Albert Husted Diary, July 1, 1863-August 31, 1863
Thurs. July 2
Off at 5, move to near Gettysburg. 4 P.M. our Division forms on the extreme left -- 44th. soon becomes hotly engaged at a range of 5 ------[200 yards or less] Co. E. 3 killed and 9 wounded but takes 90 prisoners. 44th. about 100 killed. Rebs routed with -------------
Fri. July 3
Slept in the field, the wounded cared for and the dead buried. Reg't relieved at 7 A.M. In reserve remainder of the day. Have a fight on our right, rebs repulsed and thousands taken. The battle seems going well for us.
Sat. July 4
Reg't does not move, day very quiet, rain P.M. The rebs seen to have concluded that they have undertaken more than they can accomplish. A reconnaissance in force put forward our line quite a distance.
Sun. July 5
8 A.M. move to the front, see no live rebs, plenty of dead. Some of them have lain for two days and are much swollen and very offensive. Large numbers of dead horses are strewn around. At dark march toward Emmitsburg. Very dark, camp at midnight.
Mon. July 6
Move at 11 A.M. a little. 44th. left wing sent on Picket at 3 P.M. Easy duty and good fare. Take our meals at the house of a Mr. White, a Union scout. The farmers about are very kind and furnish milk, bread, and the like at very reasonable rates.
Tue. July 7
Start for Reg't at 7 A M. Pass through Emmitsburg, ------ town, and Utica, the last two in Md. Long muddy march, 20 miles.
Wed. July 8
Rainy night. Sleep under a rubber blanket. Off at 6 A.M. rain continuously, very muddy. Take command of Co. D. for the day. cross Kittortan [Catoctin] mountain and camp near Middletown. Fine afternoon.
Thurs. July 9
Cross Cedar Mountain and camp near Boonsboro. The whole Brigade get abundance of fine cherries. Assigned to command of Co. D.
Fri. July 10
Move west and north, very hot. Cross Antietam Creek. Picket right near Jones' Crossroads.
Sat. July 11
10 A.M. move out tonight.
Sun. July 12
11 A.M. whole line advances again in same shape as yesterday. Slight skirmishing. Heavy shower towards night. Camp in wheat field.
Mon. July 13
Slight rain P.M. Move front of the line (Our Brigade) as picket support. Our forces are throwing up intrenchments.
Tue. July 14
The rebs have got away, much disappointment and some swearing about it, rations given out 12 M. march to near Williamsport, pass over rebel intrenchments, find them quite strong and well located.
Wed. July 15
Leave Williamsport at daylight. Pass thru rebel intrenchments and our own, through Jones' Crossroads, cross Antietam Creek, over South Mountain, turn south and camp in woods. Day very hot. March 20 miles.
Thurs. July 16
Off at daylight. Pass through Burkittsville and camp near B ------ [Berlin - Now called New Brunswick, MD] on the Potomac. We have hopes of a rapid chase after Lee.
Fri. July 17
Heavy rain during night. A.M. making out Muster rolls. 4 P.M. break camp, cross the Potomac at B -------- [Berlin] march to Lovettesville and camp. Only the 5th. Corps across here tonight.
Sat. July 18
Off at 5, move south along "Short Hills." March 6-7 miles then camp in woods. Tonight cool and very pleasant. Complete muster rolls and send them in. Rumors that we have taken 1500 prisoners.
Sun. July 19
Off at 8 A.M. march but 4-5 miles, pass through Purcellville. Camp in fine grove at 11. This is the "poetry" of soldiering.
Mon. July 20
Reveille at 2½ A.M., move at 5, day very hot. Bivouac about noon near Upperville. The army seems in go [no] great hurry.
Tue. July 21
Quite cool. Remain in camp. Men busy washing up.
Wed. July 22
Rather warm. At 12 M. move about 5 miles to near Manassas Gap. What lots of blackberries. Today see the first dust for more than a month.
Thurs. July 23
Off at 5. March through Manassas Gap. 3rd. Corps heads, 5th. following. The 3rd. attacks the rebs and drives them quite a distance. Considerable firing, muskets, but no heavy work. Boys get some honey and chicken tonight.
Fri. July 24
8 A.M. 1st. Division gets in readiness to charge the heights west of the Gap. We move up but the rebs have gone. 10 move back of Linden and camp. I visit the heights north of us, get a splendid view of the Shenandoah Valley, find cherries, blackberries and huckleberries.
Sat. July 25
Off at 5; move back through the Gap turn south at Markham and camp below Orlean, near Whister Gap. Very hot, march 15 miles. Heavy shower tonight. Eat about 4 quarts of blackberries.
Sun. July 26
Start at 5, continue in the ------- [suburbs?] of Warrenton. Halt within 3-4 miles, bivouac.
Mon. July 27
Off at 5 A.M. Pass through suburbs of Warrenton, thence south 2-3 miles, camps put up our "fly."
Tue. July 28
No move today. Work at Quarterly returns. Showers P.M. Capt. Royce takes up my receipts and invoices and "Fathers" the returns.
