Fair Oaks. In line of battle since two o'clock A. M. The First Minnesota is fortifying our position. Cannonading going on near Mechanicsville, in the afternoon. The enemy is shelling our line on the railroad. Trains are arriving at the station with supplies. A heavy shower.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 45
Fair Oaks. The whiskey rations are countermanded to-day. During the night we were called under arms five times, the rebels making repeated attacks on the railroad.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 48
Fair Oaks. Short engagement on the railroad. Thunder shower at night.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 48
Evacuation of Fair Oaks. At three o'clock A. M. orders came for us to leave as quick as possible. Smith's division had already fallen back two miles, which movement completely exposed our right flank. The rebels followed at our very heels. After marching a mile, General Sumner hastily formed a line of battle, crossing the railroad. We were not held long in inactivity. The rebels, in command of Magruder, soon attacked with three brigades of infantry and three batteries. This fight bears the name of battle of Peach Orchard. Our battery was in close action, supported by General French's brigade. Pettit's New York eight gun battery, was sent to our assistance towards three o'clock P. M. By General Sumner's skilful manœuvring we were enabled to fall back to Savage Station, leaving the dead and wounded behind. At the latter place, half of the Potomac army was drawn up in line of battle. The quantity of ammunition and stores at that place was immense. (Who would not remember the great explosion of the railroad train at Bottoms' Bridge.) About five o'clock P. M., the battle of Savage Station commenced, and kept on until late at night with great desperation. Our battery was within dangerous range of the enemy's fire, but not engaged. About nine o'clock, we fell back to the White Oak Swamp, arriving there at midnight.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 49-50
Rained last night & thought myself quite fortunate in having procured enough pieces of Reb tents to make a tent large enough to hold Temp & I, we having no tents they being with the teams none of which were brought over I went out after breakfast although the rain was still falling to see fort Sdney Jonston. just finished, a work that 100 men could have held against 1,000 with ease the more I see of the works the more I am glad we did not have to charge them for it would have been attended with great slaughtr. I wished to visit the city but no one was permitted to go. I visited the cemetery where I saw the graves of about 60 men killed in Spanish fort. Some splendid marble mouments, the grond is all laid out in small lots these fenced & the whole enclosure a beautiful flower garden, the graves ornamented with some of the most beautiful shells I ever saw, I returned to camp at 11. at which time unexpectedly to all the Genl was blown the whole Div moved out. The men had without leave gone to the city so that I had but 14 men when we fell in, did not know where we were to go marched through town in platoons, colors flying music playing many remarks made by the by standers about our no's Streets full of negros & creoles. saw thousands of bales of cotton marched through Royal St. the whits did not show themselves much, two Brigs of the Div take the wagon road, an Brig take the R. R. track march out to the 6 mile staton, 2½ mile Citizen rides up says off to the left is a squad of Reb. cav. Col Krez goes to rear, to see about, thinks there are bout 25 same cit says we will find more at the station at Whistler where the R. R. shops are. When we approach, the other Brigs are arriving. See them unslingin knap sacks & double quicken to the front. Our Brig ordered to do the same.
Some sharp skirmishes in front. & can see the bridge at 8 mile creek burning. they were destroying the work shops when our men come up. The Reb run & co G. & B. of 33d & a co of 28th Wis were sent back immediately to a bridge across Black Creek just 2 mile from town to guard it. we marched back reaching it about 5 P. M. on the march back met most of my runaway boys coming up. Several negros come in from the Rebs & report their force at 700 cav & 4 pieces of Artilery. All quiet in the front Rumors. That Lee has surrendered his army to Grant & with it the Southern confederacy. A salute of 100 guns was fired in Mobile Bay at 9. A. M. in honor of the fall of the city.
