Diaries of the 16th Mississippi

Truthstalker · #1 Jun 8, '08, 2:48 pm

(this thread is admittedly an experiment. The 16th Mississippi was a real unit organized June 17, 1861 at Corinth Mississippi and saw heavy fighting. Postings are meant to be for today's date minus 147 years. Your diary entry today would be for June 8, 1861. I would suggest you write the diary as of someone who went through the conflict. You can write about other people who are on the thread as you encounter them (even helping develop their character), tell another side of an incident, etc. Please consider that we know a lot more about what happened then than those who went through it, as in all wars. There is a lot of information out on the 16th Mississippi, but someone might also decide to desert, or defect, or just about anything. The emphasis here is intended to be more on character development than on humor or historical accuracy, which I would like to see respected if not fully adhered to. This is more serious drama than comedy, but might be very interesting. Feel free to join or drop out at any time. For myself, I have duties that do not allow me to be around a whole lot some of the time)

Corinth, Mississippi
June 8, Year of our Lord 1861
Dear Diary: I am excitd. With Father already enrolld in a unit, it was hard to talk Mother into lettin me join. But rit here, in Corinth, next week, they are mustering us up. I'm tall and strong for 16 and I hope they let me join. War is brewin, they say. If there is one, it should be short and bloodless. But everyone is hoping to test thair courag. Read about Fort Sumter and bad stuff happening out east. We have been free since January. Far as I know nothing has happened since. That will change, I got a feeling. I want to be thair when it happens. Everyone does. Jim, he's joining with me and few of my friends other than him. When we are old we can talk about this together, these grand times.
Still, hard to sleep last night. Don't know how long I'll be gone in the infantry. Maybe I won't see this place for a month, then I will be back. Gotta say my prayers and sleep now. - Rob.

**brotherhrolf** · #2 Jun 9, '08, 8:27 am

Dear Diary:

Wonderful news! Word has come from Nashville that Tennessee has seceded. Close thing that. There are many in Tennessee who are attached to the old Union. But for now, the Mobile and Ohio is secure at least as far as Union City and the Memphis and Charleston remains open as well.

There is a great deal of fervor in town about joining a military unit to protect our fair land. I don't think Pa would let me take Caroline and join the cavalry. Pa worked too hard to get that rig and horse.
Well, I hear the three o'clock from Charleston coming -better run to meet that train - John.

Truthstalker · #3 Jun 9, '08, 6:49 pm

JN 9, 61. Still got a headache from what happend today. Some of the companies have arrivd from down south. Never seen so many people together before! Mr. Lincoln better watch out! Seems they are all going to get together when they are all together. And they won't be state guard units either, then. They will be C.S.A. Well, what happend today was bad. I went to the encampment and tried to enlist. This soldier sneerd at me and told me I was too young. Need toilet training and my mammy. I tried to hit him but the next thing I knew someone threw a bucket of water over me where I was lying in the dirt. I tried to get up and fit him but two other guys held me back. The soldier told me to come back tomorrow when I don't have a headache - and with my mama's written permission. Then they escortd me out of camp. Thair are other boys in the camp younger than I am. How come he did this? We're all on the same side. Maybe I'll find him and ask him tomorrow. I'm also going to ask John if he wants to join with me. - Rob

**brotherhrolf** · #4 Jun 10, '08, 10:39 am

June 10, 1861 - Although the Mobile and Ohio and the Memphis and Charleston cross each other here in Corinth, they are two separate lines and don't connect to each other. The station here has become a hotbed of activity with troops coming up from the south and having to transfer to trains heading east.

Mr. Wills is in a terrible uproar with all of these officers demanding that their men be sent east immediately. They are afraid that the war will be over before they can get there. I can't help but think what this place is going to look like come harvest time in these here parts.

Part of me knows that as a clark at this station, I am helping our fledgling country but I really want to join the cavalry but I can't let Pa be without a horse.

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RAILROAD STATION AT CORINTH

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoun...ppi-battle.jpg