5th day, 8th mo. 25th.Did not go to the Doctor's to-day. Diarrhœa something better. Lay in the house most of the day. Bathed Buckley, who is still very low. Drew one-half ration of bread, salt pork, boiled beef and rice; they are going to give us cooked rations now, and some other detachments raw ones.
6th day, 8th mo. 26th.Very warm. Changed our sergeant of mess by putting out Warner and electing George Suson. Went out to the Doctor's and got prescriptions for Buckley, who has the scurvy. My complaint is almost well. The cooked rations agree with me very well. Drew one-half ration of bread and salt, about a pint of boiled beans, and a ration of molasses. Took a walk over to see Mathews this evening.
7th day, 8th mo. 27th.Was out to the Doctor's call for Buckley. Spent the day in the old way. Drew some extra molasses this forenoon, and boiled rice, beef, pork and salt for our rations this evening. There was only a mouthful of bacon and the rice only half cooked.
1st day, 8th mo. 28th.Was extremely warm. Spent the day as usual.
2d day, 8th mo. 29th.Was not well the fore-part of the day and did not get out to the Doctor's. Repeated the vote again for Suson, which elected him, as before. Put Warner in for sergeant of detachment, in place of the sergeant-major, who went out on parole to take charge of ration wagons.
3d day, 8th mo. 30th.No Doctor's call. Buckley was worse; I bathed him and washed a shirt for him.
4th day, 8th mo. 31st.Washed my drawers this forenoon, and lay about most of the day afterwards. Drew bread, boiled beans, beef, salt and a bit of bacon. Traded my beef for a ration of beans; ate my beans and pork for supper; traded Griffith's bread for tobacco. Was a warm day.
5th day, 9th mo. 1st.Was out to the Doctor's call—no medicine—no prescription. Lay in the house most of the day reading the Bible—have got through Jeremiah. The news in the Macon papers is favorable to a speedy exchange. Buckley gets no better. Traded half my bread and beef for beans; ate nothing but a ration and a half of beans for breakfast. Drew the same kind of rations except beans—rice only partly cooked. Last night was so cold that I could not sleep.
6th day, 9th mo. 2d.Lay in the house—slept and read most all day. Drew the same rations as yesterday—got a piece of pork as large as my fist for a mess of thirty.
7th day, 9th mo. 3d.Was cloudy and pleasant to-day. I am rather bad yet. No news about the exchange to be relied on. Griffith has a lame back; complains of the rheumatism.
1st day, 9th mo. 4th.I am very ill indeed; lay quiet all day.
2d day, 9th mo. 5th.Seemed to be the warmest day; suffered terribly from the heat; lay in the tent most all day; am very weak. Drew bread, pork, a large ration of molasses, and boiled rice.
3d day, 9th mo. 6th.My disease is better. Lay in the tent most all day. Eighteen detachments were ordered to be ready to leave at any moment—commencing at the first, going up to the eighteenth.
4th day, 9th mo. 7th.Lay in the tent most of the day and am better. They commenced at the first detachment at seven o'clock this morning and by night got as many as six, and gave orders up as high as eighteen to be ready to leave at a short notice. They ordered at first eighteen detachments to be ready, but could not find transportation for all to-day. They say they are ordered to Charleston to be exchanged.
5th day, 9th mo. 8th.Lay in the house most of the day. Helped Dr. Buckley all I could. Drew beans, boiled beef, salt and corn meal. They send off prisoners as fast as theycan get transportation; have not got more than twenty detachments away yet; they took some of the higher detachments after getting up to the eighteenth—seventy-six to eighty. Mathews got off.
6th day, 9th mo. 9th.Was extremely warm to-day. Helped to carry Buckley up to the barracks; was busy waiting on him until near noon; he is very ill; at noon he was admitted to the hospital; I went outside the gate with him; the rebel sergeant would not allow me to stay out with him. The barracks were vacated and filled up with the sick of the detachments which have left. The Drs. commenced and admitted large numbers into the hospital. I have the diarrhœa very bad. About two thousand more were taken away; they ship them off as fast as they can.
