Thursday, November 26, 1863

Sarah Josepha Hale, a 74-year-old magazine editor, wrote a letter to President Lincoln on September 28, 1863, urging him to make the "day of our annual Thanksgiving a National and fixed Union Festival."  In past years several states, particularly those in New England, scheduled their own Thanksgiving holiday.  But they were on different dates.

In here letter to the President, Hale continued, "You may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only, to become permanently, an American custom and institution."

Unlike several of his predecessors who ignored her petitions, President Lincoln responded to Mrs. Hale's request immediately.  Lincoln's proclamation set the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise" for the entire nation.

And so today, the first national day of Thanksgiving was observed by many of the Union troops stations at New Iberia.  The dinner eaten that day was only slightly better than usual.  However, public services were held and most of the troops of the Fourth Division of the Thirteenth Corps participated.  

A platform was erected in an open field for the speakers.  Instrumental music was played by one of the brass bands in the division.  All of the speakers expressed their full confidence in the Union cause and their eventual Union victory.  

Charles Johnson shared this memory of the service:

At the close of the service all joined in singing the Doxology, and the air rang with a full chorus made up of thousands of male voices.

Wednesday, November 18, 1863

About this time another change was made in the Division.  As now arranged the 1st Brigade was commanded by Colonel W. J. Landram, and consisted of the 19th Kentucky, the 83rd and 96th Ohio, and the 60th and 67th Indiana Regiments, and the 17th Ohio Battery. The 2nd Brigade, commanded by Colonel D. P. Grier, consisted of the 77th, 97th and 130th Illinois and the 48th Ohio Regiments, and the Mercantile Battery of Chicago.

Sunday, November 15, 1863

The Union soldiers stationed in and around New Iberia were frequently assigned to foraging parties.  While the term "foraging" might bring images of picking berries, the reality was that the Union troops would take what they wanted from surrounding farms, plantations, and homes.

The prairie around New Iberia was dotted with rich plantations, and corn and fodder was found in abundance.  The local plantation owners tried every possible way to be exempt from providing supplies to the Union army.  They would produce what they termed "Protection Papers," and claim to be foreign citizens.

The Union Army ignored their claims.

Tuesday, November 10, 1863

Private William T. Havil from Company C died today in his hometown of Thebes, Illinois.

Wednesday, November 4, 1863

Despite the attack yesterday, the northern troops enjoyed their time in western Louisiana.  The fall weather was delightful.  The Indian summer almost made thie region a fairy land.

The white cabins of the slaves were in long rows, like villages. The elegant mansions of
the wealthy, with broad verandas encircling the entire house, were located nearby.  The orange groves were at the height of their fruit bearing, with the branches bowing low under the weight.  The groves were filled with a wonderful fragrance.

Unfortunately, war was taking its toll on this paradise.  The old plantations, with their stately mansions, were falling into disrepair.  The fences, gates, and ornaments of all kinds were disappearing as the soldiers re-purposed the resources to their benefit.

Tuesday, November 3, 1863

The first brigade of the Division, while encamped in advance of the main army at New Iberia, was surprised today by the enemy, just as the paymaster was paying the troops. Nearly half of the brigade was captured. The paymaster barely escaped with his funds.

In the coming days, the false alarms were numerous, due in large part to the payday attack.  This forced the troops to be in line of battle at 4 o'clock every morning.