Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Thursday, June 23, 1864

This has been the warmest day yet this summer, and no sign of rain. We remained in line all day without intrenching when the enemy began to make quite a demonstration on our left. We threw up rifle pits but our division was so far in advance of the other two of our Corps, the rebs had a cross fire on us. Our skirmishers have been on the Weldon railroad most of the day until finally the First Division of our Corps began to destroy the track. It had only just begun when the force sent from the Vermont Brigade and the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania of our brigade to protect it, were attacked, surrounded and about five hundred, including four officers and seventy-nine enlisted men from the Eighty-seventh, were either killed or taken prisoners. The Eighty-seventh had twenty-six killed and wounded. After this we all retired to the line occupied by us on the 21st of June.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 87-8

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant John S. Morgan: Sabbath, January 29, 1865

Inft in camp all day. A wounded Reb found in the brush near the bridge, at 12. M, Col Mackey returns, was out and camped 10 miles, heard nothing of Cav. At 1. P. M. go to see the Prisoners 25 in no. 1 spunky sergt. 2 little boys only temporairly detained. Cav return at 4 P. M. with 20 Prisoners & 95 head of cattle had been within 15 miles of Camden 2 last days pleasant.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 572

Diary of 1st Sergeant John S. Morgan: Thursday, January 26, 1865

Night cold. ice 2 inches off. at 7. road bad 4 miles slow, rest of march fast. 1 pris. taken. 25 Rebs seen by scout. Make 12 miles, troops from Pine Bluffs with us 106th & 126th Ill. Inft & 1 sec of Negro battery

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 572

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Lemuel A. Abbott: Sunday, June 12, 1864

Relieved the skirmish line yesterday without great difficulty; all quiet through the night; not a gun fired to-day thus far in front of us; can hear the rebs talk and sing quite plain in our immediate front; was informed this afternoon the army would move tonight at 7 o'clock; dread leaving the skirmish line, but I suppose we can do it; very quiet this evening; bands playing and big guns booming; wonder if it isn't a bluff? The moon is shining brightly.

SOURCE: Lemuel Abijah Abbott, Personal Recollections and Civil War Diary, 1864, p. 80

Diary of 1st Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday, January 20, 1865

Reviewed at 12, M, by Genl Reynolds who compliments our Regt. Lt. Sharman, much worse. Capt L— and Lt Rice go to sit up with him Mill 7 mile from town burned by Rebs

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 8, April 1923, p. 571

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Sabbath, December 13, 1863

Last night hard rain Day cold and misty Official, scouting party drove rebs from Princetown took some prisoners

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 500

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Thursday, December 3, 1863

$150 horses arrive taken by the home-guards in a skirmish near Benton. Large force of rebs reported near.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 500

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Wednesday, June 24, 1863

Lawley being in weak health, we determined to spend another day with our kind friends in Winchester. I took the horses out again for six hours to graze, and made acquaintance with two Irishmen, who gave me some cut grass and salt for the horses. One of these men had served and had been wounded in the Southern army. I remarked to him that he must have killed lots of his own countrymen; to which he replied, “Oh yes, but faix they must all take it as it comes.” I have always observed that Southern Irishmen make excellent “Rebs,” and have no sort of scruple in killing as many of their Northern brethren as they possibly can.

I saw to-day many new Yankee graves, which the deaths among the captives are constantly increasing. Wooden, head-posts are put at each grave, on which is written, “An Unknown Soldier, U.S.A. Died of wounds received upon the field of battle, June 21, 22, or 23, 1863.”

A sentry stopped me to-day as I was going out of town, and when I showed him my pass from General Chilton, he replied with great firmness, but with perfect courtesy, “I'm extremely sorry, sir; but if you were the Secretary of War, or Jeff Davis himself, you couldn't pass without a passport from the Provost-Marshal.”

SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June, 1863, p. 236-7

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: March 13, 1865

A little excitement this morning. Rebel cavalry made a dash for our picket line. Regiment called out, soon in line. We saw the rebs going up the valley, running their horses. More fresh fish received, as we call the recruits. A muddy time in camp, and bad weather.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 143-4

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, September 9, 1863

Much better. Worked for the regt — Ambulance train come in from the head of column for convalescents, report Rebs strong two miles below I.—R—

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 497

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday, September 2, 1863

The 2d Div. gets in at 9. A. M haveing started from the bluffs morning of the 1st were all night without water suffered. Some talk of fight in a day or two. Foragers run afoul of rebs in cornfield. Quite Sick, fever

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 496-7

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Monday June 8, 1863

Gen Herons division on the way down. Gen himself arrived 3. P. M Showery and windy in evening. Detail of reg. taken by rebs today

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 491

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Wednesday June 3, 1863

Rained hard during the night Rebs fired into 40th yesterday Killed 17.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 490

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday June 5, 1863

Hard wind and rain storm in forenoon, afternoon 26 of the sick taken to boat 3d Iowa cav under march, orders 12000 rebs reported in 8 miles of here.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 491

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Monday May 25, 1863

No better. Rebs 2000 strong show themselves close to town. 5 Kan 3 Iowa 1st Ind cav sent out severe fighting. drawn battle, both sides ready to play quits. News Vicksburg is ours

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 490

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Thursday May 7, 1863

Picked up several rebs. among them a quartermaster, took him hid in wheat field, paroled most of the prisoners. Cavalry took one road Inf another with 3d. Iowa cav.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 489

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Friday May 8, 1863

Town of Moro at 8. A. M. report of 3000 rebs near under command of Col. Dobbin, sent out scouts, none found, 4 miles this side Moro false alarm by our cav. comeing up in rear, open prairie. Timber 3 miles prairie 5.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 489

Diary of 4th Sergeant John S. Morgan: Sunday May 10, 1863

15 rebs showed themselves to the pickets this morning. took up our march at 6.30, stopped — hours 4 mile of cotton plant to bridge creek, cav. reported bayou de View, impossible, turned the head of column toward Helena.

SOURCE: “Diary of John S. Morgan, Company G, 33rd Iowa Infantry,” Annals of Iowa, 3rd Series, Vol. 13, No. 7, January 1923, p. 489

Diary of Corporal Charles H. Lynch: August 25, 1864

Last night, under cover of darkness, a detail was made, about twenty men, ordered to advance and intrench, to try and dislodge the enemy's sharpshooters who were up in high trees and making trouble for us, shooting at the boys, by improving every chance they could get. When the opportunity came, our boys were to give them a volley. They did so, but did not harm the rebs. I heard them call out, as soon as our boys fired on them, “How are you Horace Greeley?” showing that no harm came to them. It made quite a laugh at the time. The rebs often called to us “How are you Horace Greeley? Does your mother know you are out?”

Late in the afternoon all firing ceased and everything became quiet. We could hear the enemy's drum corps and they could no doubt hear ours. Our boys and the Johnnies on the skirmish line entered into an agreement not to fire on one another. For proof they fixed bayonets on their guns, sticking them in the ground, butts up. Both sides could see. Agreements made at such times were kept. Both sides kept outside the earthworks. Sometimes the boys would meet between the lines, exchange tobacco for coffee. The rebs were always very anxious to get hold of New York papers. Night coming on, both sides would resume duty. A hard shower came late this afternoon.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 116-7

Colonel Charles Russell Lowell to Josephine Shaw Lowell, September 5, 1864 – 6 a.m.

6 A. M., September 5, 1864.

I stopped here because supper was ready, and then it was dark and the band played. Now I'm going to say Good morning,— it isn't real Good morning nor even a fresh one, it's a limp Good morning — five interruptions last night before one o'clock, and then a line from the General that he anticipated an offensive movement this A. M. from the enemy, and that we must be saddled, &c., at 3 A. M., So I had to order myself to be called at half past two, and after all had to wake the sentry, instead of his waking me. The consciousness that this would be the case cost me several wakes in between, — and that's the reason I'm not fresh, though I have been duly shaving and washing and brushing. Nothing “offensive” yet, — but I expect a fight during the day, as the two armies are face to face in sight of each other. It will be an affair of the infantry, however; the cavalry ended their work yesterday, when they got the Rebs into position and reported them there.

And now good-bye. I'm going to move my camp about half a mile, so as to make closer connection towards the left, — and it's raining, so I shan't be able to write there probably. This, is writ in a barn which is my Headquarters, — Headquarters Third Brigade, First Cavalry Division, — that's the official name of the barn.

SOURCE: Edward Waldo Emerson, Life and Letters of Charles Russell Lowell, p. 334-5