1861 October 24 Camp Ewing

[from the diary of James Dinsmore Templeton, private and musician in the 23rd Ohio Infantry]

Played as usual did nothing
hardly to day wrote letter to Pap
and give it to Max to carry
Home Lumber was brought on
to the ground with which to
floor for tents I payed off Moor
for cooking Sent my Minniature Home
cleared off this afternoon quite Cool

Camp Ewing

Dear Parents [Daniel G. and Jane Templeton]
Having an opportunity to
send a few lines by a fellow
Mr Geo Moore from New-
London who is now going
home I thought to write he came with us from
Camp Chase as Cook
I paid him Five Dollars this
morning as my share for
cooking This with some things
which I have been obliged
to buy has reduced my
5 We expect however to
receive our pay soon as
the Pay-Master has paid Troops
only a short distance below
us. there are Troops Camped
all along the River from
here to the Ohio river

[page 2]
On Monday there was some
skirmishing between our men
and some Rebels who were across
the River at times the fireing
was quite sharp This took
place about Two miles from Our
Camp little attention was
however paid to it--I believe
only Two or Three of our men
were killed. Lumber was brought
in this morning with which to
floor our tents This would seem
to indicate that we are to remain
here a time longer it may be
all winter. There are a good-
many of our men Sick the
Hospitals are all full
My health has been good all the
difficulty I find with me is
that I am disposed to Eat too much
Yesterday as I was in the woods close
to camp I discovered some Pigs
running about calling one of the Boys

[page 3]
we followed them down into a
deep ravine whee we succeeded
in killing one which we skined
& Dressed this will make us several
messes. This however is not the first
one we have had

We have now divided our Band into
two messes each of which do their
own cooking We have divided the
work so that each one will have
an equal a share to do as possible
Next[?] I am to start the Fire & chop
the wood. Wight & Coffin Cook
Campbell & W. Arthur wash Dishes
Bryan & Critchfield cary water
Fulkerson[?] & A. Arthur provide Wood
I get up and start the Fire
before Reville which is at 5 Oclock
I find that this is not sleeping
up Stairs until Breakfast is
ready especially these frosty
mornings The cooks have just
called us to Dinner and I am very hungry

[page 4]
Have finished my dinner had fresh potk
fried crackers & coffee
I wish we had plenty of Potatoes we
have managed to trade for some but
they are quite scarce Yesterday the
commissary issued us rations of them
they only had enough for one issue

[next line obscured by fold in in letter causing penciled words to smear, perhaps:]
How [?] our Potatoes do
I think they might be issued
to us at less expense than some
other things which we get
I have not received any letter
from you since I received the
one brought by Stoner
Bill Cress seems to get along
quite well he has not had any
thing to do yet though Stoner
was unwell for some days but
is well now

W Arthur has not got back yet his
time was up the 20th Boys think
he must be sick I received the Box of
Caps you sent suit me very well
I would say write soon for you must know
that letters to us from Home are always
Welcome Yours
J. D. Templeton

Templeton was concerned with the soldiers and bandsmen in the 23rd Ohio, and not with the affairs of the officers. He does not mention that on this day future president Rutherford B. Hayes was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd.
MSS 10317


MSS 10317