Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, March 30, 1863

SIEGE AT WASHINGTON.

It has rained nearly all this week, and until yesterday we have been loafing, trying to kill time. Last night our company was on picket again up the road towards Tarboro, coming in this morning about six o'clock. They had a most miserable time. Twitchell was sent to the hospital sick. A few of us were on guard here, so escaped picket duty.

Gen. Foster arrived here this morning, and by noon Companies A and G, under command of Capt. J. M. Richardson of "A," with one howitzer, were tramping across the bridge towards New Berne on a scout. Those who could went to the water's edge to watch them. They were soon in action, meeting a force of rebels who handled them severely. Finding quite a strong force protected by breastworks, they were ordered back, to give the "Louisiana" a chance to shell the woods. Capt. Richardson of "A" was wounded twice in the left arm.

They left Sergt. Hobart, Corp. Lawrence, and John Leonard of "G," who were taken prisoners. The rebels closed on them and carried them off. Several others were struck, but none seriously hurt. About every man at the head of the column was hit. Capt. Richardson was heard to say, "It is rough to go through what I have (five or six battles) without a scratch, and get hurt in this affair."

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 44

Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, March 31, 1863

Last night about seven o'clock, as we were standing behind the breastworks looking towards the woods, we were startled by a flash, and heard a heavy report. The fort had opened fire upon the woods, the scene of our picket duty. We were immediately under arms, and after a short march were halted at the edge of the town facing the fort. Here we stacked arms and waited. It rained all the evening, and the gun-boats kept up an incessant fire over our heads. We tried to sleep, but with little success. The house immediately behind us was full, so Robbins and myself crawled underneath for shelter. We awakened to find the regiment had moved. After diligent inquiry, and some walking, we found "E" in the Academy, where we passed the rest of the night. We left our quarters about noon, and moved to the breastworks at the left of the fort, where we heard that Gen. Hill had sent in a flag to the COLONEL IN COMMAND, demanding the surrender of the town. He must have been somewhat surprised to receive a reply from GEN. FOSTER, little thinking that he is here, and has no idea of giving up, at least on the first day.

Our breastwork is about five and one-half feet high inside, one foot thick on top, and from ten to twelve feet thick at the base, with a ditch outside. In front the wood is cut away for the distance of a mile. We pitched our shelter-tents close under the breastworks, leaving room to stand between them and the works, and things began to look home-like again. How long it will last remains for the rebels to say. We have built a house for our officers, by taking a roof from a shed in town, and making it water-proof, or hoping it will be so, and banking it up with dirt. Not a very handsome edifice, but better than none.

SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, pp. 44-5