7th day, 9th mo. 10th.Had a severe spell of chills and fever last night; being so bad the day before, was the cause of it; drank plenty of water, which soon stopped the chills, and threw me into a fever. Was so weak to-day, could hardly go about. About the same number as yesterday were sent off; they mostly started in the night. Drew bread, boiled rice, molasses and salt.
1st day, 9th mo. 11th.This was a very warm day. There was not so many got away except this morning. About all the old prisoners are gone. Yesterday evening, all from 19 to 23 were ordered to be ready. About three, o'clock this afternoon, all from 23 to 33 were ordered to be ready. No sooner was the order given than the "boys" packed up and moved off to the gate. Each detachment took up its position, ready to go. Here we lay, anxiously waiting for the cars to come, which were expected at five o'clock, but they did not come. We lay down on the ground. Drew boiled rice this forenoon. After getting to the gate, got boiled beef. I am some better, but so weak and thin, I can just get along. Griffith has such a lame back, he cannot get along much better than I.
2d day, 9th mo. 12th.We lay ready to go until almost five o'clock. Drew rice, molasses, and bread, for two days rations. I am very weak, hardly able to walk. At five the trains began to come in; we moved out and got in the cars; sixty to a car. About six o'clock they gave us two days rations of corn bread and pork; started about dusk and arrived at Macon about the middle of the night.
3d day, 9th mo. 13th.Lay in the cars until daylight; then started and got to Augusta by evening; stopped there about two hours, then changed cars and started again about dusk.
4th day, 9th mo. 14th.Kept on all night, going on the Columbia road, and came to a junction which went to Charleston; and, at noon, came to another junction, one leading towards Wilmington, which we took, after changing cars, and started about five o'clock, and continued going on pretty steady all night.
5th day, 9th mo. 15th.Arrived at a village called Florence, South Carolina, and encamped here. Arrived here about two o'clock last night; lay in the cars until eleven o'clock to-day, then were moved out about a mile from the place. Clark, Joice, Griffith, and I, put up a snug tent of two blankets. The day, and, in fact, the weather, has been very warm since we started; we are almost worn out.
6th day, 9th mo. 16th.Slept very cold last night; have the diarrhœa very bad, and am so weak that I can hardly go about; did not get any rations until twelve o'clock at night, and then only a pint of meal and a little piece of pork. The rebel Captain called the roll this evening. The camp is divided into messes of one hundred, and detachments of three thousands. I am in mess sixth of our detachment.
7th day, 9th mo. 17th.Was a very warm day; I got no better; am so weak, can hardly help myself. Last night was so cold I could not sleep until we took down the blankets and put them over us. Drew a pint of rice for two days' rations.
1st day, 9th mo. 18th.Drew a pint of beans, pork and salt. Had roll call; all that were sick and not able to go, were excused; and, after roll call, were ordered to the hospital. I was put on the sick list. About noon we were taken outside of the camp for the purpose of drawing better rations. In the evening drew a good ration of sweet potatoes, a leaf of cabbage, a little beef and salt. I have Griffith's overcoat, which is the only shelter I have. Close, Roberts, Clark and I are together.
2d day, 9th mo. 19th.Lay under our tree, and sit by the fire all night; it was very cool. Drew same rations as yesterday, excepting the cabbage; got a square inch of pumpkin. About noon got orders to move to the opposite side of the camp, when the most able men, the nurses, and those who wished, were sent back to camp; the rest put in detachments of one hundred. I am in the seventh detachment; are in the woods, with water handy.
3d day, 9th mo. 20th.Had a cool night of it last night; lay in the woods until five o'clock; then were taken up to the shedding, in the field. Clark and I went back to the woods to sleep. It was cloudy all night, and in the evening rained. Drew same rations as yesterday.
4th day, 9th mo. 21st.Lay under our tree all night and were up at daylight; had a cold night of it. The nurses put up some boughs over poles for us, but they made poor shelter, excepting from the sun. We were worse off here excepting the rations. Drew a sweet potato, five spoonfuls of flour, the same of rice, and half a tablespoonful of salt. My diarrhœa is almost checked, but my strength is poor yet.
5th day, 9th mo. 22d.It rained last night, but I lay in my overcoat and kept dry. Drew the same rations of flour as yesterday, two spoonsful of corn meal, rice, salt and a mouthful of bacon. Make gruel and rice soup mostly for Close and I. Am decidedly better to-day. Had a good deal of rain this evening.
