Saturday 14th.—Federals advanced; some pretty heavy fighting just to our left. We have very dangerous position, being near a short turn in our works. Minnie balls and shells come very freely on our left flank and rear. Lieutenant J. T. Brown shot through the knee by minnie ball from the rear. 5 P. M., Companies A and F thrown out as skirmishers; ordered forward; just at that moment Brown’s Brigade, just on our right, charged and drove Yanks back some distance, capturing two pieces of artillery, but could not bring them off. Captain Fox seriously wounded in leg. About dark our division (Stevenson’s) being on right wing, moved round and formed new line; began fortifying, but shortly after dark ordered back to our old position. Several of regiment killed and wounded.
May 2014
Wednesday, September 14. — Dr. Marks called to see me and said he had received a letter from Father. Lent me $200 in Confederate money. Had an agreeable call from him.
May 14 — We were in position in front of the enemy’s works all day, until late this evening, when we fell back just a little distance to the rear of our position and bivouacked. There was some sharpshooting along the lines during the day, and some artillery firing. I think that General Grant has arrived at the place where he does not exactly know what to do, nor how to do it. The stubborn and unyielding wall of bayonets of the strategical and ubiquitous Lee is forever interfering with, and very seriously interrupting, every step of the blue host’s onward march to Richmond.
Thunder-showers this evening.
Huntsville, Saturday, May 14. Worked hard on fort all day, it fast approaching completion. Rifle pits are being dug completely around it, enfilading all the principal streets of the town. All the contrabands out. One volunteer citizen has been at work three days, honorable exception. Another sprig of chivalry working with the negroes under guard for saying that no ”d—n Yankee could make him work”. Yankee bayonet did it though. Reports of struggle fierce and wild still reach us from Grant. Highly successful but the slaugter is terrible. One year ago to-day we entered the haughty capital of Mississippi after deadly fight.
May 14th. Rain. Broke camp at 4 o’clock this morning. Again on the march, pushing up the valley. Heavy cannonading going on at a distance. By the sound, hot work must be going on at the front. Marching on, passed through the town of Edenburg. Go into camp about a mile from the town. Our regiment detailed for picket duty. Relieved the 12th West Virginia Regiment. I was detailed with two hundred others to go on post. The rest of the regiment formed the reserves. Lieutenant Robert Kerr in command of the outposts. Posted in the woods about one mile from headquarters. Hot, muggy, wet weather. We are very anxious about the morrow, as we listen to the heavy artillery firing. We are about fifty miles from Harper’s Ferry, our base of supplies, with no prospect of re-enforcements, if needed. The enemy have the advantage of railroads direct to Richmond. Report comes that our cavalry are putting up a hard fight at New Market, sixteen miles south of Edenburg, and about fifteen from our picket line.
14th.—The cavalry fight on the Chickahominy was very severe. The Yankees escaped on Thursday night; they should not have been allowed to get off. Our sad deficiency in numbers is always in our way.
The death of another of our beloved E. H. S. boys has shocked us greatly—I mean that of Colonel Robert Randolph, of Fauquier, for a long time the chivalric captain of the famous “Black Horse Company.” After fighting desperately for hours, he was ordered to change his position; he immediately raised himself in his saddle, exclaiming, “Boys, we will give them one round more before we go!” fired, and was at that moment struck in the forehead by a Minie ball, and laid low, a few hours after the fall of his General. Thus our young men, of the first blood of the country—first in character and education, and, what is more important to us now, first in gallantry and patriotism—fall one by one. What a noble army of martyrs has already passed away! I tremble for the future; but we must not think of the future. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
General Lee’s last telegram tells of a furious fight on Thursday, near Spottsylvania Court-House. The enemy was repulsed, and driven back; and yet General Grant prepares for a fresh attack. It is said that 15,000 wounded Yankees are in Fredericksburg. We have heard cannon all day in the direction of Drury’s Bluff; yet we are calm!
14th. Sent forage to the Regt. Maj. Seward came with four companies from Belle Plains. Gave several some dinner. Maj. Seward remained with us, unable to ride further. Regt. near Todd’s Tavern. No news from the army. Report that it is swinging round to the left. Some fighting in Burnside’s Corps.
May 14—We are still camped here. Have been prisoners since the 5th of this month, and have drawn three and a half days’ rations. On that kind of a diet I am not getting very fat. We certainly would have suffered a great deal, but our Yankee guard gave us quite a lot of their own rations.
May 14, Saturday. Attended the funeral of Colonel Harris. His death gives embarrassment as to a successor. The higher class of marine officers are not the men who can elevate or give efficiency to the corps. To supersede them will cause much dissatisfaction. Every man who is over-slaughed and all his friends will be offended with me for what will be deemed an insult. But there is a duty to perform.
