Monday, 28th.—Ordered to move at day-light. Federals evacuated Columbia last night. We marched through town; Federals just across Duck River. Brigade moved about two miles to left of railroad bridge. Shelled us nearly all the way, but did no damage. Bridge burning, and Yanks on opposite side of river fortifying. I was sent with detail of thirty from our company to a fort as sharp-shooters, about five hundred yards distant. Kept up shooting all day. Ball struck my gun and glanced off and struck another man on head, wounding him slightly. No others hurt, as we were well protected in fort.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Sunday, November 27. — To be marked with a white cross. Over two hundred letters received here to-day, all old mail. I received four, one from James, one from Howland, Frank Balch and O. B. L. Day quite warm and pleasant.
Sunday, 27th—We started at 8 o’clock this morning, marched eight miles, and went into camp for the remainder of the day. On our march this forenoon our division, the Third, destroyed ten miles of the railroad east of the Oconee river. The Fifteenth Corps is off on our right about two miles, while the Fourteenth and the Twentieth with Kilpatrick’s cavalry are off on the left, out toward Augusta, Georgia. All is quiet in front. This is a very fine country, thickly settled and with some very nice farms, though the soil is very sandy and there is considerable pine timber.
Camp Russell, November 27, [1864]. Sunday.
Dear Mother: — We are not in winter quarters yet. The continued presence of the Rebel army in our front, or Sherman’s campaign, or Grant’s, or something else, keeps us in suspense. But we are gradually improving our condition and quarters until now we are pretty comfortable, and if we finally stay here for the winter, I, for one, shall not grumble.
We had a jovial Thanksgiving. A fair supply of turkeys and other good things from the cities, together with good weather, made the day cheerful.
The railroad, it is supposed, will be finished to within four or five miles of us this week. We shall then have mails and supplies with some regularity.
I still hope to get settled in time to visit [home] during the holidays. My kind regards to Mrs. Wasson and Sophia.
Affectionately, your son,
R.
Mrs. Sophia Hayes.
Sunday, 27. — A ride with Colonel Comly; a visit to General Crook. A fine day; a brigade dress parade. All pleasant.
November 27th.—Cloudy and warmer; slight rain. Nothing from Bragg this morning. Nothing from below the city.
When I entered the Secretary’s room this morning, I found him as grave as usual. L. Q. Washington, son of Peter Washington, once a clerk under President Tyler (and he still remains in the United States), and grandson of Lund Washington, who, we learn by one of the published letters of Gen. Washington, was his overseer, with no traceable relationship to his family, was seated with him. He is chief clerk to Mr. Benjamin, a sinecure position in the State Department. He was placed there by Mr. Hunter, after writing a series of communications for the Examiner, as Mr. Pollard informed me, denunciatory of Mr. Stephens, Vice-President Confederate States. Mr. Kean and Mr. Shepherd, the clean chief clerk, were also present, enjoying the Hon. Secretary’s confidence. They are all comparatively young men, whom the Secretary has not assigned to positions in the field, although men are alone wanted to achieve independence. They were discussing a resolution of Congress, calling for the names, ages, etc. of the civil and military officers employed by the Secretary in Richmond, or it might have been the subject of the removal of the government, or the chances of success, etc., or the President’s appointment of Gen. Bragg to command the army in Georgia, or Mr. Hunter’s prospects for the Presidency. No matter what.
It is a dismal day, and a settled vexation is on the faces of many of the officials. But if the time should come for flight, etc., I predict many will have abundance of funds in Europe. The quartermasters, commissaries, etc. will take care of themselves by submission. The railroad companies have already taken care of themselves by their partnership with the speculators. The express company bribes all branches of the government, and I fear it has obliged some of the members of the President’s military or domestic family.
By a report from the Niter and Mining Bureau, it appears that thirteen furnaces of the thirty odd in Virginia have ceased operations. Several have been destroyed by the enemy; the ore and fuel of others have become exhausted; and those in blast threaten to cease work for want of hands, the men being put in the army.
Nashville, Sunday, Nov. 27. Very wet but did not rain much. Griff, Milt and myself went to church, not acquainted with any one. Curiosity led us into the Catholic Church, it being the first time I was ever in such, and the mode of worshipping struck me very forcibly.
Returned to camp to find tent struck and moved behind the guns. Worked in the evening, the remainder of the Sabbath day, ditching camp, etc. By night we were in shape, and camp is in very pretty shape, each platoon in line, sections facing, but the ground is very low for wet weather. What a vast difference between this, and the Sunday they have spent at home. Are we, the privates, held accountable for this disregard for the holy Sabbath day?
27th. Sunday. Brigade inspection in the morning. Officers and men are becoming pretty thoroughly disgusted with Col. Pennington on account of his mean and inconsistent orders. Wrote home.
Riddlesville, November 27, 1864.
Was foraging this morning and supplied the regiment with staples within a mile of camp. Took the road as train guard at 1 a.m. Have had a tedious march over sandy roads and through pine woods for 11 miles. It is too dark to see the town. Have heard no “music” to-day. We crossed the head waters of the Ohoopee river to-day. Saw a magnolia tree by the road. The first I have seen in Georgia.
