Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Headquarters 56th Mass. Vols.,
Near Petersburg, Va., July 21, ’64.

Dear Father, — General Bartlett arrived here today, and takes command, I believe, of our brigade. I should not be surprised if he received the command of the division, in case General Ledlie’s resignation is accepted, which, by the way, we hear nothing of. I hope that we shall have General Bartlett, as he is a good soldier and a pleasant fellow.

We are now on the front line again, in a pretty fair position. The men have to keep well under cover, however, in order to avoid the fire of the sharpshooters. The shells from the enemy’s mortars go over us, almost entirely. The second line is much more dangerous in this respect than the first. Colonel Jarves reached here day before yesterday. He is probably going on some court-martial, until he gets stronger.

There was a rumor that I was appointed Provost Marshal of Alexandria or of some other place. I don’t suppose there was the slightest truth in the story.

The Nineteenth Corps have arrived at Bermuda Hundred. They are to go into position on the north bank of the James, and I hear are to make a strong demonstration there. We hear good news from the Sixth Corps, that they have whipped the enemy severely at Snicker’s Gap, and taken some prisoners.

Things remain unchanged here. I hear nothing said about attacking, and see no indications of it in our front. On the contrary, everything looks like remaining here quietly some time. All the regiments whose time is out on or before the 25th of August are to be sent to Washington to perform garrison duty. I don’t think that anything of the kind would be done if we intended to resume active operations immediately.

Under this new call for 500,000 men, I hope to get some men for my regiment. Please send me any that you can lay hands on.

I went over to General Meade’s headquarters yesterday, and saw all my friends there. It is real pleasant to meet some of my old friends out here. In the Ninth Corps I have but few, most of my acquaintances being merely those whom I have met on this campaign.

I am busy every morning on court-martial. We meet about 10 A.M. and adjourn at 1 P.M. The remainder of the time I am with the regiment, attending to business there, or reading and writing.

Please tell Thomas’s father that we have received no information in regard to his son. He probably, to tell the truth, went to sleep on the picket line, and when the men fell back during the night, did not wake up, and was taken prisoner. He is not much of a loss to the regiment, although I am sorry for his parents. Has John Meagher’s son reached home? I suppose he will be furloughed from the hospital. . . .

As usual, I am enjoying perfectly good health. The regiment is in a pretty fair sanitary condition, consider ing the exposure they have to undergo. I lost one man named Swan yesterday, killed on picket. . . .

We have had two rainy, foggy days in the trenches, and unpleasant enough they were. They are the first we have had for the last six weeks. To-day, we have a nice cool breeze, and a pleasant sky overhead. The trenches are drying up, and will soon be inhabitable again. . . .

Thursday, July 21. — General Bartlett arrived at division headquarters. Saw Jones there. The enemy shelled us heavily during afternoon and evening. An attack was expected on Willcox’s front. Day pleasant.

21st. 2nd N. Y. and 1st Conn. came out early and relieved us. Beat Col. P. a game of chess. Camped in the woods near our old camp. We have a nice place.

City Point, July 21st, 1864.

I have been sick with some form of fever for a few days past—just how many days, I have actually forgotten. I did not go to the hospital—Mr. Williams would not consent to that—as I could have good medical treatment and better care where I am. Yesterday I began to mend; today am feeling quite well, only rather weak. While I was sick the boys had things their own way, and a fearful way it was— nearly as bad as at first. Today I am sitting, or lying, where I can see the work is properly done and things “put to rights.” I saw Colonel Luce today. He tells me we—the Seventeenth—are going home in August to recruit, under the President’s last call. Good news, if true, but it fails to call up any enthusiasm on my part. “A burned child dreads the fire.” Possibly it may be true. The regiment has done no field duty since Spottsylvania, and has been changed to Engineers and Mechanics; besides, it is General Wilcox’s pet regiment. I am trying hard to make myself believe it. I do, almost. Soon as I am strong enough, I am promised a horseback ride to the regiment. There, if the above report is not generally believed, I will try and get a furlough. We have had one rainy day, and the weather is delightfully cool.

July 21st. The sun came up this morning bright and warm. The morning finds us in the same woods where we passed the night. A foraging party, sent out last night from our regiment, returned with flour, bacon, hams. The officers appropriated the best sugar-cured hams. Late in the night the hams were taken from the officers’ mess. No one seemed to know what became of them. Officers put up a great kick, were mad through and through. Of course the boys were all innocent. Punishment was in store for the rascals who stole the hams. A fine nice piece found its way into my haversack. I did not put it there but thought I could guess who did. I did not ask any questions. It sure was good to eat.

I visited the river to take a look at the place where we crossed during the battle of the 18th. Thought it another case of mismanagement, although it did seem at times that men must be sacrificed in order to find out the plans and location of the enemy. No troops should have crossed that river at the time without being well supported. That was the way we felt about it. The bed of the river was the grave of some of our boys. Marching orders for early tomorrow morning. Hope to get a good night’s rest.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, July 21. Very cold day. Grazed as usual. Returned to find all my tent mates gone berrying. Washed my dirty clothing after dinner. A very heavy thunder storm came up, 4 P. M. Deluged everything in my bunk and soaked everybody in our shanty, a laughable time of it, though rather wet. The berry party had returned, and we ate while it rained, having a jolly time. Late in the evening a bouncing big mail arrived, nearly all served. I received one, from T. L. and family’s photograph. Very lifelike and acceptable.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 21ST.—Clear and warm. Bought fifty cabbage-plants and set them out before breakfast.

            Gen. Early met Gen. Hunter at Snicker’s Gap, and whipped him.

All quiet atPetersburg. Grant must be dead, sure enough. Gen. Bragg left the city some days ago. The following is a verbatim dispatch received from him yesterday:

“MONTGOMERY,ALA., July 19th, 1864.

            “COL. J. B. SALE :—The enemy still hold West Point Railroad Forces are moving forward to dislodge them. Gen. S. D. Lee in forms me 5000 (13th Army Corps) passed Vicksburg on the 16th, supposed to be going to White River. Reported Memphis, 19th Army Corps, Franklin left New Orleans on the 4th for Fort Monroe, 13,000 strong. Ought not Taylor’s forces to cross the Mississippi?
“I hear nothing from Johnston.
“Telegraph me toColumbus,Ga.

“B. BRAGG, General.”                     

Thursday, 21st—The same thing over and over, again and again.[1] All the available rooms in town have now been turned into hospital wards. We have single, iron cots with good mattresses, and the sheets and pillows are kept nice and clean.


[1] On this day the Iowa Brigade made a charge on Bald Hill, in front of Atlanta.—A. G. D.