| Summary: | This is the diary of Liberty Independence Nixon who was a resident of Limestone County, Alabama prior to the American Civil War. The evidence suggests that he was a soldier in the Confederate Army in Company E of the 50th Alabama Regiment, peace officer, school teacher, post master, and actively involved in Democratic Party politics. The diary contains recollections and reminiscences interspersed with events. Nixon was part of Company E, 50th Alabama Regiment which fought at Shiloh.[page 1]
My political views were oposite to his. I adopted the views of H. Clay at an early age being in favor of a protective U.S. tariff ___ internal improvements _______ an active part in the Political campaign of 1860 in _____ of ______ Peace and the Union ____[torn] as it was ______ Abraham Lincoln a ________ and run alone _______ the northern States I at _______ my views on the subject that the northern States a___ by his election __________________________
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_____onstitutional rights determined Seede from the _______goverment this sentiment prevails nearly unanimous especially in the cotton states. But as my space is small I will have to turn back and bring up a few ______cidents. I am a decided Membor of the Baptist Church _______ lieving only in on Lord _____ faith and One Baptis
______ is only one Gospel ____rch. At the same time ______ lieve that there are pious ______le in the Denominations ______hristian
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I married my wife Marga____Caroline Daughter of John and Manacca Beckham in February 1846. We have 7 children 4 boys and 3 girls _____ names are Hervey Abner Andrew Beauregard (formerly Winfred Scott) John Beckham, Manacca Jane, Alethea Alice, America Catherine and Elliott Holloway. As soon as I heard of the fall of Fort Henry and Donelson I knew that it would take every available man in the south to check
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The invaders of our ______ il. I immediately volunteed for years or for the war in Capt. Jim Henry Malone’s Company It is true I have left a brother in law 22 years of age helpless from infancy and a young lady grown who is my wife’s sister idiotic from infancy besides my own wife 7 little children to get along the best they can Yet I have made the sacrifice and by the help of God I will resist northern aggression till my last hour and as this _______ verry small book I will at
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once commence on the most important era of my life It is my experience as a soldier Sometime in January 1861 I Joined a company that Paul Jones was endeavoring to make up but failed to get men enough I and 10 others resolve to go to Mobile and join Capt. Malone’s Company which was in Gen Gladden’s Briggade 12 miles west of Mobile near Dog River Among the young men that went with me as Robt Donnell Son of I W S Donnell
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Feb 1862
(his parents)
I promised to advise him in every thing that pertains to his welfare which promise I have faithfully kept to the present time. We took the cars at Athens Ala on Monday the 24th day of February 1862 for Corinth Miss arrived there at 9 oclock the next morning. Stayed here all day and visited all the military camps Wend. 26th Left Corinth for Mobile at 4 oclock a.m. train 4 hours behind time travelled all day arrived at Mobile at 1 ½ oclock
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Feb 1862
P.M. 27th after a short stroll around the city we got breakfast at the battle House and at 10 oclock we took stage for the camps where we arrived at 1 oclock P.M. 28th we found Capt. Malone and Co generally well two Reg left here for Corinth Miss. March 1st The 1st battalion received marching orders and were busy in packing and cooking for the journey. Weather fine.
