firing along the line this afternoon; warm, but cooler than
yesterday; army moved back across Cedar Creek about 9 o'clock a. m.
to our old position; wagons have come, but have got to make three
days' rations last four, as Mosby captured some of our train; all's
quiet to-night.
TUESDAY, Aug. 16, 1864.
Such trifling! I'm tired of it! Must be we are waiting for
something--aren't ready. I am glad to lay quiet, but such suspense
keeps us from resting. We can't depend on quiet. It's rumored we are
to fall back this evening. Quite a game of chess seems to be going
on between the armies.[13] It has been very dull since we left
Harper's Ferry. We have done nothing but march without mail and time
drags; are nearly out of rations.
[13] The reason of General Sheridan's caution was that General Grant
had warned him from Petersburg while at Cedar Creek, that General
Lee had sent a reinforcement to General Early of General Anderson's
Corps of two divisions of infantry under General Fitzhugh Lee, and
to be cautious. General Sheridan's army then consisted of the Sixth
Corps, two divisions of the Nineteenth Corps, General Crook's Eighth
Corps, two divisions of cavalry and the usual amount of artillery.
The other division of the Nineteenth Corps and one division of
cavalry were en route to join him, which, when they arrived, would
give him a force of about 30,000 men, and Early would have about the
same number. Thus both sides were similarly situated--waiting for
reinforcements--and neither after Sheridan received word from Grant
of Early's expected reinforcements, were ready to fight; hence the
seemingly at the same time unnecessary game of chess between the two
armies which so wore on us and which caused the petulant outbreak
in my diary. Had Sheridan known of Early's reinforcements before
going to Strasburg, of course he would not have gone. Early, of
course, was retreating towards his reinforcements purposely so that
when he met them he could then give battle. It was a narrow escape
for Sheridan. He sent Wilson's division of cavalry to Front Royal
to investigate, where he found Kershaw's division of infantry and
Fitzhugh Lee with two brigades of cavalry at the ford, and then left
to report to Sheridan.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 17, 1864.
We were ordered to commence our retrograde movement at 8.30 o'clock,
but didn't till about 10 o'clock a. m. As usual our division goes
as train guard. We passed through Middletown about midnight; didn't
stop to do much foraging; arrived at Newtown about 2 o'clock a.
m., and passing through, the men nearly stripping the place of
everything; got breakfast at Winchester and stopped near Clifton
farm. Foraging is allowed, owing to the levies made for money on
places by the enemy, which if not paid have been burnt, in Maryland
and Pennsylvania, such as Williamsport, Chambersburg, etc. It is
desired, too, to strip the Shenandoah Valley of all supplies in
order to keep the enemy out of it.
THURSDAY, Aug. 18, 1864.
The enemy followed us and overtook our rear guard at Winchester
where Generals Torbert and Wilson and the New Jersey brigade of the
Sixth Corps had a sharp little fight last night losing it's said,
one hundred and eighty in killed, wounded and prisoners. We were
aroused to form line of battle this morning at 4 o'clock. We got
breakfast and marched about 6 o'clock a. m. It rained constantly all
forenoon and was lowering this afternoon; dined at Clifton farm;
marched to Charlestown and bivouacked at 9 o'clock p. m. We have got
to make three days' rations last five.
FRIDAY, Aug. 19, 1864.
Arose at a late hour this morning, but not in the best of spirits;
have been in camp all day; haven't made preparations to stay long;
don't now-a-days; can't tell what we are to do; rained early, but
broke away by noon; have been quite indisposed since 3 o'clock p.
m.; fear I'm going to be ill; got a letter from Pert this evening;
first mail received in a week; all's quiet on the line to-night.
SATURDAY, Aug. 20, 1864.
Arose early this morning and am feeling better; over-tired yesterday
from hard marching and fatigue, I reckon, was all; took an early
breakfast and soon learned my baggage was close at hand; put up my
tent and got ready for work to-morrow provided we stay here; put in
a requisition for clothing. Lieut. C. H. Reynolds, R. Q. M. has come
from City Point; have written to Dr. J. H. Jones this evening; all's
quiet.
SUNDAY, Aug. 21, 1864.
