Monday, 19th.—Marched seventeen miles and camped four miles from Palmetto.
Friday, September 19, 2014
September 19th. Roused up at daylight by heavy cannonading in the direction of Winchester. The battle was on. Those of us who were off duty, with some of the towns-people, went to the top of a high hill to listen to the roar of musketry and the field guns. It was something frightful as it continued. We were ordered to hold ourselves ready to fall in at any moment. The inhabitants as well as the soldiers wore an anxious look as the battle was on. After a time the firing ceased and we began to wonder how the battle was going on. Later we heard it again but knew from the sound that it was farther away. Then we began to rejoice and the inhabitants, with a sad face, went to their homes. Late in the afternoon the news came that Early was routed and was fleeing up the valley. Then our boys began to wish that we were in it. Sheridan placed us at Charlestown to guard and care for the wagon train. It is not our fault to miss the battle.
September 19.—I received a letter from my brother, saying he had lost all his clothes except what he had on, and wishing me to procure more. As they could not be obtained here, I went up to Macon on the 17th, in company with Captain Tomlinson. He and his family are refugees from Tennessee.
He told me that Governor Brown was out with a proclamation, warning the people against refugees and runaway negroes. I think he must be deranged, as I do not think a man in his senses could be guilty of outraging the feelings of the people, as he does. We all know that there have been bad people, who have taken advantage of their being refugees, to impose on good people. But that is no reason why the good and patriotic, who have been driven from their quiet homes by the ruthless foe, should be insulted in this manner. I really think that the character of the good people of Georgia has suffered from this half-distracted governor.
On arriving at Macon, I went to Dr. Cannon’s, and one of his daughters accompanied me to Major Fairbanks, quartermaster, and one of the best men we have in the service. I told him my errand. It is against orders to get clothes from a quartermaster without a descriptive list, so I was uncertain about getting them. Major F. said, if my brother was as good a soldier as myself, he could have them. I answered, he was a much better one, as he never grumbled at any thing.
We then called on Mrs. General Anderson, who was in town with her husband, he having been badly wounded near Atlanta. He was not at home, but we saw the general’s mother, and she said he was improving.
A lady friend in Macon told mo that one of her daughters had gone through the lines to Memphis, proceeded to New York, and returned by Fortress Monroe. She went to Washington to procure a pass from Stanton, which he refused to give, but she received one from Lincoln. On reaching Fortress Monroe, General Butler disregarded her pass, and had her arrested as a spy, and she was imprisoned for six weeks. Before her trial could come off she had to send to Richmond for Colonel Breckinridge to act as witness in her defense. He had been at Fortress Monroe when she first arrived there. She was arrested on the charge of having spoken treason to him.
There is a young man stopping at Dr. Cannon’s, by the name of Stone. He has just come from Arkansas in company with recruits from that state for our army.
On Sunday, 18th, I went to church with Miss C, my old friend Mr. Stickney, and Captain Prendergast. The last has again been wounded, and was then on his way to Mississippi. He does not like Hood as a commander, and gave us a description of the terrible work in the army since that general took command. They have had to march all day, throw up intrenchmonts at night, and fight incessantly! He says they have suffered almost beyond human endurance .
Macon is a beautiful place; the streets are very wide, and the buildings lofty. It is the third town in importance in Georgia, and is one hundred miles south-east of Atlanta. The Ocamulgee River runs through it. It is a very patriotic place; the citizens have done much for the cause. The Wayside Home, of which Dr. C. has charge, is entirely supported by them. I only wish there was one at every place where our soldiers are likely to be detained. I think it one of the most useful institutions we have. When the soldiers get furloughs from the army or hospital, on their way home they are often detained at stopping-places, waiting for cars. They generally have no money, and nothing to eat, so they come to the Wayside Home, lodge there, and get their meals.
Several months ago Macon was attacked by a large raiding party, but it was driven off by our troops. I have been told by eye-witnesses that the enemy threw shells promiscuously, and some of them fell into the hospitals.
I got a very nice lot of clothes for my brother. Besides what I procured from Major F., Dr. C. procured me some from the Georgia Relief Association, and also took the parcel and got the same society to send it on. I shall ever remember the kindness of Dr. Cannon and his charming daughters with heartfelt pleasure.
The morning I left Macon I met my two kind friends, Drs. Gamble and Bemiss. Dr. G. is now post surgeon of Macon. Dr. B. is anxious to get back to the hospital again; he says it is much more gratifying to wait on patients than what he is doing.
Lieutenant Bond, a member of Garrety’s battery, is killed. He had been wounded, and was on his way home, when the train met with an accident, and he was killed instantly. This is the third lieutenant that company has lost in the last three months.
September 19th.—My pink silk dress I have sold for $600, to be paid for in instalments, two hundred a month for three months. And I sell my eggs and butter from home for two hundred dollars a month. Does it not sound well —four hundred dollars a month regularly. But in what? In Confederate money. Hélas!
Monday, 19th—The sick in the hospitals are getting along well. Part of the men here received two months’ pay today, $32.00. The pay of soldiers has been raised to $16.00 per month since May 1, 1864.[1]
[1] The $32.00 I received was the first pay I got since leaving Davenport on Sunday, April 24, 1864.—A. G. D.
Etowah Bridge, Monday, Sept. 19. Pine day. Health not very good. On fatigue in the morning. Teams go out in division train, bringing in corn. Our horses will now have to live off the country for awhile. Another request to be relieved was sent to General Howard’s headquarters to-day by Lieutenant Clark, the former supposed to have been pigeon-holed somewhere. John Rogers started home on sick furlough.
Monday, September 19.— Found that the officer who called yesterday thought the corporal was the Provost Marshal, Captain Hampton. He received a letter from General Ripley, commanding post at Charleston, asking whether my “status,” as Captain Senn called it, was good. He rather thought it was, on inquiry. Day cloudy. Began Mistress and Maid. We heard that men were being sent away from Andersonville.
Monday, September 19, 1864. — Marched fifteen miles and gained the battle of Winchester. Colonel Duval and Captain Hastings wounded near the close of the battle. I took command of the Second (old “Kanawha”) Division at end of day.
September 19 — This morning some Yankee raiders burnt a bridge on the Rapidan — a railroad bridge, I think.
The occurrence caused considerable excitement here at Gordonsville and gave rise to various wildcat rumors flying around thick and fast, that the Yankees were advancing on the town with a heavy force. The employees at home, and the lame, halt and almost blind from the hospitals all turned out to defend the town. It was a motley crew, some few of whom had guns, but most of the men were without arms of any kind, yet they looked as if they were nearly ready to die in the last ditch. My captain sent me word to defend the town at all hazards. When I received his dispatch I moved one of our guns about four hundred yards east of the town to a position that commands the road that leads toward the Rapidan, and I was ready for fight. But happily, after the raiders destroyed the bridge, they disappeared in some other direction and the battle of Gordonsville was postponed to a more convenient season.
(Battle of Winchester)
19th. Monday. Moved at 2 A. M. Slept with Houghton. Reached the Opequon about daylight, 2nd N. Y. charging. After this, constant charging till we drove a rebel brigade of infantry from fortified position. Very hard fighting. Gen. McIntosh always in the van. When Gen. Sheridan came up he patted Mc. on shoulder and said, “You have done nobly.” Moved to left. More charging on flank. Gen. Mc. and Chapman wounded. Purington in command. Just before dark whole rebel force was routed. Followed 8 miles and camped.
