The Diary Of Bartlett Yancey Malone
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Bartlett Y. Malone was bornd and raised in North Carolina Caswell County in the Year of our Lord 1838.
And was Gradguated in the corn field and tobacco patch: And inlisted in the war June the 18th 1861. And was a member of the Caswell Boys Company which was comanded by Captian Michel (A. A. Mitchell): And was attached to the 6th N. C. Regiment the 9th day of July '61 which was comanded by Colonel Fisher who got kild in the first Manassas Battel which was July 21, 1861. And then was comanded by Colonel W. D. Pender untell the Seven Pines fight which was fought the 30th day of May '61.
And then Colonel W. D. Pender was promoted to Brigadier General. And then Captain I. E. Avry (Avery) of Co. E was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel who was in comand untell about the 10th of October when he was promoted to Colonel and still staid in comand untell the 2th day of July 1863 which was the day the fite was at Gettysburg whar he was kild. And then Lieut: Colonel Webb taken comand.
Introduction to the diary
Day to day life in the Army 1862
Day to day life in the Army 1863
Captured! Imprisonment
at Point Lookout
1864 - life in a prisoner of war
camp
1865 - furlough, parole and release
This is the diary of a North Carolina farmer, Bartlett Yancey Malone, who fought during the American War of Secession from July, 1861, to November, 1863, when he was captured and made prisoner. He entered the Confederate Army at the age of twenty-three as a private and rose to the rank of a sergeant, being a member during his active service of the 6th North Carolina Regiment. As he said, this regiment at the time of his capture in battle on the Rappahannock River belonged to "General Hooks (Hoke) brigard Early Division Ewels Corps Leas Armey." As his story shows, Malone participated in most of the great battles and campaigns in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. After his capture, November 7, 1863, he was imprisoned at Point Lookout, Maryland, where he remained until February 24th, 1865.
His diary is reproduced here as a document of human interest which reveals, with much quaintness of expression, the thoughts of a simple soldier of the ranks - the thoughts, it is to be presumed, of a mass of men, which have oftentimes been inarticulate.
There is a frankness about this diary that conveys inevitably, I believe, the conviction of sincerity. And there is a lack of emotion - as when in remarking on an event which, we are told, caused the soldiers great grief, the death of Stonewall Jackson, he merely said, "And General Jackson died to-day, which is the 10th day of May" - an absence of bitterness and of complaints which, considering the provocation of circumstances, make the diary of almost as much interest because of these omissions as because of what is included.
Perhaps the most conspicuously absent feature is that of any statement of the Southern cause for which he was fighting. Not only does the writer refrain from criticism of the North, but he omits to tell why he is fighting for the South. He assumes the Southern cause tacitly and of course.
Mr. Malone was chiefly concerned with his job of being a soldier and, as there was no passion nor rancor in his story, there was likewise no exaltation nor fervid declamation. He asserted no particular knowledge of military events nor predicted the result of any engagement. "What the result is to be is more than I no." He did not seem to have been especially elated by victory, and he was certainly not demoralized by defeat - not even that of Gettysburg.
He committed himself on rare occasions to expressions which manifested a confidence in the ultimate outcome, as after a successful battle he said: "We whipt them like we aulways do." He was unconsciously a brave man who took a sober sort of joy in fighting. On one occasion, when alluding to a battle of more than four hours in length, which began about three o'clock in the afternoon, he remarked: "we had a wright nice time of it from then on tell dark."
There is no notice taken of the horrors of war, of bloody scenes which he must have witnessed on the battlefield; nor were there any complaints made of the pains of the wounds he received. His attitude toward the enemy was unemotional, almost indifferent. He sometimes referred to the federal soldiers as "the Scamps," which, in view of the heated controversies of the time, must certainly be regarded as a mild term of reproach. It is true that he designated General Benjamin F. Butler as the "Yankee beast," but that was an expression then so current in the South as to be conventional so far as Butler was concerned. Having done with these negative, though very significant, aspects, it might be said that, judging from the diary, Malone was chiefly thinking - possibly from a farmer's habit - of the weather with its attendant pleasures and discomforts and about food.
One persistent habit of Malone was to record the texts of sermons which he heard, together with references to their biblical sources. This practice, in addition to revealing some interesting evidence as to the nature of Civil War sermons, will remind some readers of the time when it was considered a cardinal sin to be unable to quote and cite the preacher's text. Religion affected him in this way not only, but it influenced his poetry.
That part of the diary which describes Malone's experience as a prisoner at Point Lookout is, I think, an important and valuable addition to the limited, first-hand material dealing with Southerners in Northern prisons. It was when writing his reflections on prison life that the first note of despair comes into his journals.
His criticism of the treatment of prisoners there may be summarized under four heads:
First, there was not food enough. "Our rations at Point Lookout was 5 crackers and a cup of coffee for Breakfast. And for dinner a small ration of meat 2 crackers three potatoes and a cup of soup. Sugar we have non." Later he described the food supplied by saying, "Our Rations gets no better we get half a loaf of bread a day a smal slice of Pork or Beef or Sault Beef for Breakfast for dinner a cup of Been Soup and Supper we get non." Coffee and sugar, which last commodity had for a time been supplied, had been taken away. At one time his friends caught, cooked and ate a rat.
Second, he wrote of the poor protection against the cold afforded the prisoners. Many had to sleep on the ground with only one blanket. "All the wood we get at Point Lookout is one sholder tirn of pine brush every other day for a tent. 16 men to every tent." He recorded that five men froze to death on one night.
Third, he mentioned the frequent shooting of prisoners by the guards for trivial reasons. At one time he states that a prisoner was shot and killed by the guard "for no reason attall."
Fourth, he rather bitterly resented the placing of negroes as guards over him.
It will seem strange to some that the writer of this diary should have spelled General Lee's name, which undoubtedly was very familiar to him, as "Lea." This spelling of the famous name may be explained by the fact, of which I have been informed, that in Caswell County there were a number of people who spelled their name "Lea," as, indeed, did an officer of Malone's regiment. This and other orthographic curiosities must be considered in the light of the fact that he was a graduate of the "corn field and tobacco patch" university.
No serious editing has been undertaken. Outside of an occasional attempt to indicate in some cases the accurate form of certain proper names and places, the diary has been allowed to stand without comment as written.
WILLIAM WHATLEY PIERSON, Jr. - Chapel Hill, N. C., March 25, 1919
The
first day of January was a beautyfull day
And William Hester died the last
day of Dec. 1861
The 2 day was a beautyfull one and
nothing happend of eney interest that day.
The 3 day was also a pritty day.
The 4 day we had a right smart snow
and Mr. Compton is at our camp to day on a visit.
The 5th which is the Sabath and
ther is a right smart ice on the ground to day And Bethel is a cooking I. H. Jonstons big
turkey for dinner.
The 6th day was a very coal one
indeed and the snow is about a half of a inch deep on the ground to day and Mr. I. T.
Compton left our camp to day for home.
The 7th day I was on gard and it
was a very coal day.
The 8th day was also coal and me
and Bethel washed our close to day.
The 9th day was a beautyfull And
Mr. Thomas Martin arived at our camp today on a visit.
The 10 day was cloudy but not much
rain And I wrote a letter to S. F. Compton today.
The 11 day was a very pritty day
over head but powerfull muddy under foot. And nothing happend to day worth a naming.
The 12 day which is the Sabath and
it is a beautifull sunshiney day And me and Young eat our big oposam today for dinner and
indeed it was sum good.
The 13 was a very nice day indeed.
The 14 day the snow was about shoe
mouth deep And Mr. Clover and Young and Joshua and my self went a rabbit hunting and
caught one squirl And indeed we saw a heep of fun that day.
The 15 day was a very bad day it
raind all day and freezed as it fell and at night there was about as much ice on the
treese as I ever saw in my life.
The 16 day was a wright warm day
and the snow nearley all melted off of the ground by night
The 17 day was very cool and cloudy
The 18 day was sloppy day And I
hird today that peas was made between the North and South and I hird that our men sunk a
vessel down on the Potomac last night But indeed I dont beleave a word of it.
The 19 day was a raney one and our
Company was on picket gard at Greenwood Church which is in about 9 miles from Pocoquan And
Mr. I. F. Richmond arived at our camp to day on a visit.
The 20 day and it is still araning
and nothing happend today of any interest
The 21 is cloudy and a raning And I
am on gard today at the camp
The 22 was cloudy but no rain
The 23 was cloudy and cool but no
rain And thir was hevy canonading down on the Potomac to day
The 24 was cool and cloudy in the
morning and in the eavning it was a snowing And Mr. Oliver and Young
went to Dumpfreese to day for witnesses for Mr. B. Murphey.
The 25 was a very cool day and
Young went back to Dumfrieze to day again for witnes for B. Murphey.
The 26 which was the Sabath was a
beautyfull day indeed
The 27 was a warm sunshiney day and
we all went out on drill to day for the first time in too months And the Colonel praysed
ous all and said that he was glad that we had not forgoten how to drill
The 28th day was cloudy in the
morning and clear in the eavning And I hope the Lieutenants get sum logs today to put a
flower (floor) in his hous
The 29 was a very pritty warm day,
but after night it comenced raning And I was on gard to day And my post was right befour
the Colonels house door.
