Story of Ebenezer Abe Hanna

Below is a complete transcript of Abe's journal...

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10:
We started from camps above Fort Thorn for Fort Craig. Encamped Monday evening 15 miles up the river. Nothing
but grass for our horses. We have enough to eat now for the first time since we left San Antonio.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11:
We started; moved on up the river 12 miles and camped near Coopwood's Battleground.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12:
Moved 20 miles. Encamped 10 miles below Alamosa. Pleasant weather since we started. Good grass.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13:
Camped 5 miles of Alamosa. Great excitement about the Yankees. My horse give out. 35 miles to Fort Craig.
Expecting to have a big fight when we get there, and badly prepared for fighting, but little ammunition. 10 o'clock at
night expecting orders to march before morning. Cooking up provisions to be ready for a twenty-four hours' march,
a big battle or a fort sure.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14:
12 o'clock at night the bugle sounded and the Col. gave command. We saddled our horses took up the line of
march. Traveled until 8 o'clock Friday morning facing north wind with sleet and snow falling so hard as to almost
pelt the skin off our faces. Reached Col. Green's camp but no appearance of any enemy. Friday night, being a
night similar to the night before, and we having no blankets nor provisions, our wagons not being able to come up
with us, we fared but little better than on the previous night.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15:
12 o'clock Saturday our wagons come up. Col. Green moving on up the river. We stopped at our present
encampment Saturday night eight o'clock.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16:
Sunday morning we move for Col. Green's encampment eight miles up the river. 1st 8 Second Regiment went on
up to Craig reconnoitering and exchanged a few shots with the Yankees. Encamped Sunday night the 16th Feb. 5
miles below Fort Craig.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17:
Lay in camps making preparations. Monday night I was on picket.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18:
Laying in camps awaiting orders. Stayed at our present camp Tuesday night.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19:
Wednesday morning we have orders to move and expect to have a row with the Yankees. We crossed the river
and camped 2 miles from the river.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20:
Marched 5 miles the Yankees come out to meet us. We fired them a salute with our artillery and they taken some
exceptions to our introductory movements and took to their heels and went back to their dens. We en-camped
opposite the fort on a high sand hill without wood or water and no provisions.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 :
We marched 5 miles the Yankees met us at the river 5 miles above Fort Craig and commenced firing about 10
o'clock in the morning. The battle raged until about an hour by sun in the evening. We charged them and routed
them, taken their artillery, routed and run them. The battle ceased at sunset. Our loss 39 killed and about 60
wounded. Federals' loss unknown. Only I know I seen plenty of them laying on the field. 36 taken prisoners. We
camped on the battle field.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22:
We lay in camps. I think the most melancholly scene I ever witnessed was on the valley of the Rio Grande where
the Texas boys thrashed out the Yankees on the 21st day of February 1862. I have no name for this brave action,
but I think it would be very appropriate termed a young Manassas. The night of the 22nd we lay at our camp on the
battle field.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23:
10 o'clock we are loaded up and are prepared to march. Moved 5 miles up the river. Crossed over it [ and]
camped in the valley above a little Mexican town.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24:
Lay in camps.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25:
We moved 10 miles up the river and a dispatch came back from a detachment of 300 men which had been sent on
ahead informing us of the capture of 300 Mexicans and their arms and equipments 14 miles in advance of us.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26:
