Albert Husted Diary, September 1, 1863-October 31, 1863
Wed. Sept. 2
Splendid day. No drills. Our Sutler gets in with a new load. I buy 5 bbs. butter at 40 cents, also figs, raisins and peaches. Bathe in the Rappahannock.
Thurs. Sept. 3
A very pleasant days rather warmer. Recitation at the colonel's tent tonight.
Fri. Sept. 4
Lovely day, getting quite dusty. Capt. Royce left for Washington this morning.
Sat. Sept 5
Fine day. Repair tent and put things in order. Read and study considerable.
Sun. Sept 6
Warmer, quite dusty. Write to Mother and Edwin. Service P.M. Prayer meeting tonight.
Mon. Sept 7
Some hot. Officer of the Day. Do considerable cleaning up. Recitation by the Officers tonight.
Tue. Sept 8
Hot, dry and dusty. Brigade Drill A M. by Col. Chamberlain. Not many movements but carefully executed.
Wed. Sept. 9
Cooler. Capt. Kimberly returned this morning. I am ordered to return to my Co.
Thurs. Sept 10
Quite cool. Brigade Drill P.M.
Fri. Sept. 11
Warmer. Detail from Reg't goes on picket at 5 P.M. I am OD tonight.
Sat. Sept. 12
Quite warm. Remainder of the record for today is down for yesterday.
Sun. Sept. 13
Pleasant. Heavy rain this morning. Service P.M. A reconnaissance has been in progress today toward Culpepper, the cannon were plainly heard. We are under orders to be ready to move.
Mon. Sept. 14
Reg't inspected by Capt. Nash at 10 A.M. P.M. Dr. Townsend gets at my teeth and puts them in order. Recitation tonight. We learn that the 2nd. Corps is at Culpepper and our cavalry 3 miles beyond.
Tue. Sept. 15
Fine. Brigade drill 3 A M. Tonight orders to pack up and have baggage loaded tonight.
Wed. Sept. 16
Reveille at 3½ A.M. Get started about 7. Crops the Rappahannock at 9. Reach Culpepper at 2½ P.M. Country pretty well used up but few fences or inhabited houses. Capt. Royer is left behind, expects to come on in ambulance.
Thurs. Sept. 17
Reveille at 5. Pass through Culpepper, quite a pretty place, move a mile or two beyond and camp. Rain P.M. We get up our "fly". I complete my clothing Return for Aug. Co. A.
Fri. Sept. 18
A.M. very heavy storm of wind and rain, many tents are blown down, we manage to keep ours up. P. M 2½, deserter shot in presence of the 1st. Division. Cold tonight.
Sat. Sept. 19
Cold and windy. Move camp a little and regulate the streets and tents. The boys get a good many boards from the buildings of an ----- Secesh and fix up their tents rather comfortable.
Sun. Sept. 20
Cold and windy. Lieut. Botchford and I visit Culpepper. Tonight Capt. Royce receives a Commission as Lieut. Colonel Infantry and ordered to report at once in Philadelphia.
Mon. Sept. 21
Not quite so cold. Work hard all day settling Co. matters between Capt. Royce and myself. Get them all right. 2/3 of the Reg't go on picket, I stay in camp.
Tue. Sept. 22
Cool but pleasant. Capt. Royce and I complete transfer papers. Col Conner issues an order assigning me to command of Co. E. and ordering Capt. Royce to turn over the Company property to my possession.
Wed. Sept. 23
Lieut. Col. Royce 6th. N. S. C. troops leaves for his command in Philadelphia. I regret to lose him but it is his gain, perhaps mine. Write to our absentees ordering them to report ------ to the Co. commander. Cavalry going back tonight with prisoners and plunder.
Thurs. Sept. 24
Splendid day. Rest of the Reg't go on picket at 7 A.M. and relieved. The 86c Pa. to be paid. Have a nice time eating peaches, corn, apples, and nuts, come in tonight. Everything packed for a move. Make a "Bull" tonight and open Woodworth's beer.
Fri. Sept. 25
Cold and windy. P.M. officers have a game of ball. Tonight our Quartermaster disburses greenbacks to the men. Reports from Rosencranz rather unfavorable.
Sat. Sept. 26
Very cold morning, quite a frost. Paymaster completes paying the Reg't receive pay to Sept. 1st send $150 to Ed. Barnes.
Sun. Sept. 27
This morning discover that my breeches containing my watch, pocket book and $28.00 in money have been stolen, tent as cut, the flap raised and the things taken almost under my head. Fine day, service P.M.
Mon. Sept. 28
Fine day, warm. Our Div. reviewed at 12 M. by Gens. Meade, Griffin, ------- and others. News from the southwest more cheering. We conclude that a part of this army is being sent to Tenn. and that there is to be no advance here.
Tue. Sept. 29
Very pleasant. For breakfast we have wormy hard-tack, beef and coffee. During the day several sutlers come in and for supper we have sweet potatoes, corn, butter and fruitcake. Corp. Ferris receives permission to appear before the Ex Board at Wash. Serge. Willet reports.
Wed. Sept. 30
Cloudy. B. Drill 10 A.M. R. leaves for picket at 2 A.M. I go, am stationed at a deserted house, quite comfortable quarters.
Thurs. Oct. 1
Mild and cloudy. Picketing quite pleasant.
Fri. Oct. 2
Rain nearly all day, very heavy. Bad picketing but dry in our quarters.
Sat. Oct. 3
Very fine day. Relieved from picket at 4 P.M. The Reg't gets a number of loads of boards from near the line for fixing up tents.
