Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: November 1, 1864

Went on picket in P. M. Board of survey in A. M. Beautiful day. Busy on returns.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 134

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Thursday, October 27, 1864

Regt. paid off. Drew pay for Sept. and Oct. On picket. Clothing drawn but not issued. Rainy.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 134

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, October 19, 1864

Firing again on picket. Turned out. At daylight heavy firing commenced on left with infantry. At 8 A. M. learned the infantry had fallen back in confusion, losing 24 pieces of artillery. 8th and 19th corps broken. 6th corps firm and in line. Cavalry went into position immediately and gave infantry time to form. Crossed the pike and formed again — under heavy fire all the time. Kept the position until Sheridan came up, then sent over to the right again. Charged rebel cavalry. Little before dusk whole line advanced — routing the rebs. Two regts. of 3rd Div. charged to the right, driving reb cavalry over Cedar Creek and the rest charging on right of 19th corps, 5th N. Y. in advance. Overtook the artillery and wagon trains, capturing it and many prisoners.

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Note — The modest entry under date of Oct. 19, 1864, refers to the historic battle of Cedar Creek, Va., when Sheridan made his famous ride on his black horse from Winchester, “twenty miles away,” and saved the day. During Sheridan's temporary absence from his army, Gen. H. G. Wright, the next in command, permitted himself and the army to be totally surprised at three o'clock in the morning, by the recently defeated army of Gen. Jubal A. Early. The Union troops were nearly all sleeping in their tents when the enemy's cannon and musketry opened on them in a terrific onslaught at close range. The Union artillery was mainly captured, nearly 5,000 Union soldiers killed and captured, and our army, except the Cavalry and one Division of Infantry, started in panic and confused retreat towards Winchester in the rear — where Sheridan had spent the previous night. Up to that point the event had been one of the greatest Union disasters of the war. But about 10 o'clock in the morning Sheridan arrived on the field in the dramatic manner described in the poem, "Sheridan's Ride," and instantly all was reversed. Meanwhile the Cavalry, which had not been involved in the surprise and panic and slaughter, being encamped on the right and left flanks of the army out of the line of the attack of Early, had promptly been ordered to the center and front, where they held the Confederates back from further pursuit until Sheridan's arrival. Sheridan's presence promptly restored confidence. The retreating and disorganized troops quickly rallied, and by 3 P. M. a general charge was ordered all along the line occupying some four miles front. The Cavalry charge on this occasion was the finest performance and spectacle at any time witnessed by the writer during the war. The astonished and recently victorious Confederates broke in confusion, their retreat was a worse panic than that of the Union army in the early morning. All our artillery was retaken from the enemy and some thirty cannon captured in addition, besides great numbers of prisoners and the entire wagon train of Early. Early's army never made another serious rally. — A. B. N.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 133

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Friday, October 21, 1864

Moved camp. Wrote a line home. Beautiful day. Letter from home yesterday. Regt. went on picket.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 133

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Wednesday, September 14, 1864

Regt. was on picket near Berryville. Went to Harper's Ferry with forges.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 130

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: September 1, 1864

Lay in camp all day. In evening relieved 3rd Jersey on picket. Busy most all night drawing oats.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Friday, September 2, 1864

At daylight fell back. Left the main road. Passed through Kabletown and reached the fortified position 3 miles from C. On picket two miles toward B. Nicely settled down, when ordered to march. Reached B. about midnight. 5th N. Y. had skirmish with pickets.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Monday, September 5, 1864

Moved back to B. last night. Rained. Drivers and dead-beats got scared and pulled out very quickly before we moved. In line on left of infantry. Skirmishing soon after daylight. News of fall of Atlanta. All jubilant. Lay in camp till P. M. then went on picket. Rainy and very unpleasant. Boys suffered. Sat upon their horses and at the foot of trees all night.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 129

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Monday, August 22, 1864

Breakfast at a house near camp. Went over and saw Lt. Cole, a division Q. M. Went to the Ferry, drew forage for animals. 2nd Ohio was on picket last night, deployed as skirmishers, 2 miles west of Charlestown. At daylight attacked by the rebels. Capt. Denning, the brave man, and Henry Drake, the noble and true soldier, mortally wounded, poor men. All forces fell back. Went out with forage in P. M. I feel it almost a duty to return to some of the dangers of the officers of the line.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 128

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Monday, August 1, 1864

Commenced a letter to Sarah. Wrote home. Regt. remained saddled some time in the morning in anticipation of an attack. Went on picket in evening.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 126

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: July 21, 1864

2nd N. Y. and 1st Conn. came out early and relieved us. Beat Col. P. a game of chess. Camped in the woods near our old camp. We have a nice place.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 125

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Monday, July 25, 1864

Waited till 10 o'clock and saw John off Started for home. We envy him. Would we could go too. Got home about noon. In the evening marched to left of the army and relieved a brigade of the 2nd Div. on picket. Our regiment on the right of the brigade.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 125

