Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, May 5, 1862

A battle going on at Williamsburgh since morning. Our division marched into Yorktown towards afternoon, under a heavy rain. Explosions of torpedoes very frequent. We commenced to camp inside the fortifications, but we were ordered to march towards Williamsburgh immediately. The column started; halted shortly after on the turnpike road, and remained during the night, under an incessant rain. This was one of the most horrid nights we ever saw in the service. At two o'clock in the morning orders came for us to retire to our camps to rest.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 41-2

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, May 15, 1862

Marched towards New Kent Court House, fifteen miles from Elkhorn. Our camp five miles from Cumberland Landing.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 43

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, May 18, 1862

Marched through the last mentioned place, and went to camp after having proceeded two miles. Remained there till [Wednesday, May 21st.]

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 43

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, May 21, 1862

Marched at six o'clock A. M. Passed the Savage House, at the Baltimore cross-roads, (headquarters of McClellan,) St. Peter's Church, where Washington was married to Mrs. Custis, and went to camp a few miles from Bottoms' Bridge. General McClellan issued two rations of whiskey to the soldiers.

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BLOG EDITORS NOTE: George Washington married Martha Washington on January 6, 1759, at the White House Plantation in New Kent County, Virginia. The wedding took place at Martha's estate, known as the "White House," where she had lived with her first husband, Daniel Parke Custis. After their marriage, George and Martha Washington moved to Mount Vernon, which became their lifelong home. The White House Plantation stood on the Pamunkey River near present-day White House, Virginia. Although the original mansion no longer survives, it is remembered as the site of one of the most famous marriages in American history.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 43

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, May 23, 1862

We marched across the railroad to Coal Harbor, to camp. We seem to be held as a reserve corps, ready to reinforce both wings of the army.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 43

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Friday, March 17, 1865

Revelie at 2.45, breakfast at 3.30 Genl call at 5. Brigade forms on the Gulf beach at 6 column of the 3d Div moves out at 8.39; in a quandary about Corys valise; at 11. pass the camp of 1st Brig 2d Div which is ahead, all Kinds of supplies left in camp & no one to pick them up. road sandy & marching heavy, we camp at 2 P. M 10 miles from the Cove     Miller & I take a stroll through the woods which we find full of spanish moss flowers cactus &c find some families on the Bay Beach got some sweet milk to drink. Boys get plenty of Oysters in the slough near by where they have been planted     hear that the Monitors and Gunboats all left the Cove soon after we did. We had a long talk with the women, brush so thick could hardly get back to camp.     day has been warm.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 578

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Saturday, March 18, 1865

Regt on the road at 6. at 7.30 made Bon secure bayou. see great heaps of oyster shells more low ground today. they bay & gulf one place at the neck not more than 34 of a mile apart. Hear heavy guns all P. M. supposed to be the fleet at Mobile, move about 10 miles today. We see one happy wench. we were the first yankees she had seen. After dark a squad of 15, belonging to the Div. 2 of whom belong to our Regt get into camp. They were at Ft. Gaines Hosp. crossed to Morgan & finding their Regt gone pushed on & walked all the way from the Cove today. They report Genl. Veaches Div. coming right on & Genl Smiths Corps landing at the Cove & will start Monday The Estimate is 10000 men with us & 20000 more to follow & we expect to form junction with Steele, who started from Pensacola the 17th with between 20000 and 25000 men

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 578

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, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, 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, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, pp. 578-9

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

Rains hard all night. Grond [sic] 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, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 579

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan, Saturday, March 25, 1865

Genl Smiths corps commences moving at daylight; go out to see them pass; we rec orders to drill from 10. to 11. A. M. This order is countermanded & orders to be ready to move immediately. 5 days rations are issued to the men to be carried in the haver sacks. The 13th Corp begin to move at 1. P. M. at 3.30 Regt falls in line & moves out. march slow, and are to 9. P. M. getting to camp 5 miles from Fish river station. Saw where the trees were marked where the skirmish had occurred. I was detailed for picket as soon as I got to camp, had to go right out. The train sticks in the mud 3 miles back & our grub did not get up, boarded with the boys. Lt Hook Co C. detailed today as A. C. M. 3d Div. The following promotions in co "G" are announced today. Sergt A. Templeton to be 1st Sergt. Corp A. J. McCollum to be sergt. Privates W. H. Downing T. J. Vineyard. H. J. Vanderwan & J. Lemons to be Corporals, Corp W. Thomas at his own request is reduced to the ranks

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, Thirty-Third Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, Vol. XIII, No. 8, Third Series, Des Moines, April 1923, p. 580

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 16, 1863

Reveille at three P.M.; started at half-past four; marched through Burkittsville, and went into camp at half-past nine A.M. Seven miles.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 17, 1863

Started from Berlin at half-past five. Crossed the Potomac, into Virginia, over a pontoon-bridge. Went into camp at eight P.M. Six miles.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 18, 1863

Reveille at three; started at half-past five; marched through Burlington, Va., and went into camp at half-past ten.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 19, 1863

Reveille at four; started at six A.M.; marched through Princeton, and went into camp at nine o'clock.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 20, 1863

Reveille at two; started at four A.M.; went into camp at half-past ten. Twelve miles.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 22, 1863

Started from Goose Creek at half-past one P.M.; marched to Rectortown, Va., and went into camp at six P.M.

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. 278

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 23, 1863

Reveille at four A.M. Left Rectortown at half-past six, and marched through Markham. Went into camp at Manassas Gap at three P.M. Thirteen miles.

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. 278-9

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 24, 1863

Started at half-past ten A.M.; marched through the Gap a mile or two, and went into camp on the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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. 279

Diary of Corporal John W. Dennett, July 25, 1863

Reveille at half-past three; started from the Gap at five A.M., and went into camp at three P.M. Weather hot. Fifteen miles.

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. 279