The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context.
Ned Carter The Blacksmith.
August 8. When I first came here I was pretty well used up, but thanks to my friends, Garland of company C and Wheelock and Aldrich of my own company (who are attaches of this hospital), and also to Miss Dame for their attention, kindness and favors, I am feeling the best now I have any time this summer. For their sympathy, attentions and kind offices, I am under a debt of everlasting gratitude.
Within a week two of my sick men have died and another is fast going. One of them was a character in his way. As near as one can guess the age of a darky I should judge he was about 60 years old, and rather an intelligent man. He always called himself Ned Carter the blacksmith, and delighted in having others call him so. He would talk by the hour of old times, about his old master, and the good times and good cheer they used to have at Christmas time. When I first took this ward I saw that Ned was a sick darky and told him to have things his own way; if he felt like sleeping in the morning and didn’t want to come out to roll call I would excuse him. I noticed that he seldom went for his rations, but would send his cup for his coffee and tea. He said there was very little at the kitchen he could eat. I asked him what he could eat. He said he thought some cracker and milk would taste good. I took his cup up to Miss Dame and asked her if she would give me some condensed milk and a few soda crackers for a sick darky. She gave them to me, and Ned Carter the blacksmith was happy. The convalescent camp is not allowed anything from the sick kitchen, except by order of Doctor Fowler, so any little notion I get from there is through the kindness of Miss Dame or my friend Wheelock. I have often carried Ned a cup of tea and a slice of toast, with some peach or some kind of jelly on it, and the poor fellow could express his gratitude only with his tears, he had no words that could do it. One morning after roll call I went to his little tent and called Ned Carter the blacksmith. I got no response, and thinking he might be asleep I looked in. Ned Carter the blacksmith was gone, but the casket that had contained him lay there stiff and cold.
Monday, 8th–This morning I was put in as head nurse of ward D, hospital number 4. My duty is to direct the nurses in dealing out medicine and attending to the needs of the sick.
August 8, 1864.
Never was army better cared for than this. No part of it has been on short rations during the campaign. Extra issues of dessicated potatoes, mixed vegetables, etc., have bundled the advance guard of General Scurvy neck and heels outside the pickets. Extraordinary dreams of green corn, blackberries, new potatoes, etc., have done very much towards keeping up the health and morale of the army, and as much towards reconciling us to this summer sun, that ripens said goodies.
We draw supplies of clothing monthly as regularly as when in garrison, and a ragged soldier is a scarcity. At least 30 days’ rations are safely stored in our rear, making us entirely unmindful of railroad raids, for, if necessary, we could build the whole road in that time. The heat has not troubled us much, save during a few days’ marching.
We have had hardly three days without a rain for a month. We have done a great amount of work since our last battle, have constructed nine lines of works, and it will take at least two more before we get the position that I think Howard wants. We keep those poor Johnnies in a stew all the time. Our artillery is any amount better than theirs, and it plays on them from morning until night. Nothing worries troops so much, though compared with musketry it is almost harmless. I guess their ammunition is short, for they don’t fire one shot to our 40. I think we’ll like Howard first rate. If he is as good as McPherson, he’ll do.
Four divisions are on their way to reenforce us. I don’t think we need them, but the more, the merrier.
August 8th. General Phil Sheridan takes command. Reported he will organize a large force in the valley. I witnessed the cavalry corps as they passed along the tow path, along the canal. Marching orders. Again on through Harper’s Ferry, along the Shenandoah River. After marching about eight miles, came to a halt near Halltown, on the river road. Here we find the 6th, 19th, and our own, the 8th Corps. A good place to bathe in the river. Foot of Loudon Heights.
August, Monday 8, 1864
Day spent in kniting , Chas. D. C.—[illegible]
I slept very little last night, and to my distress kept the other Ladies awake—poor Lou, the task fell to her to go down stairs for Laudanum, she is one of the sweetest girls I ever met, I love her with my heart’s warmest affection.
