The caissons went
back into the woods; the left section of the battery went back to position on
the other side of the ford. In afternoon we had a heavy thunder-shower.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 275
Received two months'
pay. Left camp at seven o'clock at night, in an awful rain-storm; marched
through the mud, and arrived at Hartwood Church at eleven o'clock. Went into
camp for the night. Marched six miles.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 275
Reveille sounded at
half-past two A.M. Started from Hartwood Church at nine o'clock, and marched to
Weaverville. Went into camp at seven P.M., after a march of twenty-three miles.
The day was very pleasant, and the roads good.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 275
In camp at Gum
Springs all day. It began to rain in the morning, and rained all night. Left
Gum Springs at four o'clock the next afternoon, and marched to a place called
Aldie, and went into camp at half-past seven.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 276
To-day begins the
Pennsylvania campaign. Reveille sounded at four A.M. Left camp at six o'clock.
Marched through Leesburg, and crossed the Potomac on a pontoon-bridge at
Edwards's Ferry. Went into camp on the Maryland side at eight P.M. There was a
fine rain almost all day, and the roads were very bad; but marched twenty-two
miles.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 276
Left camp at eleven
A.M.; marched till nine P.M. The day was pleasant, but it rained during the
night. Marched fifteen miles.
SOURCE: John Lord
Parker, Henry Wilson's Regiment: History of the Twenty-second
Massachusetts Infantry, the Second Company Sharpshooters and the Third Light
Battery, in the War of the Rebellion, p. 276
This is the gala
week of spring. None of the early flowers have quite faded, and the apple trees
are in full bloom, while elms and maples are just wearing their lightest
drapery of green, so tardily put on. Soft breezes, sweet melody from many
birds, clear sunshine, not yet too warm, all things are just in that state,
when, if we could wish for a standstill in nature, we should.
And Esther has been
one week in heaven! It seems to me, sometimes, as if some new charm was added
to cloud and sunshine, and spring blossoms, since she went away; as if it were
given me to see all things clearer for her clearer vision; she would speak to
me, if she could.
Lectures these few
days on historical women. Paula, Queen Elizabeth, and Madame de Maintenon, thus
far. Paula, the friend of St. Jerome, and the woman whom the speaker made to
illustrate friendship, pleased me most, as presenting a higher ideal than
either of the others. Christianity gave woman the privilege of a pure
friendship with man; before unknown, we are told. It is one of the noblest
gifts of religion, and I wish people believed in it more thoroughly. But only a
truly elevated and chastened nature can understand real friendship, not a
Platonic ideal only, though that is elevated, let who will sneer at it: but a
drawing of the noblest souls together, and to the Soul of souls, for the
highest ends. This is Christian friendship; union in Christ for all beauty, all
purity, all true and noble life, which He illustrated in His own glorious
life and death, and of which He is now the inspiring power. "We are
complete in Him."
Yes, I am sure that
it is in drawing near to Him that I feel the loveliness of such beauty as that
into which the world now blossoms; for is not He the Lord of nature, and also
my Lord and Friend? And through His great love for us, I see the ideal of all
true human love. "As I have loved you," He said, "so must we
love each other, with tenderness, forbearance, generosity, and self-sacrifice."
Such friendship is
possible, is eternal; and it is almost the most precious thing in the soul's
inheritance.
SOURCE: Daniel
Dulany Addison, “Lucy Larcom: Life, Letters, and Diary,” pp. 93-4
This morning about
daylight we received orders to be ready to march at 8:30. All is bustle now
getting ready. I have been to the spring for water and have just returned; have
read the 52nd chapter of Isaiah, and 35th Psalm; am now about to pack up.
Sunday evening at
sunset.—We have marched about fourteen miles to-day—a hot dusty march. Nothing
of interest occurred. We are now bivouacked in a pine grove twenty miles from
Fredericksburg, with our arms stacked with orders to be ready to leave at a
moment's notice. The march has not fatigued me anything like as much as many
hunts I have taken at home. Some friend of the soldiers has been kind enough to
send us a number of religious papers, and I am now enjoying the "Christian
Observer," published at Richmond.
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. 56-7
Bright and clear,
warm and pleasant. How well do I remember two short years ago today when we
took a sleigh ride and made a regular family visit at Uncle Tim's. Since then I
have traveled over four thousand miles, five hundred and eighty of which I
marched with gun on my shoulder; have seen more vice and drunkenness than I
ever supposed existed, yet I hope I am morally no worse than when surrounded by
kind relatives and friends. An orderly call beat immediately after reveille
this morning at which time we received orders to cook our rations and be ready
by half past seven. We cooked our fresh pork and by the appointed time had it
in our haversacks, and our knapsacks strapped on our backs, ready for the
march. We went eight miles and camped close to a small town called Lafayette,
situated on the Memphis and Charleston R. R. As soon as we had pitched our
tents, Chas. Berry and myself went out one mile from camp and killed a hog. We
are now the first regiment of the first brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General
McArthur, of Gen. Hamilton's corps, of the left wing of Gen. Grant's army. We
were put in the rear of the brigade today as a special guard to keep up the stragglers.
