Wednesday, August 3d.
All being quiet along the lines, I procured a horse and visited City Point for the first time since my arrival before Petersburg. While there I met one of our Assistant Surgeons, who had come down with an ambulance to get some ice and other needed medical supplies, and arranged to go back to camp in his company. The day was very warm, and when we were ready to start and while in the act of mounting my horse, I suddenly fainted, and the next thing of which I was conscious was the fact that I was lying on a blanket spread on the ice in the doctor’s ambulance, and I remained there most of the time until we reached our lines, my horse being led by the bridle behind us. The doctor seemed to regard my attack as not at all serious, and prescribed rest and a gentle tonic treatment, and I crawled into my bunk.
3rd. Received papers of 1st claiming a grand victory here— all bosh—sorry. Some one is much at fault that the grand plan of July 30, 1864, failed. Grant seems to have used the best strategy and skill. Who is at fault will soon be determined. Visited the picket line. Saw the Johnnies. Many amusing incidents occur daily. As our line fell back July 30 the rebel line advanced. When we went back Johnnies occupied one of our posts. Had saluted the sergeant and asked if we intended establishing our old line and carelessly fell back. Today Johnnies and our men gather apples from the same trees. Boys trade tobacco, coffee and many things.
August 3d.—Yesterday was such a lucky day for my housekeeping in our hired house. Oh, ye kind Columbia folk! Mrs. Alex Taylor, née Hayne, sent me a huge bowl of yellow butter and a basket to match of every vegetable in season. Mrs. Preston’s man came with mushrooms freshly cut and Mrs. Tom Taylor’s with fine melons.
Sent Smith and Johnson (my house servant and a carpenter from home, respectively) to the Commissary’s with our wagon for supplies. They made a mistake, so they said, and went to the depot instead, and stayed there all day. I needed a servant sadly in many ways all day long, but I hope Smith and Johnson had a good time. I did not lose patience until Harriet came in an omnibus because I had neither servants nor horse to send to the station for her.
Stephen Elliott is wounded, and his wife and father have gone to him. Six hundred of his men were destroyed in a mine; and part of his brigade taken prisoners: Stoneman and his raiders have been captured. This last fact gives a slightly different hue to our horizon of unmitigated misery.
General L—— told us of an unpleasant scene at the President’s last winter. He called there to see Mrs. McLean. Mrs. Davis was in the room and he did not speak to her. He did not intend to be rude; it was merely an oversight. And so he called again and tried to apologize, to remedy his blunder, but the President was inexorable, and would not receive his overtures of peace and good-will.
General L—— is a New York man. Talk of the savagery of slavery, heavens! How perfect are our men’s manners down here, how suave, how polished are they. Fancy one of them forgetting to speak to Mrs. Davis in her own drawing-room.
Wednesday, August 3. — Remained in the same place. Had a shower which cooled the air somewhat. General Bartlett went to the hospital yesterday. He seemed almost worn out. He is no better to-day. Heard that we were to move to-morrow to Columbia, S. C. Had our usual ration of coarse corn-bread and bacon, and an extra one for to-morrow.
Friday, August 3, 1864. — Wednesday, marched eighteen to twenty miles across the Catoctin (Blue) Ridge, [and on] through Frederick to the left bank of the Monocacy, one and one-half miles below [Frederick] Junction [where we camped]. Yesterday [there arrived] ninety recruits for [the] Twenty-third, a deserter from Charleston among them. Providential!.—[I] rode into Frederick with General Crook, and dined with Dr. Steele, of Dayton. Today [was the] trial [drumhead court-martial] of deserter Whitlow. He was shot at sundown before all the troops.
Wednesday, 3d—Everything is quiet here in Rome, Georgia. There is no news from General Grant’s army.
August 3d. Called out very early this morning. Left camp and on the march at 3 A. M. Enjoying the march through this fine country. After a time we began to ascend the mountains. Said to be the South Mountains. A fine view of the surrounding country. Peaceful and quiet. The inhabitants along the line of march seem to be very friendly. Maryland has regiments on both sides, Union and Confederate. After marching along the top of the mountains for a few hours, we began to descend, coming out on the Frederick City Pike, which we had traveled before. Passed on through the city, out on the Monocacy Junction Pike, which we reached after a short march. Crossed the Monocacy River, going into camp near the river. Here we were surprised to see the 19th Corps, just arrived from New Orleans. In the corps was the 9th, 12th, 13th Connecticut Regiments. Pleased to meet the Connecticut boys. Our record for today’s marching is estimated about twenty miles.
Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 3. Kilpatrick’s Cavalry, two brigades of which were camped below town, moved out early this morning for the front with their division train. Cavalry makes a big display, and it took them till nearly noon to get under way, occupying as much road as a corps of infantry would. 93rd Illinois also moved by to relieve 18th Wisconsin at Allatoona, to allow them to take their veteran furlough, so long and patiently waited for. Sixteen picked mule-teams from the Division went to Sherman’s headquarters. Rode out grazing this morning. Brought in a bag of peaches. Had sauce and pies, very good. Lucky enough to buy a paper upon the train to-night. Good news from Grant. Commenced his old game of blowing up as at Vicksburg.
by John Beauchamp Jones
AUGUST 3D.—Cloudy, but no rain.
The press dispatches last night assert that still another raiding party, besides Stoneman’s, was dispersed or captured.
It is rumored to-day that Beauregard has sprung a mine under Grant’s fortifications. This may be so. Later. It was not so.
