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Civil War Diary Adjutant, 19th. Mississippi Regiment April 29-30 -- May 1863
Wednesday, April 29 - Orders came this evening to fall in to fight. Major Hardin went to take command of the right wing which was on picket. Col. Harris was absent so I formed the left wing & formed on the 12 Regt, marched in quick time to the Chanseller Hotel, & Genl. Posey sent us on picket 1½ mile up the road. I put out 2 Companies in advance as pickets. Col. Harris came to us at 9 p.m. Our pickets brought in a prisoner who reported that a company of the enemy had crossed at germanias ford. Thursday, April 30 - I slept but little last night. Gen Posey ordered us to hold our position ½ an hour then fall back to Chancellerville hold it 1 hour and follow the Brigade towards Fredericksburg, our pickets fought. We came to the Brigade and halted near the frame church, dug rifle trenches, our pickets fought the enemy. One man from our Regt was wounded. We chopped the bushes down in front of our line. Sleep in the trenches. Friday May 1, 1863 -The water rose in the trench & got me wet last night. We left the trench & went 2 miles up the plank Road with Genl Jackson. The 12 Regt was deployed as skirmishers & the remainder of the Brigade followed in line of battle. We killed 10 or 12 yankeys & drove them two & half miles through the worst swamp that I ever saw. They got into breastworks. We halt and sleep on our arms in 150 yards of the enemy. Saturday 2 - We were ordered back a mile early this morning. Genl Jackson compliments us very highly Says we did more than he thought we could, we drew 2 days rations & clothes; marched down towards the river, form a line of battle Send out skirmishers, one got killed. A spy ran through our lines & escaped. Have heavy picket fighting tonight. Sunday 3 - We repulsed the enemy every time last night. Genl Jackson had his arm shot off by his own men. We moved forward, Pastor Duke with 10 men captured 65 yankeys, 1 Lt Colonel and a Lt. our regiment was deployed as skirmishers charged a breastworks and took it. Lost 51 men killed & wounded, routed the enemy. We went to U. S. Ford our Regt was deployed as skirmishers had a little fight drew off our Regt at 11 oclock p.m. Monday May 4, 1863 - We left U. S. Ford at 8. Left C, E, & A in our rear for guards. Came within 2 miles of the Brick Church & halted, eat dinner, & move and round south of Fredericksburg, formed a line of battle in sight of the enemy. They opened fire on us, at 5 we moved round to the right under hot fire, crossed the Plank Road, formed a line took some prisoners, stayed till 12m, the enemy retreated and we followed, halted at Banks ford at 1 a.m. Tuesday 5 - We captured a regt at the ford last night. Sent out Skouts, captured a good many today, moved up on the Plank Road near the hospital, halted at dark , camped, sent out pickets. The enemy are at U. S. Ford 2 miles ahead. I heard that Genl Barksdale lost 1,100 men at Fredericksburg, Col. Wednesday 6 - We moved at 8 a.m. halted at Chancellerville at 9, heard that the enemy were crossing the river, went after them, took a few prisoners. Sent our men to gather up spoils of the Battlefield, returned to our old camp near Fredericksburg. I was very sick for 2 hour Got to camp at dark, it rained very hard, all of the field and staff officers sleep in the Surgeons tent. Thursday May 7 - Add, Pryor, McNeill & I formed a mess to ourselves, stretched a tent and built a chimney. Capt. Bounds threw my tent away, Add lost my blanket & oil cloth and D. McKie lost my new cloth for a uniform. My feet were very sore & I feel like I am entirely plaid out. This has been a very dreary day. Friday 8 - I walked about over fields today looking for my horse, could not find him. Gathered some wild onions for dinner. Rain has been falling all the evening. I feel very weak and badly. Capt Govan is here. Think he will go to Miss soon to raise a Cavalry Regt. Saturday 9 - Add, Pryor, and McNeill went fishing and caught a mess of Purch & Eels. Capt Dean & W. Garrett arrived from miss, brought two negros, one for McNeill. So our mess has two negros. Dean brought me a letter from home that was written before I got there on furlough. We had Butter & Fish for supper. Add & I are sick. Sunday May 10, 1863 - I bathed and put clean clothes on. Attended divine service, have not rested much on account of Disentary. Add is quite sick. I wrote two letters home, this is a pretty sunshiney day. I have spent the evening on my blanket, reading my Bible, and listening at Billy Garrett tell about the Tyro girls. Monday 11 - I sent Damon out & got some milk which I relished very much. I have felt quite sick all day. Made Damon clean my gun. McNeill went Saining & caught nothing. We heard that Gen Jackson died at 3½ yesterday. May God give us his equal: Tuesday 12 - W. Garrett started for Miss early this morning. I sent my Rifle by him to Volney. Damon got ½ gallon of milk, and engaged as much every day. I cleaned my sword bright. Have spent the evening lounging about. Our Brigade went out on the field for review but a show of rain drove them back. Wednesday May 13, 