Albert Husted Diary, May 1, 1863-June 30, 1863
Sat. May 2
Clear but cooler. Roused at 1 A.M. Brigade moves back 1 mile and forms. Rest a little. A.M. quiet. At 4 P.M. the ball opens, heavy firing on our center till 8½. At 11 another attack is made and the battle wages for nearly an hour -. Our days work good.
Sun. May 3
Roused at 3½, move to the right, get in position. Battle raging till 10 A.M. They are driven back. Then strike at the center and near the 44th. left. Heavy cannonading.
Mon. May 4
A little rain, clear P.M. No fighting. 30 of Co. E. go on Picket at 5. Rebel sharpshooters try their guns. Mahoney shot in left arm. At 4 P.M. our troops make a sortie to "feel" the enemy. A lively time. A few of our troops killed about 50 prisoners brought in. Rather quiet tonight.
Tue. May 5
Very warm. A.M. Heavy shower at 5 P.M. A quiet day, too quiet. Rumors tonight that we are to go back. Rain floods our tents, cold and dreary enough tonight. We sleep with harness on.
Wed. May 6
Rain nearly all day. Roused at 2½ A.M. Fall back towards U. S. Ford. Brigade forms line as rear guard. Then falls back. Cross river at 9 A.M. The last troops over. Roads very muddy. Reach our old camp at 4 P.M. Tents all down, fix up ponchos in rain. Get things comfortable. What a defeat!
Thurs. May 7
Camp near Falmouth, Va. Cloudy, some rain. Orders this morning to be in readiness to move at 2 P.M. A busy day, Reg't inspection of arms at 2 P.M. Capt. Royce relieved from arrest and takes command of Co. Write letters tonight. Receive five.
Fri. May 8
Damp and cloudy. Various rumors flying. Fredericksburg is taken, then it is not taken, everything seems uncertain. Receive and give out clothing for men.
Sat. May 9
Fair and cool. Work hard, making out Muster Rolls. Reg't mustered for March and April at 5 P. Letter from Luther.
Sun. May 10
Clear and warm. Complete and hand in Muster Rolls. Write to Capt. Kimball and E. G. Barnes. Attend service at 7. What a contrast to the Sabbath one week ago! Who knows how the next will be?
Mon. May 11
Clear and hot. Officer of the Guard. Nothing of much interest occurring. The Army seems to be resting and getting ready.
Tue. May 12
Very hot. Loaf round trying to keep cool, do not succeed very well. W. Warner quite sick. Nothing further in regard to a move.
Wed. May 13
Not quite so hot. Forenoon tear down tent and put up on larger scale, wall tent, very comfortable. Afternoon transfer Co. property to Capt. Royce. Notice for picket tomorrow.
Thurs. May 14
More pleasant., showers in afternoon. Reg't leaves for picket at 8 A.M. Co. E. in reserve. A pleasant change from the barrenness of camp to the verdure of woods and fields.
Fri. May 15
Cool and pleasant. Go on duty at 8 A. it. All quiet.
Sat. May 16
Warm but pleasant. On Reserve again. Read and sleep. Then sleep and read then sleep again.
Sun. May 17
Warm and dusty. Start for camp at 10 A.M. Hot march. Afternoon wash and put on clean clothes. Tonight write to Mother.
Mon. May 18
Dry and very dusty. Fix up barracks and put things in order. Tonight call on L. Burhans, find him well, his Co. and Reg't suffered greatly in the late fight.
Tue. May 19
Cool, dry and dusty. Co. inspection at 9. Corps Review at 10. Reg't Inspection at 3½. Write letter to Mother, Edwin.
Wed. May 20
Clear and hot. All quiet till. 12 M. then receive orders to move camp at 2, travel about 2 miles west, bivouac in a fine orchard. Officers pitch tents on our prospective campground selected and men commence to put up tents, two in each, raised from the ground.
Thurs. May 21
Officer of the Guard from 1 P.M. yesterday till 9 A.M. today. Early this morning Reg't moves to the ground and tents put up.
Fri. May 22
Warm. Camp getting into shape. Capt. Royce, Lieut. Warner, and I put up logs, bunks and tent. Get things quite comfortably arranged. Letters from Calvin, M. W. Kennedy and Goodwin.
Sat. May 23
Hot. Rig ''fly" and lay off to keep cool.
Sun. May 24
Warm day, cool tonight with signs of rain. No service.
Mon. May 25
Cool with slight rain. Visit Division Hosp. this afternoon. Find Ottman quite feeble, but slight hopes of his recovery.
Tue. May 26
Cloudy, warmer. Drills commence first Brigade drill this afternoon, in command of a Co. Headache tonight.
Wed. May 27
Ottman died at 5 A.M. Remains taken home by his brother. All quiet.
Thurs. May 28
Quiet till 2 P.M. Then Brigade receives orders to be ready to march at 3, with everything packed --- 44th. moves to Banks For. Fine moonlight tonight. We are here quite unexpectedly. Rebs in sight. They come to the river in squads to bathe. A general movement seems about to take place.
Fri. May 29
(No entry)
Sat. May 30
In command of picket left wind. No firing. Pickets exchange papers.
Sun. May 31
Warm and pleasant. Take wash in the Rappahannock. Afternoon reading. Tonight write to Mother and Kimball.
