War Between the States

By the way, I forgot an expedition, or rather, a skirmish we had, at Malvern Hill while at Camp Mary, and I will relate it here, before proceeding to our more difficult labors. While in camp at Laurel Hill our pickets below Malvern Hill reported the Yankees advancing, and we were marched out to meet them and oppose their farther progress, but the Yankee, after driving in our pickets, stopped at Malvern Hill and established themselves there, which was about seven miles form our encampment.

We remained here for two weeks, and threw up a line of breastworks that will remain for centuries as a memorial of our handiwork. At the end of this time, we received orders to break up camp and report at Richmond. Now it was that our hardest suffering began. In accordance with our orders we broke camp and marched to Richmond. Here I met with a considerable misfortune. My boy, Jesse, took sick and I was compelled to leave him behind a short time. When we reported at Richmond we were ordered to the depot on the Gordonville Road.

We were lying in camp at Camp Simon No. 2 when we received orders to get ready to leave for Virginia. A soldier’s baggage, like his money, is always scarce, and we were not long in packing. All extra baggage was discarded, and boxes, baskets, tin pans, etc. were left strewn over the camp grounds. A train of cars soon came for us, and one car only being allowed to a company, we were necessarily crowded and warm, it being the last of June. We go to Charleston about four in the evening, and were compelled to remain there until nine at night, for want of means of transportation to carry us.

July 20th - A few mortar shells were thrown into our lines this morning but no harm done. The usual sharpshooting going on. It is feared the enemy are tunneling under our lines, and as a battery is also here, we are preparing for such a device by digging a tunnel all along the whole face of the battery to meet theirs if they have any. Not quiet so muddy today but warm and sultry.

Today a change, long looked for, but very unpleasant, to the weather worn soldier, took place. The clouds were overspread by a gloomy pall, the atmospheres, became dull and sultry, and at length the flood gates of Heaven were opened, and rain, rain, descended in torrents, as if venting its long pent up rage on our devoted heads. Blankets, tent clothes, oil clothes, etc. were greatly in demand, and everyone was busy amid the pelting storm fixing up a shelter. But the wetting was the least of our inconveniences.

July 15th - All quiet along the lines, except continual sharpshooting and mortar shelling. Nobody hurt in the regiment. Early¹ in Maryland and created a disturbance in Yankeedom. Awful hot and dusty in the ditches.

July 16th - Nothing unusual. Sharpshooting still going on. One man of Company D killed by sharpshooters, Wm. Ritchey. No one else hurt. Rumors are rife, but nothing reliable. See no prospects of relief, rations are scarce, and men all anxious for a change.

Today one month ago I left off my diary and in consequence I will have to give another detail of affairs, promiscuously, without reference to data. We remained a day or two after June 14th at Bermuda Hundreds, when it was found out that Grant had changed his base again and was moving his hoard again to Petersburg. This caused considerable excitement and we immediately got ready to move our quarters.

This evening at about five o’clock the enemy commenced massing in our front. At first they threw out a skirmish line, but our line, under Major Betgil of 18th, charged them and ran them back. They then displayed a line a little to our right and drove in our pickets, shortly after this they threw a line of battle in the edge of a piece of woods, and making them lie down massed four lines behind them. Then they deployed another skirmish line and advanced it forward. It was at this juncture that we lost our much lamented company commander, Lieutenant David I. Logan.

June 11th - Still here in the trenches, all quiet along our lines today.

June 12th - All quiet. Rations scarce. Duty hard.

June 13th - Grant reported to be moving around this way, heavy cannonading heard in the distance this morning.

June 14th - Still all quiet, contrary to our expectations. Rations very scarce. Nothing to eat and the duty very hard. Considerable complaining among the men, and they have good cause for complaint.

During this time I have not been able to keep my book with me, and consequently I cannot give a detailed account of each day’s transactions, but will revive the whole as briefly as possible. We are still in the trenches where we have been ever since the battle of May 21st. We have shifted our position several times, but keep in the trenches. One can easily imagine our condition. Rolling in ditches of red clay, with no protection from rain or sun, and a continued series of working details and pickets.