa we drew rations to day
21 I wrote letter no 8 to day cloudy day i did not have ague
to day
22 rainy day nothing to do to day nothing of importance
transpired to day
23 rainy day nothing to do to day nothing of importance
transpired to day
24 cloudy day i was on detail to day to load hay down to town to
day i cleaned my arms to day
25 it rained hard last night it was clear & cloudy at times to
day i cleaned my arms to day again i wrote a letter to Lars to
day i wrote a letter for Deeder to day
26 Su clear & pleasant i was on inspection to day
27 pleasant day i was on detail after shake timber we cut some
sipers or siper trees for shakes i turned over my carbine & drew a new
Spencer carbine
28 pleasant day we was inspected & mustered to day i got
letter no 7 to day i wrote no 9 to day i was on guard at
headquarters in afternoon we drew rations to day
March
1 I came form guard 9 am to day some rain to day
2 rain to day i was on picket on the hemendy road
3 it rained hard all night & to day i come up from picket to
day 10 am there was a scout went out this morning Albert Parker went
out I did not go.
4 clear cloudy at times cold day i got letter no 8 to
day i wrote letter no 9 to day i got a letter from Rosette Lewis in
my wifes letter
5 Su pleasant day i was on patroll on the hemenda road & the
horn lake road to day i was vaccinated to day
6 pleasant day i got a 2 dollar order to day from the sutler
7 pleasant day i was detail to make shakes to day 1 weighed 157 lbs
8 rain last night & rainy day today warm but cloudy in
afternoon nothing to do
9 very cold to day it tried to snow some to day nothing to do
10 I was on detail after cord wood to day i drew rations to
day i drew a pair of boots to day pleasant day but cold
11 pleasant day I had nothing to do the scouts came in to
night 10 pm i got a bible from the Christian Commission to day
12 Su i went out on inspection 1 pm i went to a meeting 3 pm
13 pleasant day nothing to do but reading and smoking
14 I was on picket to day cloudy day we shot 3 at night r ebs
15 I was on picket to day cloudy day & some sunshine part of
time i come of from picket this morning i wrote letter no 11 to day
16 rain last night cold day i had the agur 4 pm to day &
fever at night
17 pleasant day general inspection to day at 9 am i did not go
out
18 pleasant day I was out on grand review to day I had some
fever while i was on review i take 2 doces of quinine to day
19 Su pleasant day I was on inspection to day I take 1 doce
of quinine to day i received letter no 9 10 to day i wrote letter 12
to day
20 warm & cloudy our Company was all put into one squad to
day ration day nothing for me to do
21 cold and windy I was out on inspection to day
22 pleasant day i split oak shakes to day i went out on a fool
inspection just to see if we could get out in 15 minutes
23 pleasant day i split shakes to day i drew a canteen to day
24 pleasant day I split shakes to day we had a whore house
grand review at 5 pm to day there was 2 women from town to see the review
25 pleasant day I split shakes to day we signed the pay roll
to day we went on a grand review 5 pm to day
26 Su Pleasant day company Inspection 9 am I weighed
153 to day
27 pleasant day but cloudy at times I split shakes to day
28 some rain to day i split shakes to day 650 shakes to
day i wrote letter no 13 to day
29 rainy day I split shakes to day 715 to day I
weighed 156 lbs to day
30 rainy day I split shakes to day
31 pleasant day i split
shakes to day i got letters no 11 from home & one in it from Mary
Parker i got a letter from Lars
Larson to day
April
1 Ration Day pleasant day I split shakes to day
Sheridans victory at Five Forks
2 Su Pleasant day Company inspection to day I went to
meeting to the colonels headquarters
3 pleasant day i split some shakes we was paid to day 11
am i got 136 dollars Richmond and Petersburg taken i bot
$27.00 Revolver
4 pleasant day I wrote letter no 14 to day I went to town
received letter no 12 one in it from Lathrop & one from Brown I sent
$4.00 home to day I split shakes
5 rainy day I split to day we got news of Richmond being taken
& Petersburg great many canons fired in Fort Pickering rain last
night I split shakes to day pleasant day Sheridan routs Lee
7 pleasant day I split shakes to day I weighed 154 lbs to day
8 cold day I split shakes to day and got news of Gen. Sheridans
victory over Gen. Lee to day there was great many cannons fired
9 rainy day I got letter from Michal Larson to day no
inspection to day i wrote letter no 15 to day to day Lee Surender to
Grant
10 some went to guard the railroad news of Gen. Lees army
surrender i went to town & mailed letter no15 with 40 dollars in
it got hair cut & shave & shampoo for $1.00 I got letter no
13 with $1 in it I split shakes Ration
11 cloudy day I split shakes to day I sat for my likness to
be taken today Col Forest came in to town with flag of truce to day