6th day, 9th mo. 23d.Was cloudy all day; rained in the fore-part of the night; made out to sleep a little. Got some dead pine leaves and spread on the ground for my bed. My overcoat kept me from getting "wringing wet." Got everything dry to day, and went to the creek and took a bath. All who were able were sent to the creek to bathe, and before they got back the doctor sent three hundred and fifty of them back to camp. I cannot gain strength. Drew hominy, rice, flour and a pinch of salt.
7th day, 9th mo. 24th.Lay about all day and cooked. Had a heavy rain in the evening. Drew corn meal, rice, fresh beef, and a pinch of salt. My old complaint is back on me as bad as ever.
1st day, 9th mo. 25th.Was a clear, warm and windy day. My diarrhœa gets no better. Drew fresh beef, a good ration, and salt only. Made soup of rice. I cook for Close. All who could walk were sent back to camp; I was left out, being able to walk only a little. Clark was sent in. Had a cool night.
2d day, 9th mo. 26th.Last night was very cold—cold enough for frost. To-day was fine and clear, but rather cool. Am very weak and prostrated. There are some rumors of an exchange going on.
3d day, 9th mo. 21th.Was warm; last night was cold. All excepting the worst cases were sent to camp. I got some medicine this evening—a pill of camphor and opium; some with dysentery got oleum ricini and spirits of turpentine. The scurvy cases, a decoction of Sumac berries, which was pleasant to drink. Some kind citizens sent some boiled sweet potatoes, ham, cabbage and bread for the worst cases. The steward, who seems to notice me considerably, gave Close and I some of all the above named articles, so we wanted no supper. Drew corn meal, fresh beef and salt. I cooked beans until eleven o'clock at night for our breakfast. Am no better, but have a good appetite.
4th day, 9th mo. 28th.Was very warm all day; spent the day as yesterday. Drew meal, beans and salt.
5th day, 9th mo. 29th.Was a warm night; I slept well. My complaint is no better; am very weak. Drew meal, rice, salt, molasses, and some sweet potatoes; the molasses is of the worst sorghum. They give us medicine once per day.
6th day, 9th mo. 30th.Spent the day laying in my shed. My disease is on the mend. Got to the creek and took a bath this forenoon. Drew fresh beef, rice, meal and salt. Got medicine to-day. The men die pretty fast.
7th day, 10th mo. 1st.Lay quiet as possible. Drew one-half of a large hard tack, eight spoonsful of molasses, and salt.
1st day, 10th mo. 2d.Was busy pottering around all day. Drew one half of hard tack, eight spoonsful of molasses, salt, corn meal and flour. The men are dying off very fast all around me. Griffith was put in the third Ward. Got my cap and gum blanket.
2d day, 10th mo. 3d.Spent the day as yesterday. Had some rain in the evening. Drew fresh beef, beans, flour and salt. My health is better.
3d day, 10th mo. 4th.Lay quiet; my complaint is some better. Drew molasses, rice, flour and salt—a good ration.
4th day, 10th mo. 5th.Lay quiet. Took a dose of olium vicini last night. Did not eat much to-day; am getting stouter. Drew meal, beans and salt. Was a warm and pleasant day. Edward Roberts died in the afternoon. I went down to see how he was, and found him only breathing.
5th day, 10th mo. 6th.Am getting better; walked around a good deal to-day. Sold my knife for six dollars in Confederate money; also, five pearl buttons for fifty cents. Partly cooked some beans after ten o'clock this evening. Had a heavy rain.
6th day, 10th mo. 7th.Am better to-day than I have been for some time. Bought seven sweet potatoes for fifty centsand ate the half of them. Drew fifteen small crackers, sent to us by the Sanitary Commission, and some flour and salt. Wrote a letter for Close to his father; he has given up all hopes of recovery.
7th day, 10th mo. 8th.Was clear and cold all day. Drew fifteen small crackers, a small spoonful of beef tea, some condensed milk and coffee. Two rations made only a pint of coffee; I gave all to Close—he seemed to relish them. Shirts and drawers were issued to those who needed them; they were sent by the Sanitary Commission. I feel better and stouter to-day, and made out to draw three buckets of water and carry it. Sold a knife for Close for one dollar, and bought one dollar's worth of sweet potatoes.
