Thought you’d escaped, eh? No chance, Buckaroos. I have been trying to distract myself of late, and climb into the Time Machine and bounce around some intimate American history to distract myself from the events of the day. I am not even going to get started on them, because then I couldn’t finish the litany. I watched the Press Conference about the swell deal we negotiated with the Iranians yesterday, and after a while I had to just stand up and go to Willow and drown my considerable concerns.

And that isn’t even the most horrific example of really bad behavior. As a consequence, I went back to doing research on the Civil War. I will publish the complete Grand Tour of Europe, 1903, presently. I am only lacking Mom’s collection of the Great-Great Grandfather’s postal cards to complete all the material, and it is scanned and ready to go.

The Civil War stuff is harder. You recall I stopped in red0brick Fremont, Ohio, to do some research on the 72nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry to get some texture of what life was like for the boys in blue to balance the detail conveyed by Patrick, the Confederate in the family Attic. I hit pay-dirt, but the material I was able to Xerox was of such quality that my scanning software works poorly in the OCR mode. Oh well. I resigned myself to a lot of retyping, and the result of that is what I am going to inflict on you the next few days.

Here we go, back to the depths of the winter of 1862, along the rivers of Middle America. There are a bunch of young men, preparing to go see The Elephant:

Section: Civil War- 72nd OVI
Hayes Presidential Center
File Under: LOCAL HISTORY

The State of Ohio, Sandusky County, SS
Before me, a Notary Public, in and for said County, personally appeared James Foley, late Private, in the 72nd Regiment O.VI, who, being duly sworn, says and declared as follows:

I, James Foley, enlisted in Company H, 72nd Regiment O. V. I., under Colonel (later General) R. P. Buckland, on the 23rd day of January 1862, as private, Company K, and at the organization of the Company I was chosen Regimental Teamster, which position I held during the Battle of Shiloh in April, 1862, and in the sieges of Corinth, Vicksburg and Jackson. I served through my re-enlistment in 1864, and did not return to the unit from my veteran’s furlough in April of that year, before the battle at Brice’s Crossing in order to care for my fiancé, Barbara.

The story of my service is much like that of every other boy-o in the 72nd. I was born in County Kerry, back in the Old Country. Before the war broke out, I was a laborer. I enlisted on the 23rd of January 1862, in Cincinnati. We left there in early February to march to Columbus, the state capital, where we arrived at 1:30 in the morning. They billeted us in the American Hotel.

On Feb’y 6th, Sunday morning, we went out to Camp Chase where we found the officer of the prison guard to report to. On the 9th, I went to town with my mate Bill Richards, and got Colonel Buckland’s horses shod. On the 10th I signed the roll and commenced drilling with Co. K, 72nd O.V.I.

On the 11th, I drew uniform and gun (Enfield rifle). On the 12th and 13th, I recall nothing of any account but drill. On the 14th, I was detailed for Guard, 2hrs on and 4 off at the prison. It was very cold and I frosted my feet. 15th-18th there was nothing but drill and more drill. On the 18th, I received orders to be ready to march in the morning with eight days of rations. 19th up at 8 o’clock, packed up, went with some of the boys about 2 miles and stole some milk, 6 A. M. started for Columbus, mud ankle deep, left Columbus 11 A. M. on rail cars for Cincinnati. Arrived there between 7 & 8 P. M. and embarked aboard a steamer for Paducah, Kentucky.

I slept on the lower deck, quite cold.

On the 20th we arrived at Louisville about 1 P. M. disembarked and marched around the rapids and embarked on another boat.

21st, when I got, up this morning I found the boat tied up to bank at Carrolton, Ind. taking on coal. I got off and went after water. We left Carrolton about 2 P. M. and I sat up quite late watching the scenery go by. 22nd, got up this morning and found the boat tied up at Shawneetown, Illinois, on account of fog, soon left and we arrived at Paducah at 2·o’c1ock P.M. The 23rd, Sunday, disembarked and pitched out tents just a little way out of town.

24th had company drill and dress parade. The camp was called “Camp Buckland” after our Colonel. On the 25th, drilled all forenoon and in the afternoon went down town and went through the fort, the first I ever saw, and then came back to camp very tired, wrote some letters.

26th I was detailed for guard but didn’t feel very well, but I stuck it out all day. 27th drilled all forenoon, lay in camp and talked fight all afternoon with the boys. Last night around one o’clock was caked up and received from the Quartermaster six rounds of cartridges, was expecting an attack from King’s Cavalry and remained up all the rest of the night but nothing happened.

28th feeling bad, sore throat, in the afternoon went with Lieut. Cook and some of the boys and
and some of the boys and shot at a mark. March 1st was a pleasant day and had sauerkraut for dinner, this afternoon Lafe Holcomb and Frank Fowler came to the Regiment and they brought letters from home.

On the 2nd, rained all night last night, today is Sunday, did not go out of my tent, am detailed for picket guard for tomorrow, getting cold. 3rd, got up this morning and found the ground frozen. After breakfast, started off on picket, marched out about three miles, and at night came near shooting a Dutchman of Co. “D.” Joe Bowers and I were on Guard together, this fellow was told to join us, but he got around us
somehow, and when we saw him coming out of the woods we thought him a rebel and I came near shooting him.

4th, arrived in camp this morning tired and sleepy, ate my breakfast and ate my breakfast and went to bed. Forenoon quite pleasant but afternoon, cold and snowing.

5th cold and in Camp all day.

6th, about 10 A.M. received orders to get ready to embark on boat to go up the Tennessee River, pulled down some tents and was ready by noon. Frank Fowler and I went with the Lieutenant down to the boat and picked out a good berth below deck but the gray-back lice were thicker than hell. The 72nd OVI came aboard about 5 P.M. and during the night another Regiment came aboard.

6th, Up the river and reported to Gen. Smith 80 miles up and stop here until further orders. In coming up the river today, came by Fort Henry, the river was thick with boats, it is reported that we are going to Pittsburgh Landing where we expect to have a fight with 40 thousand Rebels. We are all ready for them.

Copyright 2015 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra.com
Twitter: @jayare303