The 30 day was a raney day and
nothing happend to day onley me and Marshal Walker was a playing and I hurt my face with a
fence rail
The 31 day was cloudy but not much
rain And nothing happend today worth a menshionen.
The
first day of February was a raney day indeed And nothing happened to day of eney interest
The 2 day which was the Sabath was
a very warm day
The 3 day was a very bad day it
snowed all day long and at night the snow was about six inches deep
The 4 day was a very nice day over
head and the snow melted very fast all day, and we boys saw a heep of fun that day a snow
bawling
The 5 day was a very warm sunshiney
day and the snow was nearly all melted off of the ground by night And nothing happend to
day worth a namen
The 6 day was a very raney one And
Lieutenant Lea and Sergeant Couvington and H. Rudd and Mr. Balden all started home to day
as recruiting officers.
The 7 day was cold and cloudy And I
was on gard to day
The 8 day was very cool And
Lieutenant Lea was promoted to Captian And Sergeant Olover promoted to Second Lieutenant
to day And Nat Hester promoted to fourth Corporal
The 9 day which was the Sabath was
a very pritty day And Thomas Grinsted dide to day he was a private in Captian Leas Company
The 10 day was clear but cool And
we went out on drill today for the first time in severl weeks.
The 11 day was a very cool day And
me and Cousin Anderson went down to the fourth Alabama Reg in a visit.
The 12 day was a very pritty day
indeed and I went to Dumfrieze today and then returned home
The 13th day was a pritty warm
sunshiney day And we went on drill twist that day.
The 14th day a wright coal day.
The 15 day was a very bad day
indeed it snowed all day long and at night the snow was about 3 inches
deep on the ground
The 16 day was a clear day and the
snow melted a little And Mr. Luther Rudd dide to day about 8 oclock in the morning
The 17 day was a very bad day it
rained all day and friezed as it fell.
The 18 day was cloudy but warm and
the ice melted off and I was on gard that day
The 19 day was a very raney day
indeed And Mr. I. R. Hester And Calvin Snipes arived at our camp today on a visit
The 20 day was a beautifull day it
looked like the spring of the year and Mr. I. R. Moore left our camps today to go home on
a furlough
The 21 day was cool and cloudy And
ther was a wright smart excitement in camp today It was repoted that the Yankees was a
landing at Colchester
The 22 day was cloudy and it rained
a little in the morning And Mr. I. R. Hester and N. Snips left our camp today for home
The 23 day was cloudy but not much
rain
The 24 day was clear and very
windey indeed
The 25 day was clear and cool And
A. I. Brincefield started home today on a sick furlough
The 26 day was cloudy but not much
rain
The 27 day was clear and Brother
Albert arrived at our camps today on a visit
The 28 day was clear but very
windey and cool And ther was a wright smart stir in camps today for we had orders to pack
our knapsacks and to be ready to march at a moments warning but wher we was to go too we
did not no. Spring is now come.
The
1 day of March was clear and very cool And I was on gard in the day but being unwell I got
excused from standing after night
The 2 day it snowed tell the snow
was about 2 inches on the ground.
The 3 day was cloudy and rained
nearley all day
The 4 day was clear and cool and
our company was on picket gard today at Greenwood Chirch
The 5 day was cloudy but no rain
And Brother Albert left our camps today for home
The 6 day clear in the morning and
cloudy in the eavning And snowed o little And we had orders today from General Whiten (W.
H. Whiting) to drill twist every day hear after
The 7 day was clear but very cool
and we have orders to cook too days rations and be ready to march in the morning but where
we are agoing is more than I no
The 8 day of March was cloudy and
cool And our Regiment left camp Fisher today for Camp Barton
The 9 day was clear and warm And we
marched about 15 miles to day on toward Camp Barton
The 10 day was cloudy and raining
in the morning but no rain in the eavning And we arrived at camp Barton about 3 oclock in
the eavning which is about 2 miles west of Frederksburg (Fredericksburg)
The 11 day was a beautyfull warm
sunshiney day and we cleaned our streets and struck our tents today
The 12 day was a beautyfull spring
day and nothing occurd of eney interest
The 13 day was warm and clear
The 14 day was warm and cloudy but
no rain And I was on gard at Camp Barton for the first time.
The 15 day was a very raney day
indeed
The 16 day which was the Sabath was
cloudy but no rain And our recruits got in today and the number of them was 45
The 17 day was cool and cloudy but
no rain and I hurd today that we had to march back to Richmond
The 18 day was clear and warm And
Lieutenant Colonel Lightfoot of the 6th N. C. S. T. was promoted to Colonel of the 5th
Alabama Regt today
The 19 day was cloudy and cool
The 20 day was raney and very cool
indeed
The 21 day cloudy and cool but no
rain
The 22 day cloudy and sum rain And
I was on gard and the counter sign was York Town
The 23 day which was the Sabath was
a beautyfull spring day and I went to Frederksburg to preaching And the preachers text was
in St. John 3 chap and 18 virse
The 23 day cool and cloudy
The 24 cool and cloudy
The 25 was a beautyfull day
The 26 was also a nice day
The 27 warm and clear
The 28 was a beautyfull spring day
and we have orders this eavning to cook 3 days rashers And I hird severl cannons fyering
this eavning but what is to be the result is more than I no
The 29 day it raind and haild and
snowed and sleated and friezed and done a little of all that was bad And me and James
Colmond went to Fredreksburg and went down to the landing and went in a steam boat for the
first one we ever was in
The 30 day which was the Sabath was
cool and raney
The 31 day was a beautyfull day and
I was on gard and my post was befour the gard house door so nothing more.
The
6 day of April which was the Sabath was a beautyfull spring day And I went to
Fredericksburg to meating and the Preachers text was in the first Book of Kings 18 chapter
and 21 virse
The 7 day was a pritty one
The 8 day was cool and raney And
our Regiment left Camp Barton in the morning and marched on toward Richmond threw the wind
and water and waded the creaks as they went
The 9 was still cool and raney and
we continued our march And about 3 o'clock in the eavning as we was marching threw a
little Town cauld Balden Green it comenced halen and raining on ous very hard And then it
was about 3 miles to the Depot wher we was to take the cars And we all got very wet befour
we got ther And then about sundown we got in sum old horse cars and was run to Ashland
which was about 22 miles And when we got ther I was wet and nearly frosen And I was on
gard and they put me on post wright away and I had to stand 2 hours And it was a snowing a
little while I was a standing
The 10 day was cool and cloudy in the
morning but cleerd off about twelve and we stade in Town all day
The 11 day was a pritty clear day and we
stade in Town untell eavning And in the eavning we went out in the woods about a mile from
Town and struck our tents for the night
The 12 day was a very pritty one
The 13 day was also a nice one And
William Jeffrus of our Company dide this morning And we had a Preacher to preach in our
camp today and his text was in the Second Book of Kings 6 chapter and 15 and 16 and 17
virses.
The 14 of April was a very pritty
day And our Regiment left Ashland for Yolktown (Yorktown) And our rought was down by
Hanover Coathouse. The Second day we still continued our march And also the 3 and fourth
we marched And the 5 day we marched and past threw the town of Williamsburg about 9
o'clock in the morning And about an hour before the sun set we arrived at General Johnston
Headquarters which is in about a mile of Yolktown wher we stopt to wait for the Battle.
