Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, June 17, 1862

Heavy cannonading in the direction of Fort Darling.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 47

Diary of Private Edward W. Crippin, March 22, 1862

Saturday morning little cannonading to day. Col. Bissels Engineering Regt. commenced cutting a canal evading Island No. 10 through to N Madrid

SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 238

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, March 16, 1863

The long expected opening in the levee was made this evening, amid the shouts and cheers of the two divisions. The water was let through in two places, each about two feet wide. The heavy clay banks melted away rapidly. Along in the night we heard heavy cannonading.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, p. 45

Diary of Musician David Lane, October 21, 1863

Loudon, Tenn.  We left Knoxville yesterday at 3 a. m. and took up our line of march for Kingston, forty miles distant, expecting to make it in three days. We took it leisurely and halted at 1 o'clock for dinner, having made twelve miles. We rested two hours and dined on hardtack and coffee. In the afternoon we marched six miles further and encamped for the night. The weather is delightful and roads good, which makes eighteen miles a day only gentle exercise. Very much depends on this. It is more tiresome to march ten miles when the roads are wet and slippery than twice that distance when dry and firm. We had hardly arrived in camp before the report of a dozen rifles told us the work of slaughter had begun.

Before dark good, fat beef was issued, and we supped on coffee, hardtack and beef. We have drawn nothing else, except sugar, since leaving Crab Orchard, and now we are getting only half rations of coffee and sugar. This morning we were aroused at 3 o'clock, two hours earlier than the usual time when on the march, but we "tumbled out," made coffee, fried beef, ate our breakfast, dried and rolled up our tents and blankets, and at 4 o'clock were ready for business. At 5 o'clock the bugle sounded "fall in," and in fifteen minutes the whole division was in motion. But not toward Kingston. I soon learned that Colonel Wolford was in a "fix," and we were on the way to help him out. Cannonading could be heard in the direction of Loudon Bridge, which served as a stimulant, and away we dashed, making fifteen miles by 11 o'clock. We were now within two miles of the bridge, and halted in a piece of timber. Here we learned that the crisis had passed, and Colonel Leisure told us to make ourselves comfortable as possible until morning.

Loudon bridge crosses the Holston a short distance above its junction with the Clinch. These two form the Tennessee. The railroad from Bristol to Loudon is entirely in our possession. From this place to Cleveland the rebels have small forces at different points. We have strong fortifications on this side the river, occupied by the Twenty-third Corps, who have just completed a pontoon bridge. Wolford, with a brigade of cavalry and mounted infantry crossed this bridge, advanced about six miles and began to fortify. One regiment was sent out to look for the enemy. Forage being scarce and hard to get, another was sent off with a train to gather forage. Just at this critical moment, when he was least prepared, the Rebels threw a force of five thousand troops between him and the bridge, thus cutting off his retreat, and summoned him to surrender. To oppose them Wolford had two regiments of cavalry, a battery of six pieces, but no ammunition. What was to be done surrender? His case looked desperate; some might have considered it hopeless; but "Wolf" was only indignant. He bared his teeth and growled, "What! me surrender? Why, man, I'm here to fight. Go back and tell your people I'll call on them directly." He spiked his useless cannon and abandoned them; put himself at the head of his brave followers and hurls them like an avalanche upon the enemy's center; cuts his way through their line, taking ninety prisoners, reached the bridge with little loss, while our artillery on this side made pursuit impossible. This took place yesterday. This morning, having been reinforced, he crossed the river to offer them battle. He found them but two miles away, and immediately engaged them. When we arrived here the roar of artillery could be distinctly heard, but gradually it grew faint and fainter, until at sundown it had died away in the distance.

SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 108-10

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, June 8-16, 1863

The usual cannonading; trench work and mining going on. Had a splendid rain on the 10th which was enjoyed by all. Weather cool and pleasant.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 18

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, June 20, 1863

Drawn up in line of battle at 4 o'clock this morning. Heavy cannonading along our whole line of works. I presume if there had been any chance for a charge we could have had it. Firing continued about an hour. A rebel deserter was brought into our lines yesterday and gave some information which may have caused the firing.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 18

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, April 19, 1862

A brisk cannonade, kept up since daylight from our side, without response from the enemy. By six o'clock P. M. the enemy fired three times at Carlile's battery. Heavy picket firing at ten o'clock in the night.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 39-40

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, April 24, 1862

At the front. We were relieved at nine o'clock A. M., by Battery B. News arrived of McDowell's occupation of Fredericksburg. Heavy cannonade in the night.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 40

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, April 30, 1862

Battery No. 8. We were relieved in the morning by Battery B. Heavy cannonading in the night.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 41

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 1, 1863

Mustered for three months' pay. Started from Myersville at ten A.M. Marched to Hanover, and went into camp at half-past four, where we saw a lot of dead horses. There had been a cavalry fight. Marched ten miles. Started again at half-past seven, and marched to within three miles of Gettysburg, Penn., and went into camp at twelve o'clock at night. Heard cannonading all day.

SOURCE: John Lord Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 277

Diary of Private John C. West, Tuesday, June 9, 1863

This morning about six o'clock there was heavy cannonading towards the Rappahanock. It is now after nine o'clock and the firing still continues. We have just received orders to form and are now resting in line ready to move at the word of command. Perhaps I may see my first battle today or to-morrow—will it be the last?

SOURCE: John Camden West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, p. 59

Diary of Private Seth J. Wells, January 29, 1863

This is a beautiful day. I am quite stiff and sore from the effects of my walk. There was a detail from the sixth division this morning, mounted on mules and sent out in the northwestern direction upon a scout. Corp. Si. Livingston and Privates Briton and Schultz represented Co. K, 17th Ill. They went about sixteen miles to a little town called Richmond, where they found a detachment of the enemy, but owing to a large bayou, our boys could not get at them, and had to leave them in possession of the place. We heard heavy cannonading this morning. The Rebs had undertaken to cross with about five hundred head of cattle, but slipped up on it, and they fell into our hands.

SOURCE: Seth James Wells, The Siege of Vicksburg: From the Diary of Seth J. Wells, Including Weeks of Preparation and of Occupation After the Surrender, pp. 34-5

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, May 28, 1863

Heavy cannonading all along the whole line. The Rebs reply but feebly; they will not have much chance to rest.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 17

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, May 30, 1863

Tremendous cannonading early this morning. I have never heard anything to equal it. It seems to be Grant's tactics to keep the Rebs busy all the time. There must have been over a hundred guns firing at once.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 17

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, April 5, 1862

Marched at daybreak. Cannonading going on in front of Yorktown. General McClellan passed the line amidst great cheering of the troops. Strong intrenchments were found near Howard's Mills. At six o'clock P. М. we went to camp three miles from Yorktown.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, June 9, 1863

Cannonading heard toward Warrenton, in the afternoon.

SOURCE: John Lord Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 275

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: November 10, 1862

was a pritty one indeed and thar was a very hevy canonading cept up all day sum whar between Culpeper and Windchester and we had orders to cook rashions and expected to be cauld on evry minnet but was not

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 26

Diary of 4th Corporal Bartlett Yancey Malone: December 12, 1862

we was marched around to the left of our armey and was expecting to have to fight every minnet but did not for thar was no fiting don except the pickets and cannonading

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 26

Diary of Private Bartlett Yancey Malone, January 23, 1862

was cloudy and cool but no rain And thir was hevy canonading down on the Potomac to day

SOURCE: Bartlett Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 13

Diary of Private Louis Leon: November 26, 1863

When we had marched seven miles we heard cannonading. The enemy is trying to cross the river at Jacob's Ford, but our boys kept them back. We laid in breastworks of our own make until the 27th.

SOURCE: Louis Leon, Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier, p. 52