Monday, June 3d.—Our forces hold railroad at Acworth. Halted our brigade at breast-works west of Kenasaw. Stewart’s Corps took Big Shanty. [This entry is in the book after October 2d.]
Friday, October 3, 2014
Etowah Bridge, Monday, Oct. 3. Rode Sweet’s horse out this morning to get muscadines. Caught in an awful shower, got thoroughly drenched. Storms are very frequent and come with more vehemence here than any place I have ever seen. The last two weeks past heavy rains every twenty-four hours, deluging camp, sweeping down the hillsides, raising the rippling Etowah into a turbid torrent, even leaping its banks and carrying everything in its way like an infuriated monster. A large body of earth and rock fell from the side of the railroad cut in this, hill, filling the track. Fifty men of the 48th at work most all night clearing it out. Our lower bastion also fell in, in consequence of the heavy rains.
Monday, 3d—A heavy rain last night. We started early this morning and arrived in camp about 9 o’clock. This afternoon we received orders to prepare to march early tomorrow morning with fifteen days’ rations. It is supposed that the expedition is going out towards Kenesaw mountain, as it is reported that Hood is moving north with the main part of his army, and that he is now in the vicinity of Kenesaw. The Fourteenth, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps are to move north, while the Twentieth and Twenty-third are to remain here at Atlanta. News came today that General Grant is within five miles of Richmond and that he has whipped the rebels at every point.
Monday, October 3. — Rained hard all night. Morning dark and gloomy. Cleared off for a little while during the clay. Dr. Marks called to see me. Said he sent me a basket of books, which did not reach me. Is going to write to General Ripley for me. Received particulars of the fights near Petersburg and Richmond.
October 3 — We unloaded our guns from the cars this morning, then moved two miles down the river and camped in a section of country full of good and well cultivated farms, on the west side of the river.
3rd. Saddled at 4 A. M. No demonstration.
October 3d.—Misty and damp, but warm.
Guns heard down the river. On Friday, it seems, the enemy penetrated and held a portion of our works below Petersburg; and although we captured many prisoners, it does not appear that we regained the works or retook the cannon.
So far, although the enemy’s loss in men may have been greater in the operations of the last few days, it would seem that we have lost ground; that our forts, etc. have been captured and held, up to this moment; and that both the right and left wings of Grant have been advanced, and established in the positions taken. All this, too, under the eye of Gen. Lee. It is enough to make one tremble for Richmond. They do not heed his calls for men.
In the North, the Presidential campaign is growing warm. McClellan’s friends have been denounced as “traitors” in Ohio, and one of their meetings broken up by the soldiers. This fire may spread, and relieve us.
It is now said a corps of the enemy’s infantry was really peeping from the groves and lanes west of the city, on Saturday, when the furious shelling took place.
Rumors—we have nothing but rumors—of fighting, said to be in progress on the south side of the river. It is said the enemy, that were a few days ago menacing Richmond, are recrossing to the Petersburg side.