12 cloudy day I split shakes to day Mobile surrendered To Day
13 Peasant but cold day I split shakes to day
14 pleasant a forenoon rainy afternoon I split shakes before
noon inspection 2 pm Lincoln died 7 am firing 200
guns got my Photographs to day
15 pleasant cloudy at times to day i split shakes to day
Andrew Johnson becomes President
16 Su pleasant day inspection at 9 am i went to
meeting 10:30 am we got news of Lincoln & Seward killed i got
letter no 4 i wrote letter no 16 i sent 3 photographs in No 16
17 pleasant day I split shakes to day
18 pleasant day I split shakes to day
19 pleasant day i split shakes to day i finished splitting
shakes to day i finished my job
20 cloudy day rainy i received letter no 15 i wrote one
to Lars one to Michal one to R Brown & i wrote letter no 17 i sent a
photograph to Lars & one to Michael to day
21 cloudy day I went to town & mailed letter no 17 with $15
dollars in it i wrote a letter to Benjamin Lewis i weighed 155 lbs
to day
22 cloudy day I drew a pair of pents to day price 5.90
very warm sunshiney at times i went on stable guard to night
23 Su pleasant day we had Co. inspection at 9 am &
General inspection at 2 pm we also mustered at 2 pm I went to
meeting at 10:30 am
24 cold morning. but pleasant day nothing to do our men got
back from white stasion from guarding the railway to day
25 pleasant day i was detailed camp guard to day
26 pleasant day i wrote letter to S. S. Lathrop to day Death
of Booth surender of Johnstons Army
27 pleasant day I got letter no 9 from home to day of March 5
28 cloudy day I drew a pair of pents to day 5.90 very
warm sunshiney at times went on stable guard to night
29 pleasant day I went into the river & had a good wash to
day I cleaned my arms
30 Su pleasant day we had Co inspection at 9 am &
General inspection at 2 pm we also mustered at 2 pm i went to
meeting at 10:30 am
May
1 pleasant day I got letter no16 to day I got my families
pictures to day i wrote no 18 letter to
day
2 pleasant day i was detailed to clean arms to day to head quarters
3 pleasant day
3 days Scout
4 pleasant day i started out on a three days scout at 4 this
morning we crossed the nonconner then we crossed the Ollir branch we
camped about 5 pm
5 we had a pig & Auoks before we left camp pleasant day
we lay in camp till 10 am then we started for herendo 12 m we staid there
till 3 pm i got some dinner we camp about dark I weighed 155
lbs
6 pleasant day we broke camp 8 this morning we crossed the Non
conner we got to Memphis about 2 pm to day
7 Su cloudy I got letters no 17 1 wrote letter no 19 to
day Inspection at 9 am
8 pleasant day nothing to do but taking care of my horse he
got a sore back
9 pleasant day there was a scout went out this morning I did
not go my horses back was to sore they went to Granada
10 pleasant day ration day nothing to do Jeff Davis
captured to day in Georgia
11 rainy day I was camp guard to day I got a letter from
Ruben A. Brown to day
12 awful cold night pleasant day I had my-over coat on last night
& then suffered with the cold while on guard
13 pleasant day I put two windows in the Barracks to day we
presented Collonel Stephens with a sabre to day 3:30 pm I cleaned by arms
14 Su pleasant day i nspection 9 am I got a New York tribune
from Lothrop to day I wrote letter no 20
15 pleasant day but
hot General inspection at 2 pm to day I put in two windows to
day I got letter no 18 to day
16 pleasant day but hot I put in one window in the barricks &
one in the Captains shanty to day
17 cloudy at times & sunshine I was detailed for camp guard to
day
18 pleasant but hot day I came from camp guard this morning I
put in window in Captains shanty (Cook) to day
19 pleasant day nothing to do to day I read in the bible most
all day there was 5 horses stole from divission headquarters to night
20 pleasant day I was on guard at division headquarters to day
The thieves was caught to day the horses too & we was on guard over them to
day
21 Su pleasant day I came from guard 9 am to day
I got letter no 19 to day I wrote letter no 21 to day
22 pleasant day I wrote a letter for Odell to day I was
detailed for stable guard to night
23 I got a 2 dollar order pleasant to day I shot my revolver
off & cleared it to day I sewed some buttons in my pents I went
to river & washed my hankerchif & towels I read the bible and
other books
24 Pleasant day I was on guard at the camp of the first Iowa last
right & to day Mr. carr came to our regiment to day Kirby Smith
surrendered to day
25 pleasant to day nothing to do but reading I had a great
argument with the boys on Negroe equally to day we found a dead man in the
river to day
26 pleasant day I was on duly to haul manure then I made some
scrapers for our stable I weighed 150 lbs to day
27 pleasant day I cleaned my arms I cut of my pents leg
& turned them up & sewed them I got letter no 20 today
28 Su pleasant day we was on inspection 9 am I
