DIARY OF THOMAS STRANG
JAN. 1865
- Sunday, Jan. 1, 1865
- Went out in the country and had a good dinner. There were a lot of girls there
and we had a good time.
- Friday, Jan. 6, 1865
- I was not doing anything today. We were sent out - and drilled a while with
the horses and guns.
- Saturday, Jan. 7, 1865
- Today we hauled wood in our squad and it was very muddy.
- Tuesday, Jan. 10, 1865
- Got paper by mail today from R. Griggs. Nothing going on today.
- Thursday, Jan. 12, 1865
- On guard today and got three letters. Answered them at night. Nothing occurred
today.
- Friday, Jan. 13, 1865
- Hauled wood for our squad today. There was about two inches of snow on the
ground.
- Friday, Jan. 20, 1865
- Mail came today and I got three letters and answered two of them. Are on guard
today.
- Sunday, Jan. 22, 1865
- Today it rained a little and is rather slippery. George Leber starts home on a
furlough. Wrote a letter today.
- Saturday, Feb. 4, 1865
- Today a lot of us got on a train and me and another fellow went out in the
country.
- Wednesday, Feb. 8, 1865
- I was to a dance last night and had lots of fun and are not very lively today.
- Thursday, Feb. 9, 1865
- I am on guard today. There was a squad of our men out on a scout and came in
last night. Had seven prisoners, killed five.
- Friday, Feb. 10, 1865
- The mail carrier went down the river last night. There is no news and only a
few peace rumors.
- Saturday, Feb. 11, 1865
- We got the mail today. I got two letters and answered one. I am going to start
out on a scout in the morning.
- Sunday, Feb. 12, 1865
- Started out on a scout this morning and went 25 miles andcamped for the night.
We did not see any guerillas today.
- Monday, Feb. 13 and Feb. 14, 1865
- Started at daylight and went through magnolias and went down to Newportland and
burned it down. The guerillas had crossed the river. Had a skirmish with them. The
guerillas attacked us in our camp last night at three o'clock in the morning. Wounded
one of our men.
- Saturday, Feb. 25, 1865
- The mail came down the river today. Got a paper. General Thomas and Staff came
here today.
- Sunday, Feb. 26, 1865
- I commenced to cook today. There was three of our boys came back from furlough
today.
- Friday, Mar. 10, 1854
- Today I have been busy drawing rations. The mail came down the river tonight.
- Saturday, Mar. 11, 1865
- The mail came up today. I got two letters. We got four new guns today,
heavy artillery.
- Sunday, Mar. 12, 1865
- There was an inspection of our muskets today.
- Monday, Mar. 13, 1865
- There is lots of citizens in camp today. They are taking the oath of
allegiance. I wrote a letter today.
- Friday, Mar. 17, 1865
- There is an inspection today by a Sergeant from Clarkville.
- Saturday, Mar. 18, 1865
- There is a general inspection today by Col. Lumuz
- Saturday, Mar. 25, 1865
- Our Captain came back today. He has been to Nashville, and has been
promoted to Chief of Artillery.
- Tuesday, April 4, 1865
- We had a dispatch today stating that Richmond was taken and 13,000 prisoners.
- Thursday, April 6, 1865
- The mail went down the river today. There was good war news from Richmond
today
- Wednesday, April 12, 1865
- We fired 200 guns today for the surrender of Gen. Lee to Gen. Grant.
- Friday, April 14, 1865
- We fired 200 guns today in honor of the Flag being raised over Sumter and
we heard that Gen. Johnson surrendered to Gen. Sherman.
- Saturday, April 15, 1865
- We had a general inspection today and there was a telegram dispatch came
stating that Abe Lincoln was assasinated.
- Sunday, April 16, 1865
- Mail came last night. Got two letters. We have not heard the particulars
of the death of Abe Lincoln 10 o'clock A.M.
- Monday, April 17, 1865
- There is not a thing going on today. Everything is in the mourning. I wrote
a letter today. They fire half guns all day.
- Tuesday, April 18, 1865
- The mail came down the river and it reported that Mobile is captured.
- Wednesday, April 19, 1865
- Today we all marched to headquarters and was a sermon delivered by Chap.
Higgi and when he was through speaking, the band played John Brown's soul is
Marching on.
- Thursday, April 20, 1865
- I sent in my requisition for a furlough today. I am guard today.
- Saturday, April 29, 1865
- Today we was busy shaving most all day. The mail carrier came back today
without any mail.
- Sunday, April 30, 1865
- Today we mustered for six months pay. The mail came down the river today. I
got one letter.
- Wednesday, May 3, 1865
- I am on guard today. There is lots of talk of us being mustered out soon.
- Friday, May 12, 1865
- There was 25 guerillas came in today and surrendered. They belong to Capt
Stones' company. I am on guard today.
- Saturday, May 13, 1865
- Today we got our furloughs and started home at 10 o'clock P.M.
- Sunday, May 14, 1865
- We got to Paducak at 8 o'clock and at Cairo at 12 o'clock and had to lay
over
- Monday, May 15, 1865
- We started at 2 o'clock A.M. this morning for Chicago and got there at 12
o'clock P.M.
- Tuesday, May 16, 1865
- We got to Waukegan at 11 o'clock yesterday. Today I went to Millburn and
came home.
- Thursday, May 18, 1865
- It rained some today. I went to town. There was not much going on
- Friday, May 19, 1865
- Today I planted corn all day and I went to see Henkle.
- Monday, May 22, 1865
- I was to Millburn today and we had a dance and we had a very good time.
- Tuesday, May 23, 1865
- I went to Waukegan today to see the boys of the 95th.
No more entries until..
- July 3, 1865
- I started from Springfield at 5 o'clock.
- Tuesday, July 4, 1865
- Arrived in Chicago at 10 o'clock and in Waukegan at 6 o'clock.
- Thursday, Aug. 3, 1865
- Mustered out of the U.S. Service today at 2 o'clock.
- Saturday, Aug. 5, 1865
- Paid off today and discharged at 2 o'clock.
- Saturday, Sept. 9, 1865
- Commenced to work for George Emery today.
- Wednesday, Sept. 27, 1865
- I was to the State Fair today.
THOMAS STRANG, Fort Daniels, Tenn.
