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

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1864-04-11 -- 1864-04-12

in the hospital for want of room in the ambulance.  I sent some of his comrades to him to catch a horse or a mule and bring him along if possible, they did so, but the poor man suffered a great deal of pain, but endured it like a hero.  We travelled very rapidly till we arrived near our camp, which we left last Friday morning, here we bivouacked at five o’clock this evening.  I took a good wash in a creek, after supper, spread my blanket in the open air, my tent I gave it to Merkel to sleep in, and retired to rest meditating on what I have recently seen and experienced, and on our future condition, what will happen to us next?  I asked and feel a sleep.  

Monday 11  It is said the rebels retreated nine miles from the battlefield the same night we left, badly demoralized, and leaving many wagons and artillery, being badly whipped.  They sent in a flag of truce to ask permission to bury their dead, but finding no one to receive it they returned it to their army which moved back and took possession of the field.  Began our march toward Grand Ecore at 8 A.M. a distance of fifteen miles, our brigade was in the rear today.  Reached our camp near Grand Ecore a little after sunset and made our beds on which we rested our weary limbs.  

Tuesday 12.  Our transports are above us and blockaded by a rebel battery heavy cannonading is heard; about twelve miles from here it seems to be.  It will be very severe on us if we lose our transports; Red River is an unfortunate river for Gen. Banks.  We started out to forage went along the river for several miles but was compelled to return without any forage since some persons had taken the little that was left in this desolate country before we arrived.  If the rebels

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in the hospital for want of room in the ambulance. I sent some of his comrades to him to catch a horse or a mule and bring him along if possible, they did so, but the poor man suffered a great deal of pain, but endured it like a hero. We travelled very rapidly till we arrived near our camp, which we left last Friday morning, here we bivouacked at five o’clock this evening. I took a good wash in a creek, after supper, spread my blanket in the open air, my tent I gave it to Merkel to sleep in, and retired to rest meditating on what I have recently seen and experienced, and on our future condition, what will happen to us next? I asked and feel a sleep. Monday 11 It is said the rebels retreated nine miles from the battlefield the same night we left, badly demoralized, and leaving many wagons and artillery, being badly whipped. They sent in a flag of truce to ask permission to bury their dead, but finding no one to receive it they returned it to their army which moved back and took possession of the field. Began our march toward Grand Ecore at 8 A.M. a distance of fifteen miles, our brigade was in the rear today. Reached our camp near Grand Ecore a little after sunset and made our beds on which we rested our weary limbs. Tuesday 12. Our transports are above us and blockaded by a rebel battery heavy cannonading is heard; about twelve miles from here it seems to be. It will be very severe on us if we lose our transports; Red River is an unfortunate river for Gen. Banks. We started out to forage went along the river for several miles but was compelled to return without any forage since some persons had taken the little that was left in this desolate country before we arrived. If the rebels