Mrs. Hamilton was down to Tea, we spent a pleasant evening. My deafness is very disagreeable to myslef, and I suppose to every one else, having to enquire so often when addressed.
The news from all points is not as encouraging as we hoped for—Mobile is teribly threatened. God grant our Armies may be successful in defence of the City—
August 8th, 1864.—This is a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. Our armies in Virginia and in the West have suffered reverses of late and we have many such days. All who can, go to church; all the churches hold services. We take our knitting with us. Some stay all day, for they are fasting, but Father will not let us fast absolutely. He says “To keep your strength some food must be taken. Eat sparingly, but do not refrain entirely, for if you do you will not be capable of the best work and that is what our country calls for now.”
The telegraph wires are down and we have heard nothing for days. What there may be for us to hear we do not know. Father in Heaven, take care of our poor boys!
Susan Bradford is 18 years old when this entry was made.
AUGUST 8th.—Hot and dry.
There are rumors of battles near Winchester and in Georgia. Mr. Benjamin writes the Secretary of War for a passport for ____, who is going to New York, “for our service.”
In the assault on the fortifications near Petersburg last week, it is said Hancock’s (enemy’s) corps lost half its men.
Watermelons have sold at $20 each; corn, $10 per dozen ears; and everything else in the markets in proportion.
My yellow tomatoes are just maturing. The dry weather has ruined nearly everything else in the garden.
7th. Sunday. Moved up the Potomac. Had a good view of Mt. Vernon. A beautiful location. Passed Fort Washington. Reached Giesboro about noon. Moved up to the woods between Camp Stoneman and Washington. Got forage and settled down.
Sunday, 7th–A train came in this evening from the front loaded with the wounded from the Seventeenth Army Corps. They were wounded in the battles of July 21st, 22d and 28th around Atlanta. There is still no news from Grant’s army.
August 7th. A very hot morning. Early in the Potomac River for a good swim. Nothing like it. At the Quartermaster’s I drew an army hat. The first I ever had. They are worn by the western boys. Much better than caps. Trying to keep cool during this hot day. Wrote a few letters. Mountains on all sides. Turkey buzzards in the air.
August, Sunday 7, 1864
A bright and beautiful day—no Church going from this establishment—we all spent the day at home, hoping and praying for the gloom which hovers over us to be dispelled, for the safety and success of our defences of Mobile, the defeat of the raids which are overrunning our poor desolated land. Give our Armies success, and oh, grant us peace. No later news from Mobile, or any other point. I received a letter from Hal, no news in it, am looking for her in a few days. Lou, and all of us slept all afternoon, I suffered very much with my ear all night, did not sleep much and fear I am a great deal of trouble to dear, sweet Lou—
AUGUST 7th.—Hot and dry; but heavy rains in other parts of the State.
The 1st Army Corps moved through the city last night, via the Central and Fredericksburg Railroads, and this morning Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry corps is passing in the same direction—9 A.M.
All this indicates a transferrence of the scene of operations nearer the enemy’s country—the relief of Richmond—the failure of Grant’s MAD BULL campaign, prompted by President Lincoln, who is no general.
Honor to Lee!—the savior of his country! and the noble band of heroes whom he has led to victory!—but first to God.
Saturday, 6th–It is warm and pleasant again. This is general scrub-day for all the hospitals; the floors are scrubbed, clean sheets and pillow slips put on the cots, and clean underclothes are dealt out for the sick.
August 6th. Anniversary of my enlistment. Two years in the service. Rain this morning. Marching orders came early. Left camp, crossed the Monocacy River and the B. & O. R. R. Roads very muddy. Hard marching as we go up and down hills. On over South Mountain, descending into the Pleasant Valley. After marching about fifteen miles we go in camp near the Potomac River. Late this afternoon the weather became clear and fine. Camp located on high sandy ground. A number of the boys are ill at this time and must leave for hospitals. All is quiet tonight. Hope to get a good rest for we don’t know what tomorrow may bring to us.
