April 3d.–Another clear and bright morning. It was a quiet night, with its million of stars. And yet how few could sleep, in anticipation of the entrance of the enemy! But no enemy came until 9 A.M., when some 500 were posted at the Capitol Square. They had been waited upon previously by the City [...]
April 3d. Detailed for picket. Located out on outpost on the Tuscaror road, leading to the North Mountain, about one mile out of town. Have done picket duty on this road many times. At the edge of town all roads are barricaded and closed for the nights, to prevent a sudden dash from the guerillas [...]
April 3d.–Saw General Preston ride off. He came to tell me good-by. I told him he looked like a Crusader on his great white horse, with William, his squire, at his heels. Our men are all consummate riders, and have their servants well mounted behind them, carrying cloaks and traps–how different from the same men [...]
April 2d.–Bright and beautiful. The tocsin was sounded this morning at daybreak, and the militia ordered to the fortifications, to relieve some regiments of Longstreet’s corps, posted on this side of the river. These latter were hurried off to Petersburg, where a battle is impending, I suppose, if not in progress. A street rumor says [...]
April 2d. New recruits continue to come to our regiment. Some are assigned to our company. Our regiment in good condition, and ready for any kind of duty. Good news continues to come from the front. All are happy over the prospects of the war ending soon.
April 1st.–Clear and pleasant. Walked to the department. We have vague and incoherent accounts from excited couriers of fighting, without result, in Dinwiddie County, near the South Side Railroad. It is rumored that a battle will probably occur in that vicinity to-day. I have leave of absence, to improve my health; and propose accompanying my [...]
April 1st. Weather improving, for which we are thankful. Good reports come from General Grant’s army, pushing General Lee. General Sheridan left the valley with his cavalry corps. Infantry left at Winchester. Great excitement over reports that come to headquarters. Many visitors from town witness our dress parade. Boys are doing their best to make [...]
Alas, these letters are all that is left of the two noble sons and brothers, for George (right) was killed at the battle of “Seven Pines” while Walter (left) died from exposure after that terrible battle he so vividly describes in one of his letters.1, 2 “Requiescat in pace” to all who fell in those [...]
March 31st.–Raining; rained all night. My health improving, but prudence requires me to still keep within the house. The reports of terrific fighting near Peterburg on Wednesday evening have not been confirmed. Although Gen. Lee’s dispatch shows they were not quite without foundation, I have no doubt there was a false alarm on both sides, [...]
March 31st.–Mr. Prioleau Hamilton told us of a great adventure. Mrs. Preston was put under his care on the train. He soon found the only other women along were “strictly unfortunate females,” as Carlyle calls them, beautiful and aggressive. He had to communicate the unpleasant fact to Mrs. Preston, on account of their propinquity, and [...]
March 30th.–Raining rapidly, and warm. Again the sudden change of weather may be an interposition of Providence to defeat the effort of the enemy to destroy Gen. Lee’s communications with his Southern depots of supplies. I hope so, for faith in man is growing weaker. Our loss in the affair of the 25th instant was [...]
March 30th. Nothing special for the past few days. Daily routine is kept up. When off duty tramp through the country, calling at the farms, meeting the old men. The young men are mostly in the army, either in the Union or the Confederate. Religious service is held in the log chapel, conducted by our [...]
March 29th.–Slightly overcast, but calm and pleasant. I am better, after the worst attack for twenty years. The only medicine I took was blue mass–ten grains. My wife had a little tea and loaf-sugar, and a solitary smoked herring–and this I relish; and have nothing else. A chicken, I believe, would cost $50. I must [...]
March 29th.–I was awakened with a bunch of violets from Mrs. Pride. Violets always remind me of Kate and of the sweet South wind that blew in the garden of paradise part of my life. Then, it all came back: the dread unspeakable that lies behind every thought now. Thursday.–I find I have not spoken [...]
March 28th.–Cloudy and sunshine; but little wind. Too ill to go to the department, and I get nothing new except what I read in the papers. Some of the editorials are very equivocal, and have a squint toward reconstruction. The President, and one of his Aids, Col. Lubbock, ex-Governor of Texas, rode by my house, [...]
March 27th.–Bright, calm, but cold,–my disorder keeping me at home. The dispatch of Gen. Lee, I fear, indicates that our late attempt to break the enemy’s lines was at least prematurely undertaken. The Dispatch newspaper has an article entreating the people not to submit “too hastily,” as in that event we shall have no benefit [...]
March 27th.–I have moved again, and now I am looking from a window high, with something more to see than the sky. We have the third story of Dr. Da Vega’s house, which opens on the straight street that leads to the railroad about a mile off. Mrs. Bedon is the loveliest of young widows. [...]
March 26th.–Frost last night. Cloudy, cold, and windy to-day. Suffered much yesterday and last night with disordered bowels –from cold. This, however, may relieve me of the distressing cough I have had for months. After all, I fear Lee’s attempt on the enemy’s lines yesterday was a failure. We were compelled to relinquish the fort [...]
Goldsboro, N. C., March 25, 1865. We were two days coming back from Bentonville. Have a nice camp ground and will enjoy ourselves, I think. Town don’t amount to anything.
March 25th.–Clear and cool. It is reported that Grant is reinforcing Sherman, and that the latter has fallen back upon Goldsborough. This is not yet confirmed by any official statement. A single retrograde movement by Sherman, or even a delay in advancing, would snatch some of his laurels away, and enable Lee to obtain supplies. [...]
March 24th.–Clear and very windy. The fear of utter famine is now assuming form. Those who have the means are laying up stores for the day of siege,–I mean a closer and more rigorous siege,–when all communications with the country shall cease; and this makes the commodities scarcer and the prices higher. There is a [...]
March 24th. The past few days have been windy, with a cold rain, turning to hail and snow. The wind howling through our camp, coming from the North Mountain. Winter is hanging on. Every day we are led to believe that the war is about over with. No enemy has been reported in this vicinity [...]
March 24th.–I have been ill, but what could you expect? My lines, however, have again fallen in pleasant places. Mrs. Da Vega is young, handsome, and agreeable, a kind and perfect hostess; and as to the house, my room is all that I could ask and leaves nothing to be desired; so very fresh, clean, [...]
March 23d.–Clear, with high wind. Nothing further from North Carolina. A dispatch from Gen. Lee states that he has directed Gen. Cobb to organize an expedition into Tennessee, to cut the enemy’s communications. Gen. Wafford, of Kentucky, is in Georgia, with 2000 mounted men, etc. Beef in market this morning sold at $12 to $15 [...]
There are a good many of our soldiers deserting to the enemy, but I am in hopes we will have enough left to keep the Yankees in check on this line. WAGON YARD, COX’S BRIGADE, NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., March 23rd, 1865. My Dear Mother: I received your letter, bearing the date of March 14th, a [...]