March 2nd struck tents and marched to Dog River where we were put on the Steamer Dominic
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March 1862
About the time the steamer started a heavy wind set in and the boat was verry hard to keep in the channel at a sudden bend in the river the boat was blown ashore and her sides struck a pine tree 70 or 80 men jumed over board for fear She would sink fortunately no person was hurt. We finally got in the Bay the wind still blowing verry hard here a sublime scene presented itself The Bay had the appearance of an old field filled with hills and hollows Our boat rocked like a cradle as she rode proud
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ly over the high waves The Bay appeared to me to be from 4 to 10 miles wide and certainly is the most beautiful in the southern Confederacy The shore is covered with ever green trees of various kinds The principal one the Magnolia Long-leaf Pine Bay tree and Moss tree interspersed with wild roses in full bloom which was the most picturesque scenes I ever saw. We passed the Light house on our left It is a beautiful building buylt round. Several ladies presented themselves at the of it and
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March 1862
waved their handkerchiefs at us as we flew past. Our boys gave them several hearty cheers We passed a large factory on our left that had been consumed with fire It had a verry desolating appearance its smouldered walls were still standing After a verry tempestuous voyage 5 or 6 hours we arrived at Mobile Citty. It has a verry neat appearance from the water. The citty authorities refused to let us land from some cause therefore we had to steer for the government Depot or wharf
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March 1862
On the other side of the Bay. It commenced raining about dark and turned verry cold for the latitude. Our baggage got wet so we had not even a seat to sit on let alone something to lay on for my part I spent a sleepless night. About midnight two of our men fell overboard and would have drowned had they not received timely assistance.
2nd About day light we steered for the city wharf. The cars were waiting for us after warming our selves by some fires that
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that the citizens had buylt for us. A portion from each Company were detailed to take our stoves off the steamer and put them on the cars which was done about 8 oclock A.M. We then got on the train to go to Corinth all in bad plight. We ran to Meridian where we stoped for the night. I slept verry little it being verry cold.
march 4th A heavy frost this morning We left Meridian about 6 oclock. The boys passed off the time finely to day by singing and playing the violin.
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March 1862
Joking. We got to Boonville Miss and slept in the cars
Wed. 5th We left Boonville about Sunrise & went to Corinth where we arrived at 9 oclock a.m. A heavy frost and plenty of ice this morning. We then went 1 mile north of Corinth on the M & O R.R. & camped about 300 yds west of the road on a ridge
March 6th Woke up this morning and found it snowing it snowed verry hard about an hour the wind from the north. About 12 oclock the snow melted off. After dinner Maj Chaddick ordered
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March 1862
us to split timber and make bunks to sleep on. We fell to work and soon had comfortable beds for all
Fri 7th went through the manual of arms in the evening.
Sat 8th weather fair & cool. A man died in Clemons Company last night I and 14 others were sent to guard the hospital under the command of Lieutenant Vaughan a verry moral young man which is a considerable rarity in the army He told me he never used any profane language in his life I saw him rebuke a young man
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for reading a vulgar book He told him that reading such a book would only tend to excite the basest of human passions and if he did not cease reading such filthy literature he certainly would be a corrupted man. From that time to this we have been verry intimate. I sincerely believe that if our army generally was composed of such men our reverses would soon be at an end While I was standing guard. I could distinctly hear the dying groans of many poor soldiers. I prayed earnestly that God would be with them in their afflictions.
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March 1862
Poor fellows they are far away from their fathers and Mothers and Brothers sisters Wives and children surrounded by strangers who look so cold and indifferent
9th I conversed with two young ladies who informed me that they had an Uncle in our company by the name of James I told them I belonged to the same Co and was acquainted with their uncle these were the only ladies that I have conversed with since I have been in the army. One of them washed my handkerchief 6 men died in the hospital last night
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March 1862
We were relieved about 10 oclock and then went back to camp In the evening we were ordered to cook 5 days rations and be at the Rail Road the next morning at 7 oclock. No one knew where we were going we were ordered to carry light knapsacks and be ready for active service in the field It commenced raining verry hard about mind____[torn]
And continued raining all nig___[torn]
March 10 We struck tents and moved them to the Rail Road by 7 oclock where we stayed till about 3 We then started north on the Mobile and O, R.R. and went
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March 1862
to Bethel Springs 21 miles from Corinth. We camped close to the Rail Road and slept on the ground
11th we had inspection of arms this morning and orders to be ready to use them. We moved about ¾ of a mile west of the Road and set up our tents in a thick Black Jack grove about 3 oclock in the night and were waked up and ordered us be ready to move at a moments notice which we did in quick time.
