An Artilleryman's Diary Part 32

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 19. We pa.s.sed a quiet night and a pleasant day. Infantry was up most of the night felling trees and building an abatis on the other side of river. Five hundred cavalry reported in vicinity. Would not let horses out to graze. Went on guard at 9 A. M.

Road expected to be repaired so trains pa.s.s by night. Several trains pa.s.sed about sundown. Anxiously looking for mail. A small package at last arrived, but to my disappointment there was none for me.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Aug. 20. We were up in time to see an expedition start down the river, consisting of 900 cavalry and three regiments of infantry. They laid under arms all night, and were going to ascertain if there was any force in this vicinity. Infantry returned in six hours. Cavalry went. Lieutenant Clark went out scouting with armed squad. Twenty-six guerrillas and conscripters are all he can hear of.

Brigade of troops from Rome arrived yesterday but returned immediately not needed. Went to town after being relieved from guard. Back mail gone to the front.

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 21. A very wet and rainy day. Kept all hands in doors as much as possible. Washed off the hill, raising the river very fast. Two small packages of mail received, but none for me. Wrote home. Uncle Lester received a new supply of reading matter, monthlies, etc. Very welcome. Bathed in the evening. Captain White, A. A. G. of the Division, died to-day, the most loved of all Smith's staff, a bright and promising young man.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 22. To-day has been a dull, quiet day.

Health good. No news. Got a lot of peaches, very nice. Heavy mail came in to-night. I received two, very welcome.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 23. On guard, supernumerary. Very hot day.

Health good. Back mail found us at last, about a bushel of it distributed 8 A. M. This afternoon went down town to attend Captain White's funeral at 4 P. M. Most of the officers in the Division out in full regimentals. One hundred and fifty infantry as escort. Formed lines in front part of headquarters. Eight captains as pall bearers. Coffin carried down the ranks enshrouded by a large national flag. Troops at present arms. Body placed in an ambulance, 1st Brigade band playing a sweet but mournful dirge. Procession started, viz:

1st, Chaplain in plain black uniform.

2nd, Band playing with m.u.f.fled drums.

3rd, Infantry escort in four sections at reverse arms.

4th, Ambulance with coffin.

5th, Officers, lowest first, Smith and McCook in the rear.

The grave situated on a knoll neath large oaks. Infantry formed line, rested on arms, while the Chaplain read a chapter and offered an impressive prayer. All the Masonic brethren dropped a twig of evergreen when the volleys were fired. Benediction p.r.o.nounced, and we returned on quick time, leaving a true soldier, who is at rest.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 24. Health very good but the day very hot. Day pa.s.sed pleasantly reading, etc. 59th Indiana left last night towards Chattanooga, leaving us very weak at present. No citizens allowed inside lines.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Aug. 25. Oh, to-day it is very warm. We can scarcely muster energy enough to move. Wrote a short letter to T. L.

Drove off condemned mules to the river. No mail. Wm. Stewart and Andy Wentworth missing. Fears are entertained about their safety.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Aug. 26. All the morning quiet in these parts.

Rebels very troublesome between Allatoona and Acworth, cutting up the track, creating scares, etc. Efforts were made to hear of or find the lost boys to-day but to no avail. The last heard of them they were in a peach orchard, while the horses were grazing, where they were undoubtedly gobbled. I fear they will be brutally murdered.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Aug. 27. Very warm. Went to town in the morning. All were agreeably surprised by the return of our old comrade and companion T. J. Hungerford from Nashville. Looks well and hearty.

Comes to be mustered out with those he served with. 1st Platoon went into permanent quarters in a machine shop building in town. Mail in the evening.

[Sidenote: 1864 Venturesome Foragers]

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Aug. 28. Health very good. Usual inspection at 7 A. M. On guard, third relief. Very hot in the middle of the day.

Sergeant Dixon with a squad of ten men went out on pa.s.s. Returned 4 P.

M. with a sack of ripe grapes from the vineyard, and a lot of b.u.t.ter, for which we traded our coffee rations. Drink cold water altogether.

Came off guard at 9 P. M. to find two long letters from home which did me much good to read, but was surprised to find them in great alarm over my reported illness in Spring Green. All humbug. Why will they not rely upon my own letters? Sister Hannah off to Albion again. Ellen teaching, Jenn with the boys going to school. How different are my duties from those of Thomas.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Aug. 29. A very warm day. Health good. Old man Gordon, the oldest in camp, dangerously sick. Day spent very quietly.

