Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

[Mississippian]

All,

Time for a little C.S. love. Lt. Huddleston was the GG Grandfather of my HS biology teacher, she knew my love of history and the WBTS She gave me a copy of the diary he kept during the war. It covers from July 1861 to Aug. 1863 with some missing areas. It shows in detail how far and where to the 15th marched, almost like a logbook. He was made a POW in Jan. 1864 and was kept at Ft. Delaware, he also kept an autograph book that had General Archer and several other C.S. generals in it. As with the Pvt. Bunney letters, I will be posting these in parts as well.

Will MacDonald

Beginning Missing...

...since the organization of the camp and on the 6th July (1861) we started from this point to Pittmans Ferry Ark. At which place we arrived on the 18th being 9 days on the boat and thn marching 25 mile the 10th day (and let me add here that this broke us all down being the first marching we ever did) however we arrived at the ferry on the 16th where we remained in Quitilude one month when we received orders to march for Roseville Mo. A distance of 60 miles which order was obeyed. Let me say however I do not recollect how long it took us to march to this place though we made it and remained here 3 weeks when we returned to Pittmans Ferry where we rested in quitilude until the 19th of Sept when we received orders to go to Point Pleasant on the Mississippi River and accordingly we started on the 19th and marched six miles arriving at Little Black River where we camped for the night. Next morning (20th we started again bright and early. We marched 18 mile cutting out the road. This carried us to Big Black Ark, where we camped and I do think this was a rainy a night as I ever seen. Now i began to feel what it was like to be a soldier. We got wet as fish. However next morning (the 21st) we started marched 15 miles cutting the road again, after the hardest days work we ever have done we arrived late in the evening of the Cash River where we camped for the night. Next day (22nd) we stayed and built bridge over the River. This was a hard days work for we was in the water all day. The next day (23rd) we rested. The 24th we rested at the same place. The 25th we started early in the day marched 12 mile crossing St. Francis River at Chalk Bluffs where we camped. Next morning 26th we started, marched 8 miles camped on the ege of Grand Prairie we had good road all day. It rained very hard just at night. We got very wet as we had no tent or other shelter.

[Texasbutternut]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

This is great! I hope you can post more, or maybe get the entire diary published. I wish some of my ancestors had kept a diary like this.
Thanks!

[LWhite64]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Will, thanks for posting this, Ive found things from all of the other regiments in Govan's Brigade, but even though the 15th is my favorite, I have found next to nothing from them, other than a couple of letters from another Captain, years ago. Too bad it ends in August of 63 though. Right now, Im working on editing about three weeks worth of Cleburne's diary that I found about a month ago, covers the first weeks of October of 1864.

Lee

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Lee, thank you for your complement. While doing some more research into Lt. Huddleston, it seems that he did a stint as the Brigade Provost Marshal as well.

Will MacDonald

Now on to part #2, continued from where we left off...


...The 9th day (27th) we marched across distance of 8 miles camped on the west end of the Plank Road across Nig*er Walk Swamp. The tenth day (28th) we marched across the swamp Distance of 14 miles and marched on eleven miles further making 25 miles we marched this day. We camped on a beautiful Papaw Ridge. I need not add we slept well that night although it frosted and was very cold for the season. The eleventh day (29th) we reached Point Pleasant on the Mississippi River (a distance of 12 miles) where we remained until the 30th of Sept. 1861 when we embarked on the Steamer Alonzo Child for Columbus Kentucky, arrived later same day. We remained here until the 15th (October) when we took carrs for Bowling Green KY. We stopped at Danville Tenn. on the 17th being two days arriving to this place. Here we remained until the 20th when we again started for Bowling Green. After two days very uncomfortable traveling we arrived at our destination (being Bowling Green) where we remained until the 29th when we started out in great glea to meet the Yankees. Marched 10 miles toward Woodburg Ky. but the enemy had skedaddled. Here we stopped until the first day of November when we returned to Bowling Green. We remained here until the 9th of November started again to hunt Yankees but this time a different direction (being towards Thompkinsville Ky.) The first day (the 9th) we marched 12 miles and camped. the 2nd (10th) we marched 12 miles reached Scottville. The 3rd day (11th) we marched 18 miles to Jimtown where we camped for the night. The 4th day (12th) we marched 20 miles reaching Thompkinsville but the men we sought had fled. The next day (13th) we again set out and marched 8 miles toward Columbia and stopped unil next morning when we started back to Bowling Green. We was five days getting back making ten days we was marching on this trip. We camped at the old camps where we remained until the 6th of Dec. when we moved four miles from town and built Winter Quarters. Here we remained until the 13th of Feby (1862) when we started for Nashville Tenn. The first day (13th) we marched 15 miles and there fell a very considerable snow this night. The next morning (14th) we started marched all day through the snow a distance of 20 miles. Lay down in open field on snow at night. The next morning (15th) we marched 10 miles and stopped until the next morning (16th) when we started. Marched all day. Found ourselves in Nashville at nine o' clock PM, distance of 35 miles from where we stayed overnight. We slept in the Market House until morning when we moved one mile from town on the Murfreesboro Turnpike where we camped until the 18th of Feby when again started, marched 10 miles and camped until the 20th when we started and marched 20 miles reaching Murfeesboro late in the evening.

