Sunday, 21st.—Heavy rumors afloat; one is a courier came in last night and said that on Friday and Saturday Johnston was crossing Big Black River with 90,000 men.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

June 21st, 1863.—I had gone upstairs to-day during the interregnum to enjoy a rest on my bed and read the reliable items in the “Citizen,” when a shell burst right outside the window in front of me. Pieces flew in, striking all round me, tearing down masses of plaster that came tumbling over me. When H. rushed in I was crawling out of the plaster, digging it out of my eyes and hair. When he picked up beside my pillow a piece as large as a saucer, I realized my narrow escape. The window-frame began to smoke, and we saw the house was on fire. H. ran for a hatchet and I for water, and we put it out. Another (shell) came crashing near, and I snatched up my comb and brush and ran down here. It has taken all the afternoon to get the plaster out of my hair, for my hands were rather shaky.

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in post-civil war New Orleans, her diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were generally used instead of full names—and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials. (Read Dora Richards Miller’s biographical sketch.)

June 20th. Scouts brought in many prisoners. All were obliged to report to the General at headquarters. I very often heard the conversation. One question always asked. “Whose command do you belong to?” While on duty at the General’s headquarters we received a call from two citizens from our home town, Norwich, Dr. Charles M. Carleton and Henry H. Starkweather. Came to learn all the particulars about our regiment’s part in the three days’ battle at Winchester. There was much excitement at home over the results. A full report had not been received. The casualties at this time were not really known. We were questioned as to what we knew about the disaster that had overtaken our regiment. Those of us who escaped received many letters from home asking for information about members of the regiment. At this time the regiment was well scattered, prisoners, a detachment reported at Hancock, Md., and ours at Maryland Heights.

20th. Awakened at 4 A. M. and ordered to take 3 days’ rations, forage and provisions on horse and 3 in wagon. Marched at 6. Thede and I went together. Passed the 103rd at the river. Followed us to Monticello. Took the Albany road. Went five miles and camped. Cool day for marching. Saw Lt. Case at Capt. West’s, doing well. Got dinner there, some coffee, green oats.

Saturday, 20th–By order of General Grant all the artillery opened upon Vicksburg this morning, and the bombardment continued throughout the day. It is reported that the rebels have lost six hundred, killed and wounded, many of these being killed during the first two hours of the firing. Our left is holding quite tight. The sky was hazy today and the heat at times was very oppressive.

June 20th. Slight firing early this morning in rear of Port Hudson; at five A. M. the steamer Bee arrived from above Bayou Sara, having on board the pilot of gunboat Lafayette, who has come down as bearer of despatches to Commodore Palmer. At four twenty P. M., heavy artillery firing going on in rear of Port Hudson, showing that our army is not asleep, but on the other hand, harassing the enemy by day, while our mortar schooners and sloops-of-war of lower fleet harass him by night. I think by this plan of operations by the army and navy, the rebels cut off from obtaining supplies, will soon have to surrender to our forces.

Well dressed woman is shown praying in a furnished cave space. A crucifix is on the wall, the cave opening looks out on to the town.

Published Baltimore 1863

From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd

JUNE 20TH.–This morning our whole line of artillery–seven miles long–opened on the doomed city and fortifications at six o’clock, and kept up the firing for four hours, during which time the smoke was so thick we could see nothing but the flash of the guns. No fog could have so completely hid from view objects around, both close and familiar. Had the rebs made a dash for liberty then, they could not have been discovered until they were right upon us. But they did not do it. Our infantry was all called out in line of battle, and we stacked arms till the firing ceased. O, what a calm after that terrific bellowing. There was every variety of tone to-day from the dogs of war–from the squeak of a little fiste to the roar of a bull dog. The sound of some brass pieces was so loud as to drown the reverberations of the larger guns, and not a return shot was fired.

Poor fellows, how tamely they took it! They had nothing to say–at least that we could hear. Several of our boys laid down and slept during the firing as soundly as if they had been on their mothers’ feather beds at home. When the clouds cleared away I thought the stars and stripes never looked so beautiful. Even if the defenceless women and children in Vicksburg are protected, or feel as if they were, such a screeching of shot and shell must prove a terror to them, and my heart has not yet grown so hardened that I can not feel for them.