The 29 day of April was a beautyful
day And Calvin Snips got back today from home And the Reverant Mr. Stewart from Alexander
preached in our camp this eavning and his text was this: I am the Lord of Host:
The 2 day of May was a beautyful one And we had orders to leave Yorktown And soon in the morning the wagons was loded and everything sent off but our knapsacks and about 12 o'clock the Artillery was all plast (placed) in a line of battle acrost the field and about dark we was all marched out behind it and Colonel Pender told ous that they expected a large fight the next day and we lade ther in the field all night with our guns by our side And next morning we marched out in the woods And we stade ther untell about 2 o'clock in the night And then we was rousted up and marched about a half a mile and then for sume cause we was stopt and sent back And then about daybreak we started again and taken the same road back that we come down And about 12 oclock we got to Williamsburg and we onley went about 4 miles futher tell we stopt to stay all night And about 4 oclock in the eavning the Yankees Calvery overtaken ours clost to Williamsburg and we had a little brush but our men whips thirs and we onley lost one kild and 3 or 4 wounded And we kild 9 of thirs and wounded severl and taken 10 horses And the 5 day was a very raney one indeed and we was rousted up about 2 oclock in the night and marched all day threw the mud and water and at night we arived in about 2 miles of West Point
The 6 day we stade in camp untell about one oclock And it was reported that the Yankees was alanding down at West Point and we was all run out in a file and plast in a line of battel expecting a fight but did not and about dark we marched back to our camp and about 8 oclock in the night we marched about a mile to another plase for sum cause and then stade thar all night And the next morning which was the 8 was a beautyful one and the Yankees was alanding at West Point and about 8 o'clock we was marched down to the intended battle field And from that time untell 12 oclock we was a scurmishing and a running from one place to another hunting the scamps And in the eavning we marched back in the woods and stade thar untell about 12 oclock in the night And then marched about a mile futher back And stad thar all night And then as soon as day broke we started on our march again And about 3 oclock in the eavning we got to West Point coathouse whar we found General Johnston and all of his men And then we marched about 2 miles futher and stop for the night
And the 9 day we rested untell about 12 oclock and then started out on our march again and befour we had gone a mile we hird that our Cavalry was attacked by the Yankees And then we had to stop and wate a while but we whipt them like we aulways do And then we marched on but dident git but 3 miles that day And the 10 day we dident march but about a mile for we was expecting the Scamps to attack us but they did not
The
11 day which was the second Sunday in May was a beautyfull day indeed And we rested all
day And the Reverant Mr. Stewart from Alexander preached to us again today
The 12 day we still stade in camp
and Mr. Fossett preached for us today. And his text was in the first of Timothy 2 chapter
and 8 virse
The 13 day was clear and warm
The 14 cloudy and a raining
The 15 raney And we left Camp. Road
today about 12 oclock and marched on toward Richmond
And the 16 we marched
And the 17 we got to our camp clost
to Richmond
The 26 day of May was a nice one
but about 12 oclock in the night it comenced raining very hard And about 1 oclock we was
rousted up and did expect to attack the Yankees about day but it rained so hard we did not
go
And the 27 day it rained till about
10 oclock and then cleard off And about 3 oclock in the eavning the fight comenced down
about Hanover Coathouse we surposed but we was not cauld out And I was promoted today to
fourth Corporel
The 28 day was clear and about a
hour befour the sun set we left our camp And march all night down toward Hanover Coathouse
And we past in about three hundred yards of the Yankeys pickets And then we stopt and
rested about 3 hours And about 8 oclock the next day we started back and went about 5 or 6
miles and stopt for the night
And the next day we went back in
about a mile and a half of Richmond and staid thar all night
And the next morning which was the
30 we left and marched down toward Chickahominy And about three oclock in the eavning we
was led in to the Battel field by Colonel Pender And we had a wright nice time of it from
then tell dark
And the next morning which was the
first day of June the fight comenced a little before the sun rose And we was plast
(placed) in a line of Battel And was expecting to go in to it evry minuet but we staid
there all day and was not cauld on; General Longstreet divishion don the most of the
fighting on Sunday And from that time till the 11th we stade in the Swamp down on
Chickahominy River
And the 11 day we left Chickahominy
And went to Richmond and taken the cars and went to the Junction that night
And the next morning we left thar
And about a hour befour the sun set we arived at Linchburg
And the 12 day we stade at
Linchburg
And the 13 day we got on the cars
about dark and the next morning we found our relief at Sharlottsvill (Charlottesville)
which was about 75 miles from Linchburg And we chainged cars at that plase And the 14 day
we traveld threw the Mountins And about too hours befour the sun set we got to the little
town cauld Staunton And we stade ther tell the 18 And the 18 which was just twelve months
from the time I taken the oath we left Staunton And marched about 15 miles wright back the
railroad the way we came down And stade all night at a little town cauld Wainsborough
(Waynesboro) clost to the Turnel
And the next morning we croust over
the Blew ridg and marched to Mitchiners River And staid thar all night And the next
morning which was the 20 we taken the cars at Mitchiners River and road up to
Sharlottsvill And then taken a railroad thar that went to Gordnesvill And we got to
Gordnesvill about 2 oclock in the eavning and we taken the Richmond Railroad thar And road
about 25 miles toward Richmond at a station cauld Frederickshall And thar we got off
The 21 we stade at Frederickshall
And also the 22 we stade thar
And the 23 we started out again on
our march and marched all day long threw the hot sun and dust for it was very hot and
dusty the 23 but it raind that night.
And the next day (which was the 24)
we still continued our rout and when we stopt for night we was in 6 miles of Ashland
And the 25 we travield all day long and at night we
campt a mile west of Ashland
And the 26 we travield sloley down the
Chickahominy River driving in the pickets as we went
And the 27 we still went on and about 3
oclock in the eavning we come up with the main body of the Yankees (at Cold Harbor) and
attacked them And from that time untell dark we had a wright warm time of it But we whipt
them And in our company A. Burk was kild and A. Tucker and Page was slitley wounded
And the 28 we marched about a mile
the other side of the battle field and stade thar all day,
And the 29 we stade at the same
place And about 2 oclock in the eavning we had orders to fall in to march but we did not
go And as we was stacking our armes again one of Captain Tates men shot another one threw
the thigh but it was don axidentley
And the 30 we was rousted up about
too oclock in the night and about day break we started out again And cross the
Chickahominy River and marched untell we came to the York river Railroad 8 miles below
Richmond And then we taken down the Railroad and about 2 hours befour sunset we come to a
little creak whar the Yankees had burnt the bridg And left sum of thir peases thar to bumb
us so we couldent build the bridge untell they could get thir armey futher along, And we
never got the bridge built untell next morning about a half of a hour by sun
And
the next morning whitch was the first day of July just twelve months from the time I left
home we crost over and about 10 oclock we overtaken the scamps again And they comenced
throwing bumbs amung us And we amung them And thar was a very heavey canonading cept up
all day And a little befour night the pickets comenced fyring And from that time untell
about a hour in the night thar was very hard fiting don indeed And a great meney kild and
wounded on boath sids in our company M. Miles L. Smith, B. Murphey, I. Calmond, G. Lyons
And my self was all hurt
And the next day which was the
second was a very rany day indeed And our Regiment moved back in the woods a peas and
stade thar all day
And the next day we marched back
about three miles toward Richmond and stopt for the night
And the 4 day we marched down on
James River about 25 miles from Richmond
And the 5 we stade at the same
plase untell sun down And then our Regiment had to go on picket And we marched down in
about a mile of the Yankees and sent out our detail
And also the 6 day we was on picket
at the same plase
And the 7 day we was releaved about
twelve oclock And then we marched back about a mile in the woods
And the 8 we stade thar untell
about 4 oclock in the eavning And then we started out for Richmond And we marched untell
about 10 oclock in the night and we got as far as White Oak Swamp which was about 10 miles
from the plase whar we started
And the 9 day we started again
about 4 oclock and we got in about 3 miles of Richmond And then we moved up in about a
mile and a half of Richmond and taken up camp and the 11 we got sum flages and put them up
And Mr. I. H. Compton arrived at our camp today on a viset
And the 12 day we still stade in
camp And also the 13 we stade in camp and Mr. I. H. Compton left our camps today for home
for him. And we still staid at Richmond untell the 7 of August And then we left thar And
marched about four miles toward Ashland And when we stopt it was dark And then our company
had to go about 5 1/2 miles futher to stand picket and it was 12 oclock in the knight when
we got to the plase whar we was to stand:
And the next morning we was
releived and we had to go back to our Regiment again:
And the 9 day we started out again
about four oclock in the eavning and marched untell about one oclock in the knight And
when we stopt we was about thre miles beyond Ashland which was about 15 miles from the
plase whar we started from
And the 10 day we started again
about 4 oclock and we went as far as Hanover Junction which was about 6 miles
And the 11 day we started in the
morning and marched about 5 miles down clost to a little river and stopt again to take up
camp
And the 14 day our Regt left thar
and marched up toward Gordensvill And I was not able to go with them so they excused me
and started me back to the Hospital clost to Richmond And we had to walk to Hanover
Junction which was about 4 miles And we had to stay thar all next day for we could not get
eny cars to tak us eney futher
And the 16 day we got on the cars
about 8 oclock and got to the Hospital about 11 And then I staid at the Hospital untell
the 2 day of September And then I taken the cars at Richmond and got as far as Gordensvill
the first day
And the 3 day we rode on the cars
as far as Rapadan River and Bridg was burnt thar and then we had to walk from thar to our
Regiment And it was 115 miles to Winchester And 35 from thar to the Reg. but we left
Rapadan the 4 day and walked up the railroad to Culpeper Coathouse which was 12 miles from
Rapadan River
And the 5 day we taken the turnpike
road and marched as far as Warrenton Springs which was 18 miles from Culpeper
And the 6 day we got to Warrenton
about 12 oclock which was 7 miles from Warrenton Springs And by nite we got to a littel
Town by the name of Baultimore And it was 5 miles from Warrenton
And the 7 day we got to a littel
town by the name of Haymarket about 12 oclock And we dident get but about 4 miles futher
that day for we had to stop to get sompthing to eat
And the 8 day we got as far as
Aldie and it was about 15 miles from Haymarket
And the 9 day we got to Leasburg
and it was about 12 miles from Aldie
And the 10 day we past threw a
littel town by the name of Hamelton and it was about 5 miles west of Leasburg And the 11
day we got to Snigerville about nite and it was 10 miles from Hamilton.
And the 12 day we crost over the
Blew ridge in the morning and about 10 oclock we crost Shandal River and it was about 4
miles from Snigersville And by nite we got to Berrysville and it was 5 1/2 miles from
Shanandoah
And the 13 day we got to
Windchester and it was about 10 miles from Berryville
And then we stade at Windchester
untell the 16 and then we started to Harpersferry and we got as far as Berryville the
first day and then taken the left hand road and got as far as Charlestown the 17 day
And the 18 day we crost the Potomac
at Shepards town about nite and it was 24 miles from Berryville
And the 19 day we crost back again
and got as far as Charlestown by night and the 20 day we got to Berryville again
And the 21 we travaild untell we
got in 4 miles of Windchester and then taken the wright hand road to go to Martinsburg and
we past by the Burnt Factory and got as far as Jordons Sulphur Springs by night.