E. W. E. and I took a walk to town after sundown, saw the mail train run off the track, switch left open. Loaded with subst.i.tutes. Several jumped off and broke their legs, setting the guards in great commotion to keep them together.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Aug. 30. Very hot. Suffered from a cold. Felt quite unwell in the afternoon, feverish and headache. Cousin Griff quite sick, looks bad, can eat nothing. Felt very bad that I could do nothing for him. A letter was brought to picket post this morning by a lady from our lost boys, stating that they were prisoners in humane hands, going southward. A gymnasium pole was put up this day. All hands required to go over it. Force used if persuasion failed, causing much fun and good exercise. Mis-sent mail arrived. I received one dated July 27.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Aug. 31. Awoke refreshed this morning but suffered from severe pain over right eye all day. On detail in the forenoon. Griff continues quite sick, unable to sit up. Made him some toast for breakfast, but he could not eat much. Mustered for pay and inspection at 12 M. The last muster of the kind for many of the boys, over which they were quite jubilant. 1st Battalion of 1st Cavalry mustered out of service to-day. John Colburn, a one-year recruit, subst.i.tute for Senator Wilkinson, arrived from Wisconsin. Sergt. Alba S.

Sweet down on a visit from Kingston, looks well. Railroad reported broken between Chattanooga and Nashville. No mail. Felt lonesome and sad to-night. It is not often I feel as gloomy.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 1. Cold night, rested well. On guard, third relief. Pain over my eye continues very bad. Griff is improving.

Sergeant Hood went out with a squad on pa.s.s. When they returned, several of them were too drunk to take care of themselves, having obtained whiskey at Allatoona. Too bad. Forage train went out this morning.

While scouting, about 3 P. M. one of General Smith's body-guards, riding a little in the advance, was shot dead by some cowardly bushwhackers, stripped of all valuables, boots and hat, leaving the corpse in the road, taking two other prisoners. It was the last day the poor fellow had to serve, expecting soon to start for his home in St.

Louis. He was one of the brave men that once composed Fremont's body-guard. His loved ones will wait for his coming in vain. The escort started out in the evening with full determination to avenge the death of their comrade, if possible. No mail. Wheeler is still in possession of Nashville Railroad at Tullahoma. Captain Dillon acting chief of artillery on General Logan's staff. ---- court-martialed by Division court for old offence at Jackson.

Etowah Bridge, Friday, Sept. 2. A hot and dull day. David Evans and myself visited the picket post this morning with our coffee, rations and liquor to trade with the female rebs that come with produce, guards not admitting them inside the lines any more. Tried to get some b.u.t.ter, but in vain, there being too many purchasers, who were returning as we went.

No mail or papers. "Old Wheeler" still holds the road near Nashville.

Rumors are afloat of the capture of Atlanta. General Sherman's army, not known where it is.

Etowah Bridge, Sat.u.r.day, Sept. 3. A hot, sultry morning. Severe storm of wind and rain in the afternoon, threatening to tear our quarters to pieces. Everything wet and damp. Sherman is fighting Hood southwest of Atlanta. 20th Army Corps is in possession of that coveted stronghold.

[Sidenote: 1864 Atlanta is Ours]

Etowah Bridge, Sunday, Sept. 4. Inspection as usual at 7 A. M. 8 A. M.

made glad by the arrival of Uncle Lester with bag full of mail and papers. Received none of the former, but the news is glorious. _Atlanta is ours._ Sherman routed his foe. Fort Morgan surrendered with prisoners. Wheeler retreating. Hurrah! I say. Discouraging enough to the cowardly party that has just nominated G. B. McClellan for president at Chicago.

W. A. Gordon, one of the oldest members of the Battery, died at noon in camp after a short but severe illness. He left a large family last winter who will miss their kind father and protector.

Etowah Bridge, Monday, Sept. 5. This morning at 8 A. M. we buried the remains of Mr. Gordon, the coffin borne on a caisson followed by martial band of 48th Infantry playing the dead march. His remains were consigned to their last habitation on a pretty knoll neath large oaks, without a tear or a sigh. He was left, the band playing a lively march as if to drown all thought of the dead. Another poor soldier "off duty". The sound of the reveille will awaken him to duty no more. May his ashes rest in peace in a traitor's land.

On guard, second relief. Cloudy, but little rain. No mail. Two long, empty trains pa.s.sed to the front, supposed to go for prisoners.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Sept. 6. My health is very good. Weather very oppressive. Little rain during the afternoon. No trains from the North.

Rations being hauled to Atlanta from Marietta to subsist the army on.

Etowah Bridge, Wednesday, Sept. 7. Very chilly night. Continued cold all the morning. A heavy train pa.s.sed to the rear loaded with prisoners.

They will lay over at Chattanooga, the Nashville Road not open yet.

Seems strange to go without mail so long. All the news from Sherman makes his victory more complete. Captain Dillon returned from the front.

Etowah Bridge, Thursday, Sept. 8. One detail sent out after two loads of corn, cut it in the field. Five hundred more prisoners pa.s.sed North.

Trains run regular from Chattanooga, carrying supplies of which there is enough to feed the army for several months yet. Horses can live off the country, but rather scarce picking for us.