Tuesday, 25th–We took up our march at 4 o’clock this morning and journeyed seventeen miles, when we stopped for the night. Our brigade took the rear, the Eleventh Regiment acting as rear guard. The day’s march was through swamps and bayous and land heavily timbered. Now and then we noticed a field with a little [...]
AUGUST 25th.—Hon. A. R. Boteler, after consultation with Gen. Stuart and Capt. Moseby, suggests that the Secretary of War send up some of Gen. Rains’s subterra torpedoes, to place under the track of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, in possession of the enemy. Gen. Stuart suggested that a man familiar with their use be sent [...]
Monday, August 24th. A letter from Captain Bradford to Miriam. My poor Adonis, that I used to ridicule so unmercifully, what misfortunes have befallen him! He writes that during the siege at Port Hudson he had the top of his ear shot off (wonder if he lost any of that beautiful golden fleece yclept his [...]
24th. Aroused at 4. Got breakfast and off between 5 and 6. Good many boys didn’t wake in time to get their breakfast finished. Quite a time with 2nd Tenn.–passing and repassing. Moved along at very good pace. Crossed the Cumberland about 9 and camped near Williamsburg. Went out for forage. Rained some. Chilly. Wrote [...]
Monday, 24th–Spending the night here we started early this morning and moved on to Bayou Mason only seven miles further on. Here we remained during the balance of the day and for the night. There being no bridge, we had to wade the bayou to enter the town. Our cavalry routed about one hundred and [...]
August 24th.—Ordered into parole camp at Dalton. Camp half-mile from town; nothing to do; went to preaching. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
AUGUST 24th.—We have nothing further from Charleston, except that Beauregard threatened retaliation (how?) if Gilmore repeated the offense, against humanity and the rules of civilized war, of shelling the city before notice should be given the women and children to leave it. To-day, at 11 A.M., it is supposed the shelling was renewed. This day [...]
Eliza Woolsey Howland to Mother. Fishkill., August 24. We ought soon to hear from Charley, and if Mr. Hopkins’ rumor is true we may feel at ease about him for the present, for Meade won’t attempt a movement without the conscripts. Do you see that Charley himself is one, although in the service already? Let [...]
23rd. Boys got started for forage, but orders came to march. Reached London at 9 A. M. Went into camp and boys went for forage. I stayed in. Got some corn and had good dinner. Boys got oats and fed till 5 P. M., then moved on as far as the Laurel River. Camped about [...]
Sunday, 23d–Our expedition broke camp this morning and started for Monroe, Louisiana, on the Washita river, seventy-five miles northwest of Vicksburg. By 1 o’clock we had covered ten miles, in a burning hot sun,[1] without water to drink, and through neglected fields of hemp standing from ten to fifteen feet high. The cavalry went in [...]
AUGUST 23d.—Dispatches from Charleston, yesterday, brought the melancholy intelligence that Fort Sumter is but little more than a pile of rubbish. The fall of this fort caused my wife a hearty cry—and she cried when Beauregard reduced it in 1861; not because he did it, but because it was the initiation of a terrible war. [...]
22nd. Reveille at daylight and orders to march at 6 A. M. Rear guard. Hastened breakfast and led out. Went down to the road to an orchard and dismounted. Remained there till noon, idling, joking and eating apples. Read Independent. How thankful I am that I can have something to read. Loitered along the road, [...]
Saturday, 22d–After an all night run, we landed this morning at daylight at Goodrich’s Landing, on the Louisiana side, from which place we marched two miles up the river and went into bivouac, where we remained all day. There were four brigades in the expedition, comprising about five thousand men, and commanded by Brigadier General [...]
AUGUST 22d.—All the guns of Fort Sumter on the south face have been silenced by the land batteries of the enemy on Morris Island; and this account is two days old. What has taken place since, none here but Gen. Cooper and the President know. But our battery, Wagner, dismounted one of the enemy’s Parrott [...]
Friday, 21st–We packed our knapsacks and started at 10 o’clock for the landing two miles above Vicksburg and a mile below our camp. Our regiment with the Thirteenth went on board the “Fanny Bell,” and at dark started up the river.
AUGUST 21st, FRIDAY.—This is a day appointed by the President for humiliation, fasting, and prayer. Yet the Marylanders in possession of the passport office report the following in the Dispatch of this date: “Passports.—The passport office was besieged yesterday and last night by large crowds of persons soliciting permission to leave the city, in order [...]
Thursday, 20th. After breakfast, went out for forage with the company. Found some hay out three miles over a rough stony hill. Got some corn for roasting. During the day read some in “Barnaby Rudge.” Had a quiet visit with Henry Drake. In the evening went down to the brook and had a good bath. [...]
Thursday, 20th–It has rained most of the day. On dress parade this evening orders were read for the brigade to prepare to march in the morning with ten days’ rations and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The sick are to be left in camp.
AUGUST 20th.—A few weeks ago Gen. Cooper wrote to Bragg, suggesting that he advance into Middle Tennessee, reinforced by Gen. Johnston, and attack Rosecrans; Gen. Bragg replied (8th inst.) that with all the reinforcements he could get from Johnston, he would not have more than 40,000 effective men, while Rosecrans has 60,000, and will be [...]
August 20th, 1863.—Captain Beall has improved amazingly, he can now speak in a natural voice and is allowed to converse when he feels like it. At first his voice was so weak and it hurt him to speak, so he made signs for his wants. He is very pleasant, the doctors, who come now and [...]
Aug. 20.—Sitting in my easy chair to-day, looking out upon a grassy slope of the hill in the rear of this house, I have looked over this journal as if in a dream; for since the last date sickness and sorrow have been with me. I feel as if an angry wave had passed over [...]
19th. Orders came to march at 8. Got my mare shod and prepared for the march, never moved more slowly, kept stopping to rest. Reached Mt. Vernon at 4 P. M. Have enjoyed the day first rate. Began to feel at home. Boys have treated me very respectfully and I like them. Hope to succeed [...]
Wednesday, 19th–A thunderstorm last night cooled the air some, though it is still extremely hot. There was a boat blown up this morning down at the wharf and thirty or forty lives were lost, mostly negroes. The boat was being loaded with ammunition and the explosion was caused by a negro’s dropping a box of [...]
AUGUST 19th.—A scout, from Washington, has reported to Major Norris, signal corps, that 10,000 New York troops have recently left Meade’s army, their term of service having expired; and that 30,000 men have been sent from his army against Charleston. This accounts for the falling back of Meade—and the detachment never would have been made [...]
18th. Teams returned during night. Early in the morning, breakfasted and packed up the wagons. Off at 9. Went over to the 19th and saw Byerley and Ed. Cobb. Reached Crab Orchard at noon and got dinner at a private house. Ordered to report to Co. C for duty. Went over to roll call but [...]