Well, a soldier's life is a strange one to lead! I got up about
8 o'clock a. m. received an order for inspection at 9 o'clock
a. m. got nearly ready when it commenced raining and inspection
was delayed. Then before we had inspection about 10 o'clock a.
m. a lively fusilade commenced on the pike in our front with the
skirmishers; looks to me like a surprise; everybody acts so, too;
have been hustling all day to throw up rifle pits and to-night
finds us in line behind a formidable breastwork; skirmishing still
continues briskly. The Vermont brigade reestablished the skirmish
line. Our brigade has lost two men killed and eleven wounded.
MONDAY, Aug. 22, 1864.
Am not feeling well; marched nearly all night; arrived at Halltown
heights at daylight; went into our old position; am now on picket on
the right of our line; enemy followed us up and skirmished with our
rear guard "right smart" all day. About 11 o'clock a. m. the First
Division was sent out on the pike; rumored it's driven the enemy
back; hard thunderstorm from 3 o'clock to 4 o'clock p. m.; quite
cool this evening.
TUESDAY, Aug. 23, 1864.
It was chilly and foggy this morning, but it cleared about 9 o'clock
a. m. Skirmishing still continues on the pike and on the left of
the line. It's rumored the Nineteenth Corps charged the enemy this
morning driving it back in confusion. The Tenth Vermont moved to
the right this forenoon giving room for a battery on our left. Our
forces have thrown up breastworks, but I don't anticipate any attack.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 24, 1864.
This is my twenty-second birthday; enemy still in front; skirmishing
still on the left; don't think it amounts to much; heavy cannonading
in front of the Nineteenth Corps from 2 o'clock to 3 o'clock p. m.
Dr. Almon Clark and Lieutenant E. P. Farr returned to the regiment
to-day. I have been busy on clothing rolls and Company books and
wrote to James Burnham this evening; not feeling well to-day; very
warm; all's quiet.
THURSDAY, Aug. 25, 1864.
Well, another birthday has passed and with it another year has
gone, and one of great military experience, and I trust it has been
profitably spent; very warm till about 3 o'clock p. m. when it
showered; had monthly inspection at 4 o'clock p. m. General Wilson's
division of cavalry started this morning on a reconnoissance towards
Martinsburg; heard heavy cannonading about 3 o'clock p. m.; can't
learn any particulars.
FRIDAY, Aug. 26, 1864.
As usual we were ordered to be under arms at 4 o'clock a. m. but
the enemy has not yet appeared on our right, nor do I think they
will; have had charge of a fatigue party nearly all day policing in
front of the rifle pits. Captain L. T. Hunt of Company H returned to
the regiment this afternoon looking well; has been absent wounded.
Captains C. D. Bogue and A. W. Chilton's commissions came by
to-day's mail; no skirmishing all day.
SATURDAY, Aug. 27, 1864.
Were under arms again early this morning. Colonel Foster visited the
Tenth this forenoon; is truly a fine-looking man. I have been very
busy making out final statements. The heavy musketry heard yesterday
on our left about 3 o'clock p. m. was occasioned by the enemy's
making a charge on the Nineteenth Corps. The Johnnies were repulsed
with considerable loss. Rumor says we captured one entire regiment
and two stand of colors, etc. It's child's play, though, compared to
the fighting from the Rapidan to the James. I don't believe there
will be any more such fighting; it's more than human beings can
stand without one side or the other collapsing. As I look back upon
it, I marvel.
SUNDAY, Aug. 28, 1864.
Received marching orders for to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock last
evening. We were up at 3 o'clock a. m. and ready to march at
daylight, but did not until near 8 o'clock. The Nineteenth Corps
marched on our left in three different columns and the Sixth Corps
moved on the right in the same order. We took dinner about two miles
from Charlestown, and marched again about 1 o'clock p. m.; went
through Charlestown about 3 o'clock p. m., with the bands playing
"Old John Brown" to the accompanying chorus of the entire column.
It was grand! We camped on our old ground just outside the city; no
signs of any enemy yet.[14]
[14] It is a fact that General Crook's Corps, when forming line near
Berryville, was "blundered" into by General Kershaw's Division of
infantry and artillery en route to Petersburg via Ashby's Gap. After
a little brush in which Kershaw got the worst of it, he fell back.
This was a great disappointment to General Sheridan, as Kershaw was
detained fifteen days longer.
MONDAY, Aug. 29, 1864.
A cool comfortable day; laid out Company streets this forenoon and
everything looks as though we were to remain in camp several days.
