April 1864

In school. Down to [Ernest] Wiedemann’s. Wheeled Minnie [Schriefer] on barrow. Government boarders began today.

Saturday. Paid Mrs. Fulton. Went down the street. At Wiedemann’s. Made a bet with Minnie [Schreifer]. She won. Saw Sauter. He was drunk. He came up [the street] with me and staid in my bed all night.

April 3, 1864

Sunday. At home. Wrote letter to [my cousin] Lucy Stratton. Had a fuss with niggers. [The] government boarders [were] playing cards in the kitchen and one of them [was] trying to come at Mary & gave her four bits. She will succumb, I think. She let a rage while they were all there. Epstein, Charley [Berkson] & I [are] pretty well down in the mouth about them. The niggers & government boarders are a nuisance. Ep[stein] and I are talking of going to Cincinnati & leave the whole tribe in the lurch. Well, I will if they do not change their tactics.

April 4, 1864

In school. Feel sick. [My brother] Jim came up from Pine Bluff today. [He] looks well. Epstein was sold out to a fellow by the name of Rosenberg. [My brother] Jim [of the 5th Kansas Cavalry] came up [to Little Rock from Pine Bluff escorting] several hundred [Confederate] prisoners.

April 5, 1864

In school. Mrs. Cantrell wants me to teach [Lillian,] her little [11 year-old] girl Latin. Down at Wiedemann’s. Minnie [Schreifer] told me that the girls had told her that I was her sweetheart. I don’t believe they want me to go there so often. Night, had some lager. Two Germans here and spent the evening with us.

In school. Few boys. At night Epstein had a party of Jews here. Mary & I had a falling out. I scolded her for treated Charley Berkson so bad & treating her turd head boarders so well. Down to Wiedemann's. Feel sick today.

In school. Saw Mrs. Stout at Wiedemann's. Rainy in evening. Mrs. Fulton has put my rent up to $31 dollars a month. Outrageous.

In school. Down at Wiedemann's. These government boarders are a nuisance. [They are a] low down, contemptible people. Epstein says he is going North Sunday.

Saturday. Cold & rainy. Down street. Got letters from home & one from [Willoughby] Babcock. He wants me to come to New Orleans. At Wiedemann's.

Sunday. At home all day. Took a walk with Epstein out near the penitentiary. Emily & Mary out to church to hear the funeral sermon of Rafe. Egan here. Wrote letter to [my sister] Augusta. [1] Nothing new.

In school. Down street. I do not think Epstein will go off tomorrow -- at least I hope not. Mr. Gowan has $35,000 stolen out of his safe last night. Rainy today. I went up to Dr. Cantrell's this afternoon to teach Latin [to his daughter] Lilly.

In school. Wiedemann came up & wanted me to go out walking with him. Went over the river with him to get his goods. Took his papers & came back to the Treasurers Office to get a permit to land. Walked a good deal [and] was tired out. I heard Emily & Mary say that I was sporting about. Did not read so much not study as I did at Mrs. Adamson's. Mary said that Fanny did not know as much as when Mrs. Adamson had her. Emily said she knew a little more. I have had opportunity to teach them more if they would, but they won't. They are ungrateful. Let them gripe.

In school. Nothing new. Niggers mad at me for something. Sick today. They did not even enquire about me. Mary has fallen in love with a turd Humphrey. He sticks around the kitchen till ten or eleven o'clock.

In school. Saw Wiedemann. Went out serenading in evening. Got a letter from home today.

In school. Nothing new. At Wiedemann's. Rather wants me to go to Washington [Arkansas] with him and go into business. Egan here in evening & Thomas of the 3rd Minnesota Regt.

Saturday. Took a ride with Wiedemann. Sent letter to [my sister] Augusta. Nothing new. Humpries one of the government boarders is a villain.

Sunday. At church in morning. Down at Wiedemann's afternoon. He wants me to go to Washington [Arkansas] with him & go into business with him. Tonight, Humphrey & Donohue pretended to be drunk & insulted me. Egan here at night. Talking about going North &c. Yesterday lent Delano Dodge five dollars to pay for cracking a whore.

Monday. Governor inaugurated. Gave holiday. Very few citizens, and a great many niggers, soldiers, & otherwise. Also about five hundred nigger winches in the rear brought up the rear guard footing it through the streets. Epstein got a place in theater. So did I. Out with the Glee Club to serenade Pat [Isaac] Murphy. Very dry. As Epstein says, "Nary a drop to drink." Cobb in difficulty. I suppose his wife does not like him fucking, & prefers the prick of some one lese to his. Got home about twelve.

In school. Wiedemann going soon. Wants me to go South with him. At theater. I can't go with him very well. Mary has a baby sure enough & if the medicine does not fix her, I will be in bad repute.

In school. At theater. Nothing. I wish that I was so situated that I could go along with Wiedeman but I can't now. There is no way but that I could.

