DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-01-17

Sunday 17 More bad news this morning. I lay in bed yet when squire Lambeth came into my room, and made the following statement: "About 10 P.M. yesterday two hundred rebels came to my house forced me to go with them to the rail road where they formed and sent some men back to escort the rest of the regiment through tonight. They said the belonged to Newsome's Command. Three miles from the rail road they crossed a small bridge, which gave way before they were all over, and during the confusion I escaped".  I and captain Dinon went to the road with a small escort and found the tracks of horses, that had gone south, and north. We followed the track going north and inquired on the road whether any rebel troops had when heard or seem last night. I was told that some had passed on the road, and at one place informed that 20 were seen there about 7 o clock this morning. From what I [illegible?] learn, I had every reason to believe the squire's statement to be true. I deemed it of sufficient importance to communicate it to Col. Geddes at Pocahontas, who sent the right wing of our regiment down. It was an awful night, the rain poured down in torrents, and the wind howled severely. We went out to the road on which we expected the rebels. Took our station and waited for them in the storm till after 1 A.M. when we started for camp. No rebel was to be seen. I fell into the deep mud on my way to camp. This was a bad move.

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Sunday 17 More bad news this morning. I lay in bed yet when squire Lambeth came into my room, and made the following statement: "About 10 P.M. yesterday two hundred rebels came to my house forced me to go with them to the rail road where they formed and sent some men back to escort the rest of the regiment through tonight. They said the belonged to Newsome's Command. Three miles from the rail road they crossed a small bridge, which gave way before they were all over, and during the confusion I escaped". I and captain Dinon went to the road with a small escort and found the tracks of horses, that had gone south, and north. We followed the track going north and inquired on the road whether any rebel troops had when heard or seem last night. I was told that some had passed on the road, and at one place informed that 20 were seen there about 7 o clock this morning. From what I [illegible?] learn, I had every reason to believe the squire's statement to be true. I deemed it of sufficient importance to communicate it to Col. Geddes at Pocahontas, who sent the right wing of our regiment down. It was an awful night, the rain poured down in torrents, and the wind howled severely. We went out to the road on which we expected the rebels. Took our station and waited for them in the storm till after 1 A.M. when we started for camp. No rebel was to be seen. I fell into the deep mud on my way to camp. This was a bad move.