Civil War Diary of P. L. Loufman

On Christmas Day 1864, Philip visited Robert E. Lee’s mansion. Arlington House was built as a memorial to George Washington by his step-grandson George Washington Parke Custis. Construction of Arlington House began in 1802 and was completed in 1818. Union Soldiers at Arlington House Source: National Park Service   A young Robert E. Lee courted and later married Mary Anna Randolph Custis, daughter of George Washington Park Custis, in Arlington House. They made their home at Arlington House until the beginning of the Civil War when they were forced out. Once the Lee’s left the house, the Union army took possession and General Irvin McDowell made it his headquarters while the grounds hosted troop movements and encampments. Burials at the estate began as early as the 1820s with Mary Randolph being the first recorded burial there. Military burials began in May 1864 and on June 15, 1864, a national military cemetery was established. Philip talks about visiting this cemetery and states ...

This week’s diary excerpt covers the beginning of December 1864. Philip’s health is again the main subject of his diary entries. Winter camp near Stoneman's Switch, Falmouth, Virginia Source: Library of Congress Twice in this excerpt Philip references receiving or being given a “back left” in relation to his illness. I was unable to find any references to the term “back left” or being “given a back left.” Based on how Philip uses the phrase, I am guessing he’s using it here to indicate that he has had or will have a setback in his health. He also states that a snow storm “knocks the chill and fever weather in a cocked hat.” I had never heard the term “knocked in a cocked hat” before although my father was familiar with it. It means to outdo or defeat something, which makes sense in the context that Philip uses it. Philip also laments the quality of the government rations at camp, fearing that they will make him sick again. His concern was valid. Much has been written about the poor...

In today’s excerpt, Philip skips from October 1, 1864 to an undated entry later in the month, then to October 26 th . He then only made 3 entries for the month of November, briefly discussing the results of the presidential election on November 8 th . In all of the other entries, he talks about being sick with chills and fever and “ague”. “Ague” is an old term that refers to malaria. It is estimated that one quarter of all illness during the Civil War was malarial in nature. About 10,000 Union soldiers died of malaria during the Civil War and that more than 1 million Union soldiers contracted the disease. Confederate armies also suffered from malaria although the mortality appeared to be less among the Confederate soldiers. A Civil War Hospital Source: American Civil War Disease Facts   At the time of the Civil War, doctors did not yet understand that malaria was transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito. An article published in Scientific American in 1861 states that, “It m...

On September 28, 1864 Philip wrote in his diary “Glorius news from the front and every place else.” However, he doesn’t elaborate on the “glorius news.” In researching events in the days leading up to the 28 th , I found a site that summarizes daily events of the war. Some of the events for the dates September 19 th through the 28 th are as follows… September 19, 1864: Confederate agents captured and burned two steamers on Lake Erie. Confederate Captain Charles H. Cole’s goal was to capture the USS Michigan which was guarding Confederate prisoners near Sandusky, Ohio. Cole’s accomplices. Acting Master John Yates Beall and 19 co-conspirators boarded and captured the steamer Philo Parsons and subsequently captured and burned the steamer Island Queen . Beall put the passengers and cargo of the two steamers ashore and proceeded to the planned rendezvous with the Michigan in Sandusky Bay. Meanwhile the Union Commander of the Michigan discovered and arrested Cole. Beall realized the pla...

On September 1 ST , Philip states that “Mosby is lurking about our lines.” John Singleton Mosby was a First Lieutenant in the Confederate Army in command of the 43rd Virginia Cavalry. “Mosby’s Rangers” engaged in a campaign of raids on Union supply lines and harassment of couriers. Their ability to seemingly appear and disappear earned Mosby the nickname “The Gray Ghost.” M osby famously captured Brigadier General Edwin H. Stoughton in Fairfax, Virginia in 1863. When Mosby found Stoughton asleep in bed, he awakened the General with a slap to the rear, and asked "Do you know Mosby, General?" The General replied "Yes! Have you got the rascal?" "No," said Mosby. "He's got you!" Philip also discusses two executions in this week’s diary excerpt; the first was a bounty jumper, the second, a soldier who assaulted a young girl resulting in her death. During the Civil War, it was legal to pay a bounty to someone to enlist in your place. It was actuall...