Bridgeport, Ala.,
Jan. 2nd, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
We are under marching orders. It is reported that we are to go back on the line of the railroad toward Nashville, Tenn. I do not like to leave these good quarters while it is so cold and the winter only half gone. It takes quite a while to build good quarters even if we can get good material, which sometimes it is hard to get. But we must make the best of it.
I had an opportunity to make a fortune when I was at first detailed in the Commissary Department, but my principles would not let me engage in the business. The man who wanted me to go into business with him would do all of the work and give me half of the profits. He had been in the business on a small scale and knew what he could do if he could branch out. It was this: He wanted me to buy whiskey for him by the barrel as I could get all I wanted for one dollar a gallon. He would furnish bottles, reduce the whiskey, bottle it and sell it at two dollars a bottle. He estimated my share of the profit would not be less than four hundred and ten ($410.00) a day. He could sell all that he could get at that price.
Thousands of men were passing through the station daily and would buy it. I know a fireman on the railroad who has smuggled large quantities through from Nashville in the water-tank of his engine and sold it at two dollars a bottle by the case. I thought a good name and a clear conscience better than a fortune and refused to have anything to do with the business.
With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Bridgeport, Ala.,
January 5, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
We leave this station tomorrow and have orders to report at Tallahoma, Tenn. In my opinion we are to be stationed on the road to guard it. I will know more about it when we get there and will write you.
You write in yours of the 26th of last month that brother Will has reported at Albany. I think he may get his discharge there. In my opinion he will never be fit for the service again.
We will leave here with a small regiment as there are so many on detached service, building boats and guarding supplies to Chattanooga, Tenn. I am picking up preparing to move, so my time is limited.
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank
Camp of the 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River Bridge,
January 11, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I have not written to you for almost a week. The reason for this is as I wrote you, we had an order to move and moved the 6th inst. I have not received any letter from you since we left Bridgeport, but had one from brother Will and sister K. and one from Captain Culver.
We are now encamped at the Elk River, which is on the same road and forty-five miles from Bridgeport toward Nashville. Elk River is a small stream about as large as the Battenkill. Our camp is on a rise of ground on the south side of the river. There is a good spring of water close by and wood not far away. I have good quarters. My duty is light yet. We are to guard the road and bridge from cavalry and guerilla raids and to do picket duty. Guerillas are in abundance here.
I cannot write you a long letter this time as I am not settled yet and my house is not in order. I keep very well and I think I will enjoy myself here. I hope to hear from you soon.
Remember me to friends. With love to you and Ella I am ever,
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Elk River, Tenn.,
Jan. 12, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I wrote you yesterday but have a little time today and will start on another letter and finish it when I can. Elk River was a small settlement before the war and a cotton factory of some sort was near the bridge, but it has been destroyed by fire. The foundation of the factory still remains, also the foundations of several dwellings which have been burned. The iron gearing is in the ruins.
I am nearly settled in my new quarters and am well pleased with them and the situation that we are in. I expect to be busy now. We have an addition of twenty-nine men to our company, a transfer from the 145th Regt., N. Y. S. V. which has been disbanded on account of incompetency of the officers. They have been discharged from the service and gone home. They are from New York City and Brooklyn. I have in the Company present at roll-call seventy-four (74) non-commissioned officers and privates to look after which is no small task. I have more present than ever in the Company since leaving Salem. I wish Captain Culver would return and take command, it would be so much responsibility off my shoulders. Lieutenant Robert B. Beattie expects to go home on recruiting service and then I will be the only officer left in the Company.
You speak in your letter of the Alabama and Tennessee ladies. Ha, ha, I wish you could see the Alabama and Tennessee girls! (We do not call them ladies, there is such a contrast between them and our Northern women.) They all chew
snuff and tobacco and smoke the pipe and cigars when they can get them. Chewing snuff is the filthiest of all habits and many refined women form the habit here. It is disgusting to me to see fine looking young women with snuff sticks in their mouths and the snuff or tobacco juice running from each corner. Had I not been reared in a country where women are all ladies I should almost hate them.
You write that the time passes slowly to you. You should go from home more or do something for a change of thought. With us, we do not have time to think only of the present, which makes the time pass very rapidly. There are so many changes. I think these changes are a good thing for us. it keeps the mind from getting dormant. No matter how comfortably we are situated, when we get orders to move the men go to their work with a cheer, pack up,, take their bed, board and house on their back and are away to some other place. When it is known we are to stop for a time, soon the sound of many axes is heard, good quarters are soon up, and all are comfortable again.
Since writing the above I have been out into the country about one and one-half miles to see some mineral springs. one of them is strongly impregnated with sulphur and the other with copperas (sulphate of iron). The water of the sulphur spring looks black and is within two feet of a soft water spring. The copperas spring water is of red color and is within ten feet of a soft water spring, and people from all around this vicinity send to get water for the sick. The place is called Estell Springs.
Company E, Hebron Co., Captain Geo R. Hall, is stationed there. When it went there it broke up our mess. Now I board with Company A officers and pay four dollars a week. This price is the lowest I could get.
I have just received word that Wm. J. Orcutt, a member of our Company, died at the Regimental Hospital at one o'clock this afternoon. He had congestion of the lungs. his home was at Shushon, N. Y. The Company has not lost a man by death from disease in ten months which speaks well for the health of the Company. They know no how to take good care of themselves.
I think we are now located in a healthful place but cannot tell how long we will remain here. I hope until the winter is over. We are having some warm, pleasant days now. The ground has been frozen about two weeks but has thawed now and is quite muddy.
I must close this long letter or I will not have anything to write about next time.
With love to all,
R. Cruikshank.
Elk River Bridge,
January 15, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I take this opportunity to write you as I can send it with other things by Lieutenant Robt. B. Beattie, who starts for home tomorrow. I wish I could send you something of value that you would enjoy but cannot get anything here so will send a letter. I know what interested me will interest you so will give you a description of my quarters.
In civil life houses are built or secured before anyone moves, but here it is the reverse. We move and then build the house and furnish it. I am comfortably situated once more. The roof and sides of my quarters are of canvas. The sides are four feet to the eaves and the roof is eight feet to the ridge; eleven feet wide and sixteen feet long on the ground. You now have the size of my house. It has a good oak floor. This one is all canvas and we call it a tent. There is a front door in the centre of the front.
My stove, a sheet iron one, is on the right-hand side on entering. My bed is opposite and across in the corner. It is made by crotches driven into the ground for posts, with sticks laid across and then small poles laid lengthwise and a mattress on the poles. I have an army blanket to spread on the mattress and two to spread over my , which keeps me as warm and as snug as a bug in a rug. Opposite the bed is a rustic table and writing desk combined. Over the table is ashelf for books and papers. At the foot of the bed is the washstand and towel rack. Over the head of the bed hang my implements of war. I have two rustic chairs. Do you not think I am a good housekeeper?
Samuel Mahoney and Peter McNassor cut my wood and bring it in for me. Peter blacks my boots, sweeps the floor, brushes my clothes, makes my bed, brings the water, etc. He is the youngest in the Company and small for his age and I do not put him on hard duty but let him work around my quarters. He is a good, honest boy. Sam is the same good-natured man that he was at home. I do not think either of them would shirk duty for their life.
I have noble men with me. I have seen them tried. All of the men have great respect for me. I have been kind to them and I get on with my Company better than those officers who have been severe in discipline. They obey me better and cheerfully.
I have learned that a few years ago there was quite a village by the name of Alisonia here where we are in Camp. Not a house remains.
One of the pickets of the regiment was shot and killed by a guerrilla on the night of the 12th. It was near Winchester Spring. Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers was out on a reconnaissance and I understand that in that vicinity there is not much property that would burn left. He had with him a detail from each company.
There are quite a number to start North tomorrow on recruiting service. They are as follows: Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers, Captains H. O. Wiley, Daniel Robertson, Alex Anderson; Lieutenants R. B. Beattie, David Rogers; Sergeants John Richards, D. M. White, Clark Darrow, Charles Vaughn, Wm J. McMillan, Chas. E. Warner and H. C. Morhouse. They expect to be gone until Spring opens.
Lieutenant Beattie will hand you this and tell you all about how well we are located.
Ever with love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp of the 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Jan. 19, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
It is a blue morning for me. It is raining hard and the wind is blowing strong and the air is chilly. My work today will be indoors so I will be comfortable. There is not a particle of rain or a gust of wind that can penetrate my tent, it is made so close. Peter has a good fire in the stove and has put the room in order. If it were possible I should like to have you look in and see how orderly we are and how my time is occupied. Some of the men are calling on me the most of the time when I am not engaged. We talk over the prospect of the War closing (of which we know nothing), of who will be our next President and have decided on Mr. Lincoln. But the principal topic of conversation is home, of what we have there, what we have done there and what we will do there when this cruel war is over.
I have received yours of the 9th inst. You say that Mr. Culver wishes to know if I am in command of the Company. Tell him that I am, and have been since I left the Commissary Department at Bridgeport, December 20, 1863. I expect to draw pay as 1st Lieutenant since the 20th of November, 1863, the date of my muster. I also was in command of the Company before I was detailed in the Commissary Department, a short time. I am paid ten dollars a month extra for the responsibility as commanding officer. This Captain Culver is losing by being absent, nor can he draw pay as Captain until he is mustered as Captain and must be dated back to the date of my muster. At present I am drawing ten dollars more pay than he is (a month). This will explain the whole matter but keep it to yourself and let people talk as they wish to, but do not believe all you hear. I would much rather haveCaptain Culver return and assume command as I have everything
to attend to. I do all the business of the Company. I keep no clerk. Colonel McDougall has requested that those who left last July be returned to the Regiment for duty.
You also say you are having a week of prayer in the churches. I am pleased to hear it. We should all thank God for His goodness to us, that He has prospered our whole North, that our armies have been successful, and pray Him that when He has accomplished all that He has designed that He will bring this War to a close. This is the prayer of,
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp of the 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.
Jan. 24, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
It is Sabbath evening. We have had a lovely day, almost as warm as a May day at home. There is no frost in the ground and the sun shines so warm I have had no fire in the stove today and have had my coat off the most of the time. In the early morning I hear the robins singing in the woods not far away.
I enjoy this climate and if the society was the same as at home I should enjoy living here. There are too many ifs in the way to think of it now, or of your moving down here right away. I may find a better place before I get home. When I do I shall write you all about it. I shall want a place where there is a church and a school. We seldom see either here. I believe the majority of the people never saw a schoolhouse or church.
As I have no news to write I will close.
With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp of the 123rd Regt ., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Jan. 28, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I shall take a few moments to pen you a few lines although I can hardly spare the time. as it is about time to receive mail I hope I will receive a letter from you before I close. If I do not get one today I do not know when I shall receive it, as five companies of the Regiment are ordered on a foraging expedition, to be gone fifteen days and I am to go and take Company H. It will be a long time not to hear from home. I write you this that you may not worry about not hearing from me. If I have an opportunity to send a letter I shall do so. I do not know where we are going or whether we are to have communications with the other companies or cut loose from them and live on the country. We shall have to go some distance from the railroad to do so.
My health is good. The weather is fine, warm and pleasant. I have no fire in my tent now. I have not received the wished-for letter and must close with love to you and Ella and the friends.
