DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1863

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1863-05-19

a few rebels, then returned to our old Camp, where we had to leave on account of the shell from the enemy, moved nearer the scene of conflict, balls and shell whistle over our heads at a great rate; the cannonading and musketry were dreadful at intervals, the enemy was driven into his breastworks, and fought desperately, our men charged upon him frequently, but were compelled to fall back; I went to the front and took a look at the scene of blood but found the place too hot, the balls whistled in grand style about my ears, so I adopted the classic rule “prudence is the better part of valor”, and retired to safer quarters.  The rebel sharpshooters pick off every man who shows himself near our batteries.  We do not seem to make much progress.  To night I went to the front of our forces, where I found the dead and wounded in piles, they presented an awful sight.  One of the wounded men asked me for a drink of water, I gave it to him and it appeared to do him a great deal of good.  Our loss is estimated at one thousand men, today, among whom are a great many officers.  War is a calamity!

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a few rebels, then returned to our old Camp, where we had to leave on account of the shell from the enemy, moved nearer the scene of conflict, balls and shell whistle over our heads at a great rate; the cannonading and musketry were dreadful at intervals, the enemy was driven into his breastworks, and fought desperately, our men charged upon him frequently, but were compelled to fall back; I went to the front and took a look at the scene of blood but found the place too hot, the balls whistled in grand style about my ears, so I adopted the classic rule “prudence is the better part of valor”, and retired to safer quarters. The rebel sharpshooters pick off every man who shows himself near our batteries. We do not seem to make much progress. To night I went to the front of our forces, where I found the dead and wounded in piles, they presented an awful sight. One of the wounded men asked me for a drink of water, I gave it to him and it appeared to do him a great deal of good. Our loss is estimated at one thousand men, today, among whom are a great many officers. War is a calamity!