Albert Husted Diary, November 1, 1863-December 31, 1863
Mon. Nov. 2
Work on Clothing Return, Description list, etc. Private Royal receives permission to appear before the "board" at Wash. Fine day. Get our tent nice and warm.
Tue. Nov. 3
The record for this day was by mistake put under Nov. 6.
Wed. Nov. 4
An Autumnal Jewell. Hot very busy. Make out new final statement and discharge for Sergeant Dempsey. They are forwarded for the night. Many think we move tomorrow.
Thurs. Nov. 5
Windy and signs of rain. P.M. our first drill since leaving Culpepper. Good news from home, New York has gone for the Union by a splendid majority.
Fri. Nov. 6
Very fine day, warm. Complete and forward Clothing Return for Oct. Make out and send in inventory and Inspection Report of Unserviceable C. and G. Equipage and Ordnance. Rumors of a move soon. Private Royal leaves for examination at Wash.
Sat. Nov. 7
Rev. 4 A.M. off at 7. Move to Bealton, 1 mile beyond Div. forms line and advances. Pickets, as skirmishers have quite a fight. Vincent Wounded slightly in hand. Simmon slightly in groin. Lt. McCormick wounded in groin. We biv. in woods.
Sun. Nov. 8
Roused 4½ A.M. Off at sunrise. Move to Kelley's Ford. Troops and Ammunition trains are crossing on pontoons. 3 P.M. we cross. March out a couple miles and biv. in field. There has been considerable firing in our front today. Lee is evidently making a stand.
Mon. Nov. 9
A cold November Day. A few flakes of snow. Very quiet, not a gun heard. P.M. the Division are turned out to drill by Gen. Bartlett our new Brigadier, because some of the men cry "Heart ------" as he is passing the camps. Pack up at sundown and cross river at the Ford.
Tue. Nov. 10
Cold and windy. Towards noon move a short distance and camp in woods, pleasant position. Baggage comes up, get up fly. Tonight very comfortable; good fire and good bunk.
Wed. Nov. 11
With detail of 50 men go out to reinforce picket at 3 P.M. We go 6 miles to get one and do not reach our destination till after dark.
Thurs. Nov. 12
A most magnificent day. Find on looking about this morning that we are quite pleasantly situated, and directly overlook the Ford and surrounding country.
Fri. Nov. 13
More pleasant still, warm as September. Enjoy a fine nap in the shade, also a stroll along the Rappahannock. After dark we are relieved and return to Camp. Serg'ts Blakely and Sturdevant have returned from Wash. Mills left this morning.
Sat. Nov. 14
Splendid day, warm. This A.M. Reg't Inspection. P.M. 1st. Div. reviewed by Gen. Bartlett our new commander. Quite a rain with thunder and lightning tonight.
Sun. Nov. 15
Rainy night, cooler. Heavy firing near the Rapidan early this morning, continuing an hour or two. Royal returns from Wash.
Mon. Nov. 16
Damp and ----------- Articles of C. and G. Equipage and Ordnance that were reported to be condemned on the 31st. were inspected by Capt. G--------
Tue. Nov. 17
Warm and pleasant. Detail for picket at 10 A.M. Draw clothing. Get quite a supply of butter and cheese.
Wed. Nov. 18
Splendid weather. Rather a lazy day.
Thurs. Nov. 19
Rev. at 5. Off at 8. ------ said we are heading for Richmond. Cross river at Kelley's Ford, move out a mile or two and camp, fine ground. Fix up good tent. Pay-rolls are returned to us and signed by men.
Fri. Nov. 20
Very warm. Paymaster Sabin reaches Camp it 9 A.M. --------- with Co. E, pays 2 months, to Oct. 31. Looks like rain tonight, cooler.
Sat. Nov. 21
Rained nearly all day. Serg't Sturdevant and Private Royal receive their discharges from War Dept to enable then to accept appointments in the U. S. Colored Troops.