March 12th Heavy firing in the direction of Pitsburg Deas Regiment left for the river also a section
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March 1862
of Artillery Gen Galdden & staff left in the evening
March 15th Received intelligence of the enemies pickets being in 4 miles of Purdy Joe Farmer tom Hanson and J McCormick Joined us to day. about dark our Company was ordered up the Rail Road about 3 miles to stand as Picket guard. We were not allowed to sleep any Our officers seemed to believe that we would be attacked that night therefore we have to be verry vigilant I had to stand guard in a swamp __ar [torn] the edge of an old field No Yankees made their
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March 1862
Friday 14th still on pickett at 12 oclock it commenced raining verry hard and continued until night and all night at 5 oclock we started for camps and had to wade several creeks finally we reached there wet cold tired and hungry but were soon asleep and slept well
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March 1862
March 15th was a drizly day we buylt fires in front of our tents to dry our blankets
Sun 16th Nothing of importance happened to day
March 17th Gen Gladden’s forces commenced moving back to Corinth to day 50 of our company were ordered to be ready in 15 minutes. We were into line promptly and started and got about 75 yds when an officer rode up and did about face We turned back and learned afterwards that the cars were not ready to take us Gens Bragg Cheatham and B R Johnson are at Bethel
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March 1862
March 15th was a drizly day we buylt fires in front of our tents to dry our blankets
Sun 16th Nothing of importance happened to day
March 17th Gen Gladden’s forces commenced moving back to Corinth to day 50 of our company were ordered to be ready in 15 minutes. We were into line promptly and started and got about 75 yds when an officer rode up and did about face We turned back and learned afterwards that the cars were not ready to take us Gens Bragg Cheatham and B R Johnson are at Bethel
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March 1862
misfortunes the trains got stalled going up grade. The Engineer seemed to do all in his power to get on but could not move some of us thought that he was doing it on purpose so as the Yankees might take us all prisoners After we had got thoroughly wet another Engine arrived and assisted in pushing us up the hill. I looked around to see if I could discover my friend Donnell on the cars at length I saw him seated on a large box by the means of a flash of lightning he looked like a statute. He is ___trully [torn]an unassuming man
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March 1862
and seemed to be indifferent about the scene that was going on around him It was broad daylight before we got over the hill.
19 we arrived at Corinth at 8 oclock and pitched our tents exactly in the same place that we had left The sun shone out about 12 oclock we commenced drying our clothes and blankets.
20th It is reported here that the Yankees are advancing on Corinth. Went through the
Manual of arms at 8
March 21 cold & cloudy this ____[torn] A tree was cut down across a ten___[torn] today and smashed it up ___[torn]
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March 1862
fortunately no person was hurt
22nd nothing of importance happened
23rd To day seemed more like Sabbath than any I have witnessed since I have been in the service every thing quiet
24th Paul Jones left for Athens to day my friend Elihu Mitchell is verry sick
25th Jack Davis Joined our Company to day weather fine and springlike
26th We were waked up about 1 oclock this morning to go to Corinth to guard the Quarters of Gens Beauregard & an Johnson their guards had found a barrel of whiskey and had rolled it up
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March 1862
the platform and nearly all had got drunk so they were dismissed and sent for us. The crowd was so eager to get on the platform and in the tavern that we had to threaten them with the point of the bayonet
27th Mr. J.W.S. Donnell arrived to day
28th warm with prospects of rain
29th 15 men were detailed to clean up a new camp ground about 1 mile east of this place in order to be nearer our Briggade We struck tents about 12 oclock and moved to our new camp.
