Wednesday, 11th–I was in a detail of a hundred men, with my corporal’s squad, to go out on cattle guard. We had to herd about a thousand head of our beef cattle. At noon we were called in and our regiment, together with the Twentieth Illinois, was ordered to strap on our knapsacks, strike our [...]
May 11th. Marching orders. Left camp early this morning. The army on the move. Waded Cedar Creek, on through the town of Strasburg, up Fishers Hill. The boys are all in good spirits as we go marching on. Halt and go into camp near the town of Woodstock, in the valley. Marched about ten miles.
Wednesday, May 11.—The last three days have been most exciting. The enemy on the south side of the river have made heavy demonstrations; their force is perhaps 40,000; ours not half that number. The militia, the City Battalion, and the clerks have gone from Richmond. They have had a heavy fight at Port Walthall, and [...]
MAY 11th.—Bright and pleasant–breezy. This has been a day of excitement. At midnight the Departmental Battalion were marched from the south side of the river back to the city, and rested the remainder of the night at CampLee. But at 9 A.M. they were marched hurriedly to MeadowBridge. They came past our house. Custis and [...]
May, Wednesday 11, 1864 Tate and Joanna went to Memphis this morning—what a mistake—on yesterday they went in, did not return until this evening. Joanna and Miss Em, and little Emie all came, oh! I was so delighted to see Mrs. Perkins—Nannie came out very early, started to go to Germantown, for John a horse, [...]
Washington May 11th 1864. We get but little reliable news today from the army, but all the accounts agree in one particular. There has been the most terrible fighting almost every day since it began on Thursday last the 5th Inst. We have lost three good Maj Genls killed. Hayes, Wadsworth & Sedgwick. Hays & [...]
Six miles from Resaca, May 11, 1864. We had a real hurricane last night, and a tremendous rain-storm. We lay right in the woods, and of course thought of the Point Pleasant storm and falling trees, but were too lazy to move, and thanks to a bed of pine boughs, slept good and sound. There [...]
Tuesday, 10th–We had an all day rain, and there was no drill or dress parade. The country around Clifton is very rough. There are but a few small farms, found only in the bottom land. Clifton is on the east bank of the Tennessee river about twenty-five miles below Savannah. The town has been burned [...]
Tuesday, 10th.—Moved on hill just to our right before day; soon after relieved by brigade of Cleaborn’s Division. Returned to our old position. Federals have some little forts six hundred yards in our front. 8 A. M., our batteries opened on those in our front; they replied, and brisk cannonading continued for some time, when [...]
May 10th. Turned out early this morning. Orders to prepare for inspection and drill. Officers seem bound to keep us busy. This afternoon while enjoying a bath and a swim in Cedar Creek, felt something around my leg under water. It did not take me long to pull the thing off, which proved to be [...]
10th. During the day went to the regt. Some beef, 16½ cents per pound. Thomas and I went to the front. Arrived there at nearly sundown just as a charge was to be made. Gen. Grant, Meade and several lesser generals with staffs out. We fell in. Col. Upton’s Brigade charged and took the enemy’s [...]
Tuesday May 10th 1864 These days are eventful days and big with the fate of the thousands who are engaged in hostile array as well as of the would be “Southern Confederacy.” There has been most severe fighting almost every day for the past six days. The rebels fight with a determination and heroism worthy [...]
MAY 10th.—Bright, but windy and dusty. There is an excitement at last; but it is sullen rather than despairing. No one seems to doubt our final success, although the enemy have now some 200,000 in Virginia, and we but little over half that number. We have nothing from Lee to-day, but it is believed he [...]
May, Tuesday 10, 1864 Cloudy and rainy, I got up to breakfast as Mr. Harbut came, he is cut off from his command, and has no news. We heard Forrest had got safely out of Tenn. Tate and Joanna went to Memphis this morn, did not get back and we have not heard a word, [...]
Same camp, May 10, 1864. The 9th Illinois Infantry lost about 30 men, killed, wounded and missing, yesterday. We find the enemy too strong on the railroad to take, but have succeeded in breaking it so no trains can pass. Gerry’s division, of the 20th Corps, came up at dark, and the rest of the [...]
Seven miles west of Resaca, 15 miles from Dalton, May 9, 1864. Yesterday we traveled southeast, crossing six or seven ridges, one or two of which were quite high. Taylor’s was the highest. To-day we have made only about eight miles all the way through a pass in Rocky Face ridge, which is a high [...]
May, Monday 9, 1864 I slept very late, Laura came in to clean my room, did everything but make the bed, I told her if she would let me alone I would make the bed. I have been sewing on my white mull, did not get much done, have it all arranged, and hope to [...]
Monday, 9th–The weather is warm and pleasant and things are growing fine. The order of the day in camp is as follows: Reveille at 4 o’clock, roll call and breakfast call at 6, doctor’s call at 6:30, guard mount and company inspection from 8 till 9, company drill 9 to 10, dinner call and roll [...]
Monday, 9th.—At sun-up skirmishing began on the mountain. Federals advanced on the mountain; heavy skirmishing. 1 P. M., Yanks appeared in our front, threw out skirmishers and advanced in three lines of battle; when within six hundred yards, our batteries opened fire, which made them move to the right into the woods in double quick. [...]
May 9th. Nothing important has transpired since the last date. Our regiment was kept on the advance picket line. Orders to march. The army again on the march. Pushing on up the valley. Getting farther from our base of supplies as we march over the old pike where we have marched before, while doing scouting [...]
9th. Moved half a mile in the afternoon and then divided my forage to last till Sunday. Many of the teams on quarter rations. Hard fighting, all day.
(excerpts) Charlottesville, May 9th, 1864 “. . . Charlottesville is in a whirl of excitement and the ladies go in crowds to the dépôt to assist the wounded, who come in train after train. We are all going this afternoon laden with ice-water, buttermilk, etc., to see what we can do. Dr. C. is going [...]
MAY 19th.(sic)—Bright and sultry. A dispatch from Gen. Lee says the enemy is moving down toward Fredericksburg, and yesterday the advance of our army encountered his right wing at Spottsylvania Court House, and repulsed it “with great slaughter.” Strong language for Lee. A dispatch received this morning said the enemy was advancing on the railroad. [...]
May 8, 1864, 1:30 a.m. Have about given up the train before daylight, so will curl down and take a cool snooze, minus blankets. Made 11 miles to-day. Fifteen miles southwest of Dalton, May 8, 1864. We traveled to-day over a better country than I have seen for five months; the Yanks were never seen [...]
May, Sunday 8, 1864 I had a nice time sleeping late this morning, and Laura had a nice, Breakfast to tempt my apetite when awakened—the Detective and his lady friend had left before I got in the Parlor. John and Cousin Frazor kept in the dark all morning, though every was quiet, we have not [...]