Torbet's cavalry has been engaged all day, but was driven back about
4 o'clock when our Division was sent out to support it. The enemy
fell back as soon as they discovered our infantry. We followed
the rebs about five miles, returned about half way to camp, and
bivouacked. There's good news from Grant's army to-night. We await
anxiously for the returns from the Chicago convention.
TUESDAY, Aug. 30, 1864.
We were under arms at 3 o'clock a. m., but no signs of an enemy.
It's a beautiful cool morning. Some think Early has gone to
reinforce Lee; guess not; at any rate, an enemy is in front. The
Third Division hasn't moved back to its original position as
anticipated last night. Time hangs heavily and were it not for the
bands I should be almost homesick; got a mail but no news from home.
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 31, 1864.
Pleasant and warm; got our muster and pay rolls this morning;
completed two; not much skirmishing to-day; paper states that
probably General McClellan will be the Democratic nominee for
president; got a mail but no letter for me.
THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 1864.
This is the anniversary of our muster into the U. S. service at
Brattleboro, Vt., 1862. Thus far, as a regiment, we have been
prospered. God grant that we may continue to be, and that as many as
is consistent with His will, may be allowed to pass one more year if
necessary in the service, and then be returned home happy, feeling
that we have endeavored to do our duty as soldiers faithfully to our
country and our God; have completed two more rolls; shall try and
finish the other in the morning; all's quiet in front.
FRIDAY, Sept. 2, 1864.
Cloudy and cool; think it will rain in a day or so; have completed
my roll. Lieutenant George P. Welch returned from Vermont this
afternoon; has been absent sick since we left City Point. We moved
back to our old camp at 5 o'clock p. m.; arrived about dark; shall
probably stay here several days; are laying out camp.
SATURDAY, Sept. 3, 1864.
Got an order at 10 o'clock last night to be in readiness to move
at 4 o'clock a. m.; didn't start until about 6.30 o'clock a. m.;
marched up the valley towards Clifton Farm; did not rest until
about three miles of it, and probably shouldn't then had we not run
onto the enemy and had a brush; don't know the result; heard to-day
Atlanta had fallen. It's glorious news! I was detailed for picket
to-night. It looks like rain.
SUNDAY, Sept. 4, 1864.
Got our line established about 10 o'clock last night; rained hard;
got very wet; day has passed quietly; moved our skirmish line about
fifty yards to the front this forenoon. The enemy appeared on the
left of our division about dark and commenced skirmishing, but all's
quiet at 9 o'clock p. m. Dr. Clark has been down to see us this
afternoon. He's always welcome. It's cloudy and cool; will probably
rain before morning.
MONDAY, Sept. 5, 1864.
Was aroused this morning at 4 o'clock by the Vermont brigade. It
moved round on to our right in the night and built works to protect
our right flank; rained hard last night; got very wet; was relieved
from picket by the Fourteenth New Jersey; no skirmishing to-day. The
enemy has evidently fallen back to Winchester. It's quite cloudy.
TUESDAY, Sept. 6, 1864.
O, such a terrible day! Rain, wind, sleet and everything to make
it gloomy. The Vermont troops have voted to-day as directed by
the Governor. My Company (E) cast seven votes for the Republican
candidate. The other men didn't know who the Democratic candidate
was and so didn't vote. Nothing has disgusted me so since I left
Vermont. I'm sadly disappointed politically, in my Company, but
the men are good fighters and I like them. They seem devoted to
me. It is disappointing, though, to have to send such a report to
Vermont! It's mortifying! But I mustn't let the men know how I feel
for it can't be helped now. It makes me feel queer, though, for my
Republicanism is as staunch as the granite hill (the Barre granite
quarries) on which I was born. I am dazed at the result of the vote
in Company E! I guess I'm in the wrong pew politically; very few
democrats in Barre.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 7, 1864.
Was happily surprised to find it pleasant this morning; has turned
out the finest day of the fall. Lieutenant H. W. Kingsley came up
with the day's rations; ate supper with us. The moonlight, band
music and charm of the night has killed the monotony.
THURSDAY, Sept. 8, 1864.
Such freaky weather; cool and rainy nearly all day. Chaplain Roberts
of the Sixth Vermont, has called this afternoon. He's a fine man. I
have been reading East Lynne. It's very dull in camp. I've written
to Aunt Thompson this evening. The papers state the North is
jubilant over our recent victories, and well they may be.
FRIDAY, Sept. 9, 1864.