Moved 15 miles and camped 4 miles above San Antonio. I had my horse killed in the Battle of Valverde and I am
now afoot and I now feel the pleasure of soldiering in New Mexico more plainly than I have ever done before.
Notwithstanding the severity of the climate and the hardships of a march of a thousand miles over mountains such
as is seen in no other country than along the road from San Antonio to Fort Craig, without wood or water and but
little grass, and being in the dead of winter, and worse than all, the horrors that is witnessed on the battle fIeld. But
I never had any conception of the hardships to be witnessed on such a trip until I had some experience in the
matter.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27:
We are staying in camp and our regiment is to be dismounted as infantry which I am some what aware will not
agree with the Texas boys as they have never been accustomed to walking and other hardships such as are
experienced on such a trip as this at its best terms and being now a thousand miles from home a foot and without
a dog. - Surrounded on all sides by enemy and no prospect before us, only to fight our way through, and having
no idea where or when our destination should end and in as dreary a country as this at the present season of the
year - it being a flat sandy plain on either side of the river for many miles and no timber, but which has the
appearance of exceeding plenty at a growing season, but at the present season exhibits a dreary appearance. . . .
At the distance of about 5 miles these flats or valleys break off into hills and mountains which are exceedingly tall
and present a gloomy appearance at a distant view - some being perfectly barren covered with masses of craggy
rocks and being cut into numerous diversities of shapes by deep canyons or ravines and some of these mountains
being covered with scrubby cedars and pine trees, chaparral and the tops of some of the tallest being covered
with perpetual snow. . . . Many times when in the valley of the river it is pleasant and warm, when on these
mountains the snow will be falling at rapid rates - snow seldom falling in the valleys. This country . . . impenetrable,
only by the native savages, except along the river which is thinly settled by Mexicans who are stuck along the
banks of the Rio Grande in small settlements called towns or ranches and who have a certain degree of civilization
in their manners and appearance which does not exceed the common class of the half civilized Indians of the
Indian Territory. These natives. . . peculiarly adapted to the country and climate. Sheep raising being their
principal occupation and chief means of support. . . pay but little attention to the cultivation of the more than small
gardens fruit patches - the latter which is easily cultivated. Provisions being scarce except as it is transported
hither, being no means of transportation . . . by mule trains or in oxen carts, consequently such articles there is
never a surplus of. At the present stage of affairs it is more distressing than ever to large armies on hostile terms,
and surrounded on all sides by savage Indians, and the Mexicans of the northern part of Mexico being but a little
better than the Indians. The Federal army . . . dependent on their means of transportation from the north and our
army. . . dependent on cutting off supplies of the northern army, and the Indians and Mexicans preying on the
native armies and every thing that they get hold of. . . . We are now about 300 miles above El Paso and the enemy
between us and all communication with the south. . . . We have eaten our last piece of bread this morning and no
more in the Brigade, and but few beeves and a little bacon, and things in such a state of confusion, our prospect is
but a gloomy one.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28:
We marched 10 miles. It being the first traveling we had done on foot, there was considerable growling among the
boys. . . . On reaching camps the boys, all being tired and hungry , . . . nothing to eat but some beef, a little bacon
and some beans. This being only a little better than we had been accustomed to having at home, the time was but
little changed. We ate some of our dainties such as I have described and retired for a good night's rest. The next
morning we drew a pound and a half of corn meal and cooked some of this and made another hearty repast on
our relishing fare. This put us in good condition for another hard day's march.

