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[1]
Diary of
Captain W. W. Old, A. D. C.
Kept from June 13, 1864 to August 12th, 1864
The operations of Lieut. General Jubal A. Early
in the Valley of Virginia and Maryland.
June 13th, Monday.
Left the trenches around Richmond, with corps
composed of Gordon's Division, Maj. Gen Jno. B. Gordon,
commanding: Rodes' Division, Maj. Gen. Robert E. Rodes,
commanding, Earley's Division, Maj. Gen. S, D. Ramseur, com-
manding, and Wilson's and Braxton's Battallions of Artillery,
Brig. Gen. A. L. Long, commanding. Marched to Goodall's Tavern.
June 14th.
Marched to Gardner's Cross Roads, Lousia County.
June 15th. Marched to Valentine's and West Hills, Lousia County.
June 16th. Marched to Keswick Depot, Albermarle County.
June 17th. Took cars for Lynchburg at daylight and arrived
there about noon with Lewis' (Hoke's) and Johnston's Brigade
of Ramseur's Division: Pegram's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Lilly
commanding) of Ramseur's Division, and Gordon's Brigade; and
a small part of Terry's Brigade of Gordon's Division, arrived
late in the afternoon. Formed line of Battle.
Some Artillery of King's Battalion on the line:
Imboden's men stampeded. Jackson's Cavalry also ran but were
reformed and remained in line all night. Some artillery firing
and skirmishing.
June 18th.
Lay around Lynchburg in line all night. Some skirmish-
ing and artillery firing. The troops arriving slowly - all in
by 3 p.m. Troops moving into position.
June 19th.
Marched at daylight in pursuit of enemy (who began to
retreat by sending off their trains at 2 p. m. yesterday).
Ramseur in front. Reached Liberty (Bedford City) and drove
[2]
the enemy through the town. 8 p.m. All quiet, 25 miles.
June 20th.
Marched at daylight. Ramseur in front with one Battery
of Artillery. Enemy moving nearly all night. Made Buford's
Gap, 16 miles. A skirmish in the afternoon till night.
June 21st.
Marched at sunrise - so late on account of some misunder-
standing of Gen. Rodes as to time and his going in front.
Rodes in front. Gen. Ramson with McCausland's Cavalry cut
Yankee Column at Hanging Rock too 11 (Eleven) guns and
caissons, 12 or 15 wagons and 90 prisoners. Men plundering
and advantage lost. Marching rapidly to assist, but arrived
too late. Headquarters at Botetour Springs. Rodes has now
been nearly three days without any rations. Troops very tired
and fagged.
June 22nd.
Rested for wagons and artillery to catch up. Enemy
retreating up Catawba Valley. McCausland and Imboden sent
around to watch them.
June 23rd. Marched to Buchanan.
June 24th. Marched to Lexington.
June 25th. Marched to Midway, Elzey relieved.
June 26th. Marched to Staunton
June 27th Rested. Transportation reduced. Gordon put
under Breckenridge.
June 28th Gordon marched early this morning: rest of com-
mand at 2 p.m.: reached Mt. Sydney at 9 p.m.
June 29th Marched to Cowan's.
June 30th Marched to Mt. Jackson. Head Quarters at Dr. [Meem's?]
July 1st Marched to Strasburg
July 2nd Marched to Winchester. Troops encamped at Opequon
July 3rd Marched to Leetown: Ramseur in front. Brig. Gen.
Bradley T. Johnson drove the enemy from Leetown this
morning beyond . . . . . Cross-Roads. He moves on the
Martinsburg road and a force of the enemy which had
retreated on the Shepherdstown road comes in and forces
him back in some confusion. Gen. Ramson present.
July 4th.
Gen. Breckenridge with his corps moves from Bunker Hill
[3]
and takes Martinsburg, a great number of stores, &c.
General Early with Rodes' and Ramseur's Divisions moves at
daylight and invests Harper's Ferry about 9 a.m. - Ramseur along
the Baltimore & Ohio R. R., resting on the river. Rodes on the
Charlestown turnpike. Heavy cannonading and skirmishing
all day.
The enemy evacuates the town after dark leave a number
of quarter master and Commissary stores. Bridge burned by
the enemy.
July 5th.
Still investing Harper's Ferry, cannonading all day.
Breckenridge with Gordon and Wharton crossed the Potomac in
the afternoon. Gordon moved to Antietam Iron Works, and
Wharton to Sharpsburg and encamped. Lewis' Brigade left to
invest the town on the Virginia side of the Potomac while
Rodes and Ramseur move to Shepherdstown. Artillery did not
cross.
July 6th.