went to meeting 10:30 am to day I wrote letter
no 22
29 I was on stable guard last night rainy morning but turning out
pleasant to day nothing to do but
reading
30 pleasant day I wrote a letter on 'liabillity of men to
fall' Wednesday
31 pleasant was on guard to day
June
1 pleasant day I came of from guard this morning at 8 o'clock I
went 1 mile after 2 canteens of full of cistern water to day i read to day
2 pleasant day i got my horse trod to day I sent 5 newspapers
home to day i read to day
3 pleasant day I went in the river & had a good wash I
read considerable to day I cleaned my arms some to day they the negroes
had a fight to day the 2nd and 11th
4 Su pleasant day i wrote letter no 23 inspection
9 am awful hot to day i got sore eyes to day
5 pleasant to day I got some salts to take of the doctor for
sore eyes i was on stable guard to night
6 pleasant day nothing to do but reading i got a letter
no 20 to day
7 pleasant day I got 1 dollar order to day i had an
argument on the negro question to day
8 pleasant day some rain afternoon i read good deal to
day nothing to do I got letter from Albert Parker to day
9 pleasant day i was on camp guard to day the one year
men turned over their arms to day it rained hard in the afternoon
the wind blew
10 it rained some pm i come
from guard this morning nothing to do but reading & cleaning my
arms to day
11 Su cloudy at times rain by 4 pm inspection at
9 am reading to day
12 cloudy day i was on stable guard to day i read the epistle
of Paul to the Hebrews all of it to day besides reading thru the Memphis
bulletin I also read the epistle of James rain to night
13 cloudy day i come of from stable guard this morning i read
the 1st & 3 John & Jude also i wrote letter no 24 to day
dress parade at 6:30 pm
14 some rain to day General inspection at 9 am we packed
up we commenced packing up 12 pm to move the boys went to town &
got on to a boat but Foster and me was left for guards till the boys came in
from Granada the yearlings went started home 14th
15 cloudy day we are still guards here the boys started out in
the boat down the river to day 10 am i went to town with 2 dispatches to
day
16 pleasant to day i went down to town with a load of stuf & i
express'd 3 boxes - one for myself for my wife i wrote letter no 25
my box weighed 25 lbs
17 I rolled up the doctors tent pleasant to day i went to town
to get the mail but got none I went to the river & had a swim to
day i mailed letter no 25 to day I packed another box to day
overcoats, 1 blanket 1 vest 1 shirt
18 Su pleasant day nothing to do but reading we are
still in our old camp for guards
19 pleasant day nothing to do but reading we are still
guarding the Barricks
20 pleasant day i went to town with a box to the express office it
weighed 25 lbs which will cost 2.50 cents i weighed 147 lbs to day
21 pleasant to day nothing to do but reading & guarding the
Barricks we drew rations to day
22 pleasant day i am still guard here in our old camp i went
to town after the mail & some bread to day
23 pleasant day i went in the river swimming to day i went to
town after the mail to day
24 pleasant day the boys came in from Grenada 2 pm to day i
went to town after the mail
25 Su pleasant day no inspection to day I
wrote letter no 26 I take the mail to town to day
26 pleasant day Inspection before breakfast this morning I
carried the mail to day
27 pleasant day i carried the mail to day i am still in
Memphis Barricks
Memphis to Alexandria
28 pleasant day some rain toward night we started from
camp to go down the river 8 am we got on the boat 9 am on the
Majestic Col. Stephens made his farwell speech 12:30 pm to day boat
started 1 pm
29 pleasant day but the sun shone very dim we past white river 6
am we got to Columbus 12 am where a horse got overboard & swam to
shore the boat stopt and got him
30 some rain 1 pm when we landed at the mouth of Black River
pleasant day we got to Vicksburg again we started from Vicksburg
8:30 am we past Jeff Davis plantation 10 am nort cherz 7 pm
July
1 we got to the mouth of the Black River 3 am we landed & lay till day
light then we started up the Black River 9 am we got Alexandria 8 pm
got off boat & caught up with Regiment 9 pm got letter no 23
Alexandria
2 Su inspection 8 am we put up our talmies for
tents to day I went to the Christian commission & wrote letter no
1 to day pleasant day yesterday and to day too
3 pleasant day but hot Albert & me went over the river up to
Kirby Smiths Camp i sold my revolver up there to a colored soldier for
$29 there was dress parade while we was gone but we did not get punished
4 very hot day I got letter no 22 to day i was stable guard
last night & to day Albert & me had some beer to day up in
town i went to celebration & heard some good speeches Albert
& me fishing but got none
5 pleasant day very cool and nice Dress parade at 6 pm
6 pleasant day I got letter no 25 i got letter from U.S.
