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38
Thursday, April 17
I rode out to the
James River, which
is said to be some
5 or 6 miles wide at
the point I visited.
Went in the River
bathing & some
rascal stole my
pistol and belt.
Our Regt. has been
under arms all
day.
Friday, April 18
Moved back near
Gen. McClaws Head=
=quarters, and
39
encamped on the
brink of a ravine.
Some of our men
started home, but
have all returned.
Then showed their
independence, but
I could not leave
with the enemy
so near.
Saturday, April 19
We are impressed
for three years
from our original
enlistment, which
seems to bear
40
rather hard, but
I suppose the im=
=mergency will jus=
-tify the usurpation
of such uncon=
=stitutional power.
It is a precedent
that will be re=
=fered to and used
in support of
tyranical legisla=
=tion, for years
that are yet un=
=born.
41
Sunday, April 20
A good deal of firing
last night at Dam
No 1 or 2. The enemy was
supposed to make
some attempt, to cut
loose our Dams. The
Warwick is quite a
barrier to their advance.
The day has been
rainy and unpleasant.
Monday, April 21
Heavy rain in the
afternoon. A good
deal of cannonading
during the day.
42
Tuesday, April 22
Went to Yorktown,
famous as being the
place where Lord
Cornwallis surrendered
to Gen. Washington.
It is a small vil=
lage, and has a
very ancient appear=
=ance. The fortifi=
cations are strong.
Dined with Lt.
Nelson of the 6th Ga.
On a tomb I saw
written “William Nelson
Esq Late President of his
Majestys Council in the
Dominion. 1772.
43
Wednesday, April 23
Occasional firing, but
no engagement as yet.
Thursday, April 24
Friday, April 25
Saturday, April 26
Rainy day, and un=
=pleasant.
Sunday, April 27
Visited Yorktown.
The enemy threw a
number of shells over
from their Gunboats,
while I was there.
44
Monday, April 28
Wednesday, April 30
In the afternoon our
Regt. and Bacons, with
about 200 Cavalry and
Kempers Battery, went
to Lands End, and
after staying there
till dark, built up
some fires, and
left. The night was
very dark, and my
horse
^ jumped into a
ditch and fell
with me. I suppose
the excursion was
45
merely a feint to
draw the enemy,s forces
out.
May 1st
May 2nd
Left Custis Farm, and
[re...?] Williamsburg
with the train in
the afternoon. The
army of the Peninsula
is evidently “falling back.”?
Williamsburg contains
a college and
Lunatic Asylum.
46
May 3d
Visited the college
grounds of William
and Mary. The statue
of Lord Berkely stands
in front of the
College building
on it is inscribed
“The Right, Honorable
Norborne Berkeley
Baron de Botetourt[underlined]
His Majestys late
Lieutenant and Govern=
=or General of the
colony of[crossed out] and
Dominion of Virginia
1771
47
Also visited the Lunatic
Asylum, which contains
280 patients. The build=
=ings of the Institution
are superb. Made the
acquaintance of Mrs. Lee.
Sunday, May 4
Hamptons Cavalry
charged the Yankees
just below Williamsburg.
Reached the field just
in time to see the
skirmish and charge.
It was a brave charge.
the Hampton Cavalry
lost 2 killed. Several
48
Yankee prisoners were
taken. Returned to the
it
train, and overtook ^ at
10 o clock P.M.
Monday, May 5
After a short but
hard days drive we
reached a little creek
at 1 o’clock at night
and camped near
its bank. The roads
are dreadful, and
some trains are
throwing off baggage
to facilitate travel.
Our Brigade is
49
stopped at Burnt
Ordinary, some 8
miles in our rear,
and are destitute of
provisions.
Tuesday, May 6
Received an order to
send back to our
Regt all the provisions
on the waggons, which
I have promptly
executed. Went out
to procure some
provisions, and on
returning luckily found
a barrel of flour
50
that had been thrown
aside for want of
transportation. Some
good luck now and
then.
Wednesday, May 7
Moved to within
two miles of the long[underlined]
bridges[underlined]. Sent back
our ammunition to
the brigade.
Thursday, May 8
Crossed the long
bridge. Camped
ten miles from
51
Richmond. A great
many sick and
stragglers are with
the waggons.
Friday, May 9
Bought corn and
provisions from
Mrs. Garthright. Crossed
over to the stage
road, and camped
near a little creek
or branch, some
ten miles from
Richmond.
The weather is
fine.
52
Saturday, May 10
Rode down beyond
the Chickahominy &
found our Regt. An
engagement seems imminent.
Sunday, May 11
Wrote a note home.
Nothing of importance
to day, that I have
heard.
53
Tuesday, May 13
This day our Regt. went
into a reorganization of
companies. The following
is the result in Company “D”?
F. N. Walker, Captain
Y. S. Bobo 1st Lieut.
J. T. Ray 2nd “
C. P Abernathy 3d “
Wednesday, May 14
Held an election
for Field Officers of
3d Regt. this day.
Resulted as follows:
James Nance, Colonel
54
B. C. Garlington Lieut.
Colonel, and D. Ruther=
=ford, Major. There
are now six new
Captains. The follow=
=ing is the order of[crossed out]
Rank[crossed out] in which
the different Captains
now take Rank:
1st Davidson
2nd Moffitt
3d Todd
4th McGowan
5th Walker
6th Lanford
7th Langston
8th Summer
55
9th Hentz
10th Nance
Saturday, May 17
At the Spotswood
in Richmond, on
business for the
3d Regt. Expect to
stay about 5 days.
My sweetheart is
gone.
May 18 (Sunday)
A very pretty day.
Wrote to Miss [J?] &
my sister Sue.
56
Monday, May 19
Tuesday, June 3d
Owing to recent changes,
during which time I have
been generally very busy,
I have neglected to take
notes as heretofore – and
hence the gap in
this Diary for the
past 15 days. During
this past 15 days, many
important events in
our army have trans=
=pired. The battles of
Saturday and Sunday
last are matters
57
of history, and will
add an illustrious page
thereto. Our loss is very
heavy. We are now
near the new Bridge,
and have been under
the enemys guns for
several days. He throws
his projectiles at us
every hour in the
day, but with no
effect or injury to
the Rebels[underlined]. A general
engagement is hourly
expected, and the pending issue is
pregnant with
