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

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1863-07-17

Friday 17. Took our breakfast before daylight this morning.  During the night we heard a continual noise in the City, the men shouting, bands playing, and artillery rattling over the streets.  I communicated this intelligence to Hd. Qrs, but as the noise had been observed the previous night, no attention was paid to it.  The rebel works are only two hundred yards from my pickets.  At dawn this morning we discovered a flag of truce waving over the rebel works.  I sent word to Hd. Qrs, and hastened forward to get a view of it with my glass; saw that the bearers were citizens.  Hastened to them and after bidding them "Good Morning", demanded 'what they desired"?  "We want to see the Commanding general" was the reply.  I told them they could be conducted to him, but before I did so I wanted the gratification of being the first man in our army to enter their works, they replied, "they would cheerfully certify to that", so I jumped into the fort, and saw that every rebel soldier had left, and everything of value was removed.  I took the Citizens to General Sherman who was glad to see them; they surrendered the City to him and asked and received protection for their property.  Returned to the City where an awful sight presented itself to me;

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Friday 17. Took our breakfast before daylight this morning. During the night we heard a continual noise in the City, the men shouting, bands playing, and artillery rattling over the streets. I communicated this intelligence to Hd. Qrs, but as the noise had been observed the previous night, no attention was paid to it. The rebel works are only two hundred yards from my pickets. At dawn this morning we discovered a flag of truce waving over the rebel works. I sent word to Hd. Qrs, and hastened forward to get a view of it with my glass; saw that the bearers were citizens. Hastened to them and after bidding them "Good Morning", demanded 'what they desired"? "We want to see the Commanding general" was the reply. I told them they could be conducted to him, but before I did so I wanted the gratification of being the first man in our army to enter their works, they replied, "they would cheerfully certify to that", so I jumped into the fort, and saw that every rebel soldier had left, and everything of value was removed. I took the Citizens to General Sherman who was glad to see them; they surrendered the City to him and asked and received protection for their property. Returned to the City where an awful sight presented itself to me;