There is a good deal of complaint, in our company at least, about the coffee we get. It seems not quite so good as that we have had, and I suspect it has been adulterated by somebody who is willing to get rich at the expense of the poor soldier, whose curses will be heaped strong and heavy on anybody who deteriorates any of his rations, and particularly his coffee. The only time a soldier can not drink his coffee is when the use of that ration is suspended. In fact, there is nothing so refreshing as a cup of hot coffee, and no sooner has a marching column halted, than out from each haversack comes a little paper sack of ground coffee, and a tin cup or tin can, with a wire bale, to be filled from the canteen and set upon a fire to boil. The coffee should not be put in the water before it boils. At first I was green enough to do so, but soon learned better, being compelled to march before the water boiled, and consequently lost my coffee. I lost both the water and the coffee. It takes but about five minutes to boil a cup of water, and then if you have to march you can put your coffee in and carry it till it is cool enough to sip as you go. Even if we halt a dozen times a day, that many times will a soldier make and drink his coffee, for when the commissary is full and plenty, we may drink coffee and nibble crackers from morning till night. The aroma of the first cup of coffee soon sets the whole army to boiling; and the best vessel in which to boil coffee for a soldier is a common cove oyster can, with a bit of bent wire for a bale, by which you can hold it on a stick over the fire, and thus avoid its tipping over by the burning away of its supports.

JUNE 20th.—It has got out that the President intends to dispense with the services of Mr. Myers, the Jew Quartermaster-General, and Mr. Miles, member of Congress from South Carolina, who happens to be his friend, is characteristically doing the part of a friend for his retention. But he gives the President some severe raps for alleged contempt of the wishes of Congress, that body having passed a bill (vetoed by the President) conferring on Col. M. the rank and pay of brigadier-general.

The operations of Gen. Lee have relieved the depot here, which was nearly empty. Since the capture of Winchester and Martinsburg, only about 1500 bushels of corn are sent to the army daily, whereas 5000 were sent before, and there were rarely more than a day’s supply on hand.

To-day, about one o’clock, the city was thrown into a state of joyful excitement, by the reception of news from the North. From this source it was ascertained, what had hitherto been only a matter of conjecture, that a portion of our forces, the same that captured Winchester and Martinsburg, were in Pennsylvania! Gen: Jenkins, with his cavalry, had taken Chambersburg on the 16th inst.—and the North, from the line of Pennsylvania to the lakes, and from the seaboard to the western prairies, was stricken with consternation. These are some of the dispatches, as copied from Northern papers:

“The Governor of Ohio calls for 30,000 troops. The Governor of Pennsylvania calls for 50,000, to prevent the invasion of each State.

“WASHINGTON, June 15th.—Lincoln has issued a proclamation for 100,000 men, to repel the invasion of Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

“HARRISBURG, June 15th.—Dispatches from Chambersburg and Hagerstown state that the rebel cavalry are at Berryville and Martinsburg. A dispatch dated 14th, says that hard fighting is going on. The rebels had driven Reynolds from Berryville, and were advancing on the capital. The towns and cities throughout Pennsylvania are in danger.

“LATER.—Private dispatches state that on the 16th the rebels were at Chambersburg in force. The Federals were removing the railroad machinery, stock, and stores. Great excitement and alarm pervaded the entire country.”

In the “hard fighting,” Gen. Lee reports our loss as “one killed and two wounded.” Here’s the second dispatch:

“SHELBYVILLE, TENN., June 18th.—Nashville papers of the 17th inst. have been received here. They contain Lincoln’s proclamation, calling for 100,000 militia, for six months’ service, and the following highly interesting telegrams:

“LOUDON, PA., June 16th.—The rebels are in heavy force in the Cumberland Valley.

“BEDFORD, PA., June 16th.—Scouts report 6000 rebels at Cumberland, Maryland. The inhabitants are flying for safety from Harper’s Ferry.

“HARRISBURG, June 16th.—Business is suspended here. All the important documents have been removed from the capital.

“Milroy telegraphs officially his repulse from the fortifications at Winchester by 15,000 rebels, with the loss of 2900 men.

“Governor Curtin calls upon the people of Pennsylvania to defend the State, saying that Philadelphia has not responded, while the enemy are in Chambersburg. He reproaches Pennsylvania for sniffling about the length of service when the exigency exists.

“Dispatches state that everything looks gloomy, and there is no saving the country south of the Susquehanna.

“BALTIMORE, June 16th.—Governor Bradford calls on the people to rally to the defense of Maryland.

“PROVIDENCE, R. I., June 16th.—Governor Smith convenes the Legislature on Thursday for the purpose of raising troops.