Sun. Nov. 22
Splendid day. Sturdevant and Royal both get appointments as Captain this morning, and leave after dinner. S. goes to Portsmouth, Va. 10th Reg't. R. To Balt., Md., 9 Reg't. Butler sent to hospital.
Mon. Nov. 23
Fine day, cooler. Two drills. Sick are taken away. Riley sent to hospital. Mills returns from Wash, brings boots but they are too tight, sell them and buys another pair. Mills made Serg't Newton Corp. Orders to move early tomorrow.
Tue. Nov. 24
Rev. at 4½ A.M. At 7 Brigade moves, west about a mile, then returns to camp and pitches tents --Cause: a rain which has made the ground too soft for wheels.
Wed. Nov. 25
Cool and windy. P.M. drill Co. No news. Cold tonight. Looking somewhat anxiously to the morning.
Thurs. Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day for New York and for the nation. Rev. at 4, move at 7, day cool and fine. 5th. and 1st cross Rapidan above Ely's Ford, march west to plank road, down road a mile or two, biv. Very cold, not thawed any in shade today. Water frozen in our canteens. Little firing today.
Fri. Nov. 27
Roused at 4, off at 7. March SE then S. of W, on Plank road to Orange CH., nearly whole distance through woods. Rebs attack our Ammunition Train, various reports as to the damage done, probably slight. Quite a brisk fight towards sundown. We biv. in corn stubble, cloudy.
Sat. Nov. 28
Up at 4, move at daylight, several miles to our right. A.M. heavy rain, P.M. drizzling, very muddy, mild. But little fighting today. Our troops seem to be getting into position and skirmishing. Division biv. near Robinson's Crossroads on the Orange and Fredericksburg Pike.
Sun. Nov. 29
Up at 4, at daylight we move to the front. Our Brigade relieved as part of 2 Corps. Some excitement at getting to our places. Rebs fire on us rapidly but no one is hurt. Lay behind barricade of rails all day. No engagement but considerable picket firing. Some reb gets a very close shot at my head. Cold.
Mon. Nov. 30
Return to the Reserve at 2 A.M. frosty morning. A general attack was to have been made at 8, but the reb position seems to have been found too strong as the day passed with scarcely any picket firing and but little artillery. We begin to wonder what is to be done. Day clear and cold.
Tue. Dec. 1
On picket again 8 A M. No firing. Scarcely a musket or cannon heard today. The rebs are quietly strengthening their works, which begin to look very formidable. Rumors that we are going back. Weather clear, cold and windy, more mild tonight.
Wed. Dec. 2
Leave our picket posts very quietly at 3 A.M. fall back to the reserve, form our Cos. and move out to the pike, find the Brigade mostly all together, march down the pike two or three miles then across thru the woods to plank road, cross Rapidan at Germanna Ford. 8 A.M. breakfast and reach Stevensburg 12 M., marched 20 miles it is said.
Thurs. Dec. 3
Move at 8, to Rappahannock Station. The 5th. Corps is to guard the Railroad from the river to Alexandria. Our Brigade is to be at the Station. The other Corps seem to be going back to the camp they so lately left.
Fri. Dec. 4
11 A.M. move over near the river a short distance above the R. R. Bridge. Lay out camp and get materials for fixing up tent in winter style.
Sat. Dec. 5
Work all day in tent, got up chimney and things pretty well started. Towards evening trains begin to cross to this side the river and orders are received to be in readiness to move to the rear at a moment's notice. We leave our tent and look to necessary business.
Sun. Dec. 6
Early in the morning tent tumbles down and envelopes us. Weather decidedly cold. We conclude is right to make ourselves comfortable and work hard all day on tent, get it enclosed. Order to be in readiness to move continues.
Mon. Dec. 7
Cold night, river full of floating ice this morning. Continue work on tent and chimney, tonight have nearly everything in order. One of the 85th. Pa. was shot last night by guerillas.
Tue. Dec. 8
Very cold morning. Continue work on tent, get it pretty tight. Make out application for furlough for Riley.
Wed. Dec. 9
More mild, Botchford goes on picket at 10 A.M. Make out Monthly Return of O. C. and G. Equipage.
