Friday, January 31, 2014

New Recruits Arrive at Camp Gilmore

Sunday, January 31, 1864

The Thirteenth New Hampshire observed a very warm winter week at Camp Gilmore, with the temperatures reading in the 80s in the shade and in the 90s in the sun. On Saturday vaccinations were ordered for soldiers and citizens in the camp and environs. Today sixty-four new recruits for the Thirteenth arrived at camp from Concord. 1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 230-31.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Military Ball and Railroad Tour Celebrated at Camp Gilmore

Sunday, January 24, 1864

During the week detachments from the Thirteenth New Hampshire were detailed to picket duty on the nearby Union outposts and employed on the provost guard line west of Portsmouth. On Thursday the Connecticut Brigade reluctantly departed Camp Gilmore for New Berne, North Carolina. The depletion of the ranks from their exodus made hard work for the remainder of the troops at Camp Gilmore, with only four to five thousand men defending eight miles around camp. To honor the family members visiting camp the hospital is cleared and cleaned for a military ball on Saturday. Today a party of officers and their families enjoyed a railroad voyage to Fortress Monroe, Norfolk, and Portsmouth and returned to camp by nightfall for religious services.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 229-30.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Family Members Visit Camp Gilmore

Sunday, January 17, 1864

The Thirteenth New Hampshire welcomed a week of milder weather. The officers enjoyed visits from family members and organized riding parties to show their families around camp. Today the Thirteenth New Hampshire engaged in the usual regimen of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. An outbreak of smallpox was reported in the contraband camp.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 228-29.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Reenlistments at Camp Gilmore

Sunday, January 10, 1864

The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured a stormy week of hail and snow in camp and spent much of their time inside quarters. This week many veterans of the original three-year regiments at Camp Gilmore re-enlisted for an additional term of service.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 227-28.

Friday, January 3, 2014

Confederate Force at Suffolk

Sunday, January 3, 1864

The Thirteenth New Hampshire observed another cold week at Camp Gilmore. Reinforcements were deployed at the Bowers Hill garrison as a report reached the camp of a sizable force of Confederates at Suffolk.1

References:
1S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 226-27.