Lathrop no dress parade to night the boys had a row to night with
Col Dale Albert & i went fishing but got no fish
7 pleasant day before noon i was on detail to get hay to day and
drew new tents to day rain in afternoon & we put up our tents to day
8 I cleaned my arms to day i wrote letter no 2 to day i sent
$20 in it some rain to day i wrote my letter at Christian Commission
9 SU rainy at times to day inspection 8 am i went
to town to christian commission & wrote letter no 3 to day
10
11
12 Albert watered our horses I was on camp guard to day some rain
to day a great many non commissioned officers was reduced to ranks &
commissioned off. was arested
13 some diserted from Co. B & Co L last night pleasant day
i watered Alberts horse & mine to day
14 I watered horses to day Alberts & mine pleasant
day Co C drew 6 horses Co A & B was tried to day for meeting
15 pleasant day Co C tried i turned in my Sircingle &
cartridge box & cap box to day i was on camp guard our Co all
got bay i traded horses to day i drew a magazine to day
16 Su pleasant day i came of from guard 8 am we
got a big catfish this morning i went to the Christian Commission &
wrote letter no 4 to day i nspection at 8 am i was excused
17 it rained some to day i got my horse shod to day nothing to
do
18 pleasant day nothing to do but reading
19 I was on camp guard pleasant day a colored soldier corporal
killed a big alligator it was 13 feet & 8 inches long the boys
drawed it up into camp & had it for a show
20 Thomas Finn skind the alligator Albert fried some of the
alligator for breakfast i come of from guard 8 am to day alligator
for dinner the Co squad broke up & I went into squad 25 to day
21 Crson Mills our cook pleasant day no duty to day to
day we drew some flour we had some
pancakes
22 very hot to day i cleaned my arms to day Garth wait
commenced cooking to day
23 Su very hot day inspection at 8 am i went to
Christian Commission & wrote letter no 5 to day
24 very hot to day i went after a load of wood to day we moved
our tent to day & i doubled tents with Rose & Archer there are 4 of us
now in 1 tent
25 very hot day nothing to do to day but reading
26 very hot day nothing to do to day
27 i was stable guard last night & to day Albert & me made
a raid on some wagons & got some watermelons & all the peaches we could
eat very hot day dress parade at 6 pm
28 pretty hot to day we went out to see Lancaster shot & one man
from the 4th Headquarters Lancaster was pardoned but the other man was
shot Lancaster is from Co L little rain to day he was shot 6
pm
29 very hot day nothing to do to day dress parade at 6
pm i cleaned my arms
30 Su inspection 8 am I drew a talmy $4.40 cts & 1
shirt at $2.32 cts I wrote letter no 6 to day pleasant day i was
stable guard last right & to day
31 pleasant day i made a holster for my carbine to day I seen
a man that had his head shaved & 2 men that had to carry barrels for
punishment
August
1 pleasant day General inspection at 7 am mounted i got
2 letters today both was no 27 one was Jul 2 one Jul 10 sold
some sugar got some tobacco i drew a pickett rope today
2 very hot I was detailed to 4 axes & 6 hatchets to day
& put one handle in 1 ax i went to town & sold my picket rope for
1 dollar 1 bot another for 33 cts. a dress parade at 6 pm
3 i got a big rope for
33 cents & i sold it for 1 dollar i was detailed to fix a box to day
for comisary seargent pretty hot & some rain Dress parade at 6
pm
4 i fixed a box today for the quarter master Sergeant I went
to hospital to see Pond & Hazen to day dress parade 6 pm very
hot day
5 cloudy cool & pleasant dress parade 6 pm
6 Sun pretty hot day inspection 8
am i wrote letter no. 7 to day i went to meeting 5:30 to day
7 pretty hot some rain we got marching orders to start to
morrow we got ready to day for marching to morrow
On the march to Texas
8 we started on the march 4 am we marched 22 miles by 2 pm then we stopped
& camped in some pine woods till morning pretty hot day
9 we started 4 am we marched 12 miles by 10 am then we camped in
pine woods it was pine woods all the way though this days march pretty hot day
10 we started 4:30 am we marched 16 miles then we camped at 2 pm in
pine woods we
drew three days rations at night to get rations very hot day
11 we started 4 am we marched 15 miles we camped 10 am in pine woods
pretty hot
day Parker & me had all the peaches & watermelons we wanted
12 we started at 4 am we marched 14 miles we camped 9:30 am in
pine woods 1 mile
from Sabine river, 1 mile from Texas & 80 miles from Alexandria hot day
i
washed two shirts
13 Su we had inspection 8 am we lay still till 4 pm then went across
the river
into Texas we marched 5 mi then we camped in pine woods pretty hot day
we had 3 roll calls to day we drew
3 days ration
Marching through Texas
14 we got up at 2 as usual & started 4 pm we
marched 15 miles we camped 2 pm in pine woods pretty hot day we drew 1/2 days rations to night
15 we got up at 2 am we started 4 am we marched 12 miles we camped 8:30 am in
pine woods pretty hot day there was12 Boy arrested for going in swimming Parker was one
16 we got up 2 am we started 4 pm Parker go a foot to day we come 14 miles
we
camped 2 am in pine woods pretty hot day i was stable guard last night
i led Parkers horse to day we drew 2 days rations to
night
17 we got up 2 am started 4 am we marched 10 mi camped 8 am
pine woods hot day we