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Part #3

That night we took carrs for Decatur Ala. Arrived at the place on the 28th Feby, camped in the fair ground until the 20th of March when we took carrs for Burnsville Miss. Arrived at this place same day. Remained here until the 30th. We again took carrs for Corinth Miss arrived at later place same day. Marched out two miles southeast of town and camped where we remained until the 3rd of April when we took up line of march for Shioh. The frist day we marched 8 mils. Skirmished with the enemy late in the evening. We killed one man, lost none. This done on the 4th. here we remained all night. It rained very hard. We sent back three miles for provisions. next morning we started and advanced 21 miles searching the woods very close, but found no yanks. here we remained all that day and night could hear the enemy play their music and hollow just as plain as if we had been in three hundred yards of them. We had neither blankets or rations, lay down on the leaves and slept all night. Next morning at the dawn of day we started, moved forward about 1/2 mile when we were fired at by the enemies Pickets. However, we soon disloged them and pursued them for 1 miles when we found them in full force. Upon our arrival they of course commenced contesting our further advance and we returned the fire. The battle thus began to be general and in very short time the full force were in the contest. This lasted all day and resulted in the driving of the federals under protection of their Gun Boats on the river. however late in the evening, our general thought best to rest his men accordingly. Orders were given to cease fire which was obeyed.
We withdrew for a short distance and now began to realize the benefits of our days work. We had the enemies camp in possession and a rich feast. It was next morning we moved out and found them heavily reinforced so they again started us towards Corinth. They however did not follow but a few miles. We returned to Corinth on the 8th, a worn out set of men however we went into camp. We remained until the 26th may when we marched eight miles south camped for night.

Will MacDonald

[daveray84]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Will,

Is there any more? You can't leave us hanging like this...

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Dave,

I'll have to find it all when i get home, me and the GF have been reorganizing the house and some stuff got moved around. I'll try to post some more tonight.