And the 22 day we got to a littel
town by the name of Bucktown and the 23 day we got to our Reg. and it was clost to
Martinsburg and Martinsburg was about 22 miles from Windchester
And then the 27 the Regiment left
thar and marched in five miles of Windchester
The 22 of October was cool and very
windy indeed and the 23 was clear and cool and we had a General revew
And the 24 we left our old camp and
marched about a mile near to Windchester to pease of woods and taken camps in them again
And the 28 we left thar for
Culpeper and got as far as Shanadoah River the first day
And the 30 day the fields was white
with froust and about sun up we waded the River at Front Royal and by night we got as far
as a littel town by the name of Flint Hill
And the 31 day we marched all day
and got in five miles of Culpeper by nite
And the first day of November we
got to Culpeper
And the second day which was the
sabath I went to meating at Culpeper And the preachers text was in St: John 16 chapter
7.8.9.10 and 11 virses
And the 3 day we marched over to
the old battel field at Sedar Run which was about 3 miles from Culpeper and stopt again
for camp
And the 7 day it snowed
And the 8 day the Second and 11
Myssissippians left our Bregaid and the 54 and 57 N. C. taken thir plases
And the 9 day was a very cool day
And the 10 day was a pritty one
indeed and thar was a very hevy canonading cept up all day sum whar between Culpeper and
Windchester and we had orders to cook rashions and expected to be cauld on evry minnet but
was not
And the 18 day we left Culpeper for
Fredericks and the first day we was as far as Rapidan River by nite and we marched all day
threw the rain and mud the 20 and also the 21 and the 22 we got to Fredericks about 12
o'clock
And the 5 day of December it raind
all day and about night it comenced snowing and snowed untell it was about a inch and a
half deep on the ground And the 6 day and 7 was very cool indeed
And the 11 day the too signerl guns
was fyerd just befour day and we was run out in a line of battel and kept so all day and
the Yankees crost over the River that day
And the 12 day we was marched
around to the left of our armey and was expecting to have to fight every minnet but did
not for thar was no fiting don except the pickets and canonading
And the 13 we was marched back to
the wright and laid in a line of battel all day under the Yankees shells but non of ous
got hurt
And that nite we was sent to the
front on picket and laid clost to the enemey all nite and went marching about day we
comenced fyring at them and cept it up all day and there was about 15 kild and wounded in
our Regt: but non kild in our Company, B. Richmond and P. S. Donahan was slightly wounded
and that nite we marched back in the woods And we staid thar all day the next day and at
nite we had to bild ous sum brest works
And the next morning which was the
16 General Hood came riding up and said well Boys you all did such great works hear last
nite that you scard the Yankees on the other side of the river but we staid thar all day
And the next morning which was the
17 we marched back to our old camps
And the 24 day was cool and cloudy
and it was wash day with me.
And the 25 which was Christmas
morning was foggy but soon cleard off and was a pritty day but I dident have nothing to
drink nor no young ladies to talk too so I seen but little fun
And the 26 was a warm cloudy day
and me and M. Walker went to the depot
And the 27 we and Lewis Smith went
back to the Depot and after nite I went to the show to see the Monkey.
And the 28 day was clear and warm
and Preacher Miller of Company C. preached for ous in the evening and his text was in 126
Psalms and third virse the Text was this The Lord hath done great things for us: Whereof
we are glad:
And the 29 day was a prity warm
sunshiney day And I was on divishion gard at General Hoods headquarters
And the 30 day was warm and cloudy
but no rain
And the 31 day which was the last
day of 1862 was cool and cloudy and our Regiment had muster inspection in the day and at
nite our Company had to go on picket gard down the bank of the Rapahanok River whar we was
in about a hundred yards of the Yankees pickets they was on one side of the river and we
was on the other we was in talken distence but our officer would not alow ous to talk they
would cum down on the bank and hollow to ous and say if we would bring the boat over that
they would come over on our side and have a talk. So that was the last of our works for
the year 1862.
The
first day of January was a pritty day and our Company was on picket down on the Rapahanock
River about a mile and a half below Fredericksburg Va.
And the 2 day was also a nice one
And also the 3 was a pritty day
And the 4 day was a pritty warm day
and we all was on Bregaid inspection the 4th.
And the 5 day was warm and looked
like the spring of the year and we was all on Bregaid Drill the 5 day down on the old
Battel field.
And the 6 day was cloudy and raind
a littel
And the 7 day was clear and cool
and we all was in General Revew
And the 8 day was cloudy and cool
And the 9 day was clear and cool
and we all was on Divishion revew again General Hood was our revewing Officer
And the 10 day was cloudy and raind
all day long
And the 11 was cloudy and cool
And the 12 day was a pritty day
And also the 13
And the 14 was warm and cloudy and we
built a chimly to our tent today
And the 15 day was warm but very
winday and R. H. Wells started home this morning on a furlogh
And the 16 day was a very pritty
warm day and we had orders to cook too days rations we was expecting the Yankees to cross
the River again but they did not
And the 17 day was clear but very
col indedd:
And the 18 was cool
And the 19 was warm and I was on
gard
And the 20 was cloudy and cool
And the 21 was a very cool and
raney day,
And also the 22 day was raney and
very cool.
And the 23 day was cloudy in the
morning and cleared off warm about an hour befour the sun set
And the 24 day was warm and cloudy
and the old Bludy 6th and 54 and 56 N. C. Regt was transferrd from the old 3 bregaid which
was comanded by General Law (E. M. Law) to the 7 Bregaid which was comanded by General
Holk (R. F. Hoke).
And the 25 day was cloudy and raind
a littel in the morning about 12 olclock and we got to General Holk (Hoke) Bregaid about
11 oclock which was 15 miles from General Lows (Law's) Bregaid whar we started from:
And the 26 day was warm and cloudy
And the 27 was a very raney day
indeed
And when I got up the morning of
the 28 it was a snowing and it snowed all day long
And the 29 day was clear and cool
and the snow was about 10 inches deep on the ground
And the 30th was clear and cool
And the 31 was pritty and Mr.
Mitchel Johnston and Mr. John Evans arrived at our camp today on a visit.
The
first day of February which was the Sabath was a pritty spring day
And the 2 day was cloudy and raind
in the morning but clear and very windy in the eavning
And the 4 day was cloudy cool and
windy
And the 5 day it Snowed in the
morning and raind in the eavning
And the 6 day was raney
And the 7 clear and warm
And the 8 day which was the Sabath
was a beautyfull spring like day
And the 9 was also prity and
And the 10th day was snowing and
also the 11 was
And the 12th was a pretty warm day.
The the 13 was clear and cool.
And the 14th was cool and clear.
And the 15 was warm
And the 16 was warm and clear
And the 17 was a snowey day and we
all had to go on picket down at Port Royal.
And the 18th it raind all day long
and the snow nearly all melted of by nite and we still stade on picket
And the 19th was cloudy but no rain
and we returned to our Regiment
And the 20 was warm and clear
The 21 was warm and clear
The 22 was a very bad day it snowed
and the wind blew all day and at nite the snow was about a foot deep.
And the 23 day was warm and clear
but the snow dident melt no great deal
And the 24 was warm and General
Stokes Bregaid and General Lautons (Lawton?) had a snow ballen
And the 25 was a warm sunshiney day
And the 26 was a raney day and
nearley all of the snow was gone by nite.
And the 27 was warm and cloudy and
our Brass Ban got back from Richmond.
And the 28 which was the last day
of February was coal and cloudy. And Mr. Portland Baley of Company D. 6th Regiment N. C.
Troops was shot to death to day at 2 oclock with musketry.
Now the dark days of winter is gon
And the bright days of Spring is come.
The
first day of March was coal and raney in the morning and in the eavning it was clear and
very windy And the 2 day was a beautyfull Spring day.
And the 3 day was a beautyfull one
and our Regiment left the old camp clost to Port Royal and marched back clost to
Fredericksburg and taken camp again clos to the one we left
The 16 day of March was cloudy and
coal And Mr. Stons in Co. F. 57 N. C. Regiment was shot to death to day with musketry.
The 17th of March the Yanks crossed
the Raphanock River at Keleys foad and our calvry whipt them back.
And the 20 was cloudy in the
morning and snowed a littel in the eavning and Mr. I. H. Compton arived at our camp today
on a visit And the 21 it Snowed untell it was about 3 inches deep on the ground
And the 22 the snow all melted off
And Mr. Compton and Johnston left camp today for home.
The last day of March the Snow was
about 3 inches deep on the ground.
The
4 day April was cloudy and coal in the day and after nite it comenced Snowing And the
morning of the 5 the Snow was about 3 inches deep on the ground and five companys of our
Regt had to go on picket down on the Raphanock River
And the 6 day was clear and warm
and the snow nearly all melted of by nite and we still staid on picket and the 7 day we
retired to our camps.
