Orders are very
strict. If caught outside of the pickets the fine is ten dollars. We get up at
4 o'clock in the morning and stack our arms. I am on parole guard today. We
expect to move in a day or two.
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. 25
just twelve months
from the time I left home we crost over and about 10 oclock we overtaken the
scamps again And they comenced throwing bumbs amung us And we amung them And
thar was a very heavey canonading cept up all day And a little befour night the
pickets comenced fyring And from that time untell about a hour in the night
thar was very hard fiting don indeed And a great meney kild and wounded
on boath sids in our company M. Miles L. Smith, B. Murphey, I. Calmond, G.
Lyons And my self was all hurt
SOURCE: Bartlett
Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, pp.
22-3
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
Last night pickets
of 43d Ills Kill one capture one and see another bushwhacker. Colm moves at
6.30 for the Rocks, Roads 1½ good 1½ very bad. at the burned mill at 12, in our
quarters at 3 P. M. Marching orders awaiting us Find our details all back from
up rivers except corp schippers wonded in head and left at Clarksville.
Rebs captured the Chipawa with detail of 50th Ind. Rebs were 1500 with 3 pieces
Artilery. boat crew parolled Raining this Evening. recd our mail but little of
it.
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. 572-3
A little skirmish
to-day, amounting to almost nothing. A party of four or five hundred went out
in the morning, came upon the enemy's pickets, and firing on them, drove them
in. Then, on returning, our four or five hundred found five men in the field,
drawing manure, and well armed with shovels and dung-forks. We took them all
prisoners, without losing a man! Wonder, if by to-morrow, this cannot be
magnified into another "Great Victory," to offset the terrible
disaster at Edward's Ferry. This "Grand Army of the Potomac" is a
great field in which to win glory. Victories make glory, and victories with us
are very cheap.
SOURCE: Alfred L.
Castleman, The Army of the Potomac. Behind the Scenes. A Diary of
Unwritten History; From the Organization of the Army, by General George B.
McClellan, to the close of the Campaign in Virginia about the First Day
January, 1863, p. 48
Went out today and visited the pickets. Riding through the woods is fearful on both man and beast, as the gnats and mosquitoes are terrible, particularly on the horse. Firing going on all day with the rebel pickets—could see them distinctly.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 11
Was awakened this
morning at one o'clock, by a soldier in search of a surgeon. One of our pickets
had been wounded. The post was on the river bank. The sentinel saw a man
approaching on the opposite side of the river, challenged, and saw him level
his gun. Both fired. The sentinel was wounded in the leg by a small squirrel
bullet. The other man was evidently wounded, for after it became light enough
he was traced half a mile by blood on the ground, weeds, and leaves. The
surgeon is of the opinion that the ball struck his left arm. From information
obtained this morning, it is believed this man is secreted not many miles away.
A party of ten has been sent to look for him.
This is by far the
pleasantest camp we have ever had. The river runs its whole length. The
hospital and surgeons' tents are located on a very pretty little island, a
quiet, retired spot, festooned with vines, in the shadow of great trees, and
carpeted with moss soft and velvety as the best of Brussels.
SOURCE: John
Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 56-7
Last night a
sentinel on one of the picket posts halted a stump and demanded the
countersign. No response being made, he fired. The entire Fifteenth Indiana
sprang to arms; the cannoniers gathered about their guns, and a thousand eyes
peered into the darkness to get a glimpse of the approaching enemy. But the
stump, evidently intimidated by the first shot, did not advance, and so the
Hoosiers returned again to their couches, to dream, doubtless, of the subject
of a song very common now in camp,to wit:
SOURCE: John
Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 64
*General W. T.
Sherman was in command of this expedition.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 165-6
Six of Captain
Allison's Company (J. W. Kennedy, H. L. W. Turney, Jim Thomas, W. E. Rich, Tom
O'Conner and B. A. Hancock), whom we had left at home in Middle Tennessee, had
made their way out through the Federal lines, and after about thirteen days'
travel rejoined their company at Burnsville on the above date.