August, Saturday 6, 1864
We were all very uneasy all morning about Mrs. Johnson, the old driver arrived at 12 o’c with the news of trouble for them on yesterday evening. Mrs. Forrest’s girl was very sick, she could not come. Mrs. Johnson started out rather late, the heavy storm which we thought would disturb the quiet of Columbus overtook her, three miles from Columbus, in this deep trouble the Carriage broke down, so she had to return to the City, had a terible time. No limbs or loves lost however. Lou, Mrs. Reynolds, Mary Poullaim and I had a nice quiet day. Col. Young went to Columbus, left Mr. Will Y. to attend to the Mill, so we did not have much of his delightful company. Mrs. Johnson and Dr. Butts arrived with bad news from Mobile, the Yankee fleet passed Forts Morgan & Gaines with loss of only one boat, the Tecumseh. God grant the City may be saved.
AUGUST 6th.—Hot and dry.
The booming of cannon heard yesterday evening was from one of our batteries below Drewry’s Bluff. The enemy answered from their batteries, the existence of which we had no knowledge of before. No one was hurt.
About the same time Gen. Beauregard sprung a mine under the enemy’s mine, and blew it up, no doubt destroying many lives. This was succeeded by heavy, but, perhaps, harmless shelling along the lines.
Another raiding party has been defeated and dispersed atMadison, Ga.
But we have been unfortunate in a naval engagement in the lower bay, at Mobile. We have lost Admiral Buchanan’s ram “Tennessee,” and several other steamers. One of the enemy’s monitors was sunk. They had five vessels to our one.
Battles are momentarily expected at Atlanta and Winchester. We have nothing additional from the North.
August 6th.–Archer came, a classmate of my husband’s at Princeton; they called him Sally Archer then, he was so girlish and pretty. No trace of feminine beauty about this grim soldier now. He has a hard face, black-bearded and sallow, with the saddest black eyes. His hands are small, white, and well-shaped; his manners quiet. He is abstracted and weary-looking, his mind and body having been deadened by long imprisonment. He seemed glad to be here, and James Chesnut was charmed. “Dear Sally Archer,” he calls him cheerily, and the other responds in a far-off, faded kind of way.
Hood and Archer were given the two Texas regiments at the beginning of the war. They were colonels and Wigfall was their general. Archer’s comments on Hood are: “He does not compare intellectually with General Johnston, who is decidedly a man of culture and literary attainments, with much experience in military matters. Hood, however, has youth and energy to help counterbalance all this. He has a simple-minded directness of purpose always. He is awfully shy, and he has suffered terribly, but then he has had consolations–such a rapid rise in his profession, and then his luck to be engaged to the beautiful Miss ––.”
They tried Archer again and again on the heated controversy of the day, but he stuck to his text. Joe Johnston is a fine military critic, a capital writer, an accomplished soldier, as brave as Caesar in his own person, but cautious to a fault in manipulating an army. Hood has all the dash and fire of a reckless young soldier, and his Texans would follow him to the death. Too much caution might be followed easily by too much headlong rush. That is where the swing-back of the pendulum might ruin us.
5th. Friday. Brigade marched at sunrise. Relieved by 2nd Div. Reached City Point before noon. 18th P. V. embarked for Washington. 2nd Ohio went to Landing. On board and anchored off the Point. Took a bath before leaving wharf. While hastily looking for Col. P. for detail to load oats, I accidentally walked off into the river. Had my revolver on and coat and pants in my arms. Soon found a board nailed upon a pile and hung on till helped out. Lost my hat. God is kind. I owe him gratitude for saving me. (This was the beginning of Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley campaign in which the 2nd Ohio was prominent.)
Friday, 5th–It rained nearly all day. The troops here are receiving their pay today, some for one and others for two months. Since May 1st the Government has been paying the privates $16.00 per month, which is an increase of $3.00. But money here in Rome is of no particular benefit to a soldier, for there is nothing in town to buy, the only business men being the sutlers who are attached to the regiments in the front. All is quiet at this place.
August 5, 1864.
