of Sharpsburg Kentucky Captain Edward o grant was a favored son of the bluegrass country he was a bright handsome young man Chesterfield Yin in manner possessing wondrous fluency of speech although a small man his was a conspicuous figure in any assemblage polite is the Politis Frenchman gentle and refined he was a superb Cavalier seemingly without effort captain grant was always faultlessly not to say fastidiously attire no matter what the conditions he served during the war as a staff officer performing the duties of adjutant general for general Marshall the general Williams general Cosby and Colonel gilt nur army of the Confederate States of America this is his story in his own words I am now teaching at Flat Creek this is my third session commence November 11th 1861 now have twenty five scholars the first session I ever taught in winter on Christmas Day two hundred and fifty of Colonel wolfertz federal cavalry arrived at Sharpsburg on its way to the mountains and searched the gang of rebels that has been marauding through the country Captain Bob stoner Peter Everett and Jimmy young have all been down lately from the camp of the cavalry now at West Liberty the infantry 2000 with four cannon are now encamped at Paintsville on the Big Sandy River under general Humphrey marshal my departure for the army after mature consideration and consulting my wishes more perhaps than my judgment and Friends I determined to try my fortunes in a new and unknown field where honour and patriotism called me though health and friends forbid I had everything that my heart could desire except the consciousness of not fulfilling my duty to my country I prepared as speedily as possible I taught my school until Thursday January 30th and on that morning bid my scholars all goodbye a very sorrowful task as it was also to leave my many friends and dear family I bit their mall goodbye for in this group are centered my highest hopes and tenderest sentiments I hate to appear epicurean and mentioning our fare so manually but cannot forbear to record the fact that our fare since we left home has consisted mainly of sauerkraut cabbage and sorghum molasses for tonight we seem to forget our toils and dangers amid the melodious notes of George south halls voice chanting Dixie and old Virginia we started again on our long and wearisome journey to a camp which seems to recede as fast as we advanced now we hear the nearest camp to be on Rockhouse Fork of the Kentucky River some 70 miles away across the mountains [Music] no Union men Lincoln IDEs they call them in this country but found out general Marshall has moved his headquarters to Gladesville we started early for camp and travel down the beautiful Powell's River about 10:00 a.m. after eight miles journey we have in sight the long long looked for long wished war camp of the Kentucky cavalry the novelty of the camp being over and the joy of seeing my old acquaintance is somewhat abated I desire to return to the post where my duty called me my friends other friends I mean advise me I would not survive a month's hardships and privations and exposure as I left home and a promise to my father and friends not to enlist and serve as a soldier in the field caution constrained me to prefer a secretary ship for which I was better fitted lounge around all morning and about 1 p.m. was introduced to Brigadier General Humphrey Marshall general Marshalls voice is very strong and course rough and dictatorial in his conversation he impressed me as being a man of considerable talent and decision of character he spoke to me kindly as he does to everyone asked me if I desired to join the army - which receiving an affirmative answer he proceeded to square me into allegiance into the Confederate States of America after repeating the oath after him I was now fully inducted into office an office of whose duties I was entirely ignorant a woke this morning a soldier but did not feel any more bloodthirsty or pugilistic today commenced by degrees my duties as a copyist in the assistant adjutant general's office getting better initiated into my duties my time entirely consumed in writing and attending to my horse who has the scratch is very bad blades bill and Wise County Virginia I forgot to mention has nine or resident families one blacksmith one saddle shop a storehouse and a large courthouse but no church or jail population is about one thousand - 965 getting over camp diarrhea which somewhat debilitated me and feeling tolerably well riding general marshals official letters and a large blank book also orders special in general in another before issued all letters orders and commands from the general passed directly through my hands reports are continually coming in regarding the approach of the enemy etc but not credit today I most forcibly and sorrowfully realize the maxim that war has no Sabbath's where I was unwillingly compelled by my office to ride all day the first Sabbath I ever did such a thing