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Part 4: Into Kentucky


"....Next morning on the 27th we went to work, throwing up breast works. Worked all day and the next and are being detailed to cover the retreat of Hardees Corps from Corinth and the troops passed until 1 o'clock. At 2 o'clock PM of the 29th the enemies cavalry came into sight. They were received by our pickets with pretty heavy fire which resulted in their withdrawal from sight. But they soon returned with Artillery and when in range of our guns we opened fire on them. They withdrew again.
Next morning (on the 30th) they again appeared and we commenced sharps shooting which was kept up all day, but without damage. When night came on we found they had crossed the creek both above and below us. Consequently Genl Bushrod Johnston (who was in command of the detachment) gave orders for a silent retreat and accordingly at nine o'clock at night we started. Marched ten miles where we rested till day break next morning (the 31st) when we again started. We marched 15 mile reaching Baldwin, Miss on the MMORR in the evening where we camped. I need not add that we were worn down for we had nothing to eat for twenty four hours and it may readily be supposed that under these circumstances men would tire.
Here we remained until 8th June when we took up march for Tupelo. Marched ten miles and camped till next morning (the 9th) when we started again. Marched 8 miles arriving at said place in the evening. we went three miles west from town and camped where we remained until 25th July when we started for Chattanooga. Started about 9 o'clock PM for Mobile. Traveled 26th & 27th night included. Arrived at Mobile 9 o'clock AM 27th. Embarked on Steamer Joneston No. 2 for montgomery. on the 30th we arrived at the city at 8 o'clock AM. Camped at fair ground until 4 o'clock PM took carrs, started for Atlanta Ga, 5 o'clock AM. Arrived Atlanta 4 o'clock PM. here we lay by four hours during which time it rained very hard and continued to rain until 12 o'clock, However we, started for Chattanooga arrived there 5 o'clock PM. Sheltered in the carrs during the night. Next morning (the 2nd) we went back 12 miles to Chickamauga and camped until 9th when we took carrs for Knoxville at which place we arrived same day. We remained here until the 12th we started early in the morning in the direction of Big Creek Gap in the Cumberland mountains. We marched 10 miles and camped. Next morning we started again, marched 13 miles arriving at the Clinch River where we camped for the night. Early next morning (14th) we starred again marched eleven miles camped until next morning (15th) when we again set out in westerly direction. We marched 12 miles and found ourselves at Big Creek Gap where we camped and drew rations for four days, cooked them.
Next morning we started northwest leaving our wagons. This day (18th) marched 20 miles camped. Next morning 19th started again marched 15 miles and camped until the next morning when we started very early. marched 18 miles in the mountains since we left wagons. However we stopped until next morning when we again started in the direction of Baubersville KY. Marched 12 miles passing thru the town.
It will be observed that rations were now out. We camped 1 1/2 mile from town on the Cumberland Ford Road. remained during the night without rations. Next morning (20th) we started toward the ford. Marched 9 miles and camped at Flat Lick Village. Still no rations, next morning 21st started and marched five miles stopped and remained here until next morning (22nd). Marched to Flat Lick and camped until next morning when we resumed our march. We arrived at Baubersville in the evening where we drew rations for the first time since we left Big Creek Gap."

Will MacDonald

[traveler1863]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Sir,

Thank you for posting these entries. It illustrates how soldiers on the march lived and some of the logistical problems they encountered.

Gordon Morey

[Aleutian06]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Thank you for posting. Does any of the Diary refer to the Battle of Liberty Gap, Tennesse? June 24, 1863 – June 26, 1863. I have an old reference to this Diary that says the 15th Arkansas lost a flag at Liberty Gap, and the reference is to the unpublished diary of Lt William Huddleston.
I have not been able to locate that portion of the Diary.

[ke5kbg]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Thanks for posting this. I am in MS and am a GG grandson of William Tanner Huddleston. I would like to know more info about diary and teacher. Maybe I could track it down and get color pictures of the pages.

My email is ke5kbg@Gmail.com

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Yes, there is a reference in the diary to a lost stand of colors at Liberty Gap.

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Diary of Lt. William T. Huddleston 15th Ark. Inf (Cleburnes)

Starting up again....

"However we remained here until next morning 25th when we again started but in the direction of London Ky. We marched ten miles camped until next morning 26th, We again resumed our march. We traveled 18 miles and camped for the night. Next morning 27th, set out again marched 12 miles passing though London. Camped four miles from town on the road leading to Richmond Ky. We remained here until next morning 28th, we again set out marched 12 miles camped for the night. Next morning 29th we resumed our march early in the morning. Marched ten miles formed line of Battle. But in the evening we withdrew our line 1 1/2 mile and camped.
Had scarcely commenced cooking when we were ordered to fall in again which order was promptly obeyed and we double quicked one mile formed line of battle and just at this time the calvery under Metcalf charged us but we howled him back in great confussion, we remained in the line until next morning 30th when we were ordered forward.
We advanced cautiously seven miles where we found the enemy in force. We soon disloged him, killing and capturing many. They retreated four miles to the White Plains where they thought to stop our advance, having receved some reinforcements, but we soon hit them again and the..."

The rest of that days entry is missing, along with everything until Oct. 4th 1862. Will post more later.

Will MacDonald.