Like most other Sabbaths in the army, so was this; all day busy
cleaning up the camp ground, tearing down the board shanties which former
occupants had erected and using the material for flooring in our tents. We had
our Fourth of July dinner today; bean soup, hoe cake and lemonade. Hill's Point
is not a point in the river, as the stream here runs straight, but is a bluff
some 25 feet higher than the river and about 20 rods wide. It is the terminus
of the table-land beyond, and is formed by wide, deep ravines on either side
which run back and soon ascend to the level of the table-land. Heretofore the
enemy had a habit of running batteries down here and intercepting the boats
coming up the river, forming a sort of blockade, causing our gunboats to waste
right smart of ammunition, or necessitating the marching of troops across the
country from Newbern to drive them out. During the siege last spring, they had
a powerful battery here which caused Gen. Foster a heap of trouble. Since then
he has occupied it himself. This is an intrenched camp, sporting three brass
six-pounder field pieces. When or by whom these works were built is to me
unknown, but they look like the work of the enemy. They contain a great number
of angles; commencing on the edge of the bluff next the river, they run several
rods along the edge of the ravines, then cross in front of the camp, and from
any part of the line can be got direct, cross and enfilading fires. The three
guns are in battery on the flanks and center. Major Atwood is in command, and
in his absence, Capt. Foss of company F. Such is a description of our present
abiding place.
Friday, May 7, 2021
Diary of Corporal David L. Day: Sunday, July 5, 1863
SOURCE: David L.
Day, My Diary of Rambles with the 25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p.
94-5
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