Birch River, Eighteen Miles North of Summersville, Sunday, September 15, 1861. Dearest: – We are as happy and care-for-nothing [a] set of fellows here today as you could find anywhere. I have now for a while an independent command of four companies, Twenty-third, Captain Moore, Captain Lovejoy, Woodward, and Drake, two companies of the Thirtieth [...]
Birch River, Between Summersville and Sutton, Virginia, September 14, 1861. Dear Uncle : – I have no time to write letters. We are getting on finely. Our battle on the 10th at Gauley River, you have no doubt heard all about. Nothing but night prevented our getting Floyd and his whole army. As it was, [...]
Gauley River, 8 Miles South Of Summersville, September 11, 1861. Dear Lucy: – Well, darling, we have had our first battle, and the enemy have fled precipitately. I say “we,” although it is fair to say that our brigade, consisting of the Twenty-third, the Thirtieth (Colonel Ewing), and Mack’s Battery had little or nothing to [...]
Tuesday, 10.–Marched seventeen miles, drove enemies’ pickets out of Summersville, followed nine miles to Gauley river. Enemy entrenched on a hill, high, steep, and hidden by bushes, three to six thousand strong. We get ready to attack. We have been divided into three brigades: First, General Benham’s, consisting of Tenth (Colonel Lytle’s Irish), Twelfth (Colonel [...]
Monday, 9.–Marched over Powell Mountain and camped eight miles from Summersville. Enemy near us; a battle to come soon.
Sunday, 7 or 8.–As officer of the day, I rode all day– up Birch, crossing it forty times and going fifty to sixty miles. Rode out to pickets with General Benham.
Saturday, 6 [7].–Marched to Birch River.
Friday, [September] 5 [6].–As judge-advocate, with General Benham, Colonels Scammon, Smith, et al., I tried two cases. J. W. Trader, etc.
SUTTON, OR SUTTONVILLE, VIRGINIA, September 5, 1861. DEAREST:–We are in another camp of fine views. This is the last stronghold of our army as we advance toward the enemy. We are now part of an army of from six to eight thousand and are pushing towards an advancing enemy stronger in numbers, it is said. [...]
Wednesday, 3 [4].–Saw General Rosecrans and staff. Caught our guard without a salute. We go with him south today. A good time with McCook and his Ninth. Marched from Bulltown to Flatwoods on road to Sutton, about ten or eleven miles. Camped on a hill with Captain Canby’s Company F of our right wing and [...]
Tuesday, September 2 [3].–Twelve miles from Walkersville to Bulltown. Found McCook and had a good time with him.
Sunday, 1 [September].–Drummed three men (youngsters) out of Captain Drake’s company, by [the] colonel’s order. The men all approve it but it makes me sick. The boys all probably confirmed thieves before they joined the army, but it makes me sick. Also sent back a waggon-master and drivers. This pleased me. The rascals refused to [...]
Saturday, [August] 31,–Mustered today. I called the roll of our five companies and of McMullen’s Battery.
Friday, 30.–Last night Dr. Joe and I did our best to house in Mrs. Sea’s barn (a good Union lady, two sons in the army), the Germans of the Ninth, who lay in the mud, without shelter. Spent today in a jolly way, resting. ______ FRENCH CREEK, August 30, 1861, Friday Night. DEAREST:–”The best laid [...]
Thursday, 29.–Moved into the Presbyterian church to await our tents and train.
Wednesday, 28.–A long march over a bad path–thirty miles–to French Creek, or Scotchtown. Boarded with Mrs. Farrell. A fine Union settlement. Forty years ago a Massachusetts colony came here, and their thrift, morality, and patriotism are the salt of this region. Slept in tent of Culbertson and Lieutenant–of Captain Remley’s Fifth Regiment. Noble and generous [...]
Tuesday, [August] 27.–Ordered to make a forced march, without tents, knapsacks, or cooking utensils, to French Creek by a mountain path scarcely practicable for horsemen. At about 3 P. M. set out. I led the column afoot, Captain Sperry on Webby. Reached a river over the mountain after dark; kindled fires and slept on ground. [...]
Monday evening, August 26.– Marched today up the beautiful valley, “Tygart’s Valley” I believe, to this pretty camp in the hills, eighteen miles. Saw our general. About forty-five, a middle-sized, good-looking man, educated at West Point. An army man, good sense, good talker–General Reynolds. Oh, what a lovely spot! _______ August 26, 1861. DEAR UNCLE:–We [...]
Beverly, August 25. Sunday.–A cold night. Clear but foggy this A. M. No orders to march yet. Good! Provisions and provender, i. e. rations and forage, scarce and poor. Captain Clark, a spirited German (Prussian) officer of the “Greys,” dined us yesterday at Widow What’s-her-name’s hotel, Got letters here from Lute, Uncle, and Mother, with [...]
Saturday 24.–Doctor and I laughed at a soldier who said it was Saturday. We thought it was Thursday. The finest day’s march yet. Streams, mountain views, and invigorating air! Reached Buckhannon [Beverly] at 2 P. M.; greeted by friends in the Guthries warmly–Captain Erwin, Captain Bense, Captains Tinker, Clark. Saw Tatem, sick, Charles Richards, Tom [...]
Friday 23.–Clear, bright day; mud and water in the road but a bracing air and blue sky overhead. Men marched with spirit. Lovely mountain views and clear mountain streams always in sight. Camped on the mountainside in the road; no tents pitched. Colonel and Dr. Joe slept in ambulance. I fixed up our cots under [...]
[August] 22. Thursday.–At our nice camp. P. M. rained and blew violently. In the midst of it we got orders from General Rosecrans to prepare to march to Beverly. “Early” in the morning would do. Slept in my wet boots. Wrote home and to mother and Uncle. _______ BUCKHANNON, August 22, 1861. DEAR JIM:–I have [...]
August 21.–Changed camping place at Buckhannon to a fine spot one and one-half miles on road to Cheat Mountain. Got settled with McMullen’s Battery just as rain set in at night. Had letters from Jim and Will Scott and Uncle George. _______ BUCKHANNON, VIRGINIA, August 21, 1861. DEAR MOTHER:–You may send this letter, showing my [...]
August 20. Tuesday.–After marching three miles we stopped for water and to let the teams come up. One man reclining was accidentally shot by another hitting his foot against the hammer of a musket. Poor Carr received the ball in the heel of his shoe; it passed up his leg, grazing it merely, grazed his [...]
August 19. Monday.–No more rumors. A tolerably pretty day. At 12 M. [midnight] got orders to quietly strike tents and with three days’ rations and the minimum amount of baggage move to Buckhannon. Two companies, Captain Drake’s and Captain Zimmerman’s, had just returned from a scouting expedition to Walkersville, etc. No rest yet. After a [...]