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

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1864-04-24

We were marched and countermarched double quick, in a field of ten acres till we made nearly five miles and finally took our original position.  My company was deployed as skirmishers but soon returned to it regt since no enemy was visible.  Tremendous firing, both of musketry and artillery is going on in our front.  The rebels are trying to capture some of us and our train for this day they have the last chance at us before we cross the river,  our pontoons are only five miles from here, once on the other side of the river and we will not be much annoyed by the enemy I think.  The engagement continued two hours when it slackened the enemy having been reported with severe loss.  Our loss is lighter.  Our battery did some good work on the rebs.  We marched towards our pontoon bridge, as we came near it we saw a number of old plantation wagons burning, which the negroes who accompany the troops used to carry their infirm people and small children also their clothing, piles of the latter lay near the burning wagons.  The wagons were left because they retarded our train.  But what a pitiable sight is presented near the burning train!  Here sit two aged negro matrons, too feeble to march, one has a babe in her arms.  What will become of them when the rebels reach them?  Slavery will doubtless again claim them, and bind them with its chain, which freedom only a few moments since has severed.  Our column crossed the bridge which was situated in such a manner that it could be taken up in a few minutes; it was guarded by the 26th N. York and co, G 5th U.S. batteries.  After we crossed the bridge we found the country very hilly and open.  If we had not been sufficiently fortunate to possess heavy artillery we could never have crossed the river here, since the enemy’s

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We were marched and countermarched double quick, in a field of ten acres till we made nearly five miles and finally took our original position. My company was deployed as skirmishers but soon returned to it regt since no enemy was visible. Tremendous firing, both of musketry and artillery is going on in our front. The rebels are trying to capture some of us and our train for this day they have the last chance at us before we cross the river, our pontoons are only five miles from here, once on the other side of the river and we will not be much annoyed by the enemy I think. The engagement continued two hours when it slackened the enemy having been reported with severe loss. Our loss is lighter. Our battery did some good work on the rebs. We marched towards our pontoon bridge, as we came near it we saw a number of old plantation wagons burning, which the negroes who accompany the troops used to carry their infirm people and small children also their clothing, piles of the latter lay near the burning wagons. The wagons were left because they retarded our train. But what a pitiable sight is presented near the burning train! Here sit two aged negro matrons, too feeble to march, one has a babe in her arms. What will become of them when the rebels reach them? Slavery will doubtless again claim them, and bind them with its chain, which freedom only a few moments since has severed. Our column crossed the bridge which was situated in such a manner that it could be taken up in a few minutes; it was guarded by the 26th N. York and co, G 5th U.S. batteries. After we crossed the bridge we found the country very hilly and open. If we had not been sufficiently fortunate to possess heavy artillery we could never have crossed the river here, since the enemy’s