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. 590-1
Soon as breakfast is over sit down to write a letter, not finished before I was detailed to take charge of 40 men & report to Div Head Quarters, was about 9. A. M. when I reported, the detail was to go on the train to Mobile for the purpose of loading & unloading 200 sacks of corn, while we waited for the train saw a squad of 10 negro soldiers with arms come in who had deserted the Rebs & report none closer than 20 miles, they say the Rebs declare they will bush whack us. & also report that Genl Lee had issued an order that all Rebs found in arms after the 1st of April (I think they meant May) should be considered as outlaws. The train started at 9.15, & run down in 20 minutes, left the detail at the depot & went with Capt Jordan A. A. Q. M. to the wharf to see about the corn. was in the Provost Martials office & the citizens of Mobile was doing a big job of swearing swallowing the oath at a gulp. The streets are full of Yankee officers. with their starch on. It was 1. P. M. before the corn was brought to the cars, after which we waited for Cols. Patterson & Grier to come before the train starts, while we wait the coquette a reb. steamer comes down the Mobile river loaded with cotton, she had tried to get off with it but the Yanks got on the river ahead of her & she returned with her cargo. about 4. P. M. our teams just over from the Eastern shore start out to camp. train starts at 4. unload the corn & get to camp just in time as it rains soon after. I have just time to distribute the mail, of which there was but little before the rain fell in perfect floods, rained hard for about an hour, a Regt of Cavalry camp out beyond us tonight & the artilery belonging to the Div moves out, rumors of Lees defeat & surrender grow more in favor. Reported that a fed. force had taken Meridian & that Galveston Texas had surrendered & Texas had sent commissioners to Washington asking to come back into the Union & the privalege of free trade as the residents were starving.
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. 591-2
Revelie at 4. a. m. Div on the road at 6. Lt Cooper tells us our destination is the mouth of the Tombigbee distant about 30 miles. We leave the R. R. at Whistler. Find the marching hard although the Regt was in the advance. We travel about 11. miles & camp near a large & deep creek. Lt Loughridge & I go down to fish but after 3 hours faithful fishing returned to camp with nothing, just after dark hear one report of a cannon. See today the best looking rebel I ever, saw. he was a deserter & was marched by our Regt while we rested. a large close built & splendid looking man. Reported that 8 miles from this camp is a Reb force of 8000. & 12 miles is a U. S. Arsenal at Mt Vernon. The clk of Div Com. says that yesterday a fleet of Gun boats & Transports went up to the mouth of the Tombigby carrying 400.000 rations It is the talk that we will establish a base there & move next to Lt. Stephens, has been a very warm day.
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. 593
Friday, it rained very hard last night, & is still raining this morning. We are under marching orders, Tis said we are to accompany the fleet down the river True enough about 11 O'clock A. M. the flotilla of Gun Boats hove in sight followed by the transports & mortars.
We embarked on board the Steamer Silver Wave. By and by they began to shove out the Gun Boats taking the lead.
Head Quarters Silver Wave Nothing of interest transpired until we arrived at Hickman, where we all landed, a Battalion of the 27th only disembarking headed by our Col. and Lt. Col. displaying our glorious old Banner & keeping step to the soul stirring notes Yankee Doodle & Dixies land. Col. Buford first proceeded to the telegraph office where he destroyed their means of communication & also tearing up their Rail Road track for a short distance. The locomotive having skeddadled as soon as our Boats hove in sight. We lay here until Saturday morning
SOURCE: Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909, p. 237
Germantown, Tenn. The train took up the line of march back. Our
Section being in the center started at 9 A. M., passing through town up Main
Street. It was an amusing sight, nearly two-thirds of the soldiers were drunk,
having run Memphis as they pleased almost for the last twenty-four hours. We
followed the Memphis and Charleston R. R. Came into park at Germantown at dark,
having travelled fifteen miles. Partook of a soldier's supper, made our bed
neath the starry canopy of heaven, and laid down, ending the year as we began
it, by sleeping. Thus endeth the year 1862.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd
Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 23-4
At daylight
yesterday we were ordered to be ready to march at 9 o'clock. It had been
rumored for several days the Rebels had possession of Greenville, seventy-five
miles up the valley, and that our forces were falling back toward Morristown.
The Second Brigade was sent that way last week. Monday the First Brigade of the
First Division moved forward to Morristown and was followed on Wednesday by the
Second. Today the Third Brigade follows.
The Second and
Twentieth Michigan Infantry and the One Hundredth Pennsylvania have gone, and
we are momentarily expecting the train which is to take us. General Wilcox has
arrived with five thousand new troops, and is at Morristown. We have, also, a
heavy force of mounted infantry and cavalry at Greenville. The Rebels are
reported eight thousand strong. The intention is to lure them on to near Bulls
Gap, and, while the mounted men work around the mountains to their rear, we
close in on them in front and grind them between us.
Burnside went to the
front today, from which I infer there is work to be done. This line of railroad
is of the utmost importance to Virginia Rebels. They cannot safely winter there
without it, and they will make a desperate effort to regain control of it.
