June 12, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 12-Thursday

     Went over to Quarters and wrote up my journal to the first day of June, and it tired me a considerable it is more work than I have done for a long time before.

     Capt laying on his back and not able to do anything Whitcomb doing gaurd duty. Picket duty Drilling and working like a tiger all the time still feels well and is smart as a trap.

     News is at a discount and I have nothing worth writing to day. will go back and lay down and get well and go to work once more then the time will pass away a little quicker I think for the days are tremendous long stopping here and nothing to do. am anxious once more to get to work.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Thursday, June 12, 1862.
     Fine again.  our company
     Fell in and marched about 5 miles
     Out on picket duty.  the march was
     Hot and dusty.  the dirt is about 3
     Inches deep in the road.  our duty
     Is on a road visited by & occupied
     By some of the head guerillas we
     Have taken possession of some of
     Their plantations & moved their
[Listed under Friday 13, continues June 12?]
     Darkeys & Sugar and Cattle &c.
     And then burn their buildings
     As that is there play where they
     Go.  i had a first rate time in
     Woods getting berries which are
     Very plenty & large here.  their
     Picket duty has some sport in it
     And there is a good deal of danger
     If a fellow dont keep his eye open.

June 7, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 7-Saturday

     Weather very warm and pleasant.

     This is the most sorrowful day for me since I joined the Regiment, for to day there is some chance of a little brush with the enemy and I obliged to lay abed & see them go away and leave me behind.

     The 30th Regiment 8 Companies. 2 Comp Wisconsin 6th [perhaps the 4th?]  and 2 sections of [---] Battery start out under command of Col Dudley of 30th Mass Vols to capture a band of Guerrillas who have infested this region ever since our forces landed here. shoot-ing our picquets, and occas-sionally rushing by into town even to our gaurd house firing a volly and retiring. so we are ordered to take some little notice of them.

     Oh how I wanted to go with them and see the fun, but no this pleasure is denied me and I as well as the Adjutant Dimon have been left here to mourn. I hear also that Capt Shipley was not able to go and is left in charge at the Hall. Lt. Lovring is detailing in my place.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Saturday 7
     A fine morn.  we go on guard duty
     Today.  there is 5 of our men left at
     Orleans in the genl. Hosp.  had Marching
     Orders and fell into line about 1/2 past
     5.  1 Div of Nims battery & 6[?] of our Companys.
     We marched back into the country about
     8 miles to a rebel plantation & took
     Possesion of the whole place.  Niggers
     Mules horses cattle and regular[?] house[?]
[Mem]
     The owner was a leader of a party
     Of Guerillas who was investing[?] the
     Country alround.  We took possesion
     And made his overseer have all the
     Teams hitched up and loaded the darkeys
     And their stuff and started on the
     Back track.  we marched till about
     2 Oclock in the morn when we
     Halted.

June 6, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 6-Friday

     Weather warm as ever

     Capt came in to see me this morn and brought a letter and some papers from Jane the letters dated April 10th they came in a box from Mrs. Shipley. Jane says she sent me 6 packages I have only got one of them as yet. the rest I may get some time it all is to be seen. But the joy it gives me to get a letter from my wife although two months old no one can tell unless situated in similar circumstances.

     I am as yet no better and am almost discouraged. but it will not do, I must keep up my courage or go under, and I am not prepared to do that here in this condemned country.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Friday, June 6, 1862.
     Fine again.  one of Co. B. was shot by
     A picket on guard.  he did not blame any
     body as he was fooling the sentinel he is
     Dead the ball passing through his right
     Breast.  the steamer Diana came up the
     River last night.  the Steamer
     Saxon come up from Orleans with
     Stray soldiers & baggage for our regt.
     Regt. guard duty for our comy to mor-
     row.

June 5, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 5-Thursday

     Weather fine as usual but roads getting very dusty from having no rains for so long a time.

     News and events to day are dull and I can find nothing to write of interest am still sick and no prospects of being well very soon.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Thursday 5
     A pleasant day.  we had a fine
     Time on picket yesterday.  we
     Had all the Black Berries we could
     Eat.  we got back about 9 this
     AM. and all hands went down
     To the ranche[?] and had a good bath
     And i washed my shirt & socks.
     Old lovett agreed to meet our
     Folks last night But did not do it
     A flat boat passed down the river.

June 4, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 4-Wednesday

     Weather very warm and pleasant to day as usual I still on my back in Hospital.