in my life I hope I may obtain forgiveness for it but we will not despair our cause it is just and in God is our trust fight on is our motto two soldiers died in the hospital today it's a wonder they don't all die another died on Sunday night he was from Fleming County Kentucky on coming to the adjutant office this morning was shocked with the sad and mournful intelligence of the fall of Fort Donelson with terrific slaughter on both sides estimated a thousand on hours and the evacuation of Bowling Green by General Johnston and the retreat of his army beyond Nashville this day Jefferson Davis is inaugurated president of the Confederate States of America despite the efforts of Lincoln to prevent a partner in his office at a division of his domain today the government of the Confederate States ceases to be provisional and becomes constitutional and I hope stable and perpetual [Music] continual association with scenes of suffering of danger and of death is tending greatly to render me and sensible to grief or compassion death is nothing here where so many died and all are liable to at any moment suffering is disregarded where all are compelled to undergo a share no one can imagine the wretchedness and misery to which the poor sick soldier is often exposed in transportation and in many of the hospitals it seems to me I would rather die in a decent comfortable house than to live in one of those miserable abodes of the sick February 28th 1862 it's my birthday 23rd anniversary of my entrance into the world how many reflections melancholy and yet joyous to is the recurrence of such a day excite [Music] the people in this country are very much frightened and are preparing to leave before the expected invasion by the Yankees it is likely that general Marshall will permit the Lincoln Heights to cross the Cumberland and fight them somewhere between the mountains and the Salt Works in Smyth County general Marshall in conjunction with general Heth have the discretionary power of calling out the militia of 18 counties in West Virginia the militia throughout other portions of the state are commanded to repair immediately to generals Joseph II Johnson Magruder huger and Smith in the evening a courier arrived from Gladesville announcing the evacuation of pound gap by major Thompson's battalion after an hour's fight yesterday morning with 2,000 Yankees the prospects of a battle are now more favorable though I suspect the Lincoln Knights contemplate no speedy movement into Virginia [Music] at supper general Marshall gave to Colonel trig and others his opinion of the officers in the Confederate service he has not a very high opinion of the intellectual general a/s Johnston good opinion of the General Joseph II Johnson thinks General Robert Ely the head man in the Army is justly entitled to the chief command of the southern forces [Music] courier arrived with rather discouraging news from Stonewall Jackson's brigade in the valley fought a severe battle eighteen thousand Yankees versus five thousand southerners lost five hundred killed and fell back April 2nd 1862 it's a spring day sweet a sunny day how can we appreciate such days took a notion I would embrace my opportunity in the absence of general Marshall and go to seed the cavalry boys at Osborn's forward I arrived at Osborn's Ford where the cavalry was encamped about dusk here I saw floating over captain Cameron's quarters the first rebel flag since I've been in Dixie the major and the boys seem very much delighted deceiving most all well the boys are living finally especially on fish of which they have a quantity caught out of the Clinch River in the traps glorious news intelligence was received today of a fierce and bloody battle at Corinth Mississippi between the great armies under command of generals Johnston Bragg Breckenridge and Pope versus grant and McClelland on the federal side the result was the entire overthrow of the vandal hordes of Lincoln with the loss of six thousand prisoners and eighty pieces of artillery but too dearly bought by the death of the great and gallant general Sidney Johnston we hope this part is untrue but alas the information is considered reliable today recorded confirmation for the glorious news from Tennessee General Johnston certainly killed Breckinridge distinguished himself enemy in flight and our soldiers in pursuit the battle was fought on the 6th and Beauregard now in chief command general Prentice of the Federal Army was captured I do hope they will run every Yankee out of Tennessee in Kentucky without giving them time to burn or plunder courier brought papers from Richmond and Lynchburg but further particulars of the great battle at Shiloh enemy retreated led to their gunboats and afterwards United the fuel not yet heard the loss on either side tonight is nearly as light as day the silver moon throws a fascinating mantle over the cold muddy earth does this bright moonlight shine thus beautifully over the enslaved fields