Friday, October 30, 1863
Private Thomas Johnson was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B. He died today at New Orleans.
Thursday, October 29, 1863
Today Corporal David Renfrow died at New Iberia, Louisian. He was from Thebes and assigned to Company C.
Sunday, October 25, 1863
Private Samuel White, Jr. from Company F, from Greenville, died today at New Iberia, Louisiana.
Thursday, October 22, 1863
There was quite a bit of excitement in camp, as there was continuous rumors that New Iberia would be attacked. The Confederates were in force at Vermillion Bayou, just 18 or 20 miles to the west. The Union cavalry were watching their movements.
But with their close proximity to New Iberia, the town was in danger. To strengthen the town defenses as much as possible, an extended line of rifle pits was made, and the citizens of New Iberia were forced to help with the construction.
The Union cavalry surrounded and captured a small group of the Confederate's cavalry. The Confederates were brought into town and many of the Union troops at New Iberia went out to the road to look them over as they passed by.
The prisoners were disarmed and rode their horses, but the reins were held by well-armed Union cavalrymen who rode along side.
But with their close proximity to New Iberia, the town was in danger. To strengthen the town defenses as much as possible, an extended line of rifle pits was made, and the citizens of New Iberia were forced to help with the construction.
The Union cavalry surrounded and captured a small group of the Confederate's cavalry. The Confederates were brought into town and many of the Union troops at New Iberia went out to the road to look them over as they passed by.
The prisoners were disarmed and rode their horses, but the reins were held by well-armed Union cavalrymen who rode along side.
Monday, October 19, 1863
The men of the 130th enjoyed the October days spent at New Iberia. The weather was mild and delightful. The foraging parties found plenty of honey, sweet potatoes, chickens and turkeys. Milk was also plentiful - procured from the local inhabitants. They also enjoyed pecans and the oranges that were ripening in the orchards.
Friday, October 16, 1863
During the latter part of 1863 many Negroes enlisted in the Union Army. The enrollment and organization of these men was especially active in the Department of the Gulf. The African-American soldiers were invariably put under white officers.
These officers came mostly from the ranks of regiments that had seen combat. But to secure a commission in this service a considerable amount of knowledge of military tactics was required, and candidates had to pass a rigid exam before a board of experts. Many ambitious young men, who saw little opportunity for promotion in his own regiment, began to study military tactics. They then went before the examiners and later secured a commission.
While stationed at New Orleans many men left the 130th Illinois Infantry in this way. That trend continued in New Iberia this month and a several of the best men in the regiment were lost to promotion.
These officers came mostly from the ranks of regiments that had seen combat. But to secure a commission in this service a considerable amount of knowledge of military tactics was required, and candidates had to pass a rigid exam before a board of experts. Many ambitious young men, who saw little opportunity for promotion in his own regiment, began to study military tactics. They then went before the examiners and later secured a commission.
While stationed at New Orleans many men left the 130th Illinois Infantry in this way. That trend continued in New Iberia this month and a several of the best men in the regiment were lost to promotion.
Wednesday, October 14, 1863
Private Charles Heck died today at Carrollton, Louisiana. He was from Thebes and assigned to Company C.
Sunday, October 11, 1863
The town of Franklin sat along the river and the regiment stopped here for several days. But soon several regiments, including the 130th, pushed on to New Iberia, another town on the Bayou Teche.
Nearly all the inhabitants of this area were French, and many of them could not speak any English. The soldiers found it amusing and curious to hear the "Negroes" speaking in a foreign language, rather than the "slave-speak" they were accustomed to.
The well-to-do people lived in quaint old houses. Before the war some of them were very wealthy. These French were genuine Creoles.
Nearly all the inhabitants of this area were French, and many of them could not speak any English. The soldiers found it amusing and curious to hear the "Negroes" speaking in a foreign language, rather than the "slave-speak" they were accustomed to.
The well-to-do people lived in quaint old houses. Before the war some of them were very wealthy. These French were genuine Creoles.