“PHILADELPHIA, June 16th.—The Mayor has issued a proclamation closing the stores in order that the occupants may join military organizations to defend the city.

“NEW YORK, June 16th.—All the regiments are getting ready under arms. The Brooklyn bells were rung at midnight, summoning the men to the regiments, which were to leave immediately for Philadelphia.

“Governor Andrews, of Massachusetts, tenders Lincoln all the available force of militia from that State.”

Milroy’s statement in relation to the number of prisoners taken by us is pretty fair, when compared with Hooker’s official statements on similar occasions. Some of the prisoners will probably arrive in Richmond to-day—and the Agent of Exchange has been notified that 1000 would be sent on. So Gen. Milroy told nearly half the truth.

Again:

THIRD DISPATCH.

“SHELBYVILLE, June 19th.—Other dispatches in the Nashville papers say that the rebels advanced six miles beyond Chambersburg. On the 16th Gen. Taylor telegraphs officially his retreat, and the capture of the Federal forces at Winchester.”

Later in the day the New York Herald of the 17th inst. was received by the flag of truce boat. I now quote from it:

“Fortifications are being rapidly erected all along the north bank of the Susquehanna, and Gen. McClellan or Gen. Franklin has been called for to head the State troops.

REPORTS FROM HARRISBURG.

“HARRISBURG, PA., June 16th.—Midnight.—Rebel cavalry today occupied Littletown, eleven miles from Gettysburg, but at last accounts had not advanced beyond that point.

“The rebel officers at Chambersburg stated that they were only waiting for infantry to move forward. The authorities are inclined to believe, however, that they will not move farther North.

“The farmers in the valley are sending their horses and cattle into the mountains.

“The rebels are gathering up all the negroes that can be found.

“Private property has been respected.

“They burned the railroad bridge across Scotland Creek, six miles this side of Chambersburg.

HARPER’S PERRY INVESTED.

“BALTIMORE, June 16th.—Fugitives from Hagerstown report the rebels picketing all the roads and not permitting any one to pass.

“The force that passed through were all cavalry, under Jenkins and Imboden, and did not exceed 2500.

“All was quiet at Frederick up to five o’clock this evening, though the people were greatly excited and hundreds were leaving.

“HARRISBURG, June 17th.—The aspect of affairs, so far as can be judged by the reports from the border, seems to be this :

“The rebel force occupy Hagerstown and such other points as leave them free to operate either against Harrisburg or Baltimore.

“Apprehensions are entertained by the people of Altoona and other points on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, that the rebels will strike for the West, and then go back to their own soil by way of Pittsburg and Wheeling.

“The fortifications constructed on the hills opposite Harrisburg are considered sufficient protection for the city, and an offensive movement en our part is not unlikely.”

June 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

JACKSON, MISS., June 18. – For the first time in four days, heavy firing was heard at Vicksburg this morning. The latest accounts represent GRANT’S army to be busy fortifying and cutting down trees beyond the Big Black to impede the movements of JOHNSTON. Great distress prevails amongst our citizens inside the enemy’s lines, the Yankees having robbed them of all their provisions. Numbers of them are said to be in a starving condition.

Numerous couriers from Vicksburg who have arrived within the last few days, report nothing new, except that GRANT’S sappers and miners are at work endeavoring to blow up our fortifications.

Official despatches from Milliken’s Bend state that our attack upon that place was a failure. The enemy had three lines of works. Having been driven out of two of them, he made a desperate stand at the third, and with the assistance of the gunboats, repelled our forces. Nothing is known outside of official circles regarding the movements of KIRBY SMITH. Advices from Memphis state that the transports, crowded with wounded, were still arriving there from Vicksburg.

Officers from Port Hudson report that our forces there are all safe and in good spirits. They are provisioned for three months. The enemy has made twenty seven assaults and lost 5000 men. Our loss, so far, about 300. A courier arrived from Port Hudson last night bringing despatches to General JOHNSTON. The garrison is stated to be in fine condition. BANKS’ force was estimated to number 20,000 men. He also has abandoned the idea of storming the place, and has gone to ditching.

June 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

Since the repulse of the fleet of iron-clad gunboats on the 7th of April, our people seem to have settled down into a condition of complacent inertness concerning the public defences in this locality. Now, confidence is undoubtedly a good thing, and its moral power is an admirable auxiliary, particularly in all military operations. But a false confidence based on self-deception, when once rudely shaken at the time of trial, only leads to demoralization and wild dismay. In our judgment Charleston is not yet saved, and this is no season for supineness in the furnishing and application of labor and material for the further security of this city. There are no signs of a final abandonment of the enterprise of taking Charleston. On the contrary, there are decided indications that the attempt will be renewed in some direction or other.