A fair day. Lieutenant H. W. Kingsley ate supper with us. He brought
up three days' rations. Pert writes she is having a fine time in
East Boylston, Mass. teaching. She sent me a letter from Cousin
Byron Bradley. Cousin Abby Pierce is coming East this fall. I have
finished reading East Lynne; it's a fine story.
SATURDAY, Sept. 10, 1864.
It's a cool day. Company and battalion drill was ordered this
afternoon but we didn't drill as the Major is on picket. Lieutenant
G. E. Davis came out of the Division hospital this afternoon. He's
had a boil. I have made my election returns. It's very pleasant
this evening in camp, but dull. I have written Pert.
SUNDAY, Sept. 11, 1864.
A very quiet dull day; am looking for news from the Army of the
Potomac; nothing has occurred since we left; those armies watch
each other, while we do what little fighting there is done. So much
constant chasing of the enemy night and day, frequent brushes,
laying on our arms from 3 o'clock till daylight, etc., is very
wearing and I shall be glad when Early is licked, as he surely
will be for Sheridan fights like a tornado--_he_ does things. He's
getting a good ready, and we'll be heard from soon. Ta, ta, Early!
Run back to Petersburg! The peace party seems to be dissatisfied
with McClellan. In my opinion his stock's below par, at the same
time if his party nominate a new man it will be the best thing that
can happen for us; wonder if most of Company E don't sympathize
with the peace party? Hope my men are not fickle politically--like
Jacob's coat of many colors. It takes a strong man in these times,
though, to stand up to the rack when there isn't much in it but
ammunition, and it's grimly give and take with no white feather mix,
and neither army will give up. Wonder if we won't be abused for all
this bye and bye by other than copperheads?
MONDAY, Sept. 12, 1864.
We are having a nice long time in camp, but will probably make up
for it when Grant and Sheridan get this little army fixed to suit
them. I have been in fights thus far with Companies B, D, and K,
having commanded the two latter in a number of hot places, and now
I am First Lieutenant Commanding Company E. I don't stay with a
Company long enough to learn all the men's names, but they impress
me with the idea that they are not dissatisfied with me even if I
only know them by sight. Company B is from Barre, Montpelier and
Waterbury. D from Burlington, E from Bennington, and K from Derby
Line, and the men are _splendid_ fighters, at any rate with me. I
don't try to drive them into a fight but am lucky to keep up with
the intrepid leaders and most of the rest follow. Except the bravest
of them, the others are not apt to go where their Commander won't,
and I get better work out of them by keeping ahead of them if I only
can. Some of them are so dauntlessly courageous they inspire me.
TUESDAY, Sept. 13, 1864.
Well, the papers begin to speak encouragingly, and reinforcements
are rapidly being sent Grant and Thomas. We have got but few yet,
but rumor says that six hundred left Vermont on the seventh of
September for our regiment. It's cloudy and there's a chilly south
wind. It threatens rain. McClellan's party is demanding a new
candidate. Well, let it have one, it will be all the better for Mr.
Lincoln. All's quiet to-night.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 14, 1864.
Rather a gloomy day. It rained hard from 9 o'clock a. m. until about
noon. Lieutenants Davis, Welch and Wheeler have gone on picket
with a hundred men from our regiment. There was Company drill this
afternoon. It rained so this forenoon that battalion drill was
suspended; rained hard this evening, too. Election returns from
Maine this evening show that State to be strongly Republican.
THURSDAY, Sept. 15, 1864.
It was fair until 5 o'clock p. m. when it sprinkled slightly and
prevented dress parade. We had battalion drill this forenoon and
Company drill this afternoon. The Commissary came up this forenoon,
too, with rations. We have received a large mail. All well at home.
The Second Division of the Sixth Corps and a brigade of cavalry
made a reconnoissance to-day toward Opequan Creek where the Vermont
Brigade skirmishers located the enemy just beyond Opequan Creek with
its line facing east, its right flank resting on the Berryville pike
and its left on the Martinsburg pike with Winchester in its rear.
Our armies are about six miles apart.
FRIDAY, Sept. 16, 1864.
It's a delightful evening; has been pleasant all day. There
was battalion and company drill this forenoon and afternoon
respectively. Extracts from the Richmond Examiner and other Southern
journals state that Lee's army about Richmond is in terrible
condition, is living on half rations, clothes worn out and no
prospect of getting more. It has got so they have to use negroes to
transport supplies, etc. I wouldn't blame that army for changing its
politics or anything else to get out of the scrape it's in.
