Friday morning 13th of March 1863
Yesterday and the day before were two of the most beautiful days I ever saw, clear but cold. The air was keen and bracing, most windy, but without the wind ‘twould not have been a March day.
A few days ago the news of Van Dorn’s capture was received here; at Spring Hill, I believe it was, a little place about 12 miles from Franklin. Van Dorn captured four of five regiments of Yankees, and it was true too for his paroled prisoners passed here day before yesterday. Those rebels are terrible creatures, at least the Feds think so!
I think Tuesday was the last time I scribbled in this book. The same day the Yanks brought in some nine or ten prisoners, among them was Capt. Hick Johnson, Mr. Mockerby, Dick McCauley, all of the 14th Tennessee regiment and a Mr. Headley of the 1st Ky. Cavalry, Woodward’s old regiment, and several others whose names I have not heard. All were let off on strict parole the day after they were taken except Mockerby and Headley. All had to give $5,000 bond and as those two had no one to go their security, they did not get off. Last night they were all sent to Nashville. Yesterday Ma, Mary Shackelford, and myself went to Colonel Bruce and got a pass to go to see those two who were in confinement. Mr. Mockerby told us a good deal about brother. He was well when he saw him which was the last of January. He is the latest one we have seen from the regt.
It made me so mad to such a contemptible puppy as that little insolent upstart Lieutenant something McDorvel I believe he called himself; he would put his tongue in every time we would begin to talk. He told us he claimed to be a Kentuckian before he turned Yankee, that he lived in Louisville when he was a seesh, that he was at Camp Boone with Buckner; but that the devil had him by one hand and his guardian angle by the other, but the angel carried him off. I told him I doubted whether an angel had eve been near him; but certainly his evil genius had pulled him over. Every now and then when we would be talking to the “confeds” he would throw in some of impertinence until I got tired of it so I turned and said to him “we did not come here to see you sir.” Ma told me to hush, that I would get myself into trouble, but I was not afraid of him and his whole band. I think it shut him up considerably for he said nothing more to us. If he had I am afraid he would have gotten him-self into trouble.
I do wish I could write a pretty hand.
The Yankees will have to pass through a “Longstreet,” level two “Hills,” and climb a Stonewall” before they can get to Richmond. Which is a pretty hard business for them to go about. Rather, they have been about it so long I am thinking they will have to give it up.
Monday morning 16th of March 1863
We have had beautiful weather since last Tuesday until yesterday when it clouded up but did not rain. Today the sun has come out again. It looks like spring is coming again. We have had an unpleasant winter. I do hope that spring with her sunshine and blossoms will bring us peace to our country. This war has lasted so long — two years! It seems like two centuries. Peace, peace come to cheer us once again, and we will appreciate thy smile.