Saturday, October 29, 1864
They started marching this morning at 5 o'clock and reached Morganza at 12:30 P.M. Everyone was safe and no one from the 130th was killed or wounded on this scouting mission. The men were all tired and worn out and very happy to be back in a more permanent location. They were relived on the Atchafalaya by the 2nd Brigade.
Friday, October 28, 1864
They stayed in camp again today while Confederate troops continue to fire on them all day.
Thursday, October 27, 1864
The Union troops did not move today. There was frequent picket firing near their camp by the Confederates, but no one was hurt. The movement is slow, as they have to cut new roads to Morganza.
Wednesday, October 26, 1864
The 130th finally received orders to get ready to move. At 1 o'clock they began to head back to Morganza. The Confederate troops harassed them, firing at them along the bayou. The Union troops went into camp near an old mill on the Atchafalaya.
Tuesday, October 25, 1864
Today there was the occasional picket firing, but no serious injuries on either side. The weather looked like rain all day, and it finally started to sprinkle at dusk. Unfortunately the men had no tents or anything for shelter.
Monday, October 24, 1864
The days are all about the same. The regiment stayed in camp while companies were sent out for picket duty. There continued to be light firing on the picket lines, but no serious battles.
Sunday, October 23, 1864
The 130th was still in their camp today. The picket firing intensified today and continued throughout the day. There were even a couple shots fired from Union cannons, but no response from the Confederates.
Saturday, October 22, 1864
The 130th remained in camp all day. They saw the cavalry passing by in small squads throughout the day. Stayed in same old camp on the Bayou. Cavalry passing in small squads all day. There seemed to be less firing on the picket lines today.
Friday, October 21, 1864
The 130th was still in camp on the Lost River. There was a Cavalry Brigade that moved into the area today. They brought in eight confederate soldiers, plus a captain and two Lieutenants. The men in the camp could here firing on the picket lines all day.
Thursday, October 20, 1864
Last night at 10 o'clock the 130th received orders to move their camp. They moved out in silence in the night to a place about a quarter of a mile from the Atchafalaya River on the bank of the Lost River. They stayed here all day and camped for the night. According to Leonidas Bradley,
Good deal of picket firing. Killed seven and wounded sixteen Rebs.
Wednesday, October 19, 1864
They started at 4:00 o'clock this morning by crossing the bridge and moving to the Atchafalaya River. They arrived at the river about 7:00 o'clock and found a few Confederate soldiers across the river. The Union soldiers moved up the river to Baldwin's Ferry and went into camp for the night. It started to rain at 3:00 o'clock in the afternoon and continued the rest of the day and night.
Tuesday, October 18, 1864
Today the 130th Illinois Infantry received orders to be ready to march at 11 o'clock in the morning with 5 rations for 5 days. They began at 4:00 o'clock int he afternoon and marched until about 8:00 o'clock. They went into camp near a bridge on a bayou.
Sunday, October 16, 1864
From time to time various companies and regiments would go out on scouting missions. In general there was very limited contact with skirmishers from the Confederate ranks. The soldiers now believe they will quarter for the winter in this place.
Tuesday, October 11, 1864
The weather continued to stay cool. Some of the men built fireplaces in their tents. These provided some warmth to the Union troops.
Saturday, October 8, 1864
After warming up for a few days, the weather turned very cool today. The wind blew all day long. The men in of the 130th stayed in camp and tried find ways to keep warm.
Tuesday, October 4, 1864
The monotony of camp life was broken today when the weather turned very cold. The men spent the day trying to find ways to keep warm.
Monday, September 26, 1864
The men in the 130th fell into a routine, with most of their time being spent in camp. Occasionally they would go out on a scouting march but rarely did they find any Southern forces willing to fight.
Wednesday, September 21, 1864
The Union soldier went back to the Atchafalaya River today, and took pontoon bridges with them. They crossed the river but found the Southern troops retreating upon their approach.
Monday, September 19, 1864
The Illinois troops stayed in camp today and nothing significant occurred.
