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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-01-12
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Tuesday 12. It is said the the river is so full of ice between Memphis and Cairo that boats cannot run between these two places. Colonel S.G. Hill is now waiting at the first place for a boat to take him to Cairo, he is going to see his family. A Brigade of Tennessee cavalry arrived here today, and made their camp here. I came very near having a battle with them. They found some two hundred bushels of corn at Mr. Carson's, and concluded to take it. Mr. Carson is a loyal man to our government, lives inside of our lines and appears to be a very clever man. He came to me and complained about the stealing of his corn, I ordered a guard there at once. The cavalry at once stopped taking the corn and reported to their Commanders J.N. & D. G. Thornburg, who came and relieved my guard, sent them home my men were foolish enough to go away, on his order. I heard of it and sent a new guard there, who refused to be relived by those officers, who came to me and complained, said "they had orders from their Commander general Smith to take all the corn they wanted wherever found and give receipt for it." I told them I did not care for such an order since the owner of the corn is a loyal citizen of the U.S. I am going to protect him. They threatened to take it by force, and with the consent of Mr. Carson, I let them have it
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Tuesday 12. It is said the the river is so full of ice between Memphis and Cairo that boats cannot run between these two places. Colonel S.G. Hill is now waiting at the first place for a boat to take him to Cairo, he is going to see his family. A Brigade of Tennessee cavalry arrived here today, and made their camp here. I came very near having a battle with them. They found some two hundred bushels of corn at Mr. Carson's, and concluded to take it. Mr. Carson is a loyal man to our government, lives inside of our lines and appears to be a very clever man. He came to me and complained about the stealing of his corn, I ordered a guard there at once. The cavalry at once stopped taking the corn and reported to their Commanders J.N. & D. G. Thornburg, who came and relieved my guard, sent them home my men were foolish enough to go away, on his order. I heard of it and sent a new guard there, who refused to be relived by those officers, who came to me and complained, said "they had orders from their Commander general Smith to take all the corn they wanted wherever found and give receipt for it." I told them I did not care for such an order since the owner of the corn is a loyal citizen of the U.S. I am going to protect him. They threatened to take it by force, and with the consent of Mr. Carson, I let them have it
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