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

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1863-05-14

works.  As we got pretty close the rebel shots came thick and fast and we were ordered to lie down in the woods close by.  The enemy kept up his fire pretty well, his shell and shot made fine dirgelike music as they passed over us.  One struck private Byer’s leg (a member of Company G.) taking it nearly off, so that it had to be amputated.  Another man in our regiment in Company E was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of one of his comrades.  The battle lasted about four hours, when we received an order from General Tuttle to move forward on the works, we had scarcely advanced one hundred yards, when a courier arrived stating that the rebels had retreated.  Shout after shout rent the air, our men felt overjoyed at this news, and went into the works on a double quick.  Yes, there is Jackson the capital of the state in our hands.   Many of the citizens, especially the officials had fled, most of the citizens who remained , look very sad yet consigned themselves to us without grumbling.  I found a pleasant place to stay all night at Mr. J. W. Sham’s.

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works. As we got pretty close the rebel shots came thick and fast and we were ordered to lie down in the woods close by. The enemy kept up his fire pretty well, his shell and shot made fine dirgelike music as they passed over us. One struck private Byer’s leg (a member of Company G.) taking it nearly off, so that it had to be amputated. Another man in our regiment in Company E was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of one of his comrades. The battle lasted about four hours, when we received an order from General Tuttle to move forward on the works, we had scarcely advanced one hundred yards, when a courier arrived stating that the rebels had retreated. Shout after shout rent the air, our men felt overjoyed at this news, and went into the works on a double quick. Yes, there is Jackson the capital of the state in our hands. Many of the citizens, especially the officials had fled, most of the citizens who remained , look very sad yet consigned themselves to us without grumbling. I found a pleasant place to stay all night at Mr. J. W. Sham’s.