Corporal John Blackburn

(Wording is blunt and straight to the point seeing as Blackburn only received average education)

Blog 1:

June 20, 1861

First Journal Entry:

[This is John Blackburn, a newly recruit soldier of the Union Army.]

It's only been a few months since I got transferred to the 1st regiment, Rhode Island (RI) light artillery unit. I must admit, the Union army is not looking favorable; it's only been a few months, and I've already been transferred from the first Rhode Island Detached Militia during our march to Washington, D.C. in response to President Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops. Despite this roughly gathered force we have here, I've heard that the rebellion would be crushed quickly, nevertheless. I've had all my hopes set back home, where my wife and I had planned on opening a chain of stores. This rebellion really is a bother, its existence only obstructs me from conducting business, I can only be interested if there is a prospect of making money somewhere.

Apart from my own concerns in the army, I've heard that the Federal forces are already moving to control Baltimore as well as the Ohio Railroad. Mary (my wife) must be annoyed by now, she's already traveling with the army as a sutler, I can imagine that the news will only upset her. This is most of what I have gathered, for I must extinguish the lights now; the sound of taps are already resonating through our camp.

Blog 2:

July 24, 1861

Second Journal Entry:

I am writing as of right now to officially confirm my doubts of our current military condition.

We engaged in battle on July 21 with the Confederate forces. Our artillery unit was stationed at Matthews Hill, where the battle had first started. Our forces and theirs had clashed in an intense fighting with primarily hostile rifle fire. Many of my comrades went down in this horrific exchange. However, our troops had pushed down the Confederates in what seemed like an early victory, until their troops had regathered on Henry Hill under the aid of the 90-minute delay the initial skirmish provided them. It was already much too late when we realized that the Confederates had already set up their defense position. 

What's even more humiliating was our rush back to the capital; it was like a horde of frantic bodies cramming around the already agitated battlefields. The organized retreat was quickly broken as soldiers had even started abandoning their weapons in the rush. Fortunately, the Confederates were barely in a better position to take advantage of the chaos (to think of the rival forces marching on Washington!) This aftermath had only proved my former suspicions, and this was not the swift victory we had previously believed we'd claim. Now, our (my partner and I) former thoughts of opening the string of stores seem bleak as the war seemed to drag on a lot longer--how upsetting!

Blog 3:

April 15, 1862

It's been quite some time since the last journal entry, but much has happened over what only seemed to be a little more than a year.

Mary had already given birth to our son last year, and it was a glorious occasion, although I must admit I wished she could have had better conditions than the filthy barracks. The baby boy came out just fine, and Mary regained her usual condition after some rest. I can already see the resemblance between our son and I. I had pleaded with Mary for her to return to Providence--our home--along with our newborn son, whom we named Jack. They had left around the time our General McClellan had replaced Winfield Scott, or, as the other men may call him, "Little Mac". I do remember their departure happening before our winter quarters, which should align with McClellan's appearance.

From the Battle of Bull Run, there have been a great many conflicts I haven't yet touched up on. Besides the raising of McClellan along the ranks, a new kind of warfare had begun. In the March of last year, we (the 1st Rhode Island Light Artillery Unit), learned through telepathic dispatches of the clash of the Iron Giants, Confederates' Virginia and our Monitor. 

Our unit was stationed up in the north in Virginia and Maryland, so once again it was only through newspaper and telegraph reports that we heard of the bloody battle of Shiloh down in Tennessee. Ultimately, Grant had won the battle at a staggering cost of ~1,700 Union soldiers' lives. With our increase in rations these months, the troops had replenished their supply of hardtack biscuits, only now it was softened with a generous amount of oil and soaked to break down its rock-hard interior. The other soldiers had taken quite a liking, and hopefully this period shall last long enough for us to reach the winter quarters.

[Corporal Blackburn will bring butter biscuits for his fellow soldiers tomorrow.]

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/southern-buttermilk-biscuits/#RecipeCard This is the recipe (along with some other added ingredients: seasoning, cheese)

Blog 4:

Blog 5:

May 21, 1864

It has already been another year since I've last written, and the war just seems to go on. The war just exhausts the men of our army; our artillery unit is already teeming with exhausted and injured men. It was only yesterday when we engaged in the battle of Ware Bottom Church in Virginia. The battle had caused multiple casualties in our regiment alone, and was a Confederate victory. 

This wasn't even the worst, our battle at the Spotsylvania Court House was a tremendous loss in numbers for the Union as well as the rebels. We had already breached the Confederate "horse-shoed" entrenchment when intense fighting began. We now know this as the "Bloody Angle". Bodies piled up everywhere, and soldiers were so close together I couldn't even tell between enemy and friendly soldiers. It was barely a Union victory.

Martha writes that the baby and her are doing okay, and asks for my condition (I was fine, I said). Little Jack is already a little over one, but I regret being unable to see him. I hope for the day I can finally reunite with my wife and son.

Blog 6:

April 10, 1865

It is--yet again--almost a year since I've written. This time it is different; I am no longer writing out of weariness, no longer ending every stroke of the pen thinking about how my demise would affect Mary and Jack, because it is finally over. Finally, after years of this dreadful and soul-sucking fighting, the war is over.

The joyous news was announced sometime yesterday, and word spread from then on. Our battery had witnessed it upfront, seeing as we fought in the Appomattox campaign. I saw the surrender from my very own eyes, the two generals, Lee and Grant. One was composed and dignified even in his defeat, the other was somber and respectful. Both were aware that not one side truly won, because  our nation had lost over hundreds of thousands of great men. Against all of my personal beliefs, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for Lee, whom I knew didn't need a shred of pity from anyone. I do have to admit, hidden behind the cover of this journal, that I had a begrudging admiration for this man.

This is for my own peace of mind:

It's over

It's over

It's over

It's over, and I can finally start the chain of stores I've always wanted to with Mary. It's over, but the lifeless eyes of my fallen companions will always linger beneath my eyelids when I sleep. It's over, but the warmth of blood sliding over my palm will never fade. But it's over, and I live to see the next day.