August 23d. Sun shining bright this morning. Skirmishing ?ring began at daylight. A number of the enemy’s sharpshooters are up in high trees. They annoy us very much. Not safe to show one’s head above the ri?e pits. Saw General Sheridan pass quickly along the line, just as a shell dropped inside our intrenchments. No [...]

Tuesday, 23d–Foggy this morning and sultry throughout the day. David Huff of our company died here today in the field hospital east of town, of the wound he received on the 12th of the month. He was a schoolmate of mine, and a good boy. He will be missed by all of the boys of [...]

AUGUST 23d.—Clear and pleasant. The enemy still occupy the Weldon Road, beyond Petersburg, in great force. Our loss in killed, wounded, and captured is estimated (in Sunday’s fight) at 1000; under the mark, perhaps. I hear of no raid yet against the Danville Road; but the flour speculators have put up the price again. Gen. [...]

22nd. Monday. Breakfast at a house near camp. Went over and saw Lt. Cole, a division Q. M. Went to the Ferry, drew forage for animals. 2nd Ohio was on picket last night, deployed as skirmishers, 2 miles west of Charlestown. At daylight attacked by the rebels. Capt. Denning, the brave man, and Henry Drake, [...]

Monday, 22d.—Reported and confirmed that Wheeler burned bridge at Resacca; blew up Tunnel Hill, and tore up a great deal of railroad. (Oh, you Rebs, why do you tell so many lies!) Woods full of big tales. Forrest has taken Memphis, and Morgan, Knoxville. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

22d.—Just been on a shopping expedition for my sister and niece, and spent $1,500 in about an hour. I gave $110 for ladies’ morocco boots; $22 per yard for linen; $5 apiece for spools of cotton; $5 for a paper of pins, etc. It would be utterly absurd, except that it is melancholy, to see [...]

Monday, 22d–It is quite cool and pleasant this morning and things appear quite lively in town. I wrote a letter to Mr. G. G. Evans, Philadelphia, ordering a gold pen, for which I enclosed $5.00.[1] [1] Mr. Downing says that was the last of his $5.00, for he never heard from the order.—Ed.

August 22d. Early on the march. Passed through Charlestown. Pushing on, after a march of about six miles, came to a halt at Halltown. A line of battle was soon formed under a hot fire from the enemy. Go right at work building intrenchments made of logs and dirt. The strongest we were ever behind. [...]

AUGUST 22d.—Sunshine and clouds, cool and pleasant. There was heavy fighting on the Weldon Road yesterday evening, still held by the enemy; but no official account of the result—if it has yet reached a result—has been received. The city is full of extravagant rumors, and I incline to the belief that we gained no advantage [...]

21st. Sunday. Pickets driven in early. 2nd sent to support the 3rd N. J. Suffered some. Train ordered back one mile. Went back. Found rebels in possession of Charlestown road, one mile further. Sent out a picket from an escort with ambulance train, and made a little reconnoissance, discovering a small rebel force. Soon two [...]

Sunday, 21st–It is the same thing over again—lonesome, lonesome, lonesome. The first thing in the morning is to serve each man with food according to his condition and the doctor’s orders, and then deal out the medicine. There is a death every day.

August 21st. This morning opens up bright and fine. Early we go on the march. Cross the Smithfield road, southwest of Charlestown. Line of battle formed. Ordered to intrench by digging rifle pits. Working while under a heavy fire, solid shot and shells dropping all around us. The enemy was forced to retire. This battle [...]

AUGUST 21st.—Cloudy and pleasant; no rain last night, but the earth is saturated. No additional news from the army. It is said Gen. Bragg prevents news, good or bad, from expanding—believing that any intelligence whatever in the newspapers affords information to the enemy; and he is right. All the mysteries will be solved in a [...]

20th. Saturday. Spent the day quietly in camp. A little skirmishing between pickets. Rebels reported moving on Martinsburg. Some talk about officers in regt. Rained.

20th.—A friend from the Valley has described a successful attack made by Mosby on a Federal wagon-train near Berryville. It was on its way to the army near Strasburg, and Mosby was on the other side of the Shenandoah. He crossed in the night with one cannon and about seventy-five men, and at daylight surprised [...]

Saturday, 20th–This is general scrub day. We had a busy day in the hospital fitting out cots for the latest arrivals. Our ward is crowded to the limit, there being more sick and wounded here now than at any previous time. Our hospital number 4 contains only the sick. All is quiet. No news from [...]

August 20, 1864. During the last few days cavalry has been operating on the right against the enemy’s communications. We have been making demonstrations, as they call it, or diversions in favor of the cavalries; that is, one, two or three times a day we raise a yell along our corps line, and open on [...]

August 20th. No rain this morning, very cloudy. Keeping quiet in the woods. Late this afternoon, marching orders. Marching on towards Charlestown. The enemy must be near. Halt near the town on the Berryville Pike. Reported we remain here for the night. Very cloudy. Nothing important has taken place. All is quiet.

  The Christian and Sanitary Commissions. August 20. I have read a great deal in the papers of the Christian and Sanitary commissions, of the noble and humane work they were doing and the immense amount of money contributed for their support by the people throughout the north and west. I have taken a great [...]

AUGUST 20th.—Rained hard all night, and a good deal to-day. Between 10 and 11 P.M. last evening, as we were retiring, a musket was fired somewhere in the rear of the building, and fragments of lime and brick were heard rattling against the window-shutters. This morning I perceived where the ball struck, a few inches [...]

19th. Friday. Have settled several claims during yesterday and today. Two girls just came with a hay account. If we remain here it will be pleasant to call there. Harnessed before noon. Our pickets driven. Read “Roue” by Bulwer.

Friday, 19th–A man by the name of Henry Neeley, a patient in our ward, died this afternoon of consumption. We were giving him cod liver oil, a tablespoonful six times a day. Nothing new from the front.

August 19th. Rain all night and this morning. Camp located a few miles south of Charlestown. Lieutenant Hinkley, Company I, returned today having recovered from wounds. Edwin S. Fitch promoted to sergeant in our company, C. Pleasing to all of us. A very stormy day in the life of a soldier.

AUGUST 19th.—Damp and cloudy. There was no serious battle. The wind was in a quarter which brought the sounds to us, even from the skirmishers, ten miles distant. But our gun-boats shelled the enemy out of their position on Signal Hill, and there was heavy cannonading along the line on the south side of the [...]