left and cannonading all along our lines, at daylight. The batteries
behind us shot over our heads. The musketry was sharp on the right.
We were first taken from the position we occupied last night to the
rear of the battery near the Cemetery, where we remained for half an
hour; then were moved to the right a little more, where we lay behind
the batteries until near eleven o'clock. The firing was very hot
on all sides--sharp musketry on the right. About eleven the rebels
concentrated their fire on the centre, when we formed in line, and
under a heavy fire of shot and shell, moved to the right, or north of
the Cemetery, and lay in front of the battery. Here the fire was very
hot, the rebels having batteries playing on us from all sides; many
of our men were struck by the shells; we lay flat and escaped many
bullets, &c., from the skirmishers and sharpshooters. The sun came out
very warm and many of our men were sun-struck. We lay here some three
hours. The First Division of the Eleventh Corps was in front, all along
the road. About three o'clock we had to get up, under the heaviest
fire I ever saw, and form in line of battle behind some batteries in
the Cemetery. Just as we started, Colonel Coulter, of the Eleventh
Corps, who had command of the First Brigade, was struck in the arm by
a sharpshooter; Colonel Lyle took his place, and Major Sellers took
command of the Ninetieth Regiment. We were taken towards the left of
the centre and put in the front line of battle. Here General Hayes rode
along the lines with a rebel battle flag. We advanced to within one
hundred yards of the road, and formed in line, and sent out a large
force of skirmishers. As we lay here, we had the fire of the rebel
sharpshooters and skirmishers in our front, and a large Whitworth gun,
which the rebels had planted on our flank, over two miles off, which
was constantly letting the missiles fly directly over or near us. Four
fell near the right of our line, but did no damage. We put up a few
rails and lay as low as possible. About seven o'clock in the evening,
all of the Ninetieth who were not skirmishing, had to support a company
of sharpshooters; I was among them; we went to the road and lay behind
the bank until dark, and then came in, carrying Miller with us in a
blanket to the hospital; then went back to the line, and made a strong
barricade of rails and stones, three feet high, where we lay all night.
All have run out of rations. This has been a warm day all around. We
still hold the field. General Longstreet was wounded and is in our
hands. Just as we came here, there had been a charge made in front of
us, which drove the rebels. Large numbers came into our lines, holding
up their hands, hats, and white rags.
_7th day, 7th mo. 4th._ Six o'clock A. M. Still hold our position. All
is quiet except the skirmishing. Had rations of pork, crackers, sugar
and coffee. Night. We lay in the position we took up last. This morning
we made a barricade strong enough to turn bullets. This evening some
of us were put on detail for burying the dead, but when we got out to
where we were ordered, found that we were not wanted. We took a look
at the large numbers of wounded prisoners in the barns and the field,
southeast of the Cemetery, which was covered with everything almost
belonging to a soldier. Most of the dead have been buried. All day
there were details sent out to gather up muskets, cartridge boxes, &c.
There was no fighting, except amongst the skirmishers and pickets, all
day, but we did not know how soon we might be called on. I tried to get
liberty to go and look for Wheaton, who was wounded, but could not. The
news is this evening that the rebels have left. We had a very heavy
rain this afternoon. Got rations of pork, crackers, coffee and sugar,
for four days, this evening.
_1st day, 7th mo. 5th._ Had a hard night last night; made a bed on
three rails, with gum blanket for cover; it rained very hard all
night. Soon after we got to bed, orders came for every man to have
his accoutrements on, and gun by his side. About three o'clock there
was a general alarm along our lines; we were up and in our places in
a moment, but after waiting half an hour, when all was quiet, General
Baxter said we might go to bed again. The alarm was false. I tried
again to get liberty to look for Wheaton, but could not. We were sent
out to gather up the dead and wounded rebels who lay in front of us.
They could not be got off any earlier on account of the sharpshooters.
We went out this morning to look at the field where we had not been
before; it was a horrible sight, the ground being literally strewed
with dead and a few wounded. The dead were so putrified that it would
be difficult for a friend to recognize one. The mail came in this
morning; received letters and sent some home. About nine o'clock we
were taken out to relieve the Sixth Corps, which had been stationed
to the left one-fourth of a mile, behind some rifle-pits. We remained
until sundown, when we were moved farther to the front, and encamped
for the night. This afternoon I went up to see some who were in Company
B, Ninety-ninth Regiment, which was encamped farther up towards the
left. Saw a citizen from Lancaster. There are a great many citizens on
the field. This has been a cloudy, dull, damp day.
_2d day, 7th mo. 6th._ Moved from near the left of the battle-field
this morning, and encamped within a mile of Emmettsburg; was put on
guard. This has been a damp day, and the ground is very muddy.
_3d day, 7th mo. 7th._ We were called up early this morning, and
started on the Frederick City pike; went through Emmettsburg. Instead
of going to Frederick City, took a cut across the mountains, and got
within six miles of Middletown, and encamped in the mountains near
Belmont. This was one of the hardest marches we have had yet; distance,
twenty-two miles. The mountains were so steep and the roads so muddy.
_4th day, 7th mo. 8th._ Were called up at four o'clock, ordered to pack
up, and get in line immediately, which we did, and were on the road. We
took the direct road to, and went through Middletown, and encamped half
a mile north of the town. We were almost worn out by the time we got to
camp. It rains most of the time, making the roads muddy and traveling
difficult. At two o'clock we had orders to move, and by half-past two
were off. Took the Hagerstown pike and followed it partly over the
mountain; then turned to the left, and up a high mountain, and formed
in line of battle along the road at sundown. After getting supper we
built breastworks until dark. Part of the Eleventh Corps is here with
us. Met large numbers of cavalry. Most of the army is here. The rebels
are not far off.
_5th day, 7th mo. 9th._ Were up at daylight and got our breakfast; then
all hands went to work and put up our breastworks near three feet high.
By six heard something like skirmishing in front of us, and a band
playing. By seven o'clock we were under arms. Yesterday afternoon we
heard some cannonading, which, we were told, was our cavalry and the
rebel cavalry, with some artillery. We have a strong stone wall before
us. We lay all day behind our works. All the rest of the army, or
nearly so, has gone by; we, the First Corps, are in the rear and will
not go until morning.
End of Project Gutenberg's Life in Southern Prisons, by Charles Smedley