R. Cruikshank.
Boons Hill, Lincoln Co., Tenn.,
February 2, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
It is now five days since we left Elk River. As I wrote you we had an order, we left that place on the morning of the 29th of January at 7 o'clock, marched as far as Chestnut Ridge, a distance of fifteen miles, and encamped for the night at 3 o'clock p. m. The day was warm and pleasant.
The next morning, the 30th, we marched at 6 o'clock. It rained all forenoon but being well provided with rubber blankets and ponchos we did not get wet. We marched as far as within four miles of Fayetteville and camped at 5:30 o'clock P. M. marching about twenty miles.
The morning we marched at 6:30 o'clock, passing through Fayetteville and went into camp at Boons Hill at 6 o'clock P. M., marching about twelve miles. During the day one man, a Dr. Smith, was arrested on suspicion of harboring guerillas. Nothing was proven against him so he was released. Some guerillas were seen at a distance and some mounted men with us gave chase but captured none.
The officers and my Company are quartered in a large brick building which had been used for school purposes. We are having a fine time living mostly on the country.
February 1st a wealthy and influential man, a Dr. Wood residing at this place, was arrested today for taking part in guerilla warfare. He has been sent to Nashville where he will be tried for the same. There is a large band of them here and our business is to break them up.
Feb. 2nd. I have not had a chance to send this out so will keep on writing until I do so. I do not know when that will be but it will be in readiness at short notice.
Feb. 3rd. we have had good success today, have taken several prisoners and found considerable evidence against guerrillas. One man by the name of McAfee has escaped. his personal property has been confiscated and teams are bringing it to Camp. We have not been attacked by the enemy yet.
Feb. 4th. Nothing was accomplished today in our work.
Feb. 5th. I was called up this morning at one o'clock and sent out with my own Company and a detail from other companies to search some houses. We went out three miles and searched three of them. At the first house there were three women and two bunks of children, but no men. At the second there were four women and three bunks of children, but no men. At the third there were three women, two boys and no men. We got back to Camp at daylight, traveling seven miles. We secured no guerrillas, but one by the name of Lemon was captured this afternoon. he is a very large, strong man, almost a head taller than the largest men in our Company.
Feb. 6th. Nothing of note transpired today.
Feb. 7th. A patrol went out at one o'clock this morning. They came onto two of the enemy who would not surrender and were fired upon, but they made their escape. They were only a short distance from our picket line when first seen. The whole Camp were called up and we stood by our arms until daylight. A man by the name of James Clark came in this morning. He said he could not go into the army as he had nineteen children and wife to support. He had lost two. The youngest was five months old and he did not know where the end was.
Feb. 8th. Two boys were seen today by the patrol skulking in a piece of woods. They arrested them and brought them in. Their names were West and they were about 20 and 22 years of age. They were brothers. Colonel McDougall obtained more information from them than he had got before. The younger one was frightened and told him all. The band, when they had robbed a man, would tie the victim to a tree and make these boys shoot him, the younger doing most of the shooting. He implicated a planter residing not half a mile from our camp. The Colonel sent Lieutenant Rice to arrest him and bring him in. He then gave Lieutenant Rice an order for his wife to give him a certain sum of money that he had in his house, both Confederate and greenbacks. This money was taken from a man who had been robbed and murdered only a few weeks before. He had gone into the place to buy mules. The Colonel wanted this money as evidence against him. The amount both in Confederate and greenbacks corresponded with what the West boy said he had for his portion of the spoil. This man is kept under close guard. Lemon's hands are kept tied behind him at night, with two guards watching him all of the time. We have our Camp strongly fortified.
Feb 9th. I was Officer of the Guard today and had to punish a Company E man by tying him up by the thumbs. He was a returned deserter and I did not dare to put him on an important picket post and he refused to go to another as this was his post when counted when the guard was formed. He stood it about two hours but had to obey in the end. : Feb. 10th. Very quiet all day. : Feb. 11th. A men from beyond Elk Creek, a stream about four miles from Camp, reported that a squad of guerrillas were to ford the stream and take the right hand road running parallel with the creek. The one they were to come on ran at right angles to the other and led to this place. I was ordered by Colonel McDougall to take forty of my best men and go out to the creek, starting about six o'clock P. M., then to post my men and lay in ambush and after they had come across the stream to capture them if I could and bring them in. I went out and found the roads and creek as mapped out, except that the road running parallel with the creek was several rods from it, which was an advantage to my plan to capture the guerrillas. I posted one fourth of my men close by the creek with orders to keep out of sight under the fence (all the roads being well fenced) until the enemy had passed, then to rise up and form across the road and not to fire unless they turned on them and if they did, to hold them. The enemy would be mounted. As soon as they had formed across the road they were to call to the enemy to halt. I then placed the rest of the men in the other forks of the roads with instructions to keep hid under the fences and as soon as they heard the men by the creek call, "Halt," they were to form across the roads, heading off their advance. Then I posted a vidette out further on each road so the enemy could not come onto us and surprise us. I now had all my men all posted, ten men in each fork of the road, there being four forks. About one o'clock in the night the vidette on the road leading to the Camp reported to me that he could hear cavalry passing between us and Camp. We remained at our posts until four o'clock, then started for Camp.
On the road to Camp about a half a mile from where we were during the night there was a house and a bridle path crossed the road near the house. I inquired of the people if there had been any cavalry who had passed there during the night. They said that upward of seventy had crossed the creek above where we were and had passed on the bridle path through the woods. I said nothing but did I not rejoice that they did not come our way! Think of attacking seventy of those desperadoes where they would have had a dozen shots to our one! Had they come our way there would not have been many of us left to tell the tale.
We got back to Camp at daylight the morning of Feb. 12th. During the day teams from Fayetteville came in for forage, bringing our mail. There were seven letters for me, four from you, two from brother Will, and one from Aunt. They will keep me in good spirits for a long time. Ella's photograph is good.
We have good board here, fresh pork and beef, mutton, chicken, turkey and sometimes goose.
I must close so as to send this letter to Fayetteville by the teams that return today.
Ever your affectionate husband, R. Cruikshank.
I will now go on and narrate what transpired during the days we remained at Boons Hill and our return to Camp.
Feb. 13th. Nine prisoners were sent under guard with the teams to Fayetteville. They will be forwarded from there to Nashville where they will have their trial.
Feb. 14th. Two guerillas came in and gave themselves up.
Feb. 15th. The Colonel requested me to inform Mrs. Wood, the doctor's wife, that she was to go to Nashville as a prisoner. The charge against her is aiding and harboring guerillas and assisting in capturing Union soldiers. She denied the charge and said she did not know what she should do with her two little girls. She wanted me to see the Colonel and tell him how she was situated. she has felt badly all day and has sent for me several times to carry her messages to the Colonel, pleading with him not to send her away from her children. I prevailed upon the Colonel to go and see her. He told me he would let her off. She is very grateful for what I did in getting her release and sent a colored servant to me this evening with wine and cake for my supper.
Feb. 16th. Lieutenant Robertson and I went out about five miles with a detail of men and teams to move in two families of Union people who want to go North. They are Covenanters by the name of Gillum and Wiatt. Mr. Wiatt told Lieutenant Robertson and me to go to his uncle's not far away and remain there while the teams were being loaded. We did and were entertained like Generals. These people are of Union sentiment but will not take part in the War. They keep no slaves, being very much opposed to slavery.
When we rode up to the yard a young man came and opened the gate, asking us to ride into the yard and alight, he taking our horses and feeding them corn. We were at once conducted to the house where we met Mr. & Mrs. Wiatt, their married daughter and her husband, a younger son and daughter, and they all grasped us by the hand like old friends. Handshaking is the way that the Southern people show their friendship. They said we were the first Union soldiers they had seen and that they were honored by our call.
In about an hour we were called to dinner, and such a dinner I never saw in the South before. I will tell you what we had to show you how well we were entertained. we had beefsteak, chicken pie, ham and eggs, warm corn bread, warm biscuit, honey, maple syrup and custard pie. Was this not like a Northern dinner? To get maple here beat me.
In about two hours the teams came, we gave them a handshaking all around, mounted our horses, lifted our hats, bade them good-bye and rode back to Camp.
Feb. 17th. We are preparing to move back to Elk River.
Feb. 18th. We marched at nine o'clock A. M., marching as far as Fayetteville and took quarters in a large store building for the night.
Feb. 19th. We marched at nine o'clock A. M., arriving at our old Camp at Elk River by three o'clock P. M. It was like getting home.
Feb. 21st. We have preaching today, the first for several months.
Ever with love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Feb. 22,1864.
Dear Mary,
I shall be very busy for some days but must take time to write you. Being gone from Camp so long my work on reports, etc., has fallen behind and I shall have to make it up.
We had hard work while at Boons Hill but had good luck, as it is termed. We captured fourteen guerrillas, seized nineteen horses, forty mules and a quantity of provision and did not lose a man.
The Paymaster is here but has no money. He is expecting to have it sent to him but does not know. If I should get pay now it will be for only two months and I shall not send any home as some of my men have made application for a leave of absence and want to borrow some if they are granted. I feel I ought to accommodate them. I sent in an application for Henry J. Cleveland to go home for thirty days. If it is approved he will start for home in about two weeks.
I presume you may hear from letters sent home by the men that I have had some difficulty with the Colonel. I will write you all about it so you will know the truth. I wrote you in a former letter about going out to search some houses when at Boons Hill. Soon after we came in it was reported that there were some things stolen out of one of the houses and the Colonel ordered me to search the men. I found one of the men had five case knives and three forks and some of the men had dried apples, but a lady's pin that was said to have been taken could not be found. I had with me Frank McFarland acting as sergeant, three corporals and a detachment, besides my own men. The Colonel wanted to know who I had with me as non-commissioned officers and I told him, naming Frank, when he began to abuse him. I told the Colonel that I had ordered Frank to assist me in searching the houses. He then turned his abuse on me, as if I could search the houses and see and watch the house and were guarding it to keep anyone from escaping. He said I was not fit to be an officer, to let the men steal. I told him I would take him at his word when I would get the opportunity. All the officers blame him very much. He ordered me to put Frank and four of my men under arrest and to turn over their guns and accoutrements to the quartermaster.
You may hear that I am going to resign my commission. Do not believe it unless you see me at home. The men think I am and are begging me not to think of such a thing. They all do everything in their power to please me and I am kind to them.
The mail has just arrived and your letter of the 16th inst. is received. I did not think you would hear of my difficulty so soon. He did not place me under arrest as you heard. I have been in command of the Company all of the time. He has told one of the officers that he abused me, and was sorry for it, that I was one of his best officers. It will come out all right in a few days. He will come to me when he knows what Frank McFarland is doing. You will hear all from,
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Feb. 26, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
It is a relief to be in Camp again, and not to be on the lookout all of the time for some one who we may expect is ready to put a bullet through any of us. That was the way we felt while at Boons Hill. We left one young man by the name of McClain there who, I am afraid, will lose his life. He is the brother of the man who went there to buy mules and was robbed and murdered. He had $1,400.00 in all, that the guerrillas got. The brother is well armed and says he will shoot them like dogs when he meets any of them. Another man was taken from his home at night, murdered, and his body thrown into the river. It was recovered afterward and identified by his family. This man's name was Wakefield.
I am in hopes I will not have so much work to do now. I have a clerk to help me with the writing. His name is John F. Cole. He was an editor of three New York papers, "Every Saturday," "The Household Journal," and an architectural paper. He is a fine penman and a smart man.
