We started early
this morning, steadily tramping till a little after noon, when we entered the
town of Hamilton, the rebs leaving as our advance went in.
Here we made a long
halt, as the men were sore, sick, and lame, as well as tired and hungry.
Surgeon Ware made an examination here, and as it was as far as the transports could
be with us, he decided to send back what men had succumbed. Our company had
two. The unfortunates were put aboard a miserable tub of a boat, with about two
hundred sick men on her, and sleeping room for about fifty; but after nearly
five days on the crowded, ill-ventilated, poorly provisioned craft, we arrived
at New Berne on Sunday morning, Nov. 9th, marched to the old camp-ground, and
were received by the guard whom we left there. They washed us, and put us to
bed, and then took care of us till we were on our feet again. We had good
quarters in the surgeon's tent, and only worried for fear the regiment would
come home in the dark, and catch us napping in the officers' quarters.
Rumors are abundant
to the effect that the regiment is cut to pieces, but no work for the sick
ones, so we write letters by the dozen, smoke, and tell stories of our campaign
to the camp-guard. But the company must be looked up.
They started from
Hamilton about seven P.M., of the 4th, marching through town with fireworks.
Many of the buildings were in flames, having been fired in retaliation, our men
being shot at from the houses. Others say the town was burned because a rebel
picket shot one of our soldiers on the outskirts of the town. If that was so,
it was a wrong done to private property.
SOURCE: John Jasper
Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass.
Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 19-20
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