JULY 11th.—Hot and dry, and the famine continues. The Secretary of War intimated on Saturday that if the clerks of the bureaus would raise a fund and send an agent South to buy provisions, he would insure them transportation, etc. To-day he denies that he made the promise, and refuses to aid them. The government [...]
July 10, 1864, a.m. The Rebels evacuated last night, and our flags are on their works and our skirmishers at the river. A number of Johnnies were left on this side. I believe they have every time left on Saturday night or Sunday. Their works here are the best I have seen. Three lines and [...]
JULY 10th.—The drought continues; vegetation wilting and drying up. There is no war news, save some shelling by the enemy at Petersburg. The raiders have caused many who were hiding and hoarding their meat and grain to bring them to market, for fear of losing them. This has mitigated the famine, and even produced a [...]
July 10th. Back Creek, seven miles from Martinsburg. Some of the companies are out scouting about all the time. The enemy must be near. All sorts of rumors are in circulation. Our scouts do not run up against the Confederates. Bridge over this creek has been destroyed. When we cross it, must wade. We are [...]
Nine miles from Atlanta, two and one-half miles southwest of railroad crossing, July 9, 1864. On the evening of the 7th, just dark, a Rebel battery in a fort which our guns had been bursting shells over all day, suddenly opened with eight 20-pound Parrotts, and for one-half an hour did some of the most [...]
JULY 9th.—Dry and pleasant. We have a rumor to-day of the success of a desperate expedition from Wilmington, N. C., to Point Lookout,Md., to liberate the prisoners of war (20,000) confined there and to arm them. If this be confirmed, the prisoners will probably march upon Washington City, and co-operate with Gen. Early, who has [...]
July 9th. This fine morning finds me on picket near Cherry Run, Maryland. Nothing important occurred so far. Late this afternoon relieved from picket. Ordered to join the regiment, it having left Cherry Run and advanced east along the line of the railroad, towards Martinsburg. After pushing along from six to eight miles, found headquarters [...]
JULY 8th.—Clear; hot and dusty. The news of the falling back of Gen. Johnston on Atlanta, Ga., causes no uneasiness, for the destruction of Sherman’s army is deemed the more certain the farther he penetrates. There is nothing of interest from Petersburg, but there are rumors of demoralization and disaffection in Grant’s army. His men [...]
July 8th. A bright morning in the mountains. Up to last evening we were two hundred miles from Parkersburg. At nine o’clock this morning we arrived at Cumberland after a very slow journey. We are now in Maryland. A great coal mining country. Here we left the cars. Could not proceed any farther, the rebels [...]
July 7, 1864. The shooting still continues in our front, but hear no Rebel artillery. The water here is excellent, and everybody seems to get a few blackberries. We also stew grapes and green apples, and everything that ever was eaten by anti-cannibals. There is so much confounded fighting to be attended to that we [...]
JULY 7th.—Hot and dry, but a light shower at 2 P.M., laying the dust. A letter from Gen. Gilmer states that the Danville Railroad will not be fully repaired before the last of this month. But there is a good wagon road, and the army can be supplied by wagons when the cars cannot run, [...]
July 7th. Rain this morning. Late last night the train got under way. Kept running all night. Soon after daylight a number of us climbed to the top of the cars. I always did that when I could. It relieved the packed condition of the inside. I have slept many miles while riding on top [...]
July 6th. A very pleasant morning. A good night’s rest. The boat pushed along all night. Must be getting near our journey’s end, or destination, Parkersburg. Soon after noon the boat grounded and held fast. We were again obliged to wade ashore, on the Ohio side. Later it was decided, we give up the boat [...]
July 6, 1864. I went down to our front this evening. Our advanced artillery is yet some 1,200 yards from the Rebels, but there is nothing but an open field between, and it looks quite close. The Johnnies have thrown up a nice fort, embrasured for nine guns. They have not fired a shot to-day. [...]
JULY 6th.—Hot and dry. We have no news to-day, but there are rumors that Grant is preparing to abandon his position. He cannot remain where he is, inactive. There is a scarcity of water, and the location is unhealthy. We had corn bread and gravy for dinner, with a tremendous dessert, the suggestion of Custis, [...]
Columbia, S C, July 6, 1864.–At the Prestons’ Mary was laughing at Mrs. Lyons’s complaint–the person from whom we rented rooms in Richmond. She spoke of Molly and Lawrence’s deceitfulness. They went about the house quiet as mice, while we were at home; or Lawrence sat at the door and sprang to his feet whenever [...]
July 5th. At daylight this morning the boat got under way, pushing on up the great Ohio. Passed the towns, Middlesport, Pomeroy, Syracuse, on the Ohio side, and Hartford, West Virginia. The farther up the river we go, have more trouble with low water. Sand bars are many. Again obliged to wade ashore. Later, go [...]
July 5, 1864. Can hear no firing this p.m. It seems the Rebels have got across the Chattahoochie. We are about 12 miles from Atlanta. The river will probably trouble us some, but we all think “Pap” will make it before August 1st. Johnston don’t dare give us anything like a fair fight. We are [...]
JULY 5th.—Cool and dry, everything suffering for rain. All quiet about Petersburg, but later in the day a rumor sprung up that fighting had recommenced there. I doubt it, because by Northern accounts I see Gen. Early is destroying railroads beyond the Potomac, and will undoubtedly threaten Washington itself. If Grant fails to send troops [...]
July 4th. The day we celebrate. At dark last night the boat tied up at Charleston. Went ashore for a while. The town is located on a bluff, which we had to climb to reach it. As we saw it in the dark, it was a dirty looking place. Perhaps because it was a mining [...]
July 4, 1864. I count it the hardest Fourth I have seen in the service. About 8 a.m. we moved out, passed through Marietta, which is by far the prettiest town I have seen South (about the size of Canton), and continued south nearly all the way along our line of works. Marched about 11 [...]
JULY 4th.—Cloudy, but still hot and dry. From the clouds of dust seen rising between Petersburg and the James River, it is conjectured that Grant’s army is in motion. The Federal Congress has authorized the drafting of 200,000 more men, after 60 days’ fruitless attempt to raise volunteers. So it will be September before the [...]
July 3, 1864. Rebels all gone this morning. Our boys were on the mountains at daylight. Hundreds of deserters have come in. Osterhaus moved around the left of the mountain to Marietta, all the rest of the army went to the right of it. We are about one-half a mile from town; have not been [...]
JULY 3d.—Clear and dry; pleasant temperature. I learn that Petersburg has not been much injured by the enemy’s batteries, and that Gen. Lee has ordered the casting of mortars for use immediately. To-morrow being the anniversary of the surrender of Vicksburg to Grant, I should not be surprised if that general let off some fire-works, [...]
July 3d. No boats showed up last night. This morning finds us still waiting at Camp Piatt. Yesterday’s march was a hard one. We are resting while waiting. Up and down hill over these old stony roads makes a fellow tired and used up. At noon two boats arrived. They had large stern wheels and [...]