The land forces of HUNTER’S Department exhibit no appearances of diminution since the early retirement of the reinforcements sent from FOSTER. Several regiments are unmistakably on Folly Island, and these have been busy in building an entrenched camp, in erecting strong works, and in mounting heavy long-range guns bearing upon Morris Island. Little Folly Island is only a projection from Folly Island, and may be reoccupied any day. Several other regiments are on Seabrook’s Island, where they too have an entrenched camp, and today we publish that they are moving in the direction of James’ Island. The Yankee pickets in front of General WILLIAM WALKER’S troops, in the southern portion of the State, have recently been doubled. From Beaufort and from Hilton Head, within the last two weeks, two bold and completely successful raids have been made by the enemy, destroying many hundreds of thousands of property, with the prospects of the rice crop in one of the finest grain-growing regions of the grain-needing Confederacy. Besides the various squadrons of wooden ships and gunboats hovering upon our coast, six iron-clads are still in our waters. Commodore FOOTE, who has superseded DUPONT in command of the naval forces, is a man of energy, daring and great success; and he is a bitter hater of the South. The desolation of our country and the reduction of Charleston will be with him a labor of love, engaging his untiring and utmost efforts to accomplish. By land and sea we need to prepare to cope with enemies actuated by undisguised and unmitigated ferocity, and manifesting the disposition to leave no stone unturned for our overthrow and utter ruin.

June 20, 1863, (Marshall) Texas Republican

            Mrs. Mary Hyde arrived at the Alton prison from Nashville, having been sentenced by Gen. Rosecrans to imprisonment during the war, in the Illinois penitentiary.  The offence with which she is charged is “secession proclivities.”

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

Great activity still prevails in Pennsylvania both among the rebels and our own forces. The rebels were, up to yesterday evening, at or near Greencastle, having retired from Chambersburg hastily and in alarm. The Eighth and Seventy-first New York Militia went to Chambersburg, to march from thence to Greencastle to dislodge the rebels. The Brooklyn Twenty-third and New York Twenty-second are ordered to cross the Susquehanna and take the place of the advancing regiments. The bridge burned by the rebels at Scotland is being reconstructed, and communication with Chambersburg will thus be renewed. The main body of the enemy engaged in the raid appear to be opposite Williamsport; and it is said that a large infantry force is at Shepherdstown, near Antietam, about to cross over, thus following out the programme of September last. Despatches from Harrisburg last night say that the rebels are eight thousand strong at Hagerstown, their force consisting of mounted infantry, artillery and cavalry. They are transporting their stores and ammunition to the north side of the river, which is supposed to indicate a determination on their part to remain and make it a base of operations.

General Milroy was said to be approaching with four thousand mounted infantry and five thousand riflemen, also in the saddle, and that a battle was imminent today. Two hundred and fifty rebel cavalry entered McConnellburg at dawn yesterday, seizing the telegraph instruments. The communication has since been restored. The rebels retired towards Hancock, Maryland. They burned the canal boats there. They were reinforced by about seven hundred infantry, who attempted to destroy a large culvert, but both [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

DETAILS OF THE REBEL MOVEMENTS.

Our Shippensburg Correspondence.

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa., June 17 – A.M.

Eleven miles from this place is Chambersburg, and for a considerable distance in advance of the latter place and towards this locality are rebel pickets, videttes and foraging and scouting parties. Hence we are in what, in reality, may be termed a delicate if not dangerous position. At any moment our restless foe may dash in here, and that, too, with perfect impunity, for all the resistance he is like, from present indications and manifestations, to meet with. To add to the excitement, the Cumberland Valley Railroad has ceased to extend its trains of communication further than Oakville, thereby debarring the public generally form that point down (including this one) from communication with Harrisburg. As a consequence of this state of affairs rumors of all kinds are rife, and much speculation is indulged in regarding public and private affairs at the present two extremes – Harrisburg and Chambersburg.

The scenes about town are not over and above exciting, nor are they positively interesting. Pedestrians are constantly going and coming from the direction of Chambersburg, and with their many stories help to enliven life in what would otherwise be a dull town to the stranger newly arrived and simply seeking for information. There is also another class of persons who are constantly going in and out of town, and these bring [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

DETAILS OF THE REBEL MOVEMENTS.

