Three miles from Columbia, February 15th. A rather lively day. We started the Johnnies right by our camp. Our brigade in advance of the corps and army. The 40th Illinois was deployed as skirmishers, and drove them four miles rapidly, losing only five men. Our regiment then relieved them. They opened artillery on us and [...]
February 15th.–Moderated last night; this morning sleety and dangerous. Gen. Lee was in the city yesterday, walking about briskly, as if some great event was imminent. His gray locks and beard have become white, but his countenance is cheerful, and his health vigorous. The papers say Wheeler has beaten Kilpatrick (Federal cavalry general) back five [...]
Nearing Columbia, S. C, February 14, 1865. Good road to-day. Fine rolling country. Sand with pine wood and scrub oak. Saw the wagoners use their locks to-day for the first time since we crossed the Oconee, in Georgia. Logan’s escort got after some Johnnie foragers to-day and captured four wagons and 50 or 60 horses [...]
February 14th.–Bright and cold. Very cold, and fuel unattainable. The papers speak of heavy raids in process of organization: one from Newbern, N. C., against Raleigh, and one from East Tennessee against Salisbury and our communications. The news from South Carolina is vague, only that the armies are in active motion. So long as Sherman [...]
CAMP. COX’S BRIGADE, NEAR PETERSBURG, VA., February 14, 1865. My Dear Mother: I would have written on receipt of your letter and box, which you sent me, but the troops were off at the time and there was no means of mailing a letter. Our division was ordered down on the extreme right last Sunday [...]
Twenty-four miles southeast of Columbia, S. C., February 13, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Rear guard for the corps in the morning, but the 2d and 3d Divisions took a right hand road and in the p.m. the 4th Division also went to the right. We followed a cow path to camp. Passed through two [...]
February 13th.–Coldest morning of the winter. My exposure to the cold wind yesterday, when returning from the department, caused an attack of indigestion, and I have sufferred much this morning from disordered stomach and bowels. From Northern papers we learn that Gen. Grant’s demonstration last week was a very formidable effort to reach the South [...]
Shilling’s Bridge, left bank North Edisto River, February 12, 1865. Started at 7 a.m., moved one-half mile and laid still two hours waiting for Hazen and Smith to straighten out ahead of us. I thought I’d tell you how we had been bored today, fooling along the road from 7 a.m. until 3 o’clock in [...]
February 12th.–Bright, windy, cold, and disagreeable. There was nothing new at the department this morning. Nothing from below; nothing from South Carolina. Perhaps communications are cut between this and Charleston. All are anxious to hear the result of the anticipated battle with Sherman, for somehow all know that the order to fight him was sent [...]
Seven miles west of Orangeburg, S. C., February 11, 1865. Made 18 miles to-day. Crossed South Edisto river in rear of the corps. The river here is about 40 yards wide, with a swift current, water very clear. First 10 miles to-day was through pretty good country, the last eight miles mostly pine forest with [...]
February 11th.–Cloudy and cold; froze hard last night. Yesterday a bill was introduced into both houses of Congress authorizing the enlistment of 200,000 slaves, with consent of their owners, which will probably be amended. Mr. Miles, as a test vote, moved the rejection of the bill; and the vote not to reject it was more [...]
February 10, 1865. Had no “general” this morning (our signal for getting up), so when the “assembly” sounded we climbed from our blankets to our saddles and went off on a railroad burning expedition. Our brigade by noon had completely destroyed two and one-half miles. The 17th and our 3d Division crossed the South Edisto [...]
February 10th.–Bright and cold. It is estimated that the enemy lost 1500 men in the fight near Petersburg, and we 500. Sherman has got to the railroad near Branchville, and cut communications with Augusta. At the meeting, yesterday, Mr. Hunter presided, sure enough; and made a carefully prepared patriotic speech. There was no other alternative. [...]
Bamberg, S. C., February 9, 1865. We were to go to Cannon’s bridge on the Edisto four miles, but heard the bridge was burned, so we did not go. I think we will go up the river towards Augusta. Late Confederate papers say that Thomas has started south towards Montgomery, leaving Hood behind him. Many [...]
February 9th.–Bright, frosty, beautiful, after a cold night. We have nothing more specific from the fight of Tuesday, when we learn another general was killed. It seems that most of Grant’s army was in the movement, and they have a lodgment several miles nearer the South Side Railroad–the objective point. Their superior numbers must ultimately [...]
February 8th. While everything is quiet with us, time goes on. This is my birthday, twenty years old. Weather cold at this time.
February 8th.–Rained all day yesterday–slush–bright this morning and cool–ground still covered with snow. It is reported by Gen. Lee that the losses on both sides on Monday were light, but the enemy have established themselves on Hatcher’s Run, and intrenched; still menacing the South Side Railroad. It is also said fighting was going on yesterday [...]
Bamber’s Station, A. & C. R. R. February 7, 1865. Our regiment led the corps to-day. The 17th Corps strikes the railroad at Midway, three miles to our right, and the 20th to the left five miles. We are 14 miles northwest of Branchville. The enemy are on the opposite bank of the Edisto, two [...]
February 7th.–A snow four inches in depth on the ground, and snowing. Last night Governor Smith, President Davis, Senator Oldham (Texas), Rev. Mr. Duncan, Methodist preacher, and a Yankee Baptist preacher, named Doggell, or Burroughs, I believe, addressed a large meeting in the African Church, on the subject of the Peace Mission, and the ultimatum [...]
Little Salkehatchie River, February 6, 1865, 2 p.m. Yesterday was quite warm, but my overcoat is useful again to-day. General Kilpatrick caught up with us last night, also General Williams with five brigades of the 20th A. C. So instead of waiting several days Sherman said he’d chance them for the railroad with what troops [...]
February 6th.–Bright and frosty. As I supposed, the peace commissioners have returned from their fruitless errand. President Lincoln and Mr. Seward, it appears, had nothing to propose, and would listen to nothing but unconditional submission. The Congress of the United States has just passed, by a two-thirds vote, an amendment to the Constitution abolishing slavery. [...]
Twelve miles south of Johnston’s Summit, Augusta and Branchville Railroad, February 5, 1865. They call the stations on this road “turnouts.” Negroes are swarming into our camps. I never heard a negro use the word “buckra” until last night. One of the 97th Indiana was killed this morning while foraging close to camp. Our men [...]
February 5th.–Clear and cold. Our commissioners are back again! It is said Lincoln and Seward met them at Fortress Monroe, and they proceeded no further. No basis of negotiation but reconstruction could be listened to by the Federal authorities. How could it be otherwise, when their armies are marching without resistance from one triumph to [...]
Buford’s Bridge, north side Salkehatchie River, February 4, 1865. Most unaccountably, to me, the Rebels evacuated an impregnable position (if there is such a thing), and our brigade was saved thereby from making some more history, for which I am grateful. A straight pike or causeway three quarters of a mile long and in which [...]
February 4th.–Clear, but rained last night. From the South we learn that Sherman is marching on Branchville, and that Beauregard is at Augusta. The great struggle will be in Virginia, south of Richmond, and both sides will gather up their forces for that event. We can probably get men enough, if we can feed them. [...]