Petersburg to Appomattox

Christmas, 1864. We ran up to Atkins landing in the morning and landed about 8 o’clock, one mile below Dutch Gap Canal. Cannonading is going on. Musketry is common day and night. The Fortifications between us and Richmond cannot be taken without great sacrifice of life. They have sunk torpedoes in the earth which if tread upon will explode and kill many, but all these things will be overcome and the rebellion put down. Our Division is in the front line and not very strong but can easily be reenforced. We are 7 miles south of Richmond.

Jan. 3rd, 1865. — We were frequently awakened in the night as if by the sound of an earthquake, the heavy thundering echo shaking the earth for miles, and soon after the shell would burst in the air. The mortar shell are plainly seen either by day or night.

Jan. 5th. — Most of the timber within half a mile has been slashed with the tops of the trees outward. We have charged the enemy and have been compeled to climb through these thick and rugged brambles before their powerful forts could be reached. About one half the men were used up by the time they got to the inner abatis and ditches; visa versa with the enemy.

Jan. 12th. — It is a great treat to be able to wash again. No rations! The rise of the James river has washed our pontoon bridges away. We are supposed to have four days rations always on hand. We do not get more than half enough to satisfy us and then devour our advance rations. Many are nearly starving. They will buy, beg or steal as the chance offers. I try hard to keep my emergency rations but it is useless. It is a hard case to refuse my hungry comrade or my own empty stomach.

Jan. 16th. — I am sick and got permission to return to camp. Part of our squad was sent into the Rebel lines today with a flag of truce to load and unload Union and Rebel soldiers being exchanged. Some of the boys of our 34th were on board who were captured in the Shenandoah valley last summer. They look pretty hard, poor fellows. They have just come out of a southern prison and are going to Anapolis and from there to their homes. A little hardtack is given them as soon as they come within our lines. The poor fellows are starving and eat like madmen. It would not do to give them much. They were overjoyed when they came to the picket lines.

Jan. 17th. — These foggy days arc destroying the Rebel army. A few months of such weather would finish the war without fighting. 60 Deserters came into headquarters today. We had the pleasure of seeing U S Grant and were satisfied. This corps looked and behaved splendid.

March 22nd. — The Jonnies are very friendly at presant. They often talk with us, trade papers, &c. If deserters try to come over and are seen, or if they are ordered to keep up firing as they often are to prevent desertion, they generally give notice. Such as, ‘Lay down, Yanks, we are going to fire.’ Our pickets in such cases seek shelter if any is to be found. Still we keep an eye on the enemy. It is death to sleep on or leave the post without orders. This is the nearest point to Richmond; it is about 6 miles. We hear their bells and boat whistles but the forest hinders us from getting a glimpse of that much desired place.

We are bound to get there before long.

March 25th. — The spring campaign now’ commences with us. We march at sunrise toward the Chickahomany. This is a flank march. The risk is very great. Should the Rebs understand this movement they might cut us off and cripple us severely. Cannon are planted and roads baracaded. Cavelry are posted, seperate and in squads the whole length of the rout. We had no serious trouble and arrive at Chickahomany river a little after noon 15 miles from camp. Hill’s Reb Corps are not far in our front. They are trying to pen Sheridan up. We are sent to help him over the stream and ensure his safety.

The Chickahomany is very narrow, deep and mudy. At either shore is a low jungle or Cyprus swamp, deep dark and mudy water full of thorns, briars and flood wood, piles upon piles. This is the noted peninsula. McClellan’s grave yard where 70,000 of our brave boys lie in southern swamps and many of them scarcely buried. If the enemy could have kept Mcs army here a little longer I think they would have been content for they wasted away like leaves of autumn driven before the wind. Mounds are seen in all directions where they tried to bury them but it does not hide them now. Their bones whiten the soil on every side.

March 26th. — Sheridan has not come yet. We have sent several scouts in that direction yesturday. They met his ten miles from camp. He is making all haste to reach the James river by the lower route. The Rebels are hurrying us up lively. The pontoons are taken up, the tents struck and we leave this miserable place the 26th. Before leaving, the 34th hoisted a flagstaff 80 feet high and hung a pair of blue pants on the top. We must not get at a fight now; we are in a dangerous and difficult place. All haste is made on the return. The boys pick up the sculls of their fallen comrads and make remarks on their identity, &c. We pass through ten seperate breastworks of 1862.

March 28th. — We cross the Appomattox river on pontoons at Point of Rocks at midnight and arrive at, or in front of, Petersburg at 4 in the morning. This is a regular slough-hole. Teams get stuck fast in the mud and cannot get out.

