May 24th. Nothing of importance has taken place in camp since the last date. Marching orders received in the shape of general orders. Advance up the valley. Four days’ rations to be issued, with instructions to make it last eight. That puts us on half rations, and we are also put in light marching order. [...]

24th. Read in “Villette.” Saw Lt. Bennett, 44th N. Y. Heavy firing in the distance nearly all day. Train moved out in the evening. Crossed the Mattapony. Went one and one-half mile? and camped at 1:30 A. M.

MAY 24th.—Clear and warm. No fighting yesterday besides small collisions near Hanover Junction. It is said to-day that Grant threatens the Central Railroad, on Lee’s left. This is regarded as a serious matter. We want men. An armed guard is now a fixture before the President’s house. Peas were in market on the 18th inst.; [...]

May, Tuesday 24, 1864 Little Frank waked me up this morning bright and early, I managed to get up and send Nellie, (who was with him) to the kitchen for his breakfast, he is prettier every time I look at him. Laura did not get to washing my clothes until 11 o’clock, but finished all [...]

Monday, 23d–It has been very warm but pleasant for several days. Reveille roused us this morning at 3 o’clock and at 4 our brigade started, taking the advance. Our last night’s bivouac is just twelve miles northwest of Huntsville and we had a fine road to travel on coming into town. There is some very [...]

Four miles northwest of Van Wirt, Ga., May 23, 1864. Weather is getting very hot. We have made 21 miles today, and the distance, heat and dust have made it by far the hardest march we have had for a year. Excepting about six miles of dense pine woods the country we have passed through [...]

23d.—Our young relative, Lieutenant G., a member of General Stuart’s staff, who was always near his person, has just been giving us a most gratifying account of General Stuart’s habits. He says, that although he considered him one of the most sprightly men he has ever seen, devoted to society, particularly to that of the [...]

23rd. Aroused at 1:30 A. M. Got off at 3:30. I went back to the regt. and remained till 3 P. M. Reached the train at Milford Station, 3 miles below Bowling Green. A beautiful little village. A splendid rolling country. Rows of trees along the road each side. A good night’s rest.

MAY 23d.—Fair and warm, with pleasant breezes. Gen. Johnston, without a defeat, has fallen back to Calhoun, Ga. Gen. Lee, without a defeat, has fallen back to Hanover Junction, his headquarters at Ashland. Grant is said to be worming his way eastward to the Peninsula, the field occupied by McClellan in 1862. Why, he might [...]

May, Monday 23, 1864 I was up bright and early this morning, went over to Mr. Hudghins to get his Wife, who is going to Memphis tomorrow, to bring me out a few articles, which I am compelled to have before leaving. The day I have spent trying to get my clothes arranged to have [...]

Sunday, 22d–We started at 5:30 this morning and marched till 2 o’clock, when we again went into bivouac. Our brigade today was just in front of the rear. We passed through some very fine country with well-improved farms. Today we bade old Tennessee farewell and entered Alabama. What a cruel thing this war is! May [...]

22nd. Got into Guiney Station at noon. Stayed till the next day;

22 [May]        The Battles in Virginia are so far successful for us and Johnston in Georgia appears to be acting on the defence with skill, at least we hope so. He has given up some places, the Yankees file their papers with his, and we hope this Summer through the blessing of God, to arrive [...]

MAY 22d.—Clear and warm, but the atmosphere is charged with the smoke and dust of contending armies. The sun shines but dimly. Custis was with us last night, and returned to camp at 5 A.M. to-day. He gets from government only a small loaf of corn bread and a herring a day. We send him [...]

May, Sunday 22, 1864 Everything has been in commotion, and anything but a quiet day. Mrs. Perkins is still disagreeable in her Politics—She and Nannie and Emie started down to Col. Perkins, broke down, came back, did not go until this evening—Hal and Mr. Clayton came today, we made our final arrangements for our trip, [...]

May 22, 1864. Two regiments of three-year’s men who did not “veteran” started home to-day. The loss of the army in this way will not be much. Not more than one or two regiments in any corps refused to veteran. We are drawing 20 days’ rations, sending sick back to convalescent camp at Chattanooga, and [...]

Saturday, 21st–Reveille sounded at 3 o’clock and at 5 we took up the line of march, our company being rear guard for the brigade. We marched seventeen miles and went into bivouac several miles beyond Elkhorn, which we reached at 1 o’clock. Here we waded the Elkhorn[1] river, which is from three to five feet [...]

May 21st. Colonel Ely and other officers who have been prisoners since June 15th, 1863, returned and assumed command of the regiment. We are again in good condition for any kind of duty that we may be called upon. A good rest here, near Cedar Creek.

21st. Regt. back at F. All trains leaving on Bowling Green. Got off at dark. 4 miles during the night.

MAY 21st.—Sun all day, but a little hazy; perhaps a battle. There was quite a battle yesterday on the south side. The accounts in the morning’s paper fall short of the whole of our success. The enemy, it is said to-day, did not regain the works from which they were driven, but are now cooped [...]

May, Saturday 21, 1864 Nannie still sick in bed, got up this evening when Mr. Wilson came, I think that is the only thing which could have aroused her—Nothing unusual happened today, the news from Virginia still glorious. Oh, God! we praise, we humbly bow to thy glorious favor, of our struggle for Liberty—crown our [...]

May 21, 1864. The 23d Army Corps moved South yesterday. I hear that they found the enemy on the south bank of the Etowah river, and that he disputes the crossing. Grant seems to be checked in his “on to Richmond.” It seems that Rebel Iverson, whom I saw dead near Adairsville, was a brigadier [...]

Friday, 20th–We are having nice weather. We lay here at Pulaski all day in order to draw rations and to rest. We spent the day in washing clothes and cooking navy beans and fresh beef. The troops of our corps were ordered to pack all extra clothing in their knapsacks and turn them over to [...]

Friday, 20th.—After 12 o’clock last night we were ordered into line, and in short time were moving back rapidly; after leaving detail, to keep up hammering, to make Yanks think we were still fortifying. When Hardee’s Corps went to take position assigned it yesterday, found Federals had beaten to it, consequently we are falling back [...]