of my motherland old Kentucky courier brought intelligence of the continuation of the great battle on the Mississippi where they have been fighting all week after the defeat of grants army of sixty to seventy thousand and the junction of it and Buell seventy thousand Beauregard fell back to Corinth there he fought the whole combined forces of the Yankees and was there attacked by Buell dispatch says that the general Buell was killed result of the battle not known general Marshall not yet returned to camp may have gone on to Richmond General Tom Johnson was at headquarters today looks rather rosy for a gray-haired man afraid he likes his tea too well studies the unhappy history of Ireland too closely more Lincoln whether as major halls calls it trying to rein and give the gunboats a lift received reports of 1200 Federals scattered up and down the Big Sandy River this is the anniversary of the fall of Fort Sumter conscription bill passed Congress putting every man in the Army between 18 and 35 years of age it's supposed this will create an army of 500,000 pretty good day for Western Virginia the general marshal received a dispatch from General Smith asking for reinforcements at Cumberland Gap now threatened by the enemy general replied he had no force to detach but if necessary he would bring his whole command if he could get into a fight also received the news of the capture of New Orleans by the enemy a great blow to our cause all the rain all day go the Merciless raindrops Colonel Lee thinks the rain will continue as long as the war he believes it due to burning sulfur and saltpeter May 1st May Day the weather celebrated by a big general rain as usual but I forgot weather when I received my first letter from home such a letter as only mrs. Hamilton could write read it to all the boys for everything is common among the soldiers enemy at Princeton now reported 2,500 martial law now proclaimed over this department good news from the North contemplated withdrawal of border state men from Congress also reported intervention by France too-good-to-be-true troops and fine spirits at the prospect of a battle general Williams now at the Salt Works ordered to move at daylight tomorrow with his command awaiting intelligence from general Heth with whom we cooperate some 3,500 cavalry infantry and artillery in camp here Virginia regiments reorganized here are now in 20 or 30 miles of the enemy battle approaching camp full of bustle and excitement preparing to move a soldier trying to escape from the guard last night killed himself by running against a post the immediate prospect of battle renders many very weak and sickly I see some of the largest and stoutest men looking as white as death and quivering like an aspirin too many this is the first battle May 16th our day of battle command started early this morning for Princeton Virginia where we expect to meet our enemy 17 miles to Princeton marched all day through a wilderness almost mounted pickets on the other road were fired into but suffered no loss except enhance the general ordered the battalion of riflemen to advance at double-quick which the boys did with a shout we marched but a short distance now before fighting commenced here and now for the first time I heard the death song of the minie ball which whizzed all around sometimes uncomfortably close we drove the enemy slowly back toward the town they fought valiantly but could not withstand the deadly shooting and loud huzzas of our ragamuffins who used the large belgian rifles that sounded almost like small artillery by the side of the road laid the gigantic corpse of a zihua V all stark and death the avenging ball had struck him just below the corner of the mouth and passed entirely through his head killing him instant his face was nearly black when I saw it and I hope I may never see such another sight a little farther down lay another of our enemies wounded here we came to a large hill which was cleared except for a few dead trees and logs over this field lay the dead and wounded Federals being almost exposed to the fire of our men when the enemy was driven from the last position they fell back toward town the fighting commenced about 4:30 p.m. and lasted until dark our forces occupied the town about 11:00 p.m. found the charred and blackened remains of what had once apparently been a pretty little village the troops left Princeton just at daybreak amid the tears and importuning the women did not fight here anymore our forces had not been long and positioned west of the town and the skirmishers of the enemy dove into sight taking position with their artillery at the Old Courthouse the town was soon alive with the enemy and the force of three to five hundred moved out as if to attack us and remained in the open field in full view for a half an hour the ball opened about nine o'clock a.m. by a cannonball over the mountain to our right behind our cavalry force soon after the enemy's battery situated