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

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1863-05-25 -- 1863-05-26

Monday 25.  Have nothing to do but to eat, sleep, read walk about, talk, and dodge rebel bullets.  I feel dirty and lazy; there is not much firing going on.  About 5 P. M. the rebels sent out a flag of truce to request an armistice for several hours to bury their dead which was granted.  As soon as it was known that an armistice existed the rebels and our soldiers came out onto their works, some friends met just half way between the rebel works and ours, glad to see each other.  I saw my old chum, the friend of my boyhood, the best friend I ever had coming from the rebel works, his name is J. T. Smith adj’t of the 2 Mo. C.S. Vols.  I had a long talk with him, he seems to be a staunch rebel.  God save him.  

Tuesday 26.  Firing on both sides as lively as ever this morning.  Our men are talking a great deal about the cowardice of Col. S. G. Hill, who was absent from our regiment during our advance on the enemy’s works, on the 22d inst.  He has not been with us for the last two days, the reasons for his absence is not known to me.  It is too bad that he should be thus accused it hurts the reg’t.

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Monday 25. Have nothing to do but to eat, sleep, read walk about, talk, and dodge rebel bullets. I feel dirty and lazy; there is not much firing going on. About 5 P. M. the rebels sent out a flag of truce to request an armistice for several hours to bury their dead which was granted. As soon as it was known that an armistice existed the rebels and our soldiers came out onto their works, some friends met just half way between the rebel works and ours, glad to see each other. I saw my old chum, the friend of my boyhood, the best friend I ever had coming from the rebel works, his name is J. T. Smith adj’t of the 2 Mo. C.S. Vols. I had a long talk with him, he seems to be a staunch rebel. God save him. Tuesday 26. Firing on both sides as lively as ever this morning. Our men are talking a great deal about the cowardice of Col. S. G. Hill, who was absent from our regiment during our advance on the enemy’s works, on the 22d inst. He has not been with us for the last two days, the reasons for his absence is not known to me. It is too bad that he should be thus accused it hurts the reg’t.