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, pp. 24-5
Struck out tents
early this morning and marched to Colliersville, a distance of seven miles from
Lafayette and twenty-four from Memphis. As soon as we had stacked our arms and
broken ranks, John Cumbersworth and I went out a mile and a half from camp
and got a fine hog. While we were skinning it our orderly-sergeant, Sullivan,
Jesse Walker and Mike Walsh were captured not more than a quarter of a mile
distant, by a band of rebel cavalry. Sullivan turned and ran and several shots
were fired after him, which we heard plainly but we thought it was the boys
shooting hogs. When we got into camp Bob Dew and Charlie Berry came in with
their paroles, they having been caught by the same company. Five paroled from
Co. K in one day. Five such days' work will muster Co. K out of service. The
17th Ill. at present musters about three hundred and fifty men. On guard
tonight; storming fearfully.
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
Quite pleasant
during the day, but it rained heavily all night.
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
I came off guard
this morning. It rained very hard all the latter part of the night. Another
boat load of troops came down last night, making five or six in all. They are
from the Kansas Valley Division of Fremont's old forces.
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. 27
About six inches of
snow fell last night and it has snowed all day. The citizens say it is the
heaviest storm they have seen in a number of years. By night it was about ten
inches deep. The paymaster paid off all but our company today.
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. 27
Grand Junction, Tenn. It having rained during the night, the dust was converted to mud. Ate a breakfast of cold beef and bread, filled our canteens with water, when we scrambled on top the freight cars in order to procure transportation. It was raining, and when the train was in motion the smoke and cinders were torturing. Arrived at Jackson at 1 P. M. Waited an hour for dinner, then took Mississippi Central R. R. for Grand Junction. Remained at Medon Station till 6 P. M. when G. M. Spencer and I spread our blankets and laid down; awoke at Grand Junction at 3 Α. Μ.
SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 12
It is blustering
weather, and my cat is beside me, lying on her head, by the fire in
my little tent. Everybody says that is "a sign" of cold weather. Let
it come, if it will only drive us forward.
The Surgeon General
and the Brigade Surgeon have both been urging me, to-day, to accept a Brigade
Surgeonship. I decline, for two reasons: 1st. It would retain me as a Surgeon,
whilst it would exclude me from the immediate care of the sick. 'Twould be to
me like Hamlet, with Hamlet left out; and, 2d. It would greatly add to my
responsibilities, without advance in rank or increase in pay. I shall remain
where I am.
Glorious news just
received; the morning paper is just here. Mason and Slidell—both prisoners.
They should be hung.
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. 55
Louisville, Ky.
Again in Louisville—eleven hundred miles nearer home than one week ago and yet
how far. Still, it is joy to feel I am comparatively near. We reached Cairo on
the evening of the seventh, took on fresh supplies, and left next day at noon
for Cincinnati, which place we expect to reach some time tomorrow. We are now—3
p. m. taking on coal, and will start in a few minutes.
The Ohio is very
low-in places not more than three feet deep. We have brought up against sand
bars and been forced to back off perhaps fifty times since leaving Cairo. From
this place to Cincinnati, I am told, there are no obstructions. The most
difficult part of our way was from New Albany to Louisville. We were six hours
in making three miles last night. It was nothing but "Back 'er and try
again" for about a mile, and then we had a canal with three locks to pass
through.
We have had no
deaths since the seventh, and our sick and wounded boys are doing nicely. These
fresh northern breezes are more exhilerating than wine, and the hope that they
may be sent to their homes to recruit their health is more healing than
medicine.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 75-6
Cincinnati, Ohio. We
arrived here at 9:30 this morning. My day's work is, at last, completed, at 9
p. m. This has been a busy day. In fact, I have not been idle or had much rest,
by day or night, since July fourth, and yet I am fresh and vigorous as in days
of old. The sick and wounded all removed the worst cases to the General
Hospital in this city, the convalescents to Camp Denison, eighteen miles out,
while a few return to their regiments.
The Seventeenth
passed through here today, and is now in camp near Covington, on the opposite
bank of the river.
I expect to join
them in the morning, and look for a handful of letters.
People call the
weather here very hot, but it is not Mississippi heat, and I enjoy it. The
mornings and evenings are delightfully cool, while there it is constant,
relentless heat both day and night. Here a coat is comfortable in the morning—there
one needs no cover day or night.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 76-7
We are still in
camp, where each day is like the preceding one. The same routine of
"duty" is gone through with, which, to me, is exceedingly tiresome.