The 18 day which was the Sabath was
a beautyfull Spring day and General Jacksons preacher preached in our camps and his text
was in Hebrews 3 chapter and part of the 7 and 8 virses the words was this: To day if ye
will hear his voice harden not your harts.
The 23 day was raney and we had
orders about nite to cook too days rations thar was sum few Yankees crossed over the river
at Port Royal and taken a wagon or too from our men but they soon went back and our Regt
dident have to leave the camp
The 26 day of April which was the
Sabath was a beautyfull day And I went to meating at General Jackson Headquarters And the
Preacher taken part of the 16th chapter of Luke commencen at the 18 virse for the
foundation of what remarks he made And in the eavning we had preachen in our Regiment from
a preacher in the 18th Virginia Regiment. And his text was in Proverbs 18th chapter and
the later clause of the 24th virse which reads thus: Ther is a friend that sticketh
closter than a brother:
The morning of the 28 befour I got
up I herd a horse come threw the camp in a full lope and it was not meney minutes untell
the man come back and sais Boys you had better get up we will have a fight hear to reckly
and I comenced geting up and befour I got my close on they comenced beating the long roal
and it was not but a minnet or too untill I herd the Adgertent hollow fall in with armes
the Reg: then was formed and marched to the Battel field the Yankies comenced crossing the
river befour day and by day they had right smart force over the pickets fought sum on the
29 and a good deel of canonading was don and it raind sum in the eavning
The morning of the 30th it was a
raning and evry thing was very still untill about twelve oclock it ceased raning about ten
o'clock they comenced cannonading and cept it up untill dark
The first morning of May 63 our
Regiment had to go in front on picket it was very foggy in the morning but soon got clear
as soon as the fog was off we found the Yankees had a very strong line of Scirmishers in
about 5 hundred yards of ours we cood see a great meney Yankees on the other side of the
river but we couldent tell how meney was on this side we could hear very hevy canonading
up the river in the eavning It is repoted that our men and the Yankees was a fyting at
Keleys Foad:
The 2 day of May was a very pritty
day and our Regiment was relieved from picket about day and fell back to our brest works
again our men fyerd on the Yankies from too Batterys about 10 o'clock and the Yankies
returned the fyer from one Battery it was kept up about a hour but no damedge don as I
have herd of we can still hear them a fyting at Keley's Foad
And about 5 o'clock in the eavning
we could see the Yankees a marchen up on the other side of the river by regiments and most
all went back from on this Side of the river and General Earley thought that they was all
a going back and taken all of his men but a Louisiana Bregaid and started to reinforce
General Lea And about the time we had gone 6 miles they come orders that the Yankees was
atvancen again whar we had left And then we had to turn back and march all the way back
about 10 o'clock in the nite. And the next morning which was the 3 day our men comenced
Buming (bombing) the Yankees and they returned the fyer and ther was right smart
canonading and picketing don untell about 12 o'clock and then for sum cause we was all
ordered to fall back about a half of a mile to our last breast works but as soon as dark
come we marched about 2 miles up the River.
And the next day which was the 4 we
was marching about first from one plais to a nother a watching the Yankees untell about a
hour by sun and the fight was opend our Bregaid went in and charged about a half of a mile
and just befour we got to the Yankee Battery I was slitley wounded above the eye with a
peas of a Bumb non was kild in our company. Lieutenant Walker was slitley wounded in the
side. I. R. Allred was wounded in the arm hat to have it cut off. I. E. Calmond was
slitley wounded in the arm. I. L. Evins had his finger shot off - the fift day we found
the Yankees had all gon back on the other side of the River and we marched back down to
the old camp ground and taken up camp again
The 10 day of May which was the
second Sunday was a very pretty day and I went to headquarters to preaching and the
preachers text was in Romans the 8th chap and 28 virse the words was this: And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God. And General Jackson died to
day which is the 10th day of May
The 17 and 18 days was pritty and
warm and our Regiment was on picket down on the Raphanoc and the 18th we got back to the
camp:
And again the 25th we had to go on picket
And the 27 we got back about 12 oclock and in a few minuets after we got
back we had to go on a General Revew General R. E. Lea revewed General Earleys Divishion.
The last day of May we had marchen
orders and after nite Mr. Tassett preached in our Regt his text was in St. Johns 3 chapt
& 16th virse.
The 4th day of June about 11 Oclock
in the nite we left our old camp clost to Fredericksburg and marched twar Culpeper and
bout 6 O'clock the 5th day we got to Spotsylvaney Coathouse and about 2 o'clock in the
eavning we stopt for to camp for the nite after marchen about 20 miles that day And the
6th day we stade in camp untell about 2 O'clock in the eavning for General Hils core was a
fiting at Fredericksburg the Yankees crossed ther after they found out that we had left we
marched about 8 miles the 6th day and it raind on ous very hard befour we taken up camp.
And the 7th day we started on our
march about sun up and about 12 o'clock we waded Rapadan River at Rackoon Foad and about 4
O'clock in the eavning we stopt to camp again in about 5 miles of Culpeper Coathouse.
The 8th day we marched up to
Culpeper and stopt to cook Rations The 8 day we staid at Culpeper untell about 3 O'clock
in the eavning and then we was ordered down to Brandy Station about 4 miles from Culpeper
whar the Calvry hat bin fiting all day and we staid all nite and the next morning we found
that the Yankees had all gon back on the other Side of the River and we marched back to
Culpeper again and cooked another days rations and about 3 O'clock in the eavning we
started again in the direction of Winchester and we got as far as Hasel Run (Hazel Run or
Deep Run) by nite And the next morning which was the 11th we started about sun up and
about 9 O'clock we got to a littel town cauld Woodwin and whilst we was a passen threw the
6th N. C. Brass Ban plaid the Bonnie Blew Flag. And about eleven O'clock we got to a
littel town cauld Sperysvill 5 miles from Woodwin And about 2 O'clock in the eavning we
past threw Washington and ther we found a meney pritty and kind Ladies they had water all
along the streets for the Soldiers to drink and we dident go but a few miles futher untell
we stopt for the nite after going about 20 miles that day.
And the morning of the 12th we
started about sun up and about 3 o'clock in the eavning we crossed over the Blew Ridg and
past threw a littel town cauld Front Royal and about a mile from ther we waded the
Shonadoak River and taken up camp on the other bank that nite.
And the morning of the 13th we
started at day and when we got in 12 miles of Winchester we found that the Yankees was at
New Town on the Pike road running from Winchester to Strawsburg (Strasburg) 7 miles from
Winchester and we turnd and went by ther and caught up with the Yankees about half way
from ther to Winchester and attacked them and drove them back about a mile by nite
And the next morning which was the
14th General Hooks (Hoke) Bregaid and General Smith and Hoses (?) all moved around to the
west of Winchester and taken 20 peases of artillery with ous and when we got opersit the
Yankees work the artillery taken ther position and about 3 o'clock in the eavning our
Baterys opend on them taken them on surprise and General Hares (?) and General Smith
Bregaid charged on them and taken their first line of brest works befour nite And General
Johnstons (Johnson) Divishion was a fiting them on the other Sid clost to town
And the next morning which was the
15th the Yankees had left their works and was a trying to make thir escape toward
Martinsburg but about day they run up on General Johnstons divishion about 5 miles from
town wher three Regt of them was maid to stack thir armes and a grate meney kild and
wounded we then marched down to whar Johnston fought them that morning and stopt and staid
ther all day
And the next morning about 10
o'clock our Regt was marched back to Winchester for Provost gard and about a hour befour
sun down I was sent to Taylor's Hotell with 10 men to gard the Yankees Prisoners And I
staid ther the next day and also the next
And the next morning which was the
18th I was relievd about 9 O'clock and started after my Regiment and about 3 o'clock in
the eavning we got to Smithfield and by nite we got to a littel plais cauld Leas Town
which was 22 miles from Winchester and we staid ther all nite and the next morning we
overtaken our Regiment about five miles from ther wher we staid all day
And the next day we staid ther
And the 22th we taken up a line of
march again about day and about 7 o'clock we past threw Shepardstown and ther waded the
Potomac and landed in Maryland about 8 oclock And about 3 miles from ther we past threw.
Sharpsburg And about 3 miles from ther we past threw Ketersvill And about 3 miles from
ther we past threw Boonesboro and about 3 miles from ther we stopt to camp.
The 23 we left about day and when
we had gon about 4 miles we come to Beversvill and about 7 miles from ther we past threw
Coverstown And about a mile from ther we past threw Smithburg whar we found a good meney
Secesh And about 2 miles from ther we got to a littel town cauld Ringgoal wright war the
line run between M. D. & Pa. And about 2 miles from ther we stopt to camp and cook
rations closs to Wainsboro.
The morning of the 24 we left about
7 oclock and after marching about 5 miles we come to a town cauld Quincy And about 3 miles
from ther we past threw Funktown and about 4 miles from ther we got to Greenswood whar we
taken up camp for the nite but our company had to go on yard at a town cauld Faytvill
about 2 miles off.
