19th. Played some at chess and read a little in Shakespeare. Eyes quite weak. Letters from home and Floy. Quiet. Heavy firing in direction of Petersburg. Rained almost all day.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
July 18th. Up and early on the march this fine morning. Pushing on to the south in the direction of Snicker’s Gap, Blue Ridge Mountains, eighteen miles south of Harper’s Ferry. We cannot tell what an hour may bring forth. As we approach Snicker’s Gap we came to a halt. Here we meet a part of the 6th Corps, Army of the Potomac, and a division under Colonel Mulligan, the Colonel of the 23d Illinois Regiment. After a few hours’ halt up the side of the mountains came orders to advance slowly through Snicker’s Gap. Then proceeded slowly down the west side of the mountains on towards the Shenandoah River. A battle seems to be imminent. Ordered to wade the river. At that point the river was waist deep. When over, a line was quickly formed. Ordered to lie down, our clothes being wet. Before our division was all over, the enemy made a furious attack on us from the woods, in our front and on our right. Our regiment had the extreme right of the line. We fought them desperately and were losing many of our boys. We held on as we expected help from the 6th Corps and Mulligan’s division, which did not come. We saw plainly the enemy massing a large force on our right, as our regiment was holding that point. Our Colonel saw the dangerous position that we were trying to hold and no prospect of help, ordered left face, and to re-cross the river under a galling fire of musketry and cannon. It was a fearful thing to re-cross that river, as it was deep in places. Some of our boys who were wounded, drowned as they attempted to re-cross before reaching the ford, or the place where we crossed. In this battle it was claimed the rebs used explosive bullets on us. The opposite bank where I crossed was about eight feet high, very slippery, made so by the men who had climbed up before me. As I made my way almost to the top of the bank, pulling myself up by the bushes, an explosive bullet struck near me. The report and the fire from it caused me to loose my hold on the bushes and slip down the bank into the river. At that time I thought I was a goner. Soaking wet, I made another attempt to reach the top of the bank and was successful.
We were then forced to ascend through a large open field under fire. Shot and shell flew furiously. General Wright finally ordered a battery into position to protect us. As seen by the men in the ranks, it was strange that a small force was ordered over that river to cope with Early’s force, and the 6th Corps near by.
Camp tonight at Snicker’s Gap with the 6th Corps. Discussed the events of the day. Discouraged and mad, saying hard things about General Wright, Commander of the 6th Corps. Some things are hard to understand in the life of a soldier.
Decatur, Ga., July 19, 1864.
To-night we are in Decatur, six miles from Atlanta. The Rebels were yet in Atlanta this morning, for they ran a train to this burg this morning, but they may now be gone. Our line of battle crosses the railroad nearly at right angles, facing Atlanta. I think the 23d Corps has swung around in front of us, and the 16th Corps is now on our left. Our cavalry had some fighting after 1 p.m. today. A citizen says there was nearly 4,500 Rebel cavalry here. A small portion of our mounted forces made a half-charge on the Johnnies just this side of town, and the Rebels stampeded. They knew we had a large force, and, of course, could not tell just what number was coming on them. They broke down every fence in town and ran over everything but the houses in their mad panic to get away. Our men, as usual, all stopped in town to flank the onions, potatoes, chickens and sundries, in which they were busily engaged when the Rebels, who had rallied and got a battery in position, opened right lively. Our men drove them away, and then all hands went to foraging again. To-morrow night, I think, will give us Atlanta, or there will be a fair start for a new graveyard near the town. I hear no fighting on the right. We have passed over the same miserable looking country to-day. I caught a small scorpion to-day, also a reddish brown bug not quite as large as a thrush, and as savage as a mad rat. Wish I could preserve some of these bugs and things; I know you’d like ’em
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
July 19.—You do not write much about the 8th Wisconsin. I suppose they are soon to leave again. God bless them, wherever they are. A braver and truer set of men never faced an enemy.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 19TH.—A steady, gentle rain from 8 A.M. till 4 P.M.
A dispatch from Gen. Hood, who relieves Gen. Johnston, was received to-day. It was in cipher, and I did not learn the contents.
I strove in vain to-day to buy a few cabbage seed!
The following is a copy of a letter received from Gen. Lee, his locality not indicated, but from the date, he must be near the city:
“HEADQUARTERS, ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
“17th July, 1864. ”
HON. SECRETARY OF WAR, RICHMOND.
“SIR: —I have received a dispatch from Gen. Early, dated at Leesburg on the 15th inst. On the 8th he crossed South Mountain, leaving Sigel at Maryland Heights. On the 9th he reached Frederick, and in the afternoon attacked and routed the enemy, ten thousand strong, under Wallace, at Monocacy Junction. The next day he moved on Washington, and arrived in front of the fortifications around that city on the 11th. The defenses were found very strong, and were not attacked. After a reconnoissance on the night of the 12th, he withdrew, and crossed the Potomac at White’s Ford on the 14th, bringing off everything safely and in good order. He reports the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to have been cut in several places, and severely damaged. The bridges over Gunpowder River, Northern Central and Philadelphia Railroads were burned, and the connection between Washington and Baltimore cut by Johnson’s cavalry. The 6th corps (Federal) had arrived at Washington, and it was reported that other parts of Grant’s army had reached there, but of the latter he was not certain. Hunter had passed Williamsport, and was moving toward Frederick. Gen. Early states that his loss was light.
“I am, with great respect,
“Your obed’t servant.”
(Not signed.)
Custis walked with Lieut. Bell last evening a mile from Hanover Junction to the battle-field of last month (just a month ago), and beheld some of the enemy still unburied! They fell very near our breastworks.
Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, July 19. The usual routine of duty unbroken. Our camp and position inspected by Major of Artillery, General Steedman’s Chief, who set us to policing after supper. Slicked up in general. Bathed in Etowah in the evening. Brigade band visited us, and discoursed beautiful music under the pale, soft light of the moon. A long train of wagons, consisting of Sherman’s supernumerary teams left at Chattanooga at the beginning of campaign, passed to the front. Convalescents rejoining their regiments by every train.
July 19th. This hot morning finds us at Snicker’s Gap. Everything quiet. The enemy on one side of the river and we the other. Both armies where we see one another. Later in the day batteries were put in position on both sides, and occasionally open fire on one another. One shell from the enemy seemed to go farther than any other, as I saw it explode in the ranks of the 6th Corps. Several were wounded. They were over a hill and supposed to be out of range of the enemy. The batteries in position make us feel a little uneasy. Don’t know when a shell may come over our way, for we are in plain sight of the enemy. Night coming on finds us at Snicker’s Gap. Hope for a quiet night, a good rest, and sleep.
Tuesday, 19th—It is the same thing over and over. My fever is broken now and I am getting better. I just learned that there are three others of my company here in the hospital, all in different wards. They are Lieutenant Alfred Carey, Thomas R. McConnoll and John Zitler, all wounded on the skirmish line on June 15th at Noon-day creek at the foot of Kenesaw mountain.
