72d Ill. detailed as
rear guard. A large train of supplies and ammunition going out to the armies in
advance. Roads terribly dusty and weather exceedingly hot. Met hundreds of
"contrabands" going into Grand Gulf. No one can imagine the
picturesque and comic appearance of the negroes, all ages, shapes and sizes.
All seemed happy at the idea of being free, but what is to become of them the
men can be made soldiers, but women and children must suffer. Encamped in a
beautiful grove; not having tents, we bivouacked in the open air.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 14
No comments:
Post a Comment