June 10th. Commenced with pleasant but warm weather. Thin clothing is the order of the day. At a little before daylight, the mortar vessels of lower fleet, engaging the rebel batteries; at nine A. M., inspected crew at quarters; at about this hour, great guns were fired in and in the rear of Port Hudson. During the watch from eight P. M. to midnight, the mortars inland, of the army, shelling the rebel works.
Monday, June 10, 2013
June 10 — Sharp shooting as usual again today. 4 o’clock p.m. —We have had a fine rain today. 5 o’clock p.m. -cannonading pretty rapidly at this hour. Night has again come on. The wind is blowing hard and a dark cloud is rising, while the bright lightnings play across the heavens and the awful thunder appears to shake the whole earth. Oh! May Jehovah, he who rides upon every tempest protect me tonight. W.R.C.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 10TH.—We have news of a fight on the Rappahannock yesterday, above Fredericksburg, the enemy having crossed again. They were driven back.
There are also reports from Vicksburg, which still holds out. Accounts say that Grant has lost 40,000 men so far. Where Johnston is, we have no knowledge; but in one of his recent letters he intimated that the fall of Vicksburg was a matter of time.
June 10th, 1863.—Dr. English came today and with him Captain John Yates Beall, the soldier he had written about. Captain Beall is young and very good-looking. He has the front room up stairs, where he can be cool and we have our orders to make no noise. He must not talk and he has to take nourishment every three hours. Father dressed his wound and left him to sleep a while. I hope I do not forget and make a noise.
Sister Mag, with her family, and Sister Mart have gone to Bath, where Brother Amos has a furnished house, left to him in his father’s will. It is large and pleasantly located, built expressly for the summer-time and cool and airy. Brother Amos has never recovered from his wound and the doctors, who have examined him, say he will never be fit for service again, but he says he is going back, just as soon as he feels well again. That is the spirit which animates all our soldiers.
Mother keeps surprisingly well. We are so glad of it for it is impossible to leave home in search of health in these busy days.
Cairo, Ill., June 10th, 1863.
We are now three hundred and sixty-six miles from Lebanon, which place we left at 3 p. m. of Sunday, and reached Louisville about seven. The ladies had prepared supper and we partook of it with many thanks to the generous doners. After supper we crossed over to Jefferson and took cars for this place. Here we missed the executive ability of General Poe. In all our journeying from Newport News everything was arranged with care and precision. Here all was disorder and confusion. The cars assigned to our regiment were partly filled with men and baggage of other regiments. Colonel Luce requested the officer who seemed to be in charge to remove them. This he refused to do, swearing they would have a fight first. The Colonel looked in vain for someone to bring order out of this chaos. Finally he assumed the responsibility himself; told the officer in charge if a fight was what he wanted, a fight he should have; ordered us to throw them out, and we did it with a will. About daylight we took possession and were soon under way.
Our trip through Indiana and Illinois caused an ovation. It seemed that the entire population turned out to encourage and cheer us on our way. Women and children, with bright smiles and waving handkerchiefs, thronged the way, and at every station fruit,cakes, bread and butter, newspapers, and, better than all, warm, friendly greetings, were literally showered upon us.
At Washington, Indiana, we halted for supper. It was midnight, but, as usual, the station was thronged with people of both sexes and all ages. Some ladies came to our car—food was served in the cars—and requested that all who were asleep might be awakened, for, as they had been cooking until that time of night, and had then walked nearly a mile to see us, they would like to see us all. So we aroused the sleepers, and had a lively time during our short stay.
They presented us with bouquets, cards, mottoes, etc., and took their leave with many kind wishes for our success and safe return to our families and friends. God bless the loyal people of America, is the soldier’s prayer.
We reached Cairo about twelve o’clock last night, and immediately went on board of transports.
June 10. — Had a letter from Hannah this morning. Went over to see Captain Starr, and from there to headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, after dinner. Heard of the fight our cavalry were in, and found that they behaved very well. Went over to the Engineer Brigade, but found no one there. Day warm, and towards evening cloudy and threatening rain.
Wednesday, 10th.—Rained hard all day; man in Company E. mortally wounded.
