Diary of an Enlisted Man

Name: Diary of an Enlisted Man
Author: Van Alstyne, Lawrence

Van Alstyne, Lawrence

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives; United States. Army. Colored Infantry Regiment, 90th (1863-1865); United States. Army. New York Infantry Regiment, 128th (1862-1865)

We were up early and at the St. Charles to see General Grant and staff
start for Carrolton. General Banks has his headquarters in Julia Street,
and soon after we got to the St. Charles he and his staff rode up. A
horse was led out for General Grant, which took two men to hold. He was
in full uniform now and made a better appearance mounted than on foot.
It was a fine sight to see them ride off up St. Charles Street, and I
wished I could see the review. I had much rather see it than take part
in it, for there is a lot of hard work about such affairs. Later we went
to the mustering office and reported according to order received at
Baton Rouge. We also got our fatigue uniforms and are now ready for
business. This is the first I have been off duty since I left the
hospital at Camp Parapet last spring. We have had quite a rest up and
upon the whole are anxious to tackle the unknown which now lies before
us. The strangest thing to me has been to undress and go to bed. I have
not, and I do not expect to sleep sound again, until I can drop down as
I am and pulling a blanket over my face to keep off the mosquitoes, know
that however sudden the call I can be ready inside of two minutes.


_September 5, 1863._

_Saturday._ Our boarding place at 184 Gravier Street has not proved to
be all we hoped for, that is, the sleeping accommodations are not quite
as desirable as we would like. In the first place the room is close and
hot. The mosquito bars shut out what air there might be, but still have
holes enough to let through the hungry varmints by the dozen. Then there
were bed bugs that act as if they had been starving all summer, and
could never get blood enough. The rooms were alive with cockroaches, but
these we didn't mind so much, for they did nothing worse than make a
noise running across the floor. But on the whole we concluded to move
and are in much better quarters at a house on Carondalet Street. I told
Sol, as we had nothing to do but scratch and as our play spell might end
any day, we should not be so particular, but he was decided and we went.


_September 6, 1863._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Diary of an Enlisted ManVan Alstyne, Lawrence

History

Diary of an Enlisted Man

Van Alstyne, Lawrence

We were up early and at the St. Charles to see General Grant and staff
start for Carrolton. General Banks has his headquarters in Julia Street,
and soon after we got to the St. Charles he and his staff rode up. A
horse was led out for General Grant, which took two men to hold. He was
in full uniform now and made a better appearance mounted than on foot.
It was a fine sight to see them ride off up St. Charles Street, and I
wished I could see the review. I had much rather see it than take part
in it, for there is a lot of hard work about such affairs. Later we went
to the mustering office and reported according to order received at
Baton Rouge. We also got our fatigue uniforms and are now ready for
business. This is the first I have been off duty since I left the
hospital at Camp Parapet last spring. We have had quite a rest up and
upon the whole are anxious to tackle the unknown which now lies before
us. The strangest thing to me has been to undress and go to bed. I have
not, and I do not expect to sleep sound again, until I can drop down as
I am and pulling a blanket over my face to keep off the mosquitoes, know
that however sudden the call I can be ready inside of two minutes.


_September 5, 1863._

_Saturday._ Our boarding place at 184 Gravier Street has not proved to
be all we hoped for, that is, the sleeping accommodations are not quite
as desirable as we would like. In the first place the room is close and
hot. The mosquito bars shut out what air there might be, but still have
holes enough to let through the hungry varmints by the dozen. Then there
were bed bugs that act as if they had been starving all summer, and
could never get blood enough. The rooms were alive with cockroaches, but
these we didn't mind so much, for they did nothing worse than make a
noise running across the floor. But on the whole we concluded to move
and are in much better quarters at a house on Carondalet Street. I told
Sol, as we had nothing to do but scratch and as our play spell might end
any day, we should not be so particular, but he was decided and we went.


_September 6, 1863._

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Diary of an Enlisted Man — John Shaqi

Diary of an Enlisted Man

Diary of an Enlisted Man

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