The regiment has
gone and I am left. When will I get clear from the hospital? One of the
hospital cooks, E. Furguson, died to-day. There are hardly enough men in camp
to bury him, only the sick and convalescent being left.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 99
We buried Furguson
to-day. The grave was full of water and we had to punch the box down with
sticks until the earth held it. Hear nothing from the regiment.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 99
Reached Gainsville, Fauquier, about 1 o'clock and as it was a good place for our horses we halted for the night. This village being only some two and a half miles from the battlefield of Manassas, and as I had an abundance of time, I rode over to the battlefield. Oh, what a scene of horror it was! Hundreds and thousands of dead and dying Yankees strewn all over the field—the dead, putrefied and swollen even to bursting, made the air redolent with a smell so nauseous and disgusting that it seemed to thicken the very air. Although nearly a week had passed since the battle, the wounded were still lying on the field, and none were buried save our own men. This seems, at first glance, wholly unchristian, yet one must remember that we are contending against a powerful enemy and for our very existence; therefore, we cannot spare the time to bury the enemy's dead, nor care for his wounded, when all medical stores have been declared "contraband of war" and we are destitute of them. Ten thousand Yankees lie unburied upon the field, and every moment of time is worth millions of money to us. The wounded, we have cared for as well as circumstances would permit, though we are much in want of proper stores for our own men.
General Lee most humanely allowed the Federal Government permission to send an ambulance train from Washington City, attended by proper surgeons, to look after the Federal wounded and give them proper treatment.
I conversed for some time with a citizen of Washington and he seemed very sanguine of the ultimate success of the Federal arms—by this time, however, he has found out how terribly in earnest we are. In this Second Battle of Manassas the positions of both Federal and Confederate armies were almost exactly reversed from that of the First Battle of Manassas of last year, and yet we whipped them again. Our left wing under Stonewall Jackson, swung around upon the Federal right and struck the mighty Pope en reverse before he was aware of the Confederate movement. But, danger of dangers, Lee's army was separated and if Pope could succeed in keeping Longstreet south of Thoroughfare Gap, Jackson would be isolated and would fall an easy prey to the countless thousands of that boasting Army of the Potomac, "the finest army the world ever saw." The vainglorious boaster who had never seen anything but the "backs of his enemies," and whose "head-quarters were in the saddle," was not equal to the emergency and Longstreet quietly and easily drove away the Federal brigade guarding a gap that a corps ought to have held, whilst he, hurried on to join that Achilles of the South, the ever present Jackson, and all the while Fitz John Porter doubting whether or not he must fight or wait. He who doubts loses, the combined corps of Jackson and Longstreet make one grand dash and the dismayed Federals were swept from the field.
SOURCE: William S. White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, pp. 128-9
Very busy as usual
getting out reports. Faverow gone home with messenger. Tarbell, McCoy's Co.,
relieved from guard. Corporal Daniel Phelps buried.
SOURCE: Lewis C.
Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 14
Rained moderately
untill 12 Oc night, when it commenced to pour it down in torrants &
continued incessantly all the night long At 9½ Oc morning I was required to
report with 10 men & a Corporal at head quarters for Picket duty & at
the hour we started out I stationed my pickets & placed my videtts I then
took a little exploring ramble beyont to see if I could make any discovery but discovered
no enemy & returned by the way of my post on Sunday night & found my
watch kee that I then had lost the last time I was on picket At 10 Ос night
Lieut Stanton & one of his men of the 3rd Iowa Cavelry came to apprize me
that there was a squad of rebble cavelry had aproched his videtts but their
horses had neighed & the rebbles put back my man & I was in anxious
expectation from that till day but they came not at 3 Oc afternoon I was at the
burrying of Thos W Coddington private from near Hillsborough Iowa Chaplain
Ingalls informed me that he died verry happy
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 104
I wrote off six copies of the work of board of survey. Kunze, of Company H of Eighth Minnesota, was frozen very badly. Was placed in the hospital. He was riding facing the wind, escorting the mail. A letter received from Red Lake warning us to beware of Sioux. William Beatty, (Lock's Mills) buried.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 12
The different corps
had only taken such positions yesterday as they could in the dark, but today
troops were constantly being brought forward and assigned positions as best
they could. Our regiment was still in the front. Skirmishing commenced early in
the morning. Company E advancing. I had charge of the skirmishers. They drove
the rebel pickets in and took an advanced position. They were not strong
enough, and I went back to the regiment and brought forward Company K, Captain
Reid. They were advancing over a hill, when Captain Reid was shot through the
wrist. He was taken to the rear and had his arm amputated that day. He was a
brave man and a surveyor by profession, and should he survive would miss his
arm and hand terribly. Two companies from Logan's Division relieved us and we
rejoined the regiment. General Ransom ordered me to reconnoiter and see if I
could not find a way to join the brigade to Sherman's left without cutting
through the cane brakes, which were as thick as they could grow. I never had
such work in all my life, climbing up and down ravines, my horse at one time
getting so tangled that I was afraid I would have to leave him—through cane,
over and under fallen trees, guided by the sound of artillery, until I found
the artillery, which to my agreeable surprise was Batteries A and B, Chicago
Light Artillery. I stayed but a few moments and hastened to report to General
Ransom. Bullets were flying thick, but I fortunately escaped being hit. I had
found a good road and led the brigade to the position assigned us; got into
position at once and ordered to charge at two p. m. Started forward up a steep
hill and across an open field, when the Rebs opened on us, killing and wounding
twenty of the regiment in five minutes—one shell took a file clean out of
Company D, killing every man. We could not reply as they were behind
entrenchments. We sought shelter in a ravine, leaving our dead on the field
until night. At night we had a burial party, buried them, and a hundred men
were detailed to throw up rifle pits along the brow of the hill we had crossed.
All worked silently; the Rebs would oссаsionally open on us with artillery and
musketry, but no harm was done.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 15
Skirmishing, as
usual. Quite a number of officers were sitting together just before dark eating
their supper of coffee and hard tack, when the bugler of the regiment, who was
sitting near, was shot through the heart and killed instantly. No one could tell
where the shot came from. He was just raising his spoon to his mouth, when he
fell over, dead. We buried him that night, performing a soldier's burial, but a
number of the officers and men had service over the dead, and we all sang a
hymn. Who knows who may be living tomorrow night.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 16
The stench from the
bodies lying unburied on the battlefield becoming so great a flag of truce from
the enemy made its appearance and permission given to bury our dead. I did not
go on the field, having no relish for such sights.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 17
The officers gave a
dance in the upper part of the storehouse last night and the iron floor was
fine for dancing. All hands were invited to join in and all that felt able did.
Two men died yesterday, and last night another, all fever patients. Two were
from Company A, and the other from Company I. They were buried just back of the
quarters on hard ground, for this place. A catfish was caught by one of Company
A's men to-day, that looked just like our bullheads, only bigger. As he was
pulling him in over the mud the line broke, and I got the head for hitting him
with an axe before he got to the water. The head weighed 14½ lbs, and the whole
fish 52 lbs. A native that saw him said he was a big one, but not as big as
they sometimes grow. My family had a meal from the head and Company A had fish
for all their sick and part of the well ones.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 74
Fifteen cases of
fever reported this morning. A dead man was taken out very early and buried in
a hurry. This has given rise to the story that small-pox has come, too. It
looks as if it might be so, for it's about the only thing we haven't got. Those
that seemed strongest are as likely to be taken now as the weakest. I have been
half sick through it all and yet I hold my own, and only for my sore
throat and this racking cough would enjoy every minute.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 74-5
Leroy was buried
early this morning. My part in it was to form the company and march it by the
left flank to the grave. For fear this may not be plain I will add, that the
captain and orderly are always at the right of the line when the company is in
line for any purpose and that end of the line is the right flank. The tallest
men are on the right also and so on down to the shortest, which is Will
Hamilton and Charles Tweedy, who are on the left, or the left flank as it is called.