Rodes and Ramseur (excepting Lewis' Brigade) cross the
Potomac - also artillery trains. Gordon moved down the river
and drove the enemy 2 1/2 miles towards Harper's Ferry. Consider-
able skirmish in the afternoon. Our loss very small: our Head
Quarters at Sharpsburg.
July 7th.
Wharton marched to Gordon's assistance this morning: - he
was kept in supporting distance the day before (Was Wharton or
Vaughan in command of that Division?) Enemy seemed disposed
to attack us but did not. Heavy skirmishing and cannonading
in the morning. Rodes skirmishing near Boonsboro - also Gen.
Bradley Johnson. Breckenridge's Corps and Lewis' Brigade
marched at 9 p.m. - marching all night: Breckenridge to
Rohersville, Lewis to Sharpsburg.
July 8th.
Marched from Sharpsburg to Middletown and Titochin Mt.
Lewis' Brigade brought up the rear of trains on Boonsboro
pike. Ramseur with rest of his Division in advance on the
same pike. Breckenridge crossed at Fox' Gap: Rodes at
Crampton Gap, on right flank of the army.
July 9th.
Entered Frederick city with Ramseur in front at 6 a.m.
Slight skirmishing. Rodes relieved Pegram's Brigade in
Baltimore road. Ramseur marched on Washington Road and
drove the enemy under their guns posted on the other side of
Monacacy river. McCausland with one piece of artillery cross-
[4]
ed the river and got in the enemy's rear and left flank.
Gordon moved to his support, formed his line and charged
the enemy, driving him off the field in great confusion.
Ramseur crossed with one brigade (Lewis') and pursued him.
We found Lew Wallace and Pickett's Division: we took 600
prisoners.
July 10th.
Marched at daylight to within 4 miles of Rockville,
Ramseur bring up the rear. The enemy harassed him in
the morning and so delayed him that he reached camp at 1
oclock a.m. of the 11th inst. Made 21 miles.
July 11th.
Marched to Silver Spring. Rodes in front. Drove the
enemy within his entrenchments around Washington. Troops
much broken down by excessive heat, long marching, dusty
roads and the exceedingly dry country through which we
passed. Gordon brought up on right of Rodes. Heavy skirm-
ishing all the afternoon. Heard at sunset of the certain
reinforcements of the enemy by parts of the 13th and 19th
Corps.
July 12th.
Everything quiet up to 11 a.m. except occasional skrim-
ishing. Heavy skirmishing in the afternoon towards night.
Commenced to retreat at 7.30 p.m/ and marched all night, Rodes
bringing up the rear.
July 13th.
Reached camp at 9 a.m. Rested till just before night
when we marched and reached the Potomac at Conrood's Ferry
at 12 m. at night with the whole command.
July 14th. Crossed the river early in the morning and encamp-
ed at Leesburg. Some cannonading against our cavalry in the
afternoon.
July 15th. Rested
July 16th. Marched to Snickersville Gap. Gordon crossed the
Shenandoah river at the ferry. The enemy cut our train and
captured some wagons. Would have captured more had not Rodes
driven them back rapidly. The enemy attacked Bradley Johnson's
camp at night.
July 17th.
The rest of the command crossed the Shenandoah and went
into camp; Rodes and Ramseur over towards Charlestown, Gordon
and Wharton on and to the right of turnpike to Berryville as
you go from Berryville to the river. Some cannonading. Head
Quarters at Berryville.
July 18th. The enemy attempted to cross at Parker's Ford at
[5]
3 p.m. but was attacked by Rodes' Division and one Brigade
of Gordon's and Wharton's Divisions each, and driven back with
great loss to themselves.
July 19th.
Some little cannonading in the morning. Enemy attempted
to cross at Ashby's Gap but were driven back by Imboden's
Cavalry. Command move at 8 p.m., Ramseur to Winchester, the
rist of the command to Millwood and thence to Newtown.
July 20th. Morning found everybody still in motion. Ramseur
forced back toward Winchester with loss of 4 (four) pieces of
artillery (Kirkpatrick's battery) several prisoners and many
killed and wounded. Rodes ordered to support him from Newtown,
immediately made for Winchester. Breckenridge encamped at
Cedarville at night.
July 21st. Breckenridge moved from Cedarville and Ramseur and
Rodes from Winchester and concentrated at Middletown. Encamped
near Cedar Creek Bridge.
July 22nd.
Moved to Fisher's Hill and formed line of battle in the follwoing order from the right - Gordon - Wharton - Ramseur-
Rodes.
July 23rd. Rested at Strasburg.
July 24th. Marched at daylight, Wharton in front. Met and
defeated the enemy at Kernstown and pursued them six miles
beyond Winchester: 72 wagons and 12 caissons abandoned or
burned. McCausland, Vaughan and Jackson pursued them to
Martinsburg.
