July 31st. Sunday morning, but hot and dusty. Early on the march. About 9 A. M. we marched through Middletown, a fine place. There are many people in this town, dressed in their good clothes, watching us as we pass on, a dusty crowd. They all have a sad look in their faces. Keep very [...]

(excerpts) “ATLANTA, July 31st, 1864.         ” . . . You doubtless have heard before this reaches you of the removal of General Johnston, and the placing of Gen. Hood in command of the Army. The dispatch was received the night of the seventeenth, and Genl. Johnston’s farewell address bore that date. The three corps commanders [...]

JULY 31st.—Clear, dry, and hot. A dispatch from Gen. Lee (I have not seen it yet) says, in the repulse of the enemy’s assault on the breach made by their mine, we captured over 800 prisoners—a general and his staff among them—some 12 stands of colors, and killed some 500. Our loss very light. The [...]

July, Sunday 31, 1864 This morning has been spent very quietly, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton,—Lou’s sister, and her husband,—were here. Mrs. H. invited us when she left to visit her bath this evening, owing to our religious scruples not allowing us to go in the fish pond. The rain however interfered with our plans. In [...]

Sunday, 31st–Quite warm. It rained very hard this afternoon. There is no news of any importance. Everything appears so dull and the time passes so slowly. I am considered a convalescent now by the doctor and he has put me to work dealing out the medicine to the sick. Our chaplains here in the hospital [...]

July 26—Pass on to Martinsburg, but the enemy was gone. Camp near railroad and begin to tear up the track. Hear Bro. Thompson preach. July 27—Preach for Doles’ Brigade. Bro. Powledge preaches for us. July 29—Division moves early to Williamsport Ferry. July 30—Move early to the camp we left yesterday. Hear from Mary. Needs bread [...]

Saturday, 30th.—Pickets all round the front of city being pressed back; continual skirmishing all along the line. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

30th. Got a sightly position in front of the 18th Corps where all points of interest were in view. Lay till sunrise upon one of the leveled forts. a cannon ball visiting the vicinity frequently. Just at sunrise a cloud of dust and dirt rising suddenly into the air, followed by a distant rumble, gave [...]

July 30th. This morning opens up very hot. Having a rest. Trying to break in my new shoes. A bad job for the feet, which are very sore. Early this afternoon, marching orders received. Confederate cavalry reported to be raiding into Pennsylvania and upper Maryland. Ordered to make a forced march. Fearful hot as we [...]

July 30        Mr Grimball received a letter from William written from the 3d N.C. Hospital, Charlotte Street, Charleston, telling him he was there ill, & at the end of the letter said there was such a buzzing in his head from Quinine he could hardly write, he had received the stockings sent down, & had [...]

JULY 30th.—Clear and hot. Dispatches from Bragg, at Montgomery, .of yesterday, give no accounts of more fighting, although the press dispatches, etc. did mention four of our generals who have been wounded. There is a revival of murmurs against the President. He will persist in keeping Bragg in command, that is “of the armies in [...]

July, Saturday 30, 1864 Bro. and Eddie were undecided for some time this morning whether or not I should return to Columbus. Eddie at last consented to bring me in. We had a warm, disagreeable ride, found Therese at home and glad to see me. Eddie came round after dinner, and sat with Therese and [...]

Saturday, 30th–It is quite warm and sultry. We have a man in our ward who is very homesick; he sits on his cot and cries like a child. He has been promised a furlough, and I believe that if he could not get it he would die. All the wounded here able to take care [...]

One and three-quarter miles southwest of Atlanta, July 29, 1864. On the evening of the 26th, Adj. Frank Lermond sent me word that the Army of the Tennessee was going to evacuate its position, the movement to commence at 12 p.m. When the lines are so close together the skirmish line is a ticklish place. [...]

JULY 29th.—Clear and warm. The local troops did not march until this morning, and no one supposes Richmond is seriously menaced by Grant. I believe the object of the demonstration on the part of the enemy is to draw our forces away from the vicinity of Washington. The Chief of the Signal Corps reports, on [...]

July, Friday 29, 1864 I think without doubt, this is the warmest day I ever experienced, knit all day, finished Eddie’s socks, and Amanda washed them out for me, just finished them in time, Eddie arrived from Columbus this eve, spent yesterday and part of today with Tate and the girls at Tibbee. They sent [...]

Friday, 29th–It is quite sultry today. Six deaths occurred today in the three wards of our building. One of the sick men, William Gibson of the Thirty-second Ohio Cavalry, died last night. He had been very sick, but was getting better, and just before he lay down for the night, told me that he felt [...]

July 29, 1864. Sleepless nights. The report is that the Yankees have left Covington for Macon, headed by Stoneman, to release prisoners held there. They robbed every house on the road of its provisions, sometimes taking every piece of meat, blankets and wearing apparel, silver and arms of every description. They would take silk dresses [...]

28th. Boys exchanged papers with Johnnies. Got one of the 27th. No news. Have played chess considerably for a week or two. Have not been victor for a few days.

July 28th. Pleasant Valley. All one can see from this point is mountains, trees, grass, the Potomac River, great flocks of turkey buzzards sailing through the air. About noontime orders came to fall in for a march. Our march led back over the river road, through Sandy Hook, on over the railroad bridge, through Harper’s [...]

JULY 28th.—Cloudy, but no rain. Nothing new from Georgia or Petersburg. But a dispatch from Gen. Ewell, received to-day at half past two P.M., orders the local troops (they did not march yesterday) or other disposable forces to occupy the Darby Town, New Bridge, and Williamsburg roads, for the enemy’s cavalry were working round to [...]

July, Thursday 28, 1864 Another long, long weary day. I have been knitting very hard, to try and keep down my miserable feelings. Rachel very kindly offered to clean my head nicely—I accepted, so tonight I have one consolation, a nice, clean head. Nothing important has passed today, neither have we heard one word of [...]

Thursday, 28th–No news. All is quiet. I am still gaining strength slowly. We get very poor board here for a sick man to gain strength on, but we must make the best of it at present. The room we occupy, called a ward, is about one hundred feet long north and south, and fifty feet [...]

July 28, 1864. I rose early and had the boys plow the turnip-patch. We were just rising from breakfast when Ben Glass rode up with the cry: “The Yankees are coming. Mrs. Burge, hide your mules!” How we were startled and how we hurried the Major to his room! [The Yankees did not come that [...]