Wednesday, 5th–The weather is pleasant. We were on the move early this morning, the Seventeenth and Fifteenth Corps marched out to the south of Kenesaw mountain, where we went into camp about noon. We lay here the rest of the day. The rebels, it is reported, are in force on Lost mountain. All is quiet.
Six miles south of Marietta, October 5, 1864. Had an awful day’s march yesterday, full 20 miles and the road very muddy and slippery. County peculiarly Georgian, the like of which, I hope, is to be found nowhere else in Uncle Sam’s domain. When we started the “spring or grapevine” dispatch said that Hardee’s headquarters [...]
4th and 5th. Paymaster paid off 1st Conn. Drew 8 months’ pay. Lt. Meigs of Sheridan’s staff killed by guerrillas.
October 5th.–Bright, and very warm. There is a report that Gen. Hood’s army is at Marietta, in Sherman’s rear, and it may be so. One of the clerks (Mr. Bechtel) was killed yesterday by one of the enemy’s sharpshooters at Chaffin’s Farm. He was standing on the parapet, looking in the direction of the enemy’s [...]
Tuesday, 4th.—Moved two miles over awfully muddy road and in the dark last night. Eighty Yanks passed that were captured at Moon’s Station. Reported Wheeler between Dalton and Chattanooga. Federal Commander at Acworth says he surrendered five hundred men; over two hundred passed. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Tuesday, 4th–Rain early this morning. We stored away our tents in Atlanta and left in light marching order. The three corps started out on different roads, and the roads being muddy it made hard marching. We bivouacked for the night four miles west of Marietta, Georgia. The railroad bridge across the Tallahassee river here was [...]
October 4, 1864. We have been expecting to move for several days. The Rebels have crossed the Chattanooga and are moving on our rear, a la Jonesboro. If half the force they took over get back I’ll be much disappointed. We yesterday sent our extra baggage to Atlanta to store, and at 11 last night [...]
Saturday.–The President will be with us here in Columbia next Tuesday, so Colonel McLean brings us word. I have begun at once to prepare to receive him in my small house. His apartments have been decorated as well as Confederate stringency would permit. The possibilities were not great, but I did what I could for [...]
October 4th.–Foggy; then bright; then very warm. Gen. Lee is at Chaffin’s Bluff. A dispatch from him this morning states that the enemy’s infantry are near Harrisonburg, in the Valley, and that his cavalry is retiring. 9 A.M. Another dispatch from Gen. Lee. The raiders’ cavalry, only 250 strong, are at Brandy Station, a body [...]
Monday, June 3d.—Our forces hold railroad at Acworth. Halted our brigade at breast-works west of Kenasaw. Stewart’s Corps took Big Shanty. [This entry is in the book after October 2d.] (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Monday, 3d–A heavy rain last night. We started early this morning and arrived in camp about 9 o’clock. This afternoon we received orders to prepare to march early tomorrow morning with fifteen days’ rations. It is supposed that the expedition is going out towards Kenesaw mountain, as it is reported that Hood is moving north [...]
3rd. Saddled at 4 A. M. No demonstration.
Washington Oct 3rd 1864 What a hiatus in my Journal!! Since I last wrote I have been at home six weeks having started the very next day, the 17th July. I was a good deal out of health when I went away, the extreme hot weather had nearly “used me up.” I did not return [...]
October 3d.–Misty and damp, but warm. Guns heard down the river. On Friday, it seems, the enemy penetrated and held a portion of our works below Petersburg; and although we captured many prisoners, it does not appear that we regained the works or retook the cannon. So far, although the enemy’s loss in men may [...]
October 2d.—Marched thirteen miles and camped twelve miles west of Marietta. Reported Rebs have cut railroad. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Sunday, 2d–We started again early this morning, and after marching about six miles, came upon the rebels’ rear guard. We did some skirmishing with them and chased them about two miles, when we let them go and started back to Atlanta. The rebels tore up a portion of the railroad track between Marietta and Acworth, [...]
2nd. Sunday. Changed camp. Not unsaddled before enemy came up and charged pickets through town. 2nd N. Y. and 18th P. V. charged back, driving rebs over abutments into the river. Moved back near Dayton.
October 2d–Cloudy and calm. All quiet. It was a false alarm yesterday evening. Nothing but some of the enemy’s cavalry scouts were seen from the intermediate batteries, and it was merely a waste of ammunition on our part, and destruction of timber where the enemy were partially sheltered. Not a gun, so far as I [...]
Saturday, 1st–This afternoon the Third and Fourth Divisions of the Seventeenth Corps started on an expedition toward Fairburn, Georgia, where, it is reported, there is a large force of the rebels. We marched about seven miles and went into bivouac for the night. I received a letter from David Cole of the Twenty-fourth Iowa. His [...]
October 1.–Mr Noah T. Clarke accompanied his brother to-day to the old home in Naples and found two other soldier brothers, William and Joseph, had just arrived on leave of absence from the army so the mother’s heart sang “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” The fourth brother has also returned to his home [...]
1st. Saturday. My birthday. Would I could see Ma and sisters. God bless them. Gen. W. relieved by Gen. Custer. Gen. W. ordered to Gen. Sherman, Chief of cavalry.
October 1st.–Raining and cold. Horrible for the troops in the trenches! The battle, yesterday (on this side of the river), was an attempt of Gen. Lee to retake Fort Harrison, near Chaffin’s Bluff, which failed, after two essays. Gen. Lee deemed its recapture important, and exposed himself very much in the assault: so much so [...]
1 October 2 Months have passed since my dear William’s death, and I feel that it was but yesterday.—
October 1st.–Mary Cantey Preston’s wedding day has come and gone and Mary is Mrs. John Darby now. Maggie Howell dressed the bride’s hair beautifully, they said, but it was all covered by her veil, which was of blond-lace, and the dress tulle and blond-lace, with diamonds and pearls. The bride walked up the aisle on [...]