Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier By Louis Léon [53d North Carolina Regiment, infantry]

September 6—Our captain, Harvey White, returned to camp yesterday from a furlough.

September 5—Left here at 7, got to brigade at 10 in the morning, and from the 24th of last month up to date I certainly have seen the best time since the war.

September 4—Marched to Keswick, and found that we would have to march to Gordonsville. Got there that night. Fifteen miles to-day.

September 2—On a hunt to-day several of my comrades with myself came to a house, and the first thing we heard was, “Is there a Jew in your detachment that caught a deserter yesterday?” They would like to see him, etc. At last one of the boys told them that I was the Jew. After that I had a very good time there, and in fact wherever I went I was received very kindly, and was very sorry to see on the 4th that orders came for us to return to our brigade.

September 1—To-day we went on a general hunt in full force. We went into a house where we suspected there was a deserter. We hunted through all the out-houses, then went to the house, and the lady strongly denied there being any one there, but would not give us permission to look. We then searched the house, but found no one. I then proposed that we go in the loft. She objected again. But of course we were determined. It was pitch-dark in the loft. We called in, but no answer came. I then proposed, in a loud voice, so that if any one was there they could hear me, that we fix bayonets and stick around and satisfy ourselves that no one was there. Still no answer. I then got in the loft, took my gun and commenced sticking around. At last an answer came from the far corner that he would surrender. The way I got into the loft was, I being a little fellow, and Si Wolf a tall man, they put me on his shoulder, and in that way I crawled in. We then left for camp, passed a church, and was in time to see a wedding. We drilled for the ladies, and had a good time.

August 31—Went to Mr. Watkin’s, took dinner there, and stayed all day. Had a very pleasant time with his daughter, Miss Annie.

August 30—Left at 5 in the morning. We hunted through the cliffs for several hours and caught one deserter. Several of our men and myself dined in a widow lady’s house. There were quite a number of ladies there, and we had a very pleasant time. Then we went to Mr. Bell’s and had supper there. From there we went to Mr. Wheeler’s and stayed all night.

August 29—Returned to our companions this morning at 10 o’clock.

August 28—We moved this evening, and I stayed in a gentleman’s house all night with Wolf.