The morning of the 25th I got a
Splendid breakfast in Faytville And about 2 Oclock in the eavning we was releaved and went
back to the Regt:
And the next morning which was the
26th we had orders to leave at day break but it was a raning so hard we dident leave
untell about 8 oclock and it dident Still sease raning but raind all day but we got as far
as Momenburg by nite which was 14 miles from wher we left in the morning And our Calvery
taken a 135 prisners clost to the lettel town
The 27 we left about 6 oclock and
after marching about 6 miles we come to a town cauld Hunterstown And about 4 miles from
ther we got to New chester And 3 miles from ther we got to Hampton And 3 miles from ther
we got to Berlin wher we taken camp for the nite
The 28th we left at sun up and
about 12 oclock we got to Yolk which was 12 miles from Berlin:
The 29th we stade at Yolk in the
Yankees Hospital.
The 30th we left at day break and
taken the same road back that we com And about 12 oclock we got back to Berlin again And
when we stopt for nite we was about 20 miles from Yolk:
The
first morning of July we left earley and about 12 oclock we got to Gatersburg (Gettysburg)
which was about 10 miles from wher we started in the morning And when we got there we
found the Yankies was ther And in a few minutes after we got ther we was ordered to the
feal Our Bregaid and General Haser (Hays) charged the enemy and soon got them routed and
run them threw the town and then we stopt
In our Company George Lyon Marshal
Walker and Thomas Richard got kild And Sidney Hensby Anderson Plesant D. A. Walker
Garababel Grimstead William Dunervant & Bedford Sawyers was wounded
The 2 day we laid in a line of
battel at the Same plais And the enemies picket a firing on us all day Thomas Miles kild
on picket Shot in the head And about Sun down our Bregaid and Hoser was ordered to charge
just in frund and take the enemes Batterys we charged and succeeded in driven the infantry
from behind two stone fences and got part of the Batterys But it was soon so dark and so
much smoke that we couldent see what we was a doing And the enemy got to geather again and
we had no reinforcement and we had to fall back to our old position Colonel I. E. Avry
(Avery) was kild in the charge in our company non kild Andrew Thompson Franklin Wells and
R. Y. Vaughn was wounded And Michagels Miles misen
The 3 morning we went back in town
and laid in a line of battel all day in the Streets And ther was a great deel of fiting
don that day but our Divishion was not cauld on
The nex morning about a hour befour
day we went back about a mile from town and staid ther all day
The morning of the 5 we left befour
day and it a raining as hard as it could poor and marched in the direction of Hagerdstown
and didnt get but about 6 miles all day for the Yanks calvry kep a running up on ous all
day
And the 6th we left at day and about 2
oclock we got to Wainsboro and we past threw town and then stopt to cook rations
The 7th we taken the road to
Hagerdstown which was 10 miles from Wainsboro And about 2 oclock in the eavning we got
ther and taken up camp
The 8th day it raind very hard and
we still stade at the same plais the 8 we staid ther and the 10 we staid at the same place
until about a hour by sun And then started and past threw town and went about a mile
toward Williamsport and stopt and staid all nite
The 11th we taken our position in a
peas of woods and after nite built brest works
The 12th we staid behind our works
and no fiting don except sum picketing And after nite we was ordered to the wright And was
marched down in rear of A. P. Hills old Divishion
The 13th we staid ther untill dark
and then started to retreet back across the Potomac And it was about 6 miles to the river
and it was a raning very hard And we was a moving all nite and the next morning about sun
up we waded the Potomac at Williamsport and it was waist deep And then we marched about 6
miles and stopt to cook rations
The 15th we marched about 7 miles
and stopt at nite clost to Martinsburg And the 16th we marched up to Darksvill and stopt
again And we still staid at Darksvill untell about a hour by sun and marched to the
Alagater mountain by 10 Oclock in the nite:
The 21 we left at day break and
crost the mountain And marched as far as Hedgersvill by 2 Oclock in the eavning which was
25 miles we expected to bag the Yankees at plais but when we got ther they was all gon;
The 22th we left Hedgersvill and
marched back to Bunkerhill whitch was 18 miles.
The 23 we marched and about 10
oclock we marched threw Winchester and taken the road to Culpeper and marched about 5
miles and stopt for the nite:
The 24th we marched near the
Shanadoah River and found that the Yankees had got possession of the gap in the Blew Ridg
And then we taken the write and
come in to the Winchester and Stanton Road at Middeltown 5 miles from Strawsburg and we
stopt at nite clost to Strawsburg which was 23 miles from wher we started at in the
morning
The 25th we marched all day toward
Stanton and travild about 18 miles and stopt clost to Edensburg:
The 26th we past threw Hawkenstown
and 2 miles from ther we come to Mount Jackson and we marched as far as New Market and
stopt fer the nite
The 27th we left the Stanton road
and taken a road that led to Gordensvill: we crost over the Shanadoah mountian and crost
the Shanadoah river on Pontoon Bridges and when we stopt at nite we was at the foot of the
Blew Ridg which was 18 miles from Newmarket
The 28th we crost over the Blew
Ridg which was 14 miles across it
The 29th we marched up to Maderson
coathouse whitch was 6 miles and stopt and taken up camp
The 30 we staid at the same plais
The 31st we left at one Oclock and
marched down between Culpeper and Gordensvill
This the 22d of December 1863
Evry thing was quiet then untell the 5th day of Oct. 63. And the 5th day of Oct. about tenn Oclock we was ordered to fall in at a moment and then marched to our post and taken our position in a line of battel. And we remaind so untell nite and then was marched back to our camps again. The Yanks could be seen mooving about from a hight on our side of the river. Our Generals surposed that they was agoing to make an efert to cross. But they did not: they was onley moving camps: All was quiert then untell the 8th. The 8th day we left our camps about dark and marched about 2 miles and stopt and staid all nite. The 9th day we marched up to Orange C. H. by 12 o'clock: then taken the road to Maderson C. H. (Madison) marched 6 or 7 miles and stop for nite again.
The 10th we got to Maderson by 4 o'clock in the eavning and crost Roberson River at 3 and then marched about 4 miles futher toward Culpeper and stopt for nite our Cavalry had a littel fite in the eavning at the River taken about one hundred prisners. The 11th we marched toward Culpeper and got in 6 miles and stopt and cooked 3 days rations. it was 20 miles from Maderson C. H. to Culpeper C. H.
The 12th we had orders to leave at 2 o'clock: A. M. but did not leave untell day we marched on then untell we was in 2 miles of Culpeper. And then taken the left and came in the Warrenton road at Pickersvill And there we waded Haselrun and marched on to the Rappahannock River and campt clost to Warrenton Spring. The 13th we marched up to Warrenton and stopt and cooked 2 days rations: The 14th we left for Bristol but had to drive our enemey befour us our Cavalry was fiting them allday and some times the Infantry, our Divishion don a great deal of hard marchen had to dubbelquick nearly one third of our time. A. P. Hill Corps overtaken the Yanks at Bristol Station and had a littel fite: we did not get ther in time to be ingaged
The 15th the Yanks had all fell back to Sentervill (Centerville) we did not go eney further our Cavalry folerd them and taken severl Prisners.
The
16th we tore up the Railroad
The 17th we staid in camp clost to
Bristol Station.
The 18th we left at 3 o'clock in
the nite for Rappahannock and got as far as Beattoe Station by nite.
The 18th we marched to the
Rappahannock and crost and went in camps between the river and Brandy Station
The 28th our Reg't went on picket
on the Rappahannock
The 29th we was relieved
The 30th we had bregaid drill
The 31st had muster inspection
The
5th day of Nov. General Lea & Governer Letcher of Va. revewed General Stuart Cavalry
clost to our camps
The 6th we was paid off And paid up
to the first day of November, 1863.
The 7th about 2 o'clock in the
eavning orders came to fall in with armes in a moment that the enemy was atvancen. Then we
was doubbelquicked down to the river (which was about 5 miles) and crost and formed a line
of battel in our works and the yanks was playing on ous with thir Artillery & thir
skirmishers a fyring into ous as we formed fyring was kept up then with the Skirmishers
untell dark.
|
And about dark the yanks charged on the Louisianna Bregaid which was clost to the Bridg and broke thir lines and got to the Bridge we was then cutoff and had to Surender: was then taken back to the rear and staid thir untell next morning The morning of the 8th we was marched back to Warrenton Junction and got on the cars and about day next morning we got to Washington we then staid in Washington untel 3 o'clock in the eavning of the 8th then was marched down to the Warf and put on the Stemer John Brooks and got to Point Lookout about one O'clock on the eavning of the 10th day of November 1863. The names of the men that was taken prisner when I was belonging to Co. H. was Capt. Lea, Lieut. Hill, W. H. Bowldin, N. W. Hester, W. W. Murrie, C. Rile, H. Malone, I. R. Aldridge, L. T. Anderson, A. I. Brincefield, I. E. Covington, T. Y. Compton, I. C. Chatham, T. H. Evans, G. R. Grimstead, W. A. Hughs, N. Hooper, H. Kersey, A. More, W. D. Richmond, F. Simpson, R. Swift, L. Sawers, H. Roscoe, A. Tucker, John Walker, W. S. Walker, W. F. Wells, I. Wren, S. Hensley And Segt. A. P. Rudd
Our rations at Point Lookout was 5 crackers and a cup of coffee for Breakfast. And for dinner a small ration of meat 2 crackers three Potatoes and a cup of Soup. Supper we have non. We pay a dollar for 8 crackers or a chew of tobacco for a cracker.
