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

Wednesday, Jany 29th. Morning cold and raw. Was detailed
for guard. Have only been off four days and there are
eighty-four rations drawn in this company. There is
something wrong somewhere. On the first relief, bad walking
under foot. Almost impossible for a sentinel to traverse his
post. Had to stay in the guard house when off post, a cold,
dirty, cheerless hole. Borrowed a book of Lieut. Campbell to
while away the time whilst off duty. Prosect of a bad night
as the wind became chilly and rainlike.
Thursday, Jany 30th. Came off guard at 9 A.M. Had a very
hard night as it rained almost incessantly. Did not have any
sleep whatever as there was no place to either sit or lie
down. Returned the book to the Lieut. which I borrowed
whilst in the captain's tent. Said jocularly that he kept a
bad fire. He (the capt.) told me to go where there was a
better one, for if he depended on me for wood, he would have
no fire. As if it was the duty of the privates to keep him
in wood. He will order me out when I go in again, I reckon.
Turned in early as we go on picket to the front tomorrow,
such were the orders on dress parade.
Friday, 31st Jany. Formed for picket at 9 A.M. Marched off
after being kept standing in the cold about an hour. Mud
awful deep and hard walking. Our company went on the outpost
the first day. The evening closed in, cold, miserable and
rainy, which after a while changed to sleet and snow.
[68] Saturday, February 1st. Company B of our regiment releived
us, they having been on the reserve the preceding day. We
had an alarm on our post about 3 A.M. I imagine it was Joe
Boyce being on post. Said he heard the twigs crack and then
a voice said in low tones -- sh, keep still. Joe then
challenged and, receiving no answer, fired his rifle in the
direction of the voice. We immediately started to our feet
and Sergt. Kennedy, having charge of the post, sent me to
beat up the woods. The snow was falling heavily at the time
and so I could hear nothing nor could I see in consequence of
the darkness. After [a] while all became still again. In
the morning, however, we sought and found his tracks and
where he paused and turned back. They were half obliterated
with the still falling of snow. I tried my rifle and she
shoots first-rate and don't kick. I was sorry to leave my
post as I knew that the place of reserve was worse than where
we were, but a soldier must obey. The place of the reserve
was awful wet and miry and no place for a fellow to rest
himself whilst the rain, which was now falling heavily, made
it still worse. Some of the boys found an empty house a
little way from where we were situated in the centre of which
they made a fire. They sent for me and I went and was glad
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