Saturday, 31st–The water has left our camp in a frightful condition, and we got orders to move the camp to higher ground tomorrow. This was general muster day.1 I went on fatigue today. William Green of our company, not having recovered from his sickness, left for home this morning on a thirty-day furlough. I sent [...]

October 16—Rain a. m. Bury Ruffin. Send sick and wounded to Rappahannock Station by Dr. W. Leave and follow Regiment, and sleep in vacant house at Greenwich. Visit Mr. Green, a British subject. Supper and breakfast with W. T. Hall, of the oldest M. E. Church in Prince William County. October 17—Ride on with Bro. [...]

OCTOBER 31st.—Letters came to-day from the President (or rather copies in his own handwriting), relieving Lieut.-Gen. Hardee, in Mississippi, and assigning him to a command under Gen. Bragg. He also writes a friendly letter (from Meridian, Miss.) to Gen. Bragg, informing him that Gen. Hardee had been ordered to report to him without delay, and [...]

30th. Train and sutler came up. Got Co. property. Mail came. Letter from home, expected more. Had inspection and charged boys with ordnance and ordnance stores. Quite a time. Appointed L. H. Thomas Corporal. Busy on muster rolls and Quarterly Returns. Hugh is busy enough. Wrote a letter home. Ordered to march at daylight. Rain [...]

Friday, 30th–We had a downpour of rain last night which continued most of the day. Our camp is flooded, the dry run beside it having become a raging torrent, and our camp ground is under water from one to four feet. Some of the boys put all their belongings on their bunks and others left [...]

OCTOBER 30th.—We have nothing new to-day, except the continued bombardment of Charleston. That city has been besieged over one hundred days.

29th. Boys went out for forage, every man for himself, horses having stood hungry all night. Lay and slept considerably during the forenoon. Boys got some apples. Saw the boys play poker some. Am glad I have not the habit of playing. Col. sent for wagons to come up. Mail sent for. Bosworth went. Getting [...]

Thursday, 29th–It is quite pleasant today. The Mississippi river is slowly rising. Produce is very high here at Vicksburg and fruit and vegetables are scarce this fall because of the large armies in and around this section for more than a year. What little stuff has been grown by the farmers was confiscated by the [...]

Note: though dated several weeks earlier, this entry follows that for October 27th in the book and, with its content consistent with a later entry, it is posted here in the same sequence.. October 6th, 1863.—Yesterday morning we got up with the sun and had a bath and some clean clothes, then came breakfast of [...]

OCTOBER 29th.—Gen. Lee writes (a few days since), from Brandy Station, that Meade seems determined to advance again; that troops are going up the Potomac to Washington, and that volunteers from New York have been ordered thither. He asks the Secretary to ascertain if there be really any Federal force in the York River; for [...]

28th. At 2:30 relieved and ordered to Jonesboro, 11 miles. Cold ride. Reached there at sunrise, reported to Shackleford. Sent on G. road half a mile, dismounted and fed. Whole army retreating. Went mile east of town where Regt. in line. Stayed and waited for Capt. Case to come from the river. Got chestnuts. Sent [...]

Wednesday, 28th–The weather is getting quite cool, particularly the nights, and a little fire in our tents in the evening makes it quite comfortable and homelike. It is different on picket, where no fires are allowed, except on the reserves’ posts. Troops are leaving Vicksburg nearly every day, going to northern Mississippi and western Tennessee [...]

28th.—Our niece, M. P., came for me to go with her on a shopping expedition. It makes me sad to find our money depreciating so much, except that I know it was worse during the old Revolution. A merino dress cost $150, long cloth $5.50 per yard, fine cotton stockings $6 per pair; handkerchiefs, for [...]

OCTOBER. 28th.—No news from the army. We have some 13,000 prisoners here, hungry; for there is not sufficient meat for them. Mr. Memminger, Secretary of the Treasury, is said to be transporting his private fortune (very large) to Europe.

27th. In the morning, read some late newspapers–month old. Took Davenport over to be mustered. Found no difficulty in examination. Co. detailed for picket, also myself. Took 50 men to Vaul’s Ford on Blountville and J. road. Awkward place for picket, 7 miles from camp. Long ride posting pickets. Two letters from home. Good. No [...]

Tuesday, 27th–The Eleventh received their pay today, and then went out on picket. Picket exchanges are directed by the aid-de-camp of our brigade, who rides out every morning with the picket relief, and after posting them, brings the retiring picket into camp and disbands them.

27th.—I was surprised this morning by a precious visit from S. S. She went to Petersburg this evening, to join her husband, who is stationed there. She seems to think , that she can never return to her Winchester home, so completely is every thing ruined. It is strange how we go on from month [...]

OCTOBER 27th.—Nothing from the North or West to-day. But Beauregard telegraphs that the enemy’s batteries and monitors opened this morning heavily on his forts and batteries, but, as yet, there were no casualties. The Commissary-General to-day, in a communication to the department, relating to the necessity of impressment to subsist our armies, says “the armies [...]

October 27th, 1863.—We went to the salt works today and, though I am tired and dirty and have no good place to write, I am going to try to tell you about it. A year ago salt began to get scarce but the people only had to economize in its use, but soon there was [...]

October 27th.–Young Wade Hampton has been here for a few days, a guest of our nearest neighbor and cousin, Phil Stockton. Wade, without being the beauty or the athlete that his brother Preston is, is such a nice boy. We lent him horses, and ended by giving him a small party. What was lacking in [...]

Iuka, Miss., October 26, 1863. Let your pocket ‘kerchief float out on the breeze, halloo a little and throw up your bonnet. It’s only a “march at 12 o’clock to-night” but that’s good enough. We’ve been here a week now, drawing clothing and making all kinds of preparations for a “forward,” and the blessed word [...]

26th. Got out desk and Co. property to work. Trains reloaded and sent to the rear. Fear of an attack. Proposed to the boys the order for re-enlistment. Read some in “B. House.” Boys got some good apples and apple butter. Cloudy and quite cold. Contradictory news from the Army of the Potomac. Election news.

Monday, 26th–Everything is quiet. A thousand men are at work every day on the fortifications. The fortifications are being built on a small scale, but are built all around the edge of town so that a small force can hold the place. The cannon are arranged so that they can be turned in any direction.

OCTOBER 26th.—No news from our armies. The President was in Mobile two days ago. Gen. Rosecrans has been removed from his command, and Grant put in his place. Meade, it is said in Northern papers, will also be decapitated, for letting Lee get back without loss. Also Dalgren, at Charleston, has been relieved. And yet [...]