It is reported there is fighting now at the front beyond Chattanooga. It is reported so in the papers.
Is the Potomac Army moving yet? I have seen no papers for some days and do not know what is going on. I expect we will leave here when the Spring opens.
The more I see of what caused this war the more I feel it my duty to be here. Write often.
Ever with love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Mar. 5, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I have neglected writing for several days as I have been on the sick list. I have had a severe cold that settled in my throat and I came near having the quinsy. I had it lanced and sponged and used a gargle and it is better now and I hope I shall have no more trouble from it.
The Colonel is over his passion toward me and is more pleasant than is natural for him. He often lets his temper run away with his judgment. I will not resign if I can in any way get on with him. He has no cause to find fault with me. There is not a better disciplined Company in this Regiment than Company H. He has had trouble with three other officers in the Regiment and they are the best, Capt. Geo. R. Hall, Captain H. C. Warren and Lieutenant Geo. Robertson.
He talked to them about it as he did to me and they say he must apologize or they will resign. He will be all over it with them in a few days.
Hoping that all will end well, I ever remain,
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
Mar. 13, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
This is Sabbath evening and all are quiet in Camp. I have had the day all to myself and have enjoyed the quiet. We do not have the quiet you do, as we have our regular work to attend to. I can get along with the regular work but when extra work is put onto us because we have a short time for rest, I do not like it.
Every Sabbath morning the men must dress in their best, black their shoes and with gun and accoutrements as clean and bright as they can be made, fall in line at nine o'clock for inspection. After this is over the sanitary condition of the Camp is looked after.
If the Company street has not been properly swept and cleaned, it must be done over again. Every tent is inspected to see if there is anything that would cause disease or injure the health of the inmates. The above is regular work and I think it is right to look after the health of the men. Some of them would keep everything clean and in order and others would not.
But if they know they must do it themselves before inspection or do it afterward under the direction ofan officer or perhaps be sent to the guard house for punishment, or if in the habit or neglecting their work they are marched where all in Camp can see them, with a large stick of wood on their shoulders like a gun, it will not be neglected the second time. One man kept himself so filthy I made a detail take him to the creek and wash him and put clean clothes on him.
When he returned the men pretended they did not know him and when introduced by the men who had washed him, they all shook hands with him, congratulating him on his good appearance. He has not had to be washed the second time. There is no shirking here.
I am in very good health and my throat is well again.
With love to you and Ella,
R. Cruikshank.
123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
March 16, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I am very busy every day now. I think we are preparing to move. The Eleventh and Twelfth Corps have been united and are now called the Twentieth. We drill one and one-half hours in the forenoon and the same in the afternoon. This with my other duties, keep me busy every day.
We are having a rainy spell and the mud is deep. I presume we will not move until the roads are better. We are under General Hooker yet and he is at the front and it is my opinion we will go there as soon as the weather will permit. I will write when any orders come. With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
March 20, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I have just returned from hearing a sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Small, formerly of Jackson, N.Y. He was on his way home from Chattanooga where he has been on a visit for some weeks and having some relative in this Regiment he came here today and preached to us. We often have preaching now furnished by the Christian Commission.
I am kept busy week days but the labor is not hard. I have not been on picket since I returned from Boons Hill. I go on duty as Officer of the Day once in about eight days. All the night work I have to do is to visit the guard once after twelve o'clock, midnight. We have been in this department almost six months. It does not seem so long. Our time is over half in, as the men say we are on the home stretch on our time of enlistment. Soldiering is like everything else; we have our bright days and dark days; we have the bitter and the sweet.
The Colonel has been absent some days attending the court-martial in which those guerrillas that were taken at Boons Hill are being tried. I understand that some have been convicted of murder and are to be hung. Those men are not soldiers but a band of robbers and murderers. They don't mind whether a man is a Union man or a Confederate,- if he has money they will take it. They commit crime on the Confederate people and then the Union soldiers are charged with it. I do not intend ever to fall into their hands.
With love to all,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
March 24, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I wish I had something new and interesting to write about, but I have nothing. I do not care for a battle or a long and weary march to furnish items of interest, but sometimes when I take my pen it is difficult to know what to say, for when we are in Camp we know but little outside. We hear little and what we do hear has been told so many times, or told by one to another that when we get it we question its truth. You know by the papers what is going on in both armies before we do, so I cannot interest you in that. What I write must come under my observation and now my resources are small,- only the camp of a regiment doing guard duty on a railroad.
Captain George R. Hall had an exciting time with a band of guerrillas numbering one hundred and twenty on the 16th inst. The patrol not returning on time to Estell Springs where the Captain and his Company (E) are stationed, he took forty of his men and started out to see what had become of them. When about three miles up the track he saw that a band of guerrillas had wrecked a train and was burning it and robbing the passengers. The Captain charged his company on them at once, retaking the patrol and other soldiers who were on the train whom the guerrillas had taken as prisoners. He then flagged two other trains that were following the one that was wrecked. On this road that is the way they run the trains,- three, one after the other.
The guerrillas charged on Company E, but they beat them off, killing two. The Captain and his forty men saved several men from being taken prisoners, three engines, sixty cars loaded with supplies, and perhaps General Grant as he was in the second train. Geo. H. Edie of our Company was on the first train when wrecked and he lost five dollars in money, a watch, and would have lost his overcoat had not Company E come up when they did. They left him taking it off.
You can see what sort of men the 123rd Regt. are made of, to attack three of the enemy to one of their number and put them to flight. We have a brave lot of fellows that I believe enjoy such a skirmish. It breaks the monotony of camp life and gives them something to talk about and something to write about.
With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
March 29, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
We have had several fine, warm days almost like the days of June at home. We have plenty to do every day. There was a Rev. Mr. Bell preached for us last Sabbath. I hear we are to have a Chaplain again, a Mr. White, formerly of Whitehall, N. Y., a Methodist minister. I presume you know all about it. I hope he will be the man for the place. We have all sorts of characters here to come in contact with. If he is the right sort of man he can do good that is needed very much. He will find good men here, also very bad men. we shall know more about him when he comes.
I suppose brother Will is at home. I received a letter from him saying he had his discharge and would soon be at home. Say to him I have made a certificate of his case for the Pension Agency that he might be allowed a pension.
Henry J. Cleveland does not hear anything of his leave of absence. I hardly think he will get home this spring. It is so late now, campaigning will soon begin and then all of the men will be wanted. Men cannot get away when there is work to do.
We are drilling three hours every day now. All reports and muster rolls are being made out, arms and accouterments are being put into the best of order and everything looks as if we were to move soon.
Write as often as you can if you do not hear from me and I will get it sometime. We have no orders yet, nor do I know when they will come. I am only expecting they may come at any time.
With love to all,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
April 5, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I must write short letters now as our summer's work has begun. We are under marching orders and are getting ready as fast as possible, and yet we may not move for a month. It takes a long time to plan and get ready to move such an army. Every man, every company, every regiment, every brigade and every corps in this great army must be looked after to see if they are all present and provided for and it takes time to do it. After we start all the officers have all they can do to keep things in order.
Henry J. Cleveland did not get his furlough to go home as I had anticipated. None but the sick will be allowed to be absent.
Kiss Ella for me. Love to all friends.
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V.
Elk River, Tenn.,
April 12, 1864. Dear Wife,-
Last Sabbath and the Sabbath before we had preaching by Mr. Ver of Argyle, N. Y., almost like one from home. He will be with us three weeks longer if we do not move.
We are yet under marching orders. General Hooker is in command of our Corps. General Slocum has been assigned to the command of another.
How do the people like the last call for men? I am not afraid of being drafted into the service. I should not like the name of being a conscript. I came into the service in the right time. Some here say I have a lucky star. I call it a Providence.
I received a letter from Mrs. Hawley saying that Salem ladies had sent a box to the Company in my care. I hope it will come before we move. I shall write her when it arrives.
With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V.
Elk River, Tenn.,
April 19, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
This part of the army has not moved yet. Men who have been absent from their commands are joining them again. Heavy trains of supplies are passing on to the front every day. I expect Captain Culver soon and Lieutenant Beattie is in the department now,- I think at Chattanooga. He came on with new recruits. The Colonel is going to try and keep him here. I hope one of them at least will get here before we move so that I will have help.
Out of thirty line officers there are only thirteen present,- less than half. At present there are two companies commanded by second lieutenants, four by first lieutenants and four by captains. Of the first sergeants who left Salem with us, ten in number, one has been promoted to quartermaster, four to first lieutenants and four to second lieutenants. Only one remains first sergeant. The sergeant-major has been promoted to second lieutenant. One second sergeant has been promoted to second lieutenant and one corporal has been promoted to second lieutenant.
We have lost only two line officers by death, Lieutenant John C Corbett of Company C, killed at Chancellorsville, Va., and Captain Norman F. Weer of Company E at Gettysburg, Pa. You see there have been many changes since we left Salem. What they will be in the future cannot be told by,
Your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt., N.Y.S.V. Elk River, Tenn.,
April 23rd, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I can write but a few lines today. The box that the ladies of Salem sent to the soldiers of Company H has arrived and its contents distributed as requested. By request of the Company I have addressed a letter to Mrs. Hawley thanking her and the ladies for their kindness.
Captain Culver passed through here last evening to New York from Chattanooga. He did not stop so I did not see him. You write me, and others hear that Lieutenant Beattie has started to join us. Others say he is in Albany. I do not expect Captain Culver right away so hope that Beattie may come. We shall move in a few days.
With love to all,
R. Cruikshank.
123rd Regt., On the March,
April 27, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
An order came at 12 o'clock M. today to march. We began at once to pack up. We know now how to start on a march, that is, to abandon everything we can get along without. The men take but little with them. At five o'clock we left our Camp at Elk River and marched to Dechard and camped for the night.
April 28, 1864.
I had a good night's rest. We took up our line of march at nine o'clock A. M. and arrived at the foot of the Cumberland Mountains at 2 P. M. We marched four miles out of our way and had to make up the time, which made it hard for us, the weather being very warm. We went into Camp at dark at University Place, about six miles from the top of the mountain. At one time it was a very prosperous school. A railroad station is within a mile of the place. There is not a dwelling within six miles. There are only about three acres of level ground where the university was located.
April 29th, 1864.
We marched at seven o'clock A. M. After marching one and one-half miles it was discovered we were marching out of our course, and we countermarched back to our camping ground and started again. We took another road, marching on it about three miles when it was discovered we were wrong again, we had to march back to within a mile of the camp-ground of the night before. Here we took another road, marched about two miles and halted for dinner at eleven-thirty o'clock A. M. I made up my mind we were lost on the Cumberland Mountains. There were no houses so we could not inquire which road to take. While we were halting some of the mounted men found which road to take and at one o'clock P. M. we commenced marching down the opposite side of the mountain. We marched until eight o'clock, halted in Swedens Cove (a valley), pitched tents and spread our blankets for the night. We had marched over twenty miles.
About midnight it began to rain very hard. The ground where Company H came in to line was low and level and not very dry, it being so dark we could not see what it was. After it began to rain the water came running in around us, waking us up and driving us to higher ground where we had to lay on wet ground without shelter until morning. In the morning we could see the tops of our tent poles in a pond of water. Where we had pitched our tents was a small pond hole in wet weather but went dry when there was no rain. We did not get much rest last night.
April 30th, 1864.
