April 14, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:
     Camp, Ship Island, April 14,1862.
     Dear:
     I received your box and letter all right. Seven regiments are going down to Southwest Pass to-morrow, possibly ours. I hope I shall not be left behind. I expect Fort Jackson will be the point of attack. I received a letter from George Pray, dated March 15. All well. I sent a letter and my white shirts by the "Undaunted," in care of Lieutenant Claiborne, who will call on you. Governor Andrew refused to commission him, as he was not from the State of Massachusetts.
Yours till after the battle,

SON WARREN.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 14-Monday

     Pleasant day once more all is bustle and confusion about embarking on transport North America.

     All baggage packed up and to be turned over to Quarter master. Officers carry only blankets, Rubber Coat and 1 change of Clothing. Leave our trunks behind us.

     After getting all ready find we do not go on board until tomorrow. Had a severe drill this afternoon boys all feel well and eager for the fray. bound up the Mississippi it is supposed New Orleans is our destination.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday, March 14, 1862
     A Stormy day i wrote a few
     Lines to send home with my
     Money.  sent 40 Dolls[?] by Deams[?] & Co
     Express.  the tide is very high
     Coming within a few feet of our
     Tents the island is getting rather
     Thick settled almost inhabitants
     Enough for a city.  Butler is
     Expected here soon.

April 11, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     April 11-Friday

     We this morning received marching orders. packed up our baggage and got all ready. 40 rounds Ball Cartridges given to each man. look like fight a little but we cannot tell.

     Afternoon came up a heavy storm. Thunder & Lighting Tents blown down. Artillery had to move all their horses up on our Regimental parade ground to keep them out of water and from drowning. 3 or 4 pools of water on the Island between our Quarters and the Wharf. It is a very hard storm.

     Impossible to drill any to day on account of the storm. [Illustration]

Corpl. B. B. Smith:

Diary:

      Tuesday March 11, 1862.
     Fine again the idahoe on the
     Flats yet.  they have thrown over
     5 or 600 Barrels of provisions to
     Lighten her there was a fleet
     Of mortar boats and some Gun
     Boats come here to day they are
     To join in the expedeition on
     The Missippi river we had a
     Brigade drill to day.  Col Jones
     Of the 26th went over to Missisip
[Mem]
     City with about 100 men and
     Got more than he bargained for
     The rebels sent him back with a
     Flea[?]in his ear Uncle Ben
     Sent his money home with a
     Letter yesterday.  Hugh[?] McGlue[?]
     Was here to see me last night
     He is in the 6th[?] Battery of Mass
     His health is first rate.

March 14, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:

     March 14-Friday
     Colorado came in this morning
     My turn on gaurd again this morning an unpleasant day for it to.
     Sent home by Adams Express $150.00 to my wife insured and paid the express charges to Lowell, $4.00 No# of Check 42. No# Capt check for $200. No# Bills Check for $100.00. Capt sent $25 besides his check. My check was for 125.00 and 25 in treasury notes. It goes on the Con-stitution.
     Today has been the roughest days gaurd duty done on this Island since we have been here. a tremendous storm came on. and it has rained and blown all day very heavily. The tide rose the homes from the Battery up near Reads Sutton store. and even they were knee deep in water. Our plank walk but nearly all floated from the lower end of the island. and on the South shore. The water has come up so far it was found to be necessary to move the tents of the Maine & Vermont to Battery’s all those that had not already blown down. About 8 O Clock in the evening I was called upon to clean out our Sutton place. when was some 10 or 12 Maine Officers (belonging to the Colorado and other War vessells in our Harbor) who came getting very drunk and noisy, had to arrest one a gunner Border kept him some 2 hours or more finally took him up to my quarters and gave him my bed to sleep on. just at the time I put him in our gaurd tent, our gaurd tents both came both came down and we were forced to take then to a place of safety the water being ankle deep in them already and still raising finally pitched one as 11 O Clock and kept it up until mourn for our men to sleep in. Moon now shining so bright I can read a gaurd retail without any aid but the morninglight. Went up to Drs and wrote a long letter to Jane. To [---] in morning on Constitution got no sleep at all.


Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday, March 14, 1862
     A Stormy day i wrote a few
     Lines to send home with my
     Money.  sent 40 Dolls[?] by Deams[?] & Co
     Express.  the tide is very high
     Coming within a few feet of our
     Tents the island is getting rather
     Thick settled almost inhabitants
     Enough for a city.  Butler is
     Expected here soon.

March 10, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:
Portions from this letter moved  to the dates that they refer to (treated as thought they were a diary entry. 