1st day, 10th mo. 9th.Was very cool all day. Drew the usual rations. The men are dying off very fast.
2d day, 10th mo. 10th.Last night it was so cold that it was as much as I could do to keep from freezing. It was clear and cool all day. Drew thin half-blankets for those who had none, also socks, hats and drawers, from the Sanitary Commission.
3d day, 10th mo. 11th.Spent the day, which was very cool, as yesterday. Drew same kind of rations.
4th day, 10th mo. 12th.Was warm to-day. Have been troubled with a sore mouth, arising from a bad cold. Medicine does no good. Drew medicine, got drowsy and went to bed.
5th day, 10th mo. 13th.Have had a worse attack of that "terrible scourge" to-day than I have had for a long time. Took medicine to no purpose.
6th day, 10th mo. 14th.I am no better; worse if anything. Drew "Sanitary stuff" for the worst cases, and fresh beef, flour and corn meal.
7th day, 10th mo. 15th.Was a fine day; lay quiet most of the time. Sanitary stuff for Close, and the worst cases, wereissued. Drew some crackers with a ration. Put Close's and mine in soup. My complaint seems to be better.
1st day, 10th mo. 16th.A pleasant day. Close about the same. Drank concentrated coffee and sconce. I feel better, but cannot get my disease checked. Took three cathartic pills this evening. Drew no rations.
2d day, 10th mo. 17th.Was the same kind of day to me as others. Close was worse all day; the ward-master got him an egg, some beef tea and coffee, which he ate and yet seemed hungry. We think he cannot live over night.
3d day, 10th mo. 18th.Covered Close up with all the blankets, and got permission to sleep by the nurse's fire. The night was cool. Close kept sinking until four o'clock this morning, when he died. It looks like rain again this morning. Burns, one of the nurses, and I, put up a tent of my gum blanket and one of the new blankets. I am not much better.
4th day, 10th mo. 19th.Warm and pleasant; was busy most of the time, but did not do much. The Sanitary Commission has been sending clothing here, but it is rather light stuff, such as red pants, gray drawers, and red and gray shirts.
5th day, 10th mo. 20th.Lay as quiet as possible all day. Am better.
6th day, 10th mo. 21st.Lay as quiet as possible all day. The nights are very cool.
7th day, 10th mo. 22d.Last night was very cool, but I got a good night's rest. To-day was blustery and cold, but clear. At ten o'clock the hospital was moved inside of the stockade, and to the northwest corner of it. All who were able to walk were sent ahead, and after getting in were taken across the creek and put in charge of a corporal. I took a walk around and bought two Confederate dollars worth of sweet potatoes for my dinner; traded all my beans for salt; then took a walk to the hospital grounds, and found our steward and nurses, who told me to bring my things. Burns andI put up a tent as before and prepared for a cold night; ate a little boiled rice. The steward gave me four spoonsful of canned tomatoes and a biscuit for my supper.
1st day, 10th mo. 23d.Was cool; lay about, and kept warm in the sun and tent.
2d day, 10th mo. 24th.Lay in the tent most of the time. A Mason, ward-master, came to see me. A rebel Lieutenant was looking around for us. The backs of my hands are so badly chapped I can hardly do any thing.
It appears that from inability or some other cause, Charles Smedley was unable to give us any further account of his trials and sufferings; and that the 24th of the 10th month, 1864, was the last day he was able to write. I have deemed it appropriate to add the following account of his last days, (obtained from Richard Dobbins, who was the steward or ward-master, referred to by Charles, and who attended him until near his last moments,) as a finale to his own history, as given in his diary.
Joel Smedley.
Having had some acquaintance with Charles Smedley—the writer of the foregoing diary—for some time previous to his decease, at the request of his father, I shall endeavor to give some account, from memory, of the last days of his existence; also, a brief account of my own experience while in the hands of the rebels, as their prisoner.
