14th.–Sunday is again ushered in with a fight. At 7 this morning our batteries opened with a few guns, but the firing is not active. Our long line of battle extends across the vast plain, and is now (8 A. M.) rapidly advancing, apparently to renew the combat in earnest. The enemy is posted in [...]

13th.–At a quarter past 9 o’clock, picket firing commenced, and at 9 1-2 o’clock the enemy opened with artillery, on our left wing. In a few minutes the engagement was general. The smoke hangs thick and heavy, making it impossible to tell, this morning, whether the enemy is in force here, or whether his opening [...]

12th–At 9 o’clock, A. M., troops are crossing, and again has commenced our cannonading, but there is no response. I sit in the building prepared for hospital, out of sight and out of danger. Are we to have a fight to-day? Doubtful. I find myself indulging in some feelings of pride on the distinction which [...]

11th.–At 5 o’clock, A. M., as clear and calm a morning as ever a bright and beautiful moon shone on. We struck tents and took up our line of march in the direction of Fredericksburg, only five miles distant. At a quarter before 6, precisely, the heavy reports of two large guns came booming through [...]

The following letter, though not a part of my journal, is occasionally referred to in it, and I therefore have it inserted here:– Camp Near Belle Plaines, Virginia, December, 10, 1862. My Dear C–– : * * * * Our whereabouts is four miles from Falmouth, three and a half from the mouth of the [...]

6th.–This morning, during a rain, we moved our bivouac about a quarter of a mile, and encamped. To get settled, we have worked most of the day in the rain, and to-night I feel about as miserably as the most miserable wife on earth could wish a more miserable husband, and this, I presume, is [...]

5th.–Broke camp this morning, marched southerly through the village of Stafford, the most miserable and dilapidated looking place the imagination can picture, unless it should take for its pattern some other Virginia village. About a mile and a half south of Stafford Court House we crossed, at Brooks’ Station, the railroad leading from Fredericksburg to [...]

4th.–This afternoon I procured signatures of Surgeons to certificates, that in consequence of my long continued labors, I was breaking down. I immediately drew up my letter of resignation and started to present it in person, and to ask the approval of the Colonel. Before reaching his quarters I was met by a courier with [...]

1st–To day I rode over a mile from camp, to see–right in the woods, with but a little settlement surrounding it– the most aristocratic pile I have yet seen in Virginia. ‘Tis a large brick church, built in the form of a cross. As I approached it the first thing which attracted my attention, after [...]

23rd.–’Tis too bad!For eight days, we have been without a mail, and to-day, when the big bag was opened, not a scratch for me! I feel shut out from home; but this is only one of the discomforts of a soldier’s life. The soldier, when he enters the field, is presumed to sever all ties [...]

20th –A hard, cold rain all day. The regiment is out on picket. I wish those comfortably housed at home could realize what picket duty is, in such weather as this. To-day they stand from morning till night, on guard. Night comes, but with it no relief from the exposures of the day. In his [...]

19th.–The army is reorganized. Instead of the former divisions of only brigades, divisions and corps, it is now brigades, divisions, corps, and grand divisions, of which last there are three, General Sumner, at present, commanding the right, General Hooker the centre, and General Franklin the left. I wish I had more confidence in General Franklin, [...]

18th.–Nothing of moment to-day. We started early; it rained a little, and to-night we are encamped within three miles of Stafford Court House, six miles from the mouth of Acquia Creek, on one of its tributaries, and about twelve miles from Fredericksburg.

17th.–I am feeble to-day, from my indisposition of yesterday. Army was astir at 4 A. M. Have had a fine day, marched fifteen miles, towards Stafford Court House. Men in fine spirits. The prospect of work has reanimated them, and they are perfectly satisfied with the exchange of Commanders. At 8 P. M. it is [...]

Sunday, 16th.–What a Sunday! What a day of rest! Troops were called at 5 A. M. Carried heavy knapsacks, guns and ammunition, and march till 9 1-2 P. M.; sixteen and a half hours, and no enemy near! Truly, “Old Burney” begins vigorously; but, if this is an earnest that he means business, let him [...]

15th.–Another beautiful day; no move. Heavy cannonading this forenoon, in the direction of Warrenton. At 2 P. M. received orders to march to-morrow. Where to?

14th.–Another day of sunshine and quiet. I rode to Warrenton to-day, a pretty little town five miles from us; but, oh, how desolate to those whose home it has been; every house and church a hospital or a barrack; dirty, squalid soldiers crowd the streets; the sick and wounded of both armies hang on every [...]

13th.–Beautiful day; and all quiet. What a pity that we must lose this fine weather. Already, as I predicted, I can hear many of McClellan’s friends, who were depressed yesterday, admitting that he had failed, and expressing their gratification at the change of Commanders. It will go hard only with the aspirants in high places, [...]

12th.–Quiet in camp all day. It seems hard that we must lose this beautiful weather, when winter is so near at hand; but I suppose it is necessary to allow the new Commander-in-Chief to perfect his plans. General Fitz-John Porter re-arrested to-day, and taken to Washington, on charge of disobedience of General Pope’s orders, at [...]

  11th–In camp all day. Beautiful and clear but windy. Heavy firing towards night some twelve or twenty miles to the southwest. McClellan relieved, and to-day Burnside succeeds. Surely, “De kingdom’s comin’, And de day ob jubelo.” Some of the army depressed to-night in consequence of the change. Natural enough, but it will be all [...]

10th.–Reconnoisance by our Brigade to-day. Marched over precisely the same road we came yesterday, to the same place, and returned to-night to the place whence we started the morning; distance going and returning, sixteen miles, over a tremendous mountain: “The King of France, with forty thousand men, Marched up the hill, and then marched down [...]

Sunday, 9th.–How little like Sunday the day has been; marching, whooping, hollering. Few even know it is Sunday. From present appearances, one would judge that– “The sound of the church going bells, These valleys and rocks never heard.” March to-day with all teams in advance. What does it mean? Are we again retreating with our [...]

8th.–More pleasant than yesterday. In camp all day. There is a rumor that the enemy have taken one hundred and fifty of our teams in the Shenandoah Valley, and that they are again at Harper’s Ferry. The report is not credited here,[1] but it is certain that they have cut the railroad four miles east [...]

7th –Cold and blustery last night. Ice half an inch thick, with driving snow storm this morning; very uncomfortable. No move to-day.