February 27, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 27-Wednesday
     Weather this morning very warm and muggy. last night a little after midnight we had the most severe thunder showers I ever saw it seemed like very like the rapid and heavy discharges of a large body of artillery. Rained tremendously it seemed like pouring water upon our tents.
     The Undaunted is to day discharge ing her cargo of horses. which arrived in excellent condition 130 horses she started with and lost only 4 on her voyage and then by disease. The Colonels is in very fine condition. A.T. Murry arrived in the ship.
     But in command on Battalion drill this afternoon. Bill got home from the woods this afternoon and brought the balance of his lumber.
     Eastman seems a little better Capt about the same. I just percieve that I have made a mistake this days memoranda. Should be for Wednesday February 26th instead of today.
     Our new uniform pants have been delivered to day. I have receipted for a pair from the Quartermaster for myself to day they are very pretty.
     No school this evening on account of our muster rolls not being finished. The condemed things are more trouble to us than all the money to be recieved on them will pay for.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Thursday, February 27, 1862
     Fine again.  they have got the horses
     All onshore.  they are in good order
     After a 21 days passage.  they are
     Building the wharfs out further
     So that large ships can come up
     And unload.these is a great deal
     Of bussness of all kinds going on
     Here.  tomorrow is general
     Inspection for the whole brigade

February 26, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 26-Thursday
     Weather this morning very warm & quite pleasant.
     Last night I sat up until ½ past 12 O Clock making out our pay rolls and have not get them finished yet tomorrow is our muster day and they must be finished at all events.
     Today has been a sad day with us in our company for the first death has occurred in our company. Daniel C. Eastman died this morning and at 4 O Clock P.M. we buried him under arms a soldiers life not a soldiers death he died of Typhoid fever and has been a very sick man for some time past. The 26th Regiment Band played us to the burial place. 2 horses and a wagon running gear served as a hearse. An escort of 8 men and Corp. Thos. England escorted the procession to the grave and fired 8 blank Cartridges were fired over his grave our company marched by the Flank as mourners Officers in the rear. Lieut L. & myself were alone from our Company but Lieuts Johnson & Fuller of Comp F. accompanied us in our solem mission.
     The afternoon and evening was devoted by the Company to cleaning up Equipment and getting ready for inspection and muster tomorrow.
     Capt Shipley seems no better & the Doctor does not seem to know what his trouble is any more than a boy three years old would of the same thing.
     This evening we were called into the Colonels tent and some free hints about our tomorrow labors given us for our benefit and the appearance of the Reg’t.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Wednesday 26
     Another fine morn after on[e?] of the
     Most terrific thunder storms i ever
     Knew.  my hand lame yet and no drill
     The ship undaunted[?] Capt[?] Elliott
     Arrived with horses i went and see
     Them landed it was done by hoisting
     Them over the side of the ship in
     A sling and swimming them on
     Shore.  The captain of a brig got a
     Duckling[?] this PM.  it is very hot

February 25, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 25-Tuesday
     Lieut and his gang have gone back into the woods and are to finish up their work to day and I hope we shall have a cook house that will pay for the work.
     The undaunted a transport from Boston arrived here this noon with horses and com-missary stores, she has no mail on board I hear. I have finished my letter and am going to send it by way of New York tomorrow. I hope I shall get something from home soon for I am getting impatient to hear from there.
     Our payrolls are as yet unfinished and I believe we are to have it decided to night how they shall be. Major Watson does not want to pay from enrollment but it is our due and we must have it from some source.
     Our school still defered another night.
     Today for the first time have had command of our Company in Battalion drill, and had fine drill and enjoyed it very much. our drill circuited off from line into column and all the movements embraced between, such as breaking form right and left, to front and rear, right about, and into line wheel.
     Eastman to day seem a little more comfortable. to day some hope of his recovery. Capt still remains about the same. My Rheumatism is better.
     Weather has been fine all day warm but now at evening there is a very dense fog and it is quite cool in fact very chilly.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Tuesday 25
     A fine morn.  have got a lame
     Hand and cannot drill 1 of our
     Men shot a beef today in the
     Woods at the head of the island and
     We had soup for dinner went over
     And saw uncle Ben and got some
     Doughnuts a ship & brigg got in to
     Day with provisions for the army
     A poor Devil shot his finger off this
     AM. got our pants & canteens today.