     Got a letter from my mother and it was at least one bright spot in my sickness. Oh, how much pleasure it gives one to hear from home when thousands of miles away and impossible to hear from them.

     From my wife I have not heard for some little time but am waiting patiently for a letter and know it is not her fault. I have none often from her for she assures me that she writes every week at least and I must wait.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Wednesday 4
     A Fine day.  We went go out on picket
     Guard to day.  we go out about
     3 Miles into the woods and
     Stay 24 hours.  there is a report
     That lovett and an army of
     Rebels are out at Camp Moore.
     If they come here we will
     Be ready for them.  we found[?]
     Everything still out on pickett.

June 3, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 3-Tuesday

     Weather fine but very warm news is not much. at least not to me for lying here on my back it can’t not come to me and I cannot go out to find news.

     Mustard poultice on my bowels to remove the very intense pain. I find I am pretty sick but am in hopes that I shall soon get over it.

     Capt is not much better than I am but is so as to do some little duty am in hopes he will keep up at least until I get around for Whitcomb is now doing all the work and I fear he will not hold out long at that rate.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Tuesday, June 3, 1862.
     A fine day.  everything still except
     The drilling of the soldiers the citizens
     Appear quiet and well disposed.
     Nims battery came here sunday.
     Our regiment have enough
     With picket patrols & regimen-
     tal guard duty.  we all like here
     Very well.  i wrote to Mary &
     Lydia yesterday.

June 2, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
Diary:
     June 2, 1862. Landed and quartered in the State House, over which we raised the Stars and Stripes. During our stay, expeditions were sent outside the lines, which captured stock, provisions and prisoners. This is a pretty place and healthy.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     June 2-Monday

     Clear and beautiful day though very warm, but how much more pleasant than N.O.

     we are now on high ground at least and no doubt our health will be much better.

     Our Company has come in this morning from Piquet duty the first they have ever done. and it was the first time I have been so that I could not go with them. and I hope this will not last long.

     While I am writing the McClellan has come up the river with the 9th Conn Reg’t one of our best and no getting clear of it the story in N.O. is that the Mass 30 & Conn 9th can drink more rum and do more fighting than any 2 Reg’ts in the service, and I guess it is so.

     Comp.A detailed on Patrol duty to day. Co. D. & H. are on Piquet and B. on gaurd so we have now only 5 Comp. for duty to day.

     Went into the Hospital to day have some Chills, much Diarrhea and some Rheumatism, and am pretty well used up all though, for the first time & I hope the last.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Monday 2
     A fine day.  there is a party of
     Guerillas prowling round the outside
     Of the city.  a ???? to the citizens but
     They wont stay long our troops are
     Getting rather plenty all around here
     Above & below.  this is a fine place
     It is a great deal higher than the
     River and the air is better than
     It is down N Orleans way.

May 30, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
Diary:
     May 30, 1862. We went aboard the steamer Mississippi, and proceeded up the river to Baton Rouge.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

      May 30-Friday

     A tremendous hot day and my work has been hard have traveled a great deal am almost as familiar now with the Orleans city as with Lowell.

     At 4 O Clock P.M. Succeeded in arresting the Murray who I have been looking for since yesterday morning. put him into the Custom house and stepped into Quarters to get my dinner before making a report. found the Company had been ordered away and were packing up to leave I eat dinner and packed my things and at 6 O Clock was on board Mississippi steaming up the river and once more attached to the Regiment, probably will never be detached again.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 30
     Fine day. with some dust.  got
     Off guard duty at 5 oc. this morn
     Got orders to pack up ready
     To leave at 4 oclock.  at 4 left
     The hall marched round the streets
     To the levee embarked on board
     The transport Missisippi at
     12 Oclock she started up the River.

May 24, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 24-Saturday

     Very quiet day. and very warm indeed have not done much to day in the way of business. though there has been a considerable done. Whit has been duty nearly all day. I do not know about what he has done.

     Capt pretty well used up Diarrhea and weakness. he now gives us out our jobs or has command of the Officers and men who are connected with the Office. Col French sends his orders to him and he reports on them, and gives them to whom he pleases for execution, except in some par-ticular case when Col wishes one or some particular man to attend to a job.