Sun. Oct. 4
Very pleasant. Reg't Inspection 10 P.M. Service at 4 P.M. Our Sutler gets in with a supply of provisions from Wash.
Mon. Oct. 5
Cool but pleasant. Make out and forward Return of Clothing for the month of Sept. Serge. Willet receives the appointment of Capt. in the 2c N.Y. Col. Troops also his discharge, and is ordered to report to Gen'l ----- in Washington.
Tue. Oct. 6
Serge. Willet (Capt.) leaves for Washington this morning. With considerable help, I get up a very good tent, nice floor and bunk and pretty well sided. Detail for picket tonight. I am OD.
Wed. Oct.7
Cool and cloudy, flies bite. Complete fence on front of camp, and get a Guard House pretty well started. Quite rainy tonight.
Thurs. Oct. 8
Cloudy. Not feeling very bright. Lieut. Botchford returns from W. tonight.
Fri. Oct. 9
Make out and forward Ordnance Return for 3 Quarter 1863.
Sat. Oct. 10
Reveille at 2 A.M. Off before daylight, move to the front and left 3 - 4 miles. Back to Camp at dark. We do not know what to make of the movement. Rumors that the rebs are advancing in force also that they are moving up the Shenandoah Valley.
Sun. Oct. 11
Kelley and Woodworth in ambulance. Off some after sunrise, the whole army moves north and till night nearly all is north of the Rappahannock. The rebel cavalry followed in strong force and have hearty fight with ours. Tonight we are in our old camp at Beverly.
Mon. Oct. 12
Off again at sunrise ------- near the Ford till about noon, then cross on pontoons. 4 P.M. our Corps advance to take the heights near Brandy Station, met but slight opposition though the cavalry have a smart skirmish. The rebs "skidaddle" handsomely. Bivouac across the heights.
Tue. Oct. 13
Reveille at 2 A.M. Cross the R at sunrise near Beverly Ford. Stop for breakfast. March pretty steadily till after dark. Camp near Catlett's Station. Day moderately warm, but roads good. Various rumors of what the rebs are doing in circulation.
Wed. Oct. 14
Reveille at 3½ A.M. We move forward rather cautiously, near Bristoe our rear gets a few shells. At Manassas Junction the fire in our rear becomes so lively that we about and pitch in and capture 9 pieces of Artillery and 700 men. Cross Bull Run at 1½ A.M. Camp at 2.
Thurs. Oct. 15
Rest till 9 A.M. We move on through Centerville. Heavy thunderstorm, some of us get wet. Bivouac 1 mile N. E. of Centerville between 8 Hq. Sky and ----- appear.
Fri. Oct. 16
Quite rainy. 2 P.M. with a detail go on picket, short distance. At 5 recalled and the 5th. Corps. move towards Centerville. Heavy thunder
Sat. Oct. 17
No move today. P.M. we lay out and regulate our Camp. Been a warm, pleasant day. The pontoons are moved towards the front and we are much in doubt as to what is being done.
Sun. Oct. 18
Reveille at 4, march to near Fairfax and lay out Camp. Before let our tents up the "General" sounds, go round 4-5 miles and bivouac about 1 mile from where we started. Another camp is ------- and we are told we shall rest a while.
Mon. Oct. 19
No "rest for the weary" yet. Up at 5, march to Centerville, cross Bull Run and camp on last year's battlefield. We go over the ground and see the bones of many dead. Some had not been buried at all, many were slightly covered with earth as they lay on the ground.
Tue. Oct. 20
Reveille at 2 A.M. at Daylight we had not marched a mile. Reach Gainesville, at 8½, rest till noon, move on to near New Baltimore.
Wed. Oct. 21
Quite warm. No movement. Get plenty of "old C ---------" All quiet.
Thurs. Oct. 22
No move. A very pleasant day. Get off a good deal of work seated upon the ground on a blanket.
Fri. Oct. 23
Change position at 10 A.M. Get out "fly" and put up tent And bunk quite comfortably. The whole Brigade is in line and our camp is well laid out and well situated. It is fortunate we have things in shape as it is raining tonight
Sat. Oct. 24
A.M. work up Co. business and correspondence, rains most of the time. 3 P.M. the "General" sounds and we pack, march 4 - 5 miles through the mud and camp near Auburn, a small village of 2 houses and 2 mills.
Sun. Oct. 25
Cold and windy. Lay around till about noon, then move a few rods and lay out a Camp. A cheerless blue day. Tonight we need all our blankets to keep us comfortable.
Mon. Oct. 26
Colder yet. With four other officers I take dinner at the house of a Mr. McCormick. Find him quite intelligent and liberal. The dinner is fair and well relished. Our baggage is not up.
Tue. Oct. 27
Clear, cold and windy. No move. Get our baggage but allowed to keep it but a couple of hours. Recommended Dempsey as 1st. Sergt. Sturdevant as Sergt, Prudhom as Corp.
Wed. Oct. 28
--------- moderate. Baggage brought up and left. We just put up tent and get things comfortable again.
Thurs. Oct. 29
Fine day, white frost this morning. Make out Muster Rolls complete except my charges.
Fri. Oct. 30
Rev. at 3. Move at 8, 4-5 miles to near three Mile Station in the Mountain Branch Road. Lay out Camp. Draw clothing tonight.
Sat. Oct. 31
Reg't mustered for pay at 11 A.M. Warm and rainy morning, cold and windy tonight. Get up "fly." Tonight finish Muster Rolls. Write recommendation for Corp. Mills to appear before Exam Board at Wash.