We did not march until ten o'clock today, making out our monthly reports before starting. There was muster and inspection at eight o'clock. This takes place at the end of every month. We marched from ten to twelve o'clock, then halted for dinner, marching again at one o'clock, passing through Bridgeport, Ala., a very familiar place to the Regiment, and went into camp on the Island at eight o'clock P. M.
May 1, 1864
There was preaching this morning to the Regiment. We marched at eleven o'clock A. M., marched seven miles to Shellmound and halted at six o'clock P. M. After dinner I visited Nicajack Cave and went into it three-fourths of a mile. When I got back there was an order to finish our muster- and payrolls. I did so and handed them in for inspection. Here we went into Camp for the night.
May 2nd, 1864.
Marched at eight o'clock this morning to Whiteside, a distance of eight miles, where we arrived at one P. M. and went into Camp. Here I received letters from home.
May 3rd, 1864.
We marched about seven o'clock A. M., passed around the foot of Lookout Mountain, saw where General Joe Hooker was up in the clouds, and went into Camp near Chattanooga, Tenn.
May 4th, 1864.
We passed over the battlefield of Chickamauga, passed Gordons Mills and camped for the night.
May 5, 1864.
We moved on toward the front today. Nothing of importance transpired.
May 6, 1864.
We did not move today. A detail was made for made for picket duty. The Regiment remained quiet all day. We are near the enemy.
May 7, 1864.
We marched at four o'clock this morning, marching toward Tunnel Hill. Our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy about ten o'clock A. M. The Regiment was not called into action. They were halted from ten-thirty A. M. until three P. M. We marched for about an hour and went into Camp for the night.
May 8, 1864.
We did not march today. We had preaching but it was broken off by the Colonel ordering a detail for picket. There is fighting at the front both on the right and left of us, but none directly in front of us, at Buzzard Roost.
May 9, 1864.
We were called at two o'clock this morning to sort out our necessary baggage, as all surplus is to be sent to the rear. We stood by our arms until late in the morning. We did not move today but were held in readiness to march at a moment's notice
May 10, 1864.
We marched at one o'clock this morning from near Buzzard Roost, going toward Dalton. We halted at Snake Creek Gap at ten o'clock A. M., marching a distance of thirteen miles. We marched again at two o'clock P. M., going on to the mountain at the left of the gap. This was a hard task, the mountain being very steep we could take but a few steps before resting. On the other side of the mountain it was a gradual slope. On the top we formed a line of battle and built breastworks, working until after dark. This was to hold the gap. about nine o'clock P. M. we had the hardest storm I ever witnessed. Everything we had with us was soaking wet. We made out to keep our powder dry as that was at this time the most essential.
May 11, 1864.
We worked on the breastworks all day and at four o'clock P. M. moved to the foot of the mountain near the gap and put up tents and remained there all night.
May 12, 1864.
We marched at eight o'clock and halter at eleven A. M. for dinner. We did not move again today. I received letters and papers from home.
May 13, 1864.
We marched from seven until nine-thirty o'clock A. M., then halted until one o'clock P. M. The we were moved about for an hour and a half when we were formed in line of battle and began to build breastworks out of rails and whatever we could get. We worked at this about half an hour. From early morning there has been heavy skirmishing and cannonading on our right. It continued until after dark. After dark we were moved out of our works to the right and lay by our arms until morning. Eight cannon were taken from the enemy today. BATTLE NEAR RESECA GAP.
Skirmishing began at four o'clock A. M. and continued until one o'clock P. M. when there was a general engagement on the left and centre directly in front of us. We were held in reserve. The Third Division of our Corps, the 20th, charged on the enemy and carried one line of works. About three o'clock P. M. our Regiment were moved to the left, with other troops, to support the Fourth Corps who were being hard pressed by superior numbers. We charged and drove them into their works, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. Just before dark we were moved farther to the left, extending our lines so the enemy could not charge and turn our flank. We were marching by the flank at the foot of a knoll, coming onto a level piece of ground in the woods when we saw the enemy not twenty rods from us marching parallel with us by the flank, from the other side of the knoll. Our men came to a front at once and ran to the top of the knoll as that was the choice of ground. If the enemy should secure it they would have the advantage over us. Our men were there first and the enemy went back flying. At ten o'clock, a picket line having been established and videttes sent out, we lay by our arms all night.
May 15, 1864.
We were started up at four o'clock this morning and stood at arms until seven A. M. Lieutenant R. B. Beattie returned during the forenoon bringing with him several new recruits. He was sick and could not assist me any.
It was very quiet all along the line until twelve o'clock M. At this time heavy firing was heard to break out all at once away to the right and came nearer and nearer down the line. The bugle sounds the assembly and the call is given to fall in. We advance in line of battle driving in the enemy's pickets. We swing around on the enemy's flank for nearly a mile and take up a new position, our Regiment coming in on open field, being very much exposed. Artillery is soon brought up and planted on a knoll behind us and opens fire on the enemy who had been shelling us.
Wm. Pierce of our Company had his skull crushed by a fragment of a shell. Two men of Company K who were within ten feet were killed; one had his bowels torn out and the other had both legs torn off. Others were wounded. The men were kept as close to the ground as possible, holding their fire until the enemy should come out and charge on us. This was a trying time,- holding these men in plain sight of the enemy and they shelling us. The enemy were soon ready to charge and advance on us down the hill out of the woods into the open field. When within thirty rods of us our men sprang to their feet and gave them volley after volley. They wavered for a moment, then fled into the woods and up the hill into their works. Our men with a cheer, followed them to the edge of the woo close under the enemy's works. Here we received a shower of canister and grape, most of it going over our heads. We held the ground we had gained.
Firing kept up until dark. At dark we commenced building breastworks, working on them all night. About eleven o'clock the skirmishing broke out afresh and lasted about half an hour.
May 16,1864.
As soon as daylight came we saw that the enemy had gone. At eight o'clock A. M. we fell into line and started after them. We marched five miles and then countermarched back to nearly where we started from, took another road and marched to a branch of the Coosawatter River and camped for the night.
May 17, 1864.
We marched at eight o'clock A. M., crossed the river and halted until three o'clock P. M. The day was rainy. We marched from three until seven-thirty o'clock P. M., then went into Camp for the night.
May 18, 1864.
We marched at three o'clock A. M., crossing the Coosawatter River and halted at eleven o'clock for dinner; marched again at twelve until three o'clock, then halted until four-thirty; marched from four-thirty until nine P. M. and halted within four miles of Kingston, marching today twenty-four miles. CASSVILLE
We marched at an early hour, our Brigade having the lead. We marched toward Cassville, commenced skirmishing at three o'clock and at four there was a general engagement until dark. We drove the enemy through the town of Cassville, routing them completely. They kept so far from us that they did but little injury.
May 20, 1864.
We did not move today but had a good rest. All was quiet at the front.
May 20, 1864.
I was detailed as Officer of the Picket and went on duty at nine o'clock A. M. We had quiet all day and did not move.
May 22, 1864.
I returned from picket this morning at nine o'clock and after washing and dressing attended Divine service. We had preaching by our chaplain, Mr. White, at eleven o'clock A. M. and four o'clock P. M. We did not march today but had a day of rest.
May 23, 1864.
We marched at five o'clock this morning. The weather was very warm. The heat overcoming the men, many fell out of the ranks. They threw away everything they had but guns and accoutrements, haversack and shelter tents. When we got to the Etowah River there was not half of the Company with me. We had marched about eight miles. We had to wait for a pontoon bridge to be laid across the river before we could cross to the other side, which took from eleven A. M. until one o'clock P. M. This gave the men who had fallen out of ranks time to come up. We marched about a mile farther and went into Camp in a piece of woods, for the night.
May 24, 1864.
We marched this morning at five-thirty. At twelve forty-five we halted forty minutes for dinner. We marched on the mountains all day, the cavalry skirmishing in front of us, driving the enemy before them. We halted at five P. M. for the night. We passed during the day Enharlee, Burnt Hickory, and camped near Huntsville, having marched fifteen miles. BATTLE OF DALLAS.
May 25, 1864.
We marched from eight A. M. until twelve M., then halted for dinner one hour. After dinner we marched very fast for about three miles through the valley. A staff officer passed us going to the head of the column, his horse covered with foam. In a few minutes we countermarched and started back on a double-quick to Allatoona Ridge, about six miles toward Dallas. When we started back we were three miles beyond Pumpkin Vine Creek. It was a hard march and many fell out by the way. The Second Division of our Corps, General Geary's, had met the enemy and there was hard fighting going on. As soon as we reached the foot of Allatoona Ridge we were ordered into the fight. Our Regiment was placed in the second line of battle when the fight commenced. The first line advanced slowly pressing the enemy back. The first line's ammunition becoming exhausted the second line took their place and with cheers charged the enemy, driving them through the woods, across a ravine and up a hill into their works. As soon as they got into their works they opened on us with canister from all along their line and such a shower of balls as went over our heads I never expect to hear again. The men were ordered to lie down. They had charged to within a few feet of the enemy's cannon. Being so near, and on the side hill, the enemy could not depress their cannon so as to rake us with their cannon when the men lay close to the ground. Our men would lie on their backs, load their guns, roll over and fire. We fought in this way from four o'clock P. M. until after dark. All this time I stood behind a small tree close to the line watching the men to see that they kept their heads down. Henry J. Cleveland raised his head a little high once when he fired and a canister shot struck the top of his forehead and ran over his head, cutting through the skin. Had he raised his head an inch higher it would have killed him.
About this time I was struck on the arm by a grape or canister shot. My tree was not large enough to cover me unless I stood sideways. My arm was badly bruised but it did not break the skin. In the charge Colonel McDougall's knee was shattered by a musket ball. When it struck him he fell to the ground and called for some of the men to carry him from the field. In the charge Major Tanner was wounded in both legs by a fragment from a bursted shell. As soon as he recovered from the shock he returned to the Regiment, for which the men gave him a hearty cheer.
About ten o'clock it began to rain on us, but we were as wet as we could be from perspiration so it chilled us, not having exercise. After it began to rain the firing almost ceased, giving us an opportunity to gather stumps of old logs and branches of trees that had been cut down by the artillery, placing them in front of us for breastworks. We had to do this work without making any noise or the enemy would open fire on us again.
About midnight a regiment from the First Division came to relieve us. They wore a white star on their caps and we wore a red star. When they came up to us they did not halt but passed on over us saying, "Here goes the white stars over the red." We told them to keep quiet as we were close to the enemy. They paid no attention to what we were saying. They had only passed over us when the enemy heard them and fired grape and canister into their ranks. Such a getting back I never saw! They paid no attention to orders but ran back over us, trampling on us. Our men lay close to the ground and holloed at the top of their voices, "Here goes the white stars over the red." Peter McNassor jumped up, clubbed his musket, calling them to halt. Lieutenant Walt Martin told the Colonel he was ashamed for any New York Regiment that would run like that.
Our men picked up a good supply of tents, blankets, ponchoes and rubber coats that the other regiment had thrown away in their flight. We remained on the line until four o'clock in the morning when we were quietly relieved. We went to the rear where we could cook coffee and get some rest.
Our loss in the First Division in killed and wounded was about one thousand. It is called the battle of Dallas, or New Hope Church.
May 26th, 1864.
We did so well yesterday and last night that we were allowed to rest all day. Skirmishing was kept up at the front. Breastworks were built all along the line. We are within three miles of the village of Dallas, Georgia.
