Tuesday, 11th.—Marched to Lowry’s Chapel eighteen miles from Resacca.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 11. This morning as we awoke the bugles of the 4th and 14th Army Corps resounded through the hills, and the plain in front of our camp was covered with camp fires, looking “as of old”. They had marched nearly all night, many of them very hungry. Opened ten boxes of surplus hard-tack for those that came after them during the night. They again filed out 6 A. M., many of them without a wink of sleep. Advance of the old 15th Army Corps came in sight 8 A.M. having marched ten miles before breakfast. Moving very rapidly. Pioneers digging rifle pits. Battery boys worked on the old embrasure till 3 P. M., when the assembly sounded and orders given to hitch up and prepare to move immediately. Somewhat surprised we hastily made the necessary preparations, stood harnessed up half an hour, when the order was countermanded and estimate sent in of horses necessary to move the Battery. Commenced writing to John but was interrupted by the arrival of a heavy mail. I received but one.
Tuesday, 11th—The weather has been cool and pleasant for several days. Our entire corps started early this morning at 2 o’clock, going as we suppose, to Kingston. We marched through to Cartersville, where we went into camp for the night.
We hear that there was a hard fight at Altoona yesterday with fearful loss of life on both sides, but Hood had to give up trying to capture the place. It is reported that Hood is now moving toward Rome, Georgia.
Allatoona Pass, October 11, 1864.
Our corps moved at the setting of the sun, and continued moving until we were all confoundedly tired. I never saw the men so noisy, funny, or in any way or every way feeling half so good. After we had marched about eight miles, one of Howard’s staff came back along the line and informed us that Sherman had just notified Howard that Richmond is ours. Everybody believed it, but nobody cheered. They were saving the yells for the confirmation. We camped at 1 a.m. with orders for reveille at 4 and march at 5 a.m.
Tuesday, October 11. — The navy officers received orders to go to Richmond this A.M. They were the happiest set of men I have ever seen. In the afternoon we sang “Auld Lang Syne,” etc. All day they were busy giving away blankets, etc. I sent a letter to Raish and one to Hiram. Had our windows fixed to-day by boarding the upper part, and putting a sliding board for the lower sash. Day pleasant. Last night cold. Filler went with the navy.
Richland Jail, Columbia, S. C., Sept. 25, 1864.
(Oct. 11. Am very well and in good spirits. [over])
Dear Father, — Have heard nothing from home except the letter written on 29th ult., enclosing one from Alice. I am going to send this letter by a different channel, and think you might answer through the same way. Your letters would then come with more certainty.
Dr. Marks called again to see me this week. He seems in very feeble health and I am afraid will not live long.
The navy officers will probably leave here next week. I shall send letters by them.
Am well and comfortable. Captain Amory the same.
Time passes rather slowly here. We have nothing to do except reading and card-playing. In the day-time we walk about the yard, and amuse ourselves with an occasional game of quoits. I usually write you twice a week, and hope that you receive most of the letters. We are allowed to subscribe for the papers, and have the news from Richmond and Charleston. The prisoners confined here are almost all of them in good health. Indeed, there have been no very serious cases of sickness since we have been here. Both Captain A. and myself are well provided with everything, so that you need not feel anxious on account of our health. . . .
(Written on back of letter)
Dear Father, — As the navy officers start to-morrow I thought I would send this note by them. As you see from the original date, it is some time since the ink part was written. We are all well here. A Mr. John Caldwell called here last Friday and offered to cash my draft on you for any amount. So you see I am all right. I shall give him a draft for 50 dollars in gold, which will last me some time, although I have to pay some borrowed money out of it. Almost all the officers in the Southern Confederacy are now confined in a stockade about two miles from this town. They were sent here from Charleston. I hear that the privates in C. are dying at the rate of 100 a day from yellow fever. They are so worn out by their imprisonment that they are fit subjects for any epidemic. Tell Hannah that her letter of Sept. 16th reached me about two days ago. Was very glad indeed to get it. In future when writing me you had better put care of Captain Senn, who commands our guard. Ensign Tillson of the navy will probably deliver this.
An outbreak occurred among the prisoners brought from Charleston the other day. Several managed to get away. . . .
11th. Tuesday. In camp till 4 P. M. Moved to position on Cedar Creek, passing Fisher’s Hill, via Pike and Strasburg. Camped near Middletown.
October 11th.—Bright and pleasant. All is quiet below.
From Georgia we have many rumors. It is reported that a battle has been fought (second time) at Altoona, which we captured, with 4000 prisoners; that Rome has been taken, with 3000 negro prisoners; and, finally, that we have Atlanta again. I have seen no such dispatches. But the gentleman who assured me it was all true, has a son a clerk at the President’s office, and a relative in the telegraph office. Dispatches may have come to the President; and, if so, it may be our policy to forbid their publication for the present, as the enemy would derive the first intelligence of their disaster from our newspapers.
Well, Gen. Gardner reports, officially, that of the number of exempts, and of the mixed class of citizens arrested in the streets, and summarily marched to the “front,” “a majority have deserted!” Men, with exemptions in their pockets, going to or returning from market, have been seized by the Adjutant-General’s orders, and despotically hurried off without being permitted even to send a message to their families. Thousands were entrapped, by being directed to call at Gen. Barton’s headquarters, an immense warehouse, and receive passes; but no Gen. Barton was there—or if there, not visible; and all the anxious seekers found themselves in prison, only to be liberated as they were incorporated into companies, and marched “to the front.” From the age of fifteen to fifty-five, all were seized by that order—no matter what papers they bore, or what the condition of their families—and hurried to the field, where there was no battle. No wonder there are many deserters—no wonder men become indifferent as to which side shall prevail, nor that the administration is falling into disrepute at the capital.