Our Greencastle Correspondence.

GREENCASTLE, Pa., ELEVEN MILES FROM HAGERSTOWN,

June 17, 1863.

At one o’clock today the rebel column commenced to pass through this place rather leisurely. One of the commanding officers gave notice that the town would be burned in less than five hours if the citizens did not deliver up a number of negroes – some thirty – who were captured the day previous, while being conveyed South under rebel guard. This guard comprised four soldiers, only two of whom were armed. As soon as the train with the negroes came into town the people surrounded it and took the captured ones away. The negroes were delighted beyond all measure at their fortunate delivery. Of the delivered party a large proportion were mere children. The rebel guard was locked up in jail. The rebels, on their return to Greencastle, demanded the immediate delivery up of the soldiers, and threatened immediate destruction to all property if their request was not instantly complied with. Several of the more prominent citizens got together as soon as they could, and in a very short period of time the prisoners were released and went on their way rejoicing. The question then occurred as to the captured negroes. The rebels offered to take $50,000 in gold or silver if the negroes could not be found. They at last [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, [Little Rock] Weekly Arkansas Gazette

            The least patriotic, and the most dangerous, sign of the times, is exhibited in the mania which possesses a portion of our people for trafficking with the enemy, which, more than any thing else, nay, more than all other causes combined, panders to the malign spirits of Speculation and Extortion.  Fortunate is it for us that the great mass of our people are sufferers and losers by the existing state of affairs; if they were gainers, all true patriots would fervently, and from their hearts, say “Good Lord deliver us,” and the country, from–ourselves;  as it is, the good and the patriotic pray–”lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil” of becoming speculators and extortioners, especially on the necessities of the poor, and the families of the absent, patriot, soldier.

            Our circumscribed limits compel us to allude only in the briefest manner to the evils of which we have spoken.

            Traffickers with the enemy have a direct interest in depreciating the funds of our government at home, for the cheaper they get our funds, the more they make in their exchange for those of the enemy.

            Merchandise brought from the enemy’s lines does no good to the people;  it meets not their demands and supplies nor their wants;  it comes in such small quantities as to make a luxury almost unprocurable in its character;  when brought, it is put up at auction, where traitors and weaked-backed patriots vie with each other in showing which attaches the least value to our currency, by giving the most extravagant amounts of it for [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

DETAILS OF THE REBEL MOVEMENTS.

Our Harrisburg Correspondence.

HARRISBURG, Pa., June 19, 1863.

APPEARANCE OF THE INTERIOR.

We just returned from a hurried visit to the interior, and am glad to inform you that I found the citizens residing in the counties bordering on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad fully awake to the importance of this raid. Every village and town through which I passed that has a citizen capable of bearing arms has insisted that they shall face the music in this late invasion. The copperheads do not like this; but you will be agreeably surprised when I inform you that but few of this organization are to be found among the yeomanry. When I say few, I refer more particularly to that class of which Charles Ingersoll, George M. Wharton and Peter McCall are supposed to be the leaders. The people in the interior have no sympathy for those gentlemen, except as it concerns certain rights. They are for the suppression of the rebellion, and desire that it should be accomplished by measures both speedy and effective. They want peace; but they declare they have no desire to secure it by any other means than what is honorable. They express themselves warmly, but are nevertheless sincere. I found them both courteous and communicative, and very deep was their chagrin at leaning of the success attendant upon the rebel raid. The feeling in regard to

NEW YORK AND THE EAST is very warmly and unanimously expressed. Many citizens with whom I conversed say that their debt of gratitude must be wiped out with [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The Charleston Mercury

GLORIOUS NEWS FROM THE BORDER!

GEN. LEE’S ARMY IN PENNSYLVANIA.

SHELBYVILLE, TENN., June 18. – Nashville papers of the 7th have been received here. The news they contain is highly important.

President LINCOLN has issued a Proclamation calling for 100,000 militia, to serve for six months.

The following despatches announce the advance of Gen. LEE’S army over the border and into Pennsylvania:

LOUDON, PA., June 16 – The rebels, in heavy force, have entered the Cumberland Valley.

BEDFORD, PA., June 16 – Scouts just in report that 6000 rebel cavalry are at Cumberland, Md., and that the inhabitants are flying for safety to Harper’s Ferry.

