Thursday, March 31, 1864
The regiment marched at 6 o'clock this morning. They crossed the Cane River again and camped on the opposite bank in a cornfield. They covered about twenty miles today.
Wednesday, March 30, 1864
The regiment stayed in camp all day, as a bridge was down. They had to wait for a new one to be built. Rebel deserters came into their camp and reported the Confederate forces were ten miles ahead and retreating.
Tuesday, March 29, 1864
The regiment marched at 8 o'clock. They came to Pine Woods about 9 o'clock and continued to march until almost sundown. They camped on the banks of Cane River. This was the same ground where the advance troops fought with the Confederate troops earlier today. The rumor was the U.S. troops chased 5,000 Confederates across the river.
The Confederate troops in this area were under the command of General Dick Taylor and General Kirby Smith. They were currently retreating in front of the column of federal troops. Taylor would skirmish with small groups here and there, but he was generally being cautious until promised reinforcements could arrive.
The Confederate troops in this area were under the command of General Dick Taylor and General Kirby Smith. They were currently retreating in front of the column of federal troops. Taylor would skirmish with small groups here and there, but he was generally being cautious until promised reinforcements could arrive.
Monday, March 28, 1864
It began to rain at daybreak today and the regiment started to march at 6 o'clock. It continued to rain until about 9 o'clock.
Sunday, March 27, 1864
The regiment stayed in camp today on Bayou Radpides. The paymaster paid the regiment today. Many of the soldiers took advantage of the day in camp to write letters home.
Saturday, March 26, 1864
The regiment was on the march at 7:30 this morning and reached Alexandria at noon. They camped just above the city on the Bayou Rapides. The soldiers believe they'll stay here until Monday and start for Shreveport. There are a huge number of troops in town.
Alexandria was the meeting place for all of the troops that were to participate in the Red River Campaign, and it was quite a sight to behold. The force assembled at Alexandria was composed as follows: under General Banks, the 19th corps, commanded by General Franklin, a portion of the 13th corps, commanded by General Ransom, and about 5,000 cavalry under General A. L. Lee, making in all from 17,000 to 18,000 men; General A. J. Smith, with 10;000 men, was there from General Sherman' s command; and Admiral Porter was there with a large fleet of iron-clads.
Alexandria was the meeting place for all of the troops that were to participate in the Red River Campaign, and it was quite a sight to behold. The force assembled at Alexandria was composed as follows: under General Banks, the 19th corps, commanded by General Franklin, a portion of the 13th corps, commanded by General Ransom, and about 5,000 cavalry under General A. L. Lee, making in all from 17,000 to 18,000 men; General A. J. Smith, with 10;000 men, was there from General Sherman' s command; and Admiral Porter was there with a large fleet of iron-clads.
Friday, March 25, 1864
The march began this morning at 7 o'clock. The traffic on the road was heavy - Alexandria might not be reached today. They crossed Bayou Mora at 10 o'clock and Bayou Roberts at 1 o'clock. They went into camp at 3 o'clock, about five miles from Alexandria.
Thursday, March 24, 1864
The march began this morning at 7 o'clock. They covered just over 17 miles today. They passed Cheneyville at noon, and then it began raining about 1 o'clock. They camped on Bayou Boeuf, about 18 miles from Alexandria.
Wednesday, March 23, 1864
The march began at 5 o'clock, with the 130th Illinois Infantry in the front. They passed Homesville about noon - a distance of 8 miles. They march until nightfall, making a total of 20 miles today. They camped on Bayou Boeuf.
They were now about 35 miles from Alexandria. They should make it there in two more days.
They were now about 35 miles from Alexandria. They should make it there in two more days.
Tuesday, March 22, 1864
The regiment left Bayou Cantanbleau and went on to Bayou Boeuf. This was about a 12 mile march over bad roads.
Monday, March 21, 1864
The men rested in the morning, and had orders to be ready to march at 2 o'clock. The regiment joined the column at 2 o'clock and continued their northward move.