Sunday, September 18, 1864
They arrived back at their camp around 10 o'clock this morning. The men were very tired after the battle and then the march back to camp. They lost five or six horses killed in the battle, along with about half a dozen men who were wounded. They estimated the Southerners lost fifteen men either killed or wounded.
Saturday, September 17, 1864
Early this morning the 130th marched about 6 miles to the Atchafalaya River. They found the Confederate troops on the other side of the river entrenched behind their fortifications. The Confederates began to fire on the Union troops.
As the country was very swampy and lined with bayous, there seemed to be only one place to approach the river. It was a narrow piece of land with swamps on either side. Just as the 130th regiment entered this narrow strip the Confederates let loose with a great volley of shells and muskets. One man from William Fleming's company was wounded in the initial barrage.
The union troops took cover where they could find it and began to work their way forward, using trees and low pieces of land as cover. When they found the right spot, the Union army set their artillery and began to return the fire. Their was very brisk artillery fire from both sides for several hours, ending around four o'clock.
The 130th stayed near the river until about 6 o'clock in the evening. With no means to cross the river, they began to make their way back to their camp.
As the country was very swampy and lined with bayous, there seemed to be only one place to approach the river. It was a narrow piece of land with swamps on either side. Just as the 130th regiment entered this narrow strip the Confederates let loose with a great volley of shells and muskets. One man from William Fleming's company was wounded in the initial barrage.
The union troops took cover where they could find it and began to work their way forward, using trees and low pieces of land as cover. When they found the right spot, the Union army set their artillery and began to return the fire. Their was very brisk artillery fire from both sides for several hours, ending around four o'clock.
The 130th stayed near the river until about 6 o'clock in the evening. With no means to cross the river, they began to make their way back to their camp.
Friday, September 16, 1864
William Fleming finally caught up with the 130th Illinois Infantry today, and almost immediately went into action. He had not been in camp for more than an hour or two when they received orders to draw rations for two days and go out on a scout. William Fleming wasn't quite ready, as he noted in his diary:
...as I had not reported for duty or had neither gun or equipment they didnt expect me to go, but one of the boys was sick and couldnot go. I just volinteered my servis and took his gun an equipment and joined them,The regiment began marching about sunset, and after marching about 12 miles then went into camp at midnight.
Wednesday, September 14, 1864
William Fleming boarded a boat today headed towards Morganza Bend to rejoin his regiment.
Tuesday, September 13, 1864
The 130th Illinois Infantry returned from their scouting trip at about 4:00 o'clock this afternoon.
William Fleming was apparently still in New Orleans awaiting his orders to join his regiment.
William Fleming was apparently still in New Orleans awaiting his orders to join his regiment.
Monday, September 12, 1864
The men of the 130th Illinois Infantry received orders to load onto boats at 7:00 o'clock this evening to go out on a scouting mission.
Meanwhile, William Fleming reported to the U.S. Baracks Hospital, then returned to New Orleans.
Meanwhile, William Fleming reported to the U.S. Baracks Hospital, then returned to New Orleans.
Wednesday, September 7, 1864
The 130th Illinois Infantry was still waiting on their marching orders. Today the 96th Ohio Volunteers came up from New Orleans. The 130th still believes they will receive their orders soon.
Saturday, September 3, 1864
The 2nd Division of the 19th Army Corps received orders and part of the division embarked today. The men of the 130th assume they will be moving soon.
William Fleming's furlough has come to an end and today he will begin his trip to return to the 130th. In his diary he said:
William Fleming's furlough has come to an end and today he will begin his trip to return to the 130th. In his diary he said:
I remained at home visiting my old neighbors around the Grove untill the 3d day of Sept, my furlough being expired I was under the painful necessity of bidding my family farewell to return to the Army again, on the morning of the 3d I left for Vandalia and took the cars for Cairo, from thence to Orleans
Thursday, September 1, 1864
While William Fleming continues to enjoy his furlough, the men of the 130th received orders today to draw rations for 10 days and be ready to embark on short notice. They assume they will go up to Natchez or Memphis.
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