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

Monday, August 4, 2014

Thursday, August 4th.

Found myself quite weak and exhausted this morning, and experienced some difficulty in walking but managed to keep up and around the camp. Companies A and M returned from Siege Train Landing to-day and joined the regiment, and an order was received again assigning us to the Second Corps. Lieut. Col. Alcock, now in command of the regiment, reported to our new corps commander but nothing was done about breaking camp. It is rumored that the Second Corps is to be sent to Washington, though precisely why we are not informed.

4th. Thursday. Letters received from Mr. Charles Wood and Mrs. Beers. Regt. relieved in the night.

Jacksonville, Fla.,
August 4, 1864.

Dear Sister L.:—

I wrote you a few days ago, but important items occurring and having occurred, I embrace the opportunity to drop you a line.

I think I wrote on the first that we were ordered on an expedition into the interior. That night I cut my foot badly with a broken tumbler, which little interruption will no doubt lay me on the shelf for some time. The regiment started next morning but I remained behind.

Now the camp is full of rumors. General Birney is reported to be relieved by General Hatch and ordered to the Army of the Potomac and that two regiments are to go with him. She points her shaky finger at the Seventh and Eighth as the two regiments. The Eighth is still at Palatka, though expected down to-day. Some say the Seventh and Ninth, the regiments Birney organized, are the ones to go, but the Ninth is at Beaufort out of his district, and unless he can take us there and exchange us for the Ninth, they are not apt to go. Of course, I like the prospect of going Grant, Glory and Richmond—I’ve fought and stumbled around there too long not to wish to be in at the death when the death is in prospect. I may meet E. too. Hurrah, for the Army of the Potomac! Still, I’m whistling before issuing from the sylvan shades. We are not certain to go after all.

Thursday, August 4. — Started for Columbia to-day at 6 A.M. Reached Greensboro about noon, and remained there until 6 P.M. It was election day in North Carolina, and this town is looked upon as rather Union in its feeling. Some of the inhabitants seemed to sympathize with us somewhat. Distance from Danville forty-eight miles. Started at 6 P.M. for Charlotte. The engineer and conductor were both drunk, having been celebrating the day (election day); the cars (old cattle cars) were nasty and dirty, the track, a single one-strap rail, in bad condition, and the train an hour behind time. We were to meet the train from the South at a turn-out some miles ahead, and taking everything into consideration, we had about as lively, exciting and unpleasant a ride as I ever hope to indulge in. The train went faster than I have ever been before, so much so that the cars would actually jump from the rail, and yawn and open everywhere. Our destination on this heat was Charlotte, one hundred and ten miles.

Thursday, 4th—It is warm and sultry. There is no news from the front. I am still serving the medicine to the sick.

August 4th. Fine morning. Had an early swim in the good clean waters of the Monocacy River. Later hunted up some bait, sat under a large tree to try my luck at fishing. Always keep a hook and line by me. Had very good luck. Dressed the fish at the river, went back to the camp, cooked them, and shared the fish with the boys. Only trouble was, I did not have enough for all our company. A battle had been fought at this point a few weeks before, between the forces of General Lew Wallace and the Confederate leader Early. Additional rations were given to us, one potato, one onion, large size. A long time since we had vegetables. They were all right. We boiled and ate them.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 4. The 63rd Illinois broke camp at the foot of the hill and moved into town as provost guards. This forenoon sultry. Sergeant Dixon took team outside lines after lumber. In the afternoon we went to work to tear down our single bunks and put up some double bunks on one side. Made cupboard, etc. More comfortable and snug. Bathed in the evening. All merry way into the night before we could sober down enough to go to sleep. Light-hearted and unconcerned about all things. Such is a soldier if he lives.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 4TH.—Clear and hot.

            All quiet atPetersburg. President Lincoln was at Fortress Monroe on Sunday last, after the explosion and its failure.

            The Northern papers acknowledge that Grant sustained a terrible disaster atPetersburg, losing in killed, wounded, and missing 5000. They say the negro troops caused the failure, by running back and breaking the lines of the whites. The blacks were pushed forward in front, and suffered most.

            From the same source we learn that our troops have penetratedPennsylvania, and laid the city ofChambersburg in ashes. This may be so, as they have burned some half dozen of our towns, and are now daily throwing shell intoCharleston,Atlanta, andPetersburg.

            A letter to the Secretary from J. Thompson, in Canada (per Capt. Hines), was received to-day. He says the work will not probably begin before the middle of August. I know not what sort of work. But he says much caution is necessary. I suppose it to be the destruction of the Federal army depots, etc. in theUnited States.

            Public meetings and the public press continue to denounce in unmeasured terms the high schedule of prices recently sanctioned by the Commissary and Quartermaster’s bureaus. And, although the schedule has been modified, much odium will attach to all concerned in it. A large farmer, at the rates fixed for his products, would realize, perhaps, $200,000 per annum.