August 4; — Renewed our march. We passed Ivy Depot, a station on the Central Railroad, seven miles from Charlottesville. We passed through Charlottesville, the county seat of Albermarle. It is a considerable town. It has one street that has the appearance of something like a small piece of city dropped there among the foothills of the Blue Ridge. Nearly a mile west of town on a beautiful eminence is situated the University of Virginia, one of the most renowned institutions of learning in the South. Two miles southeast of town is Monticello, a conical shaped hill of considerable altitude. Right on the apex of the cone is a large brick house, where Thomas Jefferson lived and died.
There are some six or eight large hospitals in Charlottesville, for Confederate sick and wounded.
We halted in town about half an hour, then renewed our march toward Gordonsville in Orange County, and about a mile east of Charlottesville we crossed the Rivanna River. Camped near Keswick Depot on the Central Railroad, about eight miles from Charlottesville.
BOOK III
Westover,
Monday, August 4th, 1862.
Here we are at Dr. Nolan’s plantation, with Baton Rouge lying just seven miles from us to the east. We can surely hear the cannon from here. They are all so kind to us that I ought to be contented; but still I wish I was once more at home. I suppose it is very unreasonable in me, but I cannot help it. I miss my old desk very much; it is so awkward to write on my knee that I cannot get used to it. Mine is a nice little room upstairs, detached from all the rest, for it is formed by a large dormer window looking to the north, from which I have seen a large number of guerrillas passing and repassing in their rough costumes, constantly. I enjoy the fresh air, and all that, but pleasant as it is, I wish I was at home and all the fuss was over. Virginia Nolan and Miriam are already equipped in their riding costumes, so I must lay this down and get ready to join them in a scamper across the fields. How delighted I will be to get on a horse again.
Monday, 4th—I slipped out today between two guards and going up the river about a mile to a bakery near a mill, I bought a dozen apple pies. I returned safely to camp and sold the pies to some of the boys for double what I paid for them. Orders are very strict against absence from camp, for it is reported that a large force of the rebels is in this locality, and they may charge upon our camp any time.
[August] 4, 1862. Monday. — Company I, Greenwood muskets, fired at target one hundred yards. Best string, thirty-seven inches (4 shots); the muskets not so accurate for short ranges as the Enfields; not so well sighted. Possibly the men are somewhat afraid of them is one reason. I keep the men busy to prevent rusting. This target practice seems to interest them very much.
4th. Monday. “General” blew at 7 A. M. Struck tents and moved to our first camping ground when we entered Fort Scott from Kansas City. I went ahead with Major Miner to lay out camp. Q. M. issued clothing. Drew boots and shirt. Helped get things ready for supper. In the evening Major P., Major M. and Adj. Weeks got news of the fight in the Indian Territory. Standwaite prisoner, another notable killed. 400 proved traitors, having come into camp and given up and then turning on our men. 300 of them killed. Sergt. Major was taken sick suddenly, probably sunstruck. Bill drunk and quarrelsome. Adj. Weeks in tent.
Written from the Sea islands of South Carolina.
[Diary] August 4.
Bad news to-night. Halleck is made General-in-Chief of the Army. There has been a meeting in New York of conservative men who sent a petition to Lincoln for emancipation.
Monday, August 4th.—Regiment ordered in the direction of Tazewell; marched fifteen miles; made me very sore marching to-day.
(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
August 4TH.—Lee is making herculean efforts for an “on to Washington,” while the enemy think he merely designs a defense of Richmond. Troops are on the move, all the way from Florida to Gordonsville.
Maj. Myers, Lieuts. Stryker, and Norton, Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, August 1862. (10th Pa. Reserves); photo taken by Alexander Gardner in August 1862. Library of Congress Civil War glass negative collection.
Library of Congress image.