In school. Down at Wiedemann's. He leaves Monday. Still wants me to go with him. Will if I can. At theater. Nothing new. Rainy.

Saturday. Cold & rainy. Doing nothing. Shall not go with Wiedemann. Loui George has got back. Asked him if he wished a clerk. Said he did not. Think he could, but he would give to the first refusal. At theater.

In school. [Wagon] train for Camden [Arkansas] left this morning. Wiedemann went. At theater.

In school. Rather warm. Down street. Wiedemann's wagon broke down about six miles down the road. They say General Steele is hemmed in at Camden. [That] he has lost a great many men and about four hundred & twenty wagons, each having six mules. Some are frightened and believe that [General] Price will get into Little Rock again.

In school. Epstein says he is going North tomorrow. He will try to get into business with me & write for me to come on. At theater. People not so frightened to day as yesterday. McDonald says if the Confederates come in, he will help me to get off. These blasted niggers are the worst trouble I have. Last night at ten o'clock, I caught Mary & Creamor at the back gate.

April 29, 1864

Got up at 5 o’clock. Went down to Ferry boat with Epstein. The boat crossed about half past 6 o’clock. In school. Went down the street. Saw Schreifer. We went & drank some lager – about ten glasses apiece. I drank for Epstein. I felt bad – almost like crying to have him go. At theatre. [2]

April 30, 1864

[1] The letter Goodrich wrote to his sister Augusta and her husband Rev. James Griffing read:

April 9, 1864 Little Rock [Arkansas]

My dear Sister [Augusta] & Brother [James]. I received your letter a few days ago, but I have had no opportunity to answer it until today. One day this week [our brother] James came up on a boat from Pine Bluff. Part of his company was detailed to come up as a guard to some three hundred Confederate prisoners. He got here in the afternoon & hunted me up and stayed with me the afternoon when he returned to the boat as they care to leave early in the morning. He is well & getting along well. He is no longer the cook of the mess. He says that they think they will be sent to Kansas soon & be mustered out of service there. He has no intention of going in again. He says the reason that he has not written home or to you since he has been at Pine Bluff is that he has had no time. But letters will reach him if you direct to him at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 5th Regt. Kansas Vols.

I have received a letter today from Mr. [Willoughby] Babcock. He wants me to come to New Orleans & try to get a Commission in the Corps d’Afrique. He says the medical examinations are nothing. But it will cost a good deal to go there & then if I am successful, it will be impossible to say whether I can see home again. And I can’t begin to think of going then even with the agreeable prospect of a commission before me, for I am getting very homesick, and would rather go nearer home than farther off. I got another letter from home today. Ma has been sick but was better when the letter was written, which was about one month ago – a long time for letters to come here. I wish there were better mail arrangements.

I was going to say my prospects were getting better, but I think not considering everything. A little more than a month ago, a German [named Epstein] came to town from Pine Bluff. I knew him when out in the army (by the way, he is a capital fellow) & wanted to come & board with me. I took him. [See diary entry of 23 February 1864.] He pays me twenty-five dollars a month. After he had been here a few weeks he brought his partner [named Rosenberg] in business. They give me fifty dollars a month. Thus far it is good. I am satisfied & I could make a little without much trouble. But a few days ago, a young fellow in Q[uarter] M[aster] Department wanted me to take a mess of Express Riders. He said they were all good boys, &c &c. I consented to that. They were to furnish rations & wood & pay thirty dollars per month. There would be five in the mess. They have been here over a week & I have got heartily tired of the business. It makes my expenses less, but I am getting to look with indifference upon inconveniences when I can make some money.

The servants I have, rather light mulattoes, a mother, daughter, and granddaughter, aged respectively about 50, 23, & 8, are old family servants of Mrs. Adamson, the lady with whom I lived before she died. They are respectable sort of darkies & have taken good care of me when I have been sick, both here & at the old place. And if it had not been for them, I should not be alive now, I believe. What is more, they have taken such a liking to me that they wish to be my servants always. They want me to be their master, not slave master, and if I go north, they want to go too. Live as I do here, it would be a saving business for me. What do you think of it? I am teaching the old woman to read & she can get over the Bible tolerably well. Next time you write, tell me your opinion. Whenever I can get a situation from Mr. Wheeler Bristol for certain, I shall have money enough to go north on. If my boarders remain with me any time & I shall not be compelled to ask assistance from any one. Jim said he would lend me money, but I told him I did not want to borrow for I thought when I did go, I would be able to raise the money. Write soon and believe me as ever your affectionate brother – Ralph L. Goodrich

[2] It is apparent that sometime between 16 April and 29 April 1864, Goodrich was offered a job working at the theatre. His “at theatre” diary entries signify his employment there in the evenings.

The Diaries of Ralph Leland Goodrich, 1859-1867