Same place, December 9, 1864. The division lay in camp all day. Our regiment marched 12 miles on a reconnoisance, toward the Canoochie river, southwest.. Found nothing, but some good foraging. Cannonading at four or five different points, on our left and front. Citizens say the most distant is at Charleston, Savannah and Fort McAlister. [...]
December 8th.–Rained hard in the night; clear and pleasant in the morning. A letter from John T. Bourne, St. Georges, Bermuda, says he has some 1800 barrels government gunpowder under his care, of which be desires to be relieved. Gen. Lee sent to the Secretary the following dispatch this morning: “2d and 5th corps, Gregg’s [...]
Five miles from James’ Point, Canoochie River, December 8, 1864. Another “Shermanism.” Our 3d and 4th Divisions crossed the Ogeechee river yesterday at Eden. We all supposed that we would follow, this morning, but here we are after 18 miles hard marching. The 2d Division is ahead of us and part of it at the [...]
December 7th.–Raining, and warm. It is said several hundred of the prisoners taken by Rosser in the Valley escaped, on the way to Richmond. A relaxation of vigilance always follows success. How long can this war last? Hon. Mr. Staples procured four and two months’ details yesterday for two rich farmers, Messrs. McGehee and Heard, [...]
Wright’s Bridge, Ogeechee River, December 7, 1864. We have not moved to-day. Sergt. N. Breed, of my company, who was shot through the right lung in the battle of November 22d, died to-day. He has been hauled in an ambulance ever since and improved all the time until the last two days. We were all [...]
December 6th.–Bright and beautiful. Indian summer apparently. All quiet below–but it is anticipated by some that a battle will occur to day, or in a day or so. The enemy’s negro troops have been brought to this side of the river, and are in full view on picket duty. The Signal Bureau reports a large [...]
Eden Ferry, Ogeechee river, December 6, 1864. We lay in camp until 1 p.m. when we suddenly pulled out and made this point, and had works up by dark. There was a good wagon bridge over the river at this point, which the Rebels partially destroyed. But a portion of our 3d Brigade, which had [...]
December 5th.–Bright and beautiful. Anne Samuels and many other ladies, Harrisonburg, Virginia, have petitioned the government for authority to organize themselves into a regiment for local defense. Great excitement was produced in the House of Representatives (Congress) this morning by the entrance of a lady who proceeded vigorously to cowhide the Hon. Mr. V–– , [...]
December 5th. Orders to keep a sharp lookout for guerillas and raiding parties. The Blue Ridge Mountains and hills are in plain view, and the valley for miles. Chaplain Wm. C. Walker returned after a long illness. We were all pleased to welcome the good Chaplain. We believe Sheridan’s notice will be a good thing, [...]
Thirty-six miles from Savannah, December 5, 1864. Corse had the road to-day, but Wood side-tracked, took “catch roads” and got into camp, making 16 miles as soon as Corse. Rather poor country, farms small, and much pine. Negroes swarmed to us to-day. I saw one squad of 30 or 40 turned back. Sherman’s order is [...]
December 5th.–Miss Olivia Middleton and Mr. Frederick Blake are to be married. We Confederates have invented the sit-up-all-night for the wedding night; Isabella calls it the wake, not the wedding, of the parties married. The ceremony will be performed early in the evening; the whole company will then sit up until five o ‘clock, at [...]
Sunday, December 4th.–Bright, clear, and warm. A dispatch from Gen. Bragg. “Augusta, December 3d, 6 P.M.– A strong force of the enemy’s cavalry and infantry advanced from Louisville and encamped last night six miles from Waynesborough. They turned off this morning toward Savannah. Our cavalry is pressing in the rear, and all available means is [...]
December 4, 1864. Got on the road before day-light and made 16 miles easily by 3:30 p.m. Good road, many fine places, and excellent forage, from 75 to 500 bushels of sweet potatoes on a farm. Heard cannonading for two hours this morning. Think it must have been in the vicinity of the 20th Corps. [...]
December 3d.–Very warm–clouds and sunshine, like April. Roger A. Pryor, who resigned his brigadiership, and has been acting as a scout (private), fell into the hands of the enemy the other day while exchanging newspapers with their pickets. They have him at Washington, and the United States newspapers say he makes revelations of a sad [...]
December 3d. Our duty continues to be the same from day to day. When off regular duty, work in the woods cutting up wood for camp. Everyone must take a turn at the axe. George A. Weaver, of our company, received a bad cut in the leg from an axe slipping from the hands of [...]
December 3d.–We drank tea at Mrs. McCord’s; she had her troubles, too. The night before a country cousin claimed her hospitality, one who fain would take the train at five this morning. A little after midnight Mrs. McCord was startled out of her first sleep by loud ringing of bells; an alarm at night may [...]
South bank of Scull Creek, December 3, 1864. We have laid here all day, being our first rest since leaving Atlanta. Had to wait for the 17th Corps and “left wing” to catch up. We laid a pontoon across the river this morning, and two of our brigade went over to tear up railroad The [...]
December 2d.–Warm, and raining moderately. My landlord gets $400 of the $500 increase of my salary. Dispatches from Gen. Bragg: “Augusta, December 1st, 1864. – Following received from Lieut.-Gen. R. Taylor, Savannah, Ga.: ‘Gen. Hardee is at Grahamville. No fighting there since yesterday evening, when the enemy was driven five miles, leaving their dead upon [...]
December 2d.–Isabella and I put on bonnets and shawls and went deliberately out for news. We determined to seek until we found. Met a man who was so ugly, I could not forget him or his sobriquet; he was awfully in love with me once. He did not know me, but blushed hotly when Isabella [...]
West bank of Ogeechee River, eight miles south of Millen, December 2, 1864. Recrossed the river this morning and, joining the brigade, made some eight miles to-day. We are ahead of the rest of the army or could have made more. Pine country, almost uninhabited. Saw to-day my favorite tree—the magnolia. Have seen but few [...]
December 1st.–Bright and warm. It is said there is a movement of the enemy menacing our works on the north side of the river. There was shelling down the river yesterday and day before, officially announced by Gen. Lee–two of the enemy’s monitors retired. Gen. Longstreet says “over 100 of Gen. Pickett’s men are in [...]
December 1st. Time is passing very pleasantly with us. Duty so far mostly picket and guard. There are many points of interest in this vicinity that were connected with the Revolutionary War, so we have been informed. The raid of old John Brown, and his death by hanging, in December, 1859, by the State of [...]
December 1st.–At Coosawhatchie Yankees are landing in great force. Our troops down there are raw militia, old men and boys never under fire before; some college cadets, in all a mere handful. The cradle and the grave have been robbed by us, they say. Sherman goes to Savannah and not to Augusta.
Cushingville Station, east bank of Ogeechee river, December 1, 1864. Ten miles to-day. Had just finished the last line when (the officers are talking over the rumors of the day) I heard Captain Smith say, “Our folks captured one Rebel ram.” I asked him where, and he pointed out an old he sheep, one of [...]
November 30th.–Clear, and warm as summer. No fires. It is reported that Gen. Hood is still marching North, and is near Nashville. The following telegrams were received this morning: “Augusta, November 29th, 1864.–It is reported, via Savannah, the enemy, with infantry and artillery, entered Millen yesterday. Wheeler is rapidly pursuing Kilpatrick, who retreats in that [...]