SOURCE: David
Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer,
1862-1865, p. 103
Morning with major
Boydston to Ft Morgan to go to Ft Gaines No boat. All through fort. Near the
pier & within 400 yds. of Ft. a pole which is fixed to the turret of the
Gunboat Tecumseh sunk by the explosion of a torpedo, shows the watery grave of
100 brave boys, who are yet in the great iron coffin 30 ft below the surface, 1
mile out a smokestack sticks out of the water. a little this side the pier is
the wreck of the Reb Gunboat Gaines, crippled & beached during the action
P. M. in camp. Service at 3. P. M. News—35 men of our Regt lately exchanged are
at New Orleans—Col Benton of 29th Iowa, & Col Glasgow of 23d Iowa appointed
Brevet Brig. Genl's by the President, Detailed tonight to take charge of
fatigue party tomorrow.
All experienced Rail
Road, men called for, to report to Capt Jackson. It is the purpose to make a
permanent Rail Road from Ft Morgan to Navy Com & extend around the Bay to
Mobile as the Army advances.
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. 576
Start with fatigue
party at 7.30 work until 5 P. M. grading Rail Road tracks. 700 men at work
grade about 2 miles. At 12. M. great smoke in the direction of Mobile, at 3 P.
M. it is reported that Mobile is burning (?) in camp all evening.
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. 576
Cumberland Gap. We
are now in East Tennessee, one mile south of the famous Gap in the Cumberland
Mountains.
When we left Crab
Orchard we expected a fight here, as it was then in possession of the Rebels. I cannot
say I am sorry they gave us possession without a struggle, for it is an ugly
looking place, and "hard to take" without opposition. Our route, for
the last sixty miles, has been over, around and among mountains, but this is
the "back bone," or main ridge, which rises in a direct line high
above the isolated peaks on either side. The Gap is a slow, gradual ascent that
rises to about half the altitude of the mountain on each side; is very crooked,
and, at places, barely wide enough for a wagon to pass. At the summit it widens
out into a small plain, or basin, containing about five acres, and shut in by a
solid wall of rock two or three hundred feet in height. Near the center of the
basin is a large spring of crystal water. Here are the fortifications, and a
stronger position can hardly be imagined. One thousand men can hold it against
any force that can be sent against it, so long as provisions and ammunition
holds out. On the summit is a marble shaft that marks the
corners of Virginia and Kentucky and the north line of Tennessee. By taking two
steps I was in three different States. We are awaiting orders, and may remain
over tomorrow. It is yet undecided whether we go to Knoxville or to Morristown,
thirty miles above the former place, on the Richmond & New Orleans
Railroad.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of
a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 93-4
7 Oc Amandus Mullen
& I took the cars for St. Louis arived 8 we then went to the arsenal &
to[ok] a view of all the preparations there for war then took the cars &
went to Corondelet took a view of the gun Boats building & the big guns.
took dinner with Anthony Lobsinger then took the cars for the citty then took
the Street Cars & came to Benton Barracks I was on Dress perade A Mullen
staid with us the night
SOURCE: Edgar R.
Harlan, Currator, Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 15, No. 2,
October 1925, p. 97
Between daylight and
sunup about twelve hundred Federal cavalry surrounded Booneville, a. small
village station on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. There was one train of cars
there and about five or six hundred Confederates, including the sick and their
nurses, but there was no armed force there to defend the place. So the Federals
had quietly taken possession of the place, set fire to the depot and train of
cars, and had collected all the Confederates that were able to travel, and perhaps
a number that were not really able, and formed them in line ready to march off,
when about eighty of our battalion came upon the scene. Small as our squad was,
we made a daring charge and released the prisoners. How they (the prisoners)
did come yelling towards us! We then dropped back into the woods near by, and
after a little skirmishing, the Federals withdrew in time for us to save two
boxes of cars and also the engine. The train was loaded with arms and
ammunition. Our loss was one killed (Culwell), three wounded, and it was said
that the Federals carried off two prisoners, though the prisoners were not from
our battalion. The Federal loss was two killed, several wounded, and nine
prisoners. How those prisoners whom we released did appreciate being set at
liberty! And they did not forget it, but continued to express their gratitude
to our battalion when they happened to meet with any of us along through the
war. The release of five or six hundred prisoners, in the hands of twelve
hundred Federals, by not exceeding eighty Confederates, was no small feat.
