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

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1864-03-17

Thursday 17.  This morning my company, co. D. of our regiment and two companies from the 33 Mo. all under the command of major A. John, went out into the country with three teams for the purpose of foraging.  About three miles from town we came to a most grand plantation it has the best park I ever saw, the trees are trained in beautiful shapes and the walks are tastefully arranged with evergreens on each side of them.  Here we rested for a few minutes and our men made the chickens “get".  I got some milk from the landlady.  Went on about one and a half miles farther, where we found a deserted plantation, with a good mansion containing a very valuable library, of which I obtained a few books.  As we were loading our wagon, captain Rose and his company came in, and reported the rebels advancing on us, a few minutes later a Lieut and his co. came in and reported the rebels in force approaching us.  I asked permission from major John to take my company and advance, he said I might go.  I threw out skirmishers on either side of the main road and in the road and moved on to meet the enemy, but after advancing one and a half miles where he had been seen I halted, not having seen any.  We drove in a vast number of cattle and sheep, and I permitted my men to skirmish back over two plantations, and the result was that every man had at least one chicken, duck or turkey.  It was a beautiful sight to see us come into camp with our poultry.  “Honors of war this.”

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Thursday 17. This morning my company, co. D. of our regiment and two companies from the 33 Mo. all under the command of major A. John, went out into the country with three teams for the purpose of foraging. About three miles from town we came to a most grand plantation it has the best park I ever saw, the trees are trained in beautiful shapes and the walks are tastefully arranged with evergreens on each side of them. Here we rested for a few minutes and our men made the chickens “get". I got some milk from the landlady. Went on about one and a half miles farther, where we found a deserted plantation, with a good mansion containing a very valuable library, of which I obtained a few books. As we were loading our wagon, captain Rose and his company came in, and reported the rebels advancing on us, a few minutes later a Lieut and his co. came in and reported the rebels in force approaching us. I asked permission from major John to take my company and advance, he said I might go. I threw out skirmishers on either side of the main road and in the road and moved on to meet the enemy, but after advancing one and a half miles where he had been seen I halted, not having seen any. We drove in a vast number of cattle and sheep, and I permitted my men to skirmish back over two plantations, and the result was that every man had at least one chicken, duck or turkey. It was a beautiful sight to see us come into camp with our poultry. “Honors of war this.”