A Yankey shot one of our men the other day wounded him in the head shot him for peepen threw the cracks of the planken
The last day of November was very coal indeed and the Yanks had inspection of ous Rebels. One of the Yankee Sentinerls shot one of our men the other morning he was shot in the head: soon died.
All the wood we get to burn at Point Lookout is one sholder tirn of pine brush every other day for a tent 16 men to every tent
The 16th of Dec. 63 a Yankey Captain shot his Pistel among our men and wounded 5 of them; sence one has died - he shot them for crowding arond the gate. The captain's name that shot was Sids. Him and Captain Patison and Segt. Finegan was the 3 boss men of the prisoners camp.
The
24th of Dec. 63 was a clear day but very cool. And Generl Butler the Yankey beast revenged
the prisners camp:
The 25th was Christmas day and it
was clear and cool and I was boath coal and hungry all day onley got a peace of Bread and
a cup of coffee for Breakfast and a small Slice of Meat and a cup of Soup and five
Crackers for Dinner and Supper I had non:
The 26th was clear and cool and
dull for Christmas
The 28th was cloudy and rained a
littel The 28th was a raney day.
The 29th was cloudy in the morning
and clear in the eavning. And Jeferson Walker died in the morning he belonged to the 57th
N. C. Regt. The 30th was a beautyfull day.
The 31st which was the last day of
63 was a raney day. And maby I will never live to see the last day of 64. And thairfour I
will try and do better than I have. For what is a man profited if he shal gain the whole
world and loose his one Soul: Or what Shal one give in exchange for his Soul:
I spent the first day of January 64 at Point Lookout M. D. The morning was plesant but toward eavning the air changed and the nite was very coal. was so coal that five of our men froze to death befour morning. We all suffered a great deal with coal and hunger too of our men was so hungry to day that they caught a Rat and cooked him and eat it. Thir names was Sergt. N. W. Hester & I. C. Covington.
The
6th was coal and cloudy and we had 9 men to die at the Hospital to day. Our beds at this
plaice is composed of Sea feathers that is we geather the small stones from the Bay and
lye on them
The 7th was very cool a small Snow
fell after nite
The 10 was a nice day and I saw the
man to day that makes Coffens at this plaice for the Rebels and he sais that 12 men dies
here every day that is averidgs 12
The Commander at this point is
named Marsto
The 22th day of January 64 was a
very pritty day And it was my birth day which maid me 25 years of age I spent the day at
Point Lookout. M. D. And I feasted on Crackers and Coffee The two last weeks of January
was beautyfull weather
February 1864
The first day of February was warm but cloudy and Sum rain:
Be content with such things as you have: For he hath said I will never leave the nor forsake thee So we may boldly say the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me
There fell a Small Snow the morning of the third Sergt. A. P. Rudd & Gidney King arived at Point Lookout from Washington the 4th. We changed Cook houses on the 7th of Feb.
The 14th of Feb was a pritty day And the Yankes Sirched the Prison Camp the Rebels was all sent out side under gard. And then they sirched and taken evry mans Blanket that had more then one. And taken evry other little trick that the Rebels had. They found too Boats that the Rebs had maid.
375 Officers arived at Point Lookout from Jonstan Isle the 14th of Feb. The Yankey papers say that they are having a Gun maid that weighs 115,000 lbs. 21 ft. long carries a Ball that weighs 1000 Lbs and a shell that weighs 700 lbs
The 17th it was so coal that we all had to lye down and rap up in our Blankets to keep
from freezing for we had no wood to make us a fire.
The 18th it was so coal that a mans
breath would freeze on his beard going from the Tent to the Cookhouse. O, it was so coal
the 18th
The 20th was pleasant and General
Butler the Beast revewed the Prison Camp again for the Second time
The 24th was a beautyfull day And
too of the Rebs got kild the nite of the 24th attempting to get away: We was garded at
Point Lookout by the second, fifth, and twelfth Newhampshire Regiments untell the 25th of
Feb: And then the 26th N. C. Negro Regiment was plaised gard over ous
A Yankey preacher preached to the
Rebels the 26th day of Feb: 1864: His text was in first Corinthian 16 chap and 22th virse
The words was this: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema
Marenathas That is let him be acursed when the Lord shal come
The
first day of March was coal and raney: And our Company was examined on the Oath question
evry man was taken in the House one at a time and examioned: the questions asked me was
this: Do you wish to take the Oath and join the U. S. Armey or Navey: or work at govenment
work or on Brestworks or Do you wish to take a Parole and go to your home if it be insied
of our lines or do you wish to go South I told him I wished to go South: He then asked me
my name County State Company & Regiment The 2d two thousen Rebels left Point Lookout
M. D. for Dixie:
The 3d I met with The good luck of
geting sum Cloathing from Dixie: 600 Rebels left for Dixie again the 9th.
Another boat load of Rebels left
Point Lookout the 16th for Dixie.
250 Officers arived at Point
Lookout the 20th
One of our Rebel officers maid me a
present of a dollar in greenback (the 21st) he stuch it threw the crack of the planken to
me without being asked
The 20h of March a Yankey Sergt.
named Young shot one of our Officers for jawing him:
The 22d was very coal and stormey
and a while befour nite it comenced snowing and snowed all nite: the snow would avridge 3
inches deep the next morning:
The 25th I went to the cookhouse
for a cook:
The first day of April was a very nice day.
The 5th was a very bad day it raind hard snowed and the wind blew the Bay was so high that it overflowed part of the Camp. Some men had to leave thir tents and moove up to the Cook house: There was some men in camp who had been going about of nits and cuting tents and sliping mens Knapsacks Hats Boots and Sumetimes, would get Some money They cut into ours and got money and cloathen all amounting to about one hundred dollars: One nite the Negros was on gard and caught them they was then plaised under gard and made ware a Barrel Shirt (and marched) up and down the Streets with large letters on them the letters was this Tent Cutters
The
12th the 3d Maryland Negro Regiment was plaisd on gard around the Prison Camp: When the
Negrows first come on gard they wore thir knapsacks and when they was put on poast they
puled them off and laid them down at the end of thir lines And Some of our men stole too
of them: And when the Negro found it was gone he sais to the next one on post Efrum-
Efrum: tell that other Negrow up dar that the white folks has stold my knapsack a redy:
The other one sais they have stold mine too but I want caring for the knapsack all I hate
about it is loosing Sophys Garotipe (daguerreotype?) One day too of them was on poast in
the Streets and met up at the end of thir lines and comenced fooling with thir Guns what
they cauld plaing bayonets they had thir guns cocked preseantly one of thir guns went of
and shot the other one threw the brest he fell dead: the other one sais: Jim, Jim get up
from dar you are not hurt your just trying to fool me
The nite of the 18th a negrow Senternel
shot one of our men wounded him very bad threw the sholdier
The nite of the 21st a Negro shot
in a tent wounded two of our men
The 27th a load of Sick Rebels left
Point Lookout M. D. for Dixie.
The 29th a nother Neagro kild him
Self. Shot him Self in the mouth with his gun:
The
3d day of May 6 hundred Rebels left this plaice for Dixie
The 13th about one hundred prisnors
was brought to this plaice they was capturd clost to Petersburg Va.
The 15th 40 prisnors arived at this
point captured between Richmond and Petersburg by Gen. Butlers armey
The 17th about one thousin Prisnors
arived at this plaice was captured at the wilderness The 17th about 1000 was brought in
from General Leas armey
The 18th four hundred more was
brought in the camp
The 24th a Neagro Senternal Shot a
mung our men kild one and wounded three it is thought that one of the wounded will die:
The 28 four hundred more prisnors
arived here We have Pork and Been Soop to day for dinner Will have beef and Coffee to
morrow I believe I will go down in Camp, but the sun is very hot
The
first day of June was clear and hot
The 4th We had Beef and Potato Soop
for dinner the Yanks are not a going to give us no more Coffee and Sugar from this on
The 8th 6 hundred Prisnors arived
at this point from General Leas Armey
The 10th we have Old Bacon to day
for dinner for the first time sience we have bin at P.t. Lookout
The 11th 500 more prisnors arived
here.
The 18th of June which was three
years from the time I voluntierd was cloudy and cool. And we had Pork and Hominy for
dinner There is some talk of moving the Prisnors from this point it is getting to be very
sickley here 11 men died at the Hospital yestiday it is said that the water is not healthy
It is reported that General Grant
and General Lea are fiting on the South of the James River
From the 20th of June untell the
last was very dry and dusty And we would hear good news evry now and then from our Armey
Our Rations Still remain Small
The
first day of July 1861 I left home And the first day of July 1862 I was in the fight of
Malvin Hill And the first day of July 1863 I was in the fight at Gettersburg And today
whitch is the first day of July 1864 I am at Point Lookout M. d. It is very plesant to day
We had pical Pork for breakfast this morning and for dinner we will have Been Soop
The 4th day of July was a
beautyfull day And the Yanks had thir Vesels riged off with flags they had about 34 flags
on each Gun Boat about 12 O'clock they fierd Saluts boath from thir land Batry and Gun
Boats.
