Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: March 17, 1865

The 4th Division still moves in the advance. We take the main Goldsboro road this morning. The roads are desperate, the troops are compelled to corduroy the roads almost entirely with rails. We march about seven miles and go into camp at Clinton cross roads. Being now in close [proximity] to Johnson's rebel army we are ordered to throw up fortifications and remain here the remainder of the day and night to wait for the left wing to move up.

SOURCE: abstracted from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 299

Diary of 1st Lieutenant Daniel L. Ambrose: March 18, 1865

9 o'clock A. M. we move.

The roads still desperate—corduroying almost every step. A great many refugees are now following the army, seeking to be freed from the Davis tyranny; they are enduring much suffering. We go into camp tonight about sun down. We are now about twenty-six miles from Goldsboro, North Carolina.

SOURCE: abstracted from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 299-300

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Tuesday, March 21, 1865

Rains hard all night. grond flat & all drawn out of bed Rains all A. M. 1st Brig 2Div starts out early men pull the batteries through. Some Rebs seen yesterday, one Brig reported within 3 miles (?) train did not get through, heavy detail out cording the road & building a bridge washed away by last nights rain heavy cannonading on the Bay. all P. M. Bertrams Brigade gets through to Fish river & find 1 Div of Smiths corps there, we have good fires of resin

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 579

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Thursday, March 23, 1865

Revelie late, the Genl had blown in the 50th Ind & 7th Vermont before our revelie. Our Brigade gets up before our breakfast is over this was unexpected. Genl blows before the men have breakfast We are on the move at 7 hear the troops at Fish river are in line of battle expecting an attack move very slowly first 2 miles cording nearly all the road. latter part of the road pretty good & move right along. At 1. P. M. cross the river on the pontoons to the tune. “Out of the wilderness” or “Johny stole a ham.” Was until 4. A. M. getting camped were on 3 different grounds before we got settled, one time tents were being pitched & supper preparing, several boats & gunboats lie in the river. This morning the pickets were driven in by a force variously estimated from 600 to 1000. 3 rebs killed 3 of ours wounded, the 4th Iowa & 32d Iowa are here with Smith 25000 men here now

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 579

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Sunday, March 19, 1865

Breaks camp early but wait to corderoy the road, move but 6 miles today 2/3 of the road had to be corded bfore the train could be taken across, rests frequent & long. I read several papers during rests. Pass a house in which is found powder & back of which a few cavalry sabres & plenty of sweet potatoes nice ones, have now a continued pine swamp with no under brush, but a thick growth of grass a great deal like our prairie grass, this is called the Meadows

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 578

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Monday, March 20, 1865

Regt in line to move at 6. Rec orders to wait. At 12. I am sent with a detail to corderoy the road. The train all stuck in the mud. men pull the wagons out with ropes. At 3. I am relieved and report to the Regt. At 3.40 Regt in line to guard a train of 20 wagons, (all that had been got over) to the other Brigade ahead, as they are out of rations. Met Genl Grangers ambulances one mile out, begins to rain before we get through rains hard & is very dark. Get through at 9. The train sticks in the mud & is hard to get through, hear cannonading on the Bay all P. M. we are now in the turpentine orchards, hundreds of pounds of resin on the trees, get supper at 9, raining, retire at 10. Genl Veaches Div has overtaken our rear. The Regt moved 6 miles today.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 578-9