June 7th. Called up very early this morning. After a light breakfast, ordered to fall into line. All sorts of reports are in circulation, that guerillas and bushwhackers infest this section. We are one hundred miles from our base of supplies, right in the enemy’s country. Our work today is to destroy the Virginia Central Railroad by burning bridges and other property. It is hard work, tearing up the track and ties. After being out on the line all day we did not see any armed rebs. A guerilla chief, known as Mudwall Jackson, is reported to be in this vicinity. Late this afternoon we returned to town and camp for the night. We put in a hard day’s work and were glad to have night come, for we needed the sleep and rest. The ground makes a good bed.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
7th. Our wagons came up. Went down again to train. Took four mules to draw forge. Q. M. away, so failed. Have worked pretty faithfully for a forge but yet without success. Saw Col. of 2nd N. Y. this morning and borrowed a forge—temporarily. Got some clothing and shoeing tools.
Tuesday, 7th—The weather continues warm. Our corps drew fifteen days’ rations at Kingston this morning. We left the place at 10 o’clock, carrying five days’ rations, the balance to be hauled by the supply trains. We marched twelve miles to Cartersville and went into camp. Our troops control the railroad, which is in running order to this place, but the rebels burned the bridge just before evacuating the town. Our men will soon have it rebuilt, using the old piers, which are intact. It is three hundred feet long and one hundred feet above the water. The rebels were very strongly fortified here at Cartersville, but they left the place without fighting because of our troops flanking them. Cartersville will be used as a base of supply for Sherman’s army.
Same place, June 7, 1864.
Our brigade has to-day been on a reconnoisance, supporting Girard’s (formerly Kilpatrick’s) Cavalry Division.
We started the Johnnies not more than a mile from here, and skirmished with them, driving them to the Kenesaw range of mountains, about five miles. Our brigade lost nothing. Wilder’s mounted infantry did the skirmishing and had some eight to ten wounded. Four dead Rebels fell into our hands. Cousin James called on me yesterday. I am much pleased with him. He is a No. 1 soldier, I know. He has run some pretty close risks this campaign, but who would not for the sake of taking part in it? I shall always think it abundantly worth risking one’s life for. To-morrow night we can tell whether the enemy intends fighting us at this place or not. They left on the field to-day a dozen or twenty real lances. They are the first I ever saw in the service. The staff is eight or nine feet long with a pointed head of ten inches in length. They were a right plucky set of Johnnies.
Our battery burst a shell over the edge of a piece of woods and I saw some 20 Rebels scatter like a lot of scared rats.
June 7.—Our brave army is still struggling to maintain her ground, against great odds. We have had some fearful battles. One was fought at New Hope Church, where the gallant Cleiburne and Stewart drove the enemy back with great loss to them. I have been told by men who were there that the dead of the enemy lay in heaps.
I have just received a letter from one of my old patients, a chaplain, dated June 1, from Southside, Virginia. He is in a Tennessee regiment, in Longstreet’s corps. He has been in all the late battles, and he says they were appalling. The Tennesseans lost heavily. General Johnston’s brigade lost three lieutenant-colonels, and many other officers and men. General Beauregard was in command. We drove the enemy back from every point. Will they ever see that we are in earnest, and let us alone?
My friend says his father is a prisoner in Tennessee.
Huntsville, Tuesday, June 7. Showery again to-day. Camp is still afloat with a loose report of moving in some indefinite time to some indefinite place. To-day Louisiana and the lower Mississippi is the theme. On guard, second relief. Health better. A squad of eight men under Sergeant Dixon went as an escort to a picnic party composed of “shoulder straps” and Southern ladies, to Bird Spring, six miles distant. Returned 6 P. M. Had a good dinner, champagne in plenty and dancing. Enjoyed themselves well although they went as menials.
Tuesday, June 7. — Received orders to move about 10 A.M. Our brigade marched to the rear, taking a position near Allen’s Mill. We dug the usual rifle-pits, and made ourselves comfortable. Late in the evening the 37th Massachusetts took position on our left. Day pleasant.
Diary And Memoranda, 1864
June 7th. Started for Washington to go to the Army of the Potomac; was too late.
June 7. Tuesday. — From two miles west of Craig [Craigsville] to within six or eight of Staunton. A fine day. At Pond Gap crossed Central Railroad and over a mountain—a detour which let us into [the] Valley of Virginia, avoiding the Rebel position in Buffalo Gap. A lovely valley; we dine now (12 M.) on a beautiful farm in this lovely valley — all happy to get here so easily. Reports say Hunter is in Staunton; got there last night. The general (Crook) found a four-leafed clover yesterday. I saw the new moon over my right shoulder. Funny how a man of sense can think for an instant even of such follies. We crossed the mountain to Summerdean, a little pretty hamlet. Skirmished into Middlebrook, a beautiful country. Supplies are abundant. Hunter flogged the Rebels badly and took Staunton yesterday. Eighteen miles today.
June 7, Tuesday. The Convention to-day is the absorbing theme but there is something from the army relative to the late fights that disturbs me. We have had severe slaughter. Brave men have been killed and maimed most fearfully, but Grant persists.
