I and Jeff Burleson
went out and got a good dinner and my clothes. Came back and found the Company
in Camp. To-night I, Eslinger and Jessy Johnson went out cross the hills to preaching.
Parson Bunting officiated. I went down with Eslinger and the girls to Mr.
Page's, got some good apples, set till bed time and came to Camp.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby
Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's Texas Rangers, p. 4
We moved our camps from our picket posts seven miles from Orange Court House. On the turnpike from there to Fredericksburg, and commenced putting up winter quarters. On the 31st moved into them, and for the first time in a year or two we have with our rations some coffee, sugar and dried apples.
SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate
Soldier, p. 55
Wet, dark, and dismal. Quiet below.
In Congress, Mr. Staples, of Virginia, unfortunately exhibited a statement obtained from the Bureau of Conscription, to the effect that while 1400 State officers, etc. were exempted in Virginia, there were 14,000 in North Carolina. This produced acrimonious debate, which is not the end of it, I fear. I don't believe the statement. Gov. Smith, of Virginia, is exempting a full share of constables, etc. etc. The Bureau of Conscription strikes, perhaps, at Gen. Bragg, a North Carolinian. It is not the end.
An anonymous letter to Gov. Bonham states that Capt. Hugener and all his officers at Fort Sumter are drunkards or gamblers, and that the place is in great danger. Gov. B. sends the letter to the President, who directs the Secretary of War to make inquiry, etc. Perhaps it will be done in time—since the fall of Plymouth. Gold, to-day, brings $40 for $1.
Oak wood sells to-day at $100 per cord.
A large amount of apple-brandy has been made this year. A lady, whose husband is a prisoner in the North, writes to the Secretary, asking the release of her apple-brandy (in Virginia) from the clutches of the impressing officer. She and her daughters had distilled 500 gallons, upon which they depended to procure other supplies, etc. Brandy is selling at $75 per gallon—$37,500. Pretty well for the old woman and her three daughters! Apples are worth $100 per barrel; but the currency (Confederate) is nearly worthless.
Rained all night,
and still rains. All quiet below, save the occasional bomb thrown by our
iron-clads.
Gen. and Hon. R. K.
Wright, of Georgia, is said to have gone to Washington to negotiate a peace for
Georgia.
A dispatch from Gen.
Wheeler, dated yesterday, 12 miles from Forsyth, says: “I think definite orders
should be sent to officers in command here, as to the line of policy to be
pursued—particularly as to defending Macon, Augusta, or Columbus. If not to be
defended, government stores should be removed, on enemy's approach, if
possible. An officer should be sent to command everything, who knows the views,
wishes, and plans of the government.” I think so too!
The papers think
that Grant is about to try again to force his way into Richmond, as soon as the
weather will permit.
We had a delicious
treat of persimmons to-night—a quart bought for a dollar. They were delicious,
and we enjoyed them hugely. Also a quart of apples, for which we paid a dollar.
On leaving our last
camp we first went back five miles in a northerly direction to Orange Court
House, and we thought Jackson intended to take us over the same road we had
fallen back on a few days before; but from there we took the road to
Fredericksburg. Then everyone said we were going to Fredericksburg. That was a
mistake also, for after going about ten miles we turned to the left and went
three miles toward the Rapidan River, and have stopped at this place. It is
believed that Jackson intended to cross the river and flank Pope, and that the
Yankees got wind of it. They were on a mountain and may have seen our large
force moving. Jackson is a general who is full of resources, and if he fails in
one plan he will try another.
The men stood the
march better than at any previous time. The health of the brigade has improved
since we are where we can breathe the pure mountain air. This beautiful
country, with its mountains and rolling hills, is enough to make any sick man
feel better. We all sleep out in the open air—officers as well as
privates—although the weather is becoming quite cool and signs of autumn begin
to appear. The crops of corn are magnificent and are almost matured, but
wherever our army goes, roasting ears and green apples suffer. I have often
read of how armies are disposed to pillage and plunder, but could never
conceive of it before. Whenever we stop for twenty-four hours every corn field
and orchard within two or three miles is completely stripped. The troops not
only rob the fields, but they go to the houses and insist on being fed, until
they eat up everything about a man's premises which can be eaten. Most of them
pay for what they get at the houses, and are charged exorbitant prices, but a
hungry soldier will give all he has for something to eat, and will then steal
when hunger again harasses him. When in health and tormented by hunger he
thinks of little else besides home and something to eat. He does not seem to
dread the fatiguing marches and arduous duties.
A wounded soldier
who has been in Jackson's army for a long time told me his men had but one suit
of clothes each, and whenever a suit became very dirty the man would pull it
off and wash it and then wait until it dried. I believe this to be a fact,
because when I see Jackson's old troop on the march none have any load to carry
except a blanket, and many do not even have a blanket; but they always appear
to be in fine spirits and as healthy and clean as any of our men.The
force we have here now is a mammoth one. I am told that Lee and Johnson are
both here, and I am anxious for our army to engage Pope. Whenever we start on a
march I am impatient to go on and fight it out, for we are confident we can
whip the enemy.
We are now cooking
up two days' rations and are ordered to have them in our haversacks and be
ready to move at sundown, but we may not go at that time, because we sometimes
receive such orders and then do not leave for a day or two. I will write again
whenever I have a chance.
Hot and dry. I hope
there will be a rain-cloud this evening.
No war news, except
a letter from Gen. Lee, indicating that Gen. Morgan is probably on a raid in
Northwest Virginia and in Pennsylvania. Morgan proposed going into Georgia
(rear of Sherman), but the Secretary indorsed that perhaps the matter had as
well be left to Gen. Lee. The President quietly indorsed that he “concurred in
the conclusion that all the movements of troops in Virginia had best be left to
the discretion of Gen Lee.”
Gen. Hood telegraphs
that no important change has occurred in front of Atlanta. There was some
skirmishing yesterday, and shell thrown into Atlanta.
My daughter Anne,
after ten months' residence in the country, returned to-day (with Miss
Randolph, of Loudon Co.) in perfect health. She brought apples, eggs, a
watermelon, cucumbers, etc. Mr. Davies sold my reel (German silver) to-day
for $75, or about $3.20 in gold-enough to buy a cord of wood. I parted with it
reluctantly, as I hope to catch fish yet.
Twenty-six
miles to-day, and everything in camp at sunset. That is No. I work with 300
sets of wheels to the division. We have reveille at 3 a. m. and start at 4 now.
We seem to
have got pretty well out of the pine country. Hardly saw one the last three
miles this p. m. Have also about left cotton behind us. Tobacco and wheat
are the staples here. I saw as many as five large tobacco
houses on one farm, built 25 logs high. Notice also some very fine wheat
growing, now 12 inches high. Very large peach and apple orchards on almost
every farm. The trees look thrifty, but show neglect. All kinds of fruit
promises to be abundant this year.
The last five
miles to-day was through beautiful country, fine houses, too. The people were
all out to see us, but I am glad that I have no demonstration a la white
handkerchief to chronicle. The men are full of the de'il to-day. Scaring
negroes almost out of their wits. Our division is the right of the army. We
have been side tracking so far, but to-morrow we get the main road and Corse
takes the cow paths. I think that not more than one-fifth of the cleared land
so far in this State is under cultivation this year, and that fully one-fourth
of all has been turned over to nature for refertilization from four to forty
years. On some of this turned out land the new growth is more than a foot in
diameter. I saw a sassafras tree to-day that was 15 inches in diameter.