SATURDAY, MARCH 1:
1st day of March was a cloudy day with cold wind and some snow. We marched 15 miles over a sandy,
mountainous road. Reached camps at 9 0' clock that night and no wood. Our only chance for a fire was to gather
old dry cow chips. . . . As usual, no provisions. The wind now increased and turned colder, and us being out in the
level of the valley of the Rio Grande, our situation was not pleasant one.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2:
Being Sunday we left at 2 o'clock in the evening marched 9 miles. Camped at a little Mexican town and, here as
before, we had no wood ex-cept what we could get in the town. The country now being more flat along the river
and entirely destitute of timber.

MONDAY, MARCH 3:
Travel was along a thickly settled portion of country destitute of everything as ever. . . . . The country has the
appearance of a desolate old waste farm. Our camp was about as the previous night's. We are now entirely out of
everything in the way of provisions and yet thirty miles to Albuquerque, our promised paradise.

TUESDAY, MARCH 4:
Moved 4 miles crossed the river which was not very pleasant as it was a cold morning and the only way we had of
crossing was to ride shanks horse. Traveled 8 miles after crossing the river. Camped in a little town called
Francisco Antonio. Here we had some wood. This being thickly settled all along here, we got a small quantity of
flour which was very acceptable as our stock of beans and bacon was about out. All of the command kept up on
the same side of the river that we had been traveling except the First Regiment.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5:
We started at 9 o'clock moved on about 2 miles through the town. At this place a lady and gentleman from South
Carolina who lived in this place wished to accompany us as a token of their gratitude. These two individuals we will
call Mr. and Mrs. Otero. On leaving this place we come to a sandy portion of road. . . . Our teams being in a very
low condition, it become necessary for us to travel a round about road in order to have better ground. This road
turned off to the right from the direction in which we had been traveling. We traveled up a large canyon for nearly
ten miles, crossing near the foot of the mountains and making a turn towards our former direction over a
considerable hill. This road being further than we anticipated, our teams now become weary and our progress was
but slow. Night overtaken us and the wind blew at a hard rate off the snow mountains which was not very pleasant.
We traveled until 9 o'clock at night before reaching the river. . . we struck camp. I was more exhausted from this
day's travel than any I had before experienced.

THURSDAY, MARCH 6:
We lay in camps on the 6th which was very agreable as we were considerably worn out with our journey on foot.
Here we got some flour and some mutton, or sheep meat, and we now feel considerable recruited. Our camp is
now at Judge Baird's ranch 7 miles below Albuquerque situated in a level valley on the river, but not such
extensive plains as we have been traveling through. For several days past the mountains coming in closer to the
river, and the snow in the mountains exhibits a strange appearance at this late season of the year. . . . Although it
is now the 6th of March, and in our native Southern climate, I make no doubt, the weather has shed its stormy coat
of winter and everything green and growing. Yet here in this dreary region spring has not yet made its appearance.

FRIDAY , MARCH 7:
Still in camps and getting something to eat still, and the boys, getting rested and recruited a little, are now more
lively than usual. No appearance of any enemy since we left Socorro - only a squadron reported to have past
through Francisco Antonio the day before we reached there. The boys now begin to get tolerable lazy and
careless and on the night of the 7th our pickets come in and reported men coming in from the mountains which
they could not comprehend their movements. This gave good grounds for suspicion of an enemy. The boys were
around in camps, and their guns and accountrements being scattered about, there was considerable commotion in
camp for a few minutes. But news came about this time that there was no enemy about.

SATURDAY, MARCH 8:
We struck out in a northeast direction into the mountainsB to a spring, here to recruit and rest where we could
have wood and grass. The wind blowing from the west at a hard rate, and the sand and gravel flying in a manner
that I never saw before. I would compare it to a description that I have seen of the sand storms of the great desert
of Sahara.

SUNDAY, MARCH 9:
We lay in camps a very cold norther and some snow.

MONDAY, MARCH 10:
Still in camps. . . . don't know when we will leave here as headquarters is generally about a finger ahead, and has
never been any way lately, and never having any notion of what is ahead, only going on to see what is ahead of us.

THURSDAY, MARCH 13:
We move 1 mile to a Mexican town where we got a little protection in the Mexican huts which was some better than
being out in the woods, as we were compelled to throwaway our tents on account of not having teams sufficient to
bring them. On the night of the 13th snow again fell.

FRIDAY, MARCH 14:
Was a warm day and the snow melted away considerably which we were glad to see for our quarters were not very
comfortable.

SATURDAY, MARCH 15:
Still in our quarters.

SUNDAY, MARCH 16:
At about 8 o'clock in the morning a report came in that a train of wagons was going up a road 1 mile from the town
which was supposed to belong to the Federals. The major called for 20 men who were soon ready for service. We
struck out in double quick time and soon came to the road and seen that the wagons had passed. We went about
five miles and overtaken some Mexican sheep herders with 2 wagons and a cart or two. Here we was disappointed
considerably. We then turned back for camp, but it was not such fast time going back for we made it in one hour
going up, and it taken about 3 hours to come back in. The weather is still cold - the wind constantly from the north.