The 13th day of July 13 of our men
died at the Hospital And it was reposed that General Ewel was a fiting at Washington And
that our Cavalry was in 4 miles of this plaice the Yanks was hurried up sent in all
Detailes at 2 O'clock in the eavning and run thir Artilry out in frunt of the Block house
and plaised it in position The 14th 500 Rebels taken the Oath and went outside
The last day of July was the Sabath
No
man is bornd without folts
Too
much of one thing is good for nothin
Cut
your Coat accorden to your cloth
All
are not Sants who go to Church
All
are not theavs that dogs bark at
Keep
your mouth shut and your eyes open
A
clean glove often hids a dirty hand
Seay
what is well and do what is better
He
that will steal a pin will steal a better thing
Fear
no man and do justice to all men
Evry
Cook praises his own stew
Before
thou marry be sure of a house wherein to tarry
Evry
bodys business is no body's business
Do
what you ought come what may
Love
cover meney folts.
The
race is not always to the swift nor the battel to the strong
You
cannot catch old birds with chaff.
A
bad workman quarrels with his tools
There
is a thing in divers of countrys
It
neither is land nor Sea
It
in all sorts of timber
And
not in eny tree
It
is neither in Italy
But
in Rome
It
appears twist in evry moment
And
not once in twenty years
April 16, 1864 Point Lookout, M. D.
O,
that mine eyes might closed be
To
what becomes me not to see
That
deafness might possess mine ear
To
what concerns me not to hear.
The
first day of August was clear and very hot And 700 Rebels left here for Some other new
Prison to day A mung them was my Brother A. A.
The 2d day of August I wrote home
The 6th of the month there rose a
thunder cloud early in the morning and raind very hard: there was a whirlwind just out sid
of the Prison on the point it blew the Comasary house and Shop down and seven other
Buildings it distroyed a good deal wounded four senternels broak ones leg There was but
littel wind inside of the Prison
The knight of the 7th A Neagro
Senternel Shot one of our men and kild him for no cause attall
The 28th of August a Senternel shot
a nother one of our men wounded him very badly it is thought that he will die
The two last days of August cool
and plesant
The firs days of September was plesant the Knights was cool but the days was plesant
The 2d day this is And our Rations gets no better we get half a loaf of Bread a day a smal slice of Pork or Beef or Sault Beef for Breakfast for Dinner a cup of Been Soup and Supper we get non Mr. A. Morgan of South Carolina has a vacon Cook House which he has bin teaching School in evry Sience last Spring he is a Christian man he preaches evry Sunday and has prayers evry morning befour School we have a Preacher to evry Division in the Camp Mr. Carrol preaches to our Divi which is the 8th This is the 5th day of the month and we are going to have Been Soup with onions in it to day for dinner we will have Potatoes and Onions boath to morrow the Dr had them sent in here for rebs to se if they would not stop Scirvy My health is very good to day which is the 6th of Sept. 64. But I cannot tell how long it will remain so. for it a raning and very coal to day Aand I have not got eney Shoes
This is the 7th and a pritty day it is and I am laying flat on my back on T. Y. Comptons Bead in Co. G 8th Division Point Lookout M. D.
The 8th was a beautyfull day And I had my Bunk Seting out by the Side of the Cook house and about dark I wanted to bring it in as I had bin doing but the Neagro Sentinel would not let me cross his line So I went down threw the house and asked a nother one if I could cross his line and get my Bunk and he Said yes so I cross and got my Bunk and the first Neagro did not see me. And when he found that the Bunk was gone he come to the house door and wanted to know where that man was that taken that Bunk And if he dident bring it back that he would come in there and Shoot him So then I had to go to the dor and he told me to bring that Bead back So I taken it back and could not get it any more untell I went and got the Lieut. of the Comisery to get it for me So you See this is the way we was treated by the Neagrows.
The 15th of Sept was a beautyfull day And a general Stir among the Rebs the Dr. was getting up a load of Convalesant men to Send to Dixie. You could See men going to the Hospital to be examiond Some on Cruches and Some was not able to walk and would be Swinging a round others necks draging a long
They
got a load of five hundred and Sent them out of the Prison we Surpose they will leave the
15th for Dixie The 19th received a Box of tobacco from my Father James B. Malone who
resides in Caswell County North Carolina The 21st all Prisnors belonging to the
Confederate Staits Navy was Parold at this place.
This Sunday the 25th of September
and it is very coal I wrote home to day
The 26th 800 Prisnors arived at
this point belonging to Erleys (Early) Comand captured clost to Winchester The knight of
26th Some one stold 5.45 in greenback from me
The 27th 500 more Prisnors arived
here from the same Comand
The 28th the Yanks brought
in three Negrows that they caught helping a Lady across the Potomac Some where between
here and Washington they brought them here and put them in Prison because they would not
take the oath
The 30th I wrote to Bro. James
The
first day of October was cold and raney day The 3d 800 Prisnors arived here from Early's
command captured at Fishers Hill Va. among them was James M Wells of Co H 6th N. C. Regt
The 4th 100 more Prisnors com in
Ther is about 10,000 Prisnors here at this time last Summer ther was 15,000 here but Some
was sent to Elmira N. Y.
The 7th was fasting and prayer day
with ous for the reliece of all Prisnors
Today is the 8th and is very cold
The 13th was very cool And in the
eavning 200 Rebs taken the Oath
The 15th I Sold the last of my
Tobacco the Box brought me fifty five dollars and 70 cts
To day is the 16th And a beautyfull
Sabath it is: the Boys in camp are all in a line wating to be inspected by Major A. G.
Brady Provost Marshall
To day is the 18th and Secretary
Stanton has just past threw the Camp.
The 21st 200 Rebels arived here
from the Valey captured Severl days ago.
The 24th they parold Severl Sick
men Said to be 2000 to leave in a few days.
The 25th Some more Prisnors come in
from the Valey Said that 900 was capturd when they was
The 29th About 80 Rebs arived here
they was capturd clost Petersburg Old Butler kept them at work on a Pond 8 days under the
fire of our guns.
The 31st 600 more Rebs arived here
capturd clost to Petersburg
The
first of November was pritty weather.
The 7th whitch was just twelve
months from the time I was captured was a raney day.
The 8th was election day for
president Abraham Lincoln & George B. McClellan was candidates
The 9th was warm and cloudy and our
Rations ar not a good as they was a year ago: And I See no chance for marching Soon.
The
first day of Dec was warm as Spring And the Yanks comenced building some littel plank
houses covered with clouth for the Rebs to stay in
The 3d I paid 10 cets to go into a
Concert that the Rebs had got up in camp it was a very good thing they performed in a
bacon Cook-house.
The 4th which was the Sabath I went
to meeting at the School house Mr. Morgan lectured on the Parable of the Sower & in
the eavning I was at the Same plaise and Mr. Carol preached a good Surmond from the later
clause of the 2 virse 7 chapter of Amos: Theas was the words: By whom Shall Jacob arise:
for he is small. After preaching was over the Sunday School classes met and thir teachers
taken up the balance of the day in asking them questions and explaning the Scriptures to
them We have white gard now for patroles in camp of knights the Neagros got so mean that
the General would not alow them in Side of the Prison they got so when they would catch
any of the men out Side of thir tents after taps they would make them doubble quick or
jump on thir backs and ride them and some times they would make them get down on this
knees and prey to God that they might have thir freedom and that his Soul might be sent to
hell
To day is the 15th and it is cold
looks very mutch like Snow we have had very coald weather for the last week we get Split
Peas now to make Soups. Some day we get Bacon and some days Picle Pork and fresh Beef once
a week
My health is very good at this time
I weigh 155 lbs We have comenced drawing wood we get two smawl shoulder turns a day to a
Company Each Company has 100 men
The 21st was a very cold raney day
Brigadeer General Barnes in comand of the Point A. G. Brady is Provost Marchall Capt
Barnes assistant Prov.
The 24th was a beautyfull day I
chopt wood in the morning at the cookhouse in the eavning I bought 3 apples and set in the
Sun Shine by the Side of Sergt. A. P. Rudd tent & eat them. And then my Self, Q. T.
Anderson, W. W. Murrie, & W. F. Wells went up to the School house to a Debate but did
not get in And then we went back to the Tent and found T. Y. Compton with a newspaper that
he had bought and we spent the remainder of the day in reading it.
The 25th was Christmas day And a
beautyfull one it was. But I had nothing Strong to drink and but little to eat I had Some
loaf Bread fryed Meat & Corn Coffee for breakfast and for dinner I had a cup of Split
Pea Soup.
In the eavning I went to the School
house to meating Mr. Carrol preached his text was in Zachariah 15th chapt 7 virse After
preaching I went to the Comisery and found that Mr. Walas had bet Mr. Barby five dollars
that there was a man in Camp that could eat 5 lbs of Bacon and 3 Loafs of Bread each loaf
weighing 2 lbs at one meal. When I left he had onley about 1/4 of a pound of Bacon and a
half of a loaf of bread they Said he eat it all befour he quit. This man belonged to the
11th Ala: Regiment
The 26th was a raney day
The 27 & 28 was cloudy
The 29th was cold and cloudy &
Snowed a little in the Eavning
The 30th was cold
The 31st was very cold and Snowed a
littel evry now & then threw the day.
