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

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1864-01-26

order to the company commander, at once, I had scarcely done so when colonel Geddes appeared in my room, and asked me very roughly “why are you not ready”?  I replied: ‘colonel everything is ready with the exception of striking tents, these I did not strike because I was waiting for further orders stating the time when I should move.  He appeared to be in a great passion, and left me hurriedly, I continued to get things ready, while I was going about superintending matters, I was accosted by Lt. Jos. Mayer, who informed me that he was ordered to place me under arrest.  I delivered my sword to a Lt. who accompanied him.  Went on the train feeling rather bleu, but also innocent of having been negligent in the discharge of my duties.  The cars were all loaded except one, in this and among the other goods on cars already loaded, our baggage & that of the poor refugees was finally crowded, some baggage had to be abandoned for want of room.  I sat on one of the cars, meditating on the way I had been treated, for some hours.  The men set the stockade and some buildings on fire, and amid this grand illumination, we left Middleton, a place with which I had become perfectly disgusted.  I suppose the southern gentry will be in it within a short time after our departure, they have been prowling about the place all day.  I should not be at all surprised if we would see some on the road.

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order to the company commander, at once, I had scarcely done so when colonel Geddes appeared in my room, and asked me very roughly “why are you not ready”? I replied: ‘colonel everything is ready with the exception of striking tents, these I did not strike because I was waiting for further orders stating the time when I should move. He appeared to be in a great passion, and left me hurriedly, I continued to get things ready, while I was going about superintending matters, I was accosted by Lt. Jos. Mayer, who informed me that he was ordered to place me under arrest. I delivered my sword to a Lt. who accompanied him. Went on the train feeling rather bleu, but also innocent of having been negligent in the discharge of my duties. The cars were all loaded except one, in this and among the other goods on cars already loaded, our baggage & that of the poor refugees was finally crowded, some baggage had to be abandoned for want of room. I sat on one of the cars, meditating on the way I had been treated, for some hours. The men set the stockade and some buildings on fire, and amid this grand illumination, we left Middleton, a place with which I had become perfectly disgusted. I suppose the southern gentry will be in it within a short time after our departure, they have been prowling about the place all day. I should not be at all surprised if we would see some on the road.