May 27, 1864.
We were held in reserve today, having orders to move at four A. M. There was skirmishing and some cannonading on the line all day. There was a general engagement from four o'clock until dark.
May 28, 1864.
Sharp skirmishing continued all day commencing at daylight. After dark the enemy advanced , attempting to break our lines, but were repulsed. We were still held in reserve. I do not like being in reserve, for if there is a weak point and the enemy breaks through, we must hurry to that point and hold them in check or drive them back. Or if the line is to be advanced, we must do that. Or if there is a charge to make or a battery to take, we must do it. If there is none of this work to do then it is the easier part, only it keeps one in suspense.
May 29th, 1864.
Skirmishing broke out at daylight again this morning and continued all day. It was kept up sharp all along the line. At about nine o'clock in the evening they made an attack with all their forces and at intervals the battle raged all night, but they gained nothing. They were repulsed every time.
Chaplain White preached to us today.
May 30, 1864.
We did not move today. Skirmishing has been kept up. I went into the Wm. Hannah mess to board.
May 31, 1864.
There was no general movement but sharp skirmishing from both sides.
June 1, 1864.
We commenced moving to the left at ten o'clock A. M. and at one P. M. formed in line of battle supporting some of the Fourteenth Corps who were in front skirmishing.
June 2, 1864.
We moved about a mile farther to the left at ten o'clock A. M., formed a line of battle and sent out skirmishers. They were relieved about noon by the Twenty-third Corps who were turning the enemy's right flank. We worked at building breastworks all afternoon. At dark we had a strong line. It rained on us all afternoon, wetting us through.
June 3, 1864.
The Twenty-third Corps moved farther around on the left. Our Regiment sent out skirmishers and supported them. One of our batteries shelled the enemy's wagon train which was in sight in the distance. It rained all day.
June 4, 1864.
It still continues to rain. We did not move. The Third Division of our Corps moved to the left.
June 5, 1864.
Skirmishing is kept up all of the time, although it continues to rain. We were relieved by the Fourteenth Corps about ten o'clock A. M. We moved four miles to the left, formed in line of battle and stood by our arms all afternoon and night.
June 6th, 1864.
We moved in the rain at five o'clock this morning two miles to the left and halted. We were held in readiness to move until three o'clock P.M. and then went into Camp for the night, cavalry being in our front. We were near Lost Mountain on which was a signal station.
June 7th, 1864.
We did not move today. It rains yet.
June 8th, 1864.
Raining. We did not move.
June 9th, 1864.
The rain does not hold up and we remain in camp.
June 10th, 1864.
Still raining. Had orders to move but did not.
June 11th, 1864.
It is raining yet and it is difficult to keep our ammunition dry. We moved to the left about a mile and formed in a line of battle with the Third Division on our right. We got into position about dark.
June 12th, 1864.
We built breastworks all day in a hard rain. We remained in the same line that we formed last night. Skirmishing is kept up on the picket line all of the time.
June 13th, 1864.
It rained so hard today that we could not move or fight if we wanted to. I never knew of so much rainy weather. The men had just as soon fight as to have so much rain and mud. We have so little to protect us.
June 14th, 1864.
The mud is so deep we did not move today. The sun is out and it is drying off fast. Our clothes have not been dry for eleven days.
June 15th, 1864.
Cannonading was heard last evening at Pine Hill. The enemy has been holding it but I hear this morning that the enemy fallen back and it is in possession of our troops. The Stars and Stripes are seen on its top. We expected to have a fight taking it but did not. About noon today we had orders to move. We advanced south beyond and to the right of Pine Hill, between that and Lost Mountain. We ran against the enemy's works. There was lively skirmishing and our Regiment had quite a fight, being heavily engaged. They went in in good order. As soon as they took a position they lay down on the ground, the shot and shell passing over them. We remained in this position, with guns in hand, all night.
June 16th, 1864.
This morning was beautiful and bright,- the first sunshiny morning we have had in two weeks. We moved to the left and built breastworks, the enemy being in plain sight of us. They opened fire on us from a battery but the shell passed over our heads. General Hooker sent up a battery and soon silenced the enemy's guns. What appeared to be a General and staff rode up on a hill and dismounted and began to view us with glasses. An officer of the battery seeing them ordered one of his gunners to throw a shell into their midst. He did so, it bursting right among them. They left in a hurry carrying off a wounded or dead man.Skirmishing was kept up all day.
June 17th, 1864.
What does it mean, where are we that we do not hear a sound of a gun at awakening this morning? Is it a dream or a reality, or has the enemy gone? Yes, the enemy has gone.
As soon as we had our coffee and hardtack orders came to fall in and we commenced advancing in line of battle over the enemy's breastworks, which we found very strong. Soon after we passed a log house on the door of which was written, "You Yankees have killed our old General Polk." It is supposed he was killed by that shell I have written about.
We advanced about two miles and ran against the enemy's skirmishers. About four o'clock P. M. we began to build breastworks and the enemy began to shell us as usual. We had a gun on our line and replied to them.
About five o'clock it began to rain again. At dark we had very good works and lay down to rest.
June 18th, 1864.
Skirmishing was kept up all night and it is sharp all along the line this A. M., although it is raining hard.
The rain continued and skirmishers kept at work all afternoon and evening.
June 19th, 1864.
The enemy have left their works again. At ten o'clock A. M. we began to advance in the rain, feeling our way. About noon we came up to them. They had fallen back about one and one-half miles. General Hooker's artillery was run up onto the skirmish line and commenced firing at once. We charged and gained the top of the range of hills and commenced building breastworks as fast as we could so as to hold our ground. It was warm work for us, the bullets whizzing past us lively. We held the ground. In the evening we had orders to be in readiness to move at five o'clock the next morning.
June 20th, 1864.
It was raining this morning when we were ready to move, which was at six o'clock. We got up at four and waited two hours. We moved to the right of the line about a mile and halted. We remained here until five o'clock when we moved about two miles farther to the right, in and opening where we built breastworks and then put up our tents for the night. In the afternoon there was hard fighting at our left,- in that part of the line that we left in the morning. In moving we escaped taking part in it.
June 21st, 1864.
We did not move today but strengthened our works. It is rainy but we expect the enemy may attack us.
June 22nd, 1864.
BATTLE OF CULP'S FARM
The sun came out clear and warm this morning. At nine o'clock this morning the Regiment was ordered out to skirmish for the Brigade. We deployed and advanced and soon met the enemy's skirmishers,- dismounted cavalry.
We kept forcing them back until we had advanced about one and one-half miles. Here we came to an open field on a side hill, then a ravine, up another opening through a piece of wood with thick underbrush, to another opening beyond. We had pressed the army back over this ground and when we came to the last opening we could see the enemy coming into it in force and forming in a line of battle. They doubled their skirmish line and advanced on us, pressing us back from the edge of the wood. Peter McNessor and Joseph Kiersing had advanced into the opening to a rail fence about two rods from the woods. When the enemy advanced on us these boys started to come back to the woods but were exposed to the enemy and both were shot down. Kiersing was mortally wounded (he died in a Confederate hospital). McNessor was shot through the body. When he was shot he called to S. A. Mahaffy to carry him from the field. Sam ran out to him, picked him up and ran back into the woods. Then Peter told Sam to save himself, that he was dying, and to lay him on the ground. Sam did so and found he was dead. He left him there. In these two boys I lost two of my bravest men. They were boys in years,- not nineteen and small of their age, but they were men in a fight. While we were in the edge of the wood and the enemy's skirmishers were advancing on us, George Beebe saw a Rebel who had got a sight of Henry J. Cleveland or Sam Mahaffy, who were on his left, and was all ready to shoot one of them.
His gun was on his shoulder and he was getting a good aim when George was a little too quick for him. He fell over backwards, his gun flying over his head. Henry or Sam did not see the Rebel and the Rebel did not see George. George saved the life of one of his comrades.
It was about three o'clock P. M. at this time that the enemy charged on us in force, in numbers twenty to our one, pressing us back farther in the woods. In this attack I had three men wounded: Frank McFarland, Patrick Flynn and William Conway. When about half way through the woods we made another stand, checking the enemy, they reforming in the woods. The underbrush was so thick we could not see them but could hear every word they said when orders were given to their men in an undertone. I reported this to Major Tanner and he said we would see how close they were. I knew by what he said we would get orders to try and advance, and sure enough we did, but could not and fell back to our places again. Then I got an order to send out a vidette and see how close they were. I told the First Sergeant to detail a man. He did so and the man came and begged off, saying it was sure death to go out there. He detailed another, and he did the same. Then I asked if there was a man in the Company who would volunteer to go out as vidette. Henry J. Cleveland came to me saying he would go. I gave him instructions and he went. I soon heard him talking to somebody in a low tone of voice. He soon returned saying they were close to us,- that he had taken one of their videttes for one of our men and had talked to him. But when he moved from behind a tree he saw his grey clothes. Henry moved back and the Rebel called for him to halt, but Henry thought he had better report to me.
In a short time we heard the enemy give the order, "Forward, Double-quick, March." They came down on us as fast as they could through the brush, screaching and yelling. Our men gave them one volley and then fell back. They were in three lines of battle. When Captain O. S. Hall and his company had fallen back to some piles of rails that had been thrown together in our advance, Major Tanner ordered him to make a stand there. As soon as I heard Major Tanner give Captain Hall the order to make a stand, I ordered my men to halt as I knew I must support his left. I had only got my men checked when Major Tanner gave the order for every man to take care of himself. The enemy were upon us,- some within ten feet of me, and caught hold of five of my men that were nearest to me. Their names are: Benj. A. Duel, Wm. H. Butler, James Conway, Daniel R. Ross and Wm. H. Welch. I was so near the enemy that I could not run to the right and keep under cover of the woods, but to keep from being caught must keep straight ahead through the open fields and run the risk of being shot. I chose the latter as I preferred being shot rather than being taken prisoner. I had a half-mile to run to get into our lines. The five men nearest me being caught it left me alone, so I ran down across the open field, through the ravine and up the hill to our line of battle on the top. Bullets kept whizzing about me as I ran and when about half way up the hill I came to a stump of a tree about ten feet high and two feet through. Being out of breath I stopped behind this stump until I could recover it and then go on. Here I could see what was going on, being between the two armies. Behind me were the enemy in three lines of battle advancing in a charge in good order. In front of me on the hill was a single line of battle of Union soldiers and two sections of artillery placed _about a quarter of a mile apart, all waiting to receive the enemy as soon as the 123rd Regiment came in. The officers were marching back and forth behind their companies ordering their men to hold their fire, that the skirmishers were not all in. I had seen the rest of the skirmishers (the Regiment) run to the right and left into the woods in advance of me, so I was the last to go in. I could stay behind the stump but a few moments, so ran again. As the enemy got sight of me they began to fire, their bullets flying all around me. I reached our line without a scratch.
As soon as I had got in the commanding officer inquired of me if the 123rd had got in. I told him how they were ahead of me and had fled to the right and left into the woods. The enemy were now only a few rods away, advancing in three fine lines of battle, when he gave the order to fire.
