The Diaries of Ralph Leland Goodrich, 1859-1867
May 1864 |
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May 1, 1864
Sunday.
At home. Down the street in the evening. A drunken soldier shot a citizen – a
German – in cold blood. The guards came, he [the German] snapped his pistol
three times at the guard, when the guard raised his gun & shot him dead. I
was standing only a little way [off at the time]. Horrible. It was opposite my
old school house. A few days ago a man was shot in the same place. Put in camp
of negroes too. Yesterday, were fooling with guns [when] one went off &
killed him instantly. I feel badly. Charley Berkson leaves in a short time to go
for goods. Oh, I wish I could hear from Mr. Bristol & that he could give me
a place [to work in Cincinnati].
May
2, 1864
In
school. Down the street. Steele came in today. McDonald wants to go in
partnership with me & put up a shebang. [1]
At theatre.
May
3, 1864
In
school. Army came back today. [2]
Weidemann came back. At theatre. Nothing new.
May
4, 1864
In
school. O’Donald & I trying to
get a store to sell cigars, &c. At
theatre.
May
5, 1864
In
school. O’Donald & I [try to]
get a place. Down at Weidemann’s. At theatre. Saw Billy Kimball. Talking about
going into business together. He will know this week whether he can or not.
Charley Berkson left this morning for St. Louis.
May
6, 1864
In
school. Have not succeeded in getting a shebang yet. At theatre. Nothing
new.
May
7, 1864
Saturday.
In store for Rosenberg
all day. Did not give me anything [for my work]. It is a shame. I will get it
out of him some other time.
May
8, 1864
Sunday.
Sick with diarrhea. At home all day. Reading Shakespeare. Nothing new.
May
9, 1864
In
school. feel sick. Billy Kimball [3]
& I talking about going into partnership. At theatre.
May
10, 1864
In
school. Cold & rainy. Kimball & I talking of going into partnership. At
theatre.
May
11, 1864
In
school. a man by the name of Huey came up and wanted me to go in partnership
with him in a shebang. Could not as I had promised to go with Kimball. I made
out an application for a permit. Billy [Kimball] says he will try to put it
through. At theatre.
May
12, 1864
In
school. Kimball has given up going in with me. At theatre.
May
13, 1864
In
school. Kimball has backed out going in with me. I have fizzled doing anything
too, I think. At theatre. Feel tired out & sick.
[Missing several
pages]
[1]
A shebang is a saloon.
[2]
Goodrich refers to the Union army led by General Steele returning from its
disastrous “Camden Expedition.” Without
any gains, the Federal army sustained over 2500 casualties and lost hundreds
of wagons.
[3]
Possibly William F. Kimball who
joined Capt. Zimmerman’s
The Ralph Goodrich Collection is the property of the Arkansas
History Commission.