Place Written: [various places in Virginia]
Type: Diary
Date: 1863
Pagination: 132 p. ; 14 x 9 cm.
Summary of Content: Gettysburg, service in Virginia. Mentions coming late to Gettysburg, hard fighting there in Hancock’s brigade and rumored loss of Confederate General Longstreet.
Full Transcript: [partial] [draft] , , July, WEDNESDAY 1., We were mustered for Pay by our Col. we remained an picket all day, obtained plenty of bread and milk from the inhabitants near the town march at 8 o’clk P.M., , THURSDAY 2, We marched nearly all night last night and all day, we arrived near the battle ground near Gettysburg Penna lat night and took up position on our left flank at dark Hard fighting towards night [2], , July, FRIDAY 3, 1863, We took up a new position in A.M. and laid in a roads on the left all day. Exceeding hard fighting on the right in P.M. Genl. Hancock took 6000 prisoners Genl. Longstreet reported killed, , SATURDAY 4., We held the same position to day as yesterday, no fighting of any consequence. Our cavalry want around on the extreme left and in rear of the enemy, , SUNDAY 5., Enemy left us last night and we started in pursuit and came up with the enemy near Fairfield a little skirmish and some shelling no fighting of consequence, camped for night [3], , July, MONDAY 6, 1863, We marched from Fairfield to Emmitsburg after dark to night in a terrible muddy road men suffer im[struck: m]ensely camped about midnight, , , TUESDAY 7., We marched from Emmitsburg M.D. to the top of South mountain terrible rainy and dark in evening, awful suffering, mud terrible rain all night, , WEDNESDAY 8., Marched from the mountain down through Mid[struck: d]letown and camped near the town during afternoon and night met some of the 2nd Vt. brigade [4], , July, THURSDAY 9, 1863, Marched from the town on the Hagerstown pike over South mountain and camped near Boonsboro, cavalry fight beyond the town just but might drive the enemy Received a mail, Letter from Hatti, , FRIDAY 10., Marched from Boonsboro and our cavalry drove the enemy 2 ½ miles supported by us then the brigade was deployed on the skirmish line and drove the enemy to near Frenkstown, , SATURDAY 11., We were relieved this morning by the 3rd division and we went back and camped in a field for the remainder of the day and night [5], , July, SUNDAY 12, 1863, The enemys skirmishers fell back of Frenckstown and we advanced about noon about ½ mile west the town saw Genl. W. F. Smith the regiment gave him three cheers, , MONDAY 13., We moved a little way to the left and built a barricade of fence rails and dirt but the enemy did not attack us and we camped for the night. Wrote to Mother, , TUESDAY 14., Enemy guns across the river Potomac and we advance to Williamsport Genl. Kilpatmak captures 1500 prisoners and one Brigader general Saw several of the 2nd lt brigade to night [6], , July, WEDNESDAY 15, 1863, We marched from Williamsport to Boonsboro a distance of 10 miles and camped in an open field near the town nothing of importance occured during the day, , THURSDAY 16., We marched from Boonsboro at 4 o’clock A.M. and camped near Berlin an the Potomac a distance of 21 miles we passed through Middletown and camped in an open field, , FRIDAY 17., We remain in camp all day made out a report this AM. Wrote a letter to Mother drew 3 days rations Inspection of arms and ammunitions to night every man ordered to have 60 cartridges [7], , July, SATURDAY 18, 1863, We remain in camp allday expecting order to march every minute but all is quiet to night Wrote a short letter to Miss. Emma R. Phelps and afterwards received a letter paper from her, , SUNDAY 19., We march at 7 o’clock this A. M. crossed the Potomac at Berlin passed through Lafyettsville and camped in an open field about 5 miles from the town P. Emery detailed to go to Vt. for the drafted men, , MONDAY 20., We march from our camp at 10 o’clock A.M. and we marched very slow and rested often we camped at night in a wheat field, no news of any importance [8], , , , July, TUESDAY 21, 1863, We remain in camp all day Blackberries very plenty boys live high inhabitants mostly secesh. Wrote a letter to Emma all quiet to night no news, , WEDNESDAY 22., March at 2 o’clock P.M. a distance of 5 miles and camp very near the same place we did nearly a year ago when we were through here, secesh property suffers, , THURSDAY 23., WE marched to Rectortown Station and camped nearby until 2 P.M. when we marched in the diriction of Chester Gap 15 miles and camped for the night, firing in the diretion of Manassas Gap [9], , July, FRIDAY 24, 1863, Marched to within 2 miles of Manassas Gap and halted until 2 P.M. then marched back to where we camped last night and went on until after dark and camped for the night, Course South, , SATURDAY 25., We marched at 8 oclock A.M. through Orlean and camped about 4 miles west of Warrenton about 2 o’clock P.M. on a hill over looking the town Headquarters of the army in the town, , SUNDAY 26., We remain in camp divine service in the afternoon in a small church Rev. D.A. Mack preached Prayer meeting in evening No news of importance to day [10], , July, MONDAY 27, 1863, We remain in camp all quiet looking south and west from our camp we have a most splendid view of avery large tract of country and the Blue Ridge Recived a letter from Home and one from Delise, , , TUESDAY 28., We remain in camp until two o’clock P.M. when the right wing of the regiment go on picquet I remain in camp Had my washing done, clothes coiled in good shape, , WEDNESDAY 29., I remained in camp all day no news of importance about camp the company on picquet, weather showery cut some pages to raise my tent on from the ground [11], , July, THURSDAY 30, 1863, I remain in camp drew Whiskey rations this morning Received a letter from Mrs. P. M. Clark. Rebuilt my tent to day, very showery in the afternoon wrote to Mother, no mail tonight, , FRIDAY 31., Pleasant and very hot the right wing of the Regt. relieved by the left and ovr all remain quietly in camp tonight
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