We were still
picketing the various roads leading out from Burnsville.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 166
It was reported that
the Federals were at Sulphur Springs, some twelve or fifteen miles from
Burnsville.
The picket on that
road was reenforced about midnight.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee
Confederate Cavalry, p. 166-7
Got his wagon and
hauled one load to Camp. Camp moved three miles further up the pike. I went up
Creek and got Mr. Jonichin to start with his wagon. Went on top the mountain to
get two more wagons and as I came back the Yanks ran our pickets in. I came
near being caught by them. Came back down Creek and told J. He turned back. I
and Polk then went on to Camp. After going to bed, all waked up and fell back
to the other Camp.
SOURCE: Ephraim
Shelby Dodd, Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd: Member of Company D Terry's
Texas Rangers, p. 9
we travield sloley
down the Chickahominy River driving in the pickets as we went
SOURCE: Bartlett
Yancey Malone, The Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone, p. 22
Bright and pleasant.
Stayed with my next
door neighbors at their request last night—all females. It was quiet; and so
far the United States pickets and guards have preserved perfect order.
The cheers that
greeted President Lincoln were mostly from the negroes and Federals comprising
the great mass of humanity. The white citizens felt annoyed that the city
should be held mostly by negro troops. If this measure were not unavoidable, it
was impolitic if conciliation be the purpose.
Mr. Lincoln, after
driving to the mansion lately occupied by Mr. Davis, Confederate States
President, where he rested, returned, I believe, to the fleet at Rocketts.
This morning
thousands of negroes and many white females are besieging the public officers
for provisions. I do not observe any getting them, and their faces begin to
express disappointment.
It is said all the
negro men, not entering the army, will be put to work, rebuilding bridges,
repairing railroads, etc.
I have seen a New
York Herald of the 3d, with dispatches of the 1st and 2d inst. from Mr.
Lincoln, who was at City Point during the progress of the battle. He sums up
with estimate of 12,000 prisoners captured, and 50 guns.
The rumor of a
success by Gen. Lee on Monday is still credited. Per contra, it is reported
that President Davis is not only a captive, but will soon be exhibited in
Capitol Square.
The Rev. Mr.
Dashiell, who visited us to-day, said it was reported and believed that 6000
South Carolina troops threw down their arms; and that a large number of
Mississippians deserted giving such information to the enemy as betrayed our
weak points, etc.
Three P.M. I feel
that this Diary is near its end.
The burnt district
includes all the banks, money-changers, and principal speculators and
extortioners. This seems like a decree from above!
Four P.M. The Square
is nearly vacated by the negroes. An officer told me they intended to put them
in the army in a few days, and that the Northern people did not really like
negro equality any better than we did.
Two rumors prevail:
that Lee gained a victory on Monday, and that Lee has capitulated, with 35,000
men.
The policy of the
conquerors here, I believe, is still undecided, and occupies the attention of
Mr. Lincoln and his cabinet.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 471-2
Left the Tunnel camp
and arrived at Grallatin on the same day, driving General Morgan and his forces
out of the above named town, killing one of the rebel pickets because he would
not halt when ordered by one of our number, and took possession of the town for
the night, making a march of 7 miles.
SOURCE: Adam S.
Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 19
It is said the
pickets of the Fourteenth Indiana and the enemy's cavalry came in collision
to-day, and that three of the latter were killed.
It is now 9 P. M.
Sergeants are calling the roll for the last time to-night. In half an hour taps
will be sounded and the lights extinguished in every private's tent. The first
call in the morning, reveille, is at five; breakfast call, six; surgeon's call,
seven; drill, eight; recall, eleven; dinner, twelve; drill again at four;
recall, five; guard-mounting, half-past five; first call for dress-parade, six;
second call, half-past six; tattoo at nine, and taps at half-past. So the day
goes round.