1863 - Damon got us more milk for breakfast, then went off and bought half a dozen nice fish, (Shad). Commenced a heavy rain at 12o’c. Flooded my leaky tent. I sewed cuffs on my jacket. Spent the evening reading a paper and a Bible. The sun sets clear and the wind blows hard. Thursday 14 - The woods caught fire this morning. Like to have burned our camp. Lt Jones, who is Acting Adjt while I am sick, had the fire extinguished. We had a heavy show of rain this evening. Pryor bought some Shads and Herrings. We drink the last of our yankey coffee for supper. Friday 15 - We had fish and milk for breakfast. I bought a pistol from C. Carpenter Co D. Found some cartridges that were too long for it & cut them off to suit. I feel much better today than usual. Add is also nearly well, and McNeill is trying to get sick. I think so much sickness is caused by the bad water. Saturday May 16, 1863 - Lt Bowen & McKie & I went hunting to kill birds for Maj Harkin who is sick. Killed one partridge. I shot several times with my pistol, missed. Received news that the enemy are between Jackson & Vicsburg, Miss. I fear that my dear old State will be lost. I wish that our (Andersons) division was there to assist them. Sunday 17 - This has been a very dull day. We have had no preaching to shorten the long day. I am well enough to resume my duties. Will have Drill twice per day guard mounting & Dress parade whenever the weather will permit of it. Have spent the evening reading my Bible & Army Regulations. Monday 18 - Capt Dean took a detail of 10 men. Went saining in the river for the Regt. Caught 120 Shads. We had guard mounting , Drill, & Dress parade. Damon & Allen bought some fish & vinegar. I sewed my clothes and read a novel. Made out field returns this morning. Tuesday May 19, 1863 - Performed my regular daily duties. Read Corrinne & strolled about over fields. Capt Deans trunk came from Richmond. Contained Drawers for the company & other clothing. Also two bottles of wine for Pryor & Young. I as others drank to the long lives of the dear Miss ladies. May god bless them all. Wednesday 20 - I have spent the day as usual, performed my regular daily duties. My left ankle is very sore and paines me while drillin mounting guard on Dress parade & news from Miss is not favorable yet. Thursday 21 - Our Regt drew pay today, McNeill & I made out several pay & muster rolls to draw our money but couldn’t Soot the Q. M. Hessey so we quit trying. Rations are very short, only 1/6 per lb of meat to the man, blessed are the sick for they don’t eat much, my only consolation at present. Friday May 22, 1863 - I performed my regular daily duties, read a novil. This has been a very sultry day. I don’t feel well. I am very weak and have no appetite. We bought a dozen herrings had no meat to cook them with, they made a poor mess. Maj Hardin went out to a private house to stay until he gets well. Saturday 23 - I spent the day as usual. Read a novil this evening until drill time. Sent Damon out on the country & got some milk. I wish that this foolish war would end so that we could live like civilized people and enjoy life. Sunday 24 - I went to Fredricksburg this morning. Stayed until 6 o’c pm. Capt A. R. Govan left for Miss. I went to the Methodist Church heard a poor sermon. Spent the day with Lt Crump & Ramsower enjoyed my visit finely. Saw many of my old friends. Monday May 25, 1863 - I had fever last night till 1 o’clock, have been taking pills today. Read Orders & a Sentence on Dress parade, private W. R. Baldwin of Co F is required courtmartial to carry a billet of wood 2 hours out of four each day for two weeks & be fed on bread & water 5 days. Tuesday 26 - The weather is quite cool. I have had fire in my tent all day. Nothing has transpired worth writing. Wednesday 27 - I felt too bad to drill today, prisoner W. R. Baldwin slyly cut half of his billet of wood off. Col Harris requires him to carry one weighing 100 pounds. Capt Reading is sentenced to have 138th article of army Regulation & 3rd article a & L Gen Series Read to him 1 per day for 7 days & be rebuked by the Colonel, rec’d orders to march. Thursday May 28, 1863 - We packed up ready to move but didn’t go. Had no drill nor Dress parade. The yankeys state in their papers that they have captured 3,000 of our men at Vicsburg, also 30 pieces of artillery. I think one of their victorious lies. Friday 29 - We had Brigade review this evening. We are ordered to give up all of our short Enfield Rifles to Gen Hoods Division, they are to be mounted infantry. I am anxious to hear from Vicsburg. Received orders this evening to get ready to march. Saturday 30 - I went down to the creek this morning four men Baptised, our Chaplains are doing good service, many of our men have recently professed religion. McNeill sent out and bought a gallon of milk, two pounds of butter & a ham, Damon bought Sunday May 31, 1863 - Poseys Adjt Gen annoyed me until 12 o’clock about an inspection report until 12 oclock, so I did not attend preaching. I went out in an old field and gathered strawberries, it reminded me of the happy hour I’ve passed in the fields at home. We had a Turkey for dinner. |
