Tag Archives: Civil War Diary

Civil War Diary of George Painter – October 1, 1863

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Day after day the troops were subjected to dress parade.

The troops were not happy this month as the young men were getting tired of sitting on the banks waiting for some activity. So they created some of their own as they had to find food for themselves and their mules. They are very tired of dress parade.

George tries to find pleasure in some of the little things like getting a letter in the mail or even a day pass but he would really like to have a furlough, which is something he has not had since his enlistment.

Thursday, October 1, 1863

This morning the news came that Rosy had whipped old Bragg. But the news may be doubted as we have heard so many similar reports. We had dress parade and the orders were as follows: We are to drill from 7 o’clock to 8 and from 10 to 11 and from 2 to 3. At 5 o’clock we are to have dress parade. This didn’t agree with the boys, as well as many other orders would, as they have been on board so long. They feel rather lazy for the duty that’s to be done.

Thursday. October. 1st. 1863.

This morning the news came that Rosy had whiped old brag But the news may be doubted as we have heard so many simeral reports. We had dress-parad and the orders was as follows that we are to drill from 7 oclock to 8 and from 10 to eleven and from 2 to 3 and at 5 oclock we are to have dress-parade. This didn’t agree with the boys so well as many other orders would as they have been on board so long they feel rather lazy for the duty thats to be done.

Read more about the adventures of George Painter and the Mississippi Marine Brigade in my recently published book, “Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade” which is available on Amazon and ebay or by contacting me at beverlykerrauthor@gmail.com

George Painter Diary – September 1, 1863

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Hospital Boat – Woodford

September was a rough month for the boys on the Mississippi Marine Brigade. During this time they were waiting for orders to move troops from place to place. There were so many sick, that a hospital boat was needed.

Here is George’s entry in his diary for September 1 with spelling and punctuation changed for easier reading.

Tuesday, September 1, 1863

Still laying at Griffith’s Landing and the Major got the boys to carry in wood. The general talk is that we are going up the river. The weather is cool and more pleasant than heretofore. I had a chill and fever.

Below if the diary entry in George’s own words with spelling and punctuation left as it appeared in his diary.

Tuesday. September. 1st. 1863.

Still laying at Grifets landing And the Major got the boys to cary in wood and the General talk is that we are going up the river The weather is cool and much pleasanter then here to fore. I had a chill and feaver,

If you would like to learn more about this adventuresome group, you would probably enjoy reading his diary as transcribed from the original in “Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade” The Civil War Diary of George Painter. George was a Union soldier who ended up in this brigade through unusual circumstances.

The book may be purchased on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08T9ZK6TP or on eBay.

Civil War Diary of Pvt. George Painter – June 1, 1863

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During the month of June, the Mississippi Marine Brigade spent most of the time around Vicksburg. Several times during their time here, they mentioned being at Snyder’s Bluff. So on a recent trip to Mississippi, I attempted to drive to Snyder’s Bluff by following signs along the road. This is the road I ended up on. The road as you can see is quite narrow and when I came around a bend and met a truck full of logs, I decided I better head back where I came from. Thanks to Pvt. George Painter, I had a little adventure that day.

Here is a post from George’s diary for June 1, 1863 from Snyder’s Bluff, Mississippi. I have only changed spelling and punctuation for easier reading.

Monday, June 1, 1863

This morning at the early hour of 3 o’clock we started from Snyder’s Bluff and ran down the Yazoo to the Mississippi River. We landed on the Louisiana side and buried a man belonging to the Baltic. Then we started up the river and continued on during the night.

Below is the actual entry from George’s diary with some misspellings and little punctuation, but still very readable.

Monday. June 1st. 1863.

This morning at the early hour of 3 we started from Snyders bluffs and run down the yazoo to the Mississippi river and landed on the Louisana side and buried aman belonging to the baltic then we started up the river and continud on dureing the night.

Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade – The Civil War Diary of George Painter can be purchased on eBay, Amazon, or by contacting the author at beverlykerrauthor@gmail.com

Diary Entry – May 1, 1863

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Ft. Henry, Tennessee

George Painter wrote in his diary each day for the year 1863. One hundred and fifty-eight years later, we travel with him as he explores the Mississippi River region while part of the Mississippi Marine Brigade. Some days he spent exploring the area and others he had duties to be performed. Each day was a new experience.

