DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1863

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1863-04-28

Thurs.  28.  About 11 A. M. we were ordered to get ready to march taking two days rations our arms and knapsacks.  We were soon found traveling along the canal, 10 men in each company carrying shovels.  The road was one of the worst I have ever traveled in my life, being constructed? of dirt thrown out of the canal, and very wet, so that where the boys did not wade they mired.  It was rough yet the men went on without much grumbling till we arrived at the mouth, of the new canal, where I filed Company C to the left, and camped upon a fine plantation owned by a man named Cooper, who is reported to be an officer in the rebel army.  Here we found about 40 old negroes and children, with an overseer who looked rather sour, as the boys went over and helped themselves, to some hogs sheep and calves.  The boys had to go out about 4 P. M. and work on the road along side of the canal.  I slept with the boys, on the grass.

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Thurs. 28. About 11 A. M. we were ordered to get ready to march taking two days rations our arms and knapsacks. We were soon found traveling along the canal, 10 men in each company carrying shovels. The road was one of the worst I have ever traveled in my life, being constructed? of dirt thrown out of the canal, and very wet, so that where the boys did not wade they mired. It was rough yet the men went on without much grumbling till we arrived at the mouth, of the new canal, where I filed Company C to the left, and camped upon a fine plantation owned by a man named Cooper, who is reported to be an officer in the rebel army. Here we found about 40 old negroes and children, with an overseer who looked rather sour, as the boys went over and helped themselves, to some hogs sheep and calves. The boys had to go out about 4 P. M. and work on the road along side of the canal. I slept with the boys, on the grass.