     4 O Clock P.M. just going to dinner Lt Boles of Gen Shipley’s staff, came in with an order to go and arrest a man, complaint entered by a woman who keeps a bad house up town. She says that this man had threatened her life with a pistol, and thrown a Dirk knife at her several times. We went to look at the house but could not find the man. but Boles got his pistol. a Colts revolver 6 shots and his Dirk cane. So he will not trouble her any more.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Saturday 24
     Warm with showers.  Nims Battery
     Has arrived.  3 transports arrives
     Yesterday with more troops.
     Our Regt has to do guard and
     Patrole duty for the city at present
     I got another shirt & drawers & 2
     Pr socks.  i recieved 2 letters & 2
     Papers from home to day.  the folks
     Were all well.

May 23, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

    May 23-Friday

     As usual a very hot day, not much in the weather to make one feel smart or even as though he wanted to do anything but lay down and sleep or keep quiet. No place for a man to feel ambitions at all. the heat takes all a mans energy away from him.

     Business quiet done nothing at all to day, true there is always, something to do in the way of looking around, and some small jobs but nothing of any account whatever.

     No news to write of any importance. No news from the North for some few days. [Illustration]

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 23
     Fine again.  our Co. have been out all
     Night on patrole duty and i feel some
     Tired being on duty 2 nights with but
     Little sleep.  our regt have a great
     Deal of Guard & Patrole duty now
     There was a member of Co B. fell
     From a 4th story window last night
     Have not heard wether he is alive or not.
     More troops come in this PM.

May 17, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 17-Saturday

     The 8th Vermont Regiment arrived to day from Ship Island and are Quartered close by the Provost Office just around the corner in the rear of us.

     Took an order this morning to go to 7 different places and search for contraband of war. Whitcomb and I jumped into our Hack and commenced our search. one place had been used for recruiting Office for a Light Battery but was boarded up one of their bills were on the door. Got the key and went in found nothing. another was for some tents said to have been moved into a building on Camp St. went there and found nothing the number given me is a vacant lot of land no building on it except a shed. We then visited the other places and met with like success everything had been moved away, and no doubt in many instances never was anything in the places— but men having any emnity against another give such information to injure persons who are really innocent.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Saturday 17
     Another fine day.  the guard took
     13 rebel prisoners yesterday morn
     They were all armed some with knuckles
     Hung Shot. Rifles Pistols &c.  they had
     Some of our coats and other things with
     Them.  the officer of the day seized a
     Large lot of arms this AM.  the P Marshal
     Seized an immense lot of rebel stores
     Of all kinds this PM. all right.

May 15, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 15-Thursday

     Weather as usual hot enough to Bake apples in the sun. a great saving of wood for the army.

     Capt Shipley took possession of a large Foundry and its contents. said Foundry having been used for the manufacturing of Guns and other war implements for the Rebel Army.

     We found a large Secession flagg some 20 foot long and about 14 wide in the building. we think some of sending it home to the Mayor of Lowell as a trophy of the war and Old Lowell Mechanic Phalanx. found no property liable to confiscation except the machinery and that will not be moved. I think it so enormous large and heavy, and it is also just as safe there as at any other place for the same reason they cannot well move it without being detected.

     I am nearly tired of waiting for letter from home.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Thursday 15
     Hot again.  there was some work
     For the guard yesterday.  the provost
     And his Officers are busy hunting out
     Secesh property of which they get
     Considerable.  i had to go out last
     Night as one of the Lieut Cols
     Body Guard.  we had to go from
     One end of the city to the other.  it
     Was a fine moonlight Night.

May 14, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 14-Wednesday

     Weather hot again to day as usual, and our usual amount of running about town to do. It is hard work, but still quite pleasant I have an opportunity to see nearly the whole city am as familiar with it as with Boston almost.

     To day our orders were to arrest some Rebel Officers who are in town and have been endeavoring to get recruits for the Rebel Army. in the course of the day our Company have succeeded in arresting 8 of them one Captain and the rest Lieutenants. this is doing well. things are now coming down pretty fine and N. Orleans will soon be a good and prosperous city once more. perhaps it will be from necessity and no doubt it will. though there are many good Union men here. But they do not dare as yet to come out boldly and avow their true sentiments, fear has carried much of the secession in New Orleans.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Wednesday 14
     Another hot day.  i am on guard duty
     Today.  the news we get from up the
     River is good.  there is hundreds of bales
     Of cotton here that has been taken
     It is to be sent north as soon as
     Possible.  there has been a large lot of
     Clothing seized that had been made for
     Sesesh soldiers.  Butler is after them
     All around.