My name is Richard Dobbins, a native of western Missouri. I belonged to Company H, 18th Regiment Iowa Volunteers—was taken prisoner at the battle of Missionary Ridge, Nov. 25th, 1863—was sent to the Libby prison, in Richmond, Va., where I remained a short time—Then I was sent to Belle Island, where I suffered very much from cold and starvation. I often thought of death, which stared me in the face daily; though I was not worse off than the majority of the otherprisoners. I remained there until the 16th of March, 1864, when I was sent with others to Andersonville, in Georgia, where I suffered very much; not so much from starvation as on the island, but from the rain and cold; also from smoke, from the burning of pine wood. We were of course thinly clad, some destitute of blankets, some of shoes, some of pants, while others had scarcely any clothes on them. The majority of us had been searched and robbed of all our good clothing, money, watches, boots, &c. It seemed as though we could expect nothing but death to relieve us from our sufferings. Over twelve thousand of the prisoners died at Andersonville.
On the 8th of September, I, with others, was sent from there, and in due time arrived at Savannah. From thence we were moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where the rebels made a kind of military display of us, by marching us through the city, and putting us in the prison, near the officers who were under the fire of our own guns.
We remained there only one day and night, and then were marched to the rear of the city on the race-course track, where we staid but a short time; then I was sent to Florence, South Carolina. Shortly after I arrived there, I was taken out on "parole of honor," and sent to the Federal hospital by the rebel surgeons, as master of one of the wards there.
It was there I became acquainted with Corporal Charles Smedley, of Company G, Ninetieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, (although I had frequently seen him at sick call, while at Andersonville, but did not make his acquaintance,) who was a patient in my ward.
A little incident occurred there that manifested his kind and generous disposition, which attracted my attention, and caused me to feel a deep interest in his welfare. I had prepared some food for him, the best I could get, and took it to him. He immediately gave it all to David Close, (who was a fellow prisoner with him, and very sick,) saying, "you need it worse than I."
When he first came to the hospital, he complained of chronic diarrhœa and dysentery. After a few days the dysentery left him, though he was very weak. He kindly waited on David Close, and seemed willing to do all he could for him, as he considered Close worse than himself. I think he hurt himself by over exertion. He waited on Close all he could, until he died, which appears to have occurred on the morning of the 18th of October.
A few days after the death of David Close, the hospital was moved inside of the stockade, to the North-west corner. Charles, with others, walked in. In the evening Charles came over to the hospital. We told him he had better get his things, and come back to the hospital and stay, which he did. Shortly after he came, his hands became very sore, apparently from a dropsical affection, and were bandaged up.
His walk, from the hospital to the inside of the stockade, appeared to have been too much for his strength. From that day he became worse, though he was able to walk about, almost every day, until the day before he died.
He gave me his watch some time before, saying, "he might drop off any time," and requested me, if it should so happen, to take it home to his father, and tell him all, which I promised him I would do, if it was possible. He seemed cheerful, and manifested no fears of death. In fact, he always appeared cheerful and in good spirits, and seemed confident that he would get home again. He certainly had a very hard and trying time while in prison, but was seldom heard to complain or find fault.He was a good soldier and a true patriot.
He died on the night of the 16th of November, 1864. He was washed, shaved, and clean clothes put on him, but no coffin was provided for him. His body was wrapped in a sheet and buried in the burial ground, a short distance north of north-west of the stockade. The number of his grave was probably recorded at the rebel headquarters, as is theircustom, but I do not know the number. I tried to get the number, but could not, for reasons best known to the rebel officers.
After his death I secured his Bible, diary, a small book in which he kept the photographs of his family, and a few little tools, with which he used to while away the time in making bone rings, &c.; all of which, with the watch, according to my promise, I have succeeded in delivering to his father.
I was paroled on the 29th of November, 1864, and sent from Florence, South Carolina, to Savannah, Georgia, where I was put on shipboard, and brought, with many others, to Annapolis, Maryland, where I arrived on the morning of the 5th of December, and immediately informed Charles Smedley's father of his sad fate.
Richard Dobbins,Co. H, 17th Regiment Iowa Volunteers
FOOTNOTES:[4]His little tent as described under date of "3d day, 5th mo. 24th."[5]The term street must be applied to the road in the centre of the stockade. It cannot possibly be a street in the town.[6]By the term "raiders," the writer designates a set of thieves and cut-throats among the prisoners, who made a practice of robbing newly arrived Union soldiers.
[4]His little tent as described under date of "3d day, 5th mo. 24th."
