Augusta County: Diary of DeWitt Clinton Gallaher (1864-1865)
Leave Jarrett's Station and March nearly all day until weencamp for the night. Within about 2 miles of Dinwiddie,
March to within 2 miles of Reams Station on the Petersburg& Weldon R. R. marching about allday. Encamp there that night.
Lie in camp all day. Grateful rest!
Was put on Provost Guard duty today. This "guard" was overprisoners, etc., temporarily. My horse got badly chocked -- thought he was dying for awhile. He came around all right.
In camp in woods near Petersburg. Very hot. But little toeat for man or horse. Feed so scarce we waded a swamp near byand cut grass for our poor horses. They even barked pine treesso famished were they. Our fare was "hard (very hard) tack" -- crackers which we cooked in grease from fat pork. I went into Petersburgh one day and found1/4 lb. of pepper! Quite a find. It cost me $2.50 for the1/4lb., but it was worth it. We used it to "season the hardtack and grease. With the pepper, it gave some tang to it andof course, pep too.
"Boots and Saddles" was blown by the bugler at 10:11 p.m.and we hurriedly moved out of camp and through Petersburg inthe night and crossed James River on Pontoon bridges backagain to the north side, and in the sultry heat and fearfuldust of thousand of horses, wewent into Camp about 6 miles below Richmond and remained therethat night. (29th)
March down the Charles City Road a couple of miles. Halt inthe hot sun a long time. I buy a real loaf of bread and prizeit highly, for I was really sick today. Went back to ourartillery Camp for the night.
Some of us were sent to Chaffin's Bluff overlooking JamesRiver to stop all cavalry men from going into Richmond -- Stragglers etc. I found I was near a man named Hoppe, who knewmy family. I called at his house and they gave me something toeat. We were called off our post about sundown and againcrossed the James River on a pontoon bridge (there were threeof them) to the South side -- so we had crossed all threepontoons -- marched until after midnight and went into camp andslept like a rock.