Moved camp out seven
miles on Franklin pike near Berlin. I went out to Mr. Sewell's and got dinner;
piruted around and came back to Camp with two dozen eggs.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 7-8
Last night the company forager, Russell, nearly lost his life. Having stolen or appropriated a mule, he spent most of his time, while on the march, scouring the neighboring chicken-roosts, and, as usual, came in last evening loaded down, a hoop-skirt pannier on each side of his animal, being distended to its uttermost capacity with good things, from eggs to a side of bacon. The picket where he came on the line happened to be a Dutchman, who understood very little English, and nothing of his duty (not of our regiment), and the mule, caparisoned as he was with the white skirts, stealing upon him with little noise, frightened the poor fellow so that he fired at the forager, and then challenged him, but after a deal of talk, our man got by and rendered a good account of himself.
We started about seven this morning, and after marching about nine miles heard firing ahead, and were ordered to halt, and "right and left" was the word. Lying down, we rested while our artillery went through the line. We waited a long time. Then we moved forward, and, entering a large field on the left, were drawn up in line of battle. We were on an elevation, where we could see all that was going on, or thought we could, which served the purpose, as we all found out sooner or later. The men knew little or nothing, and anyone asking an officer, he always replied, "I'm sure I cannot tell you”—a most unsatisfactory way of explaining matters.
About four o'clock we stacked our arms, with orders not to leave the ranks; and supposing the enemy to be in our immediate vicinity, we kept quiet for an hour;then, as there did not appear to be any special movement, we were allowed to get something to eat; and soon found we were to stay here all night, but were not allowed to remove our accoutrements.
From our position we have a beautiful view of our camp-ground. We are situated on a knoll, with General Stevenson's head-quarters in our immediate vicinity, with the different regiments scattered in all directions; while down in the woods, directly in front of our line, we can just see the cavalry picket. We are wondering if all our fighting is to be done on Sundays. Our first fight was on Sunday, and it is now Saturday night; and we are so close to the enemy that we have orders to sleep with our rifles in our hands. Probably no baked beans or brown bread for us to-morrow.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 24-5
A stockade around
church at Monticello. We took dinner at Monticello. A messenger arrived from
Sauk Center, two companies awaiting us. Put up for the night at Green Lake
within two miles of Clear Water. Very rainy. I slept in barn. Twenty-six miles
today, marched 10 miles, 2 1-2 hours. Ten eggs, 5c.
SOURCE: Lewis C.
Paxson, Diary of Lewis C. Paxson: Stockton, N.J., 1862-1865, p. 4
Our brigade is now camped in the suburbs of Berryville and is doing picket duty; however, in three days more another brigade will relieve us. The rest of the division is within five miles of Winchester. There seems to be no prospect of a fight at this time, although our men continue to take prisoners occasionally. The largest number brought in at one time was 104.
The weather is still quite cold, but the health of the brigade remains good. But few men reported sick this morning. We still hear of a case of smallpox occasionally, but the army is well vaccinated and I am satisfied that we are all immune. We have plenty to eat. For breakfast this morning we had biscuit (and they were shortened too), fried bacon and fried cabbage. For dinner we had boiled beef and dumplings, with biscuit and boiled eggs. Dr. Kilgore and I dined in Berryville yesterday with a Dr. Counsellor. The dinner was fine and the table was graced by his charming wife.
I still have about thirty dollars, but our quartermaster has gone to Richmond to get several months' pay for us. Please send my suit to me, for I wish to give the one I am now wearing to my servant, Wilson. He also needs a pair of shoes. In your last letter you ask if I have the night-cap which your aunt made for me. I lost it one morning before day, when preparing for battle. Take good care of George.
SOURCE: Dr. Spenser G. Welch, A Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 35-6
The Yankees seem loath to make another advance since the good whipping we gave them here on the thirteenth in the battle of Fredericksburg. Milton Bossardt's company went into the fight with forty men, and thirty of them were killed or wounded. He escaped very narrowly. A hole was shot through his hat and one of his shoe heels was shot off. Pick Stevens never shuns a fight. He goes boldly into them all.
