DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | George C. Burmeister diary, 1864

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1864-03-12

which had been stationed there did not number over 150 men, the appearance of things indicated that they had abandoned it very hastily, their knapsacks, provisions &co. were laying about on the levee, their tents remained standing in camp.  Capt. Dill Lt. Clark and I found several articles of good clothing which we took with us, Capt. Dill obtained several fine things, among the [best?] a watch.  We passed an Irish woman in the vicinity who was very much frightened, I succeeded in calming her but she did not give us much information, she claims to be a loyal woman.  I obtained some milk and eggs from her.  The country through which we passed, presents a very high state of perfection, beautiful plantations especially sugar plantations lined the banks of the river generally in sight of each other,  a few magnificent houses were interspersed inhabited with negroes, or what the aristocrats of the South call “poor white trash”.  The rich people have left and their plantations are now inhabited by negro women and children or mulattoes the latter are very numerous here.  The river is very narrow so much so that our boat had just sufficient room to turn around and no more.  I am really disappointed in this country and the river of the first I supposed it to be more swampy, but it is high and dry, the latter is smaller than I imagined it.  A heavy guard was thrown out this evening, the enemy is near.

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which had been stationed there did not number over 150 men, the appearance of things indicated that they had abandoned it very hastily, their knapsacks, provisions &co. were laying about on the levee, their tents remained standing in camp. Capt. Dill Lt. Clark and I found several articles of good clothing which we took with us, Capt. Dill obtained several fine things, among the [best?] a watch. We passed an Irish woman in the vicinity who was very much frightened, I succeeded in calming her but she did not give us much information, she claims to be a loyal woman. I obtained some milk and eggs from her. The country through which we passed, presents a very high state of perfection, beautiful plantations especially sugar plantations lined the banks of the river generally in sight of each other, a few magnificent houses were interspersed inhabited with negroes, or what the aristocrats of the South call “poor white trash”. The rich people have left and their plantations are now inhabited by negro women and children or mulattoes the latter are very numerous here. The river is very narrow so much so that our boat had just sufficient room to turn around and no more. I am really disappointed in this country and the river of the first I supposed it to be more swampy, but it is high and dry, the latter is smaller than I imagined it. A heavy guard was thrown out this evening, the enemy is near.