Mon. June 1
Hot and. Dry. Make out receipt for Capt. Kimball. Afternoon move tent to Left Wing. Letter from George.
Tue. June 2
Hot and dry. Work all forenoon putting up tent "fly". Afternoon complete papers for Kimball.
Wed. June 3
Cool and cloudy. Complete our tent, get up "closets" and things in very nice order. Two deserters from the other side 110th. Alabama come in. They give valuable information.
Thurs. June 4
Hot and dusty. Receive notice that we are to be "relieved" though we do not consider it much of a relief now that we have our houses in order. Reg't marches to near Grove Church and bivouac, meet the rest of our Brigade and Division.
Fri. June 5
Cloudy, rain tonight. Move about 2 miles A.M. Encamp near Crittendon Mills. Lay out a regular camp. Tonight orders from Gen. Hooker to be ready with 3 days' rations, look out for something.
Sat. June 6
Cool towards evening. Windy.
Sun. June 7
Cold and windy. Go "On Picket," at 9 A.M. Stationed at a Mr. Embrys. Have some talk with him, he has four sons in the rebel army. Seems opposed to secession. He opens his parlor to the officers, we find it quite comfortable.
Mon. June 8
Cold and windy, pretty near a frost this morning. Off Picket at 2. Find that I have caught a slight cold. Sore head ache today. Inspection this afternoon, Co. and Reg't, with a view to a general inspection tomorrow, which is to remove our "Disability'.'
Tue. June 9
Clear and cool, north wind. Roused at 1½ A.M. Reg't marches 2-3 miles up the river to near Kempley's Ford, join the 83rd. Pa. Rebel Pickets opposite withdraw at 11 A.M. today. Where have they gone?
Wed. June 10
Fine. Orders from Gen. Hooker to be ready to move at "very short notice" with 3 days' rations.
Thurs. June 11
A splendid day. Officer of the Guard. Rumors of movements of different kinds.
Fri. June 12
(No entry)
Sat. June 13
Spend a jolly day. Pack up at 5 P.M. in a thunderstorm. March at dark, mud for a mile or two, very dark. Pass thru Crittendon Mills and reach Norrisville at midnight. Bivouac with our division.
Sun. June 14
Pack up early, start at 1 P.M. Cloudy but very dusty. Pass thru Elk Run and Weaversville. Reach Catlett's Station on O. and R. [0range and Alexandria] R. R. at dark, men very tired. Bivouac in field.
Mon. June 15
Bugle wakes us at 3 A.M. off at 5. Day very warm and dusty. Many overcome by the heat, fall out. At 10 I halt. Reg't moves about a mile to Manassas Junction. Bivouac, in the woods.
Tue. Jane 16
Rather cooler. Remain all day in the shade, enjoy it. Visit the Station and forts. At 11 P.M. leave for Picket.
Wed. June 17
Return from Picket at 3 A.M. march at 6, reach Centerville at 9. Very hot and dusty, reach Grove Spring at 5 P.M. Co. E. stack 15 guns. We are all about used up.
Thurs. June 18
Very hot, had a refreshing rest. On Picket at 8. Reg't Quarters at the house of a Mr. Brick, a Union man from Saratoga, N.Y. The family are very friendly and treat us wonderfully, milk, cherries, etc. Capt. Fisher and Major Sterling were captured in their yard last night.
Fri. June 19
8 A.M. leave our friends with some regret and return to Brigade. 3 P.M. move west on the Winchester and Alexandria Pike. 5th. Corps bivouac in field in rain.
Sat. June 20
Rain continues. Brigade quietly in camp.
Sun. June 21
Reveille at 1 A.M. march at 3. Pass through Aldie, Dover, and Middleburg, all fine villages and fine country. Meet rebl skirmishers at 9. They fair briskly but are driven back, for 6 hours we follow them. At 3 P. H. they reach Ashby's Gap, and our cavalry charge. Bivouac in meadow.
Mon. June 22
Start for the Aldie camp at 7 A.M. The rebs come out of the Gap and fire a little but do not hurt us. The Division reaches camp at 3 P.M.
Tue. June 23
Very pleasant. Company drill P.M. Dress Parade. No mail yet. Get some papers.
Wed. June 24
Pleasant. Company drill at 1 P.M. Spend the day busily. Write to brother Edwin.
Thurs. June 25
In Camp, rain P.M. W. R. Adams ----- ----- B. Booters at Alexandria, Va.
Fri. June 26
Break Camp at 7 A.M. Reach Leesburg 2 P.M. Edwards Ferry 6 P.M. Bivouac at Poolesville, Md. at 9.
Sat. June 27
Start at 6. Ford the Monacacy, cross the Balt. and 0. [Ohio] R. R. March to within 2 miles of Frederick. Bivouac in woods
Sun. June 28
Stay at bivouac. Got out into the country and buy some bread, butter and meal. Country about very fine, many fields of extra good wheat.
Mon. June 29
Off at 5 A.M. Some rain and mud. Pass thru Frederick, plenty of union flags. March a mile or two beyond Liberty and bivouac.
Tue. June 30
Slight rain and mud. Pass thru Johnsville, Union Bridge, N. Town [Uniontown], N. Mills, Frizzletown [Frizzellburg then Union Mills (not N. Mills)]. Camp at Lousetown or Fergusville, march 23 miles. Rest a little, then go out and get supper.