February 24, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 24-Monday
     Warm and pleasant. Lieut and his party have gone, went of at 7 O Clock.
     A man from Camp has shot of one of his fingers this morn and now while I am writing I can hear him making a terrible noise while it is being am-putated.
     Captain is no better and I am now in command while Bill is away. in the woods cutting timber for a cook house.
     I was up to Gen. Phelps getting some information about our pay rolls. but it seems to be a very complicated affair and I do not know nor can form no idea how it will terminate.
     Eastman is no better do not think he will live but a short time longer. have to furnish watchers for him every night. he has been a very sick man Typhoid Fever. has been sick since we arrived at Fort Monroe first with measles now with this vile disease.
     Lieut Lovrien towed down one raft of logs to night and goes back in morning for more.
     Captain does not seem any better and I have a slight touch of Rheumatisn in my limbs to night but think I shall work it of soon.
     No school this evening but our time is to be devoted to the making out of samples of master rolls for Gen. Phelps inspection.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Monday, February 24, 1862
     Another fine morn i went and got
     A few shells on the beach we all enjoy
     Ourselves very well we have 3 drills a
     Day of 1 hour each.  it is a hard place
     To drill in on account of the sand
     We are all quite black i am in tip
     Top spirit but should like to hear
     From home but must have
     Patience.  O Lord[?] yes.

February 23, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 23-Sunday
     A very fine day one of the best since we have been on the Island.
     Had services to day by our Chaplain. Dr. Cleavland a very fine discourse.
     I took the Company out on Line. Leut Lovrien is getting ready to go up in the woods to cut timber for a log home for a cook house. he has got a large life boat and a waggon cover which John Ives & Pete Butterfield have rigged into a sail. takes with him provisions for 3 days.
     The Rhode Island has arrived and brings a report that Burnside has taken the navy yard at Norfolk, but we do not put much dependence on these reports that have been brought here for the last 2 or 4 days. [Illustration]
 
Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Sunday 23
     A fine morn no work today
     But inspection after that i
     Went over and saw[?] Uncle Ben he
     And i got some sheals on the
     Beach.  the new london brought
     In another prize and started
     After some other shes caut a distear[?]
     Had divine service this PM.
     By our chaplain his name is
[Mem]
     Cleaveland from lowell a fine man
     See a large fire across the river
     This has been a hot day but we have
     Cool evenings & heavy dews which
     Wet our tents through like rain.

February 13, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:
     February 13,1862. Thursday. There are a number of prize vessels around the island; some are valuable, others worthless. All the horses which were sent out, have been lost; I say all, for very few were saved.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 13-Thursday
     Wrote home to Wife this morning to send by Kimball who is to return in the Constitution. some 16 to 18 mechanics are going home.
     Found the heat rather severe for the head went down and got a [strun - ?] at the expense of 25 cents find it an improvement.
     Lieut Lovrien is on gaurd duty to day. we are building ovens and having a general fix up to day and trying to have an en-campment in some decent shape but do not know how we shall succeed.
     Capt Browns men struck a rich streak to day, digging for bricks they brought to light a lot of china, plates, saucer and other kitchen utensils. Quite a relic of Southern Chivalry.
     2 Rebel Steamers in sight to day cruising around to find out what we are doing I suppose. Our Gunboats went in pursuit but their search was useless.
     Got our orders from Brig. Gen. Phelps. programs of drills and duties. Our camp is named Camp Thompson in honor of Col N.A. Thompson of Boston.
     Col Farr, Geo Davis, Capts. Warren, Dickersman & Lieut Lamson, Chaplain Babbidge, had quite a tea party.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Thursday 13

     A fine morn the men all in fine

     Spirits turned out to roll call at

     Sunrise had breakfast and then i

     Took a walk over to the fort there

     Is about 200 belongs to the Battery

     I see a Blacksmith here that i

     Used to know in[?] ??? years[?].  we have had

     No duty today but fix up our

     Camp. Dug a well by going 8 ft.

[Mem]

     This is a find place for water

     Each company having a well

     Of their own.  There is a Bake

     House here belonging to government[?]

     We have Soft Bread every other

     Day.  Had a dress Parade this

     PM.  the men looked very

     Well considering our voyage