[4]His little tent as described under date of "3d day, 5th mo. 24th."
[5]The term street must be applied to the road in the centre of the stockade. It cannot possibly be a street in the town.
[5]The term street must be applied to the road in the centre of the stockade. It cannot possibly be a street in the town.
[6]By the term "raiders," the writer designates a set of thieves and cut-throats among the prisoners, who made a practice of robbing newly arrived Union soldiers.
[6]By the term "raiders," the writer designates a set of thieves and cut-throats among the prisoners, who made a practice of robbing newly arrived Union soldiers.
On the march into Maryland,5th day, 6th mo. 25th, 1863, were called in from picket about nine o'clock; went to the old camp, and joined, or followed the division, which has been on the march for some time. Should have remained on picket, as the column passed the right of the picket line. Followed the road to Edward's Ferry, where we crossed on one of the pontoons; went on, and passed through Poolsville, and then on to Barnesville, where we encamped in a clump of thick, low pines, on the north side of the town; had a difficult time getting into the woods. It had been raining all day, and still continued; Jos. and I put up Clay's tent, and took Chaplin in with us; we were almost "wringing wet" from perspiration and rain. Had a hard march, and were almost worn out.
6th day, 6th mo. 26th.Were called up at daylight by the Adjutant, but did not get out until all the other regiments were off. We got ready, and were off by five o'clock, and went on as fast as possible, but did not catch up to the brigade until we had gone several miles. All of our things were wet, which made our load heavy to carry. We crossed the Monocacy river, went through Adamstown, and came to Jeffersonville, where we took up our camp for the night. I gave out about the middle of the day, and fell down; got a pass from the Captain, signed by the Doctor, as I could not keep up, and took my time; got to within a mile of Jeffersonville by the time the division halted. Made some coffee, and went toa cherry tree and got some cherries, which was the most I had to eat to-day. We put up our tent, and went to a stack of straw and got an armful for our bed; took the sergeant in with us. It rained some all night; our clothes were very wet—could almost wring them.
7th day, 6th mo. 27th.The bugle sounded about four o'clock, we got up about five, and were packed up by eight. Went to a house near by to get water and wash; then went to a cherry tree and got some cherries. Made some tea for breakfast. By half past eight were in line, and started. Went through the town, and followed the road leading towards Middletown. We made an easy march of it, a distance of eight miles. The roads were hard, which made the marching good. We got to Middletown by one o'clock, passed on through towards the mountains, and encamped. We appear to be in a valley. All of the First and Twelfth Corps are encamped around here. The country we have passed through the last two days is of the best farming land.
1st day, 6th mo. 28th.Last night we got one day's rations of sugar, coffee, crackers, beef and pork. The Adjutant said we would be likely to move at three o'clock this morning. Had inspection of arms and accoutrements about twelve; at one I was out on guard; about two the bugle sounded to pack up, and at three the Corps was off. The guards acted as rear guards. Took the Frederick City pike, and got within a mile of the city by night, when the Corps encamped. The rear guard had to go on guard on arriving.
2d day, 6th mo. 29th.The bugles began to sound the reveille about three o'clock. The third relief went oh at four, when the bugle sounded "pack up;" by five the Corps was off. The sergeant of the third relief took charge of us, and we staid behind to get breakfast. I took three hard-tacks and a piece of pork and ate them on post for my breakfast. Our camp is in a meadow, with a fine run of water in it. Wepassed over a very mountainous country yesterday, but very beautiful. The marching was easy, on good pike; weather cloudy and misty. We soon started, in charge of the sergeant, who had a few lines from the officer of the day. When we came to the pike, we joined the middle of the First Division, which was in the rear. After going one-fourth of a mile, the road branched off, one leading towards Frederick City and the other to Pennsylvania. We followed on, and caught up to the Second Brigade by noon. Passed the Second and Fifth Maryland Battalions. Had very muddy roads, the mist turning into rain at times. Followed a pike leading towards Hagerstown; passed through as far as Cotocton Furnace, halted half an hour, after going three or four miles past the furnace, and ate our little dinner. After the half-hour was up the column started. I joined the regiment, and kept with it past Mechanicstown, when the roads were so muddy and wet I could no more than keep up. We followed the pike, passing through Emmettsburg, amid the waving of flags and handkerchiefs by the ladies. After going one-half a mile past the town, we encamped in a field.
