DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1862

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1862-11-28 -- 1862-11-30

Fri. 28     I have found the society of Cairo very much below par, drinking, gambling, and all of the vices are carried an to an alarming extent.  It is dangerous to walk the street alone, and unarmed at night.  The prospects are that we may stay here a month or longer before we get better arms and are ordered away from here  Thousands of troops are passing by here daily going to Helena, whence the great expedition is to start against the rebel stronghold, Vicksburg, which the rebels are confident of holding against any force that we may bring against it.
Sat. 29     For the first time I saw a great crowd of secesh together, they are prisoners of war who are kept here until there are a sufficient number for a boat load, when they are shipped to Vicksburg and exchanged.  They are extremely dirty, and very ignorant, the majority cannot converse with any degree of intelligence or propriety.  They do not know really why they are engaged in this war.  They are not uniformed.
Sun. 30.  Had preaching in the M.E. church by our chaplain.  Wrote a few letters.  Took a walk about town and that is the way I spent my first Sunday in Cairo.  I have ascertained that a great many Germans are in business here.

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Fri. 28 I have found the society of Cairo very much below par, drinking, gambling, and all of the vices are carried an to an alarming extent. It is dangerous to walk the street alone, and unarmed at night. The prospects are that we may stay here a month or longer before we get better arms and are ordered away from here Thousands of troops are passing by here daily going to Helena, whence the great expedition is to start against the rebel stronghold, Vicksburg, which the rebels are confident of holding against any force that we may bring against it. Sat. 29 For the first time I saw a great crowd of secesh together, they are prisoners of war who are kept here until there are a sufficient number for a boat load, when they are shipped to Vicksburg and exchanged. They are extremely dirty, and very ignorant, the majority cannot converse with any degree of intelligence or propriety. They do not know really why they are engaged in this war. They are not uniformed. Sun. 30. Had preaching in the M.E. church by our chaplain. Wrote a few letters. Took a walk about town and that is the way I spent my first Sunday in Cairo. I have ascertained that a great many Germans are in business here.