I will not write you about the battle, for you must have seen enough in the newspapers concerning it. According to their own newspaper accounts, the Yankees were defeated much worse than we at first thought they were.
Some of us sent out to-day and got some eggs, and are going to have an egg-nog to-night, so you see we are trying to have some enjoyment for Christmas if we are out here in the woods. The Government is trying to help us, for we drew several extra good things to-day.
You must keep in good spirits. I will get home some of these days yet. I may surprise you.
SOURCE: Dr. Spenser G. Welch, A Confederate Surgeon's Letters to His Wife, p. 38-9
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.
Raleigh, N.
C., April 14, 1865, 1 p. m.
We passed
through town and were reviewed by Sherman, who stood at the south gate of the
State Capitol grounds. Just as Colonel Wright saluted, his horse turned his
heels towards Sherman and did some of the finest kicking that ever was seen. It
was most amusing. Raleigh is a fine old town. Many beautiful residences, and
the gardens filled with the choicest shrubbery.
The 14th A.
C. guards the place. Wheeler's men sacked it. Division headquarters received
orders to save their rations. What we have is to last 30 days and maybe 40
days. That means a long march, though it is hinted that we do not follow
Johnston. Some think we are going into East Tennessee. The citizens of Raleigh
generally come to their gates to look at us, but make no demonstrations that I
have heard of. The 14th A. C. is protecting them in all their rights. Not a
thing disturbed.
High rolling
country and large farms. The town is fortified all around, but works were old.
I never saw so few negroes in a Southern city. Our headquarter's foragers
brought in five Rebel deserters to-night, and five dozen eggs which I think
were the most valuable.
[w]e are busily engaged cleaning off our camp ground; we have no water here; are compelled to haul it from a distance. To-day we send six trains and a guard for water; they return, but with no water. There is no alternative but to haul it from beyond Corinth, about four miles distant. During our camp here on the Purdy road, we live like kings; the result of the sharp trading of the boys with the citizens who are daily seen in our camp with fruit, milk, chickens and eggs. We dare say our men traded with many a rebel spy, and the information gained by them resulted in making additions to the already long list of names of those who are now sleeping silently in the south-land There was a mistake somewhere; somebody committed an error; where that mistake, and who that somebody was, we are not prepared to say. The world, perhaps, will never know.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 84-5
This morning we remain in the shade, having no orders to move. Some of the boys sally forth into the plantations, and it is not long until they return with a large supply of chickens, turkeys, butter and eggs.
This afternoon we move forward twelve miles; march in quick time. One by one the boys drop by the way, being unable to keep up with the command on account of the excessive heat.
CAMP NEAR WOLFSVILLE, MARYLAND, August 2, 1864.
MY DARLING:- We are having a jolly good time about sixteen miles north of Middletown, resting the men, living on the fat of the land, among these loyal, friendly people. We are supposed to be watching a Rebel invasion. Our cavalry is after the Rebel cavalry and I hope will do something. Averell is a poor stick. Duffie is willing and brave and will do what he can. Powell is the real man and will do what a small force can do. I suspect there is nothing for us to do here that is, that no (Rebel) infantry are here.
I saw Colonel Brown. — Hayes Douglass was, I am told, to be in our division. I am sorry he is not. I have not seen him.
The Rudys I saw Sunday. They were so kind and cordial. They all inquired after you. The girls have grown pretty – quite pretty. Mr. Rudy said if I was wounded he would come a hundred miles to get me. Queer old neighborhood this. They sell goods at the country store at old prices and give silver in change! Dr. Joe bought good shoes for two dollars and twenty-five cents a pair.
We are in the Middletown Valley, by the side of a fine
mountain stream. We get milk, eggs, and good bread. All hope to stay here always
— but I suppose we shall soon dance. We have campaigned so long that our
discipline and strength are greatly deteriorated.
I read the correct list of killed, wounded, etc., of [the] Twenty-third this A. M. It contains scarcely any names you would know. With two-thirds of the regiment composed of new recruits and Twelfth men this would of course be so. The band astonished our rural friends with their music last night. They never saw Federal soldiers here before. They have twice been robbed by Rebel raiders and so are ready to admire all they see and hear. Love to all.
