Kingston, Saturday, July 2. Rained very heavy all night and nearly all day. Dried my clothes and my knapsack, and commenced writing a letter. Finished by night. Three regiments, 2nd Brigade, left last night, hack to Calhoun and Macon to guard railroad. Two regiments of 3rd Brigade, left this afternoon, to be stationed on the Rome railroad, eighteen miles long. This infantry is going to guard road. Rumor says artillery goes to this point. A long train of wounded from the front, among whom was A. Silsby shot in arm and hip severely. Is full of pluck. Was with him a long time. No letters by mail for the Battery. How provoking!
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Saturday, 2d.—Reported Yanks have cut railroad between here and Atlanta.
Saturday, July 2nd.
In camp all day. Am not feeling at all well. That persistent Virginia diarrhœa which has afflicted me more or less ever since we left Culpepper, aggravated, no doubt, by the intense heat we have had to endure, and by the coarse and scanty fare upon which we have been compelled to subsist (for I actually lived for nearly two days at one time on half an ear of corn which one of my men stole from the manger of a mule), seems at last to have perceptibly affected a naturally strong constitution. I think I’ll see the surgeon to-morrow.
We hear that many heavy guns have been put in position and that a regular siege of Petersburg has been decided on. Why don’t they give us some of these guns instead of muskets?
2nd. Rations of forage and commissary. Marched about 8. Went by the 9th Corps. Maj. Seward, Meeks, Thede and I rode over to Wilcox’s Div. and saw Reeve Spencer. Went up to the line and saw the 60th Ohio. Got popped at twice by sharpshooters, and were careful too. Took dinner with Reeve. Our works strong but rebel works full as strong and occupying more commanding ground and much of the ground in rear of our 1st line. Sharpshooters doing much damage. About 20 hit each day in the Div. Interested in the heavy works taken by the 18th Corps and by the Darkies. Saw quite an artillery duel between a heavy battery on our side and reb battery on the other side of Appomattox. Petersburg in plain view. Splendid time. Rode down to City Point and thence to Light House Point where we found our corps, about 200 2nd O. V. V. C. quite encouraging. The Detachments came down behind us.
Headquarters Mass. 56th Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va., July 2, 1864.
Dear Hannah, — . . . I understand that Captain Hollis is engaged. He was engaged to a Miss French of some place, Exeter, I think, and just before the war the engagement was broken off. Rumor says that was the cause of Captain H.’s going to the war. When wounded and going through Washington, he met Miss F. and the engagement was immediately renewed. Romantic, is n’t it? Captain H. is a very nice fellow indeed, and I am sorry that you were not introduced to him at Class Day. . . .
I am very sorry indeed about Major Putnam’s death. He was one of my best and bravest officers. So was Lieutenant Priest. Both are a severe loss to the regiment.
We lose a man or two every day from the enemy’s sharpshooters. Two nights ago, when everything was comparatively quiet, I heard two fearful shrieks from one of my men. He was lying with two other men under a shelter tent. A stray bullet entered the tent, and wounded him in the abdomen so that he died in a few hours. He was the centre one of the three, and was acting as first sergeant of F. Co., making the seventh first sergeant in that company that has been killed or wounded in this campaign. I tell you it made me shudder to hear these two shrieks breaking the stillness of the night. Wounded men seldom cry out. I have had men knocked over close by me time and again, but have never had anything affect me the way this did.
We shall probably remain here almost all the summer, from what I can see. The weather is fearful, hotter than anything I have ever experienced. Occasionally we get a slight shower or a cool breeze, and then I feel as if I were in Paradise. . . .
Night before last there was a fire in Petersburg, probably set by our shells. I could plainly hear the fire-bells ringing. The fire burned all night. . . .
July 2. — Were moved to the second line this evening, we coming about in the centre of the brigade. The 3d Maryland relieved us. Court-martial continues case of McLeod.
July 2d. 1864.
No tidings yet from home. Everything is going favorably with me. Good health, a good position, numerous friends, abundant opportunity to do good, and will to do it, and yet I am very miserable. How can I endure this agonizing suspense? Were it not for the hope of hearing from my loved ones in three or four days, at farthest, I should, indeed, despair. There lies the secret: “Were it not for hope,” which keeps the heart from breaking in its sorrow.
I am requested to go to Washington with a boat load of wounded—must go immediately.
July 2 — The Yankees throw some shell into Petersburg every day, and from the way the cannons boomed in that direction they doubled the dose to-day.
July 2, 1864.
We have been taking it easy since the charge. Our shells keep the Rebels stirred up all the time. Sham attacks are also got up twice or three times a day, which must annoy them very much.
Charleston, West Virginia, July 2, 1864.
Dear Uncle: — We are told this morning that General Crook is to have the command of the “Army of the Kanawha,” independent of all control below Grant. If so, good. I don’t doubt it. This will secure us the much needed rest we have hoped for and keep us here two or three weeks. My health is excellent, but many men are badly used up. . . .
I do not feel sure yet of the result of Grant’s and Sherman’s campaigns. One thing I have become satisfied of. The Rebels are now using their last man and last bread. There is absolutely nothing left in reserve. Whip what is now in the field, and the game is ended.
Sincerely,
R. B. Hayes.
S. Birchard.
