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<html>IN PROGRESS. Gil E.
[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
complosed 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 Goddall'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. Transporation reduced. Gorden 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 relievd 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 prusued 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 afternon. 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.
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.
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