THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

March 9th, Thursday. Started to wash again this morning
when I had to go on camp guard. Weather nice and fine.
March 10th, Friday. At 2 A.M., officers' call sounded, and
[60] every available man and horse were ordered off on a threeday
scout. They marched about 7 A.M., the weather cold and
windy. Came off guard at 10 A.M. Went on fatigue and done
my washing in the afternoon.
March 11, Saturday. Detailed for guard this morning, but I
was not required. Weather fine again.
March 12th, Sunday. The three-day scout returned this
afternoon, bringing some twenty prisoners, most of them
deserters. Received a paper from home.
March 13th, Monday. Went on guard this morning. At 11
P.M., a scout of one hundred men left the regiment.
March 14th, Tuesday. Came off guard at 9 A.M. The scout
returned having been to Berryville and around but came
across nothing.
March 16th, Thursday. Went on picket this morning.
Weather warm and pleasant. About 6 P.M., it began to rain.
March 17th, Friday. Came off picket about 11 A.M. Spent
an awful miserable night. Our fire went out and we could
not get it to go again until about 12 A.M., when two of us
went about half a mile and roused two old maids out of bed
and got some matches, dry wood, and an axe. We dried our
[61] clothes on our backs. Got a letter from Tom Gillespie and
one from home. Had an inspection of horses. The half of
the horses in the regiment were condemned.
March 18th, Saturday. On stable guard today. Answered my
wife's letter. A most painfull accident happened in Co. M.
A young fellow named Parker had a shell between his knees,
striving to cut the plunger out, when it exploded and
almost tore him to pieces. The bone of his right thigh
stuck right out, his left almost as bad, his right hand and
fore arm totally gone. His face and neck were cut in
several places. It made me quite shaky to look at him. He
died this afternoon. Answered my wife's letter.
March 19th, Sunday. Came off guard at 9 A.M. Had company
inspection at 1 P.M. The funeral of Parker took place this
afternoon, his own company only being present.
March 20th, Monday. Went on picket. Quite warm and
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