Sunday, March 20, 1864
The march began this morning at 6 o'clock. The column passed Opelousas at about noon. They saw large crowds of people on the streets. They passed Washington about 2 o'clock, then crossed Bayou Cantanbleau, and camped on the banks near Washington.
Saturday, March 19, 1864
Again this morning the men were on the road at 7 o'clock. They passed Vermillionville and marched north to the battleground at Carencro Paradise and camped for night. It was a good days march and the men endured it very well.
Friday, March 18, 1864
The men were up early again today, and began the march at 6 o'clock. They did not stop for dinner until they went into camp on Vermillion Bayou - a distance of about 18 miles. The wagon train, which generally moved at the rear of an advancing column, did not come into camp until 4 o'clock. They were delayed when a bridge gave way. The wagon train carried all the food, ammunition, supplies, etc., that were needed to support the marching troops.
Thursday, March 17, 1864
The men were up at 5 o'clock and began to march at 7 o'clock. They made it to Iberia about 11 o'clock, but then continued on until about 2 o'clock, when the stopped and set up camp on Clear Lake.
Wednesday, March 16, 1864
The 130th began their march at 6 o'clock this morning. It was a fine, cool day. They march until noon and camped just short of Olivia Landing. They stopped her for the night. Tomorrow they will start at 7 o'clock and march to Camp Pratt.
Tuesday, March 15, 1864
Again today the men of the 130th watched troops pass them by. However, they did get orders to go at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. Tomorrow should be a fine day for a march to Iberia.
Monday, March 14, 1864
The 130th Illinois still had no orders. But they watched other units passing by all day on their way to the north.
Private John R. Hendricks died today at Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois. He was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B.
The 77th Illinois was ahead of the 130th, having started on the march earlier. So, they were the first to receive the "new" tents:
Private John R. Hendricks died today at Camp Butler near Springfield, Illinois. He was from Sangamon County and assigned to Company B.
The 77th Illinois was ahead of the 130th, having started on the march earlier. So, they were the first to receive the "new" tents:
On the 14th of March an event occurred which afforded some amusement. The boys were supplied with what they jocularly called "dog tents." Our first tents were the "Sibley," large enough to accommodate from twelve to sixteen persons. The next was the "wedge" tent, large enough for from four to six.
The "dog," or "shelter" tent consisted of two parts, each about the size of an ordinary blanket, and they could be fastened together with buttons and eyelets. In this way the boys carried their tents with them, each one carrying one part, and by "bunking" together in couples, they were prepared to pitch tents in short order. Either with or without a ridge-pole, and with end stakes and pins to fasten down the sides, and by spreading a rubber blanket over the top and a rubber or other blanket over one end, they could be made quite comfortable.
But they were so small the boys could only occupy a sitting posture. If they wanted to stand up or turn around, they had to go outside for that purpose.
Two objects were accomplished by using this kind of tent. Every soldier carried his shelter with him, and it relieved the command of extra teams to carry camp equipage. In the course of time the boys managed to get at least two each of these tents, and then a heavy rain would not disturb them; and when they remained in camp for a few days at a time, by getting a few boards and elevating the tents, they did finely.
The first night after the dog tents were issued, the boys -- hundreds of them -- it was midnight -- came to the entrance of their tents and barked, representing all the variations of dog music, from the gentle whine of the insignificant cur, to the hoarse voice of the majestic mastiff. This novel and amusing concert was kept up for an hour or more. Of course there could be no sleeping while it lasted. With such pastimes as these the boys varied the tedious monotony of the march, and prepared for the sterner duties of the battle field.
Sunday, March 13, 1864
The weather was nice again today. The regiment had monthly inspections. Fueled by the nice weather, the rumor in camp is that the regiment will move tomorrow.
Thursday, March 10, 1864
Today was another gloomy day, with rain off and on. The regiment did not move today.
Wednesday, March 9, 1864
It rained last night and as the regiment arose, it looked like more rain was on the way. In fact, it started raining about 10 o'clock and continued to rain all day. The regiment stayed in camp at the plantation north of Franklin.
