June 16—Resting to-day.
June 17—We crossed the Potomac River to-day at 1 P.M., and camped in Williamsport, Maryland, on the banks of the Potomac. Two miles to-day. The river is knee-deep.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Wednesday, 17th—Drill morning and evening inspection. Received two letters, one from Cousin Jennie, one from Tom Maxwell.
June 17th. Early this morning, mortars of lower fleet firing at intervals. At ten A. M. gunboat Sachem came down the river with despatches, and anchored ahead of the Albatross, off Falls river; burned several buildings on left bank of river; artillery and musketry firing in rear of Port Hudson, which continued until twelve o’clock; at ten thirty P. M., two rockets were seen sent up from Port Hudson.
JUNE 17TH—I was detailed to the charge of a squad of men to guard rebel prisoners in the corral at Logan‘s headquarters. They were not hard to guard, for they think themselves in pretty good hands, and surely they seem to get better grub here than in their own lines. Some of them are deserters, and upon such I look with contempt. I am ready to share my rations with an honest prisoner, but have no use for a man who enlists in a cause, and then deserts his comrades when they get into a tight place.
If what they say is true, the garrison over there is already familiar with mule meat and scanty meal rations. If they have had to eat mules such as we have killed in the trenches, I pity them, for they are on a tough job. Several cows which I suppose had served families there with milk, we had to kill for browsing too close to our lines.
I am pretty well convinced Pemberton would not hold out much longer but for the help he expects from Johnston. If that, however, is all the hope they have, they might as well surrender at once, for if Johnston should come, he can not do them any good.
A ball struck a little drummer boy a while ago, and he limped off, whimpering: “I wouldn’t care a darn, but my other leg has been shot already.” Some of the boys went to his assistance, and then they had to hurry towards the hospital, for the rebels got range of them and began firing quite briskly.
I was quite amused to see one of the prisoners brought in today, eating his supper. We gave him all he could eat, and that was no small amount. But he was certainly a very hungry man, and if he is a fair sample of those remaining in Vicksburg, Uncle Sam’s commissary will have to endure quite a burden, for after the surrender, no doubt, Grant will have to feed them all.
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* Shenkle’s Projectile – This projectile, as shown in No. 1, is composed of a cast-iron body. The expanding portion is a paper-mache wad, which being forced on to the cone, is expanded into the rifling of the bore. On issuing from the bore, the wad is blown to pieces, leaving the projectile entirely unencumbered in it’s flight through the air (No.2.)
June 17 — There was a right smart shooting during the last night. Firing as usual this morning. 6 o’clock p.m. — Co’s B and G now starts out on picket in front of the trenches. 7 o’clock — we have arrived at the picket post. The bullets cut pretty close to us here. Speed — speed the hour that we’ll deliver from this place. W.R.C.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 17TH.—The city has been gladdened by the reception of this dispatch from Gen. Lee :
“JUNE 15th, 1863.
“HIS EXCELLENCY, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
“God has again crowned the valor of our troops with success. Early’s division stormed the enemy’s intrenchments at Winchester, capturing their artillery, etc.
“(Signed)R. E. LEE, General.”
Subsequent reports to the press state that we captured some 6000 prisoners, Gen. Milroy among them, 50 guns, and a large amount of stores. If we caught Milroy, the impression prevails that he was hung immediately, in accordance with the President’s order some time since, as a just punishment for the outrages inflicted by him on our helpless old men, women, and children.
A sealed envelope came in to-day, addressed by the President to the Secretary of War, marked “Highly important and confidential,” which, of course, I sent to the Secretary immediately without breaking the seal, as it is my duty to do to all letters not private or confidential. I can as yet only conjecture what it referred to. It may be of good, and it may be of bad import. It may relate to affairs in the West; or it may be a communication from abroad, several steamers having just arrived. Can it be from the Government at Washington? I care not what it is, if we hold Vicksburg.
The Commissary-General reports that he has some 8,000,000 pounds of bacon, and quite as much salt and fresh beef at [click to continue…]
June 17th, 1863.—Vague and contradictory rumors fill the air; we seem to be upon the brink of a change some way. The army of Northern Virginia is on the move and we can only pray and work, for it grows more difficult with every passing day to provide the barest necessities for our brave boys at the front. Never did men fight under greater disadvantages. The armies must be supplied even if the home-folks starve. We do not let them know how we have to stint ourselves. They must not have our burdens to bear in addition to their own.
Wednesday, 17th.—Rained light shower yesterday. On detail; worked all night on abatis. Sick and sent to sick camp; firing about as usual.
