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Civil War Diary Adjutant, 19th. Mississippi Regiment July 1863 Wednesday, July 1 - We left camp at 4 o’clock crossed the mountains on a very rugged road, Soon came in hearing of heavy cannonading & then musketry, then wounded. I am now on the edge of the battlefield Heaths & Penders divisions, & Ewels corps did the fighting. Davises Brigade are badly cut up, we have marched 18 miles. [This is Gettiesburg battlefield,] Thursday 2 - We moved at 11 a.m. to the right and formed a line of battle sent Co G out on picket one man is mortally wounded, the enemy are in line of battle 11 hundred off. I’m waiting (- to commence) for the fight at 6p.m. the right wing of our Regt moved forward & charged the enemy from their position our left wing came up, the 48th Miss charged on our right, we lost about 40 men. Came to our former position at 10 o’clock p.m. Friday, July 3, 1863 - We were under heavy cannonading from 8 till 9 am Davises Brigade came up at 12 o’clock we were shelled severely until 3pm. Pedegrews Davise's Brigade & Lanes Brigade charged the enemy & were badly cut to pieces, had to fall back in great confusion, they suffered greatly I’ve looked for Billie & Elie Peel, they are missing only 3 of the company are found, the battle has raged all day & is raging now, its getting dark. Saturday 4 - We have spent the day laying in rear of our Batteries, had a detail throwing up a breastwork of Stone in front, our pickets have been constantly firing all day, a few of our Brigade were wounded. This is a disagreeable place on account of dead horses, We are ordered to be ready to move, Sunday 5 - We left our position last evening at dark marched through mud & water knee deep until 5 o’clock this morning. Halted 3 hours & marched on. crossed the mountain at Baltimore & Pitsburg gap & halted 3 hours & then moved on 4 miles camped. Saw a great many wagons that were burned & with spokes cut. heard heavy cannonading down south of here. Monday, July 6 - our Regt & the 16th Miss came out 2 miles on picket last night were relieved at 7 o’k this morning Went down in Wainsborough and had to return to some duty at 12 o’clock. We have had nothing to eat today: have sent a squad to buy some rations. We have orders to move at 7 o’clock. Genl Posey arrested Col Harris. Tuesday 7 - We marched all night, Lt Gregory Co B was murdered on the road last night by one of the 12 miss, (R Wilson) we halted near Hagerstown at 5 o’clock a.m. Struck Camp rain commenced falling, I got a good dinner the first I’ve eaten since yesterday morning. our men have eaten nothing for 24 hours, our cavalry fought near here last evening. Bro Add is barefooted & theres no chance to get shoes. We sent out pickets tonight. Wednesday 8 - I made out a mornings report. It rained till 2 o’clock p.m. our Cavalry had a fight not far from here. The enemys pickets are reported to have fallen back some distance from our Rear. I wrote a letter. this is a very monotenous place. I am tired of war any Where. Tuesday, July 9, 1863 - We have spent the day in camp it was very warm. We sent our horses up to Brigade Hd Qrs to be inspected. Our Cavalry fought at Funkstown. Our pickets are at Antietam River. 200 of our Wagons were captured, one from out Regt I think that lieut Rowen is captured. Friday 10 - We got orders to move at 12 a.m. Sent our Wagons down on the Williamsport Road. We came through Hagerstown , left it 3 miles in our rear filed out in a field & camped, saw some wounded men from Genl Mclaw's? division. We sent a detail out to cook. Saturday 11 - We left camp at 8 a.m. came three miles formed a line of battle in a good position & are now digging trenches, our pickets are firing on out right, its now 1 p.m. at 3 p.m. we half a mile to the rear & right. Sent out one company as pickets. Our pickets were engaged awhil this evening late. Sunday, July 12, 1863 - There was some picket firing this morning early. This has been a very warm day. Our men have had no bread to eat in 36 hours the 16th Miss pillaged & robbed 2 Houses, the whole Brigade is blamed for it. Commenced raining at 3 & ceased at 7 p.m. It is reported that Vicsburg has Surrendered. Monday 13 - had heavy picket firing last evening & this morning, I was quite sick last night with Colramarbus, feel quite badly today. rained this morning, my horse has had nothing but wheat to eat