My work for the present time was done and I could look on and such a sight I shall never forget. I could only see the fight in front of our Brigade, in the open field. As soon as the General gave the order to fire, there was one prolonged cheer from our men and at the same time there was a crash and roar of artillery and roll of musketry. It seemed as if heaven and earth had rolled together. The first blow only shocked the enemy a moment. The shouting, yelling, frantic mass started up the hill again with a fury which it seemed could not be checked. Before they had advanced thirty feet our artillery gave them another charge. The cannon were loaded so heavily that they would spring back ten feet but men were there at the wheels and it was but a few seconds before they were loaded, double-shotted with canister, primed and fired. These guns were placed so they had an enfilading fire on the enemy. The infantry were all the time pouring deadly volleys into their ranks. They could make but slow progress. When the canister would sweep out a space in their ranks they would close it up again and start on the advance, but soon another charge was ready for them. When they had got within a few feet of us, we raised a shout, giving them a volley right into their faces and at the same time the artillery sent their charge of canister nearly lengthwise of their line. This they could not stand before and back they went a-flying into the ravine. Here they were under cover from our fire. Here they reformed again and again and as many times were driven back.
Their artillery in the woods back of them kept throwing shell at us all of the time. Many of their wounded came crawling into our lines. The fight kept up until dark. After dark the enemy picked up their dead and wounded by torch light. Before dark the Regiment reformed again. I had ten men less than I had in the morning - two were killed, three wounded, and five taken prisoners. The loss in the Regiment was forty-eight, I losing over one-fifth of the whole. I was assisted during the day by Lieutenant Beattie.
June 23rd, 1864.
Skirmishing has kept up all day. We did not move. I as detailed as Officer of the Picket and went on duty at four o'clock P. M. At five P. M. the Regiment began to build breastworks. We are again holding the woods the enemy drove us out of. I have recovered the body of Peter McNassor and buried it. I feel his loss very much as I was much attached to him. I also feel the loss of the other men. Ten men is a large reduction in a company. I cannot see how I made my escape when I was so near to the enemy.
June 24th, 1864.
Skirmishing has been kept up all night and opened very lively this morning. I returned from picket at five o'clock P. M. The weather was very hot.
June 25th, 1864.
Today there was hard fighting on our left, but none with us, but sharp skirmishing is kept up all the time.
June 26th, 1864.
We did not move today. Had preaching by our chaplain, Mr. White.
June 27th, 1864.
There is hard fighting on both sides of us today. We were not engaged but were kept in readiness to take part. Our skirmish line was advanced but did not bring on an engagement.
June 28th, 1864.
We did not move today. We had orders to draw ten days' rations.
June 29th, 1864.
We did not move but lay behind our works all day. The weather is very hot.
June 30th, 1864.
We did not move today. We were mustered for pay.
July '64
July 1st, 1864.
We did not move today. We were inspected by Brigade Inspector.
July 2nd, 1864.
We had orders to move at daylight, but did not. The men drew clothing.
July 3rd, 1864.
It was reported by our pickets at early morning that the enemy had left our front. They at once had orders to advance. We advanced at seven o'clock A. M. to the north-east within one and one-half miles of Marietta and then south about five miles and halted for the night. The enemy kept shelling us as we advanced on them, many deserting and coming into our lines. We lay on the ground in a piece of woods all night, without putting up tents.
July 4, 1864.
I found a stream this morning where I could take a good bath. We moved at four o'clock P. M., marched only three miles and halted for the night. The enemy were only about a mile away on a ridge and we in the valley. We did not dare to build fires to cook coffee but ate our raw pork and hardtack dry.
The wagon train came up a parked about a quarter of a mile back of us, a little over a ridge. After the train had got in and the troops had lain down all was quiet (I had taken off my boots and Lieutenant Beattie had taken off his boots and blouse, spread a blanket on the ground, lain down and was in the first good sleep), we heard,"Bang, bang, bang," several shots one after the other back of us near the wagon train. We thought the enemy were getting behind us and it started us up a little excited. I did not wait to put on my boots but caught them in my hand and my sword in the other, starting for the head of the company calling for the men to fall in. Lieutenant Beattie awoke at the same time I did and started up but did not appear with the Company for some minutes. I inquired of him what had detained him. He said that when he first started up he was not quite awake and the first article of clothing he got hold of was his blouse. Knowing he must put on his boots, he pulled his feet through the arms of his blouse. The arms were so small for his feet he had hard work to get them off again. Finally he got them off and his boots on and was ready for duty.
A detail of men was sent out to ascertain what had caused the firing. They found that a pair of mules had got loose from the wagon to which they had been tied and ran one on each side of a row of a stack of arms belonging to the train guard. Their heads being fastened together by the usual stick and chain they threw down the whole line, discharging several of them. The enemy picket, seeing the flash and hearing the report of the guns, fired a few shots into the train but did not get up a panic, only set the mules braying.
July 5, 1864.
The enemy fell back during the night. We marched about six miles and came up on them again. We halted on the range of hills on the north side of the Chattahoochee River. From these hills we could see the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Here we remained over night.
July 6,1864.
There was cannonading and sharp skirmishing all morning.
We moved this afternoon about four miles to the left and front and established a picket line on the north side of the river. The enemy's pickets were on the opposite bank. Toward night we built breastworks.
July 7, 1864.
Went on duty as Officer of the Picket. The pickets on both sides agreed not to fire on each other without giving notice. In doing this the men on both sides of the river could bathe. The weather was very hot and all enjoyed it. They would swim to the center of the stream and back.
Then our men wanted to trade coffee, of which we had an abundance, for tobacco, of which the enemy had a plenty. Our men had coffee issued to them but no tobacco. The enemy had tobacco issued to them but no coffee. This was talked over and an agreement was made that two of our men were to swim to the other side with coffee and bring back tobacco, and they could not be taken prisoners, so the exchange was made.
The men were as friendly as neighbors. Anyone seeing them at this time would not have thought that they had been trying to shoot each other for several weeks. Not a shot was fired across the river during the day and night. It was a relief not to be expected to be shot down if one showed his head.
July 8, 1864.
All was quiet on the picket line. I was relieved at nine o'clock A. M. Camp was laid out and tents were put up. It was a hard task to get good streets as the ground was rough and covered with brush that had to be dug out by the roots. The men rejoiced to do this work if they could be without the sound of musketry starting them up every hour.******************
Near Chattahoochee River, Ga.
Dear Mary,-
I am told that communication is open and we can send out a mail. I will write a letter that it may go to you in the first one sent. I will also send those I have written from day to day so you will see what I have been doing. I presume you have received some that I have already sent you.
We are now in Camp, have our tents up and are very comfortably situated. Our Camp is in a grove. We have removed the underbrush and left the large trees standing for a shade, which we need in this hot weather. I do not imagine we will remain here long but will make ourselves as comfortable as we can while we do stay.
I think it depends somewhat on the movements of General Grant. I have not heard what he is doing with the Army of the Potomac. If he has been as successful as General Sherman, a great thing has been accomplished. General Sherman and his army is almost at the centre of the south. He has advanced ninety miles and taken the same number of miles of railroad and we are now within sight, only eleven miles to the great city of the South (Atlanta). We have gained every battle since leaving Chattanooga, Tenn. I have lost out of the Company twelve men; two killed, five wounded and five taken prisoners.
There has been no firing on the picket line since I was on duty. The two lines are only about three hundred yards apart and if it were not for the agreement none could show their heads without being shot. But now they move about the same as neighbors. As it is now none are afraid. All laugh and talk to and joke each other and have a good time. They call us Yanks and our men call them Johnnies.
Remember me to friends. Kiss Ella for me,
With love to you,
Ever your affectionate husband,
R. Cruikshank.
Near Chattahoochee River, Ga.
July 11, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
We are in Camp at the Chattahoochee River yet and are busy making out our Muster- and payrolls and attending to other work that had fallen behind while campaigning, not having time to attend to it. Yesterday we had an order to march at three o'clock. We packed up, formed in line and started, and then halted again before we had moved a quarter of a mile. In about a half hour we were ordered back to Camp. We soon had our tents up again and in a short time everything was in good shape again.
It was reported that the enemy have fallen back again and it has proved true that they had.
We had preaching at ten o'clock this morning and expected to hear Mr. White again this evening but it has rained and he had to postpone the service. He holds prayer meetings three times a week when it is fair. They are strong Methodist prayer meetings. The Regiment turns out to the service very well but not as well as they did to hear Mr. Gordon. Mr. White does not understand the men as well as Mr. Gordon did.
I have walked out and looked over the enemy's works. On our right they held some strong works on this side of the river which protected a bridge. The night of the ninth they abandoned these works, burned the bridge and are now all on the other side of the river, where I shall have to leave them at this writing.
With love to all at home,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt. N.Y.S.V. Chattahoochee River, Ga.,
July 16, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I am busy all of the time. Have made out Muster- and Payrolls, have had muster and inspection and have drawn clothing and issued it to the men, keeping an account of the same, all of which takes time. Then I must take my turn at duty as Officer of the Day and of the Picket. I have had to report the loss in the Company of the men and arms and accoutrements and all other Government property. The wants of the men are many after marching and fighting and being exposed to so much wet weather.
We will not remain here many days,- some movement is on foot now and we may have orders to march at any time. It is my opinion General Sherman will enter Atlanta before we rest any length of time.
We are comfortably located. Our Camp is in the shade of trees; the men can go to the river to bathe; we have good water; and now the men have clean clothing. We do not have any fresh food. It is all army rations,- pork and hardtack, coffee and sugar is about all we can get here. We are in hopes when we get to Atlanta we will have better rations.
Remember me to friends. With love.
Ever yours,
R.Cruikshank.
Chattahoochee River, Ga.,
July 16, 1864.
Received orders to put our Camp in the best of order as General Hooker was expected to pass through it. The men went at the work, sweeping and cleaning everything and soon it was as neat as it could be made. The men then washed and put on the best they had and waited for the General to come. About three o'clock P. M. we received orders to strike tents and fall in and at four o'clock we were on the march leaving our clean-swept Camp behind.
We marched to the northeast, crossed the Chattahoochee River near Vining's Station on a pontoon bridge, marched about a mile and a half beyond the river and halted about dark for the night. The night was clear and warm. We did not put up tents but spread our blankets on the ground and slept as soundly on them as if we were in a bed at home.
July 18, 1864.
We did not move until about ten o'clock A. M. when we formed in a line of battle and began to advance in support of skirmishers. We advanced over hills, through swamps and creeks and ravines and at one time we thought we were out of our course in the woods, but came out all right about six o'clock P. M. After advancing about an hour longer we halted for the night.
July 19, 1864.
We were quiet all day until five o'clock P. M. when we had an order to march. We did not move until seven when we began to advance to the southeast, striking the Atlanta and Decatur Turnpike. We marched until ten o'clock P. M., then lay down for the night. There is skirmishing on the line all of the time but no battle since we left the river. The enemy are falling back.
July 20, 1864.
At seven o'clock this morning we were on the move again toward Atlanta. We halted in a piece of woods near Peach Tree Creek until there could be a road made passable and pontoons laid to cross the creek on which was until three o'clock P. M. We then moved across the creek onto a hill and halted for other troops to come up. There was no appearance of a battle. As the troops came across the creek and halted, they closed in mass, stacked their arms and rested. Some of the men began to cook coffee. A battery had come across the creek and stood near. Some of the officers remained mounted while others had dismounted by remained near by, all expecting to move forward in a short time, not in a line of battle but by the flank as there was no sign of the enemy being near in force. There was skirmishing at the front but not unusual. THE BATTLE OF PEACH TREE CREEK.