July 25th. Rested at Winchester till 4 p.m. - then marched
to Bunker Hill. Our cavalry under McCausland at Martinsburg
were driven back. Imboden cut the road at Kerneysville.
July 26th. Marched to Martinsburg. Enemy gave up the place
last night.
July 27th. Rested at Martinsburg.
July 28th. Rested at Martinsburg. Cavalry moving.
July 29th. Cavalry moved forward last night. Bradley Johnson
to Hagerstown, Vaughan to Williamsport - McCausland
to Chambersburg via Hedgesville - Imboden and
Jackson demonstrating towards Harper's Ferry. Rodes
and Ramseur moved at light to Williamsport - reach-
ed the river at 10 a. m. Vaughan's Cavalry crossed
the river and drove the enemy off; then Battle's
Brigade of Rodes' Division sent over. Our cavalry
entered Hagerstown and captured a train with many
stores.
July 30th. Marched back to Martinsburg.
July 31st. Breckenridge marched to Darksville, Rodes and
Ramseur to Bunker Hill. They enemy is reported by Imboden to
be in large force at Halltown.
[6]
Aug. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Rested at Bunker Hill
Aug. 4th. Rodes and Ramseur with the artillery marched to
Williamsport, Breckenridge to Shepherdstown. Jackson's
cavalry crossed the river at Shepherdstown.
July 5th. Crossed the river, Gordon in front. Rodes and
Ramseur crossed at Williamsport and encamped near St. James'
College on [Marsh?] Creek; Gordon met Coles' cavalry on Antietam
Creek and drove them back. Encamped around Sharpsburg.
July 28th. Rested at Martinsburg: cavalry moving.
July 29th. Cavalry moved forward last night. Bradley Johnson
to Hagerstown, Vaughan to Williamsport - McCausland to Chambers-
burg via Hedgesville - Imboden and Jackson demonstrating towards Harper's Ferry. Rodes and Ramseur moved at light to Williams-
port - reached the river at 10 a. m. Vaughan's Cavalry cross-
ed the river and drove the enemy off; then Battle's Brigade
of Rodes' Division sent over. Our cavalry entered Hagers-
town and captured a train with many stores.
July 30th. Marched back to Martinsburg.
July 31st. Breckenridge marched to Darksville, Rodes
and Ramseur to Bunker Hill. The enemy is reported by Imboden to
be in large force at Halltown.
August 1st, 2nd, 3. Rested at Bunker Hill.
August 4th. Rodes and Ramseur with the artillery marched to
Williamsport, Breckenridge to Shepherdstown. Jackson's
cavalry crossed the river at Shepherdstown.
August 5th.
Crossed the river, Gordon in front; Rodes and Ramseur
crossed at Williamsport and encamped near St. James College
on Marsh Creek. Gordon met Cole's cavalry on Antietam Creek
and drove them back. Encamped around Sharpsburg.
August 6th. Moved by daylight: - reached Williamsport and
crossed the river with whole command at 3 p. m. Rodes and
Ramseur camped near Hedgesville, Gordon at Falling Waters,
Wharton opposite Williamsport on the river.
Aug. 7th. Moved at daylight, Breckenridge to Darksville, Rodes
and Ramseur to Bunker Hill. General Pegram reported.
Aug. 8th. Rested at Bunker Hill and Darksville.
Aug 9th. Head Quarters still at Bunker Hill. Having heard
that General Johnson was surprised and routed at Moorefeld
on Sunday, the 7th inst. and that the remnant of his force
was moving toward Winchester pursued by Averill, Ramseur was
sent up to Winchester on the Romney pike. Breckenridge moved
to Bunker Hill.
"A body of enemy's cavalry reported moving up the Shenandoah
while the 6th, 8th and 19th are at Harper's Ferry and Halltown
under Hooker"; report by Imboden received at 10 p. m.
[7]
Aug. 10th. Moved at sunrise to Winchester. Rodes camped
near Jordan Springs, Breckenridge on Berryville road. Rodes'
skirmishers on Smithfield road slightly engaged: Ramseur
moved to his support. After night Ramseur moved out to
junction of Millwood and Front Royal roads.
Aug. 11th. Moved early this morning to right of Winchester
in line to Newtown. Some fighting in Ramseur's front on the
Millwood road. Pegram drives Custar back. Enemy attacked
Vaughan at Cross roads, but Imboden coming to his support,
they fell back in order to Cedarville. Some skirmishing in
Gordon's front.
Aug. 12th. Command moved at 3 a. m. for Strasburg.
I was ordered to Richmond.
(signed) W. W. Old, A. D. C.
(dated at bottom)
March 17th, 1865
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