     Ship Island, March 10, 1862.
     Dear:
     As there is a mail going to-morrow, I will write. My last was sent in the South Carolina, by way of Key West. I wrote you of the scouting party to Horn Island, which island used to be a breeding ranch, owned by Southerners. I received a letter dated March 6, by way of Fortress Monroe, dated February 12, directed to father.
...March 7
...March 9
     March 10, 1862. Troops are being landed; all is confusion on the wharf. I have pitched the tents for our tenth company. The ship Ocean Pearl arrived with horses, of which they lost ten on the passage. Captain Jones has been discharged for knocking down a contraband on the steamer; father knows him. Parker has received his papers as Postmaster. We have quite a large fleet here now, and I don't think we shall stop here long after the General arrives. I think it will be a pity if Colonel French has to go home, after he has worked so hard to drill the regiment. We had a brigade drill this afternoon, consisting of four regiments; it was a grand sight. We draw ten days' rations to-morrow for the regiment.
...March 11

     SON AND BROTHER WARREN.


2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 10-Monday
     Morning salty and very warm Idaho still by aground although they have thrown a number of Barrels of provisions from on board into the sea. Salt Beef, Rice etc. this seems a pity when there are a many men on the Island
     This morning another War Vessell arrived here but not the one long looked for in which is Gen. Butler Barney McCabe came on shore to day and is now in our Company he was arrested in Sewall just before the Idaho sailed. Ansart has not arrived yet.
     The Maine & Vermont Batterys have both come ashore to day and camped on our parade ground. the Connecticut and Maine Regiments have Encamped on the South shore of the Island up above the 26th Reg’t. we must now have some 8,000 men on the Island. this makes quite a force. but I do not think enough to take New Orleans. though I think we may have an opportunity to see before long.
     Today we had our first experience in Brigade drills. 4 Regiments under command of Brig. Gen’l Phelps, it must have been a fine shore for a Spectator we had a very nice drill though a little severe for our first attempt.
     Today I finished my equestrian portrait of our honorable Gov of Massachusetts, his excellency John A Andrews. who has sent us out a lot of his young aspirant for military honors Bah= all in my eye. I don’t see it in that light. Cilligians and Greek Scholars are not the men for our expedition it wants different kind of Stock, especially when they acknowledge thy have no military experience whatever.
     This day seems winding up with a Thunder shower and rains quite fast.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Monday 10

     A fine day again i go on fatigue

     Duty to day with the guard.

     There is a great many arrivals[?]

     Of strangers here every day

     There is a large gang of men

     Here to work on the fort and

     Build other large buildings.

     There was 4 Mules landed Saturday

     For working here in carts.

March 3, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     March 3-Monday
     A very stormy night last night Rain blow Thunder & Lighting very severe.
     This morning it is very cold so cold we have to put on our overcoats in order to be comfortable. to say nothing about being warm.
     Today I have been down and compared our Muster rolls Gen. Phelps, Col French, Orderly John & myself constitute the 5 witnesses required. find them to compare perfectly and with some few alternations the Gen. pronounced them correct. left one copy with him for the Adjutant General. 2 with Pay-master and kept one for our own use.
     I hear to night that Capts. Read of mounted Rifles, Darwin, of Cavalry & Solon Perkins attemp ted to come down from the upper end of the Island down to our encampment. and have not been heard from since. it is supposed they were driven over upon the rebel shore. if so no doubt they will be prisoners in the hands of the Rebels.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Monday 3

     This is a very cold windy morning

     A regular New England March

     Day.  Stove had a good fire in the

     Tents all day my hand lame yet.

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 20, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 20-Thursday
     Weather in the morning rather cold and windy at about noon it grew warmer and quite pleasant, thus we have one hour storming violently the next hot enough to roast a person alive.
     We drew this morning our first ration of soft bread which was very acceptable to our men I find for hard bread they have become heartily sick of seeing.
     Drill in morning from 8 to 9 in manual.
     Today we have taken to repitch our tent and floor it over, we have made of boards a circle about 2/3 of the size and have succeeded in getting bricks enough to fill the balance. and whole new bricks the Island seems to be full of them. probably brought here by the rebels and buried when they found they were to lose possession of it.
     The South Carolina came in this P.M. towing the Galveston loaded with Cotton if rumor is true. it seem the Galveston is one of the fastest vessels own by the so called Southern Confederacy and runs or did run from Mobile to New Orleans but this time she was caught by a boat much slower than herself it seems she had no steam on when taken.
     5 O Clock P.M. the Pensacola has at last arrived. she did not lose her guns as was reported but had them taken off in some small vessels that came from the shore she has the mail on board.
 
Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Thursday 20
     A fine morn but rather cool a
     Fire in the tent very comfortable
     Went over to see the battery boys
     Had a job blacksmith work for
     The cook the paymaster arrived
     Yesterday and we expect some
     Money soon had white bread this
     Morning.  2 Large gun boats come
     In this morn one in tow of the
[Mem]
     Other.  report says she is a prize loaded
     With amunition taken by the colorado
     And that Enginer in trying to
     Blow her up got scalded so that
     He died and will be buried here
     Tomorrow.  theirs a steam frigate
     In sight supposed to be the
     Pensacola.

February 18, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 18-Tuesday
     In fatigue & Police duty with the whole Company to day. our first duty was leveling up the encampment and filling holes. 2nd getting a requisition of lumber 6400 feet of boards. and 1400 “ of old lumber to build Quartermaster store house. bringing these boards from wharf to camp on our mens shoulders. 3rd pitching tents for Colonel & Major lugging stores for commissary.
     The Conant boys out with knap-sacks fully equipped for Shirks drill for not turning out at roll call.
     Gun boat arrived to night with Paymaster Watson and his company of money deliverers on board. they report the Pensacola run aground on Florida reefs where she lay some 7 or days, stove a hole in her bottom. and they were com-pelled to throw over her guns and everything of any weight in order to get her off.
     By order of Col French the Officers of E.B.S. Reg’t. (of nobodys any without any authority or legal right or in other words the unorganized mob from Massachusetts) attend School for the instruction of said Officers. Lesson to night on the manual of arms as far as Aim. had quite a variety of ways for the manual, not laid down in Hardee
 
Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Tuesday, February 18, 1862
     Still rainy.  just come off
     Guard duty.  next 24 hours
     Nothing but police duty and dress
     Parade went up to the sutlers
     And when i came back was checked
     By sargeant.  Knapsack drill for
     The first time tomorrow.

February 12, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
From a Letter:
     February 12, 1862. Wednesday. Did not come in sight of land yesterday, but about 7 o'clock to-day made Chandler's Light, and soon after saw shipping in the distance, which proved to be at Ship Island. When we were within half a mile distance, our regimental flags were displayed and the starboard and port guns were fired. Large numbers were on the beach, anxious to have an interview. The island is not as barren a place as I expected, although it is sandy where the encampment is. We weighed anchor and the boats put off for the shore. Colonel Butler came aboard. As soon as orders came, I had to spring and work the rest of the day, getting the tents ashore. Father came aboard towards night; he looks fleshy and sports a moustache. The troops were all landed during the afternoon and the tents were pitched. I went ashore in the evening. Father has a little wooden shanty which he occupies for sleeping and storing goods. His clerk stays with him. I remained with father all night and went aboard in the morning and worked all day, discharging cargo.
 

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     February 12-Wednesday
     8 A.M. Land ho Chan de Seur Islands in right this is a chain of Islands that run out from the Main land some 20 or 25 miles in length.
     8 ½ Ship Island in full view a it appears from this distance like a huge snow drift fully inhabited there is a large amount of Shipping around it and to my eyes from this distance it looks quit pleasing to my eyes.
     Came into the harbor about 11 O.C. A.M. Col. Jones came on board & was as pleased to see us as if we had risen from the dead. it seems us through they had completely given us up.
     3 O Clock P.M. disembarked had my first ride on a Missippi flier boat a prize taken from the rebels a huge clumsy looking affair side wheels and an independence boiler for each wheel.
     Lieut Lamson of the 26 Reg’t came down and invited us that is Capt Shipely and me, Lieut. up to supper with him we had a fine supper of hard tack and salt jawh mixed with Sardines a rarity indeed.


Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:

     Wednesday, February 12, 1862

     Another fine morn men all

     In good spirits and anxious to get

     At the end of our voyage saw a

     Large number of birds such as

     Gannetts Gulls Pelicans & others

     About 8 Ock made land on our

     Starboard bow.  appeared to be an

     Island with a lighthouse on it

     Next about 9 Ock made land on

[Mem]

     our starboard bow which proved

     To be Ship Island.  Dropt anchor

     Opposite the island.  we had 3 Rows-

     ing cheers from those onshore.

     There is a large number of

     Vessels of all kinds here in the

     Harbor.  We left the good Ship

     About noon and landed at

     The wharfe where i met some

     Old friends as soon as i landed

     I went on a tramp up to the

     26th Mass and the 9th Conn when

     I got back Uncle Ben was

     After me and very glad to see me

     He began to think we was

     Not coming.  I went and took

     Dinner of Soft Bread & Soup.

     The boys were very glad to

     See me and like to have shook

     My arms off.  this is altogether

     A different place from what

     I expected to find.  it is all

     Sand with no grass trees or

     Anything green but soldiers

     This afternoon we pitched our

     Tents and went to housekeeping

     They have a kind of fort here

     Called fort Massachusetts the

     4th Battery quarter here.