3d day, 6th mo. 30th.Slept pretty well—it rained some in the night. Got up at five o'clock, and started at eight; went back through the town, then across the Pennsylvania line, and halted and encamped. We met the Eleventh Corps coming through Emmettsburg, going the road we came. Just before we started, an old gentleman and lady came into camp, bringing bread, butter, biscuits and doughnuts, and gave them to us, saying, "poor fellows, we'll give you all we have, if you will drive the rebels off, and hope you'll not get killed." As soon as we crossed the line, we gave nine cheers. After stopping, we were told to put up our tents. My feet are very sore and blistered.
4th day, 7th mo. 1st.Sergeant and I slept together, the other mate was on guard. Got up at five. Had fresh beeffor breakfast. The bugle sounded "pack up," and about seven o'clock we started on the road towards Gettysburg; at nine were within three miles of Gettysburg; halted to rest; heard something like cannonading ahead. About the middle of the day got to Gettysburg, and halted. There was pretty sharp fighting to the left and ahead of us. We have halted in a piece of woods; can see the firing plainly, and may soon be in it. After stopping for half an hour, we advanced by the left of the town, and halted a few minutes, then went on and formed in line of battle. I threw away everything but a few envelopes and paper, which I put in my note book. We first threw out skirmishers, and after manœuvering around for some time, got into the thickest of the fight. I could not get my musket to work right, but fired something like twenty rounds. After near an hour's hard fighting, we were compelled to fall back; and, after manœuvering, our brigade went up to the top of a hill and supported a battery, which did good service. After near an hour, were compelled to fall back to the town. The rebels had flanked us. We lost a great many, the most when we fell back the first time. A bullet grazed the right side of my neck, and another my right hip. We retreated through the town in great confusion, and all the time the rebels were shelling it, and some shooting from the houses. We got into some kind of order after getting out of the town, and by sundown, what was left of us, are in line of battle. Sent out skirmishers. When we were first under fire, a piece of shell struck the ground between Captain and I, throwing the sand in our faces. The whole number of killed and wounded of the Ninetieth Regiment is near fifty—of our company four or five wounded.
5th day, 7th mo. 2d.Slept last night behind the stacks, on two rails, under my gum blanket. All was quiet. Captain gave me five crackers and some coffee for my breakfast. There is some firing out among the pickets, and skirmishing goingon all the time. Several other Corps came up yesterday and last night; we are stronger now. The Eleventh, Twelfth and Third Corps are here, that I know of, besides our own. Ours and the Eleventh appear to be the only forces engaged. At twelve o'clock all was quiet. All the forenoon there was firing among the skirmishers, and some artillery firing, and a great deal of manœuvering in the different parts of the army. Large numbers of the enemy came over and gave themselves up, and we took some prisoners. The great mistake yesterday was in not having reinforcements near at hand. To-day we are very strong, but as yet nothing has been done. General Reynolds was killed yesterday. About three o'clock the cannonading opened on the left, and then all along the line. In less than an hour the musketry opened on the left, and kept up a continued fire until dark. We (the First Corps) were supporting batteries, in the centre, for the first hour or so; then we were taken more to the right, where most of the Corps seemed to be; here we were for more than an hour; we lay close to the ground to get out of the way of shells. About seven o'clock we were taken to near the extreme left, formed in line and advanced some distance, then halted and sent out skirmishers, (twenty from our Regiment.) By this time, except the artillery, all was quiet, but occasional firing among the skirmishers. While laying here, I went back with canteens to get water, and when I returned, found the Brigade moving towards the right. We held our ground all day, and on the left, where the fight was the hottest, we drove the enemy, taking a large number of prisoners. Large numbers of dead and wounded lay all over the field. One of our skirmishers came to a man with both legs shot off, who gave him his watch, and offered him five dollars to shoot him. Our Captain came across the rebel General Barksdale, who was mortally wounded. We were put into different positions during the night, and at last halted along a road running towards the south end of the town, behind a stone fence.
6th day, 7th mo. 3d.The battle opened with the skirmishers on the 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 fewrails 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 camefor 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.