John H. Case was born December the 5th, 1842, Giles County, Tennessee His parrents
move from South Carolina one of them from Limestone County Alabama and the other one
move from Newberry Desric (District) South Carolina in the year of 1840 to Giles
County Tennessee and marride in 1842. Since that time the had resied (resided) thair
unmolested till this War brake out. When the father of John (Isaac Y. Case) join the
Confederrate Army and went to Bowlinggreen Kentucky whare he remain till a few days
befour the fall of Fort Dollison. He came home on furlow and that save him from the
turable calamity of being a prisoner, his rigment (regiment) remain seven months in
prison. When thair was agreement made to exchange them and he had to return to his
rigment again and John return with his father.
We started the 19th day of October 1862 on Sunday evening and travel 15 miles and next
day went in to Pulassky and remain thair till twelve oclock when we started and went a
mile beyond Cornasvill (Cornersville) and camp for the night. We rose next morning
and started for Wartrace. We got thair about a half a hour by sun and taken the train
for Murfreesboro, Tennessee. We got thair a while after dark and went to camps and
remain till next morning. When I went to Town and return back again drill hour came
it was a niew? thing so I borrow a gun and went to drill. Well the next day I was
sworn in for three year or during the war (duration). Then I was chosen. I draw a
new uniforme. I was all right then for a solger. Well we drill for about two weeks.
Then orders come for us to cook two days rastions (rations) for march by twelve oclock.
Now that was something new to me so we torn down our tents and got redy. Ors (orders)
came to us to fall into line. We fell into line and march off all night, next day we
reach Laverne Tennessee and camp thair for a ______. Orders came for us to cook up
rastions and be reddy to march at day light but we did not leave till twelve o clock.
When we started and march all night and reach Nashville about day light next morning
and threw out Sherman's shords (swords?) and march up in a mile and half of the city
and threw shell in it a while then orders came to us to counter march. We march back
about four miles and lay down and waited for the Yankees but they did not come, then
orders came and we march back to Laverne and thair camp for _______? ___. Then orders
came for us to march again so we pack up and march back to Murfreesboro Tennessee whar
we stayed till Christmas Day. When we got orders to pack up two days rastions, get
on the cars? to get to Wartrace Tennessee so we got down thair and camp for a month.
We had not (been) thair more than four or five days when the Battle of Murfreesboro
came off. I was glad that I was not in it. The armor were forty canon and some sevan?
thousand? prisoners and kill a great many of them. We fought off and on for a week
and then had to retreat to Tullahoma Tennessee where it taken up winter quarters all
the rest the winter but the 21st? of January we got orders to cook two days rastions
and be ready to start to the boxes? by day light. So we got on the train and went
down to Tullahoma and went in to winter quarters for the winter.
We faird fine all the winter. We get leave? from home along in the winter one of my
messmates was taken sick and sent to Chatanoogy Tennessee to the hospital where he
died making ________? till April the 23th when orders came for to cook two days
rastion and be redy to march by day light. I was on gard and was kept on gard two
days and nights ____ one day night garding Headquartes and the next day and night
garding exchange prisoner, to keep them in camp, on the account of small pox. Then
the balance of time we was living camp till Saturday when we taken down our tent and
haul them to the depot which was about a mile and sent them off South to Chatanooga
and we went to Fairfield? to our command thair. We campt for about three weeks. When
orders came to cook up two days rastions and be in to line by day light. Daylight
came and we fell into line and make to Beech Grove which is about four miles and thair
we campt for a week. Orders came so we went back to FairField again and thair we
staid and thair we staid for a week. When we got orders to cook up two days rastions
and be redy to march in two hours. We started at three oclock and halted at ten,
rested till day light when we started again and march till eleven oclock. When order
came back to detail the liter barrier and get redy for the fight. Wee march in about
a mile and half of ______ when orders came to hault this sent the cavalier (calvary)
and brigade of infry (infantry?) forward to feeld (fend) off the enemy that skirmish
with them a while and capturd one Yankee and their our parties counter march and went
back to Beech Grove��
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John Henderson Case was a member of 32nd Tennessee Infantry, Company H. (formerly
Company K - Lt. John B. Brownlow, Commanding). John was severely wounded in foot in
1863 in the Battle of Chickamauga.
Transcribed by Barbara Case Edmundson, great-granddaughter of John H. Case.
Barbara's Note:
I doubt that my great-grandfather had an opportunity for much (if any) formal
education. I transcribed his journal as best I could and endeavored to leave
his writings much as he had written them. J. H. did have a beautiful hand-
writing and apparently was quite a storyteller in his days. I also have two
ledgers that he used to keep his farming records. He even took time to make
notes of unusual weather. I have a feeling he was a pleasure to sit and visit
a "spell" with.
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