John Miller
Emmitsburg Area Historical Society

Dairy of Joseph E. Wible 1861-1862, Part 6 (Read Part 5)

Sunday, Dec 15 – This has been another beautiful day. William McIlhenny took the morning report in to Headquarters this morning and Hillery got a pass and went to Church. I went to town on official business about ten o’clock and spent a short time in camp.

Monday, Dec 16 – This has been to us a fast day not a day of prayer – for the men have employed the day complaining to our Quartermaster for not sending our rations which we should have received on Saturday but did not get until late today and even then received no sugar or bread nor candles. It was almost enough to make one want to swear.

Tuesday, Dec 17 – The day has been uncommonly warm. This afternoon about one o’clock we went on an expedition to Middletown with Captain Wilkins and Colonel Knipe as our leaders to shut up whiskey shops of this place. After giving them due warning and getting a good dinner at the expense of the officers we started for Headquarters again, where we arrived about half past five o’clock.

Wednesday, Dec 18 – This morning we were awakened from our slumbers long before daylight to carry dispatches to the different Regiments to prepare them for a forced march to Williamsport and to cook our rations for several days ahead. In a very short time we heard the roll of the drums at the different encampments of our Brigade and soon after the woods were lighted up as if by magic for cooking their three day rations. After all things were ready we were anxiously waiting for orders to move when a messenger arrived with a dispatch counter-manding the former orders and the hopes of the soldiers of having a brush with the enemy at once fell to the ground. They were really indignant when we brought the orders around for them to unpack. The Fifth Connecticut of our Brigade left yesterday for Williamsport. They are about one hundred of the Home Brigade and Perkins Battery of Artillery. This afternoon we were relieved by a squad of the Michigan Cavalry and are once more back at Camp at Frederick City, cold and ill-humored.

Thursday, Dec 19 – Yesterday evening just as I had quit writing in my diary and was preparing to go to bed, the Company was called together and marching orders given to us about that time. Activity was considerable in our camp. Coles and our Company were both ordered to leave for Williamsport. We received orders to march about 8 o’clock (this morning) and at nine we were leaving town. We started off at the gallop and kept it up for about 4 miles. When we came to a halt until we should receive further orders. We halted opposite the Maryland First and reported to their Colonel Kenly. We were not long detained here however for soon we heard the drum beat, the First Maryland was moving and we started our journey for Williamsport. We arrived in Boonsboro about half past one o’clock in the morning where twenty of us halted (myself among the number) until Colonel Kenly arrived; in the meantime, however, we got supper for ourselves and horses after which we started for this place, or rather, for Williamsport where we arrived about half past five o’clock. We remained there about an hour when the Colonel sent us to the present place for forage for our horses. We had scarcely left Williamsport when daylight broke upon us and the cannon at Dams Nos 4 and 5 began to send their iron hail across the river to Dixie’s Land. There was but little damage done at Dam No.4, but at Dam No.5 where the fire was kept up all day, there was a number of the Rebels killed and wounded and a mill which was laid in ashes. There was a squad of men sent over and set fire to the building bringing out a few blankets and other articles as trophies of their victory. There was some men detailed from our Company as orderlies to Colonel Kenly at Headquarters. I was one of the number.

Friday, Dec 20 – Got up and washed this morning and then took a message by way of Downstown, to St. James College, to Colonel Murphy of the 29th Pennsylvania; and then returned again to Williamsport where I spent the remainder of the day until the evening returned to Camp.

Saturday, Dec 21 – Took my horse to town to get him shod and from there went to the camp of a Massachussetts’ Regiment, about half a mile where several batteries of artillery were encamped; among which was Best’s Battery (formerly Perkin’s) which battery George Meals, Gettysburg is now soldiering. This is a Battery of regular artillery. It commenced raining tonight and freezing as it fell. And the weather tonight is altogether very unpleasant.

Sunday, Dec 22 – This morning the woods looked like Christmas trees hung with diamonds. It was a beautiful sight and a dazzling scene – the trees all covered with ice and the ground a sea of glass. This has been the first Sunday that I ever spent in the woods, to the best of my recollection. It has been a day for me.

Monday, Dec 23 – Today a great part of our company moved to an old mill adjoining our camp.

Tuesday, Dec 24 – There was ten or our men detailed today to go to Dam No.5. The balance of our Company moved to the mill out of our old mudhole on the bank of the Conococheague. This evening about nine o’clock we were ordered to pack up for marching to "Old Virginney" but the order was soon countermanded.

Wednesday, Dec 25 – Today has been a very pleasant day. Was in town this morning; and, this afternoon was at home anxiously looking for our Christmas presents which we expected the evening before, but which didn’t arrive until this evening about six o’clock. Our men were wild with joy when they beheld the box and knew that the present was a reality. It exceeded all our expectations. There was cakes, pies, roast chickens and roast turkey in abundance and numerous other nice little things to cheer our hearts. There was many a heart filled with gratitude to the kind donors of the bountiful gift. I wish the ladies who sent the above mentioned articles could have been here to enjoy the good themselves in common with our Company.

Saturday, Dec 28 – We have not had much change this week; We have been standing guard around our camp and doing a little picket duty at Dams No’s 4 and 5. We have had very good weather pretty much all week.

Sunday, Dec 29 – Went to Williamsport to Church today and as there was no preching anywhere else in town, I went to Catholic Church. This has been a beautiful warm day – the sun shining brightly all day.

Monday, Dec 30 – Had an inspection of arms today. The weather still very mild and pleasant.

Tuesday, Dec 31 – Have been on guard today. The weather still remains very mild. We received a load of our old things from Frederick today which we had left behind. Wrote a letter to Miss Yeager, a friend in Frederick.

Wednesday, January 1st, 1862 – Today commenced the year 1862. Another year has passed away into eternity. A new ripple on the sea of time is ebbing away and we go through our regular routine of duties as careless and unconcerned as though we had nothing at stake – as though we were placed here for no higher purposes than the beasts around. How solemn it is to reflect on this – how little can we think of having done the past year and oh! how much of evil might we have when, by observing the Golden Rule, we might have made a heart rejoice and caused a smile to light up the countenance of some distressed soul. What thoughtless creatures we are. How little wisdom have we acquired in the year that passed away, when we might have "laid rich stores of knowledge by" which would not only have benefited ourselves but have been a mite toward the enlightenment of the world at large.

Read Part 7