All at once sharp firing broke out on the skirmish line and men were seen between the woods in the openings to be falling back. The bugle sound of assembly was heard and then in a moment the advance. We all called to our men to fall in and take arms. The men left their fires, threw away their coffee and sprang to their arms and in less time than it takes me to write it we were moving out, and the skirmishers came rushing in closely driven by the enemy.
Our Regiment had just got straightened out, only moving the length of it, when the enemy came onto us. The attack was on the side as we moved by the flank. The men came to a front at once and charged, moving forward about three rods, when they saw the enemy not thirty feet away. Here our men halted and held their ground. We were engaged without forming a line as they were onto us before one could be formed. There did not appear to be any orders given, but every man fought for himself and they did fight without any protection whatever. They made it too warm a reception for the enemy who fell back with a great loss.
This gave us a little time to form and get into a little better shape but could not do much before they were onto us again. Our men did not waver but received the shock gallantly and drove them back again. As soon as they fell back this time I had a few men look up some rails and logs and whatever they could get and pile it in front of us so we might have some protection. This was a little help. The men could work but a short time before the enemy charged on us again. The enemy turned our extreme right, getting a cross fire on us from which we suffered more than from the front charges.
Henry Danforth of our Company was shot, shattering his thigh. The Color-bearer, Sergeant William Hutton, was shot through the body by this cross fire. When he fell I was close to him and asked him if he was badly wounded. He said he did not know, that he felt numb all through the body. He stood the Colors against a tree nearby by holding on to the staff to keep them up. He was a brave and true soldier. As soon as there was a lull I had Danforth and Hutton taken to a place of safety.
The fight continued until dark. Every time the enemy would charge on us I would caution my men not to fire too high but aim at the knee. When the enemy are advancing up a hill, if they should aim at the body they would generally shoot over the head. Shooting too high is the reason that so few generally are killed and wounded in a battle compared to the amount of iron and lead thrown at them.
My Company had a hard part of the line to fight from.
There was a section of a battery (two guns) on a rise of ground back of us that fired directly over our heads every time the enemy would charge. The concussion would almost sweep us along the ground, they were so near to us. This was no time to think of moving to the right or to the left. To hold our part of the line was enough. Every time the enemy would fall back the men kept at work gathering and piling what they could get in front and by dark had a very good protection.
That dreadful cross-fire did bad work for the Regiment.
My Company was a little in advance in the line, which placed them a little over a hill that somewhat protected us. When Danforth was shot he was a little in the rear of the Company. Captain H. O. Wiley of Granville was shot only a few feet back of us. Lieutenant John H. Daicey was killed about the same place. In fact, most of the men were killed or wounded on a line near the crest of the hill in front of a log house. For the number of troops engaged, it was as hard a fight as I have been in. We lay all night by our arms.
July 21st, 1864.
When morning came the enemy were in front of us. I think they had enough fighting on this ground yesterday as they did not renew the attack this morning. During the night the men who were detailed as skirmishers from our Company reported to me,- or all of them who could. They reported that Michael Haley was killed. Francis Brannan, Chester Orcutt and Crandall Johnson were wounded when falling back when the skirmish line was driven in. They reported that a few minutes before the attack an officer in our uniform rode along the line ordering the skirmishers to advance and then rode on to the front. Our men did not know him and did not obey. He was a Rebel trying to trap our men.
I lost in this fight five men. Henry Danforth and Chester Orcutt went out with the Company. Michael Haley, Francis Brannan, and Crandall Johnson were transfers from the 145th Regt. N.Y.S. Vols. The loss in the Regiment was Captain Wiley and Lieutenant Daicey were killed. Adjutant S. C. Carey was wounded through the leg. There were fifty-five men killed, wounded and missing, which was a heavy loss for our reduced number in the Regiment.
As soon as daylight came the dead were picked up and placed in a row for burial. Each company buried its own dead, marking the graves with a head-board with the name, regiment and company to which they belonged. The wounded received every attention that could be given. The whole day was taken up in looking after the dead and wounded.
Very little skirmishing was kept up during the day but a sharp lookout was kept for renewal of the attack. It did not come.
July 22, 1864.
When we awoke there was no firing on the skirmish line.
Then we knew that the foe had fallen back again and we must advance. At seven o'clock we were ready and started, the skirmishers advancing cautiously, feeling their way as they did not know what trap the enemy might draw them into. We passed over the enemy's works. It was a strong line of abattis first, then a line of chevaux-de-frise, then a line of rifle pits. We advanced within two and one-half miles of Atlanta and came in sight of their works surrounding the city, which is on a rise of ground, and built on a circle about one mile from the city.
We pressed them back as far as we could and took possession of another rise of ground and began building breastworks as fast as we could, the enemy shelling us. When we were advancing I had noticed about half a mile back a grist mill which I now thought would make good material with which to build these works, so I took four or five men with me, leaving the Company in charge of Lieutenant Beattie. I went to the mill and began to tear out the lining and had the men carry it outside ready to take it away as soon as we had enough. I was busy at work taking off the boards, making quite a noise, and did not notice at first that the men did not come back after more boards when they had carried some out, so I thought I would see where they were. I went to the door and found them sitting behind the mill. I inquired why they did not carry out the rest of the boards. They said the enemy were shelling the mill. I told them I thought not but soon heard a shell come crashing through the mill. I handed out what boards we had and we left the mill. We carried what we had to the line of works. We did not get any more for the mill was burned by the explosion of shells.
When I returned to the works I found that the enemy had a gun throwing shell where my company were at work. I told them to go to work and I would watch for the flash of the gun and when I ordered them to lie down they must drop flat on the ground. They did so and when the shell had passed over they would spring up and work as fast as they could until I saw another flash and would call to them to lie down again. In this way we built our works. Sometimes the shell would strike the ground in front of us and bound over our heads. At other times it would pass over. When dark came we had a good line of works and were determined to hold them should the Rebels make an attack on us.
In the night they opened on us with artillery but did no damage. Just before dark I went out and established a picket line. The Rebels tried to drive us in but we held the line. In the night the men had to dig rifle-pits in the open fields large enough to hold from three to five men. This could not be done in the day time as the men would be picked off by the enemy. The men will have to stay in these pits all day and come out after dark, when others will take their places.
I think the Rebels heard us at work on the picket line when they shelled us in the night.
July 23rd, 1864,
Sharp skirmishing commenced this morning. The enemy drove in the pickets on our right but I held my part of the line. My men did bravely.
In the afternoon I thought I would look over the enemy's works if I could find a position from which to do so without exposing myself too much. On a hill about a quarter of a mile to our right was an old chimney where a house had burned. I thought if I could get there I could see a long line of their works so made the attempt. I crept along toward the place, dodging behind bushes, stumps, and whatever I could find to cover me from their sight. When I got within ten or twelve rods of the chimney there was nothing on the face of the hill that I could dodge behind so thought I would damage. Just before dark I went out and established a picket line. The Rebels tried to drive us in but we held the line. In the night the men had to dig rifle-pits in the open fields large enough to hold from three to five men. This could not be done in the day time as the men would be picked off by the enemy. The men will have to stay in these pits all day and come out after dark, when others will take their places. run the remainder of the way and started. In a moment I saw the flash of several gun-barrels and heard rifle shells zip, zip, zip past my head. From here I had a good view. I was not half a mile from their works. And such a works! As far as I could see on either side of me there was a line of rifle-pits for their pickets; a little way back was a line of abattis; then back of this a line of chevaux-de-frise; then came a line of breastworks built of logs and earth with a space near the top and a large log above to protect the head; then back of all this a stockade about ten feet high with loopholes to fire through. I thought, "Can we ever take Atlanta?"
I could not get away from this place for two hours. If I held my hat one side of the chimney, zip would go a bullet past it. I sat down and remained out of sight for a long time, then cautiously looked out and saw they were not on a good lookout for me. I started on a run for some brush which I reached with only a few bullets fired at me. At dark I was relieved and went back to Camp which was close behind our breastworks.
July 24, 1864.
The enemy began to shell us at daylight this morning and kept it up all day and was replied to by our artillery. At ten o'clock at night we made a feint on the enemy. Cannonading was kept up all night.
July 25, 1864.
Skirmishing is kept up all along the line with heavy cannonading. After dark there was quite a battle and several prisoners came in.
July 26, 1864.
The six right companies of the Regiment went out to support the skirmishers, relieving the 61st Ohio Regiment.
July 27, 1864.
Lively skirmishing was kept up all day. In the morning the Second Brigade of our Division made a dash on the enemy, driving them in, and burned a house that was between the lines from where sharpshooters picked off our men. They then fell back to their former position.
July 28, 1864.
There was sharp fighting this morning. The enemy gave us a shelling. One shell struck the ground, then bounded over the works and struck the ground again where Lieutenant Beattie had stepped from, then bounded into a tent ten feet away and landed in a frying pan. It was fortunate for us that it did not explode. How the men laughed when they saw the twenty-pound shell in the pan. They thought they would not cook it as it would be hard to digest.
On a hill to our right there are two thirty-two-pound cannon that are fire every ten minutes night and day. They are not over one hundred rods from us. They are throwing shell into the heart of the city. I should think there would be but little rest in the city with those large shell bursting every ten minutes. They have been in position four days. This hill is one of the highest points from which several spires can be seen.
July 29, 1864.
There was but little skirmishing today on the line, but cannonading was kept up.
July 30, 1864.
At three o'clock this morning we received orders to fall into line behind our works with as little noise as possible and remain there for orders. In a few minutes we saw a few companies file noiselessly past us and form for an advance. Captain Geo. R. Hall was in command, assisted by Lieutenant R. B. Beattie. They crept forward and as soon as they were past our pickets they made a rush forward, not stopping until they were behind the enemy's pickets. The enemy's pickets were in a morning nap and did not know what the Yankees were doing until they were between them and their line of battle, so their was no hope for them. Our men ordered them to move forward at the point of the bayonet, which they did not dare resist. Our men drove them as fast as they could toward our lines for they expected to be fired onto as soon as it was discovered what was going on.
They had not gone far before they heard a commotion behind them and soon were fired on with grape and canister. The prisoners were in as much danger as our men and started on a run for our lines, with our men close after them. As soon as the enemy commenced firing, our artillery all along the line replied to them. When Captain Hall had his prisoners safely within our lines he then turned back and advanced, forming a new picket line where they intrenched themselves.
Captain Hall lost but one man killed in this skirmish. He captured a whole Rebel regiment.
July 31, 1864.
There was continued firing all day. The men on picket strengthened their works. When they had finished they were almost as strong as breastworks. They were built of logs with a ditch dug on the inner side and the earth thrown on the outer side against the logs. Then on the top there was another log with a space of three inches under to fire
Aug '64
Aug '64- Before Atlanta
August 1, 1864.
Quartermaster Sergeant Charles Warner went to Bridgeport, Ala., for our baggage. Fifty additional rounds of cartridges were issued to the men.
August 2, 1864.
Nothing new transpired today.
August 3, 1864.
A man cannot show his head without being shot at.
August 4, 1864.
Cartridges were issued again today.
August 5, 1864.
I went on picket today at four o'clock P. M. and had tobe very cautious. When I arrived at the reserve post I halted my men and went a little to the front with the officer whom I was to relieve, to look over the line and receive instruction. We stood near the edge of the woods close to a large pine tree. We were standing close together talking when a bullet passed between us, striking into the tree throwing the bark into our faces. The officer, a Major, remarked that the enemy had got sight of us and we had better move.
