Diary entry by Matthew Marvin of the 1st Minnesota Regiment, written from the 1st Minnesota’s camp near the Rappahannock River at Falmouth, Virginia.  During the past week Marvin drew and issued clothing, performed drills and dress parades and set about beautifying the camp.  June 5th proved to be a  busy day. Marvin writes:  “We got a lot of small pine Trees & have set a row on each side of the street & on the back streets & around the tents[.] it looks splended[.] About 5 oclock Pm Our Artillery opened on the Rebs a Terific fire about 1/4 of a mile below the camp[.] a part of the 6th corps crossed [as] before they took about 100 prisoners[.] the artillery fire was so heavy that the rebs could not reply (that is the pickets)[.]  Went down to the creek with Cha[rley] & washed cloths[.] Pd Suttler $3.50 for a pair of shoes[.]”

Marvin had to discipline a member of his Company on the 7th.  He writes:  “Sent J.C.C.[*] to the Guard house for disobedience of Orders[.] My orders wer to put him on 4 hours extra guard in [the] Division St to have him clear away certain pile of brush & then put him on 2 weeks comp fatigue when not other-wise imployed on regular duty[.]  He refused the first & said he would not do any of it”.

On Monday, June 8, Marvin writes:
Their was Co Drill this Am[.] Was on dress parade[.] Sell Eaton[**] & I went to a Nigar Prais meeting last nite after taps[.] [Whe u gu a olarr] [.] Recd a book from Harpers & Ro[.] Wrote to Jim & sent Nate 14[.] Weather pleasant[.]

*J.C.C. is likely Private Joseph C. Chandler of Company K.
** Eaton is Private Joseph S Eaton of Company K.

See entire week’s entries: 1863-06-08_Marvin_6-3_6-8combined

Citation:  June 3-8, 1863 Diary entries by Matthew Marvin, Diary, January 1-December 31, 1863. Volume 2.  Matthew Marvin Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2355 box 2]

Before Vicksburg June 7th 1863
My Dear Sister,
[... page 3]
If you could be in our fort during action and could command composure enough, amid the continual explosion of the guns on each side of you, the sulphurous smell of the burnt powder, and the fierce “whiz,” “whiz” of the enemy bullets, to observe the working of our howitzer, you would see something interesting.     There is No.1:  his hands, face, and clothes blackened with the wet powder from the sponge, on his knees ramming home the charge, (if he stood up opposite the embrasure he would get a ball in an instant)[.]  There is No.3, (William) with his thumb on the vent to a prevent premature explosion when the piece is hot.  Now the gun is loaded and Nos. 1, and 3 step back, the latter to the trail handspike to traverse the trail at the Gunners biding,  “By hand to the front,” and the piece is run up close to the embrasure. The Gunner sets his pendulum hausse on its seat, sights carefully and gives the right elevation, perhaps 2 degrees.  Then, “Ready,” Fire.” Now, if you are standing to one side where you can see, you will observe the shell flying through the air like a great black bird, make a gradual curve, and fall behind the Rebel works; then you see a white smoke where it fell, and pretty soon comes the report of its bursting.
Through all the din and tumult and smoke, No. 6. sits cooly cutting the fuses to the proper time and the proper Nos. of the Detachment carry the shells from him to the gun.
[...]

See whole letter: 1863-06-07_Christie_combined

Citation:  June 7, 1863, Letter from Thomas Christie to his father James, Civil War correspondence, May 1863-February 1864. James C. Christie and Family Papers, 1823-1849. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box A]

