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Wednesday Oct. 9th | Wednesday Oct. 9th | ||
On picket for the 1st time in my life* Several cannon were fired just below here in the evening. I am laying in a shed of bush beside the Potomac which has risen more than three feet since yesterday morning. *On this first day of my picket duty I had some of the wildest notions that ever entered into the head of a human green horn, I suppose. When those cannon were fired I immediately loaded my gun expecting fight. I then ascended a tree to see if I could see any rebels on the other side of the river, not knowing that it would have been no new sight to any one acquainted with picket duty. That night when it came my turn to stand picket, I held my gun cased and cocked and was attentive to every noise no matter how insignificant. I was the most watchful sentinel ever was in all my soldier experience, far more so that I was a few weeks afterwards when standing on | On picket for the 1st time in my life* Several cannon were fired just below here in the evening. I am laying in a shed of bush beside the Potomac which has risen more than three feet since yesterday morning. *On this first day of my picket duty I had some of the wildest notions that ever entered into the head of a human green horn, I suppose. When those cannon were fired I immediately loaded my gun expecting fight. I then ascended a tree to see if I could see any rebels on the other side of the river, not knowing that it would have been no new sight to any one acquainted with picket duty. That night when it came my turn to stand picket, I held my gun cased and cocked and was attentive to every noise no matter how insignificant. I was the most watchful sentinel ever was in all my soldier experience, far more so that I was a few weeks afterwards when standing on the very outpost in Virginia. There was not the least possible danger of the enemy crossing the river that night. | ||
*Later Gorman was appointed Brigadier General. The story of the whipping reached the United States Senate and he was in a fair way to fail of confirmation. The story had gotten into the papers. But Gorman got the Chaplain to write a flat denial of it to the New York Tribune. Not long afterwards his church made a Bishop of him and we got rid of him. He was a useless old dude any way. | *Later Gorman was appointed Brigadier General. The story of the whipping reached the United States Senate and he was in a fair way to fail of confirmation. The story had gotten into the papers. But Gorman got the Chaplain to write a flat denial of it to the New York Tribune. Not long afterwards his church made a Bishop of him and we got rid of him. He was a useless old dude any way. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:32, 10 December 2019
18 Monday Oct. 7th I was on guard to day and may I never have such guard duty to do again. Three negroes were arrested for selling Whiskey. Two of them were tied up to a post and kept standing in one position for four hours. They were then stripped and one received ten the other twenty lashes on their bare backs. Jake Chaffee another solder of Co. B. and myself were ordered to stand and shoot them in case they should attempt to run. But I made up my mind that I would sooner shoot the infernal Tyrant who ordered in than harm one hair of those poor ignorant creatures. This tyrant was Old Gorman * "Oh why has man the will and power to make his fellow mourn" It rained again to day and a disagreeable time I had of it.
Tuesday Oct. 8th In company with my good and interesting friend Decker I wandered off into the country to day and I layed around the rest of the day.
Wednesday Oct. 9th On picket for the 1st time in my life* Several cannon were fired just below here in the evening. I am laying in a shed of bush beside the Potomac which has risen more than three feet since yesterday morning. *On this first day of my picket duty I had some of the wildest notions that ever entered into the head of a human green horn, I suppose. When those cannon were fired I immediately loaded my gun expecting fight. I then ascended a tree to see if I could see any rebels on the other side of the river, not knowing that it would have been no new sight to any one acquainted with picket duty. That night when it came my turn to stand picket, I held my gun cased and cocked and was attentive to every noise no matter how insignificant. I was the most watchful sentinel ever was in all my soldier experience, far more so that I was a few weeks afterwards when standing on the very outpost in Virginia. There was not the least possible danger of the enemy crossing the river that night.
- Later Gorman was appointed Brigadier General. The story of the whipping reached the United States Senate and he was in a fair way to fail of confirmation. The story had gotten into the papers. But Gorman got the Chaplain to write a flat denial of it to the New York Tribune. Not long afterwards his church made a Bishop of him and we got rid of him. He was a useless old dude any way.