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March 1862
ground. It is a pretty place but water is verry scarce Our Briggade consist of the 1st La Vols Co. Adams 21st Ala Vols Col Deas 25th Ala Vols Col Loomis 1st Batt Ala Vols Major Chaddick and Robinson’s Regiment of Artillery
Sunday 30th Verry warm a man died in Mead’s Company
March 31st Our boys are diging wells to day & cleaning up Drill and parade ground Four new companies Joined our Batt making it a Regiment
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April 1862
April 1st Dr Malone Tyrel Crenshaw Dr. Tarbrouy & J.W.S Donnell are here
April 2nd I and my friend Jim Henry Moore stood guard to night I found him to be a verry agreeable man We had some verry pleasant conversation on the subjects of Religion Farming. He is a member of the Methodist Society
April 3rd Received orders to cook 3 days rations and be ready to move the next morning early 3rd Left camp and took up the line of march and got ½ mile where we
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April 1862
were halted 2 or 3 hours We then contermarched by left flank and moved back in the same direction that we had come We finally took the Montery road and proceeded I could see thousands of soldiers moving in different directions marching and counter marching finally they all moved off and here was presented a mighty host all going in the same direction. Sometimes we marched verry slow and sometimes double quick Our wagons mired down several times and had to stop until they started towards
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April 1862
evening I became verry tired about this time my friend William Mason rode up and kindly offered me his horse. Which I accepted thankfully. He is a verry gener___ young man and I am under a promise to his father to be his friend in times of strife which promise I have kept so far. We traveled till 11 oclock in the night and stoped near the edge o an old field
4th It commenced raining before day we took up the line of march early next morning the roads were verry
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April 1862
slippery. Some of our scouts passed us with a Yankee Captain bare headed We only traveled about 3 miles that day about Sundown we were marched by companies in the woods to rest for the night but had not more than seated ourselves before we heard our Picketts fireing in an easterly direction We were ordered into line and prepare for battle Our Officers ordered us to burst a ____cap on our guns it went like the cracking of a thousand whips presently our pickets came up with several Yankee Officers and 10 or 11
privates
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April 1862
Prisoners We were marched about ½ mile further and struck our Camp we lay on the ground that night
5th commenced raining before day We commenced marching early to meet the enemy A fight is almost certain this time Col. Coltart Col Chaddick and Maj Gwin are commanding our Regt Our men commenced throwing away their blankets in order that they might get along faster. We met an old lady on a fine horse she seemed to be in great distress she said
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April 1862
that some Alabama Regt had stolen her son and that she was then searching for him some of the boys asked her how far the Yankees were she said she didnt no any more about the Yankees than they did after She had passed we were all sorry that we had not arrested her for many of us believed that it was a Yankee spy dressed up in womens clothes About 10 oclock we came to the battle ground where our Calvary engaged the enemies the day before here I witnessed for the first time the destruction
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April 1862
devastation caused by war horses were lying dead for half a mile I saw the grave of a Yankee Col close to the road his fine horse lay dead only a few feet from him the trees were torn and skinned all around I saw several horses crippled in the woods and turned out to stand It is reported that the enemy are close by. We were halted on the side of a high ridge and were thrown in line of battle immediately but no Yankees made their appearance to day. About dark our regiment was ordered
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April 1862
out to stand Pickett We moved off about ¾ of a mile and took our position on a high ridge I slept verry little that night
6th about daybreak we were marched back to our old position in line of battle we soon received orders to move on the enemies lines which we did not withstanding we were verry hungry and sleepy. We came in view of the enemies’ tents about ¾ of a mile from when we were first drawn up in line of battle. They were drawn up in line in front of their tents.