Hardee for a month
or more was a book of impenetrable mysteries. The words conveyed no idea to my
mind, and the movements described were utterly beyond my comprehension; but now
the whole thing comes almost without study.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 41
At one o'clock P. M. General Reynolds sent for Two of Colonel Wagner's companies had been surrounded, and an attack on Wagner's position expected to-night. The enemy reported three thousand strong. He desired me to send half of my regiment and two of Loomis' guns to the support of Wagner. I took six companies and started up the valley. Reached Wagner's quarters at six o'clock. Brought neither tents nor provisions, and to-night will turn in with the Indianians.
It is true that the enemy number three thousand; the main body being ten or fifteen miles away. Their pickets and ours, however, are near each other; but General Reynolds was misinformed as to two of Wagner's companies. They had not been surrounded.
To-morrow Colonel Wagner and I will make a reconnoissance, and ascertain if the rebels are ready to fight. Wagner has six hundred and fifty men fit for duty, and I have four hundred. Besides these, we have three pieces of artillery. Altogether, we expect to be able to hoe them a pretty good row, if they should advance on us. Four of the enemy were captured to-day. A company of cavalry is approaching. "Halt! who comes there?" cries the sentinel. "Lieutenant Denny, without the countersign." "All right," shouts Colonel Wagner, "let him come.” I write with at least four fleas hopping about on my legs.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 43-4
Major Wood, Fifteenth Indiana, thought he heard chopping last night, and imagined that the enemy was engaged in cutting a road to our rear.
Lieutenant Driscoll and party returned to-day. They slept on the mountains last night; were inside the enemy's picket lines; heard reveille sounded this morning, but could not obtain a view of the camp.
Have just returned from a sixteen-mile ride, visiting picket posts. The latter half of the ride was after nightfall. Found officers and men vigilant and ready to meet an attack.
Obtained some fine huckleberries and blackberries on the mountain to-day. Had a blackberry pie and pudding for dinner. Rather too much happiness for one day; but then the crust of the pudding was tolerably tough. The grass is a foot high in parts of my tent, where it has not been trodden down, and the gentle grasshopper makes music all the day, and likewise all the night.
Our fortifications are progressing slowly. If the enemy intends to attack at all, he will probably do so before they are complete; and if he does not, the fortifications will be of no use to us. But this is the philosophy of a lazy man, and very similar to that of the Irishman who did not put roof on his cabin: when it rained he could not, and in fair weather he did not need it.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 47-8
Pickets report firing, artillery and musketry, over the mountain, in the direction of Kimball.
The enemy's scouts were within three miles of our camp this afternoon, evidently looking for a path that would enable them to get to our rear. Fifty men have just been sent in pursuit; but owing to a little misunderstanding of instructions, I fear the expedition will be fruitless. Colonel Wagner neither thinks clearly nor talks with any degree of exactness. He has a loose, slip-shod, indefinite way with him, that tends to confusion and leads to misunderstandings and trouble.
I have been over the mountain on our left, hunting up the paths and familiarizing myself with the ground, so as to be ready to defeat any effort that may be made to turn our flank. Colonel Owen has been investigating the mountain on our right. The Colonel is a good thinker, an excellent conversationalist, and a very learned man.
Geology is his darling, and he keeps one eye on the enemy, and the other on the rocks.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 48-9
This is the fourth day that Captain Cunard's company has been lying in the woods, three miles from camp, guarding an important road, although a very rough and rugged one. Companies upon duty like this, remain at their posts day and night, good weather and bad, without any shelter, except that afforded by the trees, or by little booths constructed of logs and branches. From the main station, where the captain remains, sub-pickets are sent out in charge of sergeants and corporals, and these often make little houses of logs, which they cover with cedar boughs or branches of laurel, and denominate forts. In the wilderness, to-day, I stumbled upon Fort Stiner, the head-quarters of a sub-picket commanded by Corporal William Stiner, of the Third. The Corporal and such of his men as were off duty, were sitting about a fire, heating coffee and roasting slices of fat pork, preparing thus the noonday meal.
SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 50-1
