Friday, October 28. — Day pleasant. Heard of fighting at Petersburg. Wrote to Mr. Caldwell for another check. Rumors in the afternoon of heavy fighting at Petersburg. Inspectors from Richmond were here and Lieutenant Colonel Means, commanding stockade.
War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld
Thursday, October 27. — Wrote to Alice. Had a rainstorm all day long. Some officers from the stockade came up to see us. One was Major Reynolds of Colonel Marshall’s regiment. Sent a note down to Major Forbes by them. Cheering in the evening from the crowd assembled to see the double-header. Five of the men jumped over the fence, were caught, and put in irons on bread and water for ten days. The guards were taken out of the yard to-day. Ten deserters went out of the yard to-day, supposed to have enlisted in the Irish Brigade now forming to do provost-duty in Richmond. The men mugged the corporal as he was taking their things out of the yard.
Wednesday, October 26. — Captain Amory had a letter from Mr. Campbell, saying that all special exchanges were at an end, but that a general exchange would soon take place. Rebel officers have been trying to enlist some of our men, so we sent Captain A.’s letter out to them. They cheered on hearing it read, which brought Captain Senn out. Drew $200. Lent $50 to Sterling and $50 to Colonel White. Men began digging on a new sink. Captain A. received a letter from Captain Belger, saying that Lieutenant Amory had gone North, and that Major Forbes was at the stockade. Leaves are beginning to fall quite fast now.
Tuesday, October 25. — Caught cold to-day and was unwell this evening. Had fuller accounts from the Valley. The double-header was on exhibition again to-day.
Monday, October 24. — Colonel Marshall asked Lieutenant Belcher whether Captain McChesney has asked him for an affidavit. He said he had not. Some conversation occurred between Colonel Marshall and Captain McChesney. Received a letter from Captain Chute of the 59th at the stockade. A Mr. Thomas Pauvear called to see if he could do anything for me. He said a Mr. Sprague of Boston asked him to do so. Day pleasant.
Sunday, October 23. — No additional news from the Valley. Weather pleasant. Day as dull as usual. Wrote Father and Livy. Captain Senn is going to put another mess of 14 in our cook-house. Sent Dr. Marks’s books to Captain Senn’s house.
Saturday, October 22. — Medical Director came to see Colonel Marshall, with a note from a lady, and some money. Day has been windy and chilly. Begins to look decidedly like winter, or rather autumn. Received news of Sheridan’s victory in the Valley. Captain McChesney came back from the hospital this evening. All the officers who have been able to be moved, have been sent away from hospital. Did not get my shoes.
Friday, October 21. — Lieutenant Eichberg was on to-day, the first time for a long while. Had half-sashes of glass put in to-day. Each pane was made up of four or five pieces.
Thursday, October 20. — Received a letter from Mr. Garesché, saying that he had taken steps to find out Colonel Greene’s residence. Captain Amory received a letter from his mother and one by mistake from Ned Boit, intended for William Amory’s son, alluding to Charlie Bowditch. Lieutenant Belcher brought in a list of names from Richmond, of officers who had money there, in the hands of Quartermaster Moffatt. Mine was among them. A man escaped to-day by jumping over the fence behind the privy. Day pleasant.
Wednesday, October 19. — Dr. Marks called to see me, and showed me the answer in regard to his application for my exchange. Day pleasant. Nothing new.
