Diary of James W

Diary of James W. Hoffman

April 21, 1861; I went down the river to MonongahelaCity -- miles distant (from Belle Vernon) and enlisted in Captain Coopers Artillery Company. Came back in the afternoon with a soldiers cap and jacket and they commenced to believe that I was going which they didn't before. Settled up with Boman. Paid me in Missouri money that would not pass. Would not give me any other. Went back to MonongahelaCity the next day. Slept in the tavern. Early in the morning got on the boat and started down the river (after some speeches) while canons fired a parting salute --.

Arrived in Pittsburgh at 3 P.M. A good many recruits marching through the streets. We were formed in line and had thirty men taken out of the Company draw cuts to see who would have to go ----at the guard house. The Captain had us give three cheers for a brass gun the City was going to give us. Went to the City Hall and got arms -- muskets that had not been made but a couple of months. Commenced to think that we were not ----to be artillery. Slept on a Steam boat at night. Got up early in the morning, marched over to Allegheny? and was organized as the 12th Reg. Sv? in the 13th and part of the 16th was organized. Got on the cars. A good many thousand people bid us gods speed.

Arrived in Harrisburg about 3 A.M. Went in a church to sleep. Could not get any breakfast until 11 AM so many of the soldiers went to the Capitol and were sworn into Service. Ate dinner there, had boiled beef, bread and coffee. We had to stand in the sun so long it made about 30 faint away. When we got back to the Capitol after being out in the street in line. Several were from our Company.

Went to the railroad, got in freight cars; a train of them just came with air holes in them. Put us in mind of them-took the buts of our guns and made holes in ours¬ made an awful noise. Went to CampScotYork, Pa.

When we arrived at Camp scot about 9 PM went to sleep in an old building. Had to lie close together; one of the boys got to dreaming and made a fuss in the night. About half of us wanted to know where to run, line up and draw rations in the morning. Had nothing to cook in but an old coffee pot with the snout knocked off. We staid in that place about a week - then moved to another part of the camp so as to have the regiment together. Had bad quarters. It was about three weeks before I got a blanket. Had to drill a good deal. We were divided up in messes, six in a mess, Joseph Rison, lsaac Beasel, John Merlc?, Theopolis VanCurk, Andrew Elliot and myself. There was another man but he was discharged.

Drilled from 5 AM to 11 Ali:. Dress parade after dinner. Drilled out on the commons from 2 till 5. Stayed in CampScott five weeks. The left wing got orders to march one morning - Did not think we were going but at noon .we got orders to march in two hours (rain) -- Went toward Baltimore. The cars passed some of our regiment in squads along the road. Knew what we had to do then. Commenced to put out ------We got out at the Riley house six miles from Baltimore. Took the water? house for quarters. A Secest [Sesesh] Captain came to visit our Captain the first night we were there. Stayed there two weeks then we went back farther from Baltimore while another Company took our place so as to make guard duty easier.

The Captain got out with 25 men at Gunpowder’s bridge. 27 of us got out 4 miles farther with the first Lieutenant at Saint James Switch a mile beyond------The rest got out 5 miles farther on. Had a good place, men got plenty of milk for nothing and butter, guard duty easy, a good place to bathe. Stayed there our time out and volunteered to stay 10 days longer but stayed only 5 more. Relieved by the Fourth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. The Pittsburg Grays and the Suaves went home the same day their time expired. We started at noon The people made a grand turnout along the road. Fired salutes in some places.

Arrived at York about 10 o’clock in the evening, grand turnout, stayed an hour, arrived at Harrisburgh at 3 or 4 o'clock, did not cross the river but went on all that day. The next morning arrived at Pittsburgh 3 AM. Went to CampWilkins?. Stacked arms. I went to the City but did not find anybody I knew and went back to Camp. Heard a fellow say that was the darndest regiment he ever saw, said they even had monkeys and all kinds of animals on their backs. Some of the boys had tame wood chucks, pet dogs and game chickens on their knap sacks that they were fetching home.

At nine o'clock we started for the City Hall, it was hot and dusty, we stacked arms and went to the hotels to board. Had the privilege of staying in Camp and drawing our rations but we would not do it. I put up at the Guard house. On Friday - Sunday we went up the river; paid full fare going up to come back free. My old friends were glad to see me. Had to go back to Pittsburgh Monday. Arrived there just in time to be mustered out of Service.

In the evening I went to the boat and in the morning went up the river again (no doubt Belle Vernon). Stayed there two weeks, had a good time then started for home.