MONDAY, MARCH 17:
Snow again and colder than ever. The Third Regiment came up and camped above town.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18:
The 18th was the coldest day that I had experienced all the winter.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19:
Nothing of importance transpired. Some talk of moving, but matters unsettled.

THURSDAY, MARCH 20:
All the sick were sent back to Albuquerque This was ration day.

FRIDAY, MARCH 21 :
This was the memorable day of the month of Valverde. We moved 7 miles on the road towards Santa Fe. The
timber now getting some heavier. The weather is now moderating some.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22:
We lay in campus waiting the Third Regiment to come up, and such articles as was left behind yesterday.

SUNDAY, MARCH 23:
We traveled 10 miles over a mountainous road. We are now traveling in a northerly direction. Camped at a town
which I will call San Antonio as all of the towns in this portion which there could be no name appropriate to are
generally called San Antonio.

MONDAY, MARCH 24 :
We traveled 15 miles over a very rough road in a northeasterly direction. At about 2 0'clock in the evening, while
resting on the north side of a mountain, . . . we could see for a considerable distance the mountains breaking off
considerably. Looking in front of us at some distance, we discovered a flag waving in the air. But on looking more
closely, it was discovered to be a white flag. We camped at Real de Dolores. Here we found the first interesting
curiosity we had found in the Territory. There was diggings all around on the foot of the mountains which was done
for silver and gold. And at the town was a mill and machinery for working the mines. This was not in operation. The
country on our right breaks off into a more level district for some distance and exhibits an appearance more
natural than any I have seen in this mountainous country.

TUESDAY, MARCH 25:
We traveled 10 miles in an easterly direction. A portion of the way was up the course of a small stream running into
the Rio Grande. The country along the road being now destitute of timber, and the country now being more level
than usual. . . The Mountains in the distance, exceedingly white with snow, exhibit quite a picturesque scene.
Camp at Galisteo. Distance from this place to Santa Fe 25 miles.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26:
We lay in camps at Galisteo. Late in the evening an express came in to inform us that Major Pyron with 300 men
had engaged a party of Yankees on the road from Santa Fe to Fort Union at about twelve miles from us off to the
left of the direction we had been traveling. The Third Regiment had just arrived a few hours before. We packed
our baggage and the teams were ready, and by sunset we was in motion. The road that we had to travel was very
rough as we moved through the mountains. Consequently the wagons was sent another road, which was some
further, with a detail of men to guard them. The night was very cold so we traveled freely. On reaching the canyon
through which the road ran, we came to a very steep mountain, and the horses which drew the artillery was
wearied. They was not able to draw the artillery to the top of the mountain so the artillery pieces were compelled to
be taken up by hand. And to accomplish this, long ropes were fastened to them and we went to work and after an
hour or two's work, we succeeded in getting them to the top. We soon reached a ranch not far from where the
enemy was. It was now about 3 0'clock in the morning. We built some fires of some timber about the ranch. Here
we stayed till daylight. Not knowing how strong the enemy was, and supposing they would make an attack in the
morning, we taken our position a few hundred yards below the town in the bend of the canyon so as to have some
advantage of the crowd as the mountains were so tall on either side that there was chance of attack only to come
right down the canyon. We planted our artillery on a hill in front of the town in this position we layed during the day.
At about 12 o'clock our wagons come up and we cooked some refreshments. This put us in better condition, as we
were considerably exhausted from the previous night's march. Major Pyron had also fallen back to this place on
the evening of the engagement that had taken place. Four of Pyron's men were killed and 6 wounded, and eight or
more of the Yankees killed.

THURSDAY, MARCH 27:
Twas during the day of the 27th that we had the trial of burying the first one of the members of Company C. The
enemy did not make their appearance during the day.