Aroused at 3 o’clock this morning to hitch up & be ready to move at daylight. Crossed the Shenandoah Mountains. Very rapid marching. Heard about 12 o’clock the Yankees had left and crossed the Potomac. Kept on until 3 o’clock P.M. when we camped having marched 20 miles. Horses & men pretty near broke down.
Archives for July 2013
July 20, 1863
Headquarters Eleventh Corps, Army of the Potomac. Mountville, Loudon Co. Va. July 20th 1863
My dear Mother,
I had hoped to have time to write you a good long letter today as we were not to march. We arrived at this beautiful place in Loudon Valley yesterday P.M. Some roving Rebel Cavalry had been here in the morning and two officers of the 11st Corps staff were captured while ahead of their Command selecting camping ground. Hd. qrs. are at Union. Our orders last evening were that we remain at rest today. This is very refreshing.
We are at a pleasant house Mr Mounts’. They are all Rebels in sentiment but treat us kindly enough.The young lady, who is quite pretty, is as decided and outspoken a Rebel as I have ever seen. They claim Gettysburg as a Rebel victory! We don’t see it in that light. A few more such Rebel victories is all that we need to end the war. [Read more…] about July 20, 1863
July 19, 1863
To use the words of a song “All quiet along the lines.” No orders about moving. Think we will not attempt a crossing until the army is well clothed & shod. Everything in camp seems to betoken this is Sunday. No noise.
July 18, 1863
All quiet. No orders yet for moving. Pontoon train passed up today, towards Potomac. Looks like an invasion. Hope we may…… Am confident if we do we will succeed. Boys all think living on the good things in Pennsylvania much better than beef and flour here. Reinforcements arrived at or near Winchester.
July 17, 1863
Friday
Remained in camp today. Rainy. Quite sick with a cold. […] Got a letter from mother written Jul 3rd.
July 16, 1863
Orders to be ready to move at 6 o’clock. Battery ready. Left camp at 7 o’clock. Marched 6 miles to a camp just beyond Darksville.
Richmond papers of the 14th in camp. Very bad news. Vicksburg gone, Port Hudson rumored to have fallen. Very bad spirit manifested by some of the boys who think times look very blue. I think this should nerve every man to do or die. Heavy cannonading.
July 15, 1863
7 o’clock A.M. Orders to harness up and be ready to move. Both infantry and artillery on the move. Did not move until 2 o’clock P.M. Marched about 3 miles beyond Martinsburg. Went into camp about 9 ‘clock.
July 14, 1863
Farmington
My dear Lizzie,
I was very glad indeed to hear from you again. I wish I could see you, which would be far better. Rowland has not yet come home and I don;t know when he will come – though I shall look for him now everyday a little. I think he will go to Augusta if he can. But he has been away so much more yet than he anticipated, that I suppose he’ll feel as if he must hurry home as soon as possible. I hope he can go to Augusta – It would be so pleasant to see some one right from Otis. He was with Perry when he wrote last. Perry has lost an arm close up to the shoulder. I don’t know which one. Rowland said he was very much frustrated by it. The shock to his system was very great. […]
July 13, 1863
Very little skirmishing along the lines. Raining all the morning. Think we will not have an attack today.
3 o’clock P.M. Left [illegible] to report to Major Braxton with 3 Caissons on Williamsport road. Did not find him until I got on pontoon bridge. Crossed and went into park about 1 mile from bridge at 11 o’clock. Raining very hard. Remained here until daylight.
July 12, 1863
Sunday
In morning moved Hosp to [illegible] tower. The Rebs retreating and our troops following slowly. Some prisoners brought in.