August 10, 1864. Our “color” that has floated over the 103d for nearly two years has become much worn and torn. One shell and bullets innumerable have passed through it. It is entitled to be inscribed with the following battles: Vicksburg, Black River, Jackson, Miss., Mission Ridge, Dalton, Resaca, Dallas, New Hope, Big Shanty, Kenesaw [...]
August 10th. A hot morning. Marching orders came early, to be ready to march at the report of a signal gun. It will be our first movement under the command of General Sheridan. The advance is in three grand divisions, the 19th Corps on the right, the 6th center, the 8th on the left along [...]
August, Wednesday 10, 1864 Still no decisive news from any point except the Surrender of Fort Gaines, this is a heavy blow, yet Morgan still stands to dispute their quiet entrance into the Bay. I am still as hopeful as can of Mobile, they are now 30 miles below in the Bay, with every obstruction [...]
AUGUST 10th.—Hot and dry until 4 P.M. Gust, and 15 minutes’ rain. Good for turnips. Forts Gaines and Powell are lost—the latter blown up. Gen. Maury telegraphs for infantry, has some 4000 men for the defense of mobile, etc. Our raiders, under McCausland and Bradley Johnson, it is said were surprised and defeated last Sunday, [...]
August 10th.–To-day General Chesnut and his staff departed. His troops are ordered to look after the mountain passes beyond Greenville on the North Carolina and Tennessee quarter. Misery upon misery. Mobile[1] is going as New Orleans went. Those Western men have not held their towns as we held and hold Charleston, or as the Virginians [...]
9th. Tuesday. Thede sold his horse. Went over to town and procured some clothing.
Tuesday, 9th–A train loaded with wounded came in last night from Marietta, Georgia, and they were sent out to the field hospital east of town.
August 9th. Pleasant morning. Camp near the river. Just at this time we are taking life easy. The boys wade the river, taking long tramps through the lots, up the mountain sides. Don’t seem to have any fear of the guerillas who are said to be in the mountains. Perhaps they don’t wish to make [...]
AUGUST 9th.—Very hot; very dry; very dusty. The President has directed the late Gen. (now Lieut. -Col.) Pemberton to organize a mortar and cavalry force to dislodge the enemy from Deep Bottom, on this side of the river, and to select three or four batteries to render the navigation of the James River difficult and [...]
8th. Put in an estimate for clothing and drew forage.
The following diary entry contains wording that is offensive to many in the world of today. However, the entry is provided unedited for its historical content and context. Ned Carter The Blacksmith. August 8. When I first came here I was pretty well used up, but thanks to my friends, Garland of company C and [...]
Monday, 8th–This morning I was put in as head nurse of ward D, hospital number 4. My duty is to direct the nurses in dealing out medicine and attending to the needs of the sick.
August 8, 1864. Never was army better cared for than this. No part of it has been on short rations during the campaign. Extra issues of dessicated potatoes, mixed vegetables, etc., have bundled the advance guard of General Scurvy neck and heels outside the pickets. Extraordinary dreams of green corn, blackberries, new potatoes, etc., have [...]
August 8th. General Phil Sheridan takes command. Reported he will organize a large force in the valley. I witnessed the cavalry corps as they passed along the tow path, along the canal. Marching orders. Again on through Harper’s Ferry, along the Shenandoah River. After marching about eight miles, came to a halt near Halltown, on [...]
August, Monday 8, 1864 Day spent in kniting , Chas. D. C.—[illegible] I slept very little last night, and to my distress kept the other Ladies awake—poor Lou, the task fell to her to go down stairs for Laudanum, she is one of the sweetest girls I ever met, I love her with my heart’s [...]
August 8th, 1864.—This is a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer. Our armies in Virginia and in the West have suffered reverses of late and we have many such days. All who can, go to church; all the churches hold services. We take our knitting with us. Some stay all day, for they are fasting, [...]
AUGUST 8th.—Hot and dry. There are rumors of battles near Winchester and in Georgia. Mr. Benjamin writes the Secretary of War for a passport for ____, who is going to New York, “for our service.” In the assault on the fortifications near Petersburg last week, it is said Hancock’s (enemy’s) corps lost half its men. [...]
7th. Sunday. Moved up the Potomac. Had a good view of Mt. Vernon. A beautiful location. Passed Fort Washington. Reached Giesboro about noon. Moved up to the woods between Camp Stoneman and Washington. Got forage and settled down.
Sunday, 7th–A train came in this evening from the front loaded with the wounded from the Seventeenth Army Corps. They were wounded in the battles of July 21st, 22d and 28th around Atlanta. There is still no news from Grant’s army.
August 7th. A very hot morning. Early in the Potomac River for a good swim. Nothing like it. At the Quartermaster’s I drew an army hat. The first I ever had. They are worn by the western boys. Much better than caps. Trying to keep cool during this hot day. Wrote a few letters. Mountains [...]
August, Sunday 7, 1864 A bright and beautiful day—no Church going from this establishment—we all spent the day at home, hoping and praying for the gloom which hovers over us to be dispelled, for the safety and success of our defences of Mobile, the defeat of the raids which are overrunning our poor desolated land. [...]
AUGUST 7th.—Hot and dry; but heavy rains in other parts of the State. The 1st Army Corps moved through the city last night, via the Central and Fredericksburg Railroads, and this morning Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry corps is passing in the same direction—9 A.M. All this indicates a transferrence of the scene of operations nearer the [...]
Saturday, 6th–It is warm and pleasant again. This is general scrub-day for all the hospitals; the floors are scrubbed, clean sheets and pillow slips put on the cots, and clean underclothes are dealt out for the sick.
August 6th. Anniversary of my enlistment. Two years in the service. Rain this morning. Marching orders came early. Left camp, crossed the Monocacy River and the B. & O. R. R. Roads very muddy. Hard marching as we go up and down hills. On over South Mountain, descending into the Pleasant Valley. After marching about [...]
August, Saturday 6, 1864 We were all very uneasy all morning about Mrs. Johnson, the old driver arrived at 12 o’c with the news of trouble for them on yesterday evening. Mrs. Forrest’s girl was very sick, she could not come. Mrs. Johnson started out rather late, the heavy storm which we thought would disturb [...]