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

Transcribe
Translate

1864-03-21 Page 5

pale as a sheet, and quietly surrender to the “Yanks”, for he knew full well the penalty for resistance.  His comrades were also peaceably aroused from the arms of Morpheus and kindly informed that they were now in the hands of the Yankees, who were about, playing one of their favorite tricks.  Thus or similarly eight picket posts were surprised and taken without any alarm of our advance into their camp being given.  Now we were only a few yards from their camp, what hopes and anxiety commingled in our breasts as we approached it in solemn silence.  Lights are seen in different localities in the camp, and also in a few houses near it on the plantation, our men reach the inclosure, a woman in the first house a small building to our right hears us and her cry; “to arms, to arms, the enemy, the enemy”, rings clearly and audibly through the camp, one of our men attends to the woman to keep her silent, we rush on, the 33d Mo. a little in our rear, but part of this regiment along side of us, firing commences at a large white house, the head quarters of the rebels where all their officers lodge.  Two cannon and caisson were captured by our boys as soon as we entered the camp, another caisson and six horses came thundering through our ranks, some of our men were injured by them but I hope not seriously.  Lt. Henry Hoover A.A.A. General of our brigade was thrown from his horse, by these runaways, and his horse was runover by them, and had his leg broken, the Lt. fortunately escaped uninjured.

Saving...

pale as a sheet, and quietly surrender to the “Yanks”, for he knew full well the penalty for resistance. His comrades were also peaceably aroused from the arms of Morpheus and kindly informed that they were now in the hands of the Yankees, who were about, playing one of their favorite tricks. Thus or similarly eight picket posts were surprised and taken without any alarm of our advance into their camp being given. Now we were only a few yards from their camp, what hopes and anxiety commingled in our breasts as we approached it in solemn silence. Lights are seen in different localities in the camp, and also in a few houses near it on the plantation, our men reach the inclosure, a woman in the first house a small building to our right hears us and her cry; “to arms, to arms, the enemy, the enemy”, rings clearly and audibly through the camp, one of our men attends to the woman to keep her silent, we rush on, the 33d Mo. a little in our rear, but part of this regiment along side of us, firing commences at a large white house, the head quarters of the rebels where all their officers lodge. Two cannon and caisson were captured by our boys as soon as we entered the camp, another caisson and six horses came thundering through our ranks, some of our men were injured by them but I hope not seriously. Lt. Henry Hoover A.A.A. General of our brigade was thrown from his horse, by these runaways, and his horse was runover by them, and had his leg broken, the Lt. fortunately escaped uninjured.