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

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1863-06-02 -- 1863-06-05

Tuesday 2.  Did not feel very well, lay in bed all day.  Toward evening our batteries opened and a dreadful fire was kept up for half an hour.  Had the pleasure of greeting our worthy governor of Iowa S. J. Kirkwood, and his adj’t gen. N. B. Baker; the governor took a cup of tea with me this evening.  Nothing else of importance.  Heat very oppressive.  

Wednesday 3.  My first serg’t is getting better he visited us today.  Wrote a letter today.  The greater part of my Company and I were on picket this evening, heard the rebel pickets and ours conversing with ours, cracking jokes.  The rebels did not trouble us any tonight, had a good rest.  

Thursday 4  The firing on either side has been very lax for the last 24 hours.  No news of importance.  Received a letter from Lt. Kranz that he and my other men would like to come to us.  Sent for all my Company property.  

Friday 5.  Went out with a working party, and worked very hard till quite late.  The rebels keep in stus quo, various reports about an attack in our rear circulate in camp, but from no authentic source.  I cannot tell why it is that we receive no mail.  I feel very weak, am reading the “Scottish Chiefs”, a very interesting novl, by Miss Jane Porter.   Our drinking water must be carried a great distance.  Men are getting sick.

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Tuesday 2. Did not feel very well, lay in bed all day. Toward evening our batteries opened and a dreadful fire was kept up for half an hour. Had the pleasure of greeting our worthy governor of Iowa S. J. Kirkwood, and his adj’t gen. N. B. Baker; the governor took a cup of tea with me this evening. Nothing else of importance. Heat very oppressive. Wednesday 3. My first serg’t is getting better he visited us today. Wrote a letter today. The greater part of my Company and I were on picket this evening, heard the rebel pickets and ours conversing with ours, cracking jokes. The rebels did not trouble us any tonight, had a good rest. Thursday 4 The firing on either side has been very lax for the last 24 hours. No news of importance. Received a letter from Lt. Kranz that he and my other men would like to come to us. Sent for all my Company property. Friday 5. Went out with a working party, and worked very hard till quite late. The rebels keep in stus quo, various reports about an attack in our rear circulate in camp, but from no authentic source. I cannot tell why it is that we receive no mail. I feel very weak, am reading the “Scottish Chiefs”, a very interesting novl, by Miss Jane Porter. Our drinking water must be carried a great distance. Men are getting sick.