Augusta County: Diary of DeWitt Clinton Gallaher (1864-1865)

        I was so stiff and sore from that running fight yesterday Icould hardly saddle my horse and mount him. Expecting anattack, for Grant was still pressing Lee, we were againordered to go in dismounted and await the attack. It againfell to my lot to dismount!

        As Lee was falling back, I well knew that if in the fightour Regiment was ordered to retreat, I could not run -- was toosore and stiff from the previous day's exertions. I know if weretreated I was sure to be either captured or killed. I couldnot run back to our "Led Horses." So I took off my jacket,fastened it to my saddle and took off a gold ring my motherhad given me and told the boy holding my horse that I did notexpect to be back again and to give or send the ring to mymother for me, and told him to send my horse home and that hecould have my other things.

        Well, down into the woods we went, ready for a fight andexpected attack, but after lying there several hours we wererecalled and again mounted our horses. The Yankees had gone inanother direction, so we marched after them towards the famous"Malvern Hill" the scene of a bloody battle the year before onMcClellan's retreat, where driven by Lee, he (McC) sought the protection of hisgunboats on the James River. So much of my foreboding ofprison or worse!

        We cross on a pontoon bridge James River near Drury'sBluff, as Grant changed his attack on Richmond by placing hisarmy on the south side of the river, near Petersburg, and mostof our army followed to that side.