1862 April 17 Camp Rawle, Va.

[from the diary of Daniel D. Logan, younger brother of General Thomas M. Logan, and a Sgt., Co. b, 1st Special Battalion (Rightor's), Louisiana Infantry]


     ‘Camp Rawle’     Thursday – April 17th 1862
This was a quiet day spent in Camp – reading most
of the time “What will he do with it” – as was
my spare time yesterday also – Norcum & Fry ret’d
today from camp   also Bob Hume [?], to join the
“faithful few” – We got 26 Grivot rifles today
& Capt Dunn promises us the same more tomorrow –
as soon as he finds who else are going to leave –
desert the field at this critical moment – I feel
sorry for my friends, Roath, Hall & Folger N.C.
who left yesterday & hope their reasons for leaving
are good – I cannot however imagine any
that could take me away – these men are all
true as steel, or I think they are – Not I fear [--]
satisfied with himself for going – The reports
today confirm those rec’d yes’day of the fight at
Dam No 2 – We rec’d a mail today, dates
from N.O. Apr. 6th – but I am still without a line from
Sallie – or anyone there.  Saw papers today of 14 Inst.
Janin visited us today – Wrote to Aby today urging him not
to leave til 1st May – Rec’d a letter from Harry
Fairchild –
Today saying that he was going too –
No one blames him as he is very sick &
unable to do much duty – yet I am sorry
to see him leave even under these circumstances –
he ought to be willing to stay & try to get well for
the battle – he is influenced I suppose by
Ned Phelps & those who are going home – Norvell
is detained in Camp Sick with chills.  Fry
says fretting himself to death at not being able
to come down – Scanlan died of
his wound late this Evening.
     The trees are just budding, & the
fruit trees in full bloom – Everything
looks so fresh & fair!  the past
four days have been balmy & delight-
-ful – Spring is upon us! & with
it thoughts crowd upon one of other
days & amid the stormy scenes
around us, we wander more
than usual to other’s – in spirit!!

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards[

MSS 6154