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

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1864-05-02 -- 1864-05-03

Monday 2  Before daylight we were ordered into line of battle, another scare up, nobody came to fight us, so we returned to our quarters.  Rumor says the rebels captured one of our mail boats going down, and one coming up Red river.  This if true is rather a severe loss for me.
The remainder copied from a memoranda almost saturated with blood found in the pocket of the author of the preceeding I visited at the time he was mortally wounded.      
“ “ continued.  Moved out of camp at one P.M. I was quite unwell having a severe headache and toothache and feeling quite feeble, yet I was determined to go along.  I left 13 men sick in camp.  We marched about four or five miles towards Henderson’s Hill, when our cavalry began to skirmish with the rebels.  After waiting some time we went back a short distance, and formed a line of battle in a road.  The line about half a mile ahead of us became engaged with the enemy.  Skirmishing ceased after sunset, and we rested for the night.

Tuesday 3.  I had rather an uncomfortable night, suffering very much on acct. of toothache.  It is now half an hour after sunrise, and we are still waiting for orders.  No firing as yet going on with the enemy.  I feel a little better this morning than I did, yet I am not entirely over my pain.  Marched towards our left and entered the Opelousas road about a mile from our position, continued (here some is illegible on acct. of the blood stains) Skirmishing commenced with the enemy near the rebel governor (T.O. Moore’s) plantation.  We drove the rebels beyond Judge Bayer’s plantation, remained here till middle of afternoon advanced in line of battle towards the enemy  beyond the bayou.

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Monday 2 Before daylight we were ordered into line of battle, another scare up, nobody came to fight us, so we returned to our quarters. Rumor says the rebels captured one of our mail boats going down, and one coming up Red river. This if true is rather a severe loss for me. The remainder copied from a memoranda almost saturated with blood found in the pocket of the author of the preceeding I visited at the time he was mortally wounded. “ “ continued. Moved out of camp at one P.M. I was quite unwell having a severe headache and toothache and feeling quite feeble, yet I was determined to go along. I left 13 men sick in camp. We marched about four or five miles towards Henderson’s Hill, when our cavalry began to skirmish with the rebels. After waiting some time we went back a short distance, and formed a line of battle in a road. The line about half a mile ahead of us became engaged with the enemy. Skirmishing ceased after sunset, and we rested for the night. Tuesday 3. I had rather an uncomfortable night, suffering very much on acct. of toothache. It is now half an hour after sunrise, and we are still waiting for orders. No firing as yet going on with the enemy. I feel a little better this morning than I did, yet I am not entirely over my pain. Marched towards our left and entered the Opelousas road about a mile from our position, continued (here some is illegible on acct. of the blood stains) Skirmishing commenced with the enemy near the rebel governor (T.O. Moore’s) plantation. We drove the rebels beyond Judge Bayer’s plantation, remained here till middle of afternoon advanced in line of battle towards the enemy beyond the bayou.