Wednesday, October 7, 1863
At one time, on the march, the road led throug a light growth of timber and moved a considerable distance away from the Bayou Teche. The marching soldiers had all but forgotten the waterway. Then, all at once the soldiers looked through some small trees and saw a steamboat moving slowly. It looked like it was moving on land through the timber.
The flat shore and the narrow stream all helped to complete the illusion.
The flat shore and the narrow stream all helped to complete the illusion.
Tuesday, October 6, 1863
The region was very level and the land was very fertile. The cypress fences enclosed huge sugar plantations.
Along the bayou they came upon several sugar mills. Many of these were built with bricks. The mills contained expensive machinery. The mills were built on the banks of the bayou so the sugar was transported to the market with the least possible expense.
The bayou was narrow in many places - so narrow a boat couldn't turn around. There were no hills next to it, and so the bayou seemed like nothing more than a great ditch.
Along the bayou they came upon several sugar mills. Many of these were built with bricks. The mills contained expensive machinery. The mills were built on the banks of the bayou so the sugar was transported to the market with the least possible expense.
The bayou was narrow in many places - so narrow a boat couldn't turn around. There were no hills next to it, and so the bayou seemed like nothing more than a great ditch.
Monday, October 5, 1863
Private John Vira from Company I died today in St. Louis. He was from Springfield.
The 130th regiment started up Bayou Teche today. This country was attractive and many delightful
homes were passed. The houses, half hidden in trees, had wide porches and large windows that reached to the floor.
At this time oranges were ripening and many orchards they passed were bending under the weight of fruit. Nearly all the fences were made of cypress. This wood was split into thin board-like pieces and the posts were also cypress with mortises for the horizontal pieces. The fence was very neat, but must have taken a great deal of time and labor to build.
The division halted tonight for dinner, and every man seized one or more pieces of this fence, and
made a fire to heat their coffee pots and toast their slices of salt pork. Nearly every man carried an old tin can that previously contained fruit or oysters. They filled these cans with water and, when it came to a boil, added ground coffee.
They would toast a thin slice of bacon or salt pork on the end of a stick. The fat that dripped off was caught on a hard cracker this became their butter.
The 130th regiment started up Bayou Teche today. This country was attractive and many delightful
homes were passed. The houses, half hidden in trees, had wide porches and large windows that reached to the floor.
At this time oranges were ripening and many orchards they passed were bending under the weight of fruit. Nearly all the fences were made of cypress. This wood was split into thin board-like pieces and the posts were also cypress with mortises for the horizontal pieces. The fence was very neat, but must have taken a great deal of time and labor to build.
The division halted tonight for dinner, and every man seized one or more pieces of this fence, and
made a fire to heat their coffee pots and toast their slices of salt pork. Nearly every man carried an old tin can that previously contained fruit or oysters. They filled these cans with water and, when it came to a boil, added ground coffee.
They would toast a thin slice of bacon or salt pork on the end of a stick. The fat that dripped off was caught on a hard cracker this became their butter.
Sunday, October 4, 1863
Early this morning the 130th Illinois Infantry and boarded the cars for Brashear City on the New Orleans, Opelousas & Western Railroad. The train was made up of open flat cars. When moving over the rough rails the men had to be extremely careful or risk falling overboard.
The 80 miles of country they covered by train ran through swamps, bayous, lagoons and sluggish creeks. It was heavily timbered, and for most of the way, one vast wilderness. They reached Brashear City late tonight.
The 80 miles of country they covered by train ran through swamps, bayous, lagoons and sluggish creeks. It was heavily timbered, and for most of the way, one vast wilderness. They reached Brashear City late tonight.
Saturday, October 3, 1863
The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry had spent more than a month at Carrollton. They had taken advantage of numerous opportunities to take in the sighs, and underwent two reviews and numerous inspections.
But today it was time to move on and become a part of the Western Louisiana campaign. This evening they took a steamer down the river about 10 miles and landed on the opposite of the river at the railroad station at Algiers.
But today it was time to move on and become a part of the Western Louisiana campaign. This evening they took a steamer down the river about 10 miles and landed on the opposite of the river at the railroad station at Algiers.
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