Moved camp this morning. Roads very bad. Worried horses a great deal. Moved toward Gordonsville near where Camp Wheat was last year. Think it can not be long before we have another fight. Hope it will be soon for we need horses & harness. Also the boys want to get some clothes. On Col. Magruders farm.
A.M. Riddle
July 28, 1863
Camp woke up at 2 ½ o’clock. Moved at daylight. Commenced the ascent of the mountain (Fisher Gap, Blue Ridge) at 5 ½ o’clock. Reached the top of the mountain at 9 ½ o’clock. Very hard march on horses. 20 days without cover. (Mem. 6 miles up from Luray valley & 7 miles down opposite side.) Camped now 5 miles from foot of the mountain & 5 miles from Madison Courthouse. Dropped 2 horses today. Rained very hard this evening.
July 27, 1863
Left at sunrise this morning. Arrived at top of the mountain at 8 o’clock. Now waiting near the Shenandoah river until the pontoons are laid. Crossed safely. Camped 1 ½ miles from foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Orders to be ready to move at daylight tomorrow morning.
July 26, 1863
On the move by sunrise this morning. Passed through Mt. Jackson and Newmarket. Camped about 10 ½ o’clock at the foot of the Massanutten mountain. Leave at sunrise tomorrow morning to cross the mountain.
Rained very hard last night. Thought I was well sheltered, but found that I had made my bed across a small ditch which soon filled up and was rather unpleasant to lay[!] in, but I went to sleep & woke up at daylight feeling “right side up with care.”[
July 24, 1863
At 2 ½ o’clock this morning the company was waked up. Marched on Front Royal road 10 miles. Took road to right for Middletown. Marched through Middletown to Strasburg. Camped 2 miles beyond Strasburg, having marched 24 miles today. Very hot weather, horses & man[!] very much fatigued. In the advance today. Camped at 9 o’clock. Rested for 3 hours toady, unhitched & unharnessed horses Changed horses in 4th Caisson 4 times.
July 21, 1863
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.
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 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.