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Sunday, July 31, 1864

Relieved from picket and marched to Brigade Hdqrs. Camped in woods. Fixed a bower. A very hot day, yesterday too. Report that the portion of the enemy's works occupied after mine explosion was abandoned today by order of Gen Grant. Received letters from Mr. Brown and my good Sarah Felton, also notes from Ed and Otto.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 126

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: July 18, 1864

Relieved the 1st N. H. on picket near Cox's Mills. Major Nettleton, while relieving pickets, had horse shot. Lt. 1st N. H. killed by his side. Guerrilas in ambush. Hdqrs. in a pleasant shady yard.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 124

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 27, 1864

Moved out early in the morning. Encountered rebs about noon. Encamped an hour. 2nd Ohio on picket. Moved nearly all night. Stopped from 1:30 till 3. 8 miles from Lawrenceville.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 122

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: September 11, 1863

A dispatch from Raleigh informs us of a mob yesterday in that city. Some soldiers broke into and partially destroyed the office of the Standard, alleged to be a disloyal paper; after that, and when the soldiers had been dispersed by a speech from Governor Vance, the citizens broke into and partially destroyed the Journal, an ultra-secession paper. These were likewise dispersed by a speech from the Governor.

Gen. Whiting writes that the enemy is making demonstrations against Lockwood's Folly, 23 miles from Wilmington. He says if 3000 were to pass it, the forts and harbor would be lost, as he has but one regiment — and it is employed on picket service. He says in ten nights the enemy can come from Charleston — and that Wilmington was never so destitute of troops since the beginning of the war, and yet it was never in such great peril. It is the only port remaining — and to lose it after such repeated warning would be the grossest culpability.

The officers of the signal corps report that Gen. Meade has been ordered to advance, for it is already known in Washington that a large number of troops are marching out of Virginia. Lee, however, it is now believed, will not go to Tennessee. They also report that a Federal army of 6400 — perhaps they mean 64,000 — is to march from Arkansas to the Rio Grande, Texas. If they do, they will be lost.

The engineer corps are to fortify Lynchburg immediately.

The clerks of the Post-office Department have petitioned the Secretary of War to allow them (such as have families) commissary stores at government prices, else they will soon be almost in a state of starvation. Their salaries are utterly inadequate for their support. The clerks in all the departments are in precisely the same predicament. The Postmaster-General approves this measure of relief — as relief must come before Congress meets — and he fears the loss of his subordinates.

It is said by western men that the enemy is organizing a force of 25,000 mounted men at Memphis, destined to penetrate Georgia and South Carolina, as far as Charleston! If this be so — and it may be so — they will probably fall in with Longstreet's corps of 20,000 now passing through this city.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 41-2

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 24, 1864

At 3 A. M. breakfasted. Column moved out on Meherrin road — our Regt. the rear guard. Reached the station at 4 P. M. On picket. Troops destroyed the track as they advanced. Road made of stringers and bar iron spiked on. Destruction almost complete. Disturbed but little on picket.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 121

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 13, 1864

In the morning our regiment left at White House road on picket and rear guard. Several prisoners. Whole army moved. Rear guard until we crossed the Chickahominy, a narrow, swampy, insignificant stream. Remained near the river — south bank — till dark. Moved on towards Charles City C. H. — camping from 2 A. M. till daylight.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 119

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 15, 1864

Moved out on Richmond road, and Malvern Hill road till we encountered the enemy. Six companies of our regiment on extreme left skirmish line — rest in reserve, till the 18 P. V. were driven back in a little disorder; then the six companies were ordered in. So much confusion on part of 18th that we were into the rebs or they into us before we knew it. Then came confusion of orders. Our boys saw rebel infantry. Did them some damage. By order fell back a few rods and then held our line. One of Co. A killed and one of Co. M wounded. After one-half hour ordered to fall back. Nettleton's Batt. holding the rebs — mounted — 2 men wounded and 3 horses killed. Awfulest place for a fight we were ever in. Very thick pine brush and few trees. Woods on fire and smoke almost intolerable. Got out well. Fell back to junction of roads. I dismounted to fight. 2nd Ohio on picket. Co. M. ordered back to Smith's store where we had fought. Rebs came in rear. Killed Sergt. Edson. One missing. Quiet till morning. Deep sleep. Rations issued. We failed to get any. Oh this is the most fatiguing work we ever did.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 119-20

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: June 8, 1864

Got an order from Col. Hammond and procured a forge of the 5th N. Y., an old one, shoes and nails. 2nd O. V. C. went out on picket. Relieved 1st Conn. Firing still continues at intervals along the line. Grant is getting siege guns up to the front. Everything looks encouraging. Railroad in progress.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 119