May 29th. Left camp early this hot morning. Pushing up the valley. Passed through Woodstock. Very few people to be seen. They still inform us that they hate the Yankees. Hope we will all be captured and be sent to Richmond. Came to a halt at Mount Jackson. Line of battle formed. The advance are [...]
MAY 29th.—Bright and quite cold. There was skirmishing yesterday evening on the Chickahominy. The armies are confronting each other, but Grant is moving gradually to the right of us, as if with an intention to reach the James River; but probably it is with the view of enveloping us with his superior numbers, and the [...]
May 28, 1864, 9 a.m. Still in rifle pits. We have been treated to a terrific storm of shells, spherical case, and solid shot. The batteries are in plain sight of each other, and the gunners call it a thousand yards between them. I don’t think either battery does very fine work, but they make [...]
May 28th. Nothing important occurred last night. All quiet this morning. In an open country where we have a good view. We are located west of the pike. Ordered to keep a sharp lookout for the enemy’s cavalry and guerillas. Late this afternoon we were relieved from picket duty. This is a fine country as [...]
MAY 28th.—Showers and sunshine. Grant has crossed the Pamunky, and Lee is at the Yellow Tavern—not more than six miles from the city. The hostile armies are only a few miles apart, and the GREAT BATTLE may occur at any time, at any hour; and we shall hear both the artillery and musketry from my [...]
Near Dallas, Ga., May 27, 1864, 8 a.m. There has been some very heavy fighting on our left this morning, and everywhere along the line. We have been moving in line since 6 o’clock, supporting skirmishers and the 3d Brigade. Have driven the Rebels about three-quarters of a mile. The 14th Corps must have had [...]
May 27th. Rain. Regiment ordered out into line about 3 A. M. This is done to guard against a surprise while we are in the enemy’s country. Remained in line about two hours, then stacked arms and were dismissed and allowed to get our breakfast. This is a dark, rainy, dismal day in camp. Late [...]
MAY 27th.—Clouds and sunshine; cooler. Nothing additional from the West. Several thousand Georgia mounted troops have arrived during the last 24 hours, in readiness to march to Lee. One Georgia regiment has 1200, and a South Carolina regiment that went up this morning 1000 men. Lee’s army is at Ashland—17 miles distant. The enemy are [...]
May 27th.–In all this beautiful sunshine, in the stillness and shade of these long hours on this piazza, all comes back to me about little Joe; it haunts me–that scene in Richmond where all seemed confusion, madness, a bad dream! Here I see that funeral procession as it wound among those tall white monuments, up [...]
Pumpkin Vine Creek, near Dallas, Ga., May 26, 1864, 8 a.m. We did not make more than seven or eight miles yesterday, on account of some bad road that troubled the trains very much. We got into camp at dark, just as a thunderstorm broke. We hurried up our arrangements for the night–kicking out a [...]
May 26th. Broke camp very early this hot morning. Once more on the march. Again waded Cedar Creek, passing through Strasburg, on up Fishers Hill, hot and very dusty. Again camp near Woodstock. Some of the boys come from the town of Woodstock, Connecticut. There are many incidents that remind us of home. As soon [...]
MAY 26th.—Sunshine and showers. Senator Henry’s letter was referred to Gen. Bragg, who returned it to-day with the indorsement that the suggested movement had not escaped attention, and a good result might soon be looked for. And sure enough, a dispatch was received from Atlanta to-day, announcing the capture of some 250 of the enemy’s [...]
WINDER HOSPITAL, RICHMOND, SECOND DIVISION, WARD 28, May 25th, 1864. Dear Mother: You will undoubtedly be surprised and I fear alarmed to receive a letter from me at this place. But do not let your mind feel any uneasiness at all. Kind providence has so far favored me that I have passed through another very [...]
MAY 25th.—Sunshine and showers. Custis is back again, the battalion of clerks being relieved, after three weeks’ service in the field. Yesterday there was skirmishing between the armies, near Hanover Junction—25 miles distant from the city. Nothing of importance from the south side. But our ironclads are certainly going down the river—they say. To-day it [...]
Four miles southeast of Van Wirt, Ga., May 24, 1864. Short march to-day–because it is a full day’s march from here to water. At Van Wirt we turned east on the Atlanta road. Will pass through Dallas to-morrow. My company was rear guard to-day for the brigade. One of my men spilled a kettle of [...]
May 24th. Nothing of importance has taken place in camp since the last date. Marching orders received in the shape of general orders. Advance up the valley. Four days’ rations to be issued, with instructions to make it last eight. That puts us on half rations, and we are also put in light marching order. [...]
MAY 24th.—Clear and warm. No fighting yesterday besides small collisions near Hanover Junction. It is said to-day that Grant threatens the Central Railroad, on Lee’s left. This is regarded as a serious matter. We want men. An armed guard is now a fixture before the President’s house. Peas were in market on the 18th inst.; [...]
Four miles northwest of Van Wirt, Ga., May 23, 1864. Weather is getting very hot. We have made 21 miles today, and the distance, heat and dust have made it by far the hardest march we have had for a year. Excepting about six miles of dense pine woods the country we have passed through [...]
MAY 23d.—Fair and warm, with pleasant breezes. Gen. Johnston, without a defeat, has fallen back to Calhoun, Ga. Gen. Lee, without a defeat, has fallen back to Hanover Junction, his headquarters at Ashland. Grant is said to be worming his way eastward to the Peninsula, the field occupied by McClellan in 1862. Why, he might [...]
MAY 22d.—Clear and warm, but the atmosphere is charged with the smoke and dust of contending armies. The sun shines but dimly. Custis was with us last night, and returned to camp at 5 A.M. to-day. He gets from government only a small loaf of corn bread and a herring a day. We send him [...]
May 22, 1864. Two regiments of three-year’s men who did not “veteran” started home to-day. The loss of the army in this way will not be much. Not more than one or two regiments in any corps refused to veteran. We are drawing 20 days’ rations, sending sick back to convalescent camp at Chattanooga, and [...]
May 21st. Colonel Ely and other officers who have been prisoners since June 15th, 1863, returned and assumed command of the regiment. We are again in good condition for any kind of duty that we may be called upon. A good rest here, near Cedar Creek.
MAY 21st.—Sun all day, but a little hazy; perhaps a battle. There was quite a battle yesterday on the south side. The accounts in the morning’s paper fall short of the whole of our success. The enemy, it is said to-day, did not regain the works from which they were driven, but are now cooped [...]
May 21, 1864. The 23d Army Corps moved South yesterday. I hear that they found the enemy on the south bank of the Etowah river, and that he disputes the crossing. Grant seems to be checked in his “on to Richmond.” It seems that Rebel Iverson, whom I saw dead near Adairsville, was a brigadier [...]
May 20th. Nothing important has transpired since the last date. Weather warm and fine. Getting rested. A soldier must obey orders, not ask questions, keep his eyes open, be on the alert ready for the call to duty. Our company, C, loss at New Market, twelve wounded, five prisoners. General Sigel relieved of the command. [...]