1862 April 15 Camp Rawle

  [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]

    ‘Canp Rawle’     Tuesday – April 15th 1862
Spent this day quietly in Camp – reading
“What will he do with it” – Those men who are going
to get their discharges are kicking up the devil
today – they will not answer roll-calls or do any
duty at all for fear of committing themselves into
the service – Genl Magruder sent an order today
to the Effect that “no troops will be allowed
to leave the peninsula – so that the mal-
-contents are in a dilema - & the Battalion
officers have not given them discharges but
are waiting to have for an officer to muster
them out.  Maj Beard read a short address
from Col Rightor protesting against the
action of those who want to leave with
the music of the Enemys bands to
be heard nightly in their front, it
demand those who may leave as
dishonored men – the Major made an
Equally tart speech on his own also [?] –
both were [-] for in spirit & may
get their authors into some trouble in the
future.  The men whose term of service
is up, are Entitled to their “honorable
discharge – having fulfilled their Contract
with the government, & no one of these
officers – who are sworn to give them their
discharge at the End of their term – have
a right to refuse it them or centure [censure] them
for leaving – On the other hand a mans
patriotism t is his own business – I cannot see
how any true man can wish to leave a post
when the Enemys guns & bands are upon
Every passing breeze, & an attack emminent -
is it selfish motives?  Social ties? or a
desire to be free once more from Military
Authority?  I still defer naming those Comrades
who see fit to ask discharges under the present state
of affairs, hoping that the list of 25 may be
reduced when the mustering officer Comes this
Evening or tomorrow – When drawn
up in line today Maj Beard made
us take their names & made them
“step two paces to the front”” – 20 Crescents
23 Cadets, 31 Grivots, 2 LaGuards, stepped out –
Harry went to Wmsbg today on the sick list –
Jim to Sprattleys to return tomorrow –so
Elliott  Dick & I have to cook today for
ourselves – We are promised a mail tomorrow
from Richmond, by land  - Gregory returned today
& reports that the Enemy tried to shell Gloster
point day before yesterday – The fight at Fort
Magruder turns out to be an abominable rumor –
without the least truth!  [-] news today
Since we left N.O.
[Written perpendicularly on the page are the following soldiers’ names.]
1.Roath                 [William T. Roath]
2.Ames                 [F.W. Ames]
3.Aby                    [C. H. Aby]
4.Brady G             [George W. Brady]
5.Brady F.V.         [F. W. Brady]
6/Buford
7.Burton
8.Cotton                [Samuel W. Cotton]
9.Folgervil
10 Holt                 [Samuel E. Holt]
11 Law                 [George H. Law]
12 Lockett            [W. Lockett]
13 McGaughy      [W. B. McGaughey]
14 Morse              [Alexander G. Morse]
15 O’Regan         [William G. O’Regan]
16 Polfrey
17 Pearce
18 Pettit               [George S. Pettit]
19 Phelps E
20 Phelps R         [R. A. Phelps]
21 Shaw
22 Poindexter      [J. G. Poindexter]
Above is a list of the men who
left the Co Apr 16th 1862

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 6154