May 12, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 12-Monday

     Weather warm and pleasant

     To day has been quite a long day with me here. put a gaurd on to 4 warehouses and examined them for contraband goods was not very successful.

     No news from our forces in any portion of the Army in fact we do no seem to hear anything from any one. are shut out from direct communication with the North. and news is at least 2 weeks old when it arrives here.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
      Monday 12
     Fine again.  Butler has made
     Some more heavy seiziures up the
     River of cotton and all sorts of
     Stores.  also some more money
     A number of thousands.  the St
     Charles. Butlers quarters has been
     Crowded all day with applicants
     For provisions.  Bussiness is getting
     A little brisker and the people
     Look more smiling.

May 10, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 10-Saturday

     Went on quite a tramp with one Wheeler an informer to find Guns and numerous implements of war. traveled about 5 miles in the hot sun to Thos. Griswold’s and Luther Holmes Foundry’s searched them through but found nothing. found several pieces of U.S. Machinery (so Wheeler says) but it is to solid and heavy to move without machinists help. then went to a dwelling house and found 264 Calvary Saber Scabbards. 78 blades and a number of Hilts that is all we succeeded in finding at this time. I think Wheelers is a humbug.

     While I was away Capt Shipley on an order from Gen Butler took possession of the Consul of the Netherlands office, in Hope Insurance Office and found 170 kegs of spices belonging to Confederate Government.

     Our company relieved by a company of the 31st Regiment. everything remains quiet in the city and stores are opening a little. think business will soon revive.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Saturday, May 10, 1862.
     A very hot day.  our troops are all
     Scattered & quartered over the city as
     Guards.  the Maj Genl is busy hunting
     Up Secesh stores of all kinds.  and the
     Provost Marshall has made a
     Number of seizures.  i have got
     The bowel complain rather hard
     And am on the sick list.

May 6, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     May 6-Tuesday

     Time 11 A.M orders to provide one day rations and go up Opelousas R.R. under command of Lt. Kinsman of Gen Butlers staff, For an expedition. went over to Algiers and took cars. one Section of Battery consisting of two Steel Rifled Guns and one Corp 21st Indiana Reg’t and got under weigh found our Engineer from the Indiana and go on our way at 3 ½ O Clock.

     Found that a detachment of Indiana under their Col had been up an expedition and saw 2 French guns they have captured.

     Met the Col of 21st up some miles farther without either wood or water and after helping them out of their trouble proceeded on our way. Alligators plenty and palm leaf in any quantity all along out route which is through a very large swamp.

     We go some 70 miles up the road and took possession of the Rail R. Station for our Quarters through the night. posted gaurd and I lay down in a freight car & slept until morning. Everything quiet and right.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

     Tuesday 6
     Had a shower this morn but
     Have had a fine day nothing
     Stirring.  Beginning[?] a little
     ????? Every thing quiet.
     Corp Perkins taken to the Gen
     Hospital.  Luke Maegher taken
     To[?] the Regt Hospital W ???ber
     ???? taken to the Regt Hosp
     Nothing stirring.

May 1, 1862

2d Lieut Elliot:
Diary:

     May 1-Thursday

     Rhode Island our mail boat passed up river this morning also gunboat Miami. this is the one we put back to Fortress Monroe with on our trip out to Ship Island. One of our Gunboats aground on the flats. Rhode Island at work towing her off.

     Arrived opposite New Orleans at 4 P.M. do not land until to morrow. out Gunboat having left us and gone down river if he had kept us along we would have been the first to land. One of our Gunboats and our Frigate came in collision Frigate came of best. Gunboat carried away foremast and smokestack. But I think no very serious damage done either. one man drowned by his boat capsized.

     The 31st Mass. Regiment disembarked to night. 12th Conn Reg’t also landed Col Demming. these are the two first on shore. a few pistols fired through the night but everything seemed to pass of quietly. no alarm.

     Brent Johnson and I on guard again to day we have good luck in coming together. no mail from Rhode Island. she left it at Ship Island for destribution.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Thursday, May 1, 1862
     A Fine morning.  hoisted anchor
     And was turned up the river by
     Gun boat Jackson it was very
     Beautiful along the banks of
     The river  there is a great many
     Plantations some very large and
     Handsome watched[?] large gangs of
     Slaves at work.  we anchored off wast[?]
     The city about 4 Oclock.