This arrangement brings the officers in the rear going to the grave, but when
all is over the captain takes command and marches the company back by the
right. I got through without a break and feel as if I was an old soldier
instead of a new one. But it is a solemn affair. Leroy was a favorite with us
and his death and this, our first military funeral, has had a quieting effect
on all. Last night the chaplain and some officers, good singers all, came in
and we almost raised the roof singing patriotic songs. Speeches were made and
we ended up with three cheers that must have waked the alligators out in the
swamp. Sweet potatoes and other things are beginning to come in and as they
sell for most nothing we are living high. But we are in bad shape as a whole.
Mumps have appeared and twenty-four new cases were found to-day. Colonel Smith,
our lieutenant-colonel, has been up the river to try and find out if better
quarters could not be had and has not succeeded. He is mad clear through, and
when asked where we were to go, said to hell, for all he could find out.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, pp. 76-7
Corinth. We were again disappointed, the train leaving us behind and nothing to do but wait another twenty-four hours. In the afternoon E. W. Evans and I went to the hospital where we learned that our comrade E. R. Hungerford had died at about 2 P. M. Sunday, and was to be buried in the evening.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 12
The Yazoo Pass
expedition has ended and boats all back. Our return was monotonous, as we all
felt dispirited at our failure. There was great rejoicing as we once more
entered the Mississippi River, the men cheering, and a salute from the battery
on board our boat. There were splendid chances to bushwhack us, and I wonder
the Rebs didn't do it. There was a great deal of desolation caused by our trip,
as many plantations were destroyed. During the trip we buried two of our
regiment who died from sickness. Poor fellows, no headstones left to mark their
last resting place. The transports are complete wrecks and it is wonderful how
they got back. I learn one was burned, being unable to make her way back.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 11
Had orders last
night at 12 o'clock to cook rations and be ready to move at 4 A.M., but this
morning nothing farther is said about it. The order was given in anticipation
of an attack, in consequence of some demonstrations made by the enemy last
night.
It is now three
weeks since the great battle, and I understand that a great many of the enemy's
dead are yet unburied. I found, four days after the fight, some of their
wounded still unattended to. One of them, belonging to
the Sixth Ohio, I made as comfortable as possible, by filling his canteen with
water and furnishing him some matches.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History,
Vol. 1, p. 368
Jackson.—We took
position in the ditches early in the morning of the 9th, and have been here
ever since, under fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, and occasionally of their
batteries. The opening shots of the second siege of Jackson were heard on the
Clinton road on the morning of the 9th, where Jackson's Cavalry were disputing
the advance of Grant's army, and in the course of the day the firing grew
nearer. A number of citizens abandoned their homes for a place of safety, and
we had free access to their houses. The regiment was posted in a yard under
fine shade trees, and nearly every man had a book, while some were seated in
rosewood chairs. At ten o'clock General Johnston and staff rode along the
trenches, and seemed in fine spirits. We drew crackers and bacon, and had our
water hauled to us. Early on the morning of the 10th, it was reported that the
enemy was advancing to storm our works, and at eight o'clock skirmishing and
canonading were lively at the center. At 4 P. M. firing began on our wing, (the
right). Several prisoners were brought in during the afternoon, and it was
reported that a Louisiana regiment had charged a battery, and captured two of
its pieces. After nightfall several fine residences, outside of the lines, were
set on fire to prevent the enemy's sharpshooters from taking shelter behind
them, and the vicinity was soon brilliantly lit up. Sharpshooting was kept up
until late at night. At daylight on the morning of the 11th, the Yanks opened
fire on our front from a clump of trees on a slight eminence, and their long-range
guns enabled them to keep us in hot water, while very few of our guns could
reach them. The firing was pretty constant all along the lines during the
morning. Private Estes, of Captain Cunningham's Company, was wounded in the
temple, while looking over our breastworks, and another (name unknown) wounded
in the hand. A call for fifty volunteers from the regiment, to act as
sharpshooters, was promptly responded to. While on this service, in a
cornfield, Private Renegar, of Captain Little's Company, was killed, and
Corporal W. C. Gracy, of Captain Feeney's Company, severely wounded. This
evening the Yanks made two vigorous charges on our right wing, and were badly
repulsed. At 6 P. M. the artillery firing on the extreme left was very heavy.
