23rd. Thede got on order a secesh saddle. Gave up my mare to Dr. Smith. Gave me an old plug. Traded her for a pretty brown mare, $25 to boot. Jeff gave us a shave all round. Apples. Cleaned revolvers. Traded and gave $5 for a silver mounted one. Ordered to march tomorrow with Com. [...]

22nd. Another chat with some rebels. Some intelligent, but impudent. Makes the boys mad that they are not deprived of their plunder. Drew and issued three days’ rations. Managed to get a saddle. Day passed very quietly. Waiting for transports, they say.

JULY 23d.—We have the following dispatch from Gen. Beauregard, which is really refreshing in this season of disasters: “CHARLESTON, July 22d, 1863. ……………………………….“The enemy recommenced shelling again yesterday, with but few casualties on our part. We had, in the battle of the 18th inst., about 150 killed and wounded. The enemy’s loss, including prisoners, was [...]

July 23d, 1863.—We moved again two days ago. 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 [...]

Wednesday, 22d–We started this morning at daylight and marched all day. We stopped for the night along Baker’s Creek, just beyond Edward’s Station. The roads are alive with troops returning to Vicksburg. It is reported that Johnston’s army is falling back to Columbus, Mississippi.

July 22d. Between the hours of four and eight A. M. steamer Crescent City came down the river with troops—some of Banks’s army. During the remainder of this day got ready, hoisted into launch, and sent one nine-inch Dahlgren and one thirty pounder Parrott rifle on shore; at six P. M. steamer Tennessee got under [...]

(excerpt) CHARLOTTESVILLE, July 22nd.         “As you see this was written before I had heard of the return of our Army to Va. . . . Your father returned on Sunday from Richmond and says young Lee told him he had left you well two days before. We came here on Monday. The people in the [...]

JULY 22d.—Col. Northrop, Commissary-General, sends in a paper to-day saying that only a quarter of a pound of meat per day can be given the soldiers, except when marching, and then only half a pound. He says no more can be derived from the trans-Mississippi country, nor from the State of Mississippi, or Tennessee, and [...]

Tuesday, 21st–Our brigade started for Vicksburg this afternoon. We covered five miles and went into bivouac. It is extremely hot, and having had no rain for so long, the roads are very dusty. Our entire army is falling back to Vicksburg.

July 21st. Between the hours of four and six A. M., slight fog. During the remainder of the forenoon, employed getting ammunition and guns ready to send on shore. During the afternoon, sent third cutter on shore for repairs; also sent two nine-inch Dahlgren guns and equipments, and a quantity of grape.

21st. About noon the Scioto came up with rations. Drew one day. Went to a kind old gentleman’s for dinner. Thede and I went up and saw the prisoners. Boys went out and got good apples. Volunteers, 1000, went on with Shackleford and Woodford after Morgan. Would go but for horse.

Tuesday, 21st.—Troops leaving fast as possible. Still unwell. Rained very hard. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

JULY 21st.—We have intelligence to-day, derived from a New York paper of the 18th inst., that the “insurrection” in New York had subsided, under the menacing attitude of the military authority, and that Lincoln had ordered the conscription law to be enforced. This gives promise of a long war. Mr. Mallory sent a note to [...]

Monday, 20th–We came in from picket this morning and this afternoon moved our regimental camp onto higher ground. Some of our boys are having a time with the ague and fever. The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Regiments were ordered out to Miller’s Creek to guard a wagon train. The Thirty-fifth Iowa passed us on their way [...]

July 20th. Early this morning, a side-wheel steamer came up the river. Hoisted two rifle guns off the poop, and transported them forward. Some of the lads on liberty; those remaining on board, some of whom had been ashore and had a little run of it, working with a will, since they were now sure [...]

20th. Went on to Tupper’s Plains. Rebs got around and made for 8 Miles Island near the shore. Moved rapidly. At Harrisonville and Rutland the hungry boys were satisfied. Little rain. About dusk the report came back that the rebs, 1800. had surrendered. Duke, Col. Morgan, Ward and other field officers. Had quite a visit [...]

Monday, 20.—Brigade arrived. All to be furloughed. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

A Conflict of Authority. July 20. There is among army officers a constant jealousy and strife for promotion and rank, watching and looking after each other, fearful lest some one may be assuming some rank or taking some privileges that do not belong to him. I have been giving my men passes out of camp, [...]

JULY 20th.—Nothing from Lee or from Johnston, except that the latter has abandoned Jackson. From Bragg’s army, I learn that a certain number of regiments were moving from Chattanooga toward Knoxville—and I suspect their destination is Lee’s army. But we have a dispatch from Beauregard, stating that he has again repulsed an attack of the [...]

July 20th. We left Upperville, near Snicker’s Gap. very early in the morning, having served in the 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac about five weeks. On the march back we met the 12th Corps, meeting the 5th and 20th Connecticut Regiments of that corps. Met Charlie Corey, a boyhood friend from my old home [...]

July 19th. At seven A. M., steamer Albatross came up the river, with the gunboat Sciota in tow, the latter being out of repair; at nine thirty this morning, inspected crew and ship, and at ten, called all hands to muster on quarterdeck, where Divine services were performed, Commodore Palmer’s clerk, Nathaniel P. S. Thomas, [...]

19th. Moved at daylight. Soon came upon rebel pickets and fired. Skirmishing. Dismounted 2 and 7 and went forward. One man wounded soon. Mich. Battery came up and one piece fired shell. Almost simultaneously Gen. Judah and gunboats opened. We heard musketry 10 minutes before ours. Before 10 minutes the rebels broke in a perfect [...]

Sunday, 19th.—Found some of 36th regiment here; having fine time eating watermelons and peaches. Drew three days’ rations; bought a dressed chicken and came very near killing myself eating; very sick for a little while. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

19th.—When shall we recover from this fatal trip into Pennsylvania? General Pettigrew, of North Carolina, fell on the retreat, at a little skirmish near the Falling Waters. Thus our best men seem to be falling on the right hand and on the left. When speaking of General P’s death, a friend related a circumstance which [...]