Before Vicksburg June the 6thb1863.
Dear Brother [Alex],
[…]
Tis curious aint: it to see the People of these states doing just now, what John Brown done a few years ago[.] Banding with the Negro to do away with his Bondage[.] hundreds of thousands that helped to strangle the old man, for lighting the torch of Freedom for the oppressed throughout the land are this day Prazing God to give us the victory they were so much afraid John Brown would get in fiftiseven.
When down at Yazoo the other day, after hard tack for the Rebes[.] There were a great many curious thoughts Presented themselves to me whe I saw a son, or sons, of the Emereld Isle, and the damned Nagurs sweltering together under a Broiling sun, and the weight of Amunition Boxes:  of shot and shell, and laying all Prejudice aside, the Nagurs were the Best looking Part the gang.  so up north the People at large let the serpent grow[,]grow and petted it.  others looked on with indifference, and did not care.  Untill the thing grew untill it thought it could swallow up the nation just for a snack before Breakfast like.  The Devil as usual thought everything was ready for a Break and spoke as of old through the serpant and Liberty doing a little Better than Eve, wouldn’t take the apple and Commenced to scotch the Brute,  thinking to put him down a with a rap or two over the Candle appendage.  But it was a no go.  so we are getting up towards the Head and it may be we will crush the life out of the pesky varmint in a year or so.
[...]

See whole letter: 1863-06-06_Christie_combined

Citation:  June 6, 1863, Letter from William Christie to his father James, Civil War correspondence, May 1863-February 1864. James C. Christie and Family Papers, 1823-1849. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box A]

Before Vicksburg June 5th 1863
My Dear Brother,
[…page 2]
It is odd is it not, that while I am penning these lines, which you will soon be reading in your quiet Wisconsin home, the balls of the Rebel sharpshooters are hissing by me and crashing through the green bushes in our rear; and now I am watching two of our fellows who are leisurely walking over the crown of the hill behind us, where they are just as sure of being shot at as they are of anything in the world. There’s the crack of the rifle; “ping:” “whack,” that was a close shot, struck the ground within a rod of them, raising a cloud of dust. Not in the least disconcerted, our chaps turn round to look at where the ball hit, and while one shakes his fist at the rebel breastworks, and gives vent to his outraged feelings in epithets not choice enough to be copied here, the other coolly goes up to the bullet hole in the hill, big enough to stick your hand into, and digging a while soon exhibits the Minnie[*] to his wrathy companion, and the two pass on over the hill. There is no fancy in this description; it is sober fact, and its parallel may be seen here every hour in the day. Our boys seem to derive as much pleasure in seeing how near the balls will come without hitting, as the Rebels do in trying to hit them. I shall not risk securing a reputation for “[ganonade]” by telling you how often I have been shot at, or how near to me the messengers have struck, but I will tell you there is a certain exciting pleasure in being made a target of, and also, that they have not yet succeeded in their oft expressed design of making a pepper box of my posterior.
[...page 4]
That is one thing we like our Generals for, they are as plain as farmers with us, and indeed: to see old Grant as we see him almost every day around among us, without staff or shoulder straps, and wearing an old hat that looks as if he had slept on it all night, you would take him to be no more than a lieutenant at most.
[...]

See whole letter here: 1863-06-05_Christie_combined

*Minnie refers to a Minié ball, a type of lead bullet fired from a rifled musket or other muzzle-loading firearm. See examples in Collections Online:

http://greatriversnetwork.org/index.php?brand=cms&q=bullet&type[]=Artifacts&yearrange=1861-18651&startindex=1&count=25&displaymode=grid

Citation: June 5, 1863, Letter from Thomas Christie to his father James, Civil War correspondence, May 1863-February 1864. James C. Christie and Family Papers, 1823-1849. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box A]\

Steamer Izetta, Columbus, Ky., June 4, 1863.

