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

Friday, Jany 24th. Morning cold and chilly. Detailed for
guard. Ciphered for number one on the first relief and got
if. The rifles were out today. I left the precints
precincts of the guard room for about five minutes. In my
abscence the guard were fallen in but I returned in time to
answer my number. Lieut. Cross had me pricked neverless and
my name handed in to brigade headquarters for a court martial
It is awful miserable being on guard house. No fire and no
place to sit down or to rest. Wet under foot and cold
overhead. Cannot leave even to get your meals.
[66] Saturday, Jany 25th. Came off guard at 9 1/2 A.M. It was
without exception the hardest 24 hours duty I ever done. No
place to rest. Strove to have a fire on the floor. The
smoke was worse than the cold. It made my head ache and my
eyes sore. It hailed and sleeted without cessation all night
and it was bitter cold and no way of sleeping. The most
miserable time I ever passed on guard. We were kept waiting
about an hour for the new guard to get mounted with an
ignorant sergeant-major. He joined the regiment five weeks
ago and was immediatly made color bearer and now on the
promotion of our late sergeant-major to a lieutenancy he was
shoved in because he was lieutenant i the Troy City Corps
some years ago. He is no more fit for his office than a man
that never seen a soldier. It would not matter so much if
there was none of the sergeants in the reg't fit to fill it.
He is only fit to be a brigadier general. Orders came from
the captains of companies to see that every man had two
shifts of clothes, as it is said that we are going on some
expedition. I hope it may be true as I am tired of this
inactivity. Turned in early as I was tired and half sick
after the night. I hope that I won't have to put in another
like it this year to come. About 2 doses would kill me.
Sunday, Jany 26th. Arose this morning thouroughly rfreshed
and the head ache completely gone. Weather windy and
smelling like more rain. Passed the day reading and
answering letters received. The usual drills to be resumed
tomorrow. Turned in at 9 P.M.
Monday, Jany 27th. Cold and raw morning. Drill at 10.
Battalion drill at 2 1/2. Did not last long as it was very
muddy under foot and so the men could not march, being
slippy.
Tuesday, Jany 28th. Awoke about three A.M. to hear it
raining the same as usual. At the morning inspection
received orders to parade with all our troops to see if we
are fit to take up the line of march. The parade did not
take place in consequence of the continuance of the rain.
Was deffered until tomorrow.
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