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

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1863-05-20 -- 1863-05-21

Wednesday 20  The battle is still going on without any decisive results.  The rebels take good care not to show themselves above the breastworks.  I did not stir out of the Camp today; our men made a few desperate charges but gained nothing, but lost a great number of men.  It is reported that our gunboats are shelling the city.  Burn it I say.  

Thursday 21.  We moved our camp today.  I went out on the battle field, where I had a fine view of the rebel works with my glass, saw some of our dead upon the field, poor men they died for our country!  The rebel works, seem to consist of a line of large hills which extend in a half circle around the city, they present a powerful view, hard to take by assault, on account of their abrupt ascent, and the felled timbers in the ravine before them, at one place a large stockade is seen on the works built of timbers 7 feet high and 3 feet in diameter.  There appears to be two main forts along the rebel lines, forts Hill and Pemberton, we lie opposite the latter, and find it a powerful work.  The bombardment is still going on without any progress.

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Wednesday 20 The battle is still going on without any decisive results. The rebels take good care not to show themselves above the breastworks. I did not stir out of the Camp today; our men made a few desperate charges but gained nothing, but lost a great number of men. It is reported that our gunboats are shelling the city. Burn it I say. Thursday 21. We moved our camp today. I went out on the battle field, where I had a fine view of the rebel works with my glass, saw some of our dead upon the field, poor men they died for our country! The rebel works, seem to consist of a line of large hills which extend in a half circle around the city, they present a powerful view, hard to take by assault, on account of their abrupt ascent, and the felled timbers in the ravine before them, at one place a large stockade is seen on the works built of timbers 7 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. There appears to be two main forts along the rebel lines, forts Hill and Pemberton, we lie opposite the latter, and find it a powerful work. The bombardment is still going on without any progress.