near the courthouse and another in a Pine Grove on the left of town opened fire on our battery the noise of the cannon was terrific but like the roar of a lion or terrible than dangerous I could easily see and hear the cannons shot as they came whirring over us sometimes a hundred feet above us most of the shell exploded before reaching us many failed to go off at all 35 struck the hill we occupied about 10 o'clock a.m. the musketry fire commenced on our right and to the rear it soon grew fast and furious mingled with the shouts of the combatants the fight lasted only about 30 minutes and it ended when about a thousand German Federals retreated at double-quick leaving a hundred and fifty or sixty of their dead and wounded on the field night closed in on the two armies inside of each other our men nor horses have had not anything to eat since Friday morning now nearly starved our troops slept on their arms expecting to renew the conflict in the morning when morning came no enemy occupied Tristan they had fled taking with them all they could but leaving us a legacy of seventy of their wounded in the hospital sixteen news 5 forces - 12 tents 35 coils of telegraph wire and one wagon load of wine [Music] after gathering up the spoils we took up the line of march back to our own district our whole force number 2970 the least estimate of our enemy's force was 6,000 we hear that the militia of Kentucky are called out now let us see if Lincoln can call out men who have disregarded the call of patriotism interest in humanity today received the reliable intelligence and great victory at Richmond on Saturday and Sunday last captured 550 prisoners and 14 pieces of artillery lost 1,000 generals Pettigrew and Hatton killed Johnston wounded Jeff Davis on the fear [Music] the great battle of the war going on at Richmond news up to Saturday 6,000 prisoners and eighty to a hundred Canyon captured McClellan's right wing driven round Stonewall in his rear July 4th 1862 Independence Day the friendly happy beauteous features of this honored day are hardly recognizable now so marred are they by tears and blood the great battle still in progress at Richmond McClellan trying to make his escape to his gunboats on the James River hope he may not succeed Lincoln calls out 300,000 more men McClellan reinforced lying at Westover under care of gunboats general Boyle in Kentucky having a prison built at Louisville for secession women of Kentucky let the Beast Butler look to his laurels mediation from abroad rumoured the sword and musket are the only mediators mail came in this morning general Buckner exchanged in general exchange of prisoners battle impending and Gordonsville between Pope and Jackson miss Belle Boyd Jackson celebrated spy arrested and sent to Washington Pope and his officers and atomized by President Davis won't be considered prisoners of war and they'll be hung Petersburg threatened by McClellan no volunteering in the north will certainly draft Lincoln Heights worse than ever arresting old and Jaxon's force is six or seven thousand he ordered prayer and fasting yesterday something's up general expecting orders from the War Department great expectations and suspense dragon smith moving upon Buell and morgan stirring events expected soon [Music] lincoln old ape has mortally offended the [ __ ] worshipers of the north by denying the Equality of the white and black races he has disbanded hunters Negro brigades news of another great battle on the plains of Manassas between the federal forces 60,000 strong and our forces 40,000 strong under generals Lee Longstreet and the gray eyed man of Destiny Thomas J Jackson after three days of fighting the vandal army was completely overthrown this is the first report hope it may all be so hoorah for hoorah twice glorious Manassas rich with the blood of heroes and conquerors sacred and sanctified in the memories of millions of free men throughout the earth long before day this morning the general aroused us to prepare to start with pleasure I hail the prospect of starting soon to God's country on to Kentucky now at last we are about to undertake our pilgrimage to the promised land through a long and arduous journey through the wilderness general Smith writes all Federals evacuated Kentucky general Marshall urged to come captain Jenkins and I tolerably light-hearted like as if a mountain were lifted from it and we could rise and soar away to old Kentucky March 13 miles today we halted for the night near the residence of one mr. king who has two daughters very pretty if they didn't chew tobacco such a nauseating and indecent practice is very popular in this country all smoke big and little and many chew I saw a little girl ten years old smoking I read to these otherwise pretty girls a lecture on tobacco chewing troops concentrating at Mount Sterling with intention of intercepting Morgan's retreat from Cumberland Gap rumored capture of Washington City also Universal emancipation