HARRISBURG, June 16. – Business here has been suspended. All important documents have been removed from the capitol. MILROY telegraphs officially his […..] from the Winchester fortifications by 15,000 rebels.’ He states his loss to have been 2900 men. [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

The bold and rapid movement of the rebel army of Virginia into the State of Pennsylvania calls for prompt and decisive action on the part of the Governors of the Northern States. This is the time to put all our available forces into the field. The rebels have determined to convert this movement into one of the greatest strokes of the war; but it depends greatly on the Governors of the loyal States whether the attempt shall be frustrated or not. For a long time past we have heard of the great masses of negro soldiers that might be brought into the field. Why not bring them on now? From the city of New York alone it is easy to raise several thousands of able-bodied negroes, who may just as well be killed in the field as not. They should be made to know something about the price at which liberty is bought. While our white soldiers are being sacrificed by the shot and shell of the enemy, what excuse is there to offer for the exclusion of the blacks from the same dangerous though unremunerating service? Why not send the recruiting sergeant up Church street and West Broadway to seize these fellows, and compel them to take a part in the practical application of the emancipation programme? If they have been so long spoiling for a fight, as Greeley says, they now have the chance to show their courage and to assist the cause so thoroughly espoused by their abolition brethren.

The rebels are now threatening the national capital. The march through Pennsylvania promises to be a very destructive one. The duty of the Governors of different States is, then, to call out every available fighting man at a very short notice. We have heard a good deal about the ability and bravery of negro soldiers. We have the opportunity to make them useful and to prove this boast. Let Governor Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Governor Seymour, of New York and Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, immediately call every [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, The New York Herald

From the numerous despatches which we publish this morning in reference to the movements of the rebel forces in Maryland, Pennsylvania, the Shenandoah valley and in the country between the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge and the old battle ground of Manassas, it would appear, first, that, although the enemy have fallen back from Chambersburg, their forces are increasing in the northern neck of Maryland, from Hagerstown westward to Cumberland, along the line of the Potomac; and, secondly, that, from the sharp collisions between the cavalry of General Pleasanton and the scouting horsemen of the rebels, General Lee, with the main body of his army, is probably lying under the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, watching his opportunity for another descent upon Bull run.

Had he entertained any design of pushing forward to Harrisburg and Philadelphia, instead of sending a detachment of two or three thousand troopers to Chambersburg to give the alarm, he would have hurried forward the whole column of twenty or thirty thousand men under General Ewell to the Susquehanna, without stopping at any point longer than necessary to rest his troops, from day to day, after crossing the Potomac. A movement of this sort could hardly have been arrested in time to save Harrisburg; but what would have been gained by the enemy with the occupation of that city? Nothing. Lee was playing for a great prize. His demonstrations along the Pennsylvania border had for their main object the division of our Army of the Potomac, and his game with the division of this army was simply to cut it up in detail, and then to march upon Washington. He has left Richmond, as it appears from the testimony of eye witnesses, [continue reading…]

June 20, 1863, (Marshall) Texas Republican

            Public Meeting.–A public meeting was held at Winnsboro’ in Wood county, on the 30^th ult., for the purpose of collecting Bacon and Soap for the army upon the call of Capt. G. G. Gregg, A. C. S.  Patriotic resolutions were adopted, setting forth the determination of the citizens of Wood county to send every pound that could be spared.  A committee of three was appointed to collect and forward such as might be subscribed.  The response was very liberal, and bespeaks the highest praise for the noble county of wood.  We are requested to publish the proceedings, contributions, &c., but our space is too limited.  We can only say that the patriotism and promptness of our friends will be remembered, and it is worthy of imitation.

Saturday, 20th.—At daylight firing began and continued with unabated fury until 11 A. M. Reported Yankees made heavy charges, but were repulsed.

(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

June 20th.—The gentleman who took our cave came yesterday to invite us to come to it, because, he said, “it’s going to be very bad to-day.” I don’t know why he thought so. We went, and found his own and another family in it; sat outside and watched the shells till we concluded the cellar was as good a place as that hill-side. I fear the want of good food is breaking down H. I know from my own feelings of weakness, but mine is not an American constitution and has a recuperative power that his has not.

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in post-civil war New Orleans, her diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were generally used instead of full names—and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials. (Read Dora Richards Miller’s biographical sketch.)

19th. Felt miserable in the morning. Hospital moved to the brick church. Col. Dod and Bob worked at the old wagon. Thede and Mike went for cherries for a cherry pie tomorrow. Byerley came over. Read some in “Barnaby Rudge.” In the evening got a letter from Lucy Randall. Wrote a letter to Fannie.