for 3 days. We have orders to evacuate this postition at dark in perfect silence our pickets are firing. Tuesday 14 - We marched very slowly all night, had come 8 miles at sunrise. We formed a line of battle waited until our wagon train crossed the River & then we crossed came a mile & camped. left Heaths Division as rear guards they were surprised by yankey cavalry, it rained all night and is raining. We have had nothing to eat in 40 hours. Wednesday, July 15, 1863 - our army all cross the River last evening. We started our march at 5 a.m. came through Martinsburg at 12 a.m. came to Bunkers hill and camped. a great many of our men are barefooted We marched 17 miles today. We drew rations have a nice camp. Thursday 16 - I went to a branch & bathed put on clean clothes our Regt was ordered out on picket at 9 a.m. came two miles to crossroads. haveone Company in front on post. I went to several houses to get dinner but failed. I hear heavy cannonading towards Martinsburg. Friday 17 - I got some very good cherries this morning. Came back to camp to see about being relieved, Swapped Horses. We were relieved at 3 p.m. came back to our former camping place, it has rained all day & is quite cool. Saturday, July 18, 1863 - I have spent most of the fore noon looking for my horse, cant find him. Went out looking for my horse. Damon found him an Artillery man stoled him. I gathered Dew Berries had Dress parade & read orders. passed the remainder of the eve reading my Testament. Sunday 19 - I wrote a letter. Attended divine Service heard Dr Wilmer preach Genls Lee, Longstreet, Hill, & Anderson were present. I took an oath to my commission. Spent the evening looking for blackberries and reading. We only get half rations. Moday 20 - I went DewBerry hunting this morning. Read my Testament & a novil. Spent most of the evening writing & etc We only got half rations today; our men are straggling all over the country for food. We have orders to be ready to move at an early hour tomorrow morning. Tuesday, July 21, 1863 - We formed & Stacked arms at Sunrise. Started our march at 12 a.m. came 2 miles west of Winchester We have come 13 miles this evening. and are camped 1 ½ miles from water We have nothing to eat I'll go to sleep to keep from getting hungryer. Wednesday 22 - We started our march at 5 oclock this morning came to Frontroyal & camped. We got no rations today. Damon went out & got me some Bread Butter & onions. Our men have to live on berries on account of our lazy commissary. Thursday 23 - We started our march at 3 oclock crossed the mountain past Chester Gap in the heat of the day it was very warm. We camped at Flint Hill Where we always camp when we pass here. We halted at 10 oclock & are cooking 2 days half rations. Friday, July 24, 1863 - We left camp at 5 o'clock came to Gaine's crossroads our Brigade halted 2 hours as guards then moved on, Archers Brigade fought cavalry on the Road. We waded Hazel River,, We came 14 miles today are in a very bad camp. Saturday 25 - We started our march at 4 oclock. Got to Culpeper at 11 o'clock camped. I am very hungry. 5 p.m. I have had my Beef & Bread feel better. Went this evening got some berries, & let my horse graze. Sunday 26 - I made a large detail & cleaned up our camp ground cut a color line went this evening and got some black Berries; re'cd a letter and answered it It is raining hard I moved my tent. Monday July 27, 1863 - I have been writing a good deal today, my horse ran off I hunted for him for some time & found him. Several men returned to the Regt from Hospitals. The days & nights are very warm. Tuesday 28 - I have been hard at work all day making a monthly Report, was mad before I finished it. A heavy rain is falling. We have had rain every evening for a week . Wednesday 29 - I have been busy making & correcting reports & etc. We had Dress parade I read orders We put out a heavy guard around the Brigade. Thursday, July 30, 1863 - I have spent the day as usual. Reading Writing & etc. It has been very warm all day. Rained this evening I feel sick & bad don't like war. Capt Govan came to see us, he is recently from Mississippi he brought me a letter. Friday, July 31, 1863 - This has been a very warm day. nothing of interest has transpired I have spent the day reading. We have orders to cook one days Rations are making out muster Rolls officers are required to pay in advance for Rations. |
