Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Post image for Diary of a Line Officer.

Diary of a Line Officer.

May 28, 2014

The Diary of a Line Officer, Captain Augustus C. Brown, Co. H, 4th NY Heavy Artillery

Saturday, May 28th.

Started at 9 o’clock in the morning and marched all day, passing many attractive looking places, the plantation of John Carroll among others, and after making about twenty miles halted to boil coffee, but were ordered to cross the Pamunkey river, and did so at 5 o’clock at Old Ferry and camped on the heights beyond. During the day we came upon a Commissary, and those of us who could afford the luxury supplemented our usual and limited rations of hard-tack, brown sugar and coffee, with something equally bad but different in kind.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

May 28, 2014

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Saturday, 28th—We started at 7 o’clock this morning and dragging along slowly with our heavy trains, went into bivouac when we reached Somerville at 3 o’clock. Most of our road was over very rough country and besides we had to wade one river, the bridges being gone. Somerville is a mere village with a courthouse, a few stores and about twenty dwellings.

Post image for “…a heavy column of Rebels rose from a brush with a yell the devil ought to copyright..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“…a heavy column of Rebels rose from a brush with a yell the devil ought to copyright..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

May 28, 2014

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

May 28, 1864, 9 a.m.

Still in rifle pits. We have been treated to a terrific storm of shells, spherical case, and solid shot. The batteries are in plain sight of each other, and the gunners call it a thousand yards between them. I don’t think either battery does very fine work, but they make it more than interesting for us. A conical shell from a 12 pound gun passed through a log and struck a Company C man on the leg, only bruising him. Two solid shot fell in my company works, but hurt no one. Seven p.m.—Talk about fighting, etc., we’ve seen it this p.m. sure, of all the interesting and exciting times on record this must take the palm. At about 3:45 p.m., a heavy column of Rebels rose from a brush with a yell the devil ought to copyright, broke for and took three guns of the 1st Iowa Battery which were in front of the works (they never should have been placed there); the 6th Iowa boys, without orders, charged the Rebels, retook the battery and drove them back. They came down on our whole line, both ours and the 16th A. C, and for two hours attempted to drive us out. We repulsed them at every point without serious loss to us, but I believe they are at least 3,000 men short. In our brigade Colonel Dickerman, Lieutenant Colonel 6th Iowa commanding, and Major Gilsey, commanding 46th Ohio, are wounded. Besides these I don’t think our brigade lost over 80. It was a grand thing. I did not lose a man and only three companies of our regiment lost any. When the musketry was playing the hottest, Logan came dashing up along our line, waved his hat and told the boys to “give them hell, boys.” You should have heard them cheer him. It is Hardee’s Corps fighting us, and he promised his men a “Chickamauga,” but it turned out a “Bull Run” on their part. It is the same corps our regiment fought at Mission Ridge. Our line is very thin along here, but guess we can save it now. I heard a 40th boy get off an oddity this evening, he said: “If they come again, I am going to yell if there’s any danger of their taking us, ‘Worlds by Nation Right into line Wheel!’ and if that don’t scare them, I propose going.”

Post image for Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

May 28, 2014

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Saturday, 28th.—Started marching rather in direction of Marietta; broke the main spring of my gun lock and had to hunt the ordinance train for another gun. Marched ten miles and came to where we passed this A. M. Reported Pat Cleaborn’s Division gained a complete victory yesterday.

Post image for Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

May 28, 2014

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

May 28 — We renewed our wandering march this morning and marched toward the Pamunkey. We crossed the Virginia Central Railroad, at Atlee’s Station, about eight miles from Richmond, then moved on a road that leads nearly due east through Hanover town to the Pamunkey. To-day the enemy crossed to the south side of the Pamunkey, with a large force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. We saw the Yanks, and the whole country swarmed with them in our front; we had nothing to oppose their onward march but a small force of cavalry and two batteries of artillery.

General Hampton attacked the van of the enemy’s advance this afternoon at three o’clock near Old Church, about two miles from the Pamunkey. The fight was spirited, determined, and lasted till dark; the musketry was heavy at times on the Yankee side, as they had infantry engaged. Our cavalry fought gallantly and stuck to their position stubbornly, and repulsed two charges that the enemy made on our line, but late this evening we were forced to retire a short distance,— not more than three hundred yards,— as the enemy’s force was overwhelming and composed of a heavy force of infantry in addition to their cavalry. Our battery was under fire, but we did no firing, as the lay of the field and the peculiar conformation of the lines were unfavorable for artillery firing.

Late this evening we fell back to the south side of Tottapotamy Creek, a small stream just in rear of our line, and bivouacked for the night. General Breckinridge’s forces passed our bivouac at dusk this evening, going to the front; they won’t go very far before they will bump up against some lively game in the shape of Yankee infantry that General Hampton’s cavalry were fighting this afternoon.

The country along the Pamunkey in the lower part of Hanover County is mostly level. Weather sunny and hot.

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

May 28, 2014

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Huntsville, Saturday, May 28. A hot day. On detail to go outside pickets after wood. Reported in town 8 A. M. to go with division train. Train did not go, waited to see brigade guard. Loaded with forage and returned to camp. Drew two new mule teams to draw battery wagon and forge. Glorious news from Grant—within a day’s march of Richmond.

Post image for Civil War Diary of Charles H. Lynch.

Civil War Diary of Charles H. Lynch.

May 28, 2014

Civil War Diary of Charles H. Lynch, 18th Conn. Vol's.

May 28th. Nothing important occurred last night. All quiet this morning. In an open country where we have a good view. We are located west of the pike. Ordered to keep a sharp lookout for the enemy’s cavalry and guerillas. Late this afternoon we were relieved from picket duty. This is a fine country as we continue to see.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

May 28, 2014

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

28th. Saw Col. P. Train moved on to Newtown and camped. Regt. ordered to the cavalry corp. Made preparations to remain with the Regt.—Thede, Hank, Barb and I. Regt. captured nine reb wagons yesterday. Plenty of corn and bacon. Glee Club gave some music at F. F. V., reb family.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

May 28, 2014

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

by John Beauchamp Jones

            MAY 28TH.—Showers and sunshine.

            Grant has crossed the Pamunky, and Lee is at the Yellow Tavern—not more than six miles from the city. The hostile armies are only a few miles apart, and the GREAT BATTLE may occur at any time, at any hour; and we shall hear both the artillery and musketry from my dwelling.

            All is quiet on the south side of the river. Nothing from Georgia, except a short address from Gen. Johnston to the army, stating that, having the enemy now where he wants him, he will lead the soldiers to battle.

            War and famine develop some of the worst instincts of our nature. For five days the government has been selling meal, by the peck, for $12: and yet those who have been purchasing have endeavored to keep it a secret! And the government turns extortioner, making $45 profit per bushel out of the necessities of the people!

            I saw a dispatch, to-day, from Gen. Johnston to his Chief Commissary, at Atlanta, ordering him, after reserving ten days’ rations, to send the rest of the stores to Augusta!

It is said Mr. Memminger and certain members of Congress have in readiness the means of sudden flight, in the event of Grant’s forcing his way into the city.

            It is thought, to-day, that Bragg will resign. If he does, then the President will be humiliated; for the attacks on Bragg are meant principally for Mr. Davis. But I doubt the story; I don’t think the President will permit Bragg to retire before his enemies, unless affairs become desperate by the defeat of our army in this vicinity.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

May 28, 2014

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Saturday, [May] 28.— Colonel Brown and [the] Thirteenth came up last night; seemed glad to be with the brigade all at one camp. I was certainly glad.