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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-03-21 Page 1
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The Attack on Henderson's Hill Monday 21. This day will ever be remembered with pride by every soldier of the 35th Iowa, who participated in today's campaign and action with his regiment. We were aroused at four o'clock this morning by the shrill notes of the bugle, and the rolling sound of the drum;it seemed to me at once that something that required our presence was on the [tapir?]; nor were we kept long in suspense for an order "to have your command in readiness to move at 5 1/2 A.M. with two days' rations, in their haversacks," was shown me, and we made the necessary preparations at once. Our usual breakfast consisting of the inevitable hard tack and good Reis coffee was speedily consumed, our haversacks were filled with rations, our blankets rolled up, our accoutrements and arms taken, the line was formed and we marched off to the martial notes of the fife and drum, leading the column. The weather was quite inclement, the rain had descended in torrents during the night and it still rained slightly this morning, but heavy rain clouds threatened us continually to discharge their contents upon us. Our command halted a short distance from the city to permit the cavalry and a battery of light artillery to precede us; then we moved forward in quick time and continued our march at this rate without resting, for ten miles, when we rested a few minutes just sufficiently to chill us thoroughly, and to behold the burning heaps of cotton, sugar and forage recently fired by the rebel cavalry, to prevent
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The Attack on Henderson's Hill Monday 21. This day will ever be remembered with pride by every soldier of the 35th Iowa, who participated in today's campaign and action with his regiment. We were aroused at four o'clock this morning by the shrill notes of the bugle, and the rolling sound of the drum;it seemed to me at once that something that required our presence was on the [tapir?]; nor were we kept long in suspense for an order "to have your command in readiness to move at 5 1/2 A.M. with two days' rations, in their haversacks," was shown me, and we made the necessary preparations at once. Our usual breakfast consisting of the inevitable hard tack and good Reis coffee was speedily consumed, our haversacks were filled with rations, our blankets rolled up, our accoutrements and arms taken, the line was formed and we marched off to the martial notes of the fife and drum, leading the column. The weather was quite inclement, the rain had descended in torrents during the night and it still rained slightly this morning, but heavy rain clouds threatened us continually to discharge their contents upon us. Our command halted a short distance from the city to permit the cavalry and a battery of light artillery to precede us; then we moved forward in quick time and continued our march at this rate without resting, for ten miles, when we rested a few minutes just sufficiently to chill us thoroughly, and to behold the burning heaps of cotton, sugar and forage recently fired by the rebel cavalry, to prevent
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