Kingston, Sunday, July 3. Moved position this morning a few rods. Unharnessed and went to work to build quarters, when we again hitched up and moved on to a hill one-fourth mile from town, overlooking it, and strongly fortified. This new camp was vacated this morning by the 10th Wisconsin Battery belonging to Cavalry Division. 48th Indiana Infantry stationed right behind for support. All hands busy erecting shelters from the hot sun. Spencer and D. Evans joined with E. W. E. and myself and built a cozy little “shebang”. Went out grazing three miles this afternoon, into a splendid clover field. Blackberries in all abundance. D. Evans and I picked three quarts, a rich supper.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Sunday, 3d.—Last night at 10 o’clock started and marched all night, and camped eight miles from Chattahoochie River. Brother I. L. sick and sent to hospital.
3rd. Went to City Point with Kelly. Had a real good visit with Brother John. Seemed splendid to see him. Got back to the corps about dusk. Visited the Sanitary. Big thing. (Prof. John M. Ellis was serving on the Christian Commission at City Point.)
July 3. — Chelec of C Company wounded in the head. A man from the heavy artillery was killed while passing by, near my quarters. Rumors are that we charge on the enemy’s pits to-morrow morning. Sharp picket firing all night. John Jones was here to-day.
July 3d, 1864.
We are within three miles of Washington. Have two hundred patients on board, all of the class called “bad cases.” The vessel is not a hospital boat, only a river transport. The men lie on hay on the floor— some without so much as a blanket under them. They, too, live on hope, and expect all their wants will be provided for in Washington. We have not half the needed help. I dressed wounds until 1 o’clock this morning—but am more than repaid by the expressions of gratitude by my patients.
July 3 — To-day we moved in the direction of Dinwiddie Court House. We marched till noon, then grazed our horses the remainder of the day. Camped on Gravelly Run, five miles north of Dinwiddie Court House. The country that we passed through to-day was a little undulating, and poor land is in the majority, by far.
In Camp Near Petersburg, Va., July 3, 1864.
Dear Family:
We rec’d a letter on the 1st. inst. which found us all well. Jerry has been ordered back to Head Quarters, to blow the calls for the regt. Since I wrote last we have moved forward about a mile and built very strong rifle-pits. The whole army (as much as we know about it) is at a stand still. It would be impossible this hot weather to move; rumors say, we are waiting for re-enforcements, which we need badly enough.
I must say I found things a great deal different from what I expected; any one is lucky, who gets out of a fight. And even those who get a flesh wound are lucky. Some, in the army even, shoot off a finger to get rid of going into action; the latter are not thought much of. Flesh wounds are worth from ten to twenty dollars. But during this hot weather slight flesh wounds have proved fatal. This is considered by old soldiers the hardest campaign of the war so far; until the last few days, some part of the line has been engaged. The genl. health of the troops is good; but I would not believe before I came out here that man was capable of enduring so much. Today, half the army would be sick in bed if they were at home, but here they go well with the well ones. Nothing is so tiresome work as fighting. During the action of the 16th., which I wrote you about, our line of battle got separated; and some of us went to the left and the regt. to the right. We were ordered over to the regt., but we formed a line about half way. There were no rebs in our immediate front at the time, but the right was hotly engaged; we layed down and I got a short nap before we were relieved. The Artillery in the rear throwing shell over our heads all the time. I used to hear them speak of the first Bull Run, but hardly credited the story till I experienced it myself. We were relieved the other day quite suddenly, by Genl. Ewells and Hill’s corps; not a very welcome relief. It is almost impossible to get water, consequently, the boys are very dirty and as a natural consequence we have plenty of those little, called in natural history “lice.” Some of the boys have come better flank movements on them than Grant did on the rebs at North Anna, by turning all their clothing wrong side out; it takes about two days for them to crawl onto the other side, then change them again; they soon get disgusted and leave.
I have been hard at work for the last few days with back papers, muster, and muster-out rolls. The July boys are anxious to get off. The general opinion is that the Co.s will be consolidated. Officers are in an awful fix about who is going home; they all want to go. I hardly think you enjoyed my furlough much more than I did; at least, I should not complain if they would give me another. George Frye [a cousin] has been heard from; he is in prison without doubt. Tell the folks not to worry about him; as there were a lot of them taken, will probably be sent to Georgia.
Give my regards to all enquiring friends. Much love to all.
Respectfully &c. L. Bradley, Jr.
Co. B 1st Mass. H. A. 2nd Brigade,
Army of the Potomac.
July 3, 1864.
Rebels all gone this morning. Our boys were on the mountains at daylight. Hundreds of deserters have come in. Osterhaus moved around the left of the mountain to Marietta, all the rest of the army went to the right of it. We are about one-half a mile from town; have not been in. All who have, say it is the prettiest place we have seen South. Some artillery firing has been heard this p.m. five or six miles south, and there are rumors that an advance has captured a large number of prisoners, but nothing reliable.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 3D.—Clear and dry; pleasant temperature.
I learn thatPetersburg has not been much injured by the enemy’s batteries, and that Gen. Lee has ordered the casting of mortars for use immediately.
To-morrow being the anniversary of the surrender of Vicksburg to Grant, I should not be surprised if that general let off some fire-works, not only in commemoration of that event, but in pursuance of some desperate enterprise against Richmond. I don’t see how he can feel any veneration for the day ofIndependence for the “rebels” of 1776, without sympathy for the “rebels” of 1864, struggling also for independence.
After the failure of the enemy’s next move, I think the tempest of war will rapidly abate. Nearly every movement in this (I think final) effort to captureRichmond has failed.Sheridan failed to destroy the Central, Hunter the South Side, and Wilson the Danville Railroad—each losing about half his men and horses. Grant himself, so far, has but “swung round” a wall of steel, losing 100,000 men, and only gaining a position on theJames River which he might have occupied without any loss. On the other hand, Lee wields a larger army than he began with, and better armed, clothed, and fed.
This ought to end the vain attempt at subjugation. But if not, the Confederate States, under the new policy (defensive), might maintain the contest against a half million of invaders. Our crop of wheat is abundant, and the harvest over; our communications will be all re-established in a few days, and the people being armed and drilled everywhere, the enemy’s raiders will soon be checked in any locality they may select as the scene of operations. All the bridges will be defended with fortifications. Besides, Lee is gathering rapidly an army on the Potomac, and may not only menace the enemy’s capital, but take it. Early and Breckinridge, Imboden and Morgan, may be at this moment inflicting more serious injury on the enemy’s railroads and canals than we have sustained inVirginia. And it is certain the stores of the Federal army inGeorgia have been captured or destroyed to a very serious extent.
Still, in this hour of destitution and suffering among certain classes of the people, we see no beggars in the streets.
Likewise, notwithstanding the raiding parties penetrate far in the rear of our armies, there has been no instance of an attempt on the part of the slaves to rise in insurrection.
July 3d. No boats showed up last night. This morning finds us still waiting at Camp Piatt. Yesterday’s march was a hard one. We are resting while waiting. Up and down hill over these old stony roads makes a fellow tired and used up. At noon two boats arrived. They had large stern wheels and flat bottoms. The first I ever saw. About two o’clock we marched on board and were soon under way, leaving Camp Piatt, sailing on down the Kanawah. Weather fine and we were enjoying the trip. A pleasant change. Scenery grand on the river through this mountainous country. Salt, iron, coal, in these mountains along each side of the river. The boats are going very slow down the river. We are in no hurry. We make good use of the time, eating and sleeping whenever we feel like it. Night coming on, reported we will tie up for the night and start by daylight tomorrow morning.
