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

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1864-03-14 Page 2

some poultry and forage, general A.J. Smith commanding has issued an order strictly prohibiting soldiers from visiting houses unless accompanied by a commissioned officer who will be held responsible for their acts in his presence.   I love to see a march conducted thus, without committing those wanton depredations on private property which have hitherto disgraced our army in the sight of all good men.  Another town was passed by us on which the people had a peace flag and the French flag displayed, it is a fine little town, where things appeared in a neat condition, with its tidy business like looking citizens smiling on us as we passed them, the buildings are of the cheapest architecture but conveniently arranged with their porticoes and pleasant gardens attached.  They have the appearances of civil government also in this town, a jail and courthouse.  Fort De Russy is but four miles from this town.  We marched two miles farther when the booming of heavy siege guns announced that or gun boats had arrived infront of the fort, and our advance in the rear of the same, in a few minutes afterwards we learned that the ball was opened by our infantry, musketry firing could be distinctly heard, and a shell which burned itself into the ground near us told us plainly the rebels intended to keep us off if they possibly could.  We lay for an hour one and a half miles in the rear of the fort, then we heard heavy musketry firing, and tremendous cheering, our

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some poultry and forage, general A.J. Smith commanding has issued an order strictly prohibiting soldiers from visiting houses unless accompanied by a commissioned officer who will be held responsible for their acts in his presence. I love to see a march conducted thus, without committing those wanton depredations on private property which have hitherto disgraced our army in the sight of all good men. Another town was passed by us on which the people had a peace flag and the French flag displayed, it is a fine little town, where things appeared in a neat condition, with its tidy business like looking citizens smiling on us as we passed them, the buildings are of the cheapest architecture but conveniently arranged with their porticoes and pleasant gardens attached. They have the appearances of civil government also in this town, a jail and courthouse. Fort De Russy is but four miles from this town. We marched two miles farther when the booming of heavy siege guns announced that or gun boats had arrived infront of the fort, and our advance in the rear of the same, in a few minutes afterwards we learned that the ball was opened by our infantry, musketry firing could be distinctly heard, and a shell which burned itself into the ground near us told us plainly the rebels intended to keep us off if they possibly could. We lay for an hour one and a half miles in the rear of the fort, then we heard heavy musketry firing, and tremendous cheering, our