January 25, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     January 25-Saturday
     Clear of towards morning very pleasant and quite warm we hear that in Massachusetts there is from 18 inches to two foot of snow. that is much different from what we are getting here from the weather seems more like April.
     Brought back our tents and once more pitched our encampment on the beach how long it will be before we are obliged to leave I do not know but probably when there come another storm. [Illustration – Ship Island Mar. 3st ‘61]

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Saturday, January 25, 1862
     Struck our tents and went back
     To our camp again with everything
     In confusion.

January 24, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     January 24-Friday
     The hardest storm I think that I ever saw. Rain & Blow almost a hurricane Brent Johnson and myself went down to the Fortress. Charly urged us to stop over night but I told Captain I should come back. and we done in had to wade in water almost over my Boots in some places found some of our tents gone and find out on arriving that we were ordered to move by the Col. for fear the point would be overflowed our tents were pitched in the Soldiers burial ground and the men used grass for pillows but did not many of them find it out untill next morning.
     Captain and I staid down in our tent and run the risk. did not strike on the Cooks tent went to sleep and awaited the results.
     Got a letter from home this morning from my wife.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Friday 24
     A Strong day with high winds
     And very cold.  the tide coming
     In higher than common.
     We expect to have to move
     Had to strike tents and pact [sic]
     For hills.  we struck tents in
     Woods & in uneasy they was
     Had a hard disagreable cold
     Night of it.

January 22, 1862

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     January 22-Wednesday
     Still stormy and we all wet through and have been since we landed it seems as though it never would cease.
     Nothing doing to day except repitching our tents. the first time we have had an opportunity to do it since we landed. to day our pins have come ashore Stoves and funnels.
     Got a letter from my wife giving the particulars death. I wish I had have known it before we left Boston. I would have gone up at any rate. and have stopped for a day or two. and have regained the Regiments at this place.
 
Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Wednesday, January 22, 1862
     We dont have very hard times
     Here we cannot drill much
     On account of the sand.  this
     Is a great place for sudden
     Showers or[?] thunder & Lighting
     & Very high winds.

January 21, 1861

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     January 21-Tuesday
     Storm this morning does not seem to have abated any. everybody is sick and cross. we have our encamp-ment staked out and have made some vain endeavors to strike it or pitch it I should say. but this morning it is no easy kind of a job for it is nothing but sand and very deep and we find some difficulty in making pins hold at all. Charly was up a few minutes this morning, looking same as ever good natured and easy.
     The Officers went on board Con-stitution for our dinners but it is more than they are worth at least to me to go after them and I think I shall live here on company rations rather walk so far through the sand for them for it is very tiresome and what is good enough for the men is good enough for me.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Tuesday 21
     All clear again.  what a look-
     ing lot everything mixed
     Up in confussion.  we have
     Got all right at least There is
     A large lot of negroes here who
     Once were slaves there is some
     Smart wide awake ones and some
     Regular drones among them
     There is a chance to buy cake pies
     Sweet potatoes and other things

January 20, 1862

Qr. Master Sergt. Howe:
Diary:
     January 20, 1862.
     Disembarked and lay round on the neck of land which runs back from the fortress. In the meantime I tried to issue stores and tents to make the boys comfortable. High tide drove us back into a graveyard. General Wool won't recognize us, so we must get along until General Butler and Governor Andrew settle their trouble in regard to our organization and appointment of officers.

2d Lieut. Elliot:
Diary:
     January 20-Monday
     Pleasant and quite warm this morning this morning we disembarked or rather were let out of prison on to the beach for a sunning as the Colonels says. afternoon the order came for us to go and get our tents and Camp Equipage we commenced getting them at about 3 P.M. about 5 P.M. then suddenly came up a very severe Thunder Shower. and as a consequence we are all well wet through to our skin and our best uniforms wet through. dark over taking us before our tents got along and then no pins with them it began to look rather hard, when we hit upon the expedient of putting them up and using our bayonets for pins. after working for some time we suceeded in getting up 5 and turned in all wet as we were for a little sleep about 12 at night some rice and sugar came from our prison and was dealt out to the men. the first thing they have had since morn-ing except a little hard bread they had brought in there haversacks. Adjutant Dimon slept with us in our Quarters and, no distinction seemed to be made between Officers and privates for this night for all were glad enough for any kind of shelter.

Corpl. B. B. Smith:
Diary:
     Monday 20
     A fine morn we got orders
     To go ashore.  the men all aboard[?]
     The jump.  went ashore in
     Small steamer.  pitched our
     Tents to the right of the fort
     It began to rain and thunder
     And lightning before we got
     Them up.  we got wet to the
     Skin.  what a good bath is the sea