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George C. Burmeister diary, 1864
1864-03-21 Page 4
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discouraged by out ill success today. We had by this time marched nearly thirty miles, think of it my friends, it is severe on soldiers to march thirty miles in such indecent weather, and why did we do so? But what patriotism, what heroic endurance were manifested by our men not a murmur, not one word of discontent was uttered, the only sign of suffering noticeable was some audible sighs which escaped the lips of some poor weary soldiers. We marched several miles towards the place whence we came, only some distance to the right of it. The column halted and was quiet; what is wrong? was asked, no one knew. In a short time we ascertained that the enemy's advanced pickets - of cavalry of twenty four men, had been captured without firing a gun. They were at once secured by company "D" of our regiment. A picket fire was noticed a short distance ahead of us on the road, a small force was sent in advance to surprise the pickets stationed there, in which they fully succeeded without firing a shot, the modus operandi was about the following: our men went up to the rebel sentinel at the fire where the rest of his comrades were sleeping, perhaps dreaming of their loved ones at home, to within a few yards, the sentinel would challenge: "Halt, who comes there," "Friends," our men would answer, and would approach him quietly, perhaps enter into conversation with him and then politely inform him that he was "gobbled," he of course would turn as
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discouraged by out ill success today. We had by this time marched nearly thirty miles, think of it my friends, it is severe on soldiers to march thirty miles in such indecent weather, and why did we do so? But what patriotism, what heroic endurance were manifested by our men not a murmur, not one word of discontent was uttered, the only sign of suffering noticeable was some audible sighs which escaped the lips of some poor weary soldiers. We marched several miles towards the place whence we came, only some distance to the right of it. The column halted and was quiet; what is wrong? was asked, no one knew. In a short time we ascertained that the enemy's advanced pickets - of cavalry of twenty four men, had been captured without firing a gun. They were at once secured by company "D" of our regiment. A picket fire was noticed a short distance ahead of us on the road, a small force was sent in advance to surprise the pickets stationed there, in which they fully succeeded without firing a shot, the modus operandi was about the following: our men went up to the rebel sentinel at the fire where the rest of his comrades were sleeping, perhaps dreaming of their loved ones at home, to within a few yards, the sentinel would challenge: "Halt, who comes there," "Friends," our men would answer, and would approach him quietly, perhaps enter into conversation with him and then politely inform him that he was "gobbled," he of course would turn as
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