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April 1862
As it will interest my readers I will endeavor as near as I can describe my feelings before and after the action commenced. I was taught from my youth up to pray to that God whose ears are continually open to the prayers of the humble I will here relate an anecdote of my mother which will always be fresh in my memory and which proved an index to my heart ever since It shows the power that early training has on the mind of the child I was in my ninth year. In the year 1833 I first commenced
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April 1862
useing profane language My Mother being a pious woman would of course correct me but when I would get with my wicked associated I would forget her advice. During the winter of that year a verry heavy snow fell 10 or 12 inches deep When the snow commenced melting off I was out one day hunting hares and discovered footprints of human beings from 15 to 20 inches long and from 4 to 6 in wide. The tracks were made before the snow commenced melting. It is natural with snow to melt
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April 1862
first where it has been pressed down of course the tracks appeared as large again as they did when they were first made this frightened me. I ran immediately to my mother for light on the subject She seemed to be somewhat excited at my narrative. She told me she had no idea who had been along and made the big tracks unless it was the Old Bad man hunting me because I made use of such bad words and if I did not quit he certainly would catch me and take me off. These words fell with ponderous weight on my heart
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April 1862
and from that time I commenced praying the prayer that Christ taught his Disciples. “Our Father who art in heaven” Now to my subject
Before the engagement commenced trying to examine myself to see whether I was really in the faith or not I was so absorbed on the subject of my future existence that I could scarcely obey my Officers Well thought I to myself here I am ready to take the life of my fellow man when the scriptures of eternal truth positively declare “Thou shalt not kill”
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April 1862
Then the thought of my little children would rush to my mind then the burden of my heart would be spared my life O Lord for my little children’s sake. But not my will but thine be done. About the time we were ordered to fire I became resigned to my fate let it be what it might My nerves seemed to be as steady as if I was shooting at a beast and continued so during the fight. The enemy opened a deadly fire upon our lines when we got in about 300 yds of them I was in the front rank close to our battle flag. A verry dangerous
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April 1862
position as the enemy directed the most of their fire a the flag Three of our men fell dead and several were wounded the first fire Our Officers ordered us to fall back to a Ravine some 30 or 40 steps in our rear We only stayed here a few minutes when we were ordered to charge which we did with a shout we ran up near enough to be certain that our balls would reach them We then fired a tremendous volley which seemed to have a considerable effect on them We then fell flat to reload this time the times got too
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April 1862
hot for the Yanks and conc___ded I have no doubt that self preservation was the first law of nature and acted according They gave way in great diso____ While we rushed up to their tents with a great shout. The Yankees had left every thing they had which consisted of corn Oats Flour Bacon Potatoes Overcoats Pants Vests Drawers Shirts Shoes and a great many other things in great abundance and of the finest quality We stoped to rest a few minutes I walked around to look at the dead and wounded
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April 1862
which lay thick over the camp ground They were mangled in every conceivable form some _______ in the last agonies of death I could not pass a wounded man without saying “God have mercy on him” I noticed a dead Yankee whose coat pocket was riped open with a ball a deck of cards had fallen out of the rent I could not help believeing that God was determined to expose his true character. One poor fellow was shot through the hips. He begged me to do some thing for him I asked him why he left his home to come
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April 1862
here to destroy people who had never harmed him. He replied that he was sorry for it and if he was spared he would not do so any more I told him to look to a higher power and then left him About this time I made inquiry who were killed and wounded in our Co and was told that Jack Davis fell early in the action Oh! What a pang of sorrow thrilled my soul when I heard that our beloved Jack the moddle youth of our country was no more. He went to school to me in the year 1856 and can say that I never knew him to be guilty of a mean
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April 1862
action in my life I can ______[torn] this subject without saying _____[torn] I deeply sympathize with his ____ [torn] brother H.A. David It must ___[torn] been horrible for him to see his only brother mangled by the dead___[torn] weapon of the enemy “Peace to his ashes.” Thomas Stockton was killed in the act of dipping up some water with a tin cup. John Goodwin also fell lifeless in our first charge Colonel Coltart was wounded in the foot and had to quit the field Lieutenants Richardson McClelan and Critz were ___________________[torn off]
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April 1862
here to a Surgeon and a great ____ of privates. I only laughed _____[torn] during the fight An old _____[torn] Jumped up before our boys ____ we made the charge on the _____[torn] Our boys regardless of the bullets that were whizing around their ears and the killed and wounded that have fallen behind them seemed as eager to scare the poor Old hart as they were the yanks They raised a hideous shout as the poor creature ran away as fast as it could One fellow said Now didn’t she know it in good________[torn]
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