crossed a river we lay in camp til 3 pm then marched 6 miles more we crossed a river and camped 6 pm in
pine woods
18 we got up 2 am started 4 pm we marched 12 miles we camped 1030 am in pine
woods pretty hot day we crossed 2 rivers yesterday the last was Naechez & it was Jordans Ferry the first river was
Angelina
19 we got up 2 am started 4 am we marched 30
miles we camped 4 pm pine woods pretty hot day we marched all day
without water & without rations
20 Su we got up 2 am started 4 am marched 15 mi
we came throu Livingston we
crossed Trinnety River camped on bank of river 11 am dry dusty & hot day
we drew 4 days rations i was detailed to help the
plontoons crossed the river
21 we got up 2 am and started 4 am we marched 28 miles we camped 3:30 pm in the
woods some was one pretty hot day we had no rations yesterday but today we had plenty
22 we got up 2 am we started 4 am we marched 15 miles
we came through Danville we camped 10:30 am pretty hot day we camped
in pine woods we drew 2 days rations to night
23 we got up 2:30 am started 4 am we pased Mongomery 1 mile to our right
we
marched 20 miles we camped 12 pm in pine woods very hot day
24 we got up 2 am and started 4 am we marched 15 miles we crossed a prairie 8
miles wide we camped 11 am pine woods pretty hot day 20 miles from Houston
25 we got up 2 am we started 4 am on the Hamsted road we marched 10 miles
we
camped 9 am at edge of woods pleasant day
26 we got up 12 started at 2 am we marched 25 mi we camped 11 am near Hamstead
little rain to day we came on the prairie all the way today we came throu Cipers Station
i got 2 letters no 29 & 30 i was
stable guard to night
27 Su we slept this morning till daylight we got orders to move camp 3 pm
we
saddles up & stood in line a long time then we got orders to unsaddle
pleasant day
Hempsted
28 we moved camp 1 1/2 miles to day we lay around all day waiting for orders to
put up our tent pleasant day
29 pleasant day we put up our tent to day 4 of us in a tent
i washed 1 shirt i
went in & washed myself we drew 3 days rations
30 pleasant day we cleaned up in around our tent & put a sadle rack up today
i was on camp guard 1 st relief to day pleasant day
31 i come from guard 12 pm to day we was mustered for pay 11 am & inspected
we drew 10 days rations
September
1 pretty hot day we made a good bunk to day the bottom is made out of cane
i got
2 letters to day no 28 & no 31
2 pretty hot day i was on detail to clean camp to day i cleaned my arms to day
i
weighed 137 lbs to day
3 Su pretty hot day mounted inspection 8 am i went to meeting 1 pm
dress parade
6 pm
4 our tents was all
serched this morning before breakfast for fresh beef I was put on extra duty to
day for not cleaning my horse before breakfast I cut crotches for to stable
my first days extra duty
5 i was detailed to go to town to load rations i got 2 letters when i got back
to camp no 32 & no 33 pleasant day
6 I dont feel well to day i went to the doctors this morning I wrote letter no 1
today pleasant day
7 i went to drill double rank formation, mounted for the first time 7 am
a new
drill to our regiment chill again 4:30 pm pleasant day
8 i was detailed to cut poles and crotches for the stable to day
pretty hot day
9 mounted drill 7 am i cleaned my arms to day mounted drill
4:30 pm pleasant day
10 Su inspection mounted 8
am i was detailed to take care of 4 horses we drew rations to day dress parade 6
pm pretty hot day
11 carbine drill dismounted drill 7 am i washed 1 shirt & pair pents to day
mounted drill 4
pm i took care of 4 horses to day pretty hot day
12 I toke cam of my 4 homes to day i take them out to graze to day pretty hot
day from 7 till 10 am mounted drill 4 pm i went to meeting 1:30 pm
pretty hot day
13 dissmounted carbine drill 7 am mounted drill 4 pm i took care of my horses
pretty hot day
14 dissmounted carbine drill 7 am i wrote letter no 2 to day i went out hunting
for a horse this afternoon but did not find him pleasant day
15 i went out and found the lost horse before breakfast I went out
grazing my
horses from 7 till 10 am some rain to day mounted drill from 4 till 5 pm
16 dismounted carbine drill 7 am mounted drill from 4 till 5 pm pretty hot day
17 Su mounted inspection 8 am i
went out grazing after inspection dress parade 6 pm hot day
18 general inspection mounted 8 am dismounted 9 am mounted drill from 4
to 5 pm hot day
19 dissmounted carbine drill from 7 till 8 am ounted drill from 4 to 5 pm
hot
day but cold night i got letter no 34 to day
20 I went out grazing 7 am mounted drill from 4 till 5 pm we drew rations
pleasant day
21 I was sick last night i went to sick call this morning excused from duty
pleasant day
22 rain last night i feel all right this morning dismounted carbine drill from 7
till 8 am i wrote letter no 3 to day mounted drill from 4 to 5 pm
23 no drill to day I went out grazing from 7 till 11 am I got a shirt of Parker
for 1.75 cts I washed a shirt to day pretty hot day i went to prayer meeting 7 pm
24 Su rain last night mounted inspection 8 am grazing from 9 till 11 am
dress parade 6 pm
hot day
25 dismounted carbine
chill 7 am rainy day mounted drill 4 pm i made some corn broad to day
26 I went out grazing 7 am I signed the pay roll to day 2 pm i did not drill to
day some rain to day we drew some new horses to day
27 we drew some new horses to day I got some medicine of the doctor
i made some
corn bread to day mounted drill 4pm pleasant day i got six horses to take care of .