The Confederate Army
was moving south along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, in the direction of
Booneville. So there was no little excitement in Confederate ranks on account
of the explosion of the bombshells in the burning cars, being taken for heavy
cannonading. However, they soon learned better, for it was not long before the
head of the column passed Booneville. Our sick had to get out, or be taken out,
of the depot to avoid being burned alive, so they were lying about on the
ground, some dead and others in a dying condition; so the scene was anything
but a pleasant one to look upon. Our battalion moved back to the same place we
camped the night before.
SOURCE: Richard R.
Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate
Cavalry, p. 172-3
Very little mail Belle Ve Dere starts A. М. at 2 P. M. our Regt on board the Izetta to cross to depot. drop 4 miles below, & return to depot. unload at 4 P. M. raining hard. move up to depot. an Irish girl brings out hot coffee for some of the boys. at 7. load on the cars & have a 20 minutes run to Lake city, on Lake Pontchastran where at 8. P. M. cos B. G. & K embark on board steam ship Alabama. find it full of mules & about 300 men of some 7 regts. 35 Wis, 7th Vermont, 27 & 28th Wis 1st La. &c. at 10 weigh anchor and are off.
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. 575
Left Raleigh about 9
o'clock yesterday morning. The road from Raleigh to Weldon is the most crooked
and through the most broken country I ever saw. Every foot of it is over an
embankment or through a deep cut. The land along the route is all poor and
barren and yet there are some beautiful residences and the people seem to be
doing well. How they live I cannot tell. There were occasionally fine apple
orchards and clover fields. I had the good fortune to meet up with Mr.
Carpenter, a member of the North Carolina legislature. He was a pleasant
companion and had some genuine whiskey, having married the heiress of a
distiller. I made also the acquaintance of an old gentleman named Miller, who
was on his way to Richmond to see two wounded nephews, one of whom had lost an
arm; he also had some whiskey, which he said came from the drug store and must
be good. He had also some cakes, good ham and fresh butter, which I enjoyed
very much. He is a Baptist and is acquainted with Mr. Lemmond, of Waco, Texas.
We reached Weldon about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and as the cars were not to
start until 9 o'clock, I concluded to take a stroll. I obtained a drink of the coldest water
I ever drank and observed the address of Captain H. A. Troutman on a box, which
put me on the lookout for him. I soon met him and we had a long talk on old
college times. He had married a Miss Napier. John Neely is dead; Miss Lou is
married to Ed. McClure. Billy Clifton has become a devout Baptist. Charley
Boyd, John McLemore and Lucius Gaston are all killed; murdered by fanatical
vandals; ten thousand mercenaries cannot pay for such men as these. They helped
to make and adorn the character of a noble people. They were all my college
friends. We loved each other and cherished common hopes of a happy future.
I went to supper
with Troutman. He boards with the post commissary, who, of course, gets a
little of everything. We had light rolls, scrambled eggs, genuine coffee,
salmon, etc., for supper. The commissary is run by Mr. Peterson, brother of
Judge Peterson, of San Antonio, Texas. We left Weldon at 9 o'clock and jogged
along slowly until about 3 o'clock a. m., when we reached Petersburg. I
shouldered my carpet-bag, overcoat and blanket and walked a mile to the depot.
Cars left Petersburg about 5 o'clock a. m., and ran so slowly that I had ample
time to inspect the country. When we came within eight miles of Richmond I
observed a large amount of timber felled on either side of the road and
fortifications thrown up to prevent the advance of the Yanks. When we came
within three miles of Richmond one of the bars which connects the cars broke,
and we were detained for half an hour or more, but another engine very
opportunely came up behind us and pushed us on to Richmond. I found it a much
more beautiful place than I had anticipated. The scenery in crossing James
River is especially attractive. I put up at the American Hotel and spent the
day in wandering "up and down" and "going to and fro" in
it. I called on Miss Wigfall, Mrs. Chestnut, Miss Nannie Norton (who was absent),
Miss Mary Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Barnwell and met there Mrs. Carter. Called at
the Cabinet Quarters and delivered to C. S. Senator Hon. James Chestnut, a
letter (from Hon. Guy M. Bryan, of Texas) to the president. I went to the
Ballard House to see Hon. H. P. Brewster, of Texas; was unable to find him.
Delivered Mr. Carter's letter to Mr. Winston, who was too busy to notice me, so
I retired. I gave him also the letter to Mrs. Benton. Dined with Colonel and
Mrs. Chestnut, in company with Billy Preston, who is now major of artillery.
