Entering the Army at Benton Barracks, Mo.
Mch. 23, 1862
… Had my dinner of roast beef, boiled rice, bread and butter, potatoes and tea.
Pittsburg Landing, Tenn. after the Battle of Shiloh
April 13, 1862
My dear Wife,
… Ate my breakfast of hard bread, coffee, beans, and pork.
Pittsburg, Tenn.
April 18, 1862
… I have just been to supper and will tell you what I had. A nice piece of fried lean ham, some stewed beans, crackers, butter, cheese and hot coffee.
Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee
April 20, 1862
… I have just sent to the sutlers for a dozen eggs and will have some boiled eggs, crackers and a cup of tea, then have my smoke.
Advancing on Corinth, Mississippi
May 8, 1862
… I had for supper tonight fried ham, mashed potatoes, black tea, sugar, cold rice, doughnuts, butter and hard bread.
May 18, 1862
… My dinner … I have had some stewed beans, rye bread, fried pork, can lobster (which reminded me of the last one we ate together in Worcester) and pickles.
…. Well I have had a supper of beans, good bread (self raising), maple sugar and a good cup of tea.
Back to Tennessee After Beauregard evacuated Corinth
June 5th 1862
… I have a most excellent cook, who knows how to milk. Thus you will conclude that as often as once a day, I get a nice dish of bread and milk.
Memphis, Tenn.
June 28, 1862
… Sunday Morning 29th. I have just eaten a breakfast of blackberry sauce and good bread and butter.
Grant’s Central Mississippi Campaign, Hurricane Creek, Miss.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 1862
… Good supper of boiled chicken, fish, potatoes, coffee, corn bread etc.
Clear Creek, Miss.
Friday, Dec. 12, 1862
… Good supper of mutton, liver and fixtures.
Guarding the Railraod at Davis Mill, Miss.
Thursday, January 15th 1863
… Sergeant O’Brien had just presented us with a side of fat mutton and 4 snow birds. I have dressed the birds and prepare to have them for breakfast.
La Grange, Tenn.
Saturday, January 17th 1863
[At Gen. Denver’s headquarters] We were cordially received and partook of a good breakfast of ham and eggs, hot corn bread, good butter etc., etc.
Guarding the Railroad at Grand Junction, Tenn.
Thursday, Feby. 19th 1863
… We have had a supper of fried oysters, good butter, fresh bread, picnic crackers etc.
Siege of Vicksburg, Snyder’s Bluff, Miss.
June 22nd 1863My dear Wife,
… I have tripe for dinner today.
After Vicksburg, at Black River Missungus Ford, Miss.
July 23rd 1863
… Had dinner of an ear of corn and a cracker, with a cup of tea.
Sunday July 26th … The boys have been out and drove in 12 head of good beef. I have milked a quart of milk from the cows. With green peaches, milk, beef, sweet potatoes, coffee, and bread and milk, …
Marching toward Chattanooga, Iuka, Miss.
Sunday evening, Oct 25th 1863
… Last night we had a rich treat of fresh oysters. I fried one can and Adam stewed another and we had a fine feast.
… I have just been out and had my supper of stewed apple, hard bread, cold boiled beef, butter and coffee. I tell you Mary it is good enough for anybody, only the hard bread is animate a little, which quickens digestion.
Marching to the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, Madisonville, Tenn.
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 1863
Dough gods, corn, coffee and no sugar.
Bridgeport, Ala.
Dec. 22, 1863
Short rations, but enough to sustain life. I have lived two days on hard bread, without meat and no coffee.
Atlanta Campaign, in Ga.
Monday, May 16th 1864
… Our food consists of crackers, cheese and codfish, no tea or coffee, but we relish the food.
Near Big Shanty, Georgia
Sunday, June 19th 1864
… Tomatoes and blackberries for breakfast.
Big Shanty, Georgia
Monday, June 20th 1864
… A Yankee dinner of baked beans.
Chattahoochee River, Ga.
Monday, July 11th 1864
… Had nice blackberries for supper.
Chattahoochee River
Saturday, July 16th 1864
… Went into camp about one mile from Marietta. Dark, raining. Pork, bread, and coffee for supper. Laid on some fence rails, rested but little.
Near Atlanta, Ga.
Wednesday, July 27th 1864
Bread, pork and coffee are now ready and will partake.