The Forty-first was ordered on picket, to remain twenty-four hours.
At 5 A. M., on the
morning of the 12th, heavy skirmishing began along the entire line, and
continued until nine o'clock, when the artillery opened, and rained on our
works a terrible shower of shot and shell for the space of an hour. Our
skirmishers were driven in by this fire, and we fully expected a charge to
follow, but were doomed to disappointment. Throughout the day shells came at
regular intervals, our guns replying slowly. About 9:30 A. M. fifty skirmishers
from each regiment went out to recover the lost ground, which they succeeded in
doing after a sharp battle. At 11 o'clock heavy firing was heard on the left,
and news soon came that Breckenridge's Division had signally repulsed the enemy
with heavy loss to them in killed, wounded and prisoners, besides two stands of
colors. This was soon confirmed by the appearance of the captured flags, which
were borne along the entire line of our works. The casualties in the
Forty-first, in this day's operations, were three men wounded. On July 13th skirmishing
began in front of Gregg's Brigade before daylight, and continued briskly all
day. Barrett and Robinson, of Captain Cunningham's Company, came in off picket
and said they had killed a Yank. Some of the boys afterwards went to the spot
they pointed out, and brought off the body, when it proved to be a member of
the Third Tennessee. He was in advance of the line, and hence this mistake.
On the 14th there
was very little change in the state of affairs. At one o'clock a truce of three
hours was held, to enable the enemy to bury his dead. There was quite a
mingling of the Gray and the Blue during the cessation of hostilities on this
part of the line. Two or three casualties occurred in the regiment during the
day, among them Private Goodrum, wounded in the head, while seated at the
bottom of the ditch.
SOURCE: Edwin L.
Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western
History, Vol. 1, p. 217-9
I worked in office. Two short at guard mount. One private from D buried.
SOURCE: Lewis C. Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 6
Started on our march to Memphis. Quimby's [sic] division are to guard a train of 600 empty wagons. The day's march was a terrible one. Raining and roads muddy, and cut by the wagon trains many of which were filled with sick soldiers taken from the hospitals at Oxford and Holly Springs. Several poor fellows died and were buried alongside the road, their winding sheet a blanket and no ceremony but the digging of the grave, the body put in, filled up and the burial party hurrying away to get to their position. Poor fellows, they died for their country as much as if they were killed in battle.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 6
We were rejoiced this morning to hear of Rosecrans' success, and, at the same time, not well pleased at the escape of the enemy under cover of night. We were ordered to move, and got under way at eight o'clock. On the road we met General Rosecrans and staff. He was jubilant, as well he might be, and as he rode by received the congratulations of the officers and cheers of the men.
Arriving on yesterday's battlefield, the regiment was allowed a half hour for rest. The dead had been gathered and placed in a long trench, which was still open. The wounded of both armies were in hospital, receiving the attention of the surgeons. There were a few prisoners, most of them too unwell to accompany their friends in retreat.
Soon after reaching the summit of Rich mountain, we caught glimpses of Tygart's valley, and of Cheat mountain beyond, and before nightfall reached Beverly and went into camp.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 26-7
Our company went
back to Chestnut Mound. After the burial of Natcher and a short drill, we
returned to our former boarding places.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 131