March 31st. — The Battle of Hatchers run. Cold rain continues. We worked all night throwing up Breastworks; no rest, no sleep. Fort Steadman and other forts are not more than 1/4 mile in our front. We have hard fighting today in our corps and all along the flank. Our skirmishers charge and capture 180 Rebel skirmishers this morning. We advance again slowly under a severe fire. Only a few rods could be gained at one time. Then we must lie down or die. Dig, dig, dig; quick, make a hole in the sand, if ever so small. We roll into it. We scrape a small pile of dirt in front of us if ever so little; it often stops a bullet or makes them glance over us. We often use plates or cups for want of shovels.

The word of command was like this: ‘Look sharp, be ready to rise up and fire a volley.’ Or, ‘Advance a few rods, move on the double quick.’ This was the kind of fighting we had today. I must confess that I did not like it.

April 1st. — Daylight shows us three Forts and a long line of Rebs not 500 yards distant in our front. How can we hold our position? We are not half fortified. They open furiously upon us. Shot and shell tear clear through our works and bullets fly like hail. I will not run any unnecessary risk. There are many killed in going to the rear after water. We gain ground again. 9 Rebel gunners were killed at one gun this afternoon.

These Rebel Forts are silenced entirely. 9 PM. All quiet now. Orders are given to advance at 4 AM, then charge en mass by regiments the whole length of the line. Not one loud word was spoken for fear of being discovered.

Sunday, April 2nd. — A beautiful day. The Rebels charge on us at 3 AM. It appears to be a general attact. They must have learned our orders. We were obliged to get back into our works and form as soon as possible in order to keep them back. We were compelled to fall back to our second line. Our orders are, ‘Charge, Charge them.’

We charged them in good earnest. Some fell over our barricades and asked for quarters. The greater part of them were driven back to their works but they were not permitted to remain there long. We had them marked U S Grant and they were ours. The South Side Rail Road and many other places were taken. The Rebel lines were shattered and broken.

As soon as our troops could be formed they started for Petersburg in quick time. We drew up before that noted spot. The Forts looked like volcanoes belching forth their liquid fire. One or two Brigades charge on each fort. Some were quite near but we attacted Fort Gregg which is quite a mile away. It was like rushing into destruction. A part of our second Division had just charged on Fort Gregg and were repulsed with heavy loss and could not take it. Our charge was a desperate one.

Grape, Canister and Shrapnell were used double shotted which caused our ranks to melt away very fast. When within one hundred yards of the Fort it was found imposible to proceed. The line finally halted and appeared to waver. It hesitated a moment, then lay flat upon the ground.

The Rebel Infantry in the forts took courage and fired rapidly. The Batteries appeared to increase in numbers and rapidity of fire. It was sure death to remain here many minutes longer. The order was given, ‘ Forward ’ — and now each one vies with his comrad for the ditch. It was a race for life. The ditch is reached. Some fall dead as they reach it and fall into it. ‘Climb, boys, climb.’ The top of the parapet or Fort is reached. Long lines of blue uniforms finally encircle the top of the wall.

Our men fall rapidly. Some roll into the Fort and some fall outside. A few minutes firing on the parapet and then, ‘Down, boys, down.’ Charge down it is. Plunge, slide or jump down among the bright polished steel. Foot to foot. No loading and firing now. Bayonet every man. They ask no quarter. The cannon are captured and turned upon the nearest rebel Forts, even while the fighting is going on. Meanwhile Col Gregg, the Commander of the fort, sings out: ‘Die, boys, Die but never surrender.’ Steel however has a wonderful power to change opinions, especially when pointed at the breast. It proved its superiority in this case. They fought like demons. It was thought the City would be evacuated during the night. If not it would surely be taken by storm. We had orders to advance at day dawn.

April 3rd. — Petersburg evacuated. The skirmishers charge at daybreak with everything in readiness to storm the works. No enemy to be found. Great is the cheering. Salutes arc fired. All are gay and hapy now.

Lee is hard pressed. He has trouble crossing the Appomattox river. Sheridan is close upon him taking thousands of prisoners and stragglers as well as a great many mules and guns. The past two days has raised our spirits and we feel like new men with great hopes and light hearts, our feet lightly treading the Rebel soil.

April Qth. — Lee’s army has struck for Lynchburg. Our Command marched at 2 PM in the same direction but the pickets were not called in until 3. They have one hour the start of us. The sick remain at the junction. The weather is very warm for marching. A heavy battle is going on at the right of us. We hurry on rapidly to join in the engagement. We arrive at the front near sundown.

Gen Custer captured 12,000 prisoners, 13 officers and 10 pieces of Artilery this evening. There was a great many captured on other parts of the line. Our loss this evening is reported at 70 killed and wounded in our Brigade. The Regiment is nearly all used up. It now numbers only about 300 fighting men.