SATURDAY, Sept. 17, 1864.
Warm and pleasant: gentle south breeze; looks like a southern storm.
General Grant came to-day, but has gone. It looks like a move.
Fifty men from our regiment went on picket this afternoon. We have
been moving camp, another indication of a move. Let it come. Orry
Blanchard and Nate Harrington have been over this evening.
SUNDAY, Sept. 18, 1864.
It's cloudy with a gentle south breeze. We had company inspection
at 9 o'clock this forenoon and monthly at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
The supply train came at 8 o'clock a. m. with four days' rations.
We got orders at 3 o'clock p. m. to strike tents which we did, and
march at once, but the order was countermanded. We shall probably
move early in the morning. There's a high south wind this evening,
but it doesn't look like rain. Sheridan's army now consists of
three infantry corps, three divisions of cavalry and the usual
complement of artillery, in all about 30,000 men, as follows; The
Sixth Corps, Major General H. G. Wright, U. S. V. commanding; the
Eighth Corps, Major-General George Crook, U. S. V. commanding; the
Nineteenth Corps, Brevet Major-General W. H. Emery commanding;
Brevet Major-General A. T. A. Torbert, U. S. V., Chief of Cavalry;
the First Division of Cavalry, Brigadier-General Wesley Merritt, U.
S. V. commanding; the Second Division of Cavalry, Brigadier-General
W. W. Averell, U. S. A. commanding; and of the Third Division of
Cavalry, Brigadier-General James H. Wilson, U. S. V. commanding.
Lieutenant-General Jubal A. Early commands the Confederate army with
about the same force.
MONDAY, Sept. 19, 1864.
We received orders at 10 o'clock last night to march at 2 o'clock
this morning which we did. Daylight brought us up near Opequan Creek
on the Winchester-Berryville pike. Wilson's Cavalry had charged and
carried the enemy's picket line and earthworks protecting the pike
near both the East and West entrance of the gorge through which
this road runs, taken a goodly number of prisoners, and it looked
like business again. A large number of troops moved in two or more
columns across the Opequan for about a mile and then up the narrow
winding pike in one column through a little valley or gorge, known
as the Berryville canyon to us, but as Ash Hollow locally, with
second growth or scrub oak and ash trees and underbrush coming close
down its scraggy abrupt banks two hundred feet high more or less in
places after crossing Abraham Creek, to the road and rivulet winding
along the gorge for nearly three miles--the source of which
stream is wrongly given on all maps pertaining to this battle--on
past General Sheridan near the west end of the canyon towards
Winchester sitting on his horse a little off the road to the right
in the open field on slightly ascending ground watching the column
our brigade was in which, owing to its plucky fight under great
disadvantages at the Battle of the Monocacy which largely saved the
city of Washington barely nine weeks before, he had selected for
the most important point in his line of battle at the head of the
gorge on the pike to Winchester with our valiant regiment and the
Fourteenth New Jersey planted across it even the colors of each
which were in the centre of the regiments, being in the center of
the pike and the rest of the army ordered to guide on us. _Surely_
this _was_ the place of honor in the battle that day for the Sixth
Corps followed the pike in all the assaults of the day which was
quite crooked including the first one until the enemy was driven
completely routed through the city of Winchester when night put
an end to the fighting Sheridan restlessly urged the men across a
small ravine opposite where he sat, his eyes wandering occasionally
everywhere over the large open space which gradually rose to the
vast comparatively level but slightly rolling battlefield in our
front, as the men looked curiously at him so near I could touch him
as we marched, little dreaming that three years after I should be
honored for my work that day, which he saw, by being a member of
his staff, or that he would be instrumental in saving my life when
ill with malignant yellow fever and threatened with fatal black
vomit in New Orleans, La. in 1867, by sending his cook, a faithful
old colored woman, who was an expert nurse of yellow fever patients,
to care for me. It was the nearest we had ever been to him, and
as our regiment passed slowly by fours, the line being congested
ahead, the men took a good look at him for he was already famous and
every soldier's ideal hero; and as they did so they unconsciously
slackened their sauntering pace a little which was what caused
Sheridan to urge them on.
[Illustration: No. 1.
Where Sheridan's army crossed Opequan Creek, Va., Sept. 19, 1864;
steel bridge built 1907; view of Winchester-Berryville pike looking
west towards Wood's Mill and Winchester, taken from the spring June
29, 1908.]