November 26th. Orders are that we prepare for winter quarters, as we are to remain here. A good supply of good, clear, running water. Halltown is half way between Charlestown and Harper’s Ferry. All our supplies come from Harper’s Ferry.
26th. Saturday. Remained in camp. Read and wrote to Will.
1864—Columbia, Tenn. Saturday, November 26th.—Marched up in front of Columbia, and formed in line of battle. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
November 26th.–Clear and frosty. The following dispatch was received to-day from Gen. Bragg: “Augusta, Nov. 25th, 1864. “Arrived late last night, and take command this morning. We learn from Gen. Wagner, who holds the Oconee Railroad bridge, that the enemy has not crossed the river in any force. He has concentrated in Milledgeville, and seems [...]
Eight miles east of Oconee River, three miles south of M. & S. R. R. November 26, 1864, 12 p.m. Howard wrote Osterhaus a letter congratulating him on the success in the Griswoldville fight, and had it published to us to-day. __________ Headquarters Dept. and Army of the Tennessee., Gordon, Ga., November 23d, 1864. Mayor [...]
Friday, 25th–Our brigade marched out early this morning and relieved the First Brigade at the railroad bridge across the Oconee river, the rebels being just beyond. We burned the bridge and after waiting there a short time, got orders to march back to Toomsboro, which place we reached by 7 p. m. From there we [...]
November 25th.–Bright and frosty. A report from the Bureau of Conscription shows after all that only some 3000 men have been sent to the army during the last two months, under General Order 77, revoking details, etc. I don’t wonder, for there has been the natural confusion consequent upon a conflict of authority between Gen. [...]
25th. Friday. Thanksgiving chickens for dinner. Wrote to Mrs. Beers. Forage caps issued. Considerable dissatisfaction among the boys. Band played some time.
Friday, 25th.—Reported Yanks have evacuated Pulaski. Passed Mount Pleasant, Maury County; very nice country. About 20,000 Yanks at Columbia. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Near Ball’s Ferry, Oconee River, November 25, 1864. Got off at daylight; made some eight miles, formed in a line in a field. “Halt!” “Cover!” “Front!” “Stack arms!” Now men get rails and fix for the night. So we think we have plenty of time and make our motions accordingly. We had just got our [...]
Irwinton, November 24, 1864. Made 12 miles to-day over a rolling but well settled country. This is a nice little 700 county town. I hear that the troops that were at Macon are passing us on our right. Suppose they want to get in our front to annoy us again. They had better keep out [...]
Thursday, 24th–We lay in camp all day. The rebels are still in our front, and there is some cannonading off on our left where the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps are on the move and destroying property. The Seventeenth Corps burned all the railroad property from Gordon down to the Oconee river. The first brigade of [...]
November 24th.–Clear and frosty. Ice half an inch thick this morning. All quiet below. Col. St. John, Niter and Mining Bureau, required 13,000 men to furnish ammunition, etc. Col. Northrop, Commissary-General, reports only 15 days’ bread rations in Richmond for 100,000 men, and that we must rely upon supplies hereafter from the Carolinas and Virginia [...]
November 24th. Our camp located on a high hill, west of the town. Fine scenery at this point. Our picket line will cover from Halltown to Charlestown, a distance of about five miles along the railroad.
24th. Thursday. After breakfast went on picket on middle road, on reserve post. Very quiet but cold–little sleep. Many prayers have gone up today for the welfare of the soldiers and the salvation of the country. May God soon bring the rebs to their senses and bring an honorable peace with freedom to all men.
Thursday, 24th.—Marched twenty miles; struck what was called Mclntire Pike Road. Couldn’t see much pike about it. Reported 18,000 Federals at Pulaski. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
November 24th, 1864.—Three times a week Mother fixes up a basket to send in to the Tallahassee hospital, fresh butter and butter milk; fresh vegetables from the garden; any kind of fruit we happen to have and always two large loaves of delicious home-made bread. This last is a luxury as flour is hard to [...]
23d.—Military movements are kept very much in the dark. Nothing going on about Richmond, except cannonading, particularly at Dutch Gap. Sherman is moving across Georgia in direction of Milledgeville, looking towards Savannah, or perhaps Charleston, or to some intermediate point on the coast, where he may, if necessary, meet with reinforcements and supplies from Federal [...]
Near Gordon, November 23, 1864. Came here to-day, about eight miles, find the Army of the Tennessee all here. Have heard nothing of the Rebels to-day; saw ice one and one-half inches thick that formed last night. Wore my overcoat all day. The left wing is either at Milledgeville or gone on east. A branch [...]
Wednesday, 23d–We started at 7 a. m. and marched twelve miles, when we bivouacked for the night. It is reported that a force of two thousand rebels is in our front beyond the Oconee river, and that there has been some skirmishing. We crossed the Savannah railroad here at Station No. 15. This station was [...]
November 23d.–Snowed last night three inches. Clear and cold this morning; ground frozen. Had a dream last night–that meeting a few men in my wood and coal-house, I nominated R. Tyler for the Presidency, and it was well received. I must tell this to Mr. T. I narrated my dream to Mr. T. Before I [...]
November 23d. Called up early this morning. Sorry to leave our good camp in the Faulkner’s woods, Martinsburg. Our boys often repeat, “There is no rest for the wicked.” Soldiers must obey orders and not ask questions. Left camp, on the march for Halltown. After an uneventful march of about eighteen to twenty miles we [...]
23rd. Wednesday. Resumed our backward march, the rebs following as far as Fisher’s Hill. Very cold. Walked till sore footed. Went into old camp.
Near Griswoldville, November 22, 1864. Has been a gay day for our brigade. The other two brigades of our division went to work on the railroad this morning, and we on a reconnoisance toward Macon. Found Rebel cavalry at once. My Companies A and B, were thrown out as skirmishers. Forty of us drove at [...]
Tuesday, 22d–The weather has turned cold. We left our bivouac early this morning with the wagon train and at 10 o’clock caught up with our division at Gordon, where they were in camp last night. Gordon is fifteen miles from Milledgeville and is the junction of the railroad running from there to Savannah. General Sherman [...]