by Lincoln life is a battle another Journal of war another record of bitterness and bloodshed another diary of battles won and lost and a thousand slain and tens of thousands wounded another remembrance of death and darkness and crime another remembrance of disaster and desolation another picture of blasted hopes and ruined fortunes of burning houses and sacked cities a picture of woe another wail of lamentation from widowed hearts from orphaned children and childless parents our country in the evening the general went up to Bryant's Ville to see general Bragg I accompanied him saw generals polk anderson preston Cheatham and Buckner also Governor Hawes and William Duke everybody serious enough and expressed a general disgust for Kentucky general Preston defined the position of Kentucky as one of general sympathy and resistance god help our native state we came and offered her help she refused and we go away now surrounded by a hundred thousand enemies and only 33 thousand of us in God is our trust enemy and Danville and Harrodsburg most of our forces concentrated around camp reckon ridge Bragg is a great general I guess but if only old Stonewall was here still God is here stone walls God October 12th a dark day a long remembered day they have blasted hope and ruined fortunes our army unaided and unassisted by the people of the state they came to deliver weakened by weary marches sickness and battle to 33,000 stands now like a lion at bay surrounded by a hundred thousand hungry minions of a ruthless despot the conflict is unequaled the victory unworthy the sacrifice of a battle the purpose is evacuation by Cumberland Gap we came to meet Kentuckians with arms and doors open and welcomed we met clenched teeth and closed door but those we love shall never breathe the same air nor drink of the same strains that gives vitality to such Kentuckians they will bid farewell to the skies and fields and rivers that were once beautiful in the sunlight of Liberty and glorious in the consciousness of an untarnished Fame to a sunnier and freer and happier clime we will remove them and live or die free if nothing more return to loyal rebel country and on to hazel green surprised very much at the no place appearance of hazel green not more than half a dozen houses in the town returned to holder bees battalion now camped here one and a half miles from hazel green here ed Sanders brought me my suit of jeans clothes presented by generous mrs. Ellen Hamilton god bless her forever enclosed was a sensible hopeful and patriotic note the women of Kentucky are the only remaining didim in the once illustrious crown of old Kentucky may heaven preserve it with care they deserve anything and everything hoorah for the women the rebel women of my native state [Music] I just got to the summit of the Cumberland Mountains where I have now writing this brief memoir on the Kentucky side of the line perhaps the last words I shall for a long time if not forever pen in the limits of my airing through loved Kentucky camp tonight at the foot of the mountain major Conner here just returned from his long imprisonment a splendid officer and gallant soldier general jev Stewart recently made another grand round into Pennsylvania no news from McClellan early both armies lying along the Potomac Bragg and Richmond Breckinridge going towards Nashville Beauregard and command of department of South Carolina Georgia and Florida great naval expedition fitting up in the north destination unknown decreasing prospect of foreign intervention Stonewall Jackson lately tore up 30 miles of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Lincoln ought to issue a proclamation to have him stopped Lincoln's proclamation or message to Congress published in Richmond papers recommends gradual emancipation until one government rather than suddenly talk sacredly about waging a war through generations papers announce biting still in progress at Fredericksburg God defend the right Emperor Napoleon speaks of intervening in this cruel and unnatural and unnecessary war whether England or Russia will or will not [Music] telegram from Knoxville this evening announces a severe battle in progress near Murfreesboro Tennessee commenced yesterday enemy drove us 10 miles when reinforcements on our side turned the tide of battle and we are now driving them toward Nashville our loss 3,000 enemies 5000 we have taken 1200 prisoners battles now raging at Fredericksburg and Murfreesboro all feel confident and Lee's success we are expecting orders east or west soon fierce battle and glorious victory at Fredericksburg on Saturday last hour lost three thousand enemies 3,000 killed a terrible carnage among the abolitionists all of their assaults repulsed and their army driven back under cover of their guns Sunday asked to bury their dead no fighting yesterday fighting on Saturday at Fredericksburg Murfreesboro North Carolina and many places around the coast simultaneous advance and