Saturday, 13th—Started at 10 a. m. and marched twelve miles today. We went into bivouac for the night near Hanover Court House. It is quite swampy and the roads are very bad, on account of so much rain the last few days. The country through which we passed today is considerably cut up by fortifications and badly used up on account of the two armies passing back and forth so often over the same roads and fields. The citizens are back on their farms and are at work again. Details of our men are stationed all along the way, guarding their homes and property, to keep the army from destroying things. When the army gets past, the guards fall into line at the rear.
Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry
Friday, 12th—It rained very hard all night. We left our bivouac at 4 o’clock this morning and at 6 o’clock passed through Richmond.[1] The town looks fine and business seems to be good. We marched ten miles and went into bivouac on the Chickahominy river. The entire army is taking the same route and thus we cannot move fast.
[1] The Union general in command at Richmond requested General Sherman to have his army pass in review through Richmond, but Sherman flatly refused, declaring that he would march his army around the city before he would do anything of the kind, and Sherman had his way as to how we should pass through.—A. G. D.
Thursday, 11th—The Fourteenth and Twentieth Army Corps started on their way for Washington City. Our corps remained in camp all day. The sick were all sent down to the wharf to go around by boat to Washington. The doctor had my name listed for that route, and I started to go, but got a release. I told the doctor that I should much prefer to march through with my company, if he would have my knapsack and accouterments carried for me in the wagons. He assured me that he would have them seen to and told me that I could rejoin my company, for which I am very thankful.
Wednesday, 10th—Remained in camp all day. General Sherman’s cavalry corps, under Kilpatrick, passed here on their way to Washington City. We are camped in plain view of the city of Richmond, once the capital of the so-called Southern Confederacy, but now desolate, its defenders having fled. It is partly burnt, the rebels having set it on fire before they left.[1] The weather is quite cool.
[1] The burning of Richmond by the Confederates seems so uncalled for. It was certainly very short-sighted, since they could not help knowing that their cause was lost.—A. G. D.
Tuesday, 9th—We started at 3 o’clock this morning and marched fifteen miles, going into bivouac on the banks of the James river near Manchester. Sherman’s entire army is arriving at this place and will lie here three or four days, after which we are to start for Washington City to be mustered out of the service.
Monday, 8th—We started at 7 a. m., and while passing through Petersburg by platoons, were reviewed by General Ord, in command at Petersburg. The Fifteenth Corps had to pass through the city in our rear. We crossed the Appomattox river at 9 a. m. and went into bivouac six miles out from Petersburg, making a march of only eight miles for the day. Petersburg is a lively place; business is going on regularly. The people are at work repairing the damages done by the war, and are even erecting new buildings. It is a fine city with beautiful country around, although badly cut up with fortifications. The town was strongly fortified.
Sunday, 7th—Started at the usual time and marched eighteen miles today. We bivouacked in some old camps which our men had built during the siege of Petersburg, within two miles of town. I rode all the way today with the wagon train. A part of the Fifteenth Corps came in ahead of the Seventeenth Corps, but our corps beat the Fifteenth into Petersburg after all their running to beat us. The two generals in command of the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps started out, after crossing the Roanoke river, to see which corps could reach Petersburg first. So while one brigade of the Fifteenth Corps came into Petersburg first, the entire Seventeenth Corps arrived in town ahead of the Fifteenth.
Saturday, 6th—We started at 5 a. m. and soon struck the Boydton plank road, which was quite good except at places, where it was a poor makeshift of a road. We marched twenty-five miles and went into bivouac for the night. I was sick all day and in order to keep up with the command I had to have the doctor order my knapsack and accouterments carried for me. Weather fine.
Friday, 5th—It is quite warm. We left our bivouac at 3 a. m. and by 6 o’clock had crossed the Roanoke river. It is a fine stream. One of our drivers had an exciting experience in crossing the river last night, over the pontoon bridge. When he reached the middle of the bridge his leading mules became frightened at the cracks between the boards and turned right around, upsetting the whole thing, and the six mules, wagon and all went overboard. When the driver saw what was going to happen, quick as a flash, he dropped down upon the bridge between the wheel mules and the wagon, thus saving himself. The mules and wagon were never seen again, as the Roanoke is very deep. We crossed the State line into old Virginia at 6:30 this morning. At 1 p. m. we crossed the Meherrin river and after marching twenty-six miles for the day went into bivouac. We have fine roads. News came that the two men who killed the president and stabbed Seward had been shot. All is quiet.
Thursday, 4th—We started at 8 a. m., marched four miles, and then lay over until 6 p. m., when we moved on four miles farther, passing the Third Division, and went into bivouac within a mile of the Roanoke river. The Fifteenth Corps is in advance of us and their rear crossed the river this evening. Our trains are all crossing the river tonight. Weather still pleasant.