April 22, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 22-Tuesday

     Weather warm and pleasant but remarkably warm.

     Lieut Johnson and I on gaurd to day. We as yet get no news from our fleet but hope to soon for our men are getting discouraged at their long stay on Shipboard & I am very tired of it to say the least.

     To night we have had the most painful occurrences of our trip a sad and melancholy affair the loss of Capt Harry A Durivarge a Gentleman and a true Solider a man who was loved and esteemed by all who knew him both as a soldier and a Gentleman. It was on my tour of duty. I heard a Sentinel cry a man overboard but he did not know where he fell from. or could not tell me anything about it. he heard the splash and cry as he fell. but that was all. I sounded the alarm and went astern. But nothing was to be seen. and he never rose to the surface of the water again. and was never more seen, it was a sad thing and one I shall never forget. it is a loss to our Regiment although he does not belong to it. and a sad loss to his Father who doats upon him. he was his favorite son. and a particular friend of Gen. Butlers. was an aid to him at Fortress Monroe his Father was Francis A Durivarge the Poet.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Tuesday, April 22, 1862
     A fine morn not quite so cool as it
     Has been.  the battle still raging at the
     Forts.  we are getting tired of stopping
     Here right where we can hear the
     Battle and have no chance to help.
     There is boats come alongside with
     Oysters to sell.  they are the largest
     I ever see.  Our captain sent us a ???
     Of ginger cakes this morn.  Bully for him
[Mem]
     I bought a dipper of baked beans
     Of the cook for 10 cts.  they werefirst
     Rate.  the missisippi has gone up
     Towards the forts.  we had bean water
     For dinner.  a pint of beans to a
     Bucket of water.  rather too rich
     For soldiers.  there was a gunboat
     Went down this morn.  the battle
     Still raging

April 16, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 16-Wednesday

     Pleasant weather for our voyage.

     Got under right about 5 O Clock A.M. under tow of the Saxon most all day. No news but now commences another monotonous life for of all life’s to lead a soldiers on a transport is the hardest. no comfort, no pleasure but plenty of grumbling, poor food & ½ enough at that. sailors and soldiers always hate one another and try to annoy each other all they can.

     Officers seem to have a regular bill of fare consisting of poor ham & hard bread with some slops which they call coffee and tea.

     Our Routine on transport consists of Roll Call at 6 A.M. Breakfast all 7 A.M. Gaurd mount 9 A.M. (which has 1 Captian Officer of the day 2 Lieuts. of Gaurd, 3. Serg’t. 3 Corp’l. and 45 men. a very strong gaurd for Shipboard) Roast beef 12 M. Inspection in full Marching order at 6 A.M. and 4 P.M. supper at 6 P.M. Tattoo 9 P.M. taps 9:15 P.M. we have as many calls as we would in camp and our Police duty is more than in any camp. We manage to keep busy all the time nearly. All Officers are to be present at roll call in full equipment.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Wednesday, April 16, 1862.
     A fine morn.  we all turned
     Up on deck in heavy marching
     Order.  i felt rather stiff &
     Old after sleeping on the floor
     With a knapsack for a pillow
     Had Hard bread and cold water
     For breakfast a first rate
     Breakfast for a dyspeptic
     Had coffee hard bread and salt
     Horse for dinner.  and[?] again
[Mem]
     The Missisippi made fast[?]
     To us and about 12 Oc turned[?]
     Round the point about 10 Oc
     We started off with a fine
     Moon for a light the other
     Transports are all on their
     Way.  there is 7 in all.  ships
     And steamers

April 7, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 7-Monday

     Weather very warm as usual.

     My turn on Police or Regimental gaurd to day. Had a Batt drill this morning on firing with blank cartridges. fired by Battalion by Wing Company, Rank. & by file. done very well much better than was expected

     3 or 4 vessells in to day. our tides very high and a strong wind blowing from off the shore

     Js. Bohannan was down and [---]. Bills watch and chain

     Bill went up to the 26th & by good luck got it back. no knowing how soon Bill will get away from here. he is waiting for the undaunted.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

     Monday, April 7, 1862.
     A fine morn.  the Black Prince
     Sailed yestersday for boston the
     Gun Boat Saxon went out last
     Night with provisions for
     Our fleet in the Mississippi
     The 7 * 8th Vermont Regts are
     Landing.  there was 2 gun boats
     Come in to day.  their is a
     Report that the 16th[?] Mass
     Regt is all cut up.