THE DIARY OF I.W. LEONARD
PAGE TWO
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Saturday 18. On picket duty last night and today. Rained as usual nearly all night and all day. Made ourselves comfortable with the wet ground for a bed and the heavens for a shelter. Received a letter this eve from Miss R.A.H. and replied.
Sunday 19. Wrote a long letter to L.C. Ward This is the unfailing resort of the soldier when time hangs heavy on his hands. There is a pleasure in writing to absent friends only equalled by the reception of their kind letters. God bless the man that invented writing!
Monday 20. Quite unwell all day. Did nothing but lie in the tent and wished I was in the old arm chair. Ah that old arm chair! What a relief it would be from these hard seats. Received a letter from W.M.C.
Tuesday 21. No better than I was yesterday. Went up to the surgeons tent and took an injuman dose of quinine -8grs. Came back to quarters and in a few minutes I was taken with a severe cramp in my stomach, which I cured by the application of hot towels.
Wednesday 22. Health much better. Still very sore in the stomach. Warm and cloudy day. Nothing of interest occurred.
Thursday 23. Beautiful day. The sun shone brightly and in the afternoon we removed our tents and aired our quarters. Went up to the village in the evening to see some sick comrades. Wrote a letter to W.M.C.
Friday 24. Another fine day, which is something strange for this season of the year in Kentucky. I went on battalion drill during the forenoon and did some writing in the afternoon. Wrote a letter to father in the evening.
Saturday 25. On picket duty tonight. Very pleasant day, and I felt in good spirits. Night very cold, so that it was almost impossible to sleep. Tried to sleep awhile, and then got up and turned before the fire like a spit.
Sunday 26. Sunday once more in the army. All day we have heard heavy cannoading far in the southwest. Another Sunday battle probably. Our generals would do well to study the records of history about Sun. battles.
Monday 27. Took sick at noon today. Indications of typhoid fever. Wrote a letter to Miss Lizze Crum in the forenoon.
Tuesday 28. Quite sick all day. The doctor gave me a strong dose of Rhubarb.
Wednesday 29. But little better. Oh! If I only was at home I would be sure of every comfort and attention.
Thursday 30. The fever appears to have left me, but I am so weak I can scarcely walk. Been raining for 36 hours.
Friday 31. Sat in the tent all day.
Saturday, February 1. Spent the day in the same manner I spent the preceeding. I feel better though, and a good sign is I have a better appetite. When a fellow is sick he feels reckless. Rec'd a letter from L.C.W.
Sunday 2. Oh! I forgot to notice yesterday that a new month had commenced. One twelfth of the new year gone. The Reg. Is out on picket tonight, and a terrible storm of rain and sleet is falling. The poor fellows will suffer.
Monday 3. Wet and uncomfortable. Thought I would write a letter, but I found on trial it was no go. The boys came in from picket about 4 P.M. wet and hungry with little prospect of supper before them.
Tuesday 4.Still dark and dreary. This is the worst weather I ever saw. If Kentucky always has such winters as this has been I hope to spend no more of them here. Far rather would I meet the sharp and cutting winds of Ohio than wade through the mud of Kentucky.
Wednesday 5. Clear and windy. Took down our tents and aired things generally. This is a most important precaution and does much to prevent sickness. Air is the great purifier and every article of clothing must be frequently exposed to its influence. Air, water and wholesome food make healthy men. The first two we have, the third nihil dies.
Thursday 6. Gloomy as usual in the morning, but cleared off warm before noon. Nothing of interest occurred. The chief peculiarity in these days while we are laying in camp is that each day is apparently just like the preceeding. Received a letter from Miss A.M.L.
Friday 7. Cold raw day. Quite an excitement was caused in camp during the evening by the news of the capture of Fort Henry on the Tennessee River. Once again the "Stars and Stripes" wave over Tennessee, and my earnest wish is that it may soon wave in triumph over all rebeldom.
Saturday 8. Raw day with indications of snow. Was made glad by the reception of three letters. One from W.M.C., another from brother Clark and another from Miss R.A.H. Those letters! What power they have, and how great the influence they exert. Wrote a letter to father.
Sunday 9. Day passed very pleasantly in camp. Wrote letter to Len, which occupied me more than two hours. This correspondence has now continued nearly two years. Also wrote to C.C. in answer to his last. Think I have done my duty today writing letters.
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