4th. Got off before 4 o’clock. Came up with one div. of infantry at Bealeton Station. Beautiful morning. Went on to Brandy Station, unsaddled and got dinner and finally remained overnight. Drew hay and picked up some oats. Fight at Chancellorsville. Did some business.
May 2014
May 4—This morning we got orders to be ready at a moment’s notice. Broke camp at noon, marched to our old breastworks at Mine Run, seven miles from camp. Rested two hours, and moved forward toward the river three miles further and halted.
May 4, Wednesday. Our forces are gathering in considerable strength at Hampton Roads. Besides the naval vessels there are in the Roads over two hundred army transports. Whether the movement is to be up James River exclusively or a portion up the York and Pamunkey is not known.
At 10 P. M., May 3, 1864, the Second corps broke camp and preceded by Gregg’s division of cavalry and followed by the artillery of the corps, crossed the Rapidan at Ely’s ford and marched easterly over the familiar route to Chancellorsville, arriving there about 10 A. M. the next morning, Warren and Sedgwick, the Fifth and Sixth corps, crossed at the Germania ford, some six or seven miles above, and formed the right wing of the army, while our corps formed the left. Burnside’s corps is at Warrenton with orders to hold the Bull Run line of communication until we are successfully established on the southern side of the Rapidan. Lee’s army is entrenched on the southern side of the Rapidan, some ten or twelve miles above the Germania ford, and Grant’s object is to cross below and turn his right flank.
The movements were promptly executed during the night and were completely successful. Warren and Sedgwick’s corps marched out to the Wilderness tavern, while we remained all day at Chancellorsville.
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Stevenson, Ala., May 3, 1864.—I took command of this post on Sunday morning, and the old force is all gone except a battery of artillery. I have my old quarters and more. I occupy for my own private residence the room that General Hooker had when here.
Twelve miles east of Bridgeport, May 3, 1864.
Have made about 15 miles to-day. This is the fourth time I have been over the same ground, have ridden over it five times. This is the first time I ever started on a march where real judgment was used in breaking the men in. We always before made from 15 to 25 miles the first day and broke down about one-fourth of our men. This time you see, our first two day’s marches were short and the 15 miles to-day seemed to affect no one. I hear from good authority here that Thomas is in Dalton, after some heavy skirmishing. Everything is moving to the front here. A portion of the 12th, or 20th Corps now, is just ahead of us. Morgan L. Smith and Osterhaus are just behind us, but Logan will not be along until relieved by some other troops.
I expect Dodge, with some 6,000 of the 16th Army Corps, is behind us. The 17th Army Corps was coming into Huntsville as we left.
Camp is in an orchard, and apples are as large as hazel nuts and we make sauce of them.
May 3, Tuesday. — Marched to Blake’s, thirteen miles. Called with Colonel White on Colonel Sickles. Get an order from division headquarters regulating halts. General Crook orders, “No rails to be burned.” Hard to enforce but am doing my best. The Thirty-sixth obey promptly. Others grumble. General Crook is testing our discipline!
Tuesday, May 3rd.
Received orders after “taps,” about 10 o’clock, to-night to be ready to move in two hours. Rumors of all kinds are flying about, and the general impression seems to be that the whole army is in motion. I directed Sergeant Theben to turn out the company, strike tents and pack up, which was accomplished in less than the time allotted. But one wagon is detailed to furnish transportation for the effects of the whole battalion, so baggage is reduced to the minimum, and large quantities of ordnance stores and camp and garrison equipage, as well as private property of officers and men, are left behind strewn over the camping ground, a striking illustration of the waste of war.
Tuesday, 3d—We remained in bivouac all day. The transports did not return today as expected. The recruits of the Eleventh Iowa were formed into a battalion and drilled twice a day, by Captain Kelly of Company D. We had our first dress parade this evening, since returning from furlough, and the regiment looked well in their new uniforms, but it was very awkward in the manual of arms because of the new recruits. An order was read on dress parade making some promotions of noncommissioned officers in Companies A and H, since they went in as veterans. Paducah is a nice town and contained about seven thousand inhabitants just before the rebellion broke out.
Warrenton Junction, May 3d, 1864.
We had regimental inspection yesterday. Our muster rolls are nearly completed and other business in proper shape, #o we are nearly ready to take the field.
All sick and wounded have been sent to Washington, and we have orders to be ready to march at 7 o’clock tomorrow morning. I am inclined to think, from certain indications, the railroad is to be abandoned and we are to join Grant’s army in a determined effort to crush Lee’s force, and, by so doing, crush the Confederacy.