repulse of the enemy December 25th 1862 a day worthy of its sacred and immortal memories calm clear sunny smiling a tumbled a an echo of the better land purchased by the blood of the Lamb happy Christmas January 1st all hail New Year's may thy destiny be bright as thy birthday write thy name as peacemaker as now a gift in store for us new year papers contain nothing new of importance no fighting ergo no news nothing important after this war newspapers will not be in his great demand the thirst for blood seems almost insatiable President Davis issued an elegant and able message and says this is the third and last stage of the war first or for the Union second war for the territory conquest third war for revenge extermination thinks this the last year of the war hope he may prophesize as well as he writes and fights the general thinks that the question of the continuance of the war for any length of time will be decided between now in the middle of February if louie napoleon intends interfering in our affairs he must do it by that time or the cotton planting season of the year will be passed and not improved to the infinite distress of the world and detriment to its great powers if nothing be done from abroad to check the infernal hate of northern fanatics the general thinks that the future character of the war will be of the darkest hue [Music] fighting under the black flag by May 1st Thaddeus Stevens proposes in Yankee Congress to raise a hundred and fifty regiments of Negroes to fight against us [Music] February 12 1863 the anniversary of my enlistment in the service of my country today one year ago general Marshall swore me in as a soldier of the Confederate Army for 12 months such a year [Music] Thaddeus Stevens negro bill passed the congress of the u.s. eyes 88 nays 54 US government will raise a hundred and fifty thousand Negroes to wreak their diabolical revenge on southern homes what says Kentucky with her proud ancestral history her once highborn chivalry her sympathy with struggling sisters against extermination by a cruel phone with her industrial wealth a hundred thousand slaves her honor her interest her destiny what says Kentucky Lynchburg papers from the 12th legislature of Kentucky passed a bill calling out 20,000 militia to resist Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation God if only true March 4th 1863 today Lincoln has been in office two years Oh what years what ruin is wrought centuries will not repair it only half his time expired and the other half he may make earth the pendemonium I have sit for my picture perhaps the artist is partial it flatters and such a picture appears a Confederate captain and the adjutant general of the 1st Brigade army of East Tennessee formerly Army of Eastern Kentucky on to Richmond after crossing the Blue Ridge at a low Gap we came into the poor red fields of the real Old Dominion the dwellings are large and understand tatius but we're an aspect of grandeur crowds of Negroes swarmed over the carefully tilled fields and prepared the thin soil for future harvests they were all polite and well-dressed and apparently happy the following dispatch was received this morning at the War Department to President Davis yesterday General Jackson penetrated to the rear of the enemy and drove him from all his positions from the wilderness to within one mile of Chancellorsville he was engaged at the same time in front by two of Longstreet's division many prisoners were taken and the enemies lost and killed and wounded his large this morning the battle was renewed he was dislodged from all his positions around Chancellorsville and driven back towards the Rappahannock over which he is now retreating we have again to thank Almighty God for a great victory I regret to state the general Paxton was killed General Jackson severely and Generals Heth and ap Hill slightly wounded signed robert e lee milford may 3rd 1863 glorious news all save the wounding of stonewall jackson and our losses we cannot afford to lose the man of destiny hero of the war he has the hearts of the people more than any other man and his presence is worth more than a host of men great anxiety was manifested as to the severity and character of his wound which was somewhat quieted by subsequent intelligence to the effect that he had been shot in the left arm an amputation had been resorted to no further reliable intelligence was received from the battlefield today May 15th 1863 General Jackson is dead as a nation's will ever condensed in so few words or people's calamities so far beyond language to express so mighty a warrior so daunted a spirit so pure a patriot and so devoted a Christian a nation's homage lay at his feet its honors crown his bride papers announced the occupation of Jackson Mississippi by Grant in great force and his hurried evacuation after destroying much public and private property General Johnston gone to Mississippi with reinforcements a battle is imminent [Music]
