June 9th, 1863.—The churches are a great resort for those who have no caves. People fancy they are not shelled so much, and they are substantial and the pews good to sleep in. We had to leave this house last night, they were shelling our quarter so heavily. The night before, Martha forsook the cellar [...]
Monday, 8th–The Third Brigade received their knapsacks this morning. The boys are at work building sheds of the canebrake which is so plentiful in this part of the State. Fighting is still kept up and reinforcements are arriving every day. Vicksburg must and shall fall this time!
8th. Issued beef in the morning. Rob and I went out and got some strawberries and milk. Some for Capt. N., getting some better. In the P. M. orders for Kautz brigade to be ready to march at 4 P. M. Thede, Drake and I went together. Forded the river at Stigall’s Ferry and encamped [...]
June 8th. At one thirty A. M., mortar vessels below opened fire upon the batteries; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters. Artillery firing heard in rear of Port Hudson. From eight P. M. to twelve midnight, firing of great guns heard, at Port Hudson.
JUNE 8th.—Well, the enemy have thrown another column over the Rappahannock, below Fredericksburg. This is probably a manœuvre to arrest Lee’s advance in Culpepper County. But it won’t do–Lee’s plans cannot be changed—and this demonstration was in his calculations. If they think Richmond can be taken now, without Lee’s army to defend it, they may [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 8TH.–Another day born in the midst of the rattle of shot and shell. Each day finds us more firmly entrenched amid these hills, until we begin to feel ourselves impregnable. [...]
June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury LATEST FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK. RICHMOND, June 7. Letters from Hamilton’s Crossing state that a brigade of Yankees, with six pieces of artillery, have crossed the Rappahannock near Fredericksburg, and taken up a position in the vicinity of the site of the Bernard House. The movement is supposed to be [...]
June 8, 1863, The New York Herald General Grant does not appear to have ever made a speech, or to have told any one what he would like to do against the rebels. No phrases of his live in the popular memory, and he does not even electrify the nation or the troops under his [...]
June 8, 1863, The New York Herald The government received despatches from Vicksburg last night dated up to Wednesday, the 3d inst. The siege was then still going on; but not a word of the particulars of the operations there appears to have been received, or, at least, not promulgated. Despatches from Cairo yesterday say [...]
June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury In our issue of Saturday we gave a list of houses destroyed by the enemy during their recent raid against Bluffton. As matter of general interest to our readers we give a list of the houses that were spared by the fire. In many instances the fine old shade [...]
June 8, 1863, The Charleston Mercury We gather from our Western exchanges the following additional information of the progress of hostilities at Vicksburg: A despatch from Rodney to the Natchez Courier states, on the authority of a paroled prisoner, that the enemy’s dead were five to one of ours on the battle field of Baker’s [...]
8th.—We have had a cavalry fight near Culpeper Court-House. We drove the enemy back, but I am afraid that our men won no laurels, for we were certainly surprised most shamefully.
Sunday, 7th–The rebels made an attack on our forces at Duck’s Point, Louisiana, where, it is reported, two negro regiments met the attack and captured two hundred prisoners and five pieces of artillery. Who says that the negro will not fight? I say he will fight! Arm the negroes and let them fight for their [...]
7th. After breakfast and morning work, went up to the bluff and enjoyed a good bath. A small stream of water enters the ground and runs for half a mile underground and comes out clear and cool from the rocks, beneath a high bluff. Runs through a big trough, falling several feet. Read the Independent [...]
Headquarters, Left Wing 16th Army Corps, Lagrange, Tenn., June 7, 1863. We had occupied our very pleasant quarters but two days when an order came for us to pack up for Vicksburg. Received the order at dark and by daylight the next morning we were in Lagrange. General Oglesby had moved his headquarters here and [...]
June 7th. Slight firing from pieces of artillery, heard in rear of Port Hudson, early this morning; at ten A. M. ship and crew inspected by Commodore; at ten thirty, called all hands to muster, performed Divine service, and mustered crew around capstan. Nothing more, worthy of being recorded, occurred during this day. I forgot [...]
JUNE 7th.—I saw yesterday a specimen of the President’s elaborate attention to the matter of appointments. Lient.-Gen. A. P. Hill having asked for a military court to his corps, and having recommended the officers, the President, with his own hand, laid down the rule of selection for the guidance of the Secretary, viz.: the State [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JUNE 7TH.–The 20th was at the front all day, sharp shooting. There is a good deal of danger in this kind of business, but we have our fun at it notwithstanding. Another effigy hoisted a little above [...]
June 7.—We are living in fear of a Yankee raid. They have a large force on York River, and are continually sending parties up the Pamunky and Mattapony Rivers, to devastate the country and annoy the inhabitants. Not long ago a party rode to the house of a gentleman on Mattapony; meeting him on the [...]
Sunday, 7th.—One man of our reserve wounded. Pretty heavy cannonading up the river. Some are in hopes it is Johnston with re-inforcements. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
June 7th, 1863. (In the cellar.)—I feel especially grateful that amid these horrors we have been spared that of suffering for water. The weather has been dry a long time, and we hear of others dipping up the water from ditches and mud-holes. This place has two large underground cisterns of good cool water, and [...]
Saturday, 6th–Several companies from our brigade were detailed to go out last night and work as sappers and miners on the rifle pits. Our forces are working their way closer to the rebels’ works every day, and Vicksburg is now almost completely surrounded. The rebels are running short of provisions, it is said, and are [...]
6th. After breakfast and morning work issued rations–beef– at daylight. Felt rather tired after the work. Cleaned a carbine I had used for some time. Rather hard job. Another dry sultry day. Thede feels under the weather. Both have the diarrhÅ“a. Boys went for strawberries, but could not get any. Paymaster here.
June 6th. Early this morning the shell from the mortar vessels was seen exploding over the rebel batteries; at ten A. M. our Assistant Surgeon, S. D. Kennedy, being detached, left the ship for New Orleans, for passage North. Artillery firing was heard in rear of Port Hudson during the remainder of this day.
JUNE 6th.—We have not even a rumor to-day from Mississippi. The Examiner has made a pretty severe attack on Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, for the great number of persons he has “allowed” to pass into the enemy’s country. It does not attribute the best motives to the Judge, who was late coming over [...]