Thurs. Dec. 10
Clear and cold. A.M. help Grayson a little with his tent. P.M. work on my own stopping up cracks and putting in shelves. Letter tonight from P. F. DuBois giving some account of Mr. Wiles' trial. The good news from Tenn. is confirmed.
Fri. Dec. 11
On Picket at 10 A.M. Rather mild. Duty not hard. Body of 83's Surgeon brought in. He was shot by guerillas outside the lines two days since.
Sat. Dec. 12
Everything quiet. Reach camp 12 M. Serg'ts Mills and Blakeley get appointments in colored regiments. M. Captain, B. 1st. Lieut. Woodworth, Darling and H. S. Rowley relieve to duty in Co.
Sun. Dec. 13
Quite heavy rain last night, very warm and pleasant today. Rest some.
Mon. Dec. 14
A.M. very warm and windy. P.M. windy and cold. Draw clothing.
Tue. Dec. 15
Cooler but very pleasant. 10½ Reg't inspected by Brigade Inspector, Nash. P.M. rig up some extra ponchos about our tent - find the result to be quite an increase of warmth. Tonight "Recruiting Papers" come back approved. Corp. Douglass goes from "E".
Wed. Dec. 16
Clear and pleasant. Work at little jobs all day. All Reg't not on picket go out to make corduroy roads.
Thurs. Dec. 17
Rainy day. Tonight get box from home, which started Oct. 7. A part of the cakes are spoiled but the butter, jelly "Extract of Coffee," Beef, Dried fruit, Stockings, etc, came in good order.
Fri. Inc. 18
Heavy rain last night. River very high. 10 A.M. start out in command of 100 men to corduroy, but find the waters and mud too deep so we return to Camp. Tonight "re-enlistment" is being -------.
Sat. Dec. 19
Cold, raw and windy. 9 A.M. leave with detail of 110 men for work on corduroy near Button, few tools, return 12 M.
Sun. Dec. 20
Very cold. Stay in my tent and keep warm. Read in Genesis and Paradise Lost. Tonight write to Ed and Calvin.
Mon. Dec. 21
Very cold, freezing night. Lt. Botchford commences his court-martial business. Make out Drs. Lists and Final Statements of Cogswell, W. Munson and Sexton, they have been transferred to Invalid Corps.
Tue. Dec. 22
Cold and raw. OD. Fatigue Detail for Corduroying goes out at 7, but returns without doing anything. Some fool or sluggard out the ------ ---------. Looks like snow tonight.
Wed. Dec. 23
Very cold and windy. A few flurries of snow this morning. The reenlistment project further ventilated and discussed. Co. "E" allowed to enter the arrangement of 3/4 agree to enlist when they have served 2 years. Maj. Knox reaches us tonight.
Thurs. Dec. 24
Clear and cold. Get Muster Rolls started. Play chess tonight.
Fri. Dec. 25
Christmas. Fine day. Through the kindness of Corp. P. I am able to dine off turkey. Quartermaster ------- takes dinner and spends the evening with us. We enjoy quite a social time.
Sat. Dec. 26
Pair, warm. Make out two Muster Rolls.
Sun. Dec. 27
Warm, rains most of the day. stay in my tent reading Bible and Milton. Veteran Volunteers mustered out and in.
Mon. Dec. 28
Warm, slight rain, and awful windy. Tonight receive notice from Brigade HQs to be ready at a moment's notice. Mosby is said to be concentrating his forces for a Raid.
Tue. Dec. 29
Clears up warm. OD. Camp awful muddy. Play chess with D. M.
Wed. Dec. 30
Warm and pleasant. Complete Muster Rolls. Our re-enlistment men get their furloughs.
Thurs. Dec. 31
On Picket 9 A.M. Rains hard nearly all day. The "Reserve" is nearly drowned out. I watch 'the Old Year out and the New Year in front of my poncho before a good fire of logs. One year ago tonight I was also bivouacking in the woods near a ford of this same Rappahannock.