Had fish and corn bread, rice and lettuce for dinner, with iced whiskey to wash
it down. After dinner went to the Spotswood Hotel, met Captain Rice and Jimmy
Winn, also Minnie Moses, whom I have not seen for eight years. He is a clerk in
some of the departments. I returned to Miss Mary Fisher's in the afternoon and
left my overcoat in her charge. I am too tired to make comments, though I have
seen a great deal to write about. I am writing this in the public room of
the American Hotel about 11 o'clock at night. They have charged me $7.50 for
supper, night's lodging and breakfast.
SOURCE: John Camden
West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a
Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, pp. 49-52
Left Richmond
yesterday about 6:30 o'clock a. m. Found a number of the Texas Brigade and a
few of my regiment on the cars and soon became acquainted with them. The trip
was monotonous, as usual, until we reached Gordonsville, where the crowd was so
great that twenty of us had to stand on the platform. General J. E. B. Stuart
was aboard and appeared to be very fond of ladies and flowers. He is of medium
size, well formed, fair complexion, blue eyes, whiskers and mustache of
sun-burnt reddish color, usually accompanying fair skin. I had quite a pleasant
time on the platform watching the attempts of the proscribed to get a seat in
the cars and their repulse by the provost guard. The cars were for the
accommodation of ladies and commissioned officers. I never knew soldiers of any
grade to be put in the same category with women before. I happened, however, to
meet Tom Lipscomb, my old college classmate, who is now a major, who managed to
get me in under his wing. We had a long talk about Columbia and old college
days. He informed me that Lamar Stark, my wife's brother, was a prisoner
confined in the old capitol in Washington city. We reached Mitchell's Station
at 4 o'clock p. m.; walked five miles, a hot walk, to camp on the Rapidan,
near Raccoon Ford. My regiment, the Fourth Texas, has a delightful camping
place in a grove of large chestnut trees, on a hillside. We have no tents and
the ground is hard and rocky, but we are all satisfied, and one day's
observation has led me to believe that no army on earth can whip these men.
They may be cut to pieces and killed, but routed and whipped, never! I called
on Colonel B. F. Carter this morning and had quite a pleasant interview. He is
a calm, determined man, and one of the finest officers in the division. To-day
was the regular time for inspection and review. One barefooted and ragged hero
came to Colonel Carter's Tent with the inquiry, "Colonel, do you want the
barefooted men to turn out today?" to which the Colonel replied
negatively, with a smile. I went out to the review which took place in an open
field about 600 yards from camp. There were some ladies on horseback on the
field. Their presence was cheering and grateful. They were all dressed in
black, as were more than two-thirds
of the women in the Confederacy. On returning to camp I called on Major Bass,
of the First Texas, and gave him $25.00, which I had received for him from
Lieutenant Ochiltree, at Shreveport, Louisiana, to be handed to Bass if I did
not need it.
I received two
haversacks to-day, miserably weak and slazy, made of thin cotton cloth. I have
only taken a change of underwear, towel, soap and Bible and Milton's Paradise
Lost. I have sent all the rest to Richmond with my carpet sack, to be left
at Mrs. Mary E. Fisher's, on Franklin street, half way between Sixth and
Seventh.
I wrote a letter to
mother and one to wife to-day and read the 104th Psalm. I opened to it by chance,
and it contained just what I felt.
SOURCE: John Camden
West, A Texan in Search of a Fight: Being the Diary and Letters of a
Private Soldier in Hood’s Texas Brigade, pp. 52-4
Corinth. Learning that the Battery had gone to camp at Grand Junction, Tenn., Sergeant Hamilton was sent back to bring forward the baggage, etc., etc. and was to start by train in the morning. E. W. Evans, David Evans and myself procured a dismissal from the hospital and bade good-bye to our comrades (who were all doing well except E. R. Hungerford, who was very low) at 6:30 A. M. and reported at the depot. We found the boys and baggage on the platform, but owing to the rush of troops we could not get off today. We laid around all day, exchanged our tents, drew some quartermaster stores.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 11
Corinth. We were again disappointed, the train leaving us behind and nothing to do but wait another twenty-four hours. In the afternoon E. W. Evans and I went to the hospital where we learned that our comrade E. R. Hungerford had died at about 2 P. M. Sunday, and was to be buried in the evening.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 12