Give me the variations; something new and startling every day. For this reason
I prefer active service. Those who love fun, and have a natural penchant for
mischief, have abundant opportunity to indulge. I have never heard Billy Dunham
complain of ennui. So long as guards are to be "run," melons to be
"cooned," peach orchards to be "raided" or a peddler to be
harried, tormented and robbed, Billy is in his native element. Peddling to
soldiers is not the most agreeable business in the world, especially if said
soldiers happen to be, as is often the case, on mischief bent. I have seen a
crowd of soldiers gather around an unsuspecting victim, a few shrewd, witty
fellows attract his attention, while others pass out to their accomplices
melons, peaches, tomatoes and vegetables, and when the poor fellow discovers
the "game" and gathers up his "ropes" to drive away, the
harness fall to the ground in a dozen pieces, the unguided mule walks off
amazed, the cart performs a somersault and the poor peddler picks himself up
and gazes on the wreck in silent grief. At sight of his helpless misery the
wretches seemingly relent; with indignant tones they swear vengeance on the
"man who did it;" help him to gather up his "wares" while
he secures his mule. This is soon done, for his "stock" has grown
small and "beautifully less." He smothers his rage from prudential
motives, throws the "toggle" on his mule and prepares to depart.
Alas, the millennium has not yet come. His cart wheels, refusing to perform
their accustomed revolutions, start off in opposite directions, while the air
is rent by the screams and derisive yells of his tormenters. When once begun,
the amusement continues until the stock is exhausted. Speaking of Billy, he has
become reconciled to his fate, and takes to soldiering like a duck to water.
Lieutenant Chris.
Rath has received a Captain's commission, and has been assigned to Company I.
He has well earned his commission by his bravery and efficiency.
There was a sudden
change of weather last night. The day had been hot and sultry. Toward night we
had a light shower, preceded by a hurricane which cleared the atmosphere of
heat most effectually. It is now uncomfortable sitting in my tent with my coat
on. Uncle Sam seems inclined to make up to us, in some measure, for past
neglect. We have soft bread and other rations more than we can use. Today we
were surprised by an issue of tea and sugar, more than we can use. We sell our
surplus at twenty-five cents a pound. The Brigade Surgeon has put a stop to
drilling except as punishment. No signs of a move are in sight. My health is
good. It is years since I was in possession of such buoyant, vigorous health.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 83-4
We cannot as yet
procure the full particulars regarding the battle of "Seven Pines"
fought yesterday and to-day. As well as I can learn the plan was this: the
Yankees had crossed a large force on the south-side of the Chickahominy, and on
the night of the 30th of May, we had a most terrific storm. Our Commander,
General Jos. E. Johnston, concluding that the bridges were all washed away, and
the river past fording, concluded to attack the Yankees on the south-side and
crush them out before they could be reinforced. On account of the tardiness of
General Huger the plan was not fully successful, though we surprised the enemy,
capturing a large number of prisoners with several pieces of artillery. Our
camp was on the main road leading to Seven Pines, but 'twas difficult to handle
artillery and we received no orders to move. What a heart-rending scene it is
to witness the wounded brought in from a terrible battle field. The people of
Richmond turned out en masse to render aid to our wounded
soldiers. Many a wounded soldier-boy from the sunny South will never cease to
remember the fair form of the "city belle" as she soothed his aching
brow or bound up his wounded limb. Too often do we hear our Southern allies
cursing the people of Richmond as a set of speculators thriving on our misfortunes,
but now many of them have been convinced that "in the hour of pain and
anguish," Richmond can and will do all within her power
to aid those who are seeking to uphold our cause.
'Tis undoubtedly
true that Richmond has changed greatly since the war began, for it has, I am sorry
to say, become the headquarters of all of the "fancy men" of the
South—gentlemen of the Hebrew persuasion have made it their rendezvous to sell
blockade goods, and countless numbers of Yankee spies, though outwardly
swearing allegiance to our government, hold strong foothold in our city.
Gambling hells, furnished with tinseled splendor are at every corner, to catch
the unwary, and relieve them of their superabundant "Confederates."
Still there is
enough of the old metal left, purified and refined, to make Richmond to me the
sweetest, dearest spot on earth. General Johnston being wounded, General Robert
E. Lee now commands our army.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, pp. 116-7
Passed Roanoke on our right, about eight o'clock this morning; sea smooth and weather pleasant. Had a good breakfast of dried beef and water. We entered Roanoke river for the second trip on it about noon, and after about four hours' pleasant sail we were alongside the wharf at Plymouth. Since we were here in November the town has become sadly demoralized. The rebels entered it one fine day and drove what troops were there into the Custom House, and then set fire to the place, destroying the larger part. It is decided not to disembark the regiment till to-morrow. The cooks are ashore somewhere, and are making our coffee, while we are lounging round on deck and through the vessel, having a free and easy time, or located in some cosey nook writing up.
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. 36