After the fight of the 28th July, we advanced on the 30th, 31st and April 1st 1, when we came to a strong line of Rebel rifle pits, densely populated, and their main works about 400 yards behind the pits.
On the 2d details from each brigade in the corps were ordered to drive the Rebels out of said pits. It was done, our division capturing 78 prisoners. The Rebels tried to retake them, but failed, of course, leaving with our boys, among other dead, a colonel and a major. Only one company (K), of our regiment was in the fight; it had two men wounded. I was on picket there the next day; ’twas a lively place, but I lost no men. Some of the men fired over 100 rounds. The 23d and 14th Corps have swung around on our right, the object being to throw our line across the Macon railroad. We have heard that Stoneman was captured with 400 men at Macon. Kilpatrick started on a raid yesterday. Stoneman burned a Rebel wagon train of 600 wagons, and sabered the mules. Cruel, but right. The 14th Corps yesterday gobbled 700 prisoners. There are a few Rebel riflemen who keep the bullets whistling around us here; they killed a Company E man 20 yards to the right on the 4th. Health of the regiment never better, and that is the best index of the morale.
- Obviously, Wills meant August 1st as this is in sequence after the August 1st entry and the sequence of dates implies three sequential days. MpG 7/19/2020
August 5th. Early this morning had a good swim, after which I lay down under a large tree near the river. Had a good nap and rest. Then wrote a few letters. Very late in the afternoon orders came to fall in and form line. We marched into a large open field and formed three sides of a square, when orders came that a deserter from the 34th Ohio Regiment was to be executed at sunset. After waiting a while we heard the band playing a dirge. Soon the whole party came in sight, six armed men in front of the deserter and six in the rear. At his side walked a Chaplain. Behind all came an ambulance with a coffin. When all was ready the deserter sat on the coffin, blindfolded. Orders came to fire. I saw him fall over on the coffin. Don’t wish to witness anything more like that. Besides being a deserter, it was reported that he was a spy, having enlisted in the rebel service. All I know about it is the talk about our camp and other regiments.
AUGUST 5th.—Hot and dry. I hope there will be a rain-cloud this evening.
No war news, except a letter from Gen. Lee, indicating that Gen. Morgan is probably on a raid in Northwest Virginia and in Pennsylvania. Morgan proposed going into Georgia (rear of Sherman), but the Secretary indorsed that perhaps the matter had as well be left to Gen. Lee. The President quietly indorsed that he “concurred in the conclusion that all the movements of troops in Virginia had best be left to the discretion of Gen Lee.”
Gen. Hood telegraphs that no important change has occurred in front of Atlanta. There was some skirmishing yesterday, and shell thrown into Atlanta.
My daughter Anne, after ten months’ residence in the country, returned to-day (with Miss Randolph, of Loudon Co.) in perfect health. She brought apples, eggs, a watermelon, cucumbers, etc.
Mr. Davies sold my reel (German silver) to-day for $75, or about $3.20 in gold—enough to buy a cord of wood. I parted with it reluctantly, as I hope to catch fish yet.
August, Friday 5, 1864
Our gay little crowd was broken up this morning—Therese, Mrs. Martin both returned to Columbus, Mrs. Johnston went in with them to bring Mrs. Forrest out to spend a few days—they have not returned, but from a heavy cloud which passed over this eve, and from all appearances was inclined to moisten mother earth about that point, we all would feel uneasy, that is our only consolation. So we, a sleepy crowd, retire early, with the hopes of greeting them in the morning. Lou, Mary Poullaim, Mr. Will Young and I spent the evening together in the parlor, they knitting, he and I playing baggammon. All together we have had a delightful day. Lou and Mrs. Reynolds had company, Mary Lou and I had a nap—then a nice bath—not much swiming . Lou sat on the bank, much amused at our fear of a ducking—her country relations called and she could not venture in—I have decided to not leave until I hear from Tate.
August 5,1864.
Mr. Ward has been robbed by the Yankees of his watch, pencil, and shirt.
4th. Thursday. Letters received from Mr. Charles Wood and Mrs. Beers. Regt. relieved in the night.