My Dear Lizzie:  [Mrs. J.M. Bowler, Nininger, Minn.]
I must write you once before we leave here.  We left Fort Heiman yesterday, seven companies on the Bon Accord, and three companies (D, F, and H) and some 200 contrabands on the Arizona.  Arrived at Paducah before night and were all transferred to the U. S. Transport Izetta.  Our trip thus far has been quite pleasant.  I was fortunate enough to secure a good stateroom, and have laid in an ample stock of the necessaries of life – crackers, cheese, ham, &c., to last me through to Vicksburg.  We brought down from the Fort[:] Col. Dawson, Maj. Alger, and Capts. Howard and Griswold, all of whom we had captured up the Tennessee  river.  They had the freedom of the boat upon their parole of honor; talked freely with us, but seemed somewhat cast down.  We bade adieu at Fort Heiman with regret, for we had comfortably situated and were doing a good business in the line of catching up rebels. While there we freed upwards of 1000 slaves, male and female, old and young.  The males have nearly all enlisted in the colored regiments which are being raised here. The negro women are objects of pity indeed; yet they seem satisfied with being free at almost any cost.  They, like the white women down here, practice snuff dipping–a most disgusting practice I assure you.
We arrived here to-day at 12 o’clock, and were immediately paid off for the two months ending April 30th.    I have expresses $160.00 to you to-day. Ten dollars ($10.00) of it belongs to Eugene and is to be given to his wife when you get a chance to do so.  I sent you $200.00 about two weeks ago.  Your letter of May 24th was received at Cairo this morning.  I do not know when I shall get a chance to write to you again; but will write when we reach our destination if I do not get an opportunity before that time.  […]

See whole letter here: 1863-06-04_Bowler_combined

Citation:  June 4, 1863, Letter from James Madison Bowler to Lizzie, Correspondence, undated, 1829-1865. Bowler, James Madison and Family, Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1330 box 1]

Diary entry by Matthew Marvin of the 1st Minnesota Regiment, written from the 1st Minnesota’s camp near the Rappahannock River at Falmouth, Virginia. During the past week regular camp activities like drill, dress parade, and reviews have continued nearly daily, despite dry weather that caused difficulties during a corps review: “The roads wer awful dusty which rose in perfect clouds so thick [we] could hardly see the compan[y] in front of us[.]”.

Two days later, on May 31, Marvin has a bit of excitement. He writes: This Am at day break we wer Ordered to turn out under Arms[.] we wer in line 15 or 20 minets & Broke rancks[…] When we turned out every thing appeared to be quiet as usual[.]

On Monday, June 1, Marvin writes:
We received two months pay to day[.] Was on dress parade[.]
Wrote to Harper & Broth & inclosed 60 cts for a book[.]
Weather pleasant[.]

See the full week of Marvin’s diary entries: 1863-06-01_Marvin_5-26_6-2combined

Edward F. Wright served in the 7th Minnesota, Company H. A recent addition to the Minnesota Historical Society’s Manuscripts Collections, Wright’s diary covers his Civil War service during the latter half of 1863. Look for more entries from Wright’s diary in future posts.

June 1st 1863
This day is a very happy one for the Soldiers. The Paymaster paid the several companies up to the 1st of May. I recd [received] $52.00. Four months pay.

Citations:
May 26-June 2, 1863 Diary entries by Matthew Marvin, Diary, January 1-December 31, 1863. Volume 2. Matthew Marvin Papers. Minnesota Historical Society. [P2355 box 2]

June 1, 1863 Diary entry by Edward F. Wright. Edward F. Wright diary. Minnesota Historical Society. [RESERVE 149]

Christie letter about the battle for Vicksburg:
May 31st [1863] Camp close By Vicksburgh
Dear Father [James Christie,]  I will try in this letter, to de[s]cribe one of the Grandest sights, I ever saw.
This morning at three oclock, the Batteries of Gen. Grants Army at his Place, oppenned at once on the doomed city of Vicksburgh. And the effects of such a sight allmost defies description.  The line extends some eight miles round the Beseiged town.  There is Artillery enough on this line to shoot from one to the other. Now just stand with me on the Point where our Battery is Placed, and see the vivid flashes of the Guns, like lightning, and the showers of shell, as they made there quick curves through the air, hissing and hurtling, and finally explodding with a report almost as loud as the Gun.  The air waved like the sea, and vibratted with a hoarse murmuring sound, While the valleys were filled with the loud thundering sound of the detonation of the firing of the mortars. Boats, on the River and the flash of there shots, were seen on the Backgroun[d] exactly like lightening.  But still there is one phase of the scene I have not spoken of and that is the Burning of the fuse, in each shell, while they are going through the air. The fuse burns, with a blue light, and looks to say the least[,] very Devilish. and I have no doubt the secesh [rebels] thought so. we kept up the connonadeing for over an hour, and made some excellent shots. Tom and I worked on the gun together[,] he as four, and I as three, so you see when there is anything going on we are generally close together and we were volunteers at that. there was not much danger in the dark from the Rebel sharp shooters, But we have to stand our ground in the daytime, and the[n] we have to dodge the Bullets frequently. I have been doing the duties of Driver No. 3. Ditto also on the gun, and I don’t see as there [w]as much danger at the gun as there is driving.
[…]
William G Christie

