Albert Husted Diary, July 1, 1864-August 31, 1864
Sat. July 2
Hot. 8 AM Botchford and I start out to visit Lt. Col. Royce. Follow the "lines" for nearly two miles, they seem dangerously near the city. Find R. and dine with him. 8 PM I go out in charge of fatigue party to build intrenchments between our Brig. and the 1st.
Sun. July 3
Fine day. Write a long letter to Mother. PM Capt. Sturdevant and Lts. Blakely and Douglass visit us. The darkies are well spoken of but owing to the scarcity of men fit for non-commissioned officers, it is hard work for the officers.
Mon. July 4
Cool and quiet. We rather expected a demonstration of some kind, but were disappointed. The bands play a lively tune that is all. Tonight some of our officers get lively over a bottle.
Tue. July 5
Hot and dusty.
Wed. July 6
Hot and dry. Rumor of a rebel raid into Penn, also that part of the 5th. Corps is going north. Lt - ------- returns to Reg't also Serg't --------
Thurs. July 7
Very warm. Botchford and I fix up our quarters in very good shape. At dusk Reg't receives orders to move at once to the front line, on left of the Brig. Get into position about 11 and bivouac, no firing tonight.
Fri. July 8
Very hot and dusty. Early AM lay out camp, before night we are nearly as comfortable as at the old camp. 5 PM considerable cannonading and sharp musketry on our right.
Sat. July 9
Hot and quiet. 8 PM on picket.
Sun. July 10
Very warm but fine breeze. On picket line all day. No firing. Two deserters from 1st. Florida Battalion came in at dawn, one at 11 AM. They say many men are coming at first opportunity. Also that their army think we will "punish them ------ of there pretty soon.
Mon. July 11
Warm but fine breeze. PM heavy shower in the northwest, only few sprinkles for us. The Raid into Md. seems to be enlarging. The 6th. Corps has gone up to see about it.
Tue. July 12
Heat unabated. Capt. Pease from Army H'd Q'rs calls this morning. Thinks our left is be shortened and drawn back. A report that we have been defeated at the Monacacy. The 2c Corps is about going out with the Cavalry on some sort of an expedition.
Wed. July 13
Hottest yet. 4 more rebs came in last night. More batteries are being placed along our lines and tonight the mortars are quite busy. No mail tonight, it is said that the rebs have got the railroad between Phil. and Baltimore.
Thurs. July 14
-------- -------------. Arrangements are made to have the rebels in our front "come in'' tonight. Unfortunately they are relieved soon after dark and don't come.
Fri. July 15
Have a ride before breakfast. Cool north wind. Batteries and mortars pretty lively towards evening. Telegram from Gen'l Meade announces that the raiders in Md. are recrossing the Po. at Edward's Farm.
Sat. July 16
Quiet as usual. Our day's mail rec'd.
Sun. July 17
Very pleasant ----- report that we are to be attacked tonight. Preparations are made to receive the "rebel foe" but he don't come. Maj. Knox arrives tonight. We are glad to see him. He brings a Capt's Commission for me.
Mon. July 18
Get blanks and make out my Muster Rolls. Towards evening Muster for three years more. I hope it may not be necessary to serve out the time, but if it be and God spares my life I intend to do so.
Tue. July 19
Quite a rain, the first of any account since June 2. I make an effort to get command of Co. E but do not succeed. Capt. W. likes to be accommodated but is not as anxious to trouble himself even in the least for others.
Wed. July 20
Warm, some rain. Very quiet.
Thurs. July 21
Clear and hot. 2c Corps are digging a road in our rear. Capt. Kimberley returns. Lt. T. Barrick makes me a call. Several other officers visit us and we have quite a talk. Tonight both Inft. and Art. firing are brisk on the right.
Fri. July 22
Cool and pleasant. Nothing happens to relieve our self of monotonous life. Burnside's men get up quite a roar towards evening. We mount our works to see the rebs throw a small shell, wounding two men in 16th.
Sat July 23
Quite cool. Great news from Sherman. Atlanta taken, rebs routed and retreat. Raiders retreating from Md. overtaken by Hunter and Wright, 300 wagons of grain recaptured and several hundred prisoners taken.
Sun. July 24
Today is Sunday. Cool. Toward night rebs give us quite a shelling, wound two or three men. Looks like rain tonight.
Mon. July 25
Pleasant. Gen. Thomas moved forward to occupy Atlanta, expecting to find Schofield's he found the Johnnies and didn't go in.
Tue. July 26
Warmer. Digging very active. Rebs attack Sherman's left and are driven back losing 100 Killed and about 6000 wounded. On Picket tonight.
Wed. July 27
Pleasant., cloudy. Very quiet picketing. Rebs shell a little, also try their mortars. Don't do much damage.
Thurs. July 28
Work pretty hard all day on Bombproof, get it nearly done. Rumors of a success by the 2nd. Corps at Malvern Hill. Our Brig. all placed on the front line, are to more fatigue duty.
Fri. July 29
Very hot. Finish up our ''house.''
Sat. July 30
Hottest day so far. At daylight a mine under a fort, rebel, is sprung. The structure is knocked higher than a kite. Our men rush in, musketry and artillery opens along nearly the whole line and there is a big noise. Rebs retake the fort after 3 attempts.
Sun. July 31
Hot but very quiet. On picket, no firing, 3 rebs came in. We send a flag of truce to negotiate for removal of dead and wounded between the lines. After trying all day an arrangement is finally entered into by which it is done.
Mon. Aug. 1
Pleasant. Paymaster Sabin commences paying the Brig. to July 1. An Armistice this morning till 9 o'clock to get off dead and wounded between the lines.
Tue. Aug. 2
Warm. PM receive Pay Rolls and get then signed.