28 I went out grazing 7 am mounted drill 4 pm I drew 1 pr pents 2 pr drawers, 2
shirts, 1 pr boots 1 hat 2 pr socks 1 haversack pleasant day
29 dismounted carbine drill 7 am mounted drill 7 am mounted drill 4 pm
i turned
my 6 horses over to another man
30 i was detailed for camp guard to day i went on at 11 am
i was on the 3rd
relief pleasant day we drew 5 days rations
October
1 Su i came oft from guard
11 am I wrote letter no 4 to day pleasant day dress parade 6 pm
2 i went out grazing 7 am mounted drill 4 pm pleasant day
3 dismounted carbine drill 7 am i went on guard 11 am to day
I got 2 letters
from home it was no 35 & 36 i am on the first relief on camp guard to day
pleasant day
4 I came from guard 11 am to day there was 7 men from Co C started for Houston
to day with carell horses mounted drill 4 pm pleasant day
5 I went out grazing 7 am we drew 5 days rations mounted drill 4 pm
I went to
prayer meeting 7 pm
6 dismounted saber drill 7 am i went on camp guard 11 am to day
I was on 2nd
relief pleasant day bit cold night
7 i came of from guard 11 am i traded sadles to day pleasant day
I went to
prayer meeting 7 pm
8 SU inspection 8 am mounted i went to meeting 10:30 am &
again 1:30 pm i joined the class today
9 we got paid off 12 pm to day I got 55.25 cts after taking out my sulter bill
which was $3 I was on detail to go after corn some rain to day
i bought 1 lbs tobacco for 2.50 cts
10 I expressed $40 home i went down to town i bought 1 blanket to day $4.00
i
wrote letter no 5 to day pleasant day we drew rations to day Mills &
White deserted last night from Co. C
11 I was brevet corporal to clean camp to day we got 30 lbs of flour to day for $1.20
cts 3 of us 40 cts apiece pleasant day prayer meeting 7 pm
14 pleasant day prayer meeting 6:30 pm no drills on Saturday
15 SU inspection 8 am mounted I wrote letter no 6 to day
I went to meeting 10:30 am dress parade
5:30 pm no drill on Sundays
16 dismounted sabre drill
from 9 till 10 am mounted drill from 1 till 3:30 pm pleasant day
we bought a tin
pole for 1 dollar prayer meeting 6:30 pm
17 General inspection dismounted 10 am i went on guard after inspection
I was on
the 3rd relief rainy day
18 I was taken sick last night i was relieved from guard i went to
the doctor this
morning i was marked light duty for this day i bot some milk to day we had a good prayer meeting 6:30 pm
19 the eclipse of the sun is very plain it is very dark to day although the sun
shines but it looks like half a moon dismounted carbine drill 9 am pleasant day
prayer meeting 6:30 pm
20 i went on guard 8 am on 1 1st relief pleasant day ration day our Co drew rations
in one squad to day for the first time since we left Alexandria
21 i come
of from guard 8 am i was on extra duty to clean camp today for not having my
sabre in inspection last Tuesday Pleasant day i received 3 letters to day it was
no 37 &.no 38 & no 39
22 Su Inspection 8 am I wrote letter no 7 to day meeting 10:30
Pleasant day dress parade 5:30 pm prayer
meeting 6:30 pm
23 we had wooden sabers to
drill to day 9 am I went after corn to day but got none Pleasant
day
24 dismounted carbine
drill 9 am mounted drill 2 pm Pleasant day
25 dismounted wooden sabre
drill 9 am we went out grazing 2 pm prayer meeting 6:30 pm Pleasant day
26 I went on camp guard 8 am i went on 3rd relief Pleasant day
27 little rain last I come of from guard 8 am i bot a chicken for 25 cts
I cooked it for dinner for 3 hrs i went out grazing 3 pm pleasant day
prayer meeting 6:30 pm
28 cold night last night pleasant day i was detailed this morning to go to town
I was
guard at division commissary 2nd relief i weighed 130 lbs prayer meeting 6:30 pm
29 Su I traded homes to
day cold rain last night today awful cold dismounted Inspection 8 am wrote
letter no 8 we got orders to get ready to march to morrow 5 am Braesos river
30 we started on the march 5
am we marched 4 miles then we crossed the Braesos river on plantoons we
marched 29
miles today cold cloudy day we camped 2 miles from Brenharn 4 pm
31 cloudy day we started 6
am we marched through Round Top & camped a mile from Round Top 5 pm
we come
30 miles to day come through Union Hill
November
1 I was on detail to
get rations this morning we drew 2 days rations we started 6 am
we marched 20
miles & camped 2 pm cloudy & some rain to day
2 pretty cold day we started
6 am we come through Winchexter today & we come by Bastrop we camped 1
mile
from Bastrop 5 pm we marched 30 miles to day we come up by Colorado river all
day
3 pleasant day we started 6 am we come by Weberville to day
we come 30 miles
& camped 4 pm 5 miles from Austin I was detail to get corn to night
e had
frost this morning for the first time this fall
4 Pleasant day we started 8
am & marched 5 miles & camped 3 miles northeast of Austin we put up our
tents to day we camped 1/2 mile from the Colorado River
5 Su pleasant day Inspection 8 am we put up our bunk out of ceader today
prayer meeting 6:30 pm
6 pleasant day I went on camp guard 8 am we drew 2 days rations to day
we got 20
lbs rye flour for 1 dollar I am on 2nd relief to day
7 I come of from guard 8
am we got orders to be mustered out to day election day I voted for Fairfield
we
got some beef to day Pleasant day
8 pleasant day we turned over our horses to the first Iowa Cav Brig to day
we drew
3 days rations I traded sabres to day the 7th Indiana got some of our horses
9 cloudy but pleasant day I was excused by the doctor to day but I did not feel
well we have all the pochans we want to eat
10 I turned over my sadle
& horse blanket & bridle & halter & nose bag & curry comb
& horse brush & lariet rope we drew 16 days rations to day
pleasant day I went to river and washed
11 I wrote letters no 11 went & got some pochon nuts to day
pleasant day
12 Su cloudy and some rain to
day inspection 8 am I signed for my corvine & sabre to day meeting 10:30 am
prayer meeting 3 pm
13 I went to town and
bought 6 dollars worth of cakes & bread & sold for 8 dollars I made 2
dollars prayer meeting 3 pm warm pleasant day
14 warm & pleasant day I went to town and bought 50 loaves of bread for 5
dollars & I sold it for 7 dollars 50 cts I made 2 dollars & 50 cts
I weighed 132 to day
Homeward march 1865
15 warm & pleasant day we
was mustered out of U S Service by Capt More of the 7th Indiana to day at Austin
Texas!