See the whole Christie letter here: 1863-05-31_Christie_combined

Goddard letter about the dusty, dry weather, his pay and recent events at camp:
Camp Near F. [Falmouth] Depot
May 31st 1[8]63
Dear Mother your kind letter was duly received this evening. it was dated May 26th. We have been having any thing but nice weather lately, not rainy, but so dry and dusty that a fellow can hardly breathe. I suppose that a citizan would call it fine, but it hath no charms for me. we have to do so much marching, reviewing, and Parading that such weather is very disagreeable. a little rain would make it very pleasant.
When I read your letter to whare the lot had been taken to pay for the tax I was ripping mad but when I come to whare it was redeemed I was all right again. We have been paid again, two months pay this time $26.00 twenty six Dollars, ($15.00) fifteen of which I inclose to you, and then I have for my self $12.00, but will send you part of this if you need it bad. it may be some time before we get paid again. although the report is current that here-after we are going to be paid every 2 months[.] if so I can send more.
Every time I think of old Finn I have to laugh. he presented rather a comical looking picture when he attempted to clime [climb] a greeced pool one fourth July, with his pockets full of sand and would keep applying the sand to his hands to keep from slipping down. I guess he had been partaking to freely of intoxicatering drinks. he is very fond of fireing salutes but it costs him something once and a while. I suppose you remember the time he shook all the glass out of the brick bank windows with that old six pound brass piece and then paid damages[.]
I was on picket yesterday at the Lacy house. the Rebs are very quiet about talking across. they did yell over some after Joe Hooker had recrossed the river but I think they don’t much like the way Grant is coming the giraff[e*] on them in the west. The Sanitary Commission Depot is at the Lacy house and Mrs. Lee makes [her] + head Quarters their. Old Gen. Hancock is in command of this Corps now, but I think only awhile Couch goes home on a furlough. he probably will be back soon[.]
Ely recd [received] a letter from his mother to night; but, he complains of no news. I dont want to complement you for I dont like to be complimented my self, but I do think you wright more news than most of the people writing from their. some how some people will write to a fellow and devote the whole of his or her letter to reminding you that they want all the news that you can possably pick up, but I am very fortunate not to have any such coraspondents. Hancock reviewed our Division the other day, rideing past with more dashing young officers tied to his heels than old Gen Hooker and that is useless.
I got a letter from Cousin Smith Goddard now in Navada Territory and he sais he don’t like the country, but that wedges [wages?] are very high from $3.00 to $4.00 per day. he also said that provisions wer high in proportion to wedges. He thinks he will come back to the States in about 18 months or two years and take the world easy as long as he lives. I think from what he said that he is sick of the new country[.]
Well Mother[,] Give my respects to all of my friend[s.] love to Brother
C.E. Goddard

See whole Goddard letter here: 1863-05-31_Smith_combined

*“coming the giraffe”:
Possibly meaning wasting time on a pointless task, from the French phrase peigner la giraffe (combing the giraffe), though this doesn’t seem to be what Goddard intends.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/mind-your-language/2013/jan/04/mind-your-language-idioms
An 1861 New York Times article uses the phrase in a way similar to Goddard’s usage.

Citations:
May 31, 1863, Letter from William Christie to his father James, Civil War correspondence, May 1863-February 1864. James C. Christie and Family Papers, 1823-1849. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1281 box A]

May 31, 1863, Letter from Charles Goddard to his mother, Correspondence 1863-1929. Smith, Orrin Fruit and Family Papers, 1829-1932. Minnesota Historical Society. [P1434 box 1]