Wed. July 29
No move. Complete returns. Officer of the day. Capt. Royce takes all receipts and invoices for the 2c Quarter 1863.
Thurs. July 30
Windy. Writing letters. Writing up books, Making out ---- lists.
Fri. July 31
Fair and pleasant. Working up things. Orders to be in readiness to move early in the morning.
Sat. Aug. 1
Very hot. Meeting of the officers tonight. Col. Conner talks to us of Discipline and variety of matters.
Sun, Aug, 2
Hotter yet. Try to keep cool till 5 P.M. then attend service in the orchard. Instead of giving us a good useful sermon the Chaplain told us of our duties and hopes.
Mon. Aug. 3
Very hot. Detailed with about 20 other officers and 400 men for fatigue duty near railroad. Complete a Block House. Work near Bealeton Station.
Tue. Aug. 4
Today not quite so hot. Reg't makes two bridges and some corduroy roads, Heavy shower P.M. Spoils one of our bridges.
Wed. Aug. 5
Heat moderate a little. Continue our corduroying.
Thurs. Aug. 6
Tear up part of our work and begin on a more substantial basis. Heavy shower towards night.
Fri. Aug. 7
Do not make good progress, not enough teams.
Sat. Aug. 8
A good day's work. Nearly finish our job.
Sun. Aug. 9
Hot, but we rest. No service, boys go out about the country and get blackberries, etc.
Mon. Aug. 10
Quite warm. A.M. complete job. 4 P.M. pack up and move to Reg't. Find it after marching about 6 miles near Beverly Ford. 44th. not in detail. Get 4 months' pay today
Tue. Aug. 11
Hot day. Remainder of the Reg't paid this morning. I received $449.29 after paying $7.7 tax. Settle up accounts generally. Send $400 to E. G. Barnes. Battalion drill P.M.
Wed. Aug. 12
Cooler, very pleasant. A.M. Co. Inspection of Arms. A Monthly Report of O. C. and G. Equipage is ordered. Bathe in the Rappahannock tonight.
Thurs. Aug. 13
Very heavy shower early this morning. Assigned temporarily to command of Co. "A".
Fri. Aug. 14
Cool, rain P.M. Reg't Inspection at 7 A.M. Tonight write to Father.
Sat. Aug. 15
Pleasant. Ordered to be in readiness to move at a moment's notice. Many rumors as to where we are going.
Sun. Aug. 16
Fine day. Service at 5 P.M. Write to Mother.
Mon. Aug. 17
Cool and breezy. Officer of the Day. Lieut. Warner gets off this morning on the "telegram." He sends us word that it gets him transportation.
Tue.' Aug. 18
Cool. The sick are sent off this morning, Lieut. Dempsey among the rest. His wound will probably put him away for a month.
Wed. Aug. 19
A cold night, cool day. Brigade drill 3½ P.M. 44th. in command of Capt. Allen, he does pretty well. Col. Rice much exceeds our expectations, scarcely makes a mistake.
Thurs. Aug. 20
Somewhat warm. Col Rice leaves for Washington this morning. The strife for the Majority in the 44th. is about to commence. Battalion Drill P.M. conducted by Capt. Allen.
Fri. Aug. 21
Very hot. No drills.
Sat. Aug. 22
A little hotter. Letter from Kimball. Spells of "Belly Ache."
Sun. Aug. 23
Not quite so hot. Put on my white shirt this morning, sported it all day and find it rather pleasant. Service A.M. A pretty good sermon by Rev. Mr. Clark, Chaplain of the 83rd. Pa.
Mon. Aug. 24
Fine day, cooler. Two drills. Report for picket at Brigade HQ's at 6 A. M. in command of the detail, 75 men. We take the right of the line, bivouac in a pleasant wood.
Tue. Aug, 25
Rather a cool night. We find our duties quite easy, plenty of corn of which we eat freely.
Wed. Aug. 26
Very fine, quite cool No rebs to be seen, rather dull work but very easy.
Thurs. Aug. 27
A most magnificent day, just the right temperature. Eat 3 meals of corn. Break Camp about dusk. All agree that we have enjoyed our picketing right well.
Fri. Aug. 28
Fine day, cool. Work very steadily all day. take out Drs. List, Monthly Returns And Muster Rolls.
Sat. Aug. 29
Slight rains 5 A.M. fine P.M. Cold tonight. 3 P.M. witness the shooting of conscript deserters from the 118th. Pa. The whole corps is present. Each receives 9 bullets, they sitting on their coffins, fall back on them, and placed in them and buried. Complete Muster rolls.
Sun. Aug. 30
Cool and clear. Work a little on 'Muster Rolls, finish them. Service P.M. by our Chaplain. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is the eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Mon. Aug. 31
Cool and pleasant. Reg'ts mustered for pay for the months of July and August. 7 P.M. election of field officers. Lt. Col. Conner--Col, Maj. Knox--Lt. Col, Capt. Allen --Major. There was quite a strife for the last office. Chicago versus N.Y. New York is ahead, 11 to 7.