1861 December 31

[from the diary of Franics G. Hale of the 34th Ohio Zouaves]

We got up this morning
got our breakfast then
as we could not get
any Clew from the wimon
of the house all though
we tried a good many
ways some of the boys
threatened to shoot them
and cocked there guns
and pointed them at
them they would not
tell and said they did
not know any thing
of them only that they
was sent to head
quarters we heard from
a couple of little boys
that there was a boy
a bout two miles
from there that knowed
there was a part of us
sent for him he was
not at home he had
gon to the woods we
took his mother a long
she said she was there
but we could not
get mutch from her
either if we could have
got her boy we would
found out more I ex
pect while we was
there there was a woman
give us fits for a while
when we got back
to the mill we fixt
up the fellow on a
litter and crried him
a good many miles
I was an advance
guard we took some
prisners a long the
road and got a good
many thing to eat
sutch as milk corn
bread and so on
we went in to every
house a long the
road we met a woman
the wageon that we
sent for a bout
half way the doctor
was a long they
came near firing at
us advanc guards
but they did not we
came on toward camp
that is the advance
guards we came a head
we got in to camp before
tatoo time which is
a bout nine o clock
at every hous along
the road there husban
had gon to Logan or
to twelvepole or she
was a lone widow
taking care of these poor
orphan children or the
man of the house
had gon out she did
not know Where he
had gon I saw many
a heartrendering seene
while I was gon
husband parting with
his wife and children
I came near crying
my self lots of times
Wife thining we shot her husband

MSS 13405