Wed. Aug. 3
Apprehension of an attack this morning. We all turn out at daylight. It is learned that the fort on our left is mined and may go up some fine morning. Maj. Sabin pays the Reg't to July 1. Send in my Ordnance Return for part of 2nd. Quar. 64.
Thurs. Aug. 4
About so.
Fri Aug. 5
Hot. PM Botchford and I take a walk. Sundown hear heavy firing near the Appomattox. 7 ½ PM on picket with 20 men.
Sat, Aug. 6
2 AM 7 rebs, two picket posts, come into our lines. Quiet day though both sides throw a few shells. Rumor that the Johnnies blew up one of Butler's forts last night and that the said Butler captured 800 of the said Johnnie.
Sun. Aug. 7
Hotter
Mon. Aug. 8
Hottest. 8 AM attend Court Martial as witness in case of two of our men found sleeping on post. 6 PM detailed as Brig. Officer of the Out posts.
Tue. Aug. 9
Tremendous explosion of Artillery ammunition at City Point about noon. 2-300 men, mostly negroes, Killed or wounded. Towards night a slight shower.
Wed. Aug. 10
AM visit Div. Hosp. Find Capt. Allen very sick though not quite as bad as yesterday. PM make out and transmit Return of O. C. and G. Eq. Co. "I" for July.
Thurs. Aug. 11
Pleasant. Good news from Mobile, Fort Gains surrenders, 600 man, 50 cannon. Ft. Powell blowed up and abandoned.
Fri. Aug. 12
Make out and send to E. G. Barnes, statement of funds paid to and received from him. Find that exclusive of interest from May 1st. my property foots up to $3662.59.
Sat. Aug. 13
Pleasant, except the flies which bite through one's clothing unless they are pretty thick. 2c Corps is making a move. Capt. Fox arrives tonight. He is very fat.
Sun. Aug. 14
Navy firing on the extreme right. 8 PM heavy shower. Floods our tent. 9 PM Col. Conner arrives. Looks well. 11 PM we receive orders to move to the rear as soon as relieved by the 9th. Corps,
Mon. Aug. 15
Daylight 3c. Brig. moves back half a mile. Lay in a field till 10 o'clock then go into camp in the woods. Day very hot. 1 PM heavy shower.
Tue. Aug. 16.
We get camp into quite good shape. 6 PM baggage comes up. It seems really pleasant to get out of range of rebel guns and once more feel safe in the open air.
Wed. Aug. 17
Put up "Fly" and get things well into shape. Some rumors that 2c. Corps is doing well near Richmond. Quite a shower PM.
Thurs. Aug. 18
2 AM roused and we all pack up. 5 the 5th. Corps moves to left. 1st. Div. leading. Strike ------ [Welden] Railroad about 5 miles from Petersburg at 9. We ----- the R. R. for a mile or two. 2nd. 3c and 4th. Divs. move up to our right. 2 ½ PM short sharp fight. 4 we move to left and intrench.
Fri. Aug. 19
Rain. AM quiet. Towards night rebs attack to the right of R.R. We took 4-500 prisoners and lost none. Fighting mostly by 3c Div. Our Div double quicks to the right along the breast works but are not needed. Bivouac in the mud.
Sat. Aug. 20
Clouds and sunshine. 8 AM I go on picket, take left of the line. Plenty of corn and no firing. PM pickets pop considerable near R. R. Men draw rations. Our teams and artillery stuck in the mud.
Sun. Aug. 21
8 AM off picket. Just as I am relieved the rebs make an attack expecting to turn our left. The dense fog helps us instead of them and they get so close upon our works without seeing them that they become scared and we take a large number of prisoners, our loss slight.
Mon. Aug. 22
3 AM we stand to arms expecting an attack, but not a shot is fired. The rebs appear to have left our front. Scarcely any firing. PM Heavy shower.
Tue. Aug. 23
A pleasant day. Very heavy rain last night. The roads for a mile back are awful but are being corduroyed. No demonstrations in our front and no firing.
Wed. Aug. 24
A fine comfortable, day. Mud drying fast. AM I ride out and get some Sutler's stores, PM put up tent, bunk and table. The Richmond papers report a loss of five Generals in the battle of last Sunday and feel sore over the W ------ [Welden] R. R.
Thurs. Aug. 25
Fine day, no rain. Rumors this morning that the rebels are moving to our left. 5 PM a sharp engagement opens near Ream's Station, it is said the rebs attack part of the 2nd. Corps well intrenched. Firing ceases before dark.
Fri. Aug. 26
Roused at 3 AM. Daylight our Brig. stretches out so as to cover our own front and the front of 2nd. Brig. I am Officer of the Day, lay out Camp and get things well into shape. 9 ½ PM I get orders to report at once to take charge of fatigue party of 80 men in fort. The detail reports but is sent back to report in the morning.
Sat. Aug. 27
7 AM commence work on fort. Do a very good day's labor and get it nearly completed. Heavy rain last night. Tonight we receive official information that Fort Morgan has surrendered to our forces, comes from rebel papers.
Sun. Aug. 28
A most splendid day, air pure., cool and bracing. 6 AM receive orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. We pack up, but there is no move, and the day is very quiet. Baggage comes up PM.
Mon. Aug. 29
Pleasant. 7 AM on picket. See no rebels and have a very quiet peasant time.
Tue. Aug. 30
7 AM off picket. Cool north wind. Make out Muster Rolls for July and August. Get them nearly completed.
Wed. Aug. 31
Cool, very pleasant. Officer of the Day. Reg't mustered for July and August. We learn tonight that McClellan was nominated at Chicago. It is reported that Sherman has cut loose from his base and gone to the rear of Atlanta.