The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1898-06-11
AN OLD SOLDIERS DIARY.
Mr.. Geo. W Jones Personal Record Makes
Interesting Reading for Everybody

Nov. 6, 1S6l-Was mustered into the
Confederate army by Lieut.. Lanier of
the regular army at the old fair
grounds. Grenada, Miss. After muster
a grand dinner was prepared for US by
the ladies of Grenada and vicinity.
Nov. LEFT fair grounds at p. m.
Marched TO Mississippi Central depot
with music. Our friends, patriotic old
men, ladies. old and young. together
with hundreds of children assembled
at depot TO see US off, and to bid US
farewell, no doubt for the last time.
Oh, how sad. AS the tears trickled
down their cheeks. Never, never can
I forget this scene.
Nov. 9-We arrived at Columbus,
KY, about noon, after travelling on fiat
and box cars nearly two days. It was
late in the afternoon before we secured
a camping ground. At last we pitched
our tents west OF the town on the east
bank Of the mighty Mississippi river.
We had the full sweep OF the north
wind. The battle of Belmont. Mo-. just
across the river was fought on yester-
day. Gen. Grant was completely rout-
ed by our brave boys in gray. (God
bless them.
Nov. lO-I went over the battle field
today. 1t was an awful sight. The
Yankees, under flag of truce we're bu-
rying their dead comrades. They
would some times put as many as ten
poor fellows in one grave ana just bare.
" cover them up. We crossed the
river in dugcut.
Nov. 24-Orders to move this morn
ing. We marched about one mile back
from the river and received orders to
20 into winter quarters.
Nov. 25-We are now clearing up
about one acre of heavy timber lard on
the east side of the Mobile & Ohio
railroad.
Nov. 26-Fe!ling trees. some Of them
three feet across the stump, rolling
logs. hewing timber, irving of boards
and burning of brush are the orders
from day to day. All of US are working
with energy.
Dec. I've now have our cabins
about completed-2S in all. We are
now supplied with all that one could
wish for. Nearly every day we get Il
! box of goodies" from Grenada. such
as turkeys, chickens, hams, sausage,
butter, eggs, coffee, sugar, tobacco. etc.
After furnishing our cabins with three
legged stools and hunks made OF poles
we Quilt stables for our horses.
! Dec. 10-We are now nicely fixed up
for the extreme cold weather. Our
stable is 60 by 200 feet. We are haul
ing our water from the Mississippi
river IN barrels, and oh, how cold. how
cold. How have suffered in perform
ing this part of my duty. but We are
true, loyal southern boys and we mus.
endure it. The other day the boys had
quite IA laugh at my expense. ! came
to our cabin door Tor the place where
the door ought to be- with my clothes
frozen stiff, ice hanging from my ell
bows, around the skirt OF my jacket
and from the fingers of my yarn gloves
(my aunt made me Boys wanted to
know If | was laying in ice for the sum
mer. We are now protecting the cross
ing at srAilroad. The 18th Tennessee
Regiment on our right.
February 10, lS62-Last night we
were aroused from our sleep (about l Il.
M by the sound of the long roll. We
were on our feet and at our post 10 five
minutes time. We could hear vOlley
after volley of muske,ry in our
front-only a skirmish-yanHees were
driven back, unG we went bac; to our
bunIs.
Will tel, you about our trip from
Columbus to Curinth in our next.
Yours.