Sunday, July 5. Like most other Sabbaths in the army, so was this; all day busy cleaning up the camp ground, tearing down the board shanties which former occupants had erected and using the material for flooring in our tents. We had our Fourth of July dinner today; bean soup, hoe cake and lemonade. Hill’s [...]
JULY 5th.—This morning the wires refused to work, being cut, no doubt, in Hanover County. The presence of the enemy in this vicinity, I think, since they refuse to fight, is designed to prevent us from sending more troops into Pennsylvania. I trust the President will think of this matter, if he is well enough; [...]
July 5, 1863, Savannah Republican (Georgia) The Chicora Importing and Exporting Company of Charleston have recently brought on their steamers from Nassau, about twenty cases of Scriptures for the Bible Societies of the Confederate States, of South Carolina and of Virginia.–the freight on which amounted to about $10,000. This sum the Company has generously [...]
4th. All aroused by the booming of cannon, Law’s Battery. We understood it. 12th R. I. got out under arms. At 4 A. M. marched to town and got breakfast preparatory to a fight. Returned to camp. Went to the 12th and drew 3 days’ rations; returned some to 1st Ky. Train came in–our boys. [...]
Saturday, 4th–A despatch came that Vicksburg has been taken and that Pemberton has made an unconditional surrender to General Grant. The terms include the surrender of his army of twenty-seven thousand men, one hundred siege guns, one hundred and twenty-eight field guns, and eighty thousand small arms.[1] Early in the day the rebels drove some [...]
July 4.–The terrible battle of Gettysburg brings to Canandaigua sad news of our soldier boys of the 126th Regiment. Colonel Sherrill was instantly killed, also Captains Wheeler and Herendeen, Henry Willson and Henry P. Cook. Captain Richardson was wounded.
Saturday, 4th.—6 A. M., Federals fired salute. 9:30 A. M., white flags raised on our works; suppose we have been surrendered. 12 M., marched out and stacked our arms in front of our works, leaving our regimental colors with the guns; we then marched back to camp; Yankees immediately put guards in our ditches, and [...]
Hill’s Point. July 3. Received orders for the right wing, consisting of companies K, I, F, C and B to break camp and be ready to march at an hour’s notice. At noon the baggage was all on the wagons and we awaited orders. At 1 p. m., we were ordered into town, and companies [...]
July 4.—Our celebration of this day is more serious than in days gone by. Our military have no time for dress-parades and barbecues. The gentlemen could not get home yesterday evening; the trains were all used for carrying soldiers to the bridge on this railroad just above us, upon which the Yankees are making demonstrations. [...]
July 4th. This is the eighty-seventh anniversary of our national independence—a day dear to every true American heart on account of the event it commemorates; but since no salute has been fired by us in honor of the day, and Jack looks rather crest-fallen in the phiz on that account, still we have far more [...]
July 4th, Daily Citizen (Vicksburg, Mississippi) Two days bring about great changes. The banner of the Union floats over Vicksburg. Gen. Grant has “caught the rabbit;” He has dined in Vicksburg, and he did bring his dinner with him. The “Citizen” lives to see it. For the last time it appears on “Wall-paper.” No [...]
JULY 4th.—The Department Guard (my son with them) were marched last night back to the city, and out to Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy, some sixteen miles! The clerks, I understand, complain of bad meat (two or three ounces each) and mouldy bread ; and some of them curse the authorities for fraudulent deception, as [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd THE FOURTH OF JULY! The siege is at last ended. Behold the white flag now waving over the rebel ramparts. Vicksburg has at length surrendered. Speed the glad news to our loved ones at the North, who, during our long trial, have helped us with their prayers. [...]
July SATURDAY 4, 1863 Vicksburgh, surrendered this morning1 and an exulting foe, madened by success, imagines the Rebellion crushed—poor deluded fools—tis just begun. Tis God’s will you should prosper, and devastate our lovely land so far, and it may be even more than this, yet our faith is perfect. God will bless us. No matter [...]
July 4—Move corps hospital early to a barn three miles towards Fairfield. Bury Lieut. Connell and a man of the 4th N. C. Regiment. I wrote to the young man’s father, near Statesville, and told him I had buried his son. (At a Conference in Statesville, Dec. 1868, a lady called for me and told [...]
July 4th, 1863.—It is evening. All is still. Silence and night are once more united. I can sit at the table in the parlor and write. Two candles are lighted. I would like a dozen. We have had wheat supper and wheat bread once more. H. is leaning back in the rocking-chair; he says: “G., [...]
3rd. Mail came in afternoon. Merely a paper and note through Lu. The Proclamation also by Ampt. Shows a mean spirit, considerable wit. In the evening orders came to be saddled. Stood all night. Two detachments went out. One under Seward and another under a Ky. officer. Co. B in quite an engagement at Columbia. [...]
Friday, 3d–We received orders to be ready to march at a moment’s warning. Getting the orders we started about 10 o’clock at night for Messenger’s ford on the lower Big Black river, about four miles from our bivouac, and reached the ford at midnight. We are to stop Johnston from crossing the river, as it [...]
July 3rd, 1863.—Another telegram brings more news from Gettysburg—such awful news—death and destruction and perhaps defeat. God help our poor country. Holding my breath I listen and tears come, though I try to be calm. So many of our brave men, who went forward can never come back. Oh, this horrible, horrible WAR! Susan Bradford [...]
July 3d. At seven A. M., sent some ammunition ashore to our naval battery; at ten thirty, Mr. Jas. B. Kimball, chief-engineer, left the ship, being detached and ordered North; at three P. M., steamer Bee came down from Bayou Sara and communicated with us. Firing in rear of Port Hudson still going on.
Friday, 3.—Firing ceased, except the mortars over the river; we have orders not to fire any more until further orders. Don’t know what it is for, but think the city will be surrendered soon. 3 p. M., firing began again and continued until 5 P. M. when it again ceased. Issued some mule beef to [...]
July 3.—The scarcity of blank-books, and the very high prices, make them unattainable to me; therefore I have determined to begin another volume of my Diary on some nice wrapping-paper which I happen to have; and though not very pleasant to write on, yet it is one of the least of my privations. We are [...]
July 2nd, 1863.—Yesterday fighting began on Pennsylvania soil. The army of Northern Virginia, the bravest army in the history of wars, may, even now be struggling with the foe. Oh, how horrible it is to know that those you love are in such danger! There must be aching hearts at the North as well as [...]
From the diary of Osborn H. Oldroyd JULY 3D.–Uncle Sam’s cashier has arrived at last, and we have been paid for two months’ service. The married men are quite anxious to send their money home to their wives and little ones. It is risky sending money North from here, yet, to some, more dangerous [...]
JULY 3D.—My son Custis stayed out all night, sleeping on his arms in the farthest intrenchments. A little beyond, there was a skirmish with the enemy. We lost eight in killed and wounded. What the enemy suffered is not known, but he fell back, and ran toward the White House. This morning, Mr. Child, agent [...]