16 we turned over our tents & boxed up our sabres & belts &
cartridges boxes & carbine stings we drew 5 days ration & i got ready to
march to morrow we had about 50 candles lit in big tree on poles in our Company
17 we started on our homeward
march 9 am we marched 15 miles we camped 3 pm at Weberville rainy day
i was in
detail to night to get corn
18 pleasant day we started
6 am we marched 20 miles & camped 2:30 pm 6 mile from Bostrop one man died
to night from company F
19 Su pleasant day we
started 7 am we marched 18 miles & camped 2 pm In Pine Oak Creek
20 pleasant day we started 7 am
we marched 17 miles & camped 2 pm
21 warm & pleasant day we started 6 am we marched 18 miles & camped 2 pm 3 miles from Round top
22 warm & Pleasant day we
started 6 am we marched 17 miles & camped 1 pm 1 mile from Brenham
23 warm
& Pleasant day we started from camp 6:30 am we got to Depot 7 am Brenharn
we
got on to the cars 8:30 am the cars run oft the track 10 am some wounded
got
cars on got a new engine & got to Hempstead 5 pm
24 Pleasant day we got on to other cars at Hempstead started 1 pm
we got to Houston
5 am L. Col Dale got into a well he was drawed out by a rope at Hempstead
i got 4
letters to day at Houston to day waiting for a boat my letters was no 40 &
41 & no 43
25 pleasant we lay at
Houston all day waiting for a boat we drew rations 1 1/2 of bread since we left
Memphis one letter I got yesterday had a dollar in
it
26 Su pleasant I went to
town i weighed 138 lbs to day we lay In camp at Houston waiting for a boat
I
went to a negro meeting this evening it was first rate
27 pleasant day we took
the boat Col Stell 12 oclock to day at Houston I got some sea shells to day
boat started 2 pm we went down the Buffole Bayou 40 miles before we got Into the bay -
28 pleasant day we got to Galveston bay 2 am there will lay
till daylight we got to Galveston 11:30 am 80 miles
from Houston we got onto the steamship Alabama
4 pm the boat started 7 pm from Galveston
29 steaming on Gulf on Mexico pleasant day
30 we got to mouth of
Mississippi river 7 am we drew 5 days rations to day we passed Ft Jackson &
Fort Phillops 12 m we
got New Orleans 8 pm laid all
night
December
1 pleasant but pretty cold we went up to Greenville 3 miles fr Now Orleans, lay there all
night I weighed
143 lbs I got 3 letters from home no 44 - 46 we slept close to the river all
night i
bought some oranges & sold I made 2.50
2 we lay at Brenville waiting for a boat I bought 100 oranges for 2.50.&
sold for $5.00 we got on the boat White Cloud this evening & started out 7
pm
3 Su we got to Baton Rouge 7am we past Fort Hudson
9am Morgarizen 12 pm Natchez 10
pm pleasant day
4 pleasant day the boys fired at some gees on a sand bar & killed some
we got
to Vicksburg 2 pm & lay till 5 pm then we started out
& run a while then we Landed & lay till day
5 some rain last night rainy & cloudy day I sold 1 bushel of apels which i
bought at Vicksburg I made 50 cts we are steaming along up the river slowly
6 cloudy & rainy day the boat Landed last night at 2 am & lay till day
on account of fog we past Napolien 12:30 pm we passed White River 1:30 pm
7 pleasant day but cold we passed Helena 1 am we got Memphis 1 pm
we landed & lay
1 hour we started out from Memphis 2 pm we run all night
8 pretty cold day but clear we passed New Madrid 2:30
9 pleasant day we passed Columbus 1 am we got to Cairo 3:30 am
the cars
started 3 pm we passed Jonesburrow & centrillia one man killed from Co D by
the cars at Cairo
10 Su we passed Bloomington & other towns on the road we crossed Illinois
river we passes Lessell we passed Freeport we changed cars at Beloit
pleasant
day
11 pleasant day we got to
Madison 4 am we got free breakfast at the depot we signed the payroll to day
I got my sabre & belt & sling & cartridge box all right to day
I got a
boarding house to day
12 Pretty cold day we lay around at John Shealeys boarding house
waiting for our pay we pay one dollar a day for board
13 pretty cold day i got
my state pay $30 to day we are laying around waiting for our pay i bought a
scarf and pair mittens & hat for 7 dollars
14 pretty cold day nothing
to do but lay around we are waiting for our pay
15 cold day i bought a
coat
& vest & a pair of pents & a velice for $35.00 I got my discharge
& my pay 194 dollars & 50 cts; we take cars 4:15 pm