We are pressing hard on the Rebels front and left flank in order to crowd them off from the Lynchburg road northward. Their line of battle is marching several miles out from the main body and the trains. They had possession of a long line of low hills, filled with rifle pitts and Breastworks erected in haste. We were terribly raked by shot and shell. We crossed a narrow ravine and ascended in face of the fire. We drove them out of their works, with the loss of many of our noble boys.

April 7th. — Start at 6 AM and march some two miles in advance in line of battle.

When we came out on the road again the Cavelry were passing. We saw our old commander, General Crook. There was great cheering. In fact the boys are so well pleased with our good success that they shout and hurra at almost anything.

There was much sharp skirmishing and some hard fighting through the day. We drew up many times for action but saw but little fighting. The Cavelry went in advance and cleared the road.

The enemy were hurried over a stream and march near Farmville, They had a rough time in crossing it for our guns raked them sorely. The ground was nearly covered with implements of war, horses, mules, waggons and so forth.

The bridges were for the most part old log bridges. They rushed upon them in such numbers that several of them were broken down precipitating its freight into the mud and water. We took the Elephants plan and waded through mud and water. This we were accustomed to and we pushed through with a shout. The enemy was in sight.

April 8th. — We are bound to lead off and capture the Rebel army in a short time, most likely next Sunday as that is our regular fighting day. Co K are flankers for the 34th today; part of the company march on and the rest flank in Indian file from 2 to 8 rods off from the column. There are tons upon tons of tobacco thrown out of the warehouses to-day. I wish it was pork or hard-tack as we are very short of rations. Some of the boys find pork, hams and sides of bacon hanging in the thick foliage of the trees, placed there to keep it from the Yanks. I took great pains to search for some but was too late. PM. Sheridan has headed off Lee and captured several trains of supplies which had been sent on from Lynchburg for Lee’s army as they have had very little rations since leaving Richmond. We need some very much.

5 PM. — There is heavy canonading on our right. Sheridan is trying to destroy a bridge in Lees front and we are hurried up to assist him and march rapidly. It is reported that Gen Grant has ordered or requested Lee to surrender and Lee has requested him to state his terms. Grant is in high spirits. He looks like a conquering hero which he really is. All agree that this great struggle will soon be over. We march until midnight, being greatly fatigued, having marched 35 miles to-day.

Sunday, April 9th. — Appomattox Court House. We camped this morning in front of the enemy. They were headed off again. We were on the R R and also on the direct road to Lynchburg. We extend our lines still further at day-break. We march some 3 miles then halt and cook coffee. The Rebels are thundering away in our front and it really seems to me they will break through and disturb us at our morning meal.

We passed Gen Custer as he sat on his horse giving orders and preparing for a charge. lie looked as though he could charge down and take the enemy alone. He made a noble, heroic appearance which gives one great confidence in his commander. His long, flowing, sandy curls rested on his shoulders. His deep, penetrating eyes shone like living coals of fire. He sat like one impatient for the onset. He had around him 40 pieces ol Artilery and 24 battle flags which had been captured from the enemy within the last two days. He had not long to wait for the enemy. They were rapidly pressing down in solid lines determined to break through all obstructions. Lee had not expected to find our Infantry in front.

April 11th. — Revalee at 4 AM. Our Division Parade half past six while the Confederate turn over their arms and war materials. I had hoped and expected to see them turned over as a conquered army generally does by grounding or stacking at our feet and marching off in columns by the flank.

The stacking of arms must have been done very privately in their own camp and turned over to the quartermaster. The heavy arms and all kinds of military stores were brought in by them in regular order and deposited in their proper places.

The teams were jaded and the waggons and other rubbish were useless. The officers and many or most of the Cavelry and Artilery kept their horses or mules, many of them very good ones, and rode them away, private property being respected. Therefore they kept their animals whether they really belonged to them or not. Whole Regiments rode through our lines armed and equipped, some with carbines or rifles. We even suspected that we should have to do bat tie over again for we knew many of them had been parolled more than once.

Yet Grant had parolled them and who could question his wisdom or authority in these matters? 56 pieces of heavy Artilery was dug up and brought in today by us. They were buried a few miles back. The Rebs had more Artilery than they could use. It is reported that they buried some 3 or 400 pieces between here and Richmond. Our scouts were with them most of the time and some of them assisted in burying them. In many places where these cannon are hurried a painted board is placed with the name of some person or Regiment marked upon it in order to deceive people as to the true character.

The Apple-tree under which Lee surrendered [i.e. under which Lee was sitting when Colonel Babcock delivered Grant’s message to him] is getting badly cut up. We all want a small piece of it as a mementoe for our friends at home.

April 12th. — We march for Lynchburg. Revalee at 4. March at 6 AM. The Rebels are in all directions going home. March 15 miles then camp where we lay in the mud with our wet clothes all night, very much fatigued and very uncomfortable.

We are short of rations, Mosby having destroyed 8 miles of our train.