Made a bargain with Jim Luis and Uriah Bliss if they would come to the City on the next day I would enlist in the Cavalry with then. They did not come. After waiting two days I started for home. Had to go down the river 40 miles because a freshe t had washed away a large railroad bridge. Missed the first boat; had to take another one that started in the afternoon; saw a good many oil wells. Boat arrived where the car passengers were to get out at 7PM. Slept in the car with a 2nd Wisconsin soldier who had got his discharge. He had been shot through the leg at Bull Run.

At four in the morning the cars started. Arrived in Cleveland 3 PM. Took the boat for Detroit in the evening. The Ocean Queen started 8 o’clock; the City of Cleveland started an hour before but got to Detroit an hour earlier the next morning. Had to part with my fellow traveler. Took the car for home at 6 AM.

After breakfasting and visiting with the family I went over town and found it had not improved the two years I had been gone; only a new front had been put on the Court House and a couple of dwelling houses had been built. In two weeks there was a grand excursion to Port Huron. Went up there Sept. 20th to enlist. Went downtown on the ferry. Found a man by the name of Driscoll that was trying to get up a Company. He put my name down as 4th Sergeant. Went back home promising to be back in two days on the morning train. Missed the morning train; took the evening train. Put up at the hotel. When I arrived found that two or three of Driscoll’s men were boarding there in the morning. Went over to the------he was glad to see me and said he thought we would have enough men to send. to White Pigeon in the afternoon. He was expecting eleven from Canada but they did not come. After three or four days did not get any recruits so he went in with Blackman. What men they had (both) only amounted to 12 officers and all Blackman said he expected ---- from Lexington. Hard to get recruits in that town.

Blakeman came to the conclusion that he would send us to the port. Took the evening train and went to Detroit. Went to the Western Hotel got supper and lodging at Blakeman’s expense. They went up town, came back and told me to get up early in the morning and go to the port with what men I had and to get a tent and draw rations. They said it would be alright. When they found that I could not get any tent or any rations they got a little mad. Told the rest they might go when they had a mind to and I would do the same. Capt. Fucays boys gave us breakfast - wanted to go to the city- could not get out of camp with out a C--- Officer. Thought I would not trouble any of them and slid down the fort(?) in the ditch . Could not find Blakeman or Griscoll. Heard they had gone home. Went to the fort, slept with Fucays boys. After breakfast the rest enlisted with them.

October 1 - was offered the same office in another Company but would not take it. Went up to the City, thought I would go home. Paid out all my change for dinner, went to the depot but did not have the brass to get on the cars without money to pay my fare. Saw a handbill calling for volunteers for the Mississippi Gun Boats. Thought I would go up and see about enlisting. Set down on a snubbing post to think about it when along came a man who wanted to know how I would like the Cavalry - did not know -- he offered me Sergeantship - Thought I might as well enlist and told him so. He took me to an office and administered the oath which I afterwards found out he had no right to do. Took me down to the engine transfer close to the depot. Saw the Second Lieutenant of the Company. He asked me what proposition the recruiting officer had made me. I told him-- he told me I might have the office of Corporal but could not be a Sergeant. Said he did not want any of his men enlisted under false pretenses. I told him I would like to have time to think about going with him. He told me to come to the Braggs hotel and get supper. While I was washing he came and asked me if I had made up my mind yet. I told him I would go but would not accept a Corporalship. A fellow by the name of Hicks came there shortly after. Slept in the Hotel.

October 2—Took the cars for Grand Rapids with the Lieutenant Wallace Hicks, Sidney Case, Joe Nettle, and Henry Kuncz(?). Started at 740 AM and arrived at Grand Rapids 3 PM. Started for CampAnderson immediately - two miles distant. Found the Camp to be a Fair Ground with barracks built for our use. About 9900(?) men there as the Lieut. had told me. 2nd and 3rd Cavalry and 2nd and 3rd Artillery. About 500 horses had arrived. Hard work to get us blankets to use -- Took a bunk with Case. The barracks were poor and let in cold and snow. Had a long shed with three long tables running through it where we ate. About 1600 could eat at once. Built another afterwards about a third as large. ------¬Had to drill 4 hours a day. I used to play off on drill by being at some other part of the Camp. Went up to 2nd Reg. and visited Stout Backes often.

Went home a couple of days after we were sworn in. Had the promise that I might go home in a week after I went there but we were not sworn in as soon as expected and I had to wait. Made me mad and I would not be sworn to the States Service on the day a squad of us went down for that purpose. Went a couple of days after and took the oath. Went down to the depot for the purpose of getting on the first train and going home but it commenced to storm bad and I went back to camp.

Nov. 14 1861-- Company F. mustered into service. Second regiment left for CampBenton, St. Louis, Mo.