Tuesday, March 8, 1864
The regiment was up early again this morning, arising at 4 o'clock and marching at 6 o'clock. At noon they stopped just beyond Franklin. They continued on for a few miles and the regiment camped on a large plantation. The soldiers assumed they would start for Alexandria very soon.
Monday, March 7, 1864
The regiment was up at 5 o'clock this morning and began marching at 7 o'clock. The men carried their knapsacks on their backs and their rifles on their shoulders.
They marched about 10 miles and stopped and ate dinner a little beyond Pattersonville.
After dinner they marched along the Bayou Teche about another 6 miles before setting up camp for the night. (Many of the rivers in Louisiana are referred to as bayous). This was the first day in a long time the regiment marched any distance, and they were exhausted and slept very well.
Private David I. Harris from Blueville died today in New Orleans. He was assigned to Company D.
They marched about 10 miles and stopped and ate dinner a little beyond Pattersonville.
After dinner they marched along the Bayou Teche about another 6 miles before setting up camp for the night. (Many of the rivers in Louisiana are referred to as bayous). This was the first day in a long time the regiment marched any distance, and they were exhausted and slept very well.
Private David I. Harris from Blueville died today in New Orleans. He was assigned to Company D.
Sunday, March 6, 1864
This afternoon the 130th Illinois Infantry received orders to take two days rations and be ready to march at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning. So much for staying in their present location for some time.
Saturday, March 5, 1864
With no marching orders again today, the men are even more convinced they will be here for an extended stay. The beautiful weather is probably encouraging some of that wishful thinking.
Friday, March 4, 1864
Another beautiful spring day. Still no marching orders, so the companies had drill. Now them men believed they were going to be here for "some time."
Thursday, March 3, 1864
The beautiful weather continued. The regiment still had no orders to march.
Some of the men went foraging in the country. They came back with molasses and sugar. They made cakes out of flour and poured the molasses on top for a tasty meal.
Some of the men went foraging in the country. They came back with molasses and sugar. They made cakes out of flour and poured the molasses on top for a tasty meal.
Wednesday, March 2, 1864
After a cold night, the day began to warm - a typical spring day. The regiment still had no orders to march. They did, however have dress parade.
Tuesday, March 1, 1864
After a rainy morning, the sun came out and it was a fine afternoon. Many men went out and collected weeds to use for bedding - and they looked forward to a good night's rest. They frequently had to make bedding out of any material they could find.
They had yet to receive their marching orders. Leonida H. Bradley believed:
But Shreveport was not the final destination. The strategy was to raise the U.S. flag in Texas by moving up the Red River and then west into Texas. Arrangements were finally made by which General Banks was to furnish for the expedition such troops as could be obtained within his department; General Sherman was to furnish 10,000 men from his command, under General A. J. Smith; General Steele, with a column of 10,000, was to join the expedition at some point on the Red River; and, Admiral Porter was to accompany the expedition with a sufficient naval force.
The 17th of March, 1864, was fixed upon as the time when the naval force and the infantry under General
Banks and General A. J. Smith should meet at Alexandria, on the Red river.
They had yet to receive their marching orders. Leonida H. Bradley believed:
Will leave in a few days, at farthest, will probably go to Alexandria, (Louisiana).The reality was that the soldiers usually knew very little about where they were going. Only the generals and other high-ranking officers really knew much in advance, and even then, plans often changed on a daily, even hourly, basis. We know now that the plan was to take Shreveport, but the men were not yet aware of that strategy.
But Shreveport was not the final destination. The strategy was to raise the U.S. flag in Texas by moving up the Red River and then west into Texas. Arrangements were finally made by which General Banks was to furnish for the expedition such troops as could be obtained within his department; General Sherman was to furnish 10,000 men from his command, under General A. J. Smith; General Steele, with a column of 10,000, was to join the expedition at some point on the Red River; and, Admiral Porter was to accompany the expedition with a sufficient naval force.
The 17th of March, 1864, was fixed upon as the time when the naval force and the infantry under General
Banks and General A. J. Smith should meet at Alexandria, on the Red river.
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