This is his entry for May 1, 1863 from Ft. Henry, Tennessee. I have only changed the spelling and punctuation in a few places for easier reading.

Friday, May 1, 1863

Still remaining at Ft. Henry. To pass the time away with as much pleasure as possible, I took a walk across the ravines at Ft. Henry. I sat under the leafy oaks and while there, my attention was drawn off to some far and distant tree by the quacking of some squirrels, which I discovered were in their most playful manner. After watching their playful movements for some time, I retraced my steps back to the boats which lay at shore nigh the fort.

Below is the actual diary entry in George’s hand with some misspelled words and little punctuation, but very understandable.

Friday. May. 1st. 1863.

Still remaining at Ft. Henry and to pass the time away with as much pleasure as posable I took awalk out across the ravines at Ft. Henry and Sit under the leafy oaks and while there my attention was drawn off to some far and distent tree by the quacking of some squirels which I discovered there in their most playfull manner after watching there playfull movements for some time I retraiced my steps back to the boats which lay at shore nigh the fort.

If you find this interesting, you can order the entire diary from Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08T9ZK6TP

Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade

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Discover how Private George Painter, a Civil War soldier from Richland County, Ohio spent 1863 in the Mississippi Marine Brigade. George faithfully wrote in his diary every day during 1863 to report on his military service.

It all begins when General Alfred W. Ellet organizes the brigade and finds that he needs more men for a successful operation. He then decided to recruit members from the local convalescing hospitals with promises of light work. An ad in the Cleveland Daily Leader stated:

The service will be an easy one – no camping out, no carrying knapsacks, and very little marching. The boats will be furnished with good cooks and bedding. Soldiering under such circumstances will be nothing but fun.

George Painter had just recovered from two hospital stays for typhoid fever and was in the St. Louis area where it all began. So it perhaps seemed a good choice for him to join this obscure Union fleet to continue his military service.

This book is now available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08T9ZK6TP or you can contact the author at beverlykerrauthor@gmail.com for other payment options.

George Painter Background

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George Painter was born on April 2, 1842 to Hamilton and Matilda Painter. He grew up on a farm in Richland County, Ohio. He was named for his father’s brother. George had five brothers and one sister and the family attended the local Methodist Episcopal Church.

When the call for volunteers came in 1862, George and two of his brothers enlisted and were soon sent to Cincinnati to begin their time of service. Nearly 320,000 Union soldiers came from Ohio.

During the winter of 1862, the Mississippi Marine Brigade was being formed in the St. Louis area by General Alfred Ellet. Finding enough recruits to man the ships became a problem, so he went to the hospitals in the area to find convalescing patients who would be strong enough to manage ships on the Mississippi River.

George had been in the hospital with typhoid fever and the promise of not having to march daily, carry knapsacks, or sleep in trenches must have encouraged him to join the brigade.

As he traveled down the Mississippi River and its tributaries, George wrote daily of what was happening on the boat and sometimes in the war.

Union Civil War Diary – Just Published

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“Life in the Mississippi Marine Brigade” has finally been published after a couple years of research, writing, and rewriting. The book is based on a diary of George Painter for the year 1863.

The story begins when my son had the opportunity to purchase the diary through his antique business. Since he knows that mom enjoys writing stories about true events, he challenged me to turn the diary into a book.

My first challenge was to transcribe the words of George Painter exactly as he wrote them. Included were his original words, some misspelled, as well as punctuation and grammar as George wrote it while traveling down the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

When I shared a page of the early transcription with friends, they felt it was too cumbersome to read in its original writing so suggested that I rewrite it in a smoother English style that would be easy to read.

My final decision was to use them both. In the book, the original written by George has been placed in a box while the easier to read section is above it in italics throughout the book.

My comments and additional information are written in regular print wherever it seemed to be needed for clearer explanation of events.

My hope is that you will find the diary easy to read and enjoyable.

The book is available at this time through Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08T9ZK6TP

I will be getting a shipment of books shortly for those wishing an autographed copy.