we got to
Bridgeport 9 pm i bought a sewing machine $15
16 pretty cold day i come from
Bridgeport by stage i got home 4:40 pm & found my folks all well
John Larson
payments in service 1865
i recieved first payment
72.75
2nd
payment
77.25
3rd payment
104.00
4th payment
136.00
5th payment
58.25
448.25
last payment when
discharged at Madison 194.50
total amount 642.75
town
bounty
200.00
state
bounty
120.00
total amt. 962.75
money sent home
first time $60.00
2nd time 50.00
3rd
time 80.00
4th time 75.00
5th time 40.00
345.00
Tues, Dec 26 i bought a horse for $130 to day
27 I bought a load of straw to day for $1.00
28 I hauled a load of wood to day
30 I went over to Lars Larsons with the wagon to day
31 Su The S.W. 1/4 S. 34 T
104 B.52
Jan 11, 1866 I bought 40 bush of corn of Fraisy. A Rued i paid for it 20
cts a
bushel I hauled 12 bushels 15 lbs
I bought 80 acres of land of W B Jarvis February 9 1866 for $310.00
moved unto
the land May 1866
Jan 20, 1866 i settled up with Pa to day i am debtor to pa balance due $300.00
him on book account for keeping my 3 sheep till spring $4.50
for keeping franny 3.33
for keeping 2 cows 20.00
for house rent commencing the first day of November 1864
we moved to Larses the
12 of February 1866
Jan 20, 1866 I am debtor to
D. Brown
23.60
Thomas Chambers 6.00
M Mcapes
5.00
Lars Larson 15.00
A. Parker
10.00
Lars Larson 19.00
A. Parker
30.00
A. Parker
75.00
Mr Chestnut 3.25
Mr Chestnut 2.90
Chestnut
.75
Winegar for flour 5.93
Chestnut
4.25
Chestnut in all 11.25
September 15 1866
October to Chestnut 18.48
for flour 2.50
Jan 20, 1866 i am debtor to
R. Smith 35.48
A. Pelton 40.00
Lars Larson for breaking 12 acres
2 1/4 61.25
I am debtor to L Parker
for keeping my sheep
3.00
for keeping my 2 cows 12.00
for keeping Franny
3.33
for house rent 15 1/2 months 15.50
for timber cut
10.00
cash accl (?) Dunning in threshing 1 1/2 days & again for oats 1 dollar
Sept 8, 1866 i bought A.
Parkers land to day for $100.00 i have to pay
25.00 April 1 st 1868
25.00 April 1 st 1869
25.00 April 1 st 1870
25.00 April 1 st I * 871
i pay 7 percent interest
Albert Parker meals commenced boarding Feb. 18 1866 was here for 1 year
Cash account 1866
for botls
lowage
or alum for worms
turpentine
linseed oil
vinegar & saleratus
1 coat 8.75
We come on our Homeward march November 1865
1 talney 3.75
from Austin to Hempsted
1 pr pents, 3.60
Hempstead
130 miles
1 pr. stockings @ 32 .64
Houston
50
2 shirts @ 1.56 3.12
Galveston
80
1 haversack
to the mouth Mss. R 300
1 canteen
New Orleans 114
46.32
Baton Rouge 130
Port Hudson
20
Ind Wis Cav
Morganzia
30
first
Battalion Co. A.G. K.
D.
Natchez
90
Third Battalion
Vicksburg
120
Co C. J. M. F.
White River
240
2nd Battalion
Helena
80
Co E. H. L B.
Memphis
90
(last hall of page torn out)
New Madrid 175
Columbus
55
November bill payable for 1865
Cairo
20
I have drawed
Chicago
365
1 jacket
6.50
Madison
140
1 pr. pents
4.15
Bridgeport
92
1 hat
2.25
Lofton
12
2 pr sox
0.70
2,333 miles
1 pr boots
4.00
Non commissioned officers
(list - copied xerox)
Captain Riley appears on fist 1 carbon
from Vicksburg to the mouth of Red river 170
1 pr pants;
5.90
from the mouth of Red river to Alexandria 150 miles
I talna
4.40
from Alexandria to
Hempstead
315
1 shirt
2.32
from Hempstead to Austin
145
September 28 1 drew
from St Louis to Cape Girardeau
150
1 pr pents
5.90
from CA to Cairo
20
2 pr drawers
3.20
Columbus
55
2 shirts
4.50
New Madrid
175
1 pr boots
4.65
Memphis
90
1 hat
2.25
Helena
2 pr socks
0.96
White River
80
1 haversack
Vicksburg
240
21.46
Natchez
'
120
6.72
Morganzia
90
28.18
Port
Hudson
30
Baton Rouge 20
New Orleans -
130
1250
Colonel ,
Lieutenent Colonel
Major
Captain
1 mans
ration
Lieutenant
sugar 4 10 days 1 1/2 lbs
Sergeant
coffee 4 10 days 3114 Corporal John
beans 10 days
1 1/2
first carbine
pork 1 day
3/4
no 3567 Burnside
beef 1 day
1 1/4
John Larson
bread or flour 1 day 1 1/8
candles 10 days
2/3
2nd no. 74992 Sharps
Hardtack 1 day
1
3rd no. 74327 Sharps
4th no. 505M Spencers
I have drawed each
2 blankets @ 3.20 6.50
Spencer Carbine weighs
1 hat
1.97
barrell - 22 Inches
1 pr pents
3.65
barrell and stok 3 feet 4 *
1 jacket
5.30
my tent is
no. 15 155
1 blouse
2.35
Alberts no. 16 178
2 shirts @ 1.56
3.12 This diary was typed the same way
2 pr. trousers @ 1.04 2.08
it was written by john Larson.
John L Lars
2 pr. stockings 32
.64
Finis