November 3d.—Cold rain; rained all night.
Gen. Lee, urging that his regiments from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, etc. etc. be recruited from their respective States, concludes a recent letter thus: “I hope immediate action will be taken upon this subject, as I think our success depends much upon a speedy increase of our armies in every possible way.”
This dismal weather casts a deeper gloom upon the spirits of the croakers. They fear Richmond cannot be long defended.
Plymouth, N. C., has been retaken by the enemy.
During this damp weather the deep and sullen sounds of cannon can be heard at all hours, day and night. The firing is mostly from our iron-clads.
The market was well supplied this morning with abundance of good meat, vegetables, fruit, etc.; and I was glad to see but few making purchases. The reason may have been that the extortionate prices repelled the people; or it may have been the rain. I passed on.
3rd. Thursday. A rainy day. Read and wrote on papers. Was at Brig. Hdqrs.
November 3rd, 1864.—We have grown so expert in sewing and knitting and materials are getting so scarce that we have gone into a new business. The Bradford neighborhood has inaugurated a Toy Shop. At Uncle Tom’s there are ten children, four of Cousin Mary’s and six of Cousin Tom’s; at Cousin William’s there are two; at Dr. Holland’s, little George is to be looked after and Sister Mag has two, so we are making toys and it taxes the inventive powers to the utmost.
We have made rag dolls of all sizes. Some are dressed as babies, some are nurses, some are dressed in Confederate uniforms and some are fine ladies in hoop-skirts. We have made many kinds of animals of scraps of dark goods and a mock snow man of ginned cotton but Cousin Sallie has surpassed all the workers in the neighborhood by making a rooster a foot high, of watermelon seed. The natural color of the seed lent themselves beautifully to the breast and sides and she stained some of the seed to give the needed touch of red and to furnish the black tail which all common fowls seem to possess. It is such a success we are all envious.
We have a maker of books also and our Christmas tree will surprise the children who have been told that Santa Claus cannot run the blockade. We, ourselves„ have gotten a lot of pleasure out of these preparations and I am sure the soldiers in camp will read with interest of these efforts to make their little ones happy. Of course we only work at this when other duties have been disposed of but we have several weeks still ahead of us and much more can be accomplished; we keep thinking of other children who must not be forgotten.
Van Wirt, Ga., November 2, 1864.
It has rained steadily all day. Moved 12 miles. I have an excellent pair of shoes. A good deal of water got into them to-day, but it all ran out. Camp to-night on a high pine ridge. Pine knot fires come in first rate. That 40th boy that was wounded last night was captured with three more of our men by 30 Rebels and taken eight or ten miles, then formed in line and ordered to about face and fired upon; two fell dead and the other two ran away.
Wednesday, November 2. — Baker, our former waiter, was tried by the provost marshal and found guilty of stealing. Wrote to the postmaster of Charleston for my draft of £5. Received a letter from Mr. Garesché. He said he had been unable to find the address I wanted. Had a chilly rainy day. Sent yesterday for the Savannah Republican. There was an order in the paper making Captain Senn commandant of the post, during the illness of Major Greene.
Wednesday, 2d—We started early this morning and after marching fifteen miles went into bivouac near Van Wert, Georgia. It rained all day, and the roads became so slippery that it made hard marching. Some of the men gave out and had to be hauled.
Camp At Cedar Creek, Virginia, November 2, 1864.
My Darling: — We get trains through from Martinsburg regularly once in four days. We return them as often. I try to write you by every regular train. We hope to get mails with each train.
We have had most charming weather all the fall. Our camps are healthful and pleasant, but we all are looking forward to the “going into winter quarters” with impatience. We suppose a week or two more here will finish the campaign. Then a week or two of disagreeable marching and delays and then rest.
My tent and “fixin’s” are as cozy as practicable. If my darling could share them with me, I could be quite content. I never was so anxious to be with you. This has been one of the happy periods with me. I have had only one shadow over me. You know Captain Hastings was severely wounded at the battle of Winchester, September 19. For three or four weeks he has been in a most critical condition. I have had a feeling that he would get well. I still hope, but all agree that his chance is very slight. He may live a month or die at any time. He is the best man whose friendship I have formed since the beginning of the war.
Doctor is well and has a great deal of enjoyment. We still think we shall have no more heavy fighting this fall. General Duffie was captured by Mosby! He was to marry Miss Jeffries soon (the younger).
R
Mrs. Hayes.
Cedar Creek, November 2, 1864.
Dear Uncle: — We are waiting for the fall rains and the Presidential election before withdrawing for the season. A drizzle today gives us hope that our work is almost over for this year. I am more impatient than usual to see my family.
The campaign, if it closes now, will remain a most satisfactory one. I have only one drawback. I fear that Captain Hastings, my adjutant-general, will die of the wound got at Winchester, September 19. He is a man of the Rogers and Jesse Stem stamp. I can’t bear to lose him, but his chance is less from day to day. — My health is excellent as usual.
Sincerely,
R.
S. Birchard.
Wednesday, November 2. — Papers of 31st with much good news; small victories in West Virginia, east Tennessee, and over Price in Missouri. Early scolds his army.
November 2d, 1864.
This morning we heard Jimmy is engaged to Helen Trenholm, daughter of the Secretary of the Confederate States. He wrote asking Brother’s consent, saying they had been engaged since August, though he had had no opportunity of writing until that day — the middle of September. I cried myself blind. It seems that our last one is gone. But this is the first selfish burst of feeling. Later I shall come to my senses and love my sister that is to be. But my darling! my darling! O Jimmy! How can I give you up? You have been so close to me since Harry died!
Alone now; best so.
