April 5 — Commenced snowing last night about ten o’clock and snowed fast until ten to-day. The snow then was eight inches deep. This morning just before getting-up time our tent collapsed from the weight of snow on it. When it fell I thought an avalanche had struck us, and I wondered whether anyone else was buried under the snow.
About fifty Yankee sharpshooters appeared on the opposite side of the river two miles below our camp, and our pickets were exchanging shots with them all day. This evening one company of Yanks attempted to cross the North Fork of the Shenandoah, and partly succeeded, thereby gaining the south side of the river. From there they could have easily and without any serious opposition advanced up on the west side of the Shenandoah and fired into our camp. I was on camp guard to-day, and this evening Captain Chew gave me strict orders to be very vigilant during the night, and in case an alarm reaches camp, or if the enemy should attempt to rush on to surprise us, to rouse the camp immediately and unlimber a gun and fire as fast as possible.