After dark I received an order to post videttes beyond a strip of brush in front of one part of the line and to have men cut the brush so that the enemy could be seen if they moved from their works. I posted the men myself and then went back to get the men who were to cut the brush with hatchets. I had them ready when the videttes began firing and came in reporting that the enemy were advancing on us. We had a sharp skirmish for a few minutes and then all was quiet again. In two hours I posted the videttes again and this time succeeded in cutting the brush. In the morning we had a view of the enemy from our works. This brush was cut so the enemy could not advance on us under its cover and surprise us.
August 6, 1864.
There was sharp skirmishing all day after daylight came today until I was relieved from picket. Every man had to keep his head low or he would hear a bullet pass it.
August 7, 1864.
Was one of Board of Survey at Division Provost-Marshall's (Captain Whitney's) quarters, with Captain Hopkins of the 13th Regt, New Jersey Vols., and Lieutenant Knipe of the 31st Regt. Wis. Vols.
August 8, 1864.
There was hard fighting on the extreme right today.
There was a Company K man shot through the body while on picket today. He was from Granville. It is thought he will not live.
August 9, 1864.
Nothing of note transpired today.
August 10, 1864.
The thirty-two-pound guns kept up throwing shell into the city. Skirmishing is as lively on the picket line as it was the day we came in front of the city.
August 11, 1864.
I awoke this morning with the same sound ringing in my ears,- cannon and musketry firing. Sutler stores are coming in to Camp now and we can live better. We can also get green corn from the country.
August 11, 1864.
Demonstrations are going on both at the right and left of the line. The enemy have been pressed back as far as they can be in our front, without we make an assault on their works, and in that there would be a great loss of life.
General Sherman has advanced both on the right and left, drawing his lines closer around the enemy and working his flanks closer behind them and if they do not get out of Atlanta he will flank them out. If they cannot hold Atlanta they cannot hold any place against Sherman unless they can draw troops from Lee's army. Prisoners and colored people say they have all in the field who can do service and the work on the plantations is carried on by women and slaves and that the slaves are running away at every opportunity. The enemy are surely getting weaker or Sherman could not have advanced over a hundred miles into the heart of the South in four months if it were not so. They will try to hold this place, but they cannot. Sherman will cut off their supplies by sending his cavalry in their rear, cutting their railroads and destroying trains and provision. He has them now where they must come out and attack us or else leave Atlanta.
We have strong works and heavy trains are coming in every day with supplies and we can live here as well as we could at Bridgeport. Anyone here can see that we have the advantage, and I am sure Sherman will keep it.
August 14, 1864.
This is a lovely Sabbath Day and all is as quiet here as can be under the circumstances. I think it is more quiet here on the Sabbath than in the East. There has been no skirmishing today. We have had preaching today by the Chaplain. We have preaching every Sabbath and prayer meetings twice a week in the evenings.
The last time I was on picket duty I could hear sounds from both camps, they were so near together. In the morning I could hear the crowing of roosters and the cackle of hens from the enemy's poultry yard, the barking of dogs and the whistle of some happy boy. In the evening I could hear other sounds from our side,- I could hear the sound of reading, singing and of prayer from the prayer meetings. From the enemy's side I could hear the same sounds,- reading, singing and earnest prayer to the same God. Yes, both praying to God for success in battle. They no doubt think they are right and we are wrong.
August 15, 1864.
Nothing of notice transpired today.
August 16, 1864.
The enemy keep a close lookout for our movements and fire on any man they can see. There is no exchanging for tobacco now.
August 17, 1864.
Skirmishing is getting lively again. The enemy are expecting us to advance on them or they intend to make some sort of a move.
August 18, 1864.
James L. Beattie of our Company was killed today on thepicket line. The enemy got sight of him and shot him through the heart. He did not know what killed him. We buried him near our Camp.
At daylight this morning the enemy opened fire on us from their batteries, driving us out of our beds into our works in a hurry. When we awoke shell was bursting on every side of us. We thought perhaps the enemy were going to charge on us but they did not come.
August 19, 1864.
At three o'clock this morning all the batteries of our Corps returned yesterday's compliments to the Rebels by using every gun on them, throwing shell into their works and the city. When the enemy opened fire the men of our Regiment were fast asleep in their tents and did not know but what the Rebels were close onto us. They sprang from their beds, grasped their guns and accoutrements and rushed for their breastworks. Such a looking lot of soldiers never was seen before. Some had only a shirt on; others had shirt and pants. Not a fully dressed soldier could be seen among them. There were none of our Company who forgot their gun or accoutrements, which meant they would hold their works if they were without uniform. They had a good laugh at their own expense, went back to their quarters and dressed.
August 20, 1864.
Sharp firing is kept up all of the time on some part of the line. I never before saw the enemy show such a murderous disposition for so long a time. Sometimes our men will place a hat on top of the works as if someone were looking at them and soon a zip will be heard, a bullet passing close to it. The men must keep out of sight all of the time.
August 21, 1864.
Captain Culver returned last evening and I soon will be relieved from command of the Company and then I will not have to work so hard. There are only forty men present in the Company now. There are sixty-four on the Company rolls. Twenty-four of them are on detached service, sick and wounded and in hospitals. I have lost in killed, wounded and taken prisoners in the campaign nineteen (19). I have for duty thirteen (13) of the new men whom I have received into the company by transfer and new recruits. This leaves only twenty-seven of the old men who left Salem with me. There have been received into the Company since we left Salem, by transfer and recruits, thirty-three (33). When we left Salem we had seventy-eight (78) men on the roll.
August 22, 1864.
Captain Culver and I have been engaged in inspecting and taking inventory of all government property in the Company preparatory to his taking command.
August 23, 1864.
It has been more quiet on the line for two days. There is little cannonading and very little musketry firing. General Sherman will not charge the enemy unless he can find a weak point and carry it. The enemy are not disposed to come out and fight us. Both armies remain in their works.
August 24, 1864.
There is a movement on foot. I hear that the Twentieth Corps is to fall back to the river and hold it while the rest of the army swing around to the right and in the rear of Atlanta and cut off the enemy's communication. If General Sherman can get behind them he will hold all railroads entering Atlanta and force Hood to surrender or come out and give battle.
Captain Culver has taken command of the Company today.
I have turned over all property to him and taken receipts for the same. I now feel relieved from quite a responsibility.
August 25, 1864.
During the night orders came to be in readiness to march. At daylight we had orders to fall in. We began to march back toward the river. We marched very fast and when we came in sight of the railroad bridge we saw another regiment that had got there before us, throwing up earthworks. We had orders to go at the work at once, so if the enemy should follow us we could hold the bridge.
Toward night the Twentieth Corps came back to the bridge. A line of battle was formed farther out around from the bridge from the bank of the river to the bank on the other side of the bridge. As soon as the line was formed we began to build breastworks and to fortify the place as strongly as we could. A strong picket was sent out and posted for the night.
August 26, 1864.
Skirmishers were sent out this morning to ascertain if the enemy had followed us. They ran against them about a mile out. There was no firing. The enemy were looking to see what had become of us. Some of them had better look the other way and find where the larger part of Sherman's army is, with Sherman planning for their capture.********************
At the Chattahoochee River, Ga.,
August 27, 1864.
Dear Mary,-
I have a little time today and will use it in writing you a letter. I have written you our movements and advance from day to day which I hope you have received. I wrote yesterday that we had fallen back to the Chattahoochee River. We are in Camp on the south bank of the river with a line of strong breastworks in front of us. Our Corps was the only troops that moved back to the river. The rest of the army moved around to the right and I hear are behind the enemy.
All is quiet with us. Our Division is guarding thebridge. The other divisions are guarding fords across the river. General Slocum is in command of the Corps. He rode along the line yesterday and cheer after cheer from his men greeted him, showing how much he is thought of in the Corps. We are proud of General Hooker but love General Slocum.
I cannot say enough in praise of our Division General (Williams), "Old Pap", as the men call him. He has been like a father to us. He has helped us out of many a tight place in this last campaign. He saves his men all that he can and will not sacrifice life for flame. He is a rough old fellow but has a big heart.
I am in good health. The health of the Company is good.
The men say it is so small that there are not enough who can be spared to be sick.
Remember me to friends. With love to you and Ella,
Ever yours affectionately,
R. Cruikshank.
************************** August 28, 1864.
We have heard no firing since we fell back to the river. A skirmish line is sent out every morning and advance until they run against the enemy's skirmishers and the fall back and report.
August 29, 1864.
The enemy's skirmishers are in front of us yet but not a shot is exchanged. We have strengthened our works and are able now to hold a large force should they attack us.
August 30, 1864.
It is very quiet today. The enemy are between us and Atlanta but we do not know in how great a force. We think it is only a show that they are keeping up. We do not know what Sherman and the other corps are doing. We expect to hear from him every day. We must have supplies soon.
August 31, 1864.
About three o'clock this morning volleys of musketry, cannonading and bursting of shell were heard in the direction of Atlanta. The Rebel skirmishers are in our front.
Sept. 1, 1864.
Judging from the sound there appears to be hard fighting near Atlanta. We have heard nothing of what the firing was yesterday morning. It did not sound as far away this morning. The firing lasted but a few minutes. It was so heavy that the earth trembled at this distance.
Sept. 2, 1864.
The skirmishers went out as usual this morning but didnot see the enemy. Our Regiment was sent out on a reconnaissance and did not come up to the enemy until near the fortifications. There skirmishing commenced. The enemy retreated from their works, firing as they fell back.
When the enemy got into the city there was no more firing. We followed through and to the east side of the city. Our Regiment was the first to enter the Gate City, Atlanta, Ga. How the men did cheer as they passed through the city! They did little plundering. They found a tobacco storehouse and helped themselves to tobacco and cigars.
On the way through the city we saw houses that our shellhad perforated. In many parts the people had dug holes in the ground, then placed timbers over and then covered them several feet deep with earth so that a shell could not penetrate them. The sides from our guns were left open so that the people could crawl into them. These were the only safe places they could find from the explosions of our shell while they were under siege. These places were called gopher holes. I do not know whether they derived the name from the animal gopher or because the people when they heard our shell shrieking through the air would "go for" them.***********************
Atlanta, Ga., Camp 123rd Regt,. N.Y.S.V.
Sept. 3, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I write you from the Gate City of the South. As you will see by my notes we entered it yesterday and went into Camp at five o'clock P. M. I did not have an opportunity to see any of the city except the streets we passed through. There is a great distinction of property of which I will write again.
I have been sick with my old liver trouble and diarrhoea but have not given up duty. I marched all the way yesterday, keeping my place in the advancing line. I am so glad that I was able to take part in taking the city. Our Company and I have done our part in the campaign and I did want to enter the city with them. As our Regiment was the first in the city I am satisfied. As the campaign is over we all feel pretty well used up.
With love,
R. Cruikshank.
Camp 123rd Regt,. N.Y.S.V. Atlanta, Ga.,
Sept. 4, 1864.
Dear Wife,-
I have been looking about a little today. The Rebelforces destroyed all they could that would be of service to our army. We do not know where General Sherman and the other corps are, but do know that he has taken possession of all railroads leading south from Atlanta so that the enemy could not get their army stores and supplies out of the city, so burned them. What we supposed was the sound of fighting on the morning of August 31s | 