Nov. 28 1861--Our regiment left for Camp Benton St. Louis, MO. -Started for the cars at 8 AM but did not leave until 2 PM. Had a few refreshments at Owasso - got plenty to eat at Fentonville thirty miles from Owosso.

Nov. 29th--Arrived at Detroit about 2 AM. Would not let any of us go out of the cars which we did not like very much. Both trains were put together at the Junction. We then took the Mich. S. R.R. --Arrived at Adrian 3 AM. At White Pigeon were saluted by music and the firing of canon by the 11th Infantry. Arrived at Elkhart about noon. The ladies made a great turn out and we were supplied with chickens, pies, cakes, etc without number. We gave three times three (cheers) for the girls of Elkhart. Arrived at Chicago at 6 PM, pretty hungry but did not get anything to eat but half cooked beef. The Papers said we got plenty three grows(?) for Chicago. We would throw hard cracks out at them and say if they are so hard up for provisions take that .

Nov. 30th-- Sunrise found us at MattoonIllinois on the Illinois Central R.R. out of site of timber on a prairie. Arrived at Lichfield in the afternoon. As soon as the cars were seen coming, the women run out of the houses with something in their hands for us to eat. A good many jumped out of the cars and had a race to see who would get what they had, first. 6 PM. arrived opposite St. Louis. Slept in the cars that night.

Dec. 1 (Sunday)- In the morning crossed the river on ferry boat.--Our Major mad a speech while we were crossing. We started for Camp immediately. A cloud of dust all the way. We were passing a house just outside of the City - two girls and a young one stood in the gate as we passed. One of them took the rag doll, the little one had, and swinging it over her head gave three cheers for the Union. After a good hearty laugh we gave three cheers. The 2nd regiment had some of our rations and had dinner cooked for us when we arrived at Camp. We went in the Center row of Barracks and had things comfortable by dark.

Dec. 2 - Two inches of snow fell during the night - it all melted away through the day- the first snow that had fallen here.

Dec. 8th -- 400 horses, some of us were detailed to go after them.

Dec. 9th 33 horses to be picked out for each Company. The ------picked them out. Each man had his turn. We drew cuts in our company to see who would have one, I did not get any.

Dec. 12 - Early in the morning saw a large fire on the south side of the barracks. Went to ascertain the cause - found out that during the night a man on guard had been stabbed. It was laid to the man that lived there and his house was set fire by the regiment the stabbed man belonged to. The regiment had marching orders and were going away that morning.

Dec. 20th. The artillery belonging to both lieutenants arrived with two Companies of our regiment that had been left behind to take of horses with 400 more of them. The horses were given out in the morning. This time I got one.

Dec. 25 Most of our Sabers arrived with tile canon for the artillery. We got up an extra dinner and supper, (Christmas)

Dec. 7--Saddles arrived.

Dec. 29th Some more horses arrived.

Jan. 1, 1862 --Equipment given out.

Jan. 7, 1962 -- Came out on mounted drill for the first time. We had been used to drilling on foot from 9 AM till 11 AM and from 2 to 5 PM.

Jan. 8 -- Received two months pay $26.00 The Captain gave us an oyster supper.

Feb. 9th Removed to another part of the Camp.

Feb. 10- ¬Went down to the City with 2nd regiment and the Artillery and 3rd Iowa Cavalry for Grand Review.

Feb. 22 – Washington’s Birthday--Our Brigade went to the City to true part in the celebration. A number of infantry regiments that belonged there fell in behind us, the came the citizens, Free Masons, Coopers union. Some other societies were represented but I can not remember them. Then after those on foot came wagons, omnibuses, etc with models of ships-steam boats-printing offices and C. & C. We marched through all the principal streets about six hours and the end of the procession was not found. Salutes were fired from the different fortifications. We got back to Camp at supper time. Next day the papers said that it was the greatest celebration they had ever had there.

Feb. 25, 1862--Got orders in the evening to be ready to march. The next morning pistols and ammunition were given out. Some were foolish enough to stay up all night and not let the rest of us sleep.

Feb. 26th-- Went to the city. Our platoon went on board the steam boat Continental and started down the Mississippi. About 5 PM the boat laid up during the night, it being so dark the pilot could not see.

Feb. 28th -- Arrived at Commerce in the afternoon. Left boat and pitched our tents for the first time. Mustered for pay about 9 o’clock that night.

March 1st -- Pulled up tents, started for New Madrid. Arrived at the Hunter farm late in the evening. Hunter was a colonel in the Rebel Army. Our baggage with our rations could not keep up so we made old Hunter fry Chickens for our supper. I